USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Stafford and Belknap countries, New Hampshire > Part 64
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engaged as a general farmer and dairyman. He owns one hundred and fifteen acres of land, which by his judicious management and persevering energy, he has brought to a fair state of cultivation.
In his early life he was a Whig, but of late years he has been a warm supporter of the Democratic party. He has never taken any active part in local public affairs, his only office having been that of Surveyor, which he held for some time. He attends the Free Will Baptist church at Rochester.
In 1847 Mr. Stevens married Miss Loisa J. Young, of Dover. They became the parents of three children, two of whom, Lydia and Jacob, have passed to the life immortal. The other child, Junia, remains at home.
I. KITSON BRUCE, M.D., * a skilful and successful physician and surgeon of Farmington, Strafford County, N.H., was born in 1860, in Chelsea, Mass., a son of Louis A. Bruce. His grandfather, Louis Bruce, was for many years an esteemed resi- cent of Portsmouth, N.H.
Louis A. Bruce was born and bred in Ports- mouth, where in his earlier life he was engaged as a contractor and shipper. He removed to Massachusetts before the late war, making his home in Boston or one of its suburbs, and is now residing in the city proper. He is neither a politician nor an office-seeker, but is a warm advocate of the principles of the Republican party. White living in Portsmouth he married Miss Marga- ret S. Kitson, daughter of Captain Thomas Kitson, who at the very early age of twenty- two years was master of the stanch ship "America, " and subsequently made many sea voyages to foreign and domestic ports. contin- uing in seataring pursuits until his death in
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1855. Of this union five children were born, as follows: Mary A .; Eva, wife of Charles Kimball, of Winchester, Mass. ; Fred A., of Cape Neddick, Me. ; Louis P., of Arizona; and T. Kitson, the Doctor.
T. Kitson Bruce obtained his early educa- tion in the public schools of Winchester, Mass., and fitted for college at the academy in North Bridgton, Me. He afterward attended the Institute of Technology two years, and then entered Tufts College at Medford, Mass., completing the course in 1883. In 1887 he was graduated from the Bellevue Medical Col- lege in New York City, where he began the practice of his profession, remaining there three years. Dr. Bruce then came from New York City to New Hampshire, locating first in Laconia; and in the five years that he spent there he built up a good local practice, besides gaining valuable experience as town physi- cian. In December, 1896, the Doctor opened an office in Farmington, where his skill as a practitioner is fast becoming known. A man of ready tact and kindly sympathy and of good mental attainments, he is well fitted for the pro- fessional career he is following, and in which his earnest devotion is bringing him success.
Dr. Bruce married Miss Katie Belle Jewett, of Laconia, N. HI., a daughter of Job G. Jewett, and has one child, Thomas Kitson Bruce, Jr. The Doctor is a stanch Republi- can in politics. He was made a Mason in Mount Lebanon Lodge, F. & A. M., of La- conia; and is a member of Woodbine Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Farmington. He attends the Congregational church of this town.
JOHN CROCKETT," a respected farmer of the town of Rochester, Strafford County, now living somewhat retired from active pursuits, has spent his long life of
nearly fourscore years in this part of New Hampshire, having been born in the neighbor- ing town of Middleton, August 14, 1818. His father, Hezekiah J. Crockett, M.D., a son of Elder John Crockett, was born in Sanborn- ton, N. H. He came from that place in 1824 to Rochester, purchasing the farm on which his son John, the special subject of this bio- graphical sketch, has since lived. Dr. Crock- ett taught school in several New Hampshire towns during his early life, but after obtaining his degree practised medicine. He married Abigail M. Main, a daughter of Amos Main, of Rochester, and a grand-daughter of the Rev. Amos Main, who was for many years (1737-60) the beloved minister of the church in this town, and whose memory is still cher- ished in the hearts of the people.
John Crockett acquired his education mostly in the public schools of Rochester, having been but eight years old when his parents re- moved here. For a time after he had com- pleted his studies he worked on the home farm ; and then he went to Dover, where he learned the carriage-maker's trade, at which he was employed in that city three years. Returning then to the parental roof, he took upon him- self the care of the farm, and from that time until now has made general farming his prin- cipal occupation. His estate comprises about seventy acres, much of which is heavily tim- bered; and in addition to tilling the soil he was engaged to some extent in lumbering dur- ing his carlier manhood. Mr. Crockett has affiliated with the Republican party since its formation, being one of its firmest supporters. He has never sought public office, but in 1869 he represented the town of Rochester in the State legislature. He is one of the oldest members of the Odd Fellows order, and has been through all the chairs of the Rochester Encampment and of the Grand Lodge.
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Mr. Crockett married Miss Elizabeth Main, daughter of the late David Main, and a sister of Charles Main, who presented to the town of Rochester the marble monument erected to the memory of his great-great-grandfather, the Rev. Amos Main. Mrs. Crockett died in 1882, leaving no children. Mr. Crockett has in his possession some highly prized relics, among them being the table on which Parson Main wrote his sermons, and the old chair on which he used to sit.
B ENJAMIN E. OSBORNE,* a skil- ful and thrifty agriculturist of Rochester, N. H., was born August 11, 1850, in this town, a son of James L. Os- borne. His great-grandfather, John Osborne, was a man of some note in Pittsfield, N. H., at an early day, and there reared his family. Elijah Osborne, son of John and grandfather of Benjamin E., was the first of the family to locate in Rochester.
James L. Osborne was but eight years of age when his parents brought him to this town, where he subsequently lived and died, his death occurring at the age of sixty-two years, in 1893. He was a farmer and potter, and for many years carried on both branches of indus- try. In politics he allied himself with the Republican party. He married Miss Lydia Waldron, of Rochester, and they reared a fam- ily of eight children, as follows: Benjamin E. ; Ella, wife of Andrew Daggett, of this place; Ida, wife of Charles Redman, of Haverhill, Mass. ; William A., of Rochester ; D. B. Osborne, of Milton, N. H. ; James O., of Newburyport, Mass. ; Henry, of Rochester ; and Lizzie, wife of Warren Otis, of Pittsfield, N. H.
Benjamin E. Osborne was a regular attend- ant of the district schools in his boyhood and
youth, and remained an inmate of the parental household until about nineteen years old, when he went to Gonic, where for two years he was employed by the Gonic Manufacturing Company. After learning the shoemaker's trade and working at it for seventeen consecu- tive years, he purchased the farm where he now resides, and which in former times was a part of the old Parson Main estate, but was more recently owned by Mrs. Hussey. It contains fifty acres lying between Rochester and Gonic on Hussey Hill. With the excep- tion of a few years spent in Gonic, Mr. Os- borne has since remained here, carrying on general farming to some extent, and doing quite a large teaming and lumbering business. His success in life is the outcome of his own energy, enterprise, and tireless industry. He is a strong Republican in his political views, but not an active politician. He attends the Baptist church of Gonic, of which he is a con- sistent member.
In 1871 Mr. Osborne married Miss Alice Hurd, of Rochester, who died in 1887. He subsequently married Martha Morrill, of Windham, Mc. He has four children, namely : Charles, a resident of Gonic; Ernest, of Dover; Ralph E. ; and Florence M.
HARLES F. TOWLE,* one of the able farmers of New Durham, Straf- ford County, N. H., and a veteran of the Civil War, was born January 6, 1827, in Wolfboro, Carroll County, where his grand- father, Jeremiah Towle, who came from Han- over, N. H., was an early settler.
His father, William Towle, son of Jere- miah, was a prosperous farmer in Wolfboro. In politics he was a Democrat. He married Ruth Doe, a native of Amesbury, Mass. Of the eight children born of their union, six are
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living, namely: Charles F., the subject of this sketch ; Hezekiah B. ; William A. ; Mary M., wife of Ezekiel Randall; Elizabeth, wife of George Randall; and Henry W. William Towle lived to be seventy-three years old.
Charles F. Towle completed his education in Dover, N. H., and at the age of seventeen began work in the woollen factory in that town. Four years later he went to Sawyer's Mills, where he remained for the same length of time, and then came to New Durham. He followed the trade of a shoemaker here until 1862, when he enlisted as a private in Com- pany A, Twelfth Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry; and at the battle of Chancellorsville he received a severe wound in his thigh. After his recovery he was pro- moted to the rank of First Lieutenant, and resigned in 1865. After his return from the army he settled upon his present farm, which was formerly a part of the Edgerley estate; and, resuming his trade, he followed it in connection with agricultural pursuits until about two years ago. In politics he acts with the Democratic party, and was elected to the Board of Selectmen in 1896.
Mr. Towle married Etta Witham, daughter of Jerome D. Witham, of New Durhamn, and has three children, namely : George L., a resi- dent of Farmington; Clara M., wife of Charles S. Chesley, of Alton; and Charles F., Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Towle attend the Bap- tist church.
FUDGE IRA ALLEN EASTMAN, born in Gilmanton in 1809, was de- scended from Roger Eastman, who came to America in 1638, and was one of the first grantees of the town of Salisbury, Mass. Roger's son, Samuel, born in 1657, married Elizabeth Severance, of Salisbury. After holding important town offices in Salisbury,
he removed to Kingston, N. H., in 1713, and was from that time till his death, in 1725, a Representative to the General Court, taking an active part in all its deliberations. The next in descent, Samuel Eastman, was active in the war against the Indians. He married Sarah (Brown) Clough, a widow and a de- scendant of John Brown, one of the first founders of Hampton.
Ebenezer Eastman, the grandfather of Judge Ira Allen Eastman, born April 24, 1746, was an early settler of Gilmanton, N. II. He was one of the minute-men of the Revolu- tion. It is stated regarding him that, on hearing of the battle of Lexington, Lieutenant Eastman raised his company and proceeded at once to Boston. Afterward he acted as Cap- tain under General Stark in the battle of Bunker Hill. He married Mary Butler, of Brentwood, the heroine of the poem, "Mary Butler's Ride," which treats of the incident related as follows: "While the battle was raging on the heights of Charlestown, the news of it was received at Gilmanton ; and the young wife of Lieutenant Eastman, with no friend to accompany her, no mode of convey- ance but on horseback, with no road to travel but a track to be followed through the forest, left home with her only child (an infant in her arms) and rode to her father's house in Brentwood, and from thence to Charlestown, a distance of not less than ninety miles, where she found her husband in safety."
An intimate friend of Ira Allen, the brother of the celebrated Ethan Allen, Ebenezer named one of his sons Ira Allen, for whom Judge Ira Allen Eastman was named. Stephen Eastman, the father of the subject of this sketch, was an officer in the Colonial militia. He had three sons - Ira Allen, Henry Frank - lin, and Artemas Stephen. Henry Franklin died at the age of twenty-one, and Artemas in
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1857. The widow and two daughters reside in San Francisco.
Ira Allen Eastman, the subject of this sketch, graduated from Dartmouth College with the highest honors in the class of 1829. He subsequently pursued the study of law with Judge Willard, of Troy, N. Y., and upon his admission to the bar commenced to practise in that place. Later, compelled by failing health to return to his native State, he in 1834 opened an office in Gilmanton. In 1835 he was chosen Clerk of the New Hamp- shire Senate. In 1836 he was elected a Rep- resentative from his native town to the State legislature. He was re-elected in 1837 and again in 1838; and during the last two years he was Speaker of the House, having the dis- tinction of being the youngest man who had ever occupied that position. In 1836 he was appointed Register of Probate for Strafford County, which office he held until 1839. In that year he was elected a member of the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Congress. Two years later he was elected to the Twenty-seventh, and afterward served with distinction as a member of that body from 1839 to 1843. After his retirement from Congress he was called to the bench, where he served continuously until 1859, being Judge of Common Pleas from 1844 to 1849, of the Supreme Court from 1849 to 1855, and of the Superior Judicial Court from 1855 until his retirement.
In 1863 Judge Eastman was the Democratic candidate for Governor of New Hampshire, and in 1866 he was supported by the same party as candidate for United States Senator. In 1858 his Alma Mater conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws; and in 1859 he was chosen one of the trustees of that insti- tution, in which capacity he served until his death
From 1834 up to the time of his decease, when not engaged in the performance of off- cial duties, he was in the active and success. ful practice of his profession, in which he ranked among the strong men of the State. The chosen Representative of his native town in the legislature of the State at the age of twenty-seven, the Speaker of the House at twenty-eight, a Congressional Representative of the Granite State at thirty, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas at thirty-five, Judge of the Supreme Court at forty, and Judge of the Superior Judicial Court from the age of forty-seven until that of fifty, he was promi- nently before the public for nearly half a cen- tury. In whatever official position he was called to, he more than filled its requirements, entirely realizing the just expectations of his friends. Unswerving fidelity, tireless indus- try, and marked ability were all illustrated in his public life. From the beginning to the close of his career he retained the confidence and respect of the people whom he served so long and well. At the age of over threescore and ten, rich in honors, he passed away, Jeav- ing a record unmarred by a stain. Upon the bench he never arrogated to himself a superior wisdom, giving to all a patient and courte. ous hearing, and making the young practitioner feel that he had "a friend at court" in the person of the judge.
In general, his treatment of others was uni- formly polite. He never betrayed by speech or look any annoyance or irritability. His evenness of disposition well adapted him to the struggles of the forum, where loss of tem- per puts the advocate to a disadvantage, and was of equal importance to him in his judicial capacity, where an even mental balance is es- sential to the proper administration of justice. His industry and familiarity with legal princi- ples are evidenced by the large number of
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well-considered opinions from his pen, which are found in the pages of the State Reports.
Jane Quackenbush Eastman, the wife of Judge Eastman, was a descendant of a very old Dutch family, which dates back to 1650. Two children were born to them : a son Clar- ence, who died in March, 1878; and a daugh- ter, Anna Q., who married Judge David Cross, of Manchester, where she now resides.
J OSIAH MITCHELL,* a loyal citizen of Strafford County, and a patriotic de- fender of his country during the late Civil War, is the owner of a choice farming property in the town of Madbury. He was born May 12, 1836, in New Durham, N. H., and is a son of the late Andrew and Hannab (York) Mitchell.
Andrew Mitchell spent the early part of his manhood in New Durham, and, removing from there to Dover in 1840, was thereafter iden- tified with the interests of that place. Twelve children were born to him and his wife, there being six of each sex; and two of the sons fought in defence of the stars and stripes in the war of the Rebellion.
Josiah Mitchell was reared and educated in Dover, where at the age of sixteen years he began working at the shoemaker's trade. This he followed until aroused by the tocsin of war which resounded through the land. He then enlisted, being the first man from Dover to enter the navy at this crisis. Going aboard the man-of -war vessel "North America" as a landsman, May 6, 1861, he remained there eleven months, seeing considerable hard service in that time. He was then transferred to a prize steamer captured off the coast of Mobile, being one of the crew ordered to take her into New York Harbor. Returning to Dover, be spent three months at
his old home, and at the end of that period re-enlisted as a landsman in the navy. He was stationed on the receiving ship "Ohio" until his health gave out, necessitating his discharge on account of physical disability. After regaining his strength, Mr. Mitchell worked at his trade until 18844, when he pur- chased his present farm, consisting of thirty acres of land, on which he is carrying on general farming. With the aids' of modern machinery and methods he has met with excel- lent success, his land being under good cultivation, and producing the crops common to this part of the country.
Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage with Miss Mattie Smith, April 29, 1892. In poli- tics he is an uncompromising Republican, and heartily indorses the measures of that party.
ENRY C. WHITNEY,* a man of thrift, pluck, and enterprise, owns and occupies a small farm in the town of Dover, Strafford County, N. H., whither he removed from Boston in 1894. He was born in Standish, Cumberland County, Me., January 25, 1844, and is therefore now in the prime of manhood. His parents re- sided in Standish until 1852, when they re- moved to the town of Naples, in the same county; and there Henry C. Whitney was reared and educated.
Soon after the outbreak of the late war young Whitney, not quite eighteen years of age, offered his services to his country, enlist- ing September 30, 1861, in Company E, Tenth Maine Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in as a private October 6 of the same year. He met the enemy in many closely contested battles, his first engagement having been at Winchester, after which his . regiment covered the retreat to Wilmington,
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and again, after the battle of Cedar Mountain, made a back march to Sulphur Springs, hoping there to intercept the Confederates, but being too late. Mr. Whitney next participated in the battle of Antietam, and in May, 1863, his term of enlistment having expired, came home. He at once re-enlisted, joining the Mainc Cavalry, but was transferred to the First Dis- trict of Columbia Cavalry. The following February his company was ordered to the de- fence of Washington, being sent as dis- mounted cavalry to City Point, there remain- ing to fortify the breastworks until June, 1864. This brave company then remounted
their horses, and, taking three days' rations, started out with the expedition of Wilson and Kautz on a raid through the enemy's coun- try. They were away ten days. The third day Mr. Whitney lost his horse, but at night by good luck secured another, and with his comrades took part at the engagement at Roa- noke Bridge. On the way back to City Point they made several raids, on one of which, at Sycamore Church, Va., September 16, 1864, Mr. Whitney was captured by the rebels. He was taken to Libby Prison, two weeks later being transferred to Danville, Va., where he was confined until the month of November. Hle was from that time until March, 1865, imprisoned at the Salisbury stockade. After being released he came to Maine, and at Au- gusta received an honorable discharge.
Again taking up his abode in Standish, Mr. Whitney remained there a short time, and then went to Boston, where he worked for a while at the painter's trade. Subsequently se- curing a position with the Metropolitan In- surance Company of that city, he continued with them sixteen years. In 1894 he pur chased his present property in Dover, and in the cultivation and management of his thirty acres of land is finding profit and pleasure.
Politically, Mr. Whitney is a straight Repub- lican. He belongs to the Masonic order, and is also a member of Charles Russell Lowell Post, G. A. R., of Boston.
B ENJAMIN WEEKS * is a well-known native resident of the town of Gil- ford, Belknap County, N. H., where for thirty years and more he has been success- fully engaged in business as a butcher and a dealer in cattle. He was born on April 1, 1836, and is the only surviving son of the late Hazen and Prudence (Sleeper) Weeks.
From early times in the history of Gilford the Weeks families have included some of the most substantial and highly reputed citizens. Squire Benjamin Weeks, the great-grand- father of the subject of this sketch, came here in 1787, removed a year or two later to Bur- ton, and returned in 1792. He invested largely in land, and became a prosperous farmer. His seven children, six sons and a daughter, were each given the advantages of education and a start in life. In the main they became business men. One, Matthias, studied law, but was afterward in business. William fitted for college at Gilmanton, grad- uated in 1806, went South for his health, taught a few years, and died in 18Io. He was probably the first one from the town of Gilford to graduate from college. The daugh- ter, Sally, married Henry Wadleigh. She was of a literary turn of mind, but died while young. Squire Benjamin's son of the same name was given the title of Captain. Ifis children were nine in number, two of whom we wish especially to note, namely : Hazen, the father of the present, or third, Benjamin Weeks; and William, the father of W. H. Weeks, whose personal history is outlined in another article.
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Hazen Weeks owned and farmed about one hundred and thirty acres, and made somewhat of a specialty of sheep-raising. He was a useful, upright citizen, and lived. to the age of sixty-eight years. He married Prudence, daughter of Nathaniel Sleeper; and she died at the age of fifty-two. They had four chil- dren --- Benjamin, John M., Betsey S., and Harriet. John M. Weeks died when about forty-five years of age, leaving a widow and one son, Willis E. Betsey Weeks died while young, and Harriet became the wife of Ben- jamin Gale.
Benjamin Weeks, the subject of this sketch, received the ordinary education of the district school, and as a young man took up farming, in which he was engaged until he was twenty- five years old. He then, in company with John Weeks, turned his attention to the butchering business and buying and selling cattle. After four years of business in part- nership Mr. Benjamin Weeks became sole manager of the concern, to which he has since given his whole time and attention, and with marked success. His prosperity is a proof of what may be accomplished by sterling integ- rity and close application to business.
Mr. Weeks married a widow, Mrs. Llewellyn White, whose maiden name was Hannah Rollins.
A NDREW A. AMES, M.D., * a general medical practitioner in Dover, N.H., was born and bred, as it were, to the profession in which he is now engaged, his father, Almon A. Ames, having been a physician of good repute in New York State. His mother was b fore marriage Miss Caro- line Marshall.
Andrew A. Ames was born August 16, 1848, at Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County, N.Y .; but in 1851, when he was about three
years old, his parents removed to Syracuse. He spent his early youth in that city, attend- ing the public and private schools; and at the age of seventeen he entered Shafer College in New York City. On leaving the college he returned to the parental roof, and with his father began the study of medicine, at the same time attending lectures at the Syracuse Medical School, where he was graduated five years later. Associating himself with his father, the young Doctor began his profes- sional career in Syracuse, continuing there three years, and then going to Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he remained an equal length of time. Giving up practice for a while, he spent some years in travelling in the West; and he afterward located in Boston, where he was engaged in general practice twelve years. His health failing, Dr. Ames was again obliged to retire from his labors; but in 1894 he resumed his work, settling in Dover, where his patronage is constantly increasing. In politics Dr. Ames is identified with the Republican party, but has never cared for pub- lic office. He is a member of the Baptist church.
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