Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire, Part 10

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Boston [Mass.] Biographical review pub. co.
Number of Pages: 658

USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire > Part 10

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Jonathan W. Peabody passed his youth in Bethel, Me., where his opportunities for ob- taining an education were limited. Later he made up for this deficiency in his training by taking a course at the Bethel Academy. At the age of eighteen he began to learn the shoe- maker's trade, at which he worked for some years, mostly in Londonderry, where he set- tled in 1843. He subsequently abandoned the trade to establish himself in mercantile business here with Arley Plumer. They car- ried on a large and well-stocked country store for ten years. He then engaged in general farming, undertaking carpenter's and painter's work as the opportunity offered.

Mr. Peabody wedded Mary Tenney, a native of this town and a lady who was highly es- teemed for her many noble qualities. She died August 31, 1889, leaving two children - Henrietta L. and Elbridge A. Politically, Mr. Peabody is a Republican, and for many years has been a prominent figure in public affairs. He was a member of the Board of Selectmen for two years. He was one of the organizers of Londonderry Grange, of which he has served as Chaplain. In his religious belief he is a Methodist, having been for many years an active member and a Steward of that church in this town. He has made his own way in life, securing every advancement, in- cluding his education, through his personal toil.

RTHUR L. EMERSON, M.D., of Chester, N. H., one of the best-known and most skilful surgeons in the State, was born in Hermon, Mc., April 2, 1849, son of Isaiah and Sarah (Sleeper) Emerson. Isaiah Emerson, who

was a native of Weare, N.H., was a whecl- wright by trade, and owned some large saw- mills in Hermon. About 1853 he removed to Manchester, N.H., where he was employed for a while in the station of the Concord Railroad. He died some four years after settling in Manchester.

His wife, a native of Bristol, N. H., was a daughter of Captain Sleeper, one of the pioneers of that town. After Mr. Emerson's death she married Jonathan Emmons, a farmer and lifelong resident of Bristol. She died in August, 1886. By her first union she had thirteen children, namely: James A. B. (deceased) ; Nehemiah S. (deceased) ; Moses W., a photographer in Lowell, Mass .; Mar- cia, wife of Sylvanus Warren (both deceased) ; Mary, living in Massachusetts; John D., of Greenfield, N.H., for twenty years conductor on the Boston & Maine Railroad; Lizzie A., wife of Otis E. White, of East Sau- gus, Mass. ; Lucian W. (deceased) ; Julia A., widow of Lucius Clogston, living in Ver- mont, who has children attending college; Jo- seph A., yardmaster for the Chicago, Milwau- kee & St. Paul Railroad at La Crosse, Wis. ; Orrin F., a dentist in Franklin Falls, N.H. ; George A., an attorney of Chelsea, Mass., whose home is in Everett, that State; and Arthur L., whose name appears at the head of this article. Seven of Mrs. Emerson's sons were in the late war. Arthur L., a stanch patriot at thirteen, enlisted in 1862 in the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment, but was pre- vented by his older brother, John D., from going into the service.

Arthur L. Emerson was obliged to earn much of the money for his higher education after leaving the common schools. When a mere lad he worked for some time in the cotton-mills in Manchester; and at fifteen years of age he went to Charlestown, Mass., now a part of Boston, to work in the retail drug store of Dr. William L. Bond, receiving at first two dollars and a half a week. In this store he remained three years; and he was sub- sequently employed ten years in all in the drug stores of G. H. Rogers, of Waltham, and Dr. J. R. Hayes and Dr. M. O. Carter, of Lowell, Mass. Dr. Carter is still in business. Young Emerson proved such an efficient and

ARTHUR L. EMERSON.

8 I

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valuable clerk that, when he gave up his posi- tion to prepare for his profession, he was re- ceiving twenty dollars a week, and his em- ployer was loath to let him go. He spent three years in the school at New Hampton, N.H., and then took up the study of medicine at Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Me. He subsequently attended the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons, New York City, for three winters, and received his certificate to prac- tise in 1878.

Returning to Manchester, Dr. Emerson en- tered on the work of his life, rich in courage, but poor in pocket, not having sufficient funds to open an office. It was not long, however, before his ability became known; and, though in Manchester but four years, he received two official appointments, that of Assistant Surgeon of the First Regiment and of County Physi- cian of Hillsborough County. February 5, 1883, he moved to his present residence, the old homestead of Governor Bell, in the village of Chester, one of the landmarks of this sec- tion. His practice is not bounded by the limits of the town of Chester, however; for his fame as a surgeon has spread through the State, and his success in performing difficult and delicate operations causes a constant de- mand for his services. He has a large medi- cal practice, but surgery is his specialty.

Dr. Emerson was married February 5, 1883, to Elthea M., daughter of Charles and Statira (Dexter) Fish, of Manchester, N. H. Mr. Fish, who was a native of Plymouth, Mass., was an iron moulder by trade, and was foreman of the locomotive works in Man- chester for a number of years. He died in 1891. His wife, who was a member of the old Carver family, was born in Frankfort, Vt. She died in 1877.

Dr. Emerson is a member of the New Hampshire Medical Society. He takes an active interest in politics as a Republican, and has filled a number of official positions. He was appointed Surgeon-general of the State by Governor Sawyer, has been Treas- urer of Rockingham County since 1894, and is now a candidate for State Senator. The Doctor is well advanced in Masonry, being a member of Mechanics Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Lowell, Mass. ; also a member of Waltham

Royal Arch Chapter, of Waltham, Mass .; and of De Molay Commandery, Knights Templars, of Boston, Mass. As an Odd Fellow he be- longs to Massasoit Encampment of Boston, Mass .; and as a Knight of Pythias he is a member of Lowell Lodge, No. 1I, of Lowell, Mass. He holds the confidence and esteem of all who know him, both as a professional man and as a member of society.

RIN B. LEAVITT, a farmer of North Hampton, was born there October 8, 1849, son of James R. and Elizabeth (Marston) Leavitt. He represents the seventh generation of his family. Moses Leavitt was the keeper of a tavern which had so great a reputation for its good cheer that in the year 1751 he was solicited by thirty- six of North Hampton's best-known citizens to come to their town, and open an inn for the benefit of the public there. The invitation was accepted, and Moses Leavitt established a hostelry on the site which is now occupied by the house of Mr. Eben Gove. Within the wide-open doors of the old Colonial house Mr. Leavitt dispensed creature comforts to travel- lers, and exchanged gossip with the village folk, with all of hearty good humor that be- longed to a successful host in the old ante- Revolutionary days. Moses, the innkeeper, left a son, John, who was familiarly known as Captain Leavitt. Captain Leavitt had a son, Benjamin, who was known as Captain Ben. He also kept an inn ; and he lived out his days in North Hampton, where he was born and bred, leaving a son, Philip, to perpetuate his name.

Philip Leavitt, grandfather of Orin B., was born in 1815. He lived at the tavern, farm- ing a part of the original Leavitt estate. As the years passed, his property became more valuable. He subsequently owned a large part of surrounding lands at North Hampton Centre. He was married to Dorothy Fogg, and became by her the father of four children. These were Elbridge, James, Olivia, and Mariam. James, the father of Orin B., is the only one now living. The father died in his sixty-ninth year. James R. Leavitt was educated in the district schools. For many

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years of his life he drove a stage-coach, carry- ing passengers and mail between North Hamp- ton and Rye Beach.

He has always lived at the home of his youth, and the buildings on his son's place were erected by him. He married Elizabeth Marston, daughter of Jeremiah and Abigail Marston. Four of their five children reached adult life. These were James A., Orin B., Abbie E., and Sarah A. The fifth child died in childhood. James married Miss Kettell, and lives in Hudson, Mass. Abbie became the wife of Frank H. Seavey, and is the mother of five children. Sarah A., now Mrs. Fred H. Grant, is a resident of Lynn, Mass., and has two children.

Orin B. Leavitt was educated in the district schools and at the New Hampton Academy. He has since made farming his chief occupa- tion, living at the ancestral home of the Leavitts. In 1888 he married Mary O. Drake, a daughter of Freeman and Mary (Hobbs) Drake, of North Hampton, and has since become the father of two children - James F. and Raeline A. Mr. Leavitt has been Town Supervisor for years. He also fills the office of Hearse Warden, a position which his father held with that of Tax Col- lector. He is a stanch adherent of the Re- publican party, having been formerly a Whig, as was his father, and casting his first vote for William Henry Harrison in the year 1836. He is a member of the Venus Relief Associa- tion of North Hampton. Both of his parents are conscientious members of the Congrega- tional church, his mother having been within its fold for sixty-four years, while his father is a Deacon, and one of the most influential supporters of the society.

HARLES E. BEAN, an undertaker of Candia, was born in this town, August 16, 1863, son of Bradley C. and Lucretia B. . (Ross) Bean. The family is said to be of English origin. Its first ancestor of whom there is any authentic knowledge was Jamies Bean, who settled in Ilampton, N. H., at an early date in the his- tory of that town. Joseph Bean, the great- grandfather of Charles E., settled in Candia

upon a tract of land deeded to him by King George III. and still in possession of the fam- ily. Joseph reclaimed a farm from it, and operated the first grist-mill in this town. married a Miss Smith, and reared a family of eleven children. His son, Daniel Bean, grandfather of Charles E., was born at the homestead in Candia, and, succeeding to its possession, managed it until his death, which took place in 1851, at the age of seventy years. He married Hannah Smith, of Ray- mond, N. H., and reared a family of thirteen children, six of whom are living, namely : Lucinda, the widow of Amos E. Morrison, late of Brainerd, Minn. ; Judith P., the widow of Henry Walker, late of Haverhill, Mass. ; Sarah, the widow of Asa Severance, late of Townsend, Mass. ; Daniel S., a currier and farmer, who resides at the old homestead ; · Bradley C. ; and Mary J., who is residing in Candia. He was a Democrat in politics, but not an aspirant to public office.

Bradley C. Bean, Mr. Bean's father, born at the family homestead, has followed farming as his chief occupation, and is well known and highly esteemed in the town. In politics he acts with the Republican party, and has served upon the School Board. His religious faith is that of the Free Will Baptists. His wife, in maidenhood Lucretia B. Ross, has had seven children, four of whom are living, namely : Homer B., who is residing in Man- chester, N. H. ; Charles E., the subject of this sketch; Mary E., the wife of William Lawn, of Reading, Mass. ; and Sadie L., twin sister of Mary E., the wife of John Blanch, of Manchester. The others were George D., Clara M., and one who died in infancy.

Charles E. Bean acquired his education in the common and high schools of Candia. He resided at home, assisting his father upon the farm until he was twenty years old. He then entered the employ of Mr. Young, who for- merly carried on the undertaking business here. Since 1892 he has followed that occu- pation upon his own account, being at the present time the only undertaker in town. He furnishes caskets of every description, and makes a specialty of embalming. His busi- ness calls him to all parts of this section of the county.

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On January 21, 1888, Mr. Bean wedded Lillian M. Young, a native of Candia. Mrs. Bean is the mother of three children, namely : Catherine M., aged seven years; E. Everett, aged two years; and Luna R., aged seven months.

In politics Mr. Bean is a Democrat, and was for two years Supervisor of the check list. He is connected with Lodge No. 70, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is now Vice-Grand, with the Lodge of Rebec- cas, and with the Order of the Golden Cross of Candia. The family attend the Congrega- tional church.

J OSEPH M. WHIDDEN was for a num- ber of years an extensive farmer and ice dealer of Newington, N. H., where he was well known. He was a son of Joseph and Abigail (Sevey) Whidden, and was born in Portsmouth, N. H., on August II,

1817. His paternal grandfather, Joseph Whidden, first, was the earliest ancestor of the name to locate in Portsmouth. Joseph, sec- ond, the father of Joseph M., married Abigail Sevey, and became the father of twelve chil- dren, four sons and eight daughters, of whom but two daughters and one son are now living.

Joseph M. Whidden resided on the home- stead where he was born until 1852, when he moved to Newington, engaging in the ice business, which he managed successfully for six years, selling out in 1873. He died on October 24, 1875. His mortal remains rest in the Newington cemetery. In politics he was a Republican; and, though he did not seek office, he was elected and served for a time on the School Board.

On August 28, 1844, the year when the first United States telegram was sent from Baltimore to Washington, Mr. Whidden was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth A. Berry, daughter of William and Olive S. (Locke) Berry. Elizabeth was born in Rye in June, 1821 ; but her father was a native of Greenland, N. H., an adjoining town. Mr. and Mrs. Whidden had eight children : Charles G., who died May 27, 1868, aged twenty-two years; Mary O., wife of William C. Laws, of this town; Eldora A. (deceased),

wife of Henry A. Searles; Frank L., who has managed the farm since his father's death, but now resides in Portsmouth; Carrie E., a teacher, who resides in Newington; Ira W., who lives in Portsmouth; Edith, wife of D. Wesley Badger; Joseph W., who resides on his farm in Newington. Mrs. Elizabeth Whidden, the widowed mother, still lives on the homestead farm with two of her children.

A UGUSTUS F. GREENLEAF, a

capable and enterprising farmer, was born November 19, 1859, in Exeter, the town in which he now lives, a son of Jabez Greenleaf. His father was a native of New Hampshire, Effingham, Carroll County, having been the place of his nativity. Jabez Greenleaf spent his early life in Effing- ham, where he was employed in a cotton fac- tory. Removing then to Exeter, he found work in the cotton-mills, and thus continued until his marriage in 1840, when he engaged in general farming, and also carried on a good business in the manufacture of pegged boots. He was known as a man of integrity and up- right principles, and his death in 1866 was a loss to the community in which he lived. The maiden name of his wife was Huldah S. Rowell. She bore him four children, of whom Augustus F. was the youngest. Mrs. Jabez Greenleaf long survived her husband, dying March 21, 1895, aged eighty years.

Augustus F. Greenleaf obtained his educa- tion in the grammar schools of Exeter; and, as soon as he was old enough, he began to assist his mother in supporting the family. For seven years he was employed in a machine shop at Exeter; but, the confinement proving detrimental to his health, he gave up the posi- tion. He then turned his attention to agri- cultural employments, and has since been en- gaged in mixed husbandry. He has one hun- dred and forty-six acres of land, to which he faithfully devotes his time and attention, rais- ing each year excellent crops of hay, corn, and the cereals common to this part of the country. Politically, Mr. Greenleaf is a stanch member of the Republican party. He has served his fellow-townsmen as Road Surveyor, and is now Assistant Surveyor, an office which he

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has held the past eight years. Fraternally, he is a member of Sagamore Lodge, No. 9, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Exeter, in which he has passed all the chairs, being now Past Grand Master. He is likewise con- nected with the Ridgely Protective Associa- tion of Worcester, Mass. Mr. Greenleaf was married September 18, 1886, to Miss Irene C. Johnston, a daughter of . Thomas Johnston, of Philadelphia, Pa. Her mother, Anna Dolloff by maiden name, was a native of Exeter and a daughter of Jesse and Hannah (Rowell) Dolloff. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Green- leaf has been blessed by the birth of two chil- dren - Delbert J. and Anna Mabel. Relig- iously, both Mr. and Mrs. Greenleaf are attendants of the Baptist church, in which they are active workers, the former having been librarian for nearly eight years.

HARLES A. MORSE, M.D., the efficient and popular Postmaster of New Market, N. H., was born in Salisbury, Merrimack County, N. II., September 8, 1857. He is a son of Charles George and Lucy Jane (Calef) Morse. His father, who was born in Warren, N. H., when quite young learned the trade of cabinet-mak- ing, which he followed for a number of years. Hle subsequently turned his attention to agri- culture, finding in the cultivation of his fields a healthy pleasure and profitable employment. lle is now living on a farm in Durham, N. H. His wife also is still living, actively presiding over her domestic kingdom.

Charles A. Morse pursued an extended course of study in boyhood, being graduated from the academy at Penacook, N. II., before entering college. His professional studies were begun at Dartmouth College, from which he was graduated in 1882, and were pursued in connection with the drug business, to which he devoted five years, learning thoroughly the uses of drugs and medicines. In 1882 he began to practice; and, though he has found time for many other interests outside of his professional work, he has notwithstanding steadily increased his visiting list, and grown very popular as a physician. He is a member of the New Hampshire State Medical Associa-

tion, Centre District and Rockingham County, the American Public Health Association, and the American Medical Society; and he is Surgeon of the First Uniformed Rank Regi- ment, Knights of Pythias, of New Hampshire, holding the rank of Major. He is also a member of the Grand Lodge, Knights of Pyth- ias, of New Hampshire. On September 5, 1883, Dr. Morse was married to Anna Eveline Sanders, of New Market, who lived but a year and eight months after her marriage, and at her death left a daughter, Lucy Annie. On October 27, 1887, the Doctor married for his second wife Gertrude May Davis, of New Market, by whom also he has one daughter, Alice Gertrude.

Dr. Morse is a prominent figure in local politics. He was elected to the legislature in 1890 and 1891. Ile served as Postmaster of New Market during President Cleveland's first term, and is now again in office; and in educational matters his judgment is highly re- spected by his townsmen, who have elected him to the School Board and made him Super- intendent of Schools. He is also popular as a society man and in the fraternal orders. He is Past Grand of Swamscott Lodge, No. 8, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Past Chancellor of Pioncer Lodge, No. 1, Knights of Pythias; and he is a prominent member of the Rockingham Club, the Granite State Club, and the New Hampshire Club. In 1896 Dr. Morse was elected one of the delegates from the New Hampshire State Society to the med- ical department of Dartmouth College; and in 1893 he represented the State Society at the Rhode Island State Society meeting at Provi- dence, R. I.

OHN W. GREELEY, of Londonderry, now entering on his seventy-eighth year, comes of the same stock that pro- duced Horace Greeley. He was born in Amherst, Hillsborough County, March 25, 1819, son of Dustin and Sarah (Woodburn) Greeley, both natives of Londonderry. Zac- cheus Greeley, grandfather of John W., was an early settler in Londonderry, where he had an extensive farm. He was the father of Horace Greeley's father, who was, therefore,

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

a brother of Dustin. Dustin Greeley was reared to manhood in Londonderry. After his marriage he moved to Amherst, and lived for a time in the house where his distin- guished nephew and John W. first opened their eyes to the light. He subsequently went to West Haven, Vt., where he died in 1825. Of his children, James M. and John W. are living.

John W. Greeley was seven years old when his father died. Shortly after his bereave- ment he was bound out to a Mr. Woodbury, of Springfield, Vt., with whom he remained until of age. Ile obtained much of his educa- tion in the district schools of Vermont, at- tending during the winter season. After at- taining his majority, he sought to better his fortune, and spent a short time in Massachu- setts. In the fall of 1841 he came to Lon- donderry, and three years later he took up his residence in his present home. The estate in- cludes a good farm of fifty acres. For a num- ber of years Mr. Greeley worked at carpentry as well as farming. Throughout his long life he has shown a conscientious regard for the rights of his neighbors. Having risen from the condition of an orphan "bound boy" to a position of comparative independence, he may look back with pride upon his past, and find the shadow of his "vine and fig-tree " all the more refreshing.

Mr. Greeley was married May 2, 1844, to Mary A. Dodge, a native of Bedford, N. II., daughter of Benjamin and Polly (Thompson) Dodge. Mr. Dodge was a son of Isaac Dodge, a former resident of Londonderry. He has two children; and his wife was a native of Merrimack, N.Il. Mr. Greeley became the father of two children : Abbie F., the wife of Ilenry J. Caldwell; and Eugene O. In poli- ties he favors the Republican party. He has taken an active interest in educational matters, and taught several terms in the district school, and has served as Superintendent of the School Committee in Londonderry. Mr. and Mrs. Greeley have been connected with the Presbyterian church in Londonderry for fifty and forty years respectively. He has been an Ielder in the church for a number of years, and is commonly called Deacon Greeley. Mrs. Greeley is a very interesting lady, and

both she and her husband have many sincere friends.

...

EORGE II. FLOYD, a retired

farmer, living in Fremont, is a typi- cal New England man. He was born May. 2, 1825, in Exeter, this county, son of Samuel and Mary (Quimby) Floyd. Samuel Floyd, born and reared in the same locality, was a farmer by occupation, while he worked much of his time in a paper mill. He died in Exeter before reaching the meridian of life. Ilis wife, whose maiden name was Mary Quimby, was a native of Durham, Strafford County.

George HI. Floyd was quite young when his father died. His early years were passed in Brentwood, this county, where he acquired his education. He afterward lived in Fremont until his first marriage, when he removed to Chester, where he bought and managed a small farm, and worked at his trade of shoe- making. In 1852 he disposed of his property in that town, and came to Fremont Village, which he made his home for four years. Ile then took up his residence on his present farm. Here he has been profitably engaged in general farming since then, bringing his land to a fine state of cultivation and adding val vable improvements. He has likewise dealt in cattle for more than thirty years, and has bought and sold much timber, his invest- ments invariably proving successful. He now owns two hundred and fifty acres of good land in Fremont and two hundred acres in Notting- ham. Since 1888 he has lived in retirement, enjoying a well-earned leisure after his many years of industrions toil. Politically, he is a firm adherent of the Republican party, and has served his fellow-townsmen in many of the minor offices of the town.

Mr. Floyd has been twice married. On February 14, 1850, he was united in matri mony with Miss Sarah B. Collins, who was born in East Salisbury, Mass., daughter of David and Sarah Collins. Her father was a farmer and carpenter. Living but a few years after her marriage, she died in 1856, having borne two children. These were : Sarah Jane, the wife of Harrison B. Ellis, a

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farmer and shoemaker in this town; and John H., who died in infancy. Mr. Floyd was again married October 19, 1856, to Mrs. Betsey N. Follett. She was born in Fremont, daughter of Josiah and Abigail (Robinson) Norris, with whom she lived until her first marriage with Freeman A. Follett. She was a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which she was an active worker until her demise, May 28, 1879.

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Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire, Part 10

Author: Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Boston [Mass.] Biographical review pub. co. Number of Pages: 658

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Boston [Mass.] Biographical review pub. co.
Number of Pages: 658