USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire > Part 14
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Mr. Sanborn was married, September 2, 1858, to Miss Rebecca F. Fogg, a native of Hampton, N. H., born May 13, 1833. Her parents, Abraham and Mary Fogg, are both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Sanborn have two daughters and two sons. They are: Abbie J., born June 15, 1859; Elmer Ellsworth, born July 27, 1861; Edward S., born April 19, 1866: and Mabel Warren, born July 13, 1875. The daughters are living with their parents. Mabel, a graduate of the Normal Department of the Robinson Female Seminary at Exeter,
is now engaged in teaching. Elmer E. was - graduated from the normal school at Plym- outh, N.H., and for some years thereafter taught school. He married Miss Helen R. Veazey, of Brentwood, this county; and they are now living at Amesbury, Mass., where he is in the grocery business. Edward S. was educated at Exeter Academy and Yale Univer- sity, being graduated from the Yale Divinity School, after taking a three years' course. He married Miss Martha E. Pike; and they have a pleasant home at Ridgebury, Conn., where he has charge of a church. The elder Mrs. Sanborn and her daughters are members of the Congregational church.
OHN C. GIDDINGS, one of the oldest residents of South New Market, was born in Exeter, June 20, 1818, son of John and Mary (Colcord) Giddings. John Giddings was a native of Exeter, and moved from that place to South New Market in 1818, settling upon the farm which his son now owns and occupies. He was one of the energetic farmers of his day, and led a life of toil and industry, providing well for his fam- ily, and at his death, in 1824, leaving behind an honorable record as a useful and worthy citizen. In politics he supported the Whig party, and he was liberal in his religious views. His wife, Mary Colcord Giddings, who was a native of South New Market, be- came the mother of six children, namely : Edward, Mary, Elizabeth, and Nancy, who are no longer living; Charlotte, now Mrs. Hardy ; and John C. The mother died in 1841.
John C. Giddings was educated in the com- mon schools of South New Market. In carly manhood he entered the employ of the Squam- scot Machine Company, for which he contin- ued to work for some thirty years, besides following farming. Since retiring from the former occupation he has given his exclusive attention to agricultural pursuits. He suc- ceeded to the ownership of the homestead farm, consisting of over one hundred acres of good land, provided with substantial build- ings, which he keeps in the best of repair; and his farming operations have been very profitable.
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On October 24, 1884, Mr. Giddings mar- ried Mary Ellen Scammon, of Stratham, a daughter of Ira and Ann (Lyford) Scammon, further mention of whom may be found in the sketch of Colonel Richard M. Scammon.
In politics Mr. Giddings has acted with the Republican party since its formation; and, though not taking any active part in political affairs beyond casting his vote, he has always been alive to the best interests of the town, and used his influence to advance measures for the general welfare of the community. He has led an active and laborious life, and in his declining years he is reaping the benefits of his long-continued perseverance.
J OSHUA B. PICKERING, the well- known ex-Selectman of Newington, Rockingham County, N. H., was born on the home farm in this town on Feb- ruary 2, 1853. He is the only surviving son of the late Joshua B., Sr., and Elizabeth Jane Pickering. His father also was a native of Newington, born on October 26, 18HI. On the very day of his marriage he settled on the farm where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1889. He was a Democrat in politics, and quite prominent in town offices, holding the offices of Selectman and Town Clerk, being re-elected several times to the former position. He improved and success -. fully managed his farm of sixty-five acres, which he made profitable for general farming.
Hle married in 1848 Miss Elizabeth Jane Pickering, daughter of Thomas Pickering. Three children were the fruit of this union, namely : Deborah, wife of Frank H. Simpson, a farmer, resides in Greenland township; Alvin Gee, now deceased; and Joshua B., the subject of this biographical notice, who was the youngest child. The mother died in 1857. The graves of the departed are in the Newing- ton Cemetery.
Joshua B. Pickering always remained upon the home farm, to the management of which he succeeded at the age of twenty-five years. In politics he follows in the footsteps of his honored father, voting with the Democratic party. He improved the educational advan- tages of the district school, securing a fair
amount of practical knowledge, which he has utilized to good purpose. He has served the town acceptably as Selectman three different terms, besides filling other offices within the gift of the town.
J OHN A. CORNING, a well-known resident of Londonderry, N. Il., was born in this town, June 26, 1834, son of Colonel Freeman and Esther (White) Corning. His paternal grandfather, Nathan Corning, was a native of Massachusetts. Freeman Corning was reared on a farm and educated in the district school, and like other country boys learned to use his wits in a way not necessary to the town-bred lad, himself mending the broken tool or making a new one for his special use; for the country boy's in- vention must be always on the alert, and he must find the way himself out of all diffi- culties. This early "standing alone" ac- counts for the strong mentality of the New England farmer and the grand types of men in the world evolved from the farmer's boy. Mr. Corning spent his life in his native town, following the pursuit of agriculture and taking an active part in the discussion and settlement of town affairs. He was familiarly known as Colonel Freeman, being for many years an officer in the State militia and a prominent figure on training days. In politics he was a Whig and a Republican. He died in June, 1860; and by his death Londonderry lost one of her most esteemed citizens. He was twice married. Two of his children by his first wife are living, namely : John A. ; and Hannah, wife of Will- iam Corning. By his second wife, whose maiden name was Laura A. Blaisdell, he had three children, one of whom now survives -- Mrs. Mary Ellen Wheeler, wife of Joshua Wheeler, of Londonderry. John A. Corning's life has followed the same general trend pur- sued by his father's. Reared to man's estate on the farm in Londonderry, he learned to read, write, and cipher in the district school, laying the foundations for a structure of knowl- edge to which he has since added by reading and observation; and he has been engaged principally in farming since early manhood, though he was for a number of years employed
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at intervals as section hand by the Concord Railroad Company. He owns a good farm of forty acres, and by industry and good manage- ment has attained a position of comfortable prosperity.
Mr. Corning was married in December, 1861, to Celinda P. Parker, a native of Litch- field, N. H., and a daughter of Edward and Mary (Kendall) Parker. Mrs. Corning died May 28, 1893. She was a model wife and mother, an esteemed member of the Presby- terian church. She
had two children - Georgie and Edward P. The latter is with his mother in the world beyond. Georgie is the wife of Ernest Watts and mother of four children - Ralph L., Celinda P., John P., and Perley A. In politics Mr. Corning is a stanch Republican. He is identified with one social order, the Pilgrim Fathers, whose lodge room is at Derry Depot. A law-abiding and industrious citizen, he is widely known and esteemed.
OSEPH P. HARVEY, a well-known agriculturist and lumberman of Not- tingham and a native of this town, was born November 14, 1840, son of Fran- cis P. and Sally S. (Blaisdell) Harvey. His father, also a native of Nottingham, was en- gaged throughout his life in general hus- bandry, owning about two hundred acres of land within the town limits. He gave special attention to lumbering in Epping, this county, where he operated a saw-mill for many years. He was thrice married. Hle and his first wife, Hannah (Page) Harvey, became the parents of two children, neither of whom is now living. For his second wife he married a sister of his previous wife, and to them were born three children, of whom the only survivor is Sally, the widow of Henry I.each, late of Kingston, N. II., and the mother of four children - Fanny, Ada, Charles, and Laura. After the death of his second wife he contracted his third marriage with Miss Sally S. Blaisdell, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Blaisdell, of Epping. By this union he became the father of fourteen children, cleven of whom are yet living, namely : William A. ; John C. ; Orrin W .; Joseph P. ; Charles II. ; Janc, now
the wife of W. Frank Watson, of Nottingham ; Susan F. ; Nathaniel B. ; Charlotte E. ; Mary E. ; and Green C. The others were: Rhoda E., Elanora A., and Lidaella P. The father spent his declining years in Nottingham, was Captain of the old Nottingham company of militia, was in national politics identified with the Republican party, held liberal views re- garding religious subjects, and died June 27, 1864, in his seventy-first year. The mother passed away October 25, 1873, at the age of sixty-eight.
Joseph P. Harvey obtained his education in the public schools of his native town. After leaving school, he found employment with his father on the farm and at the saw-mill. In 1864 he purchased his present estate of about seventy-five acres, on which he has been en- gaged ever since. He is chiefly occupied in lumbering, operating a saw-mill, which turns out on the average one hundred thousand feet of timber every year. On November 29, 1875, Mr. Harvey was united in matrimony with Miss Mary E. Allen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Allen, of Lee, N. H. They have three children, namely : Goldie B., born March 1, 1879; Allen, born November 19, 1891; and Joseph W., born June 15, 1895. Mr. Harvey is a hard-working and energetic man, and he enjoys the respect and confidence of all his neighbors. In politics he supports the principles for which the Republican party stands.
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B ENNING S. SCRIBNER, whose death, February 6, 1883, at his home in Fremont, Rockingham County, N. H., was felt as a serious loss to the community, was a native of this town, and had here spent a large part of his life, during his later years carrying on general farming with marked success. He was born September 17, 1828, and was the son of a well-known farmer, Elisha Scribner, a life- long resident of Fremont, and his wife, Ma- tilda Hooke, who was born and reared in Dan- ville, this county. Of their union four chil- dren were born, three of whom have joined the silent majority; namely, John, George, and Benning S. The only one living is Sarah,
BENNING S. SCRIBNER.
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widow of Gilbert Kimball, of Haverhill, Mass.
Mr. Scribner was educated in Fremont, Hampton, and Northfield; and, on. coming of age, he went to Haverhill, Mass., where he was engaged as a dry-goods merchant for a few years. He subsequently returned to the scenes of his childhood, and from the time of his marriage carried on the farm now occupied by his widow and their daughter. Here he improved and judiciously cultivated his land, making the place one of the model farms of the neigliborhood.
He was very prominent in public life, com- manding the respect and confidence of his fellow-men, and held offices of grave respon- sibility with credit to himself and to the satis- faction of his constituents. For three years he was Treasurer of Rockingham County; and for two years he served as Representative in the State legislature, to which position he was re-elected in 1882, shortly before his death.
Mr. Scribner was married in Epping, De- cember 7, 1859, to Miss Elizabeth A. Law- rence, who was born in that town, October 25, 1 836, daughter of George W. and Adeline (Thyng) Lawrence. Mr. Lawrence and his wife, after residing for some years in Epping, removed to Concord, N. H., where he died ; and she afterward made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Scribner, who tenderly cared for her during her declining days. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Scribner was blessed by the birth of two children -- George Edwin and Alice Lawrence. The son, who was born July 14, 1862, passed to the higher life, June 25, 1876. The daughter, born July 6, 1875, lives with her mother on the home farm, which is one of the most attractive estates in this vicinity.
ILLIAM J. FROST, the popular foreman of a shoe factory in Ports- mouth, was born in New Castle, this county, April 10, 1848, son of John S. and Sarah R. (Chesley) Frost. His ancestors, as stated in "Rambles about Portsmouth," were old settlers of the town. Thomas B. Frost, the grandfather of William J., also a native, was a sea captain, and followed that calling
during the greater part of his life. While serving in the War of 1812 he was taken prisoner, and confined in Dartmoor Prison, England, for eightcen months. In politics he was a Democrat, and he served for a time as Representative to the State legislature. His wife had borne him four children, thrce daughters and one son. He lived to be over seventy-two years of age.
John S. Frost, who was likewise born in this town, was a carpenter by trade, which he followed throughout his life. He was a man of fine physique, standing six feet two inches high, and weighing two hundred and nine pounds. He never used either tobacco or liquor. Politically, he affiliated with the Democratic party, and served the public in various offices of importance. He died from the effects of a sunstroke, at the age of thirty- nine years. His wife, Sarah R., was formerly Miss Chesley, of Durham, a sister of Judge Chesley, of Dover. She had five children, four sons and a daughter, all now living. Of these, Thomas B. is City Treasurer of Chelsea, Mass. ; John S. has charge of the Electric Railroad Station in Somerville, Mass. ; George B. is a Congregationalist minister, being at present pastor of the church in Littleton, Mass. The wife of the Rev. George B. Frost was the first woman preacher ordained by the Congregationalists. . Some time ago, during an absence of her husband in Europe, lasting eight months, she ac- ceptably discharged his pastoral duties.
William J. Frost completed his school edu- cation in his native town. In 1864, at the age of sixteen, he enlisted in the United States Navy, and served one year on the United States steamer "Vandalia." Having been honorably discharged therefrom, he was employed in the machine shop of Davis & Furber, at North Andover, Mass., for eigh- teen months, when his heath failed. He then went to Mr. Tewksbury's shop in Haver- hill, Mass., and served a three years' appren- ticeship to shoe-cutting. Later he was em- ployed as foreman in James Freeland's shoe shop in Lyun, Mass., for seven years. In 1885 he came to Portsmouth to take charge of a cutting-room, a position which he has ac- ceptably filled to the present time. This is
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the largest cutting-room in the country, re- quiring a working force of one hundred and seventy-five men.
In 1874 he married Nellie H. White, daughter of Captain Robert White, of New Castle. Mr. and Mrs. Frost have one daugh- ter and two sons. The family resided in Ports . mouth for nine years, but for the past three years they have resided in New Castle. Mr. Frost attends, by preference, the Congrega- tional church of New Castle. In politics he is a Democrat. He was once nominated for Alderman in this city, but he was defeated by a small majority. On that occasion he yielded to the solicitation of friends, as he had no desire for office. He is a member of Piscataqua Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, since 1872; also of Lodge No. 22, Knights of Pythias, all the chairs of which he has successively filled. He was a member of the Royal Arcanum of Lynn, of which he was Regent when he left. He is a comrade of Store Post, Grand Army of the Republic; and he has just entered the United Order of American Mechanics.
J OSEPH B. BROWN, a well-known and successful market gardener of Hamp- ton, was born here, July 19, 1862, son of John G. and Mary A. (Johnson) Brown. Ile is a member of a long-established and respected family of Hampton. His grand- father, Simon Brown, was born in Hampton, where he passed his adult life, working as a carpenter and employed in general agricult- ure. He joined in wedlock with Miss Ann (Sherburne) Batchelder, a native of North Hampton, and their union resulted in the birth of seven children; namely, Sherburne, Samuel, Charlotte, George, Simon, Jeremiah, and John G. Only the last two survive. Jeremiah resides in the lower part of the town. The father died after attaining a goodly old age.
John G. Brown, who was born on the pater- nal estate, received his education in the dis- trict schools of Hampton. For the long period of forty years he had the management of the Ballard farm. At the expiration of that time he engaged in general husbandry on
his own account. He purchased the Marston farm and also the John Mason property, on which estates he has latterly been occupied in raising garden produce. He united in matri- mony with Miss Mary A. Johnson, daughter of William Johnson, a resident of Boston, Mass. Their children are Joseph B., John G., Albert R., and Lottie A. H. The family circle is still unbroken, as all reside on the home farm, variously employed in its differ- ent occupations. The father, who has been a lifelong resident of Hampton, has a broad circle of acquaintances, among whom he is sincerely esteemed. In religious belief and sympathy he is in intimate fellowship with the Congregational church of Hampton.
Joseph B. Brown grew to maturity on the old homestead, receiving his education in the district schools and at the Hampton Academy. Throughout his life he has been more or less closely identified with the work of the farm, and he now co-operates with his father in its management. His sterling qualities have long been noted by the community, which has shown its appreciation by electing him to im- portant offices. He has been a member of the Board of Selectmen for six years, and he has served on the Board of Education for three years. In national politics since his majority he has supported the Democratic party, cast- ing his Presidential vote for Grover Cleveland in the campaign of 1884.
EORGE WALLACE PICKERING, a well-known contractor and builder of Newington, Rockingham County, N. H., was born here on February 18, 1861. His parents were Joseph W. and Sarah Q. (Foss) Pickering. His paternal grandfather, Joseph W. Pickering, Sr., was a native of Portsmouth. He was a carpenter by trade, but in his later years kept a grocery store.
His son, Joseph W., the father of George Wallace, was also a native of Portsmouth, being born there on January 12, 1806. He died August 26, 1867. Most of his early years were spent in his native city; but, when a young man, he decided on a sea-faring life, making several whaling voyages of three years' duration. He married Sarah Q. Foss, daugh-
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ter of Solomon Foss, of the town of Rye, N. H. ; and soon after his marriage they began housekeeping in Newington, where he re- mained through the rest of his life. His mortal remains rest in the Newington Ceme- tery. Mrs. Sarah Q. Pickering still lives (1896), at the age of seventy-five years. She is the mother of three children: Hannah Josephine Pickering, a maiden lady living in Newington; George Wallace; and Joseph 1. Pickering, who resides in Chelsea, Mass.
George Wallace Pickering received a com- mon-school education in his native town, but began working for himself when he was but nine years old, on a neighboring farm. Hav- ing a natural taste for mechanics, he also did some carpentering in his youth. In 1880 he procured his present home property, to which he removed in 1885, since which time he has made many improvements. Farm work, how- ever, has been abandoned by him in favor of contracting and building, which Mr. Pickering has successfully followed for nearly a dozen years. In politics he is a Republican, but he does not seek office. He is a member of the local lodge, Knights of Pythias.
The maiden name of his wife, to whom he was married on December 14, 1892, was Annie E. Cooke. She is a native of Newark, N. J. They have one child, a little daughter, Margaret.
J USTUS J. BEAN, who has been a resi- dent of Brentwood for more than a quarter of a century, is the proprietor of a finely improved farm within the limits of the township. He was born in the town of Hawk, now Danville, this county, January 28, 1830, son of Ezra S. and Betsey K. (Hoyt) Bean.
Ezra S. Bean was likewise a native of Dan- ville, where he spent the first half of his life. He was engaged in farming there until 1840, when he went to Raymond this county. After spending a year in Raymond, he removed to Fremont, and there carried on farming, and worked as a wheelwright until his death. He married Betsey K. Hoyt, a native of Ray- mond, who after the death of her husband made her home with her son, Justus J., as
long as she lived. She had a family of six children, of whom Arvilla, Ezra, and Frances are deceased. The others are: Justus J., the subject of this sketch; Lydia, now the wife of Jacob W. Smith, and living in West Brentwood: and Napoleon, who married Miss Lizzie Mace, and now resides in this town- ship.
Justus J. Bean received a common-school education. He assisted his father, on the farm and in the shop, until he attained his majority. Then he went to West Brentwood, and worked for Horace Wood for about a year. The succeeding fifteen years he worked in a carriage factory at Crawley's Falls, this county, for Albert Brown. At the expiration of that time he had saved fourteen hundred dollars. He was subsequently employed in the same town, but in another factory, for two years more. Mr. Bean then began working as a laborer on his present farm, which was then owned by Squire Morrill, with whom he re- mained as long as he lived. After the death of Mr. Morrill Mr. Bean inherited the entire property. It is a fine farm of two hundred acres, much of which is in a high state of cultivation. In politics Mr. Bean is a sturdy Democrat. By his straightforward and up- right methods he has won the cordial respect of his townsmen.
Mr. Bean married, January 1, 1884, Miss Lizzie A. Morse, who was born and reared in Brentwood. Her father, the late Isaac G. Morse, who was a native of Chester, removed to this town, where he was engaged in farming pursuits until his demise. He married Waitie Ann Bean, a native of Fremont. Mrs. Bean died October 5, 1894, leaving no chil- dren.
A LBERT SHEPHARD SMITII, a
well-known and successful farmer of Ilampton Falls, was born in Exeter, this county, January 21, 1830, son of Shephard and Abigail ( Rundlett) Smith. His father, a native of Candia, this county, was a stage agent at Exeter. He was united in marriage with Abigail, a daughter of Joseph and Priscilla (Wilson) Rundlett, residents of Exeter. Her mother was a native of Lee,
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N. H. The union resulted in the birth of two sons, namely: George, who died in in- fancy; and Albert S., the subject of this sketch. On March 1, 1830, the father met his death accidentally by the overturning of his coach at Amesbury, Mass., whither he had driven to attend a political meeting.
Albert S. Smith attended the public schools of his native town for the customary period of time. He then found employment in a cotton- mill at Exeter. Subsequently he learned the trade of a machinist at South New Market, this county, and worked at it for many years. For the greater part of that time he was em- ployed in the shops of the Boston & Maine Railroad, located at Charlestown, Mass., hav- ing special charge of the brass-work. He abandoned the trade in 1878, and purchased the estate in Hampton Falls known as the Atkinson farm, comprising ninety acres of land. Here he has since resided, engaged in general agriculture, but chiefly in the produc- tion and sale of butter.
On June 17, 1849, Mr. Smith was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary T. J. Beals, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Asa Beals, residents of New Market, N. H. They have had seven children, of whom five attained maturity, and two are living. The survivors are Mary A.
and Hattie E. Emma C. and Ella D., twin sisters, died July 8, 1888; Arvilla A. died August 1, 1856; George A., October 24, 1862; and Alice W., July 5, 1878. The mother died September 11, 1887, leaving a grief-stricken husband whose faithful helpmate and companion she had been for nearly forty years. In national politics Mr Smith follows the lead of the Republican party and the American Protective Association. In his carlier life he was identified with the Whig party, and in 1852 he deposited his first ballot for that party's Presidential candidate. His religious convictions have led him into com- munion with the Baptist church.
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