USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire > Part 16
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In politics Mr. Pinkham cast his first Presi- dential votes for Lewis Cass and Franklin Pierce, but from the time of John C. Fre- mont's candidature for President he has been a stalwart Republican. He has been a delegate to numerous State conventions, and to Dis- trict No. I Congressional Conventions many times, being one of the Vice-Presidents of the latter in 1892 and the first Vice-President of the Republican State Convention (the Hon. William E. Chandler, President) that met at Concord, March 31, 1896, to elect delegates
to send to the Republican National Conven- tion to be held at St. Louis, Mo., June 16, 1896, to select the candidates to be supported for President and Vice-President next Novem- ber, 1896. He has also been an active mem- ber of the Republican State Committee since 1892, and was Chairman of Senatorial Conven- tion District No. 23, September 12, 1894. His popularity is shown by the fact that he and his colleague, Frank HI. Durgin, served as Representatives of New Market for the years 1895-96, being the first Republicans to hold that office in fourteen years; and he is now being prominently spoken of as a candidate for County Treasurer or one of the Governor's Council. He has been often urged to take town offices, but has never yet been willing to accept them. Mr. Pinkham has been Justice of the Peace for more than a quarter of a century and a Notary Public since April 4, 1893.
He is socially prominent in a number of clubs - New Hampshire Historical Society, the New England Genealogical Society, the New Hampshire Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, the New Hampshire Club, Boston, Mass., Lincoln Club, Concord, and the Rockingham County Republican Club, Exeter. Having been very earnestly invited to join the order of Knights of Pythias, he handed in his name for membership in Pioneer Lodge, No. 1, of New Market ; and upon tak- ing his full degrees, February 13, 1896, he was very cordially and most flatteringly re- ceived by one of the largest attendances of its members that the lodge has ever gathered for a similar purpose. Upon the instituting of Lamprey River Grange, No. 240, Patrons of Husbandry, in New Market, with forty-one charter members, on the evening of the anni- versary of his birthday, February 26, 1896, he was, without mention or solicitation on his part, very unexpectedly unanimously selected for the Master of the same; and it has been and is being prospered beyond the most sanguine expectations of its most hopeful friends, now having a finely selected member- ship of about seventy, and has received very warm and congratulatory. compliments on its good condition and work from the Secretary and Master of the State grange and others.
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On the evening of April 31, 1896, at Dover, N. H., with a large class of some thirty or more, he was admitted a member of Eastern New llampshire Pomona, and was admitted as an associated member of the Grand Army of the Republic, George A. Gay Post, No. 18, New Market, N.H., April 29, 1896. He has an acquaintance with nearly all of the members and ex-members of Congress, judges and ex- judges, governors and ex-governors, many of the leading manufacturers and bankers, and other prominent men of the State.
Mr. Pinkham's indefatigable energy has further led to the invention of plough im- provements, carpenter's planes, nut-locking devices, men's suspenders, and other articles. In the most of the various affairs which have engaged his attention he has met with excel- lent financial results, being a large owner of stocks and securities in the New Hampshire Trust Company, one of the largest institutions of the kind in the United States. He has given much time, study, and correspondence to the mining and other resources of the coun- try and to local histories and genealogical re- searches. Mr. Pinkham has travelled through the thirteen original States and Maine and Florida, having spent many months in Wash- ington, D.C., going there many times. He is, however, a loyal son of New Hampshire, always returning from his sojourns with a feeling that his native State or some part of New England is the only true abiding-place.
In religion Mr. Pinkham is non-sectarian, tolerating and recognizing the good in every denomination. He has never used tobacco or any of its manufactures or liquors or other stimulants. He has formed no partnerships, commercial or matrimonial, having gained his victories singly and alone, and, if he con- tinues to have his health and lives to a reason- ably good old age, hopes to be able to accom- plish much more. He is a square-dealing, unpretending citizen, who is justly entitled to the respect and honor which he has achieved. Ile has always made it the rule of his life to pay for everything as he had it, and, notwith- standing the numerous and very severe losses that he has met with, owing to panics, dis- honesty, and scoundrelism generally, still owns whatever he pretends to.
R USSELL H. FELLOWS, a promi- nent business man of the town of Brentwood, was born here, January 16, 1841. His paternal grand- father, Simcon Fellows, was for many years a resident of Wood's Corner, where he was en- gaged in mercantile pursuits besides being a job printer. He was an active and influential citizen, taking a prominent part in the growth and development of the community, and living there until his demise in September, 1853. He married Dorothy Bartlett, who preceded him to the world beyond, dying in 1849.
His son, Stephen Fellows, father of Russell H., was a lifelong resident of Brentwood, where he died at a good age, June 21, 1895. He was a farmer by occupation and a man of enterprise and foresight. He established an extensive lumber business, and in 1860 built the Fellows box factory, being subsequently engaged in the manufacture of shoe boxes, building material, etc., and carrying on a large and lucrative business. He was twice married. His first wife, Narcissa G. Sinclair, a native of Brentwood, died in 1870, leaving five children, namely : Russell H .; Emma S., widow of the late William L. Bartlett; Mary A., now deceased; Narcissa A., widow of the late Levi Weeks; and John H. The last named, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this volume, is a large manufacturer in Brent- wood. He was first married to Sarah Morton, and after her death to Miss Ella Wilson. In 1873 the father was again married, his second wife being Mrs. Mary D. (Sanborn) Weeks, who survives him.
Russell H. Fellows has been engaged in the saw-mill and lumber business for thirty-five years, and has met with great success in this industry, as well as in manufacturing. For the past eight years he has manufactured brick, and is also now running a box factory, hav- ing an extensive and profitable business. Ile gives employment to about one hundred men, his plant being one of the foremost industrial enterprises in this part of Rockingham County. Mr. Fellows is a stanch Republican in poli- tics, and takes a deep interest in local and State affairs. For three years he served as Selectman, and in 1874 and 1875 represented his town in the State legislature. lle is
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prominent in Masonic circles, being a member of Gideon Lodge, No. 84, A. F. & A. M .; of St. Albans Chapter, No. 15, of Exeter; and of De Witt Clinton Commandery, Knights Templars, of Portsmouth, N. H.
Mr. Fellows was married in November, 1867, to Miss M. Susan Sanborn, who was born in Danville, this State, a daughter of John S. and Johanna B. (Philbrook) Sanborn. Of their union two children have been born --- Bertie, whose earthly life was brief; and Car- roll R., who married Gertrude F. Thyng, and lives in Brentwood, where he is extensively engaged in farming. He also has an interest with his father in the lumber business.
ENRY CROWELL, of Londonderry, N.H., a prominent citizen, who has represented the town in the State legislature, and is now in office as Selectman, was born in this historic town on June 22, 1828. He is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Smithers) Crowell, and is of English descent, claiming kinship with Oliver Crom- well, the great Lord Protector of England. The name Crowell, it is said, was originally Cromwell, and through the tendency of the English people to slur over consonants, notice- able now in the pronunciation of such names as Grosvenor and Cholmondeley (pronounced Chumley), the w was dropped.
David Crowell, Mr. Henry Crowell's grand- father, who was the first of the family in Lon- donderry, settled in this town somcwhat more than a hundred years ago. He served in the Continental army in the Revolution, and in the latter part of his life drew a pension for his services.
Samuel Crowell, son of David, was born in Londonderry, and spent a great part of his life there. A shoemaker by trade, he was engaged in manufacturing shoes in Salem, Mass., for some time, and sold boots and shoes at retail. Ilc finally. retired to a farm in Londonderry, where he spent his last days. When a young man Mr. Samuel Crowell was a Jacksonian Democrat ; but as he grew older he changed his views, and joined the Republican party. He was a member of the Presbyterian church. His wife, Mrs. Sarah S. Crowell,
who was born in Marblehead, Mass., died in Londonderry many years ago. Two of their children are living - Henry, the subject of this sketch; and Harriet, wife of James K. Floyd, a resident of Franklin, N. H.
Henry Crowell was educated in the common schools of Londonderry. Though reared on a farm, he did not settle down to the pursuit of agriculture when the time came for him to choose his vocation, but selected a totally different line of business. For over thirty years he has been engaged as a travelling salesman for the Dunn Edge Tool Company of Oakland, Me., one of the largest concerns of its kind in the world. He travels through- out New England and the Canadas, dealing with both the retail and the wholesale trade; and his success is indicated by the length of his term of service. Mr. Crowell has a good farm of eighty acres in Londonderry and a very pleasant home.
He was married October 3, 1850, to Judith C. Plummer, a native of Auburn, this county, daughter of Dr. Nathan Plummer. Mrs. Crowell's father, who was a son of Nathan Plummer, Sr., a Revolutionary soldier and an carly settler in Londonderry, was born in this town. He was educated at Pinkerton Acad- emy, Derry, and at Dartmouth College Medi- cal School, Hanover, N.H. ; and he was one of the best physicians of his day, being much loved and respected by the citizens of Chester, N. H., where he practised many years. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Re- publican. He was a prominent member of the Presbyterian church at Auburn, in which he was Deacon for some time. Dr. Plummer died in Chester. Of his children the follow- ing are living: Mary, Mrs. Lufkin, a widow residing in Auburn, N. H. ; William M., in Manchester, this State; Judith C., Mrs. Cro- well; Edwin, residing in Auburn; Albert, a physician, in Hamilton, Minn. ; and Sarah, wife of Henry Bond, of Santa Barbara, Cal. Mrs. Crowell, who is a lady of more than ordi- nary intellectual capacity, is an interesting conversationalist, and has acquired a reputa- tion as a public speaker of ability, though for some years past she has not appearcd in public as frequently as in her younger days. She is the mother of five children -- Frank S. and
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Charles A., living; and Henry P., Clarence, and Sarah F:, dead.
Mr. Crowell is a Republican in politics. He has served for three terms as Representa- tive from Londonderry to the New Hampshire State legislature; and he was in office as Town Clerk five years, and is now serving his second term as Selectman. He is an Elder of the Presbyterian Church of Londonderry. A citizen who always has at heart the best in- terests of his town, he stands high in the re- gard of his townsmen; and his estimable wife shares with him the esteem of the community.
J OSHUA BARSTOW JOHNSON, who has spent a large portion of his four- score and three years of life in Ports- mouth, was born March 29, 1813, in the town of Stratham, Rockingham County, a son of Brackett and Sophia (Barstow) John- son. The Johnson family are of English origin, the first ancestor in this county having been a minister of the gospel, who crossed the ocean in the "Mayflower," bringing with him his young wife, who was the daughter of a nobleman.
Philip Johnson, the grandfather of Joshua B., was born in Durham, this State, where he was, presumably, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary War, in which he served as Captain of a company. Captain Philip Johnson married Miss Brackett, a sister of the late Dr. Brack- ett, and they became the parents of four chil- dren ; namely, Joshua, James, Brackett, and Sarah, of whom the last named married a Mr. Messer.
Brackett Johnson was born and reared in Greenland, Rockingham County. After leav- ing the district school he learned the black- smith's trade, which he followed for a while, but was obliged finally to give up on account of his health. He then became a sailor, and during the War of 1812 served on board a pri- vateer. Abandoning the sea, he subsequently engaged in the livery business in this city, being at one time associated with his brother Joshua on Hanover Street. While thus occu- pied he at one time took a cargo of horses to Demerara, South America. In politics he
was a Whig, and cast his first Presidential vote for John Q. Adams. In religion he was a member of the Methodist church. He was twice married. His first wife, Sophia Bar- stow, bore him but one child, Joshua Barstow, whose name appears at the head of this sketch. His second wife was the daughter of a Mr. Merrill, who edited the first arithmetic pub- lished in New Hampshire. She was born and reared in Stratham, where her father was en- gaged in teaching for many years, and was subsequently Justice of the Peace. Six chil- dren were born of this union, as follows : Sophia J. ; Brackett, Jr. ; Amanda M. ; Frank B., who was for some years prior to his death City Marshal of Portsmouth; Napoleon B .; and John W.
Joshua Barstow Johnson received his cduca- tion in the schools of Portsmouth, and first began work in the livery stable owned by his uncle, with whom he remained for many years. By industry, perseverance, and good judgment he has successfully fought the battle of life and accumulated a fair competency as a sup- port for his declining years. During his long career he has made many friends, and by faith- fully discharging the duties of a man and citi- zen has earned the respect of all.
RED C. BUXTON is a prosperous gen- eral merchant and liveryman of Salem, Rockingham County, N. H., where he was born June 12, 1869, son of Joseph and Rhoda A. Buxton. For upward of nineteen years his father was engaged in the undertak- ing business at Salem, N. H. llis widowed mother still resides in town, at Salem Depot.
Fred C. Buxton acquired his early education in the public schools of Salem, and afterward attended the Pinkerton Academy at Derry and the Atkinson Academy. While but a youth he engaged in mercantile business, and after a time went into partnership with Frank D). Wilson, under the firm name of Buxton & Wilson. This connection had existed but a short time, however, when he became sole pro- prietor. He has since continued in business alone, carrying a good assortment of dry goods, hardware, groceries, grain, flour, butter, cheese, eggs, canned goods, patent medicines,
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and notions, and has a flourishing trade. He is agent for the American Express Copmany, and besides his store conducts a small livery business, keeping ten good horses, the patron- age bestowed on this branch of his business bearing ample testimony to its popularity.
Mr. Buxton and Miss Etta S. Tilton were married in 1888; and their union has been blessed by the birth of one son, Harold T.
Mr. Buxton has always been a loyal Repub- lican. He has served as Postmaster of Salem Depot for several years. Fraternally, he is a member of Lodge No. 145, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Lawrence, Mass. ; also of Lodge No. 85, A. F. & A. M., of Salem, N. H. ; and of the United Order of Pilgrim Fathers at Salem Depot.
A® BRAM W. MITCHELL, M. D., of Epping, N. H., the senior county physician of Rockingham County, was born in Lempster, Sullivan County, N. H., February 8, 1862. He is the son of Andrew J. and Mary M. (Whittemore) Mitchell, both natives of New Hampshire, who are at present residing in Lempster. Andrew J. Mitchell was engaged in the early part of his active life in the manufacture of boots and shoes, but for some years past has given his attention solely to agriculture. A man of pronounced views, he is an ardent Prohibitionist, and has taken a prominent part in public affairs, local and otherwise, serving at one time in the State legislature.
Abram W. Mitchell received his primary education in the public schools of his native town and at Kimball Union Academy at Meri- den, N. H. With a view to defraying the ex- penses of his professional course of study he began to teach when quite young, and was very successful, so much so that he found ready employment as a teacher, and for about eight years taught successive terms of school, continuing his own studies in the mean time. During two years he was Principal of the Marlow Academy, and was also superintendent of schools at Lempster. He took up the study of medicine when about twenty-one years of age, at first under the tuition of Dr. Carl A. Allen, of Acworth, N. H., and subsequently
under Dr. Marshall Perkins, of Marlow, and was graduated at the University of New York in 1887. Locating at once in Harrisville, N. H., Dr. Mitchell practised there until his removal to Epping in the spring of 1888. That same year he was appointed county physician, and he is still in office. A man of scholarly tastes, always seeking to add to his store of knowledge, he is a close student, and in the winter of 1895 found time to take a post-graduate course at the University of New York. As a physician he is careful and con- scientious, and his popularity is yearly increas- ing.
Dr. Mitchell was married to Miss Hattie F. Perkins, daughter of Dr. Marshall Perkins, in October, 1888; and three charming children are now growing up in his home - Avis, Karl, and Richard. In politics Dr. Mitchell favors the Democratic side. He belongs to the two leading social orders of the day, the Masonic fraternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In religious matters he gives his aid and support to the Methodist Episcopal church. He is widely known and esteemed, his character, as shown by his career as a student, a teacher, and physician, possessing a moral soundness and constancy that win re- spect and confidence.
D ANIEL H. WEBSTER, one of the leading and successful farmers of Auburn, was born in Manchester, N. H., September 2, 1843, son of Joshua and Betsey (Underhill) Webster. His grandfather, Israel Webster, who was a farmer of Manchester and also operated a saw-mill there, first married a Miss Perham, who bore him nine children, all of whom are now de- ceased. Israel contracted a second marriage with Hannah Buswell, who bore him no chil dren. In politics he was a Democrat. His brother, John Webster, served as an officer in the War of 1812, a fact which indicates that, notwithstanding the pacific pursuits of the family, there was fighting blood in them.
Joshua Webster, a son of Israel and the father of Daniel, was a native of Manchester, and received his education in the schools of that town and of Auburn. He conducted a
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ABRAM W. MITCHELL.
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grist and saw mill in his native town, and also was prosperously engaged in farming. His wife, Betsey Underhill, a native of Chester, bore him seven children, three of whom are now living. These are : Israel N., who is liv- ing in Lisbon, N. H. ; Daniel H., the subject of this sketch; and Annie, now the wife of George M. Robertson, of Concord, N. H. In his political faith, like his father, he was a Democrat. He was a conscientious member of the Methodist church. His death occurred in 1856, at the age of fifty-six years and five months.
Daniel H. Webster was reared on his father's farm, receiving his education in the district school. After leaving school he began farm- ing for a living. He now owns a farm of about one hundred and twenty-five acres, com- prising pasture, tillage, and wood land. Be- sides several horses he keeps a half-dozen cows, with whose milk he supplies quite a number of Manchester patrons. The people of Auburn have manifested their esteem for him by electing him Selectman for five terms, during one of which he was Chairman of the Board. He was also made the Trustee of the Town Library and a member of the School Board. Following the family line of political belief, he is a Democrat.
On December 24, 1874, he was married to Miss Mary E. Crouch, of Haverhill, Grafton County. Three children blessed the union ; namely, George F., Minnie L., and Mary E., all residing at home. The family enjoy the comforts of a well-ordered and abundantly provided country home.
EWIS E. GOVE, one of the town fathers of Kensington, N. H., a "forty-niner" and a Grand Army man, was born in Portsmouth, this State, February 13, 1825, son of Lewis and Susan (Tilton) Gove. He belongs to an old New England family of English origin. His immigrant ancestor, John Gove, who was a London man, settled in Charlestown, Mass., in 1646, and died there in November, 1647. His son Edward, who was born in England in 1639, was a resident of Salisbury, Mass., as early as 1657, and died in Hampton, N. II.,
July 29, 1691. His wife's name was Hannah Titcomb. They were married some years be- fore removing to Hampton. (See History of Hampton, N. H.)
John Gove, the son of this couple, was born on September 19, 1661, and died in Hampton Falls, October 15, 1737. John Gove and his wife Sarah were the parents of John Gove, Jr., who was born in Hampton Falls, in that part of the town later known as Seabrook, May 29, 1689, and died there March 23, 1759. This gentleman married in 1720 Ruth Johnson, a native of Hampton, born February 24, 1695, who died in Seabrook, June 30, 1766. Their son, Obadiah, the third of a family of seven children, was born in Seabrook, September 2, 1723, and died in Kensington in 1780. His wife, Mary Dow, was born in Salisbury, Mass., November 24, 1728, and died in Ken- sington, October 21, ISII.
Enoch Gove, son of Obadiah and Mary (Dow) Gove, was born in Kensington, August 10, 1764. He was one of the most industrious of the early settlers of the town, and cleared a large tract of land there. In politics he was a Whig. He died in Kensington, December 3, 1828. His wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Dearborn, was born in Kensington, July 23, 1768, and died there June 2, 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Gove were Quakers in early life, and later joined the Congregational church. They were the parents of seven chil- dren, one of whom is living; namely, Mrs. Lucinda Shattuck, of Ludlow, Ky., who has one child - Ada, wife of Thomas Howard.
Lewis Gove, son of Enoch and Hannah (Dearborn) Gove, was born in Kensington, January 9, 1796, and passed his boyhood on the farm now occupied by his son. When he was eighteen years of age he engaged as a butcher in Portsmouth, N. H., remaining there until 1837. In that year he returned to Ken- sington and turned his attention to agriculture, spending the rest of his life on the home farm. He was one of the leading citizens of Kensing- ton, active among the Democrats of the dis- triet, and served as Selectman and as Repre- sentative to the General Court. He died in July, 1842. His wife was a daughter of Jere- miah Tilton, of Kensington. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Gove were Unitarians in religious
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belief. They were the parents of four chil- dren, as follows : Lewis E., the subject of this sketch; Harriet A. ; Andrew, who married Miss Rosepha Gillman, and is now living in South Dakota; and Clinton, who married Miss Anna Piper, of Stratham, and has two chil- dren - Irving and Ralph.
Lewis E. Gove received his primary educa- tion in Portsmouth, being twelve years of age when his parents removed to Kensington. He worked about the farm in youth and early man- hood; and in 1849, one of the first to catch the gold fever, he went to California, taking passage on the ship "Charlotte," which sailed from Boston for San Francisco by the way of Cape Horn. The voyage consumed one hun- dred and eighty-eight days; and Mr. Gove ar- rived in the Golden State, September 8, 1849. He remained two years, mining with varied success, and in 1851, weary of the rough and lawless life of the mining camps, returned to Kensington. In 1853 he went to Lexington, Ky., where as a contractor he worked for two years on the construction of the Cincinnati, Lexington & Danville Railroad. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the New Hampshire bat- talion of the First Rhode Island Cavalry, so called at that time, this State furnishing one battalion and Rhode Island two. Later there were two distinct regiments, First New Hamp- shire and First Rhode Island Cavalry. His three years in the army - in malarial camp, on gory battlefield, and in wearisome forced marches under the burning sun of the South - satisfied his adventurous spirit. The war hav- ing closed, he was discharged from the army in July, 1865. From 1869 to April, 1877, Mr. Gove lived in Rhode Island. He has since resided in New Hampshire. One of the substantial citizens of Kensington, Mr. Gove is highly respected by his townsmen, and has long occupied a prominent place in the com- munity.
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