Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire, Part 18

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 18

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forces - the first battle of Bull Run. After that he was in twenty-six important engage- ments, including many of the battles of Mc- Clellan's campaign to Richmond, also An- tietam, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, the second battle of Bull Run, Williamsburg, and the siege of Yorktown, and a number of skir- mishes. During the second battle of Bull Run he was wounded in the right arm. Mr. Dickey was in the army three years, and was honorably discharged in June, 1864. For a number of years thereafter he resided in Man- chester, managing a small farm and working at his trade, which he followed for twenty-five years. In the spring of 1887 he removed to Londonderry, locating on the farm which he now occupies, a fine estate of one hundred and sixty-five acres.

Mr. Dickey was married in July, 1864, to Miss Emma A. Libbie, and by that union had three children - Nelson H., William G., and Carrie M. His present wife, who was before marriage Miss Lana S. George, is the mother of one child, George W. Dickey.

As a farmer Mr. Dickey is very successful ; and he is a prominent member of Londonderry Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. A public- spirited man, he takes an active interest in town affairs, and has the respect and confi- dence of his fellow-citizens. He served as Selectman of Manchester, and is now serving his second year as Chairman of the London- derry Board of Selectmen. As a Grand Army man he is a member of Wesley B. Knight Post, No. 41, of Londonderry.

A LBERT FIELD, of whom a portrait is presented, is a retired merchant of South New Market and an ex-mem- ber of the New Hampshire legis-

lature. He was born in Peterboro, N. H., July 14, 1825, son of William and Mary (McAllis- ter) Field. Mr. Field's grandfather, John Field, who was a tanner by trade, moved from Braintree, Mass., to Peterboro about the year 1785, and followed his calling there for the rest of his active life. He was a good busi- ness man, a worthy citizen, had the respect and good will of his fellow-townsmen, and lived to a good old age. He married Ruth

ALBERT FIELD.

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Thayer, who also attained an advanced age. They reared eight children, five sons and three daughters, of whom William, Mr. Field's father, was the third son.

William Field was born in Braintree, No- vember 18, 1782. In young manhood he removed to Peterboro, where he afterward was a successful farmer. He also found time to discharge the duties of a commissioned officer in the old State militia. In politics he was originally a Whig, but in his latter years he supported the Republican party. He died in 1863, at the age of eighty-one years. His wife, Mary, who was born in Peterboro, No- vember 26, 1785, became the mother of fifteen children, all of whom grew to maturity. Of these there are living: Catherine, born April 20, 1813; Franklin, born May 1, 1819; Ruth, born October 9, 1820; Albert, the subject of this sketch; and Lois, born October 23, 1826. The others were: William J., born January 4, 1809; Alexander H., born December 22, 1809; Mary A., born March 22, 1811; John G., born April 14, 1812; Charles, born September 18, 1814; Harriett, born May 7, 1816; Jeremiah, born July 12, 1817; Charlotte, born March 11, 1822; Henry, born October 30, 1823; and Eunice, born October 9, 1829. Both parents were members of the Congregational church. The mother's death occurred in 1857.

Albert Field grew to manhood in Peterboro, acquiring his education in the district school and at the academy. In 1847 he came to Newfields, where he was first employed as a laborer at the Squamscot Machine Works. Taking advantage of the opportunity there afforded him, he learned the machinist's trade, and thereafter worked at it in the same place until 1864. He then engaged in a general mercantile business, and prosperously carried it on for twenty-five years, acquiring a com- fortable competence. In 1889 he sold out, and is now living in retirement. Politically, he is a Republican, and has for many years been identified with public affairs in this town. He served as a member of the Board of Select- men for four years, during two of which he was Chairman of that body. Ile represented his district in the State legislature in 1861, was Postmaster from 1868 to 1884, and has been a Justice of the Peace since 1857. Ilis

connection with fraternal organizations is limited to membership in the Royal Arcanum.

On January 14, 1851, Mr. Field was united in marriage to Mehitable Perkins, a native of Newfields. She died in 1883, leaving one daughter, Elizabeth P., who is now the wife of C. WV. Scott, of Andover, Mass. On June 22, 1892, Mr. Field wedded for his second wife Augusta E. Russell. She was born in Newbury, Mass., May 15, 1861, daughter of the late Thomas J. and Phoebe (Stillman) Russell. Mr. Russell was a native of Rox- bury, Mass., and lived to be sixty-two years old; while his wife, who was born in New- buryport, Mass., died at the age of twenty-four years. Besides Mrs. Field they reared a son, John D. Russell, who was born January 13, 1858, and now resides in Beverly, Mass. Mr. Field has made an unexceptionable record as a public servant In the State legislature he was a watchful guardian of the interests of his constituency. It is needless to say that he is held in high regard in the town.

A LANSON C. HAINES, the efficient Cashier of the New Market National Bank, was born here in 1843, son of Washington and Abigail (Fol- som) Haines, both natives of this county. The father was born in Greenland, this county, but left there early in life, going with his parents to Loudon, Merrimack County. His principal business enterprises were the manufacture of wood machinery and cotton batting. He died in 1886. His wife, a na- tive of New Market, now eighty-six years old, is still living.

Alanson C. Haines received his education in the New Market schools, supplemented by study in Pembroke, Merrimack County. He subsequently left the home farm to don the blue. He enlisted in Company D, Fifteenth New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry. After serving for twelve months, he joined Company K, Sixth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, under Captain, afterward Judge, Sherman. On his return from the war he learned the cooper's trade, and followed it for a time. Ile afterward engaged in the manufacture of cotton batting cards. About this time Mr.

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Haines received the appointment of Assistant Assessor in the United States Internal Rev- enue Service, and had filled the office two years when it was abolished. During the next two years he worked for T. H. Wiswall & Co., paper manufacturers, as book-keeper. Mercantile pursuits then engaged his atten- tion for a few years, after which other occupa- tions were followed until 1883, when he entered the New Market National Bank as clerk. Nine years later he was chosen Cashier, which position he has filled ever since. In politics Mr. Haines is a Republican. In 1880 he served as census enumerator, and in 1877 and 1878 he officiated as Selectman. He is now serving as Chairman of the Board, having been re-elected in 1895 and 1896. In Febru- ary he was appointed a delegate to the Na- tional Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic at Milwaukee, Wis., in 1896. Mr. Haines was also a prominent member of Com- pany G, First New Hampshire National Guards, for five or six years, during which time he was promoted from the rank of First Lieu- tenant to that of Captain. He is a comrade of the George A. Gay Post, Grand Army of the Republic. In Masonry he has reached the thirty-second degree. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and also to Lamprey River Grange, No. 240.

Mr. Haines has been twice married. In 1868 he was united to Olivia Haley, daughter of John P. Haley, of Lee, N. H., who died in 1883. His second marriage was contracted with Clara Wiswall, a daughter of Thomas H. Wiswall, of Durham, N. H. Mr. and Mrs. Haines have one daughter, Hannah W. The mother is a highly respected member of the Congregational church. Mr. Haine's accept- able prominence in military and Masonic circles contributes, no doubt, to his social popularity.

APTAIN GEORGE S. GARVIN, of North Londonderry, N. H., a mari- ner who has made many voyages to the whaling grounds of the South Pacific and the Northern seas, was born in Londonderry, March 18, 1845. He is the son of Benjamin F. and Nancy M. (Spinney) Gar-

vin, both natives of Londonderry, and a grand- son of Jacob Garvin, an early resident of Man- chester, N.H. Benjamin F. Garvin spent his life in this county. A Republican in poli- tics, he was a prominent man in Londonderry, and served on the Board of Selectmen. Of his children, five are living. These are: Au- gustus S., residing in Revere, Mass. ; Eldora J., the wife of Frank Read, of Manchester; Clarence M., a resident of Londonderry ; Arthur O. ; and George S.

Captain George S. Garvin obtained his edu- cation in the public schools of Londonderry. In November, 1862, at the age of seventeen, he began an adventurous life by enlisting at Boston, Mass., in an independent company of volunteer soldiers. This organization was subsequently sent South, and consolidated with the Third Maryland Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, which was afterward united with the Fourth Maryland Regiment. The combined regiments served in the brigade of General Dix, who had charge of the troops at Balti- more, and were. stationed in that city and vicinity for five months. At the expiration of that period Mr. Garvin was honorably dis- charged, and he returned to Londonderry. After some time spent in Londonderry, and a brief stay in Boston, Mass., in the spring of 1864 he embarked at New Bedford, Mass., aboard the "Orytaft," upon his first whaling voyage. The vessel went to Hudson Bay, and was absent eighteen months. Though life on a whaler is a hard one, it suited Mr. Gar- vin, who, after returning to New Bedford, shipped on the bark "Orlando." With this vessel he was connected seven years, making two voyages to the South Pacific in search of sperm whales. During the last three years he was its third mate. Subsequently he sailed from New Bedford as first mate of the bark "Stamboul," which was away forty-two months, cruising in the South Pacific; was master of the brig "Isabella," a Hudson Bay whaler, which was eighteen months out from New Bedford; and was chief mate of the bark "Gazelle," which sailed for the Arctic Ocean by doubling Cape Horn. After the "Gazelle" had been away thirty months Captain Garvin left her at San Francisco, and returned home overland. He was subsequently chief mate

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of the bark "Mars," which took the same route, and which he left in a similar way at San Francisco, after a voyage of eighteen months. He made several other whaling trips to the arctic seas, including a two years' cruise as Captain of the steam bark "Orca," belonging to the Pacific Steam Whal- ing Company, and a three years' cruise as mate of the same vessel. A period of four years he spent at home. Although he has fol- lowed the sea for thirty-two years, Captain Garvin has no thought of retiring from his profession, but expects to make many more voyages to the home of the whale. He is a fascinating story-teller, with an exhaustless fund of anecdote.

October 26, 1877, Captain Garvin was united in marriage with Laura J. Furber, who died March 17, 1896, leaving one son, George O. In politics the Captain is a Republican. His wife was for thirty years a member of the Baptist church. He has a beautiful home in North Londonderry, made doubly attractive to visitors by his genial hospitality.

COBURN HOYT, teller of the Portsmouth Savings Bank, was born in Newington, this county, May 5, 1835, son of John and Eliza- beth (Dame) Hoyt. The family has resided in Rockingham County for three genera- tions. Its earliest representatives in this country appeared in Salem, Mass., in 1638, and in Salisbury, N. H., in 1640. Little doubt is entertained that they came orig- inally from England. Most of the Hoyts, or Hayts, are descended from Simon and John Ilayt. Many of the Haights in the United States are descendants of Samuel Haight, or Hayt, a member of the Society of Friends, who settled in Flushing, L. I., in 1634. The probability is that Samuel was a grandson of Simon Hoyt, whose surname was the version used in 1418 and 1453, and is the one com- monly accepted now.

Samuel Hoyt, grandfather of A. Coburn Hoyt, was a native of Newington. A farmer by occupation, he followed that calling in Newington and Durham, N.H., and died at the age of seventy. He married his cousin,

Nancy Adams, a daughter of Ezekiel Adams, who was a descendant in the direct line of John Quincy Adams, the sixth President of the United States. Of their ten children they reared seven, who were: John, born March 30, 1802; Mary, born December 25, 1803; Elizabeth F., born February 20, 1806; Samuel, born November 21, 1809; Alfred M., born April 18, 1812; Sarah R., born August 21, 1816; and Charles A., born September 10, 1820. Alfred M. kept school in Portsmouth for many years. Sam- uel was a Methodist preacher, who followed his vocation in Durhanı, Newington, and Methuen, Mass., and in the last place mar- ried Eliza Colby.

John Hoyt, who was a native of Newington, followed farming very prosperously in Dur- ham, and afterward in Newington, where he died at the age of sixty-six years. He was three times married. His first marriage was with Elizabeth Dame, of Newington, who died in 1842, having borne him seven chil- dren. These were: James W., John E., Martha Ann, Frances, A. Coburn, Samuel W., and Martin. By his second wife, Martha A. (Nutter) Hoyt, he became the father of one child, Adeline. His third wife, whose maiden name was Abigail P. Coleman, borc him five children, of whom three are living; namely, Henry, Jackson M., and Nancy.

A. Coburn Iloyt received his education in the common schools of Newington, continuing his attendance until 1851, when he reached the age of sixteen years. He taught school in Auburn, N. H., during the following year, but spent the next year in studying at the North- field (N. II. ) Seminary, now named Tilton Seminary. After this he engaged in school- teaching again, spending the winters of 1853 and 1854 in Rye, this county; of 1855 and 1856 in Portsmouth; and that of 1857 in Elliott, N.HI. He came again to Portsmouth in 1858, and taught there continuously until 1869, when he accepted the position of teller in the old Portsmouth Savings Bank. He has been employed in this capacity since, winning the sincere respect of all who have had deal- ings with the bank. In addition to this em- ployment he has also been engaged in the business of a civil engineer for the past

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twenty-five years, and at present does all the surveying needed by the city. .

In 1868 Mr. Hoyt was united in matrimony with Emily S. Rogers, daughter of George Rogers, of Portsmouth. He has seven chil- dren, all of whom are living. They are: Roger, who is book-keeper in the coal office of J. A. & A. W. Walker, Portsmouth; Frank C., a graduate of Dartmouth College, class of 1890, who is a designer for the Vermont Con- struction Company of St. Albans; George A., who is a skilful mechanic of Portsmouth; Emily J., who is the wife of J. Arthur Heaton, a coal merchant of Brookline, Mass. ; Grace L., who resides at home; and Robert E. and Roland, who are still students of the Portsmouth High School.

Mr. Hoyt is a member of the Unitarian church, and has been its Treasurer since 1881. In politics he has always been a Republican. He served the city as Alderman in 1876 and 1877. He was on. the School Board for six years, serving three years on the High School Committee; and he represented Ward I in the State legislature of 1881. His connection with fraternal organizations embraces member- ship in the Legion of Honor and Royal Arcanum and Mutual Relief Association.

ON. JOHN J. LASKEY, ex-Mayor of Portsmouth, and one of the promi- nent merchants of the city, was born in Portsmouth, December 25, 1840. He is a son of William and Martha (Jones) Laskey, the former a native of New- buryport, Mass., and the latter of Ports- mouth. William Laskey, born in 1800, who learned rope-making in his native town, fol- lowed that trade for many years in Ports- mouth, and died there at the age of seventy- five. Ilis wife, who was a lifelong resident of Portsmouth, lived to be fourscore and six. They reared seven children - Martha A., Walter B., William F., Lucy M., B. Stowe, Sarah, and John J.

John J. Laskey received his education in Portsmouth, attending the Haven School, and graduating from the high school. He first ob- tained employment in the grocery store of Lafayette Leighton, and was next engaged as

clerk in the dry-goods store of Jones & Mendum. In 1863 he went to Detroit, where for two years he was in the employ of Baldwin & Co., boot and shoe dealers. He then be- came a commercial traveller for the same firm, in which capacity he visited many Western States, and acquired a valuable experience in business. In the spring of 1865 he was drafted into the United States army; but the Civil War was then near its close, and he was honorably discharged at the end of five weeks. In 1867 he obtained employment as clerk in the office of John A. Johnson, of Boston, Mass., manufacturer and wholesale dealer in tinware, with whom he remained three years. He was then successively employed in Ports- mouth by Earing & Martin and N. F. Mathes & Co. In 1882 he opened the grocery store on Pleasant Street, which he has prosperously conducted since. In 1890 he was elected a member of the corporation of the Portsmouth Savings Bank.

He cast his first Presidential vote for Gen- eral McClellan in 1864, and has since been a stanch Democrat. In 1883 he was appointed Assistant Postmaster of Portsmouth, and served two years. In 1888 he was elected City Collector and Treasurer, and served three years. He served on the Board of Education continuously from 1883 to 1893, and in 1891 and 1892 he was elected Mayor of the city. He is Past Chief Patriarch and Past Grand of Strawberry Bank Encampment, No. 6, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and has mem- bership in Damon Lodge, No. 9, Knights of Pythias.

OHN FRANKLIN DOLBER, a skilful agriculturist of Chester, was born in Candia, this county, November 16, 1850, a son of George W. Dolber. His great - great - grandfather Dolber was among the original settlers of that part of the county; and there his great-grandfather, William Dolber, and his grandfather, John Dolber, passed their entire lives. Both of the latter were well known as successful farmers. John Dolber was also a carpenter, and worked at that trade as the opportunity served. George W. Dolber (of whom a more

WILLIAM CRANE.

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detailed account will be found elsewhere in this work) was reared and educated in Candia, where, excluding four years spent in New- buryport, Mass., he lived nearly twoscore years. In 1860 he gave up the shoemaker's trade at which he had been engaged, and, coming to Chester, took to farming. He now owns a fine estate in Chester, where he is widely known and respected. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Emerson, two children were born - John F. and George A.

John Franklin Dolber received a practical education in the common schools. He re- mained at home until eighteen years old, when he obtained employment in a cotton- mill at Manchester, this State. After spend- ing two years in that place, he engaged in farming, which has been his occupation since. After his marriage he resided for one year on the old Dolber homestead and four years on the old Dearborn farm. In 1882 he entered on his present estate, where he has since re- sided. Mr. Dolber has here two hundred acres of land, a goodly portion of which is in cultivation. He carries on general farming with profit. He is a stanch Republican, and he belongs to Junietta Lodge, No. 47, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of Raymond. Among a number of old relics preserved by him he prizes highly an old iron tobacco pipe with which his great-great-great-grandmother used to smoke. It was made by hand, and given to her by. her nephew, to be used in place of the clay pipes which she invariably broke, being afflicted with shaking palsy.

Mr. Dolber was married May 23, 1876, to Mrs. Sarah Jane (Dearborn) West, daughter of Alfred S. and Asenath (Willey) Dearborn, of this town. Mr. Dearborn was for many years one of the most prominent citizens of Chester, and served as Selectman and Treas- urer of the township for many terms. Mrs. Dolber was born April 6, 1851, and when quite young married Nason West, son of John WV. West, of Chester. Nason West was a shoemaker, and worked at that trade until his death, December 12, 1874. By him Mrs. Dolber had one child, Edward Nason West, born in 1870, now a meat-cutter in Boston, Mass. To Mr. Dolber she has borne three

children, namely: Lizzie, who died when but eleven weeks old; Alice M., a child that died in infancy ; and Millie Frances, the baby.

ILLIAM CRANE, a venerable octo- genarian of Candia and an ex-mem- ber of the New Hampshire legisla- ture, who has led a life of useful and varied activity, some of it spent in foreign countries, occupying responsible positions in connection with the building of important public works, for more than forty years has been one of the leading agriculturists and a prominent citizen of this town. He was born in Canton, Mass., August 10, 1814, son of Simeon and Eliza- beth (Crane) Crane. The Crane family, of which he is a representative, is of English ancestry, its founder in this country having emigrated at an early date in Colonial history, and settled in or near Boston.

Mr. Crane's grandfather, William Crane, first, was a resident of Canton, Mass., where he followed the trade of a watchmaker. He died about the year 1826, at an advanced age. He was the father of four children.

Simeon Crane, son of William, the first of the name, so far as the record is here given, was born in Canton, Mass .; and, adopting his father's trade, he became a well-known watch- maker of that town. He was an honorable and highly respected citizen, who gained the esteem and good will of all who knew him; and his somewhat untimely death, which took place in 1823, when he was but forty-five years old, was the cause of general regret. He married Elizabeth Crane, a native of Canton, and daughter of Major Peter Cranc, who served in the Continental army during the Revolutionary War. She became the mother of five children, two of whom are living, namely: Caroline C., widow of Will- iam Blackman, of Canton, Mass. ; and William, second.

William Crane, son of Simeon, and the sub- ject of this sketch, acquired his education in the schools of Canton, Mass. ; and, after finish- ing his studies, he went to Boston, where he served an apprenticeship at the machinist's trade with Otis Tufts. For a number of years he was employed by Carmichael, Otis & Fair-

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banks, an early firm of railway contractors; but William S. Otis, the inventor of the steam shovel, wishing to introduce his improved device in England, Mr. Crane was sent there to operate the machine; and for two years he demonstrated its utility by operating it in the construction of a railway in the eastern counties. Through the influence of an exten- sive contractor, who was constructing the line between St. Petersburg and Moscow, he sub- sequently obtained a large grading contract in Russia, where he was engaged for five years, at the end of which time he returned to the United States, and rested for two years at his home in Canton. In 1849 he purchased a farm in Candia, N.H., where he has since resided.

In politics Mr. Crane has acted with the Republican party since its formation, and has rendered valuable services to both the town and the State, in the local government and the House of Representatives. During his term in the legislature, which extended over a period of two years, he was instrumental in securing the construction of the Portsmouth & Concord Railroad, and for several years he was a conspicuous member of the Board of Selectmen of Candia, also serving as an As- sessor for one year. For a great many years he was Director of the Merrimac River Na- tional Bank, of Manchester, N.II.

Mr. Crane and Lucy W. Eaton, of Dedham, Mass., were married on December 5, 1849. Of the six children born of this union four are living, namely: Lizzie E., who is resid- ing at home; Mary A., wife of John H. Wason, of Manchester; George W., who lives in Seattle, Wash. ; and Emma W., wife of Tilton F. Fifield, of Manchester. Mr. Crane and his family attend the Congrega- tional church.

OHN R. SWASEY, who is actively engaged in farming pursuits in the town of Brentwood, was born here, June 29, 1833, son of Henry and Re- becca (Rowell) Swasey. His paternal grand- father was born and reared in England, whence, accompanied by two brothers, he came to the United States, and settled in New

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Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire, Part 18

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