USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire > Part 23
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Jesse Crowell, Mr. Crowell's father, was born in Londonderry, where his boyhood and youth were passed upon his father's farm; and after his marriage he settled in Windham. He was one of the stirring men and successful agriculturists of his day, was widely and favorably known for his many estimable qual- ities; and he continued active until his death,
which took place January 15, 1844. In poli- tics he was a Jacksonian Democrat. Ilis wife, Hannah Campbell, a native of Windham, was a daughter of Henry and Isabel (Gregg) Campbell. Of their children, six are living, namely: Joseph P., the subject of this sketch ; David, a resident of Methuen, Mass. ; Charles H., who is residing in California; Stephen D., of Methuen; Jane C., wife of Charles W. Campbell, of Westerly, R. I. ; and Mary, wife of Charles E. Fegan, of Haverhill, Mass.
Joseph P. Crowell attended both common schools and select schools of Windham; and, after completing his educational course at the Francistown and Pembroke Academies, he was qualified for school-teaching. During his early manhood he followed farming and shoe- making, being engaged for several winter sea- sons in the last-named occupation ; but he has since devoted his entire time and energies, except when engaged in the service of the pub- lic, to the cultivation of his farm. He owns one hundred and eighty-five acres of fertile land, which equals any in town for improve- ment and productiveness ; and during his long and successful career as a general farmer he has maintained an unabated prosperity.
He is one of the leading public-spirited men of the town, always ready with his aid and influence in securing any measure calculated to advance the general welfare; and his ability in the administration of public trusts has been practically demonstrated. For several years Mr. Crowell has served as a Justice of the Peace and as Notary Public. In politics he supports the Republican party. He has held the various offices connected with the manage- ment of town affairs, as that of Auditor, Treas- urer, and Selectman. In the years ending March, 1863 and 1864, he was Chairman of the Board of Selectmen and agent to fill the quota of the town with soldiers to aid in sup- pressing the War of the Rebellion. He has also represented the town in the State legisla- ture. Looking back upon his official life, he considers that furnishing soldiers for the de- fence of the country, and obtaining money to meet the expenses connected with the same, were the most arduous and responsible duties that devolved upon him. The young people of the present day have little conception of
JOSEPH P. CROWELL.
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the toils, anxieties, and cares of all who had anything to do with the management of the good ship Union in that stormy period.
Mr. Crowell and Susan Coburn, a native of Massachusetts, were married on December 15, 1849, and are the parents of three children, namely: Frank A., who is agent for the Nashua & Rochester Railroad at West Wind- ham; Mary J., wife of Charles Clyde, of Nashua, N. H. ; and Frederick J., a prominent dentist of Nashua, N. H.
Mr. Crowell is connected with the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Rising Sun Lodge of Nashua. Both he and his wife occupy a prominent social position here. They attend the Presbyterian church, of which they are active members.
J OHN E. SEAVEY, a successful farmer of Greenland, was born here August 17, 1852, son of Shadrach and Lucinda (Edgerly) Seavey. Shadrach Seavey, a native of Durham, Strafford County, was born February 27, 1816. He came to Greenland with his parents when he was about five years of age. In 1840 he took charge of the town farm, and held it for periods of ten and five years respectively. In politics he affiliated with the Democratic party. He married Lu- cinda Edgerly, who was born in Wakefield, Carroll County, November 21, 1816. By her he became the father of three sons, namely : James F., a contractor and builder, who lives in Lynn, Mass. ; George F., also a resident of Lynn, and in partnership with his brother, James F. ; and John E., the subject of this sketch. The father was a Christian, though he never joined a church. He died on October 10, 1894; and his remains were interred in the Greenland Cemetery. His wife still lives, enjoying the best of health, although in her eightieth year.
John E. Seavey received his education in the district school and at Houghton Academy. In early manhood he took charge of the home farm. This property contains sixty acres. Mr. Seavey also owns another farm of one hun- dred and fifty acres. Ile makes a specialty of dairy farming. Like his father, he is iden- tified with the Democratic party. He has
been Collector of the town, served as Select- man for ten years, and was elected to the lower chamber of the State legislature in 1893.
On October 27, 1879, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Georgia A. Shepherd, daughter of Elizabeth Shepherd, of this town. Mr. and Mrs. Seavey have four children, three of whom are living. These are : Florence E., the first- born, who died when she was eleven months old; Edward; Alice G. ; and Marion T. Sea- vey. Mrs. Seavey is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church.
HARLES G. GOOCH, of Exeter, the efficient pattern-maker of the Exeter Brass Works, was born here, Decem- ber 6, 1851, son of William L. and Frances F. (Safford) Gooch. William L. Gooch, who was a native of this State, early in life applied himself to learn the business of carriage-building, and subsequently followed that trade for a number of years. Being naturally a quiet, unassuming man and of a retiring disposition, he preferred the avoca- tions of his home to the exactions and public- ity of a political life. He, however, took an active part in church work, and was a strong supporter of the society of which he was a mem- ber. His death, which occurred in 1895, was mourned by a large circle of friends. His wife, also a native of the State, now eighty- three years old, still survives him.
Charles G. Gooch received his education in the public schools of his native town. At the conclusion of his school-days he served an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, and was subsequently engaged in that calling and in farming until 1881. - In this year he be- came the pattern-maker of the Exeter Brass Works, in which capacity he has been em- ployed uninterruptedly up to the present time.
In 1881 Mr. Gooch was united in marriage with Miss Eliza J. Webster, a daughter of George B. Webster, of East Kingston, N. H., and has since become the father of three chil- dren - George Webster, William S., and Laura Frances. Ile is intimately associated with the political and social life of his town. Since he attained his majority, he has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd
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Fellows, being now Past Grand of his lodge. He has been Selectman since 1889. In the last election, held at the town meeting of 1896, alleged to have been the most exciting one ever held in Exeter, Mr. Gooch received a majority of one hundred and eleven votes. He is a stanch Republican in national politics. In religious faith he and his wife are Congre- gationalists, and in fellowship with the First Congregational Church of Exeter. The fam- ily have a pleasant home on a farm of thirty acres, which receives its due share of attention.
OHN NUTTER, for many years one of Portsmouth's best-known citizens, was born July 13, 1814, and died Octo- ber 5, 1895. His opportunities for obtaining an education were sadly limited, as he was obliged to leave the public school at the age of ten years. However, he ade- quately made up for the loss by diligent study evenings at a private school. His school-days were curtailed as mentioned, for the purpose of apprenticing him to the trade of a baker with Robert Smith. Mr. Smith's bakery was then located near the foot of Daniel Street. In 1826 he removed to Water, now Marcy Street, taking his apprentice along with him. After attaining his majority, Mr. Nutter con- tinued in Mr. Smith's employ for many years, working first as journeyman, and then as fore- man of the bakery. Subsequently he pur- chased the bakery, and carried it on prosper- ously until 1865. In that year he closed it out, and established a grocery in the same building, thereafter acquiring an extensive trade in fancy and staple groceries.
Complying with an old statute of the State concerning all able bodied men between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, Mr. Nutter trained in the militia. He was for a time in the Portsmouth Artillery, with the rank of Orderly Sergeant, successively under the command of Captain Jabez Rowe and his brother, Captain Theodore Rowe. At first a Democrat, Mr. Nutter became a Republican in 1861. lle was not an active politician in the modern meaning of the term, but he was ever loyal to his country and State. In religion he was a Congregationalist, having been a val-
ued member of the North Church for more than threescore years. He was an industri- ous, truth-loving, and law-abiding citizen, honorable and upright in all his dealings, and well worthy the high esteem in which he was held by the community. He was governed in his daily life by the highest principles of morality, and was never addicted to the vices which have such a corrupting influence on our generation, being absolutely free from the use of tobacco or liquor. He retained his mental faculties to the last, and never was obliged to use glasses to aid his sight. His death oc- curred on October 5, 1895.
In 1845 Mr. Nutter was married to Lucy M. Walsh, and had one daughter, now the wife of George Worthen, a prominent business man of Lowell, Mass., and by whom she has had five children. He was conspicuously identified with the Masonic fraternity for more than half a century. He was made a Mason in St. John's Lodge, May 1, 1839, tak- ing the degree of Fellow Craft October 2 of the same year, and being raised to the rank of Master Mason on December 4 following. He was Tyler in 1840, Junior Deacon in 1846, and Senior Deacon in 1848 and 1849. In 1841 he was exalted in Washington Chapter, becoming Mark Master February 13, Past Master April 16, Most Excellent Master April 17, and Royal Arch Mason April 23. Dating from 1854, he was Treasurer of the chapter. He was made a Knight Templar June 16, 1841, in De Witt Clinton Command- ery, of which he was Sentinel from 1878 till 1885. Subsequently he received the side de- gree of the Cross and Shell from Robert Morris, of Kentucky, the eminent Masonic traveller and author. He was an active worker in the order, and had taken all of Scottish Rite degrees up to and including the thirty- second degree. On February 22, 1892, St. John's Lodge gave a complimentary reception in honor of its four half-century members, the three besides Mr. Nutter being John Dame, Henry F. Wendell, and the late General Had- ley. The occasion was one long to be remem- bered in the annals of the lodge, commemorat- ing, as it did, the fidelity of the four men who had openly maintained its worth and useful- ness in the days of yore. The impressive
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funeral services of Mr. Nutter were attended by large delegations from the various Masonic bodies of which he was a member, as well as a large throng of loving friends and neighbors. The body was subsequently interred at Lowell, Mass.
B ENJAMIN T. PRESCOTT, M.D., of Newington, was born, November 30, 1850, in Boston, Mass., son of Dr. Benjamin and Margaret (Rol- Iins) Prescott. James Prescott, Knight, his earliest known ancestor, was a native of Pres- ton, Lancashire, England. He came to America in 1663, locating in the town of Hampton, this county. The generations suc- ceeding James were represented by : Jonathan, born in 1675; Benjamin, born November 30, 1700; Philamon, born in 1729; Philman, the great-grandfather of Dr. Prescott, who served his country in the Revolutionary War; Mark, the grandfather, who was born in 1771; and Dr. Benjamin, the father, who was born in Brentwood, this county, in 1800. The family retains the coat of arms worn by their ances- tor, Sir James Prescott.
Dr. Benjamin Prescott was graduated from Dartmouth Medical College in 1825, after which he located in Boston, and practised medicine there until 1850. He then took up dentistry in the same city, and followed it until within a few years before his death. He was twice married. His first wife, Mary H. (Sanborn) Prescott, had three children, namely: Sarah F., now the wife of the Rev. G. E. Gordon, of Eng- land; Elizabeth, who died in 1864 or 1865 ; and Benjamin T., who died at the age of six years. The second wife, Margaret A., was a daughter of Ephraim and Abigail (Frink) Rol- lins, born July 26, 1826. She bore him two children, namely : Martha A., who resides in Boston with her mother; and Benjamin T., the subject of this sketch. The father died, April 11, 1873, in Boston, where his widow still resides.
Benjamin T. Prescott, M. D., after graduat- ing from the Boston Latin School, in 1872 entered the Harvard Medical College, from which he graduated in the class of 1876. Hc
has since made a specialty of surgery, having hardly practised medicine. Dr. Prescott is a literary man, having been a contributor to va- rious papers and magazines. In 1885 he moved to New York City, but making Newington his summer residence. For the past five years, however, he has resided continuously in New- ington. The farm occupied by the Doctor, now containing seventy acres, originally covered four hundred acres, and was formerly owned by the Rollins family, his mother's people. In 1891 he was united in matrimony with Melina R. Heckart, daughter of Colonel J. J. Heckart, of Port Deposit, Cecil County, Md. He belongs to the brotherhood of A. F. & Α. Μ.
G EORGE E. FIFIELD, senior mem- ber of the firm of Fifield & Whittier, of Newfields, manufacturers of en- gines and heavy machinery, was born in Strat- ham, this county, March 31, 1828. He is a son of George B. and Mary (Smith) Fifield, and comes of a long race of sturdy New Hamp- shire farmers. William Fifield, the founder of the family in America, who was an Eng- lishman by birth, landed in Newbury, N. H., in 1634, and settled in Hampton, N. H., in 1639. His son Benjamin, who was born in 1636, was killed by Indians. Benjamin's son, Edward, settled in Stratham in 1706. Joseph Fifield, Edward's son, and the great- grandfather of George E., had a son, Coker Fifield, who was the grandfather. Coker Fi- field was born on the family homestead in Stratham, which was also the birthplace of George B., the father of George E. Fifield.
George B. Fifield was born in 1798. He was a successful farmer; and, being an enter- prising and intelligent man, he was prominent in the community. Ile was Captain in the old State militia, and one of the leading Demo- crats of the district. For several years he served the town as Selectman; and he repre- sented it in the State legislature in 1840, 1841, and 1842. In religious belief he was a Free Will Baptist. He died November 16, 1872. He was twice married. His first wife, Mary (Smith) Fifield, died in June, 1838, leaving four children, who attained maturity.
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These were: George E., Emma, Mary O., and Charles W. George E. is the only one living to-day. The second wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Simpson, bore two children, namely: Sarah, now Mrs. Rollins, who resides in Exeter, N.H .; and Henry, who lived but four years.
George E. Fifield grew up on the homestead in Stratham, receiving his education in the common schools. When eighteen years of age, he went to Exeter, and was apprenticed to the machinist's trade. After finishing his ap- prenticeship, he worked as a journeyman in the vicinity of Exeter some four years. He was then employed as an engineer in Cuba for about the same length of time. After his re- turn to the States he was connected with the Squamscot Machine Company at Newfields for another four years. In 1857 he located at his present stand, beginning in a small way. Since then he has gradually enlarged both the scope of his business and his facilities for carrying it on, so that now he and his partner control one of the most important industries in the locality. They carry in stock a variety of machinery of improved patterns and late designs, and they undertake all kinds of repair work in their line. Mr. Fifield has been ex- tensively engaged in the manufacture of tram- way locomotives for the Georgia trade, has erected many heavy saw-mills, and has built many engines for local manufacturers. Mr. Fifield is to-day the oldest business man in the town. He has worked hard to accomplish his present success, and has travelled exten- sively, including many trips to the South. llis partner, Albert E. Whittier, was one of his apprentices.
On September 16, 1852, Mr. Fifield was married to Hannah M. Paul, of Newfields, who was born in December, 1834. She died in 1876, and Mr. Fifield has remained faithful to her memory for twenty years. He has one son, George S. Fifield, who was born April 9, 1871, and is now an apothecary in Somerville, Mass. Mr. Fifield is a Republican in poli- tics. He served as legislative Representative in 1867, and has worked for the interest of the town as Selectman and as member of the School Committee. He is an Odd Fellow, belonging to Fraternity Lodge, No. 56, of
Newfields. In religious belief he is liberal, favoring the Universalist church.
EORGE W. SOUTHWICK is the proprietor of the Southwick House, Chester, N.H., a favorite resort for people from the city who desire to spend their summers where they can enjoy an un- limited supply of pure air, appetizing viands, and genuine home comforts and service. Mr. Southwick was born, November 4, 1845, in Groton, Grafton County, N. H.
His father, Isaac D. Southwick, was born and reared in Weare, N. H. In early manhood he learned the carpenter's trade, which he sub- sequently followed in his native town and in Philadelphia, Penn. From the latter city he returned to Grafton County, this State, and during his remaining days was engaged in agricultural pursuits, dying April 4, 1879. He married Laura R. Annis, a native of Or- ford, Grafton County, N.H .; and of their union five children were born, namely: Willie, the eldest, who lived but a year; Hannah W., who became the wife of Josiah Wheat, of Grafton, and died at the age of thirty-three years; George W. ; Laura R., wife of Harvey P. Maxfield, residing at Stevens' Point, Wis. ; Frank A., also a resident of Stevens' Point, who married Miss Mattie Sawyer.
George W. Southwick had fair educational advantages in his boyhood, attending the com- mon schools in his native town. In 1872 he removed from Groton to Windham, this county, where he engaged in farming for two years. Going thence to Lowell, Mass., Mr. Southwick bought out a store and restaurant, which he conducted for two years, being sub- sequently engaged in the patent medicine busi- ness until 1885. During that year he came to Chester, and bought the farm of an aged uncle, the late Amos Southwick, whom he cared for until his death. Mr. Southwick has since been engaged in farming, expressing, and freighting, in the latter occupation making daily trips between Chester and Manchester. To his farm, which contains sixty acres of land, he has added extensive improvements, including a beautiful house and fine barn, hav- ing now one of the most beautiful places in
GEORGE W. SOUTHWICK.
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the county. During the summer season Mr. Southwick devotes his attention to the comfort and pleasure of guests from the city of Boston and its surburban towns, his house being annu- ally filled with boarders delighted with their surroundings and entertainment. In politics Mr. Southwick votes with the Republican party, of whose principles he is a stanch sup- porter.
Mr. Southwick was first married on June 18, 1870, to Miss Mary Hobbs, daughter of Reu- ben Hobbs, a trader and lumberman of Went- worth, N. H. ; and on April 7, 1883, Mr. Southwick married Mrs. Rose Turner, who was born June 15, 1852, in Bath, N. H., a daughter of Samuel G. Simons. Her first husband was Milo Turner, a conductor, who was accident- ally killed January 22, 1876, on the New London & Northern Railway. Mr. and Mrs. Southwick have one child, Addie Estella, born April 19, 1886.
EORGE HURD, late of Londonderry, was a progressive farmer, an able legislator, and a model husband and father. He was born in Malden, Mass., July 14, 1823, son of Charles and Rachel ( Lovejoy) Hurd. His father and mother, respectively natives of Massachusetts and Maine, lived for a number of years in Derry, N. H., where they settled about the year 1831. George Hurd was eight years old when his parents removed to Derry. He grew up on a farm in that town, acquiring his early education in the pub- lic schools. When eighteen years of age, he started to learn the printer's trade, which he worked at for about a year and a half. Subse- quently he attended Pembroke Academy for the same length of time. He then obtained employment as clerk in a store, and some time later started a store of his own in Londonderry, stocking it with general merchandise. At the end of five years he turned his attention from trade to agriculture and stock-raising. His farm, covering two hundred and twenty- five acres of land, was one of the largest in the locality. Both as a merchant and farmer he was very successful. Mr. Hurd was a prominent member of Londonderry Grange.
He was married February 28, 1850, to
Nancy J. Woodburn, a native of Londonderry. She is a daughter of John and Mehitabel (Melvin) Woodburn, both likewise natives of Londonderry, and a descendant of one of the original Scotch-Irish families who settled and named Londonderry. The founder of the fam- ily was her great-grandfather, John Woodburn, a native of the north of Ireland and of Scotch extraction. John Woodburn's son, David, Mrs. Hurd's grandfather, was a lifelong resi- dent of Londonderry, and one of the leading men of the town. Mrs. Hurd is a cousin of the late Ilorace Greeley, of national fame. The other surviving children of her parents are : James, who resides in Sacramento, Cal. ; Mary A., the wife of David Sargent, of Dun- barton, N. H. ; Caroline H., the wife of Isaac Clifford, of Concord, N. H. ; and Sarah E., the wife of William Chapman, of Danielson- ville, Conn. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hurd, seven of whom are living. These are: Florence, the wife of David Mc- Gregor, of Manchester, N. H. ; Henry L., now residing in Dracut, Mass. ; Horace P., resid- ing in New London, N. H. ; Elmer E., a resi- dent of Manchester, N. H. ; Walter, residing in Londonderry; George A., residing in Haverhill, Mass. ; and Laura, in Londonderry. The one who died was named Nancy M.
Mr. Hurd was one of the leading Republi- cans of the district. lle served for two terms as Selectman of Londonderry, was Town Treasurer for a number of years, and was for two years in the State legislature as Repre- sentative. Honest and upright in all his deal- ings, he had the full confidence of his towns- men; and, as an obliging neighbor, a kind husband, and an indulgent father, he won love as well as respect. He departed this life June 10, 1875, leaving an ample provision for his widow, who is living on the pleasant home farm, and who, no less than her husband, has the esteem and good will of her neighbors.
B JUDSON PERKINS, a well-known farmer of Exeter, was born here in 1838, son of Benjamin R. and Mary J. (Dolloff) Perkins. Benjamin Perkins, who was a native of Strafford County, after spending several years in the employment
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of the Dover (N. II. ) mills, came to Exeter, and was there engaged for a considerable num- ber of years in the manufacture of cotton bat- ting and other goods. He subsequently settled on a farm, where he was engaged in general farming for a prolonged period, and died in October, 1890. His wife's decease occurred in 1870.
B. Judson Perkins grew to manhood on the paternal estate, receiving his education at the Exeter Academy. At the age of sixteen, while assisting in blasting rock, his left hand was torn from the wrist. This injury has necessarily hampered him since. He has al- ways been more or less connected with agri- cultural pursuits. For very many years he sold farming implements. He also was travel- ling agent for various firms who dealt in these goods. In 1864 Mr. Perkins was joined in matrimony with Miss Sarah E. Giles, a daugh- ter of William and Mary J. (Langley) Giles, both natives of Strafford County. Mrs. Per- kins has borne her husband five children, namely : William H. H., who is with the Kimball Carriage Company of Manchester ; Lillian F., who is a teacher in the village of Exeter; Mary J., who for seven consecutive years was a teacher in the public schools of Exeter, but is now pursuing an advanced course at the Bridgewater (Mass. ) Normal School; Edwin R., who resides at home; and Flora K., who is a member of the Senior Class of the Robinson Seminary.
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