USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire > Part 32
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Ezekiel Robinson, a carpenter and farmer, son of Josiah, spent his entire life in Fremont township, as did his wife, who was . formerly a Miss Carr. Their son, Perley Robinson, the father of Perley C., likewise lived and died in this his native town, where he owned and improved a farm. He was a man of varied abilities, being a skilful carpenter and also a custom tailor, making the latter trade his chief occupation through life, giving it up but a few years before his death, which oc- curred in 1887. He married Polly Currier, a native of Salisbury, Mass, now deceased. Three of their six children are now living; namely, Perley C., Lizzie J., and Albert B. The last two reside on the old Robinson home- stead in this township. The others were: Polly B., the wife of the late Joseph A. Smith; Abigail A. ; and John C.
Perley C. Robinson received a common- school education, and on the home farm was initiated into the mysteries of farming, spend- ing the first twenty-six years of his life on the parental homestead. He then started out on his own account, even with the world. With- out a penny in his pocket, he began work as a clerk in a store of general merchandise in Fremont village, continuing three years. Going then to Haverhill, Mass., he worked in a dry-goods store four years, subsequently „occupying a similar position in a Boston store for a year. After working in a shoe store in Lawrence, Mass., for another year, Mr. Rob- inson returned to Haverhill, where he entered a shoe factory, and for about a year worked on the first machine-sewed shoes ever manu- factured. Leaving that position, he came back to Fremont, and here established him- self in business, investing the money which he had accumulated in a stock of general merchandise; and for thirty years he carried on a lucrative business. Mr. Robinson is now a real estate owner, being the possessor of six houses, five of which bring him a good annual rental, and two farms, embracing about a hundred acres of land. He has made many substantial improvements on his farms ; and he built the store in the village, thus assisting in the growth of the town, while adding to his own prosperity. He keeps busy a portion of the time in the insurance busi-
PERLEY C. ROBINSON.
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ness, being agent for two companies, the Rockingham Farmers' Mutual Insurance Com- pany and the New Hampshire Fire Insurance Company.
Politically, Mr. Robinson is a Free Trader; and he uniformly casts his vote with the Democratic party. For two years he served as Town Treasurer, and for four years on the School Board. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Rocking- ham Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Candia, N. H .; to St. Alban Chapter, No. 15, Royal Arch Masons, of Exeter; and to the Trinity Com- mandery, Knights Templars, of Manchester, this State. He is also a member of the Fre- mont Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. Indus- trious, enterprising, self-reliant, he has bravely won his way by hard work ; and he en- joys the respect and good will of the commu- nity where he dwells.
Mr. Robinson was married, May 4, 1863, to Miss Dora Webster, who was born October 21, 1842, in this township, a daughter of Ben- jamin P'. and Clara C. (Gibson) Webster. Mrs. Webster is not living, her death having occurred September 23, 1874; and Mr. Web- ster now makes his home with Mr. and Mrs. Robinson. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Robinson has been blessed by the birth of four children, namely: Nellie May, who died No- vember 19, 1889; Abbie Louise, who is teach- ing in Fremont; Eva Gertrude, who resides in Brighton, Mass., being the wife of Louis II. Hamlin, of that place; and Clara Emma, who lives with her parents.
R EV. RUFUS P. GARDNER, pastor of the Congregational church at Hampstead, was born in Orland, Me., September 14, 1858, son of Jesse and Abigail J. (Hatch) Gardner. His grandfather, Peleg Gardner, was a native of Castine, Me. A competent and energetic house carpenter, Peleg Gardner followed his trade in his native town up to the time of his death, by which time he had accumulated a good property. He owned much land, and de- voted part of his time to agriculture, in which also he was very successful. As a member of the old Whig party he was very prominent in
town affairs, filling many offices of trust, and died at the age of sixty-nine years. His wife attained the advanced age of eighty-two. Both were members of the Methodist church. They had eleven children, two of whom are living, namely: Mrs. Mary S. Heath, of Castine; and Peleg, who resides in the State of Ohio. Jesse, the father of the Rev. Rufus Gardner, was the third youngest child.
Jesse Gardner, born in Castine, June 10, 1819, was a ship-carpenter in carly life, and became accustomed to doing fine work. Later he turned his attention to house building, at which he was quite successful. After living in Orland for a number of years, he moved to Castine in 1868 and to Boston in 1871. He built many large structures by contract, sev- eral of which are still standing to-day in dif- ferent parts of New England as monuments of his skill. It was he who erected the State Asylum at Middletown, Conn., and the Union Passenger Station at Worcester, Mass. His last work was done on the Insane Asylum at Danvers, Mass. He performed his contracts promptly and well, and he was known far and wide for his upright dealing. In 1887 he re- tired to his homestead at Castine, where he died in 1890, aged seventy-one . years. He was a Republican in politics, and served for some time as Selectman of Castine. He was a Master Mason, and at his death he was a prominent member of the lodge in Castine. In 1842 he was married to Abigail J., daugh- ter of Jonathan Hatch, of Castine. Mrs.
Gardner, who was born July 24, 1819, is now living in Danvers, Mass. She is a member of the Methodist church, as was her husband. She had seven children, of whom George W. and Rufus P. are living. George W., who was born in Orland, October 18, 1852, married Catherine C. Ramsey, of Prince Edward Island, Canada, and has two children - Annie and Abbie J ..
The Rev. Rufus P. Gardner, after graduat- ing from the Castine High School, completed a commercial course at Bryant & Stratton's Business College, Boston, from which he grad- uated in 1876. He subsequently graduated from the Eastern State Normal School in 1878, after which he taught in the seminary at Bucksport, Me., for two years. Then, be-
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coming interested in missionary work, he labored as an evangelist in the State of Maine for two years. In 1883 he entered the Thco- logical School at Bangor, Me., and in 1886 graduated therefrom, and was settled as pastor over the Congregational church at Waldoboro, Me. Having spent two years here, he ac- cepted in 1888 a call to the church in Marion, Mass., which was under his charge five years. On December 5, 1893, he assumed the duties of his present charge. In the short time that has since elapsed he has done a great deal for the church. He is very popular among his associates, and has won the esteem of many outside his own particular field. Mr. Gardner is Secretary and Chairman of the Business Committee of Taber Academy of Marion, Mass., which was organized in 1889, this being his seventh year in office. He is also a trustee of an industrial school at Manassas, Va., and President of the Board of Trustees of the Hampstead High School.
Mr. Gardner has been twice married. His first wife, in maidenhood Miss Ada Myrick, of Hampden, Mc., was the mother of one child, Ada B., born December 23, 1881. His second marriage took place June 8, 1886, when his bride was Belle B., daughter of George O. and Hannah Clement, of Freedom, Me. By this union also he has one child, Harold P., born December 23, 1890. As a Mason Mr. Gardner is a member of Pythag- orean Lodge of Marion, Mass. ; and as an Odd Fellow he belongs to Germania Lodge, No. 76, of Waldoboro, Me.
OHN SANBORN CRAM, whose death in 1883 deprived Hampton Falls of one of her most enterprising citizens, was born in this town, July 23, 1825, son of Joseph and Sally (Sanborn) Cram. He was a direct descendant of John Cram, who came to New Hampshire with the Rev. Mr. Wheelwright, the pioncer minister of Exeter, in 1638. John Cram, after residing for a while in Exeter, settled in Hampton, where he died in 1682. He is spoken of in the town records, it is said, as "good old John Cram in his generation." (Scc History of Exeter, N. H. ) John Cram's son Benjamin was the
father of a second John Cram; and Jonathan, first, son of John, second, had a son, Nehc- miah, who was the father of Jonathan, second, Mr. John S. Cram's grandfather. This last- named Jonathan Cram was a prominent farmer of Hampton Falls. His wife's maiden name was Rhoda Tilton. Their son Joseph was the father of the direct subject of this sketch, now to be further spoken of.
John Sanborn Cram obtained his education in a district school in Hampton Falls and l'embroke Academy. He was engaged in gen- eral farming in his native town for a while; and then, going to Minnesota, he bought a large tract of prairie land. After a stay of four years in the West he sold his land, and, returning home, purchased a farm at Hamp- ton Falls, on which he made many improve- ments, erecting a fine set of buildings. But he was not content to settle down in his native town while there was money to be made else- where without the expenditure of the time and labor necessary for successful farming opera- tions here; and he again started westward, stopping at Oil City, Pa., where he remained a year .- He then went to Florida, and became interested in orange raising; but there he met with an accident from which he never recovered. He died in Florida, October 7, 1883. Mr. Cram served as Selectman of Hampton Falls, and was for some time a mem- ber of the School Committee. He was identi- fied with the Unitarian church. He was mar- ried to Lucy Ellen Blake, daughter of Ira Blakc, of Kensington, this county, in 1851; and three children who blessed this union attained maturity -- Ellen Parker, Edith Gil- bert, and Joseph Blake. Edith is a successful music teacher in North Attleboro, Mass.
OSEPH BLAKE CRAM was born at Hampton Falls, January 1, 1870, and acquired his education in his native town. After his father's death he took charge of the farm at Hampton Falls, which he has since successfully managed. He makes a specialty of dairy farming, and has somc handsome cattle. He is well versed in agri- cultural science, and is a prominent member of the grange of Patrons of Husbandry at
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Hampton Falls. A Republican in politics, he has entered on his second year as a Select- man of the town.
ILLIAM GILES, who has been en- gaged in agricultural pursuits for more than threescore years in East Kingston, was born September 19, 1814, in the town of Lee, Strafford County, son of Paul and Sarah (Randall) Giles. Both par- ents were lifelong residents of that place. Their family included nine children ; namely, Paul, Jr., William, John, Susan, Elizabeth, Sarah, Charles, Job, and Joseph. Besides William but two of these children are now living. These are: Susan, who lives in Ken- sington, now the widow of the late Edwin Stevens; and Job, who resides in Haverhill, Mass.
William Giles attended the district school as the opportunity offered, up to the age of thirteen years, when he began to make his own living. During the first three years thereafter he worked in a country hotel at Lee, doing the errands of the house and as- sisting on the farm. Coming then to Epping in this county, he worked at the tanner's and shoemaker's trade for three years. At the end of that time he returned to the town in which he was born, and there worked at shoe- making until his marriage. In 1837 he bought a farm in Lee, which he successfully conducted until 1855, when he came to East
Kingston. Here he bought his present farm property. This he has since managed with
manifest skill and judgment. It contains one hundred and sixty acres of land, much of it in a good state of cultivation. Besides
raising the usual grains, vegetables, and fruit, he pays considerable attention to stock rais- ing. Having started in life with no other capital than brains, a willingness to labor, and the usual amount of muscle, Mr. Giles is a good sample of our self-made men. In poli- tics Mr. Giles has always gone with the Dem- ocratic party. He has served the commu- nity as Selectman for several terms, and in 1875 he represented the town in the State leg- islature.
On January 24, 1837, Mr. Giles married
Miss Mary Jane Langley, who was born in Alton, N. H. Having been left an orphan when quite young, she was reared by relatives in Lee. She died October 4, 1888, leaving five children - Sarah, George, Charles W., Alvin, and Willard. Sarah is the wife of B. Judson Perkins. George, who is engaged in farming in this township, married Miss Sa- lome B. Parker. Charles W. married Isa- bella Wadleigh, with whom he resides in Kensington. Alvin is a resident of Cali- fornia, where he is chiefly engaged in buying and selling stock. Willard, who is unmar- ried, lives on the home farm.
JENNESS RAND is one of the pro- gressive agriculturists of Rye. He was born December 14, 1838, on the homestead which he now occupies, son of Samuel H. and Emily (Jenness) Rand. His grandfather, Joseph Rand, who was also a native of the town, contributed his full share toward developing the agricultural resources of this section of the State. Joseph Rand was a fisherman in his early life. Afterward he was engaged in farming, and continued a resident of Rye until his death, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-six years. He married a Miss Marden, who spent her life in this town. They became the parents of eight children, namely : Joseph, born January 21, 1796; Samuel H., born April 28, 1803; Eliza, born November 14, 1804; Nathaniel, born September 16, 1806; Mary, born January 29, 1808; Susan, born July 28, 1809; Levi, born April 23, 1811 ; and Ira, born September 28, 1814. Nathaniel learned the blacksmith's trade in Rye, and afterward moved to Maine, where he married, reared a family, and was succeeded in business by one of his sons. Ira, the youngest son, became the owner of the original Rand homestead, and at his death left it to his two sons, Gilman and Albert, who now reside there.
Samuel 11. Rand, likewise a native of Rye, was educated in the district schools. Early in life he decided upon farming as the means by which he should earn a livelihood. Soon after his marriage he located on the farm now owned by his son, J. Jenness; and from that
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time until his demise, January 5, 1876, he was prosperously employed in his chosen occupation. Of his marriage with Emily Jenness, who was a daughter of Jonathan and Abigail Jenness, of this town, but one child was born, J. Jenness. The mother passed away, August 5, 1866, at the age of fifty-nine years.
J. Jenness Rand received his elementary education in the district schools of Rye, and afterward continued his studies at a select school for a time. Succeeding to the home- stead on which he was reared, he has since been closely identified with the agricultural and industrial interests of his native town, and is one of its most respected residents. During the late Rebellion Mr. Rand was drafted into the service of his country. In his political affiliations he is a steadfast Repub- lican. He cast his first Presidential vote in 1860 for Abraham Lincoln. He has served acceptably in the capacity of Road Surveyor of Rye. He belongs to the Odd Fellows, being a member of Osgood Lodge, No. 48, of Ports- mouth. On January 11, 1865, Mr. Rand mar- ried Martha A. Marden, daughter of Samuel and Cecilia (Foye) Marden, of Rye. They have two sons - Herman O. and Edgar J. Herman O., a mason by trade, living in Rye, married Miss Lizzie A. Rand, daughter of H. S. Rand, of Rye.
R EV. CURTIS HOYT DICKENS, pastor of the Church of Christ, First Universalist Parish, of Portsmouth, was born July 24, 1865, in Brook- field, Conn., son of Samuel Francis and Kath-
ryn Drake (Elwood) Dickens. His grand- father, Simon M. Dickens, in his early man- hood came from Kent County, England, to the United States about the year 1820. Simon's occupation was that of a contractor of mason work, which he followed in Ridgefield, Conn., until his death in 1865. To him and his wife, who was an English woman bearing the name of Kathryn Drake prior to her mar- riage, six children were born, most of whom have passed away.
Samuel Francis Dickens, Simon's eldest child, learned the mason's trade from his
father, and made it his life occupation, follow- ing it for the larger part of the time at Purdy's Station, Westchester County, N. Y. He died at Norwalk, Conn., at the early age of forty- two years, his death being the result of a cold contracted while hunting. A successful and able business man, he had the respect of his fellow-townsmen of Purdy's Station, who elected him Selectman for several years. In religion he had a firm belief in the God-love truth of universal redemption, and was a valued member of the Universalist church. He married Kathryn Drake Elwood, daughter of John Elwood, of New Haven, Conn., and became the father of two children - Curtis H. and Charles.
The Rev. Curtis Hoyt Dickens, the younger son of Samuel F., from his earliest years man- ifested a love for learning. After leaving the common schools of Purdy's Station, he com- pleted the course of a business college in Phil- adelphia, and then entered Tufts College, Mas- sachusetts, graduating from that institution with the class of 1894, on which occasion he was marshal of the class. While in college, having a fine baritone voice, he was a member of the Tufts College Glee Club, with which he made a tour of the United States, for a time being soloist. After his graduation Mr. Dickens accepted a call to his present pas- torate, where his labors have greatly increased the society, and aroused in it much energy and enthusiasm. At his first sermon in the church the attendance numbered but twenty- three, while now more than a hundred regu- larly attend each service.
On July 17, 1894, Mr. Dickens was married to Olive Springer Cochrane, who was born in Woonsocket, R. I., daughter of George Harris and Mary Jane (Jackson) Cochrane. On the maternal side Mrs. Dickens is descended from John Adams and Andrew Jackson. Mrs. Dickens, who is a woman of culture, has con- siderable artistic talent, as evidenced by many paintings of hers, both in oil and water colors, decorating the walls of her home. Mr. Dick- ens is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, Massasoit Tribe, No. 16; of Paugas- sett Tribe, No. 3, of Danbury, Conn., of which he is a charter member, and in which he was for a time one of the working team; of
EDWARD A. WITHERELL.
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Damon Lodge, No. 9, Knights of Pythias; and of St. John's Lodge, No. 1, A. F. & A. M.
VERETT E. THOMPSON, a shoemaker and farmer residing in Brentwood town- ship, was born in the town of Not- tingham, this county, April 29, 1855. He is a son of Jonathan Thompson, a native of Durham, Strafford County, now residing in Nottingham, where he has been engaged in farming for many years. Jonathan Thompson worked as a machinist in his younger days, being first employed in the locomotive shops at Manchester, this State, and afterward in Lowell, Mass. After leaving Lowell, he lo- cated on a farm in Nottingham, which has since been his permanent home. At one period of his residence here he was engaged in lumbering. He is now retired from active pursuits, although both he and his wife are living on their farm. He was married in July, 1845, to Mary A. Doe, a native of Rock- ingham County; and in July, 1895, they cele- brated the golden anniversary of their wedding. They have had nine children, as follows: Jo- seph Henry, now of Deerfield township; Susan J., now the wife of John A. Seaward, of Strafford, N. H. ; Rose, the wife of Leroy Os- good, of Nottingham; Charles, a resident of Nottingham; George, who died at the age of nine years; Everett E., the subject of this sketch ; Anson F., now of Nottingham town- ship; and two that died in carly infancy.
Everett E. Thompson obtained his education in the public schools of his native town and at a private school. He remained with his par- ents until his marriage, when he went to New- field, N. H., where he worked at farming for eighteen months. Returning to Nottingham, he engaged in carrying the United States mail from Lee station to East Northwood for a time. When daily deliveries were introduced, he changed his place of residence to North- wood, where he lived for three years, carrying the mail in the meantime from both North- wood and Lee. He then moved to South New Market, this county, where he worked for a year in the machine shop, and subsequently at farming. In 1882 Mr. Thompson came to Brentwood, and here bought the property
known as the Masten farm, on which he has since lived. His farm contains forty acres, and is in a good state of cultivation. Besides carrying on mixed husbandry very successfully, he works at shoemaking, having quite a num- ber of customers, who esteem him a superior workman.
On November 9, 1876, Mr. Thompson mar- ried Nellie J. Smith, of Nottingham, a daugh- ter of the late Stephen Smith and his wife, Mary (Burley) Smith, who is now living in Nottingham. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have three children - Fred J., Jessie May, and Mara Nellie. In politics Mr. Thompson affil- iates with the Republican party, and takes an active interest in local affairs. He was Se- lectman of the township for three years, being Chairman of the Board one year, and was Con- stable for two years. He is an Odd Fellow, belonging to Geneva Lodge, No. 180, of Ep- ping, N. H.
OP DWARD A. WITHERELL, senior member of the firm of Witherell & Collins, manufacturers of women's, misses', and children's slippers at South Dan- ville, N. H., was born in Fremont, another Rockingham County town, July 27, 1859. His father, Orrin O. Witherell, removed from Fremont to Ohio many years ago, settling in the town of Weights, Wood County, where he is engaged in farming and manufacturing lum- ber, owning a saw-mill.
Orrin O. Witherell first married Miss Sarah M. Collins, who died a few years after their marriage, leaving four children, namely : Charles ; Frank, who was killed by an accident ; Edward A., the special subject of this brief biography; and William. The father subse- quently married Minnie Philbrick, a native of Rockland, Me., and of this union eight chil- dren have been born, as follows : Mattie, Al- bert, Velmer, Mertie, Leila, Arthur, Verna, and Clement.
Edward Witherell was but a little fellow of six years when he was deprived of a mother's care and guidance. Much of his early life was spent in Ohio, where he acquired his edu- cation, completing his studies in the Toledo High School. Wishing to turn his mechan-
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ical ability to account, he learned the trade of hard wood finishing, at which he afterward worked in the cities of Toledo, Cincinnati, and Chicago. Coming from the great Western metropolis to Danville, Mr. Witherell worked at the shoemaker's trade, and here learned to make a "turned shoe." In 1887 he formed a partnership with Mr. M. A. Collins, of South Danville, continuing in business with him a year. The following five years Mr. Witherell was engaged in the manufacture of slippers ; and then, as his business had increased, he took in as an equal partner Mr. Clarence M. Collins. This enterprising and progressive firm employ about one hundred men in their business, their plant being among the leading factories of South Danville, and turning out a large number of slippers of a superior grade cach month. Their trade, which is exclusively wholesale, covers all of the Eastern States, and extends westward to the Pacific Coast.
Mr. Witherell was married December 31, 1885, to Miss Cora M. Collins, of South Dan- ville, a daughter of J. H. Collins, a well- known resident of this town. Mr. and Mrs. Witherell have one child, Martin C., born August 28, 1891. Socially, Mr. Witherell is prominently identified with the Masonic frater- nity, belonging to Gideon Lodge, No. 84, A. F. & A. M., of Kingston, and St. Albans Chapter of Exeter. Politically, he affiliates with the Republican party.
LBERTUS COBURN, a prominent and esteemed resident of Salem in his time, was born in Milford, N. H., March 24, 1815, son of Job and Abiah Coburn. (Further particulars respect- ing his parents will be found in the sketch of Eliphalet Coburn, of North Salem. )
When a young man he removed with his parents to the town of Salem, and shortly after settled on the farm where his daughter, Sarah F. Coburn, now resides. He had at- tended the public schools of his native town in his youth, but such education as he had was mostly self-acquired afterward. He was a great reader all his life, and in that way gained much general information. He kept himself well informed on all the more impor-
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