Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire, Part 33

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 33

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tant subjects of the day, and easily held his own wherever he went. His farm contained one hundred and twenty-three acres. On it stood his dwelling, a handsome structure, in which he took much pride, though it was said to be about one hundred years old.

Mr. Coburn was married to Mrs. Charlotte Sanborn, the widow of John Sanborn and a daughter of Judge William Spencer, of Cor- inth, Vt., her native State. The three chil- dren born of this marriage were: Sarah F., Etta J., and George A. Etta J. is now the wife of John P. Atwood, of North Salem ; and George A. is deceased. The mother died July 1, 1869. Mr. Coburn subsequently con- tracted a second marriage, by which he was united to Elizabeth P. Chase, who died in April in the year 1894.

Mr. Coburn took a lively interest in the welfare of the town, and served it for a time as Selectman. An obliging neighbor, a faith- ful friend, and a charming and pleasant ac- quaintance, he was generally respected and admired. He died March 11, 1895, mourned by all who had enjoyed the pleasure of his ac- quaintance.

IRAM L. ROWELL, a dealer - in general merchandise at East Kings- ton village, was born January 21, 1837, in Haverhill, Mass., son of Leonard F. and Sarah Louisa (Kimball) Row- ell. Leonard F. Rowell was a native of Ver- mont, where he spent a large portion of his life in the pursuit of agriculture. For a few years he carried on general farming in Haver- hill, Mass. ; but he returned to his native State in 1844, and there spent his remaining days. He married Sarah Louisa Kimball, a native of Haverhill, and they became the parents of nine children, namely : Lucy, Caro- line, and George, now deceased; Hiram L., the subject of this sketch; Lydia, the wife of Charles Andrews, of Berlin, Vt. ; Gardner B., who married Ella Andrews, and resides at Berlin, Vt. ; Aaron, a resident of Montpelier, Vt. ; John C., an engineer, living at Mont- pelier, who married Belle Lenox; and Hattie, the wife of Henry Reed, of Berlin, Vt.

Hiram L. Rowell remained beneath the pa-

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rental roof-tree until eighteen years of age, when he came from Vermont to East Kingston in order to learn the shoemaker's trade with his brother. He subsequently worked for him and others until 1863, when he enlisted in the Second New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry as Sutler of the regiment. In 1864 he was trans- ferred to another regiment, and until the close of the war stationed in Maryland. He passed through many exciting scenes, including some of those enacted the night of President Lin- coln's assassination in Washington, where he was then stopping. On his return to Rocking- ham County, Mr. Rowell was engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes in East Kings- ton village for five or six years. He subse- quently removed to Milton, N. H., where, besides carrying on a good business as a mer- chant for some months, he had the supervision of a shoe manufactory. Going thence to Rochester, this State, he was there employed in the boot and shoe business for one year, after which he returned to East Kingston and established his present store. He carries an excellent assortment of general merchandise, and is a large dealer in wood and coal, which he sells throughout the township. He is Post- master of the village, the post-office being located in his store. In politics he is a stead- fast Republican. He served as Town Clerk for three years, and for the past ten years he has been Justice of the Peace and Notary Pub- lic. He also accommodates the travelling public at a small but well-managed and popu- lar hotel, and ably discharges the duties of an auctioneer whenever his services in that ca- pacity are demanded.

On September 16, 1870, Mr. Rowell mar- ried Miss Clara F. Batchelder, a native of East Kingston, born July 30, 1848. Her father, Nathaniel Batchelder, was a carpenter by trade, spent his life in this township, and died in 1885. Mrs. Batchelder, whose maiden name was Abbie Marsh, was also a lifelong resident of East Kingston, and died here, March 2, 1896. She bore her husband three other children - Austin F., Abbie L., and Etta E. Abbie 1 .. lives in Newton township, this county ; and Etta E. lives in Nashua, N. H. Mr. and Mrs. Rowell had ten children, as follows: Albert L., born February 10, 1872;

Hattie M., born April 26, 1874; Irving H., born September 7, 1875; Charles W., born September 17, 1877; Eddie A., born August 31, 1879; Walter G., born April 8, 1884, who died August 16 following ; Annie T., born Au- gust 2, 1885; Marion L., born May 11, 1889; Allen B., born June 29, 1892, who died Janu- ary 17, 1894 ; and Fred B., born June 9, 1895. Mrs. Rowell attends the Methodist Episcopal Church of East Kingston village.

ESSE GIBSON, living in retirement at Derry, was born June 10, 1816, in Pelham, Hillsborough County. His parents, Jesse Gibson, Sr., and Sarah (Atwood) Gibson, both lifelong residents of the county, were natives of Pelham. Jesse Gibson, Sr., a son of James Gibson, who was born and reared in Hillsborough County, grew to manhood in Pelham, and became one of the most honored and respected residents of the town. He represented it in the State legis- lature for a time, and was Selectman for a num- ber of years. After attaining a ripe old age he died in 1876, leaving three children. These were: Jesse, the subject of this sketch ; Sarah, now the wife of Alexander McMurphy, of Derry ; and James, who resides in Lowell, Mass. The father was a man of upright char- acter, and, though not united by membership with any religious organization, was a regu- lar attendant at divine worship, and contrib- uted liberally toward the support of the churches. In politics he was a sound Demo- crat.

Jesse Gibson lived on the parental home- stead until he attained man's estate, obtaining his education in the common schools of his native town. Desirous then of changing his occupation, Mr. Gibson removed to Manches- ter, N.II., at that time but a hamlet, and there carried on a thriving mercantile business for several years. Coming thence to Derry,

he was engaged in business here for a number of years, and then returned to Pelham, where he lived with his parents until their demise. In 1884 he returned to Derry, and is here liv- ing in retirement, enjoying the fruits of his industry and enterprise in carlier years. He is a steadfast Republican in politics, support-

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ing the principles of that party by voice and vote.

Mr. Gibson was married October 26, 1854, to Miss Hannah Carter, who was born Octo- ber 8, 1828, in Concord, N. H. Mrs. Gibson's parents were Simeon and Eliza (Abbott) Carter, both natives of Concord, this State. Her grandfather, Moses Carter, was an early settler of Concord and a son of Joseph Carter, who distinguished himself by bravery in the Revolutionary War. She is also of pioneer ancestry on her mother's side, as the Abbotts, who were among the earliest settlers of An- dover, Mass., afterward helped to lay the foundations of Concord. Mrs. Gibson and her sister, Mrs. Elvira George, of Lowell, Mass., are the only survivors of their parents' chil- dren. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson have no children of their own; but they have one adopted daughter, Miss Hattie Gibson. Mrs. Gibson is a member of the Congregational church. Both she and her husband are highly estcemed throughout the community.

APTAIN GEORGE N. SHEPARD, Postmaster at West Epping, N. H., an ex-member of the New Hamp. shire legislature, and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Epping on Au- gust 14, 1824, son of Samuel and Hannah S. (Norris) Shepard.

Joseph Shepard, Sr., Captain Shepard's great-grandfather, removed from Gilmanton, N. H., to Epping, and during his active period was identified with the agricultural develop- ment of the town. He bought the old Harri- man farm, which was originally cleared and improved by Asa Harriman, great-grandfather of Colonel Harriman, Commander of the Eleventh New Hampshire Volunteers, and ex- Governor of the State; and he managed thc property with energy and success until his death, which took place on May II, 1793. His wife, Anna Shepard, died March 27, 1807, aged seventy-seven years. Their son, Joseph Shepard, Jr., Captain Shepard's grand- father, was a native of Gilmanton, born March 27, 1769, and died November 9, 1845. He was one of the most prominent residents of Epping, being a farmer and surveyor; and he

served as a member of the Board of Selectmen for twenty-two years in succession. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane Gove, was born May 28, 1767, and died August 16, 1849.

Samuel Shepard, son of Joseph and Jane, was born on June 18, 1798. He was a farmer, a merchant, and a land surveyor. He also engaged in teaching, his short life being one of active uscfulness. He enjoyed the esteem and confidence of his fellow-townsmen; and, although his quiet, unassuming nature pre- vented him from aspiring to political honors, he was elected to some of the important town offices. Hc died December 16, 1834. His wife, formerly Hannah S. Norris, a native of Raymond, N. H., survived him many years, and died in 1882.

George N. Shepard was in his eleventh year when he lost his father. He acquired a good education, commencing his studies in the public schools of Epping and Dover, and com- pleting them at Hampton Academy. He re- sided at home with his mother until starting out in life for himself as a clerk in this town, and some three or four years later he returned to the farm. After that he taught school for some time, did considerable land surveying, acted as Justice of the Peace and conveyancer, drawing up deeds, contracts, wills, etc., and was thus employed until 1855. He then visited lowa on a prospecting tour, and bought a tract of land in Benton County, with the intention of settling there; but circumstances prevented him from taking this move. Re- turning to Epping, he continued to reside here until after the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he enlisted as First Lieutenant of Com- pany A, Eleventh Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, and was in active service from the fall of 1862 to the close of the war. He participated in several of the most decisive engagements of the war, receiving a gunshot wound in the left side at the battle of Fred- ericksburg and another in the left hip at Cold Harbor; and he was promoted to the rank of Captain, and assigned to duty as Commander of Company I of the Eleventh Regiment. When the war was over, and he had received his discharge, he returned once more to the Epping farm, where hc resided for a year;

GEORGE N. SHEPARD.

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and, associating himself with W. N. Dow, he engaged in general mercantile and lumber business at West Epping. The firm carried on a large and profitable trade until 1876, when Captain Shepard bought his partner's interest. He has since conducted the busi- ness alone with continued success.

In politics he acts with the Republicans, taking a lively interest in local, State, and national issues; and his well-known ability makes him of especial value to the party in this section. For nine years he has been Chairman of the School Board, being at the present time treasurer of the school district, has been Postmaster at West Epping since 1876, and represented his town in the legis- lature for two years, 1860-62, with unusual vigor.

On December 30, 1845, Captain Shepard was united in marriage with Rowena L. Thyng, daughter of Dudley Thyng, a prosper- ous farmer and well-known resident of Deer- field. Of the children born of this union the only survivor is Herman T., a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy, of Harvard College, and of the Andover Theological Seminary, who is now a Congregationalist minister in South Dakota. Captain and Mrs. Shepard are members of the Congregational church. On December 30, 1895, their many friends and acquaintances assembled at their resi- dence to celebrate their golden wedding, on the completion of a half-century of married life; and the event was a most pleasant and memorable onc.

We are happy to present herewith a portrait of Captain Shepard, who is very popular in this community and a special favorite among the veterans of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic. He is highly respected as a thoroughly upright man, a public-spirited citizen, influen- tial in educational affairs and active in all matters relating to the general welfare.

R UEL G. SHAPLEY, one of the well- to-do farmers of Rye, was born here, October 23, 1825. Ile comes of pioneer stock, his great-grandfather, Henry Shapley, who was born and reared on the Isles of Shoals, having been among the

first settlers of this section of the county. Henry Shapley was a merchant, and carried on a fair business in Rye until his death. Henry Shapley, Jr., the grandfather of Ruel G., was born in Rye, which was his home during his life. He owned some land, but preferred sea- faring pursuits to farming, and so spent a large part of his time on the ocean. His wife, Mary (Berry) Shapley, was a daughter of a pioneer settler of this town. Their son, Reuben Shapley, was the father of Ruel G.

Reuben Shapley, a native of Rye, who was educated in the common schools of this place, after finishing his studies followed the example of his father, and became a sailor. After spending several years in this occupation he gave it up; and, buying sixty acres of land in his native town, he there engaged in general farming until his demise, at the age of sixty- three years. A man of scrupulous integrity, he was highly respected in his community. For more than thirty years he was senior Deacon of the Congregational church, of which his wife likewise was a member. He married Lavinia Robinson, a daughter of Robert Robinson, of Portsmouth, N.H. They had seven children; namely, Ruel G., Margaret, Jotham, Emily, Robert, John, and Samira. Ruel G. and Emily are the only members of the family now living. Robert and John served in the late war with the First New Hampshire Cavalry, in which they enlisted in 1861. John, who was Orderly Sergeant of Company M, was killed in 1864, at Waynes- boro, Va., while under the command of Gen- eral Phil Sheridan. Robert, the First Lieu- tenant of the same company, died in June, 1865, of small-pox, at Darnestown, Md. The mother, who survived her husband, passed away on the old home farm, at the age of seventy-five years.

Ruel G. Shapley was reared and educated in Rye. Here he also learned the carpenter's trade, by which he supported himself for nearly twenty years. He then returned to the homestead, and has since been prosperously engaged in farming. In politics Mr. Shapley affiliates with the Republican party, which he joined at the time of its formation, casting his first Presidential vote for John C. Fremont in 1856. Mr. Shapley has been twice mar-

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ried. By his first marriage, contracted in 1872, he was united to Abbie Rand, daughter of T. Jefferson and Adeline Rand, both na- tives of Rye. She died in 1881, leaving two daughters - Nora and Abbie. In his second marriage Mr. Shapley wedded Miss Maria Haines, who was born in Greenland, daughter of Mathias and Eunice Haines.

HOMAS H. DOLLIVER, a retired business man of Kingston, whose time now is mainly occupied with looking after his real estate interests, was born in Marblehead, Mass., January 19, 1816. He is a son of Thomas G. and Mary (Green) Dolli- ver, both natives of Marblehead, and belongs to two of the oldest families in that place. His great-grandfather on the paternal side, who came from France, erected the first build- ing there. His father, Thomas G. Dolliver, who was a lifelong resident of Marblehead, and a seafaring man like most of the early residents, was lost at sea about 1836. His first wife, the mother of Thomas H., was the daughter of Thomas G. Green, who came from England, settled in Marblehead, and subse- quently died there. She died in 1826, leav- ing six children, namely: William B., who was the owner of the ill-fated vessel on which his father met his death, and was drowned at the same time; Mary, the widow of Samuel Roundy, late of Marblehead, who died in 1891 ; Hannah C., who is the widow of the late Thomas G. Field, and is now living with Thomas H .; Thomas H., the subject of this article; Samuel G., who married Elizabeth Humphrey, and is now living with her in Marblehead; and Peter G., who married a Miss Mullett, since deceased, and is now liv- ing with his son in Salem, Mass. After the death of his first wife Mr. Dolliver married a Mrs. Weed, of Marblehead, who attained the great age of one hundred years. She was the mother of two children - Sarah, the wife of a Mr. Griffiths, of Marblehead; and Leza, also a resident of Marblehead.

Thomas H. Dolliver received a common- school education. On account of the death of his mother he went to live with an uncle in Tuftonboro, Carroll County, when he was nine

years of age. This uncle was a farmer, and the boy was called upon to take an active part in the work about the farm. He learned the carpenter's trade, and in early manhood was employed on important public works. He built a dam in Tuftonboro and Laconia for the water-power company, and erected several buildings in Laconia, where he lived for some time afterward. He subsequently took charge of the work of the Essex Company, a building corporation, which practically laid the founda- tions of the city of Lawrence, Mass., and was connected with them until 1855. Then he was in the produce business until 1861, when he enlisted for service in the Civil War. After the war he engaged in the real estate business. In 1877 he came to Rockingham County, purchased the farm on which he now resides in Kingston and the old Rowell Mills at Newton Junction. Until quite recently he managed a large business at the saw-mills, having a box factory connected, and was at the same time extensively engaged in general farming. Mr. Dolliver has been very busy during his active life, and the success which he has achieved was fairly earned. He now owns property in Epping, Plaistow, Kingston, and many other towns of the county, and in Massachusetts. His home in South Kingston is one of the handsomest estates in the county.

Mr. Dolliver was married in April, 1838, to Alice Dolloff, of Sutton, Vt., who died in 1854. She was the mother of four children, who are also deceased ; namely, Sarah, Levi, Mary, and Charles H. In 1856 Mr. Dolliver again was married to Sarah Bowers, of Pots- dam, N.Y., who died in 1857, leaving one child, Sarah, who died at the age of twenty. His third wife, Elvira (Eastman) Dolliver, who came from Sutton, Canada, lived sixteen years after her marriage, and had three chil- dren - William, who lived but five years ; a child who died in infancy ; and Eva J., born in 1866, who is now with her father. On No- vember 29, 1877, he entered another marriage with Alice A. Marden, who was born in Deer- field, this county, January 3, 1821, daughter of Sewell and Sarah (Avery) Marden. Mr. Marden, who was a farmer of Deerfield, moved to Newburyport, Mass., where he and his wife

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died. Mrs. Alice A. (Marden) Dolliver is living with her husband in South Kingston; and the household circle is completed by an adopted daughter, Miss Annic M. Pike.

Mr. Dolliver, at first a Democrat, has been a strong Republican since Taylor was elected in 1849. He served as Assessor in Lawrence, Mass., for a number of terms. In Lawrence, also, he was a member of the Baptist church ; and, though he favors that denomination, he has not joined any church in this county. He is one of the prominent citizens in this section, and is esteemed by all who know him.

HARLES P. WENDELL, a well- known agriculturist of Rye, Rocking- ham County, N. H., was born in Portsmouth, this county, April 28,

1863. His parents, John S. and Martha (Per- kins) Wendell, were blessed with the birth of eight children. He is a representative of one of the old and respected families of Ports- mouth and its vicinity, and is a lincal de- scendant of an early settler of New York State.

The immigrant progenitor was Evert Jansen Wendell, who was born in Embden, Holland, in 1615, and migrated to America in 1640, settling first in New Amsterdam, as New York City was formerly called, and later removing to Albany. His character was such as to win the respect and confidence of his fellows; and he served them in several public capacities, in 1660-61 officiating as Magis- trate. One of his sons, who bore the name Johannes, became the possessor of extensive real estate: and he had the honor of being elevated to important positions of public trust. In 1685 he was a Captain in the militia, in 1686 he was one of the first Aldermen of Albany, and for several years he served as a Magistrate.

Abraham Wendell, son of Johannes, en- gaged in mercantile business in Boston for several years ; and his son John, in turn, was a merchant and importer of that city. John Wendell was Captain of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery in Boston in 1740. The next in lineal descent bore his father's name, John. He was born in Boston in 1731, at the

age of fifteen matriculated at Harvard College, and was graduated in 1750. He became a lawyer, and settled in Portsmouth. In 1768 he received the degree of A. M. from Yale College and in 1773 from Dartmouth. He wedded Sarah, the eldest daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth F. Wentworth, of Portsmouth, and an aunt of Eben Wentworth. They be- came the parents of eleven children; and by a subsequent marriage with Miss Dorothy Sher- burne, of Portsmouth, he had eight children. He died in Portsmouth, April 29, 1808, at the advanced age of seventy-six years.

Jacob, the sixth child of John and Dorothy S. Wendell, was born at Portsmouth, Decem- ber 10, 1788. For many years he was a mer- chant engaged in the Russian and West Ind- ian trade, and he accumulated a large prop- erty. In 1815, in company with his brothers Isaac and Abraham, he founded some of the earliest cotton factories in New Hampshire, buying several water privileges in the town of Dover, N. H., and constructing the original mill of the Great Falls Corporation. At a critical pecuniary period in the history of the infant enterprise, in the panic of 1827, caused by President John Quincy Adams's Tariff Bill, they became insolvent. Abraham Wen- dell was the eldest of the three brothers, and was the leading business man in manufactur- ing and in building up Dover as well as Great Falls: but the tariff of 1827 ruined him with his brothers, and he was the greatest sufferer, as he had invested his all. Jacob, without notifying his brothers of his intentions, took advantage of the bankrupt law; but Abraham and Isaac devoted the rest of their lives to clearing off their liabilities, including those of their brother Jacob - a heavy and all but hopeless task, which, however, they finally accomplished. These two brothers were Quakers in religion, while Jacob was a Uni- tarian.

Mr. Jacob Wendell was an antiquary, and in 1847 associated himself with the New Eng- land Historical Genealogical Society as a cor- responding member. In that capacity he had the honor and pleasure of receiving and of en- tertaining General Lafayette at the time of his visit to Portsmouth in 1811.

Mr. Jacob Wendell's marriage with Miss

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Mehitable Rindge, of Portsmouth, was blessed in the birth of seven children - Mchitable, Caroline, Evert Jansen, Mary, George, Jacob, Jr., and Mark R. Jacob Wendell, Jr., and Mark R. are the only ones of the seven now living. In religious faith and affiliation the father was a member of the South Parish Church of Portsmouth. He departed this life August 27, 1865.

Abraham Wendell, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a ship-chandler, and also the proprietor of a general store at the corner of State and Water Streets, Ports- mouth. Also for several years he was in partnership with his brother Jacob, under the firm style of A. & J. Wendell, in the cotton manufactory at Dover and Great Falls; and after the discontinuance of that association he removed to Bow Street, where he conducted until a few months previous to his decease a hardware store, carrying also ship-chandlery. His matrimonial union with Miss Susan Gardner was fruitful of the birth of nine chil- dren, namely: Daniel D .; Jacob L .; Abra- ham Q .; Henry F .; John S .; Tunis D .; Gardner; Susan, who is still residing on the ancestral estate; and Vallina V., the widow of Edwin A. Peterson, of New York, who was a member of the firm of E. A. Peterson & Co., dealers in carpets, his associate being his brother, Archibald Peterson, a prominent merchant of New York City. The former was the President of the New Hampshire Na- tional Bank for eight years. Mr. Wendell's youngest daughter, Ann, a talented musician, died in comparatively carly life. Mr. Abra- ham Wendell attained to the venerable age of eighty years, passing away on March 27, 1865.

John S. Wendell for many years was en- gaged in the ship-chandlery business in com- pany with his father in Portsmouth, where he still makes his home. He was joined in mar- riage with Miss Martha Perkins, a daughter of Elias Perkins, of Portsmouth, a pensioner of the war with England, and from that union sprang eight children, four of whom grew to maturity, namely: G. Montgomery, who died aged fourteen ; Dora, who died at the age of forty-one years; Ellen, who died in her twenty - fourth year; Susan G .; Emma; George H., who was drowned in 1874, aged

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Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire, Part 33

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