USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire > Part 34
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seventeen; John S., Jr., and Charles P., who are the only ones living. John wedded Miss Lucina Hunkerford, and into their home came four children; namely, George, Delma, Martha, and Justin. Mr. John S. Wendell, who has been called upon to mourn the death of his wife and six children, yet resides in Portsmouth.
Charles P. Wendell, who was left mother- less when he was only three years old, was educated at the public schools of Portsmouth and at Blunt's Academy. He learned the ma- chinist's trade at the Mason Locomotive Works in Taunton, Mass., and for four years followed his calling at Taunton and Ports- mouth. After that he was employed on his father-in-law's farm for several years; and he then purchased an estate of one hundred and seventy acres in Rye, on which he has been successfully engaged in general hus- bandry to the present time, having sold his wife's homestead to Professor Parsons, of Philadelphia, Pa. On September 7, 1883, he married Miss Mary E. Dow, a daughter of Captain Albert and Mary (Cronin) Dow, of Rye; and by this union he has become the father of two children - Auburn D. and Dora S.
Mr. Wendell has served his fellow-citizens in the capacity of Surveyor of the Highways. In national politics he has regularly supported the principles and candidates of the Demo- cratic party since the attainment of his major- ity. Hc cast his first Presidential vote for the present incumbent of the chief magistracy of the nation, Grover Cleveland, in 1884. Religiously, he is a constant attendant upon the services of the Congregational Church of Rye.
EVI W. TAYLOR, the popular Post- master of North Salem, N. H., and a prominent citizen of the town, was born in Salem, N.H., March 20, 1845, son of Daniel and Ruth M. (Duston) Taylor, the father a native of Salem, and the mother of Windham, N. H. Joseph Taylor, father of Daniel, was an early settler of Salem. He represented the town in the State legis- lature, and was a prominent citizen and well
LEVI W. TAYLOR.
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known, living to be eighty-three years old. Daniel Taylor, residing in North Salem, is in his eighty-second year, being one of the old- est residents of the town. Besides engaging in agricultural pursuits, he has done quite an extensive lumber business, and for a number of years made a specialty of getting out ship lumber. His wife, who is also living, is in her sixty-fifth year. Levi W. Taylor received his early education in the public schools of Salem, afterward attending Atkinson and Til- ton Academies. When about nineteen years old he went to Haverhill, Mass., and became a clerk in a dry-goods store. On leaving that position he started a general store at North Salem in company with an uncle, A. S. Hill, under the firm name of Hill & Taylor; but after a time he purchased his uncle's interest, and became the sole proprietor, and has carried on the mercantile business successfully alone for a quarter-century. In addition to this Mr. Taylor is extensively engaged in the wood and lumber business, buying large tracts of standing timber, the sawing and cutting of which he contracts for, and marketing the product in Lawrence and Haverhill, Mass.
Mr. Taylor has been twice married. His first wife was Lizzie F. Brown, a native of Windham. After her death he married on October 4, 1877, his present wife, formerly Miss Ellen L. Taylor, a daughter of the Hon. M. H. Taylor, of North Salem, N. H. They have one daughter, Mabel.
Being public-spirited and taking a keen in- terest in political matters, Mr. Taylor has often been chosen for official honors. During several terms and under different administra- tions he has served as Postmaster. He has represented the town in the State legislature one term, and has served as Selectman two terms. He is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity at Salem.
TEPHEN BROWN, one of the old- est and most prosperous farmers of Kensington and a member for many years of the town government, was born on the farm where he now lives, Febru- ary 4, 1817. A son of Stephen and Susan (Bagley) Brown, he is descended in direct
line from the first settler of Hampton, N. H., an Englishman named John Brown. John Brown, who was born about 1589 and was a fellow-voyager with Mr. Dummer on the "Whale," located in Hampton in 1636. Two years later he was sent with his brother James to England for colonists to people the district. After living nearly one hundred years, he died in Hampton, February 28, 1687. He married Sarah Dummer, who died July 6, 1672. The farm on which Mr. Stephen Brown resides was reclaimed from the wilderness by his great grandfather, Jonathan Brown, who took posses- sion of it in 1725, when this part of the country was very sparsely settled and heavily wooded. He died there when about sixty years of age. His son Joseph, grandfather of Stephen, suc- ceeded to the homestead, and devoted his life to the pursuit of agriculture. He was an in- dustrious and exemplary citizen, and for a time represented the district in the State legislature. His death occurred in his seventy-seventh year. His wife, in maiden- hood Miss Anna Brown, lived to an advanced age.
Stephen Brown, Sr., was born on the home farm in 1780, and like his forefathers engaged in husbandry. He was very successful in his chosen calling, and became one of the leading men of the town. He was successively a Whig and a Republican. He served for a time as Selectman of Kensington, and during the War of 1812 he was Captain of a company. He died at the age of seventy-six. His wife, who was born in Salisbury, Mass., in 1783, died in Kensington at the age of seventy-four. They had nine children, of whom Stephen Brown, Jr., and Dr. Moses Brown, a physician living at Martha's Vineyard, Mass., are the only survivors. The others were named : Jo- seph, Amos, Mary, Nancy, John, Jonathan, and Susan R. Both parents were members of the Congregational church.
Stephen Brown received his education in the schools of Kensington. He has lived on the homestead since birth, and has been en- gaged in general farming throughout his active life. Ilis estate, which contains about three hundred acres, is one of the largest and best farms of the township.
Mr. Brown was married December 2, 1840,
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to Dolly Batchelder, of Hampton Falls, who died in 1865. He was again married in 1868 to Esther Lamprey, daughter of Gilman and Esther (Leavitt) Lamprey and sister of John P. Lamprey, of Kensington. The second Mrs. Brown died in 1894. Of Mr. Brown's chil- dren five are deceased ; namely, Daniel, Daniel (second), Mary, Anna, and Moses. Moses was frozen to death in Dakota during a blizzard. The others are: John C., a farmer in Colorado, who was a soldier in the late war; Amos, a farmer in Illinois, who also served in the late war; Emery, a miner in Colorado; Joseph, a farmer in Illinois; David, a farmer in Ken- sington ; and Stephen, a farmer, who is with his father. Mr. Brown has also fourteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren living. A loyal Republican since his party was organized, Mr. Brown has represented the town in the State legislature, and served on the Board of Selectmen for several years. He is always interested in any good work for Ken- sington, and his opinions are received with respect by his townsmen. He is a member of the Congregational church. Though nearly fourscore years of age, he is alert and active, and still supervises his farm.
DWIN N. WHITNEY, the leading gen- eral merchant of Derry Depot, dealing in dry and fancy goods, boots and shoes, crockery, hardware, paints and oils, was born in the town of Windham, Cumberland County, Me., April 17, 1851. He is a son of Obadiah H. and Louisa (Bangs) Whitney, both natives of Cumberland County, Maine, and descendants of pioneer settlers in that section. Obadiah H. Whitney, who was a cooper and farmer, died in 1884.
Edwin N. Whitney acquired the rudiments of his education in the public schools in Cum- berland County, and laid the foundation of his commercial knowledge in Gray's Business College at Portland, Me. . He remained on his father's farm in Windham, Me., until eighteen years of age. Then, entering the employ of Whitney & Thomas, wholesale boot and shoe dealers in Portland, he worked in the store for a while as clerk, after which he was sent on the road as travelling salesman,
and travelled for fourteen years, principally in New Hampshire and Vermont. During these fourteen years, having dealings with all kinds and conditions of men, Mr. Whitney acquired a valuable amount of experience. In 1888 he started in business for himself at Derry Depot, opening the only department store in the town. Located on Broadway, the store is in a favorable position for business. Mr. Whitney receives a large trade from out- of-town customers. With its well-selected stock and reasonable prices, the establishment has been a success from the beginning. Mr. Whitney is at present one of the Directors of the Derryfield Building Association.
Mr. Whitney married Mrs. Mary A. Smith, the widow of Alden B. Smith, of Derry Depot. In politics he is prominent among the Republicans of the district. He served as Selectman of Derry for two years, and is at present the Secretary of the Republican Club of Derry. A public-spirited man, he is in favor of every project calculated to serve the town. He is connected with a number of so- cial organizations, including the Masonic Order, the Knights of Pythias, and the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He is widely known and esteemed, and has the confidence of the entire business community.
ENERAL CHARLES A. NASON, of Hampton Falls, one of the few surviving officers of the old New Hampshire militia, was born here, December 9,
I822. His parents were Jonathan and Mary (Gordon) Nason, the former of Hampton Falls, and the latter of Exeter, N. H. He belongs to the seventh generation descended from the family's founder, who came from England to this country in 1648 and settled in Berwick, Me. This ancestor, after having established a home in the wilderness, like so many who left the security of their native land for the danger-haunted forests of the New World, was killed by the Indians in the doorway of his house. He was married in 1664, and left two sons, Richard and Jonathan. Richard was the founder of the Hampton Falls branch of the family. From him the line is traced through Jonathan and Richard. Richard Nason, the
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grandfather of General Nason, was prominent in town business. He was a surveyor of land, and laid out and surveyed Weare and other townships. He lived to be eighty-five years old. His wife, whose maiden name was Han- nah Cram, reared a large family.
Jonathan Nason, General Charles . A. Nason's father, studied reading, writing, and arithmetic at the district school, and acquired a practical knowledge of agriculture on the home farm. He was a thrifty and progressive farmer, and added by purchase to the home- stead, also building a portion of the house now occupied by his son. In 1812 he was a Cap- tain in the State militia of Hampton Falls, and went to Portsmouth with his company to defend it against an expected attack by the English. He was afterward commissioned Major of the Third Regiment. A man of character, he was prominent in the town, and served as Selectman and Surveyor of High- ways. He died in 1846, at the age of sixty- two. His wife, who was a daughter of Benja- min Gordon, of Exeter, passed away in 1864. She reared but two children - Charles A. and George W. The latter married Mary A. Per- kins, and had one son, who is now deceased.
General Charles A. Nason received a good practical education, studying the elementary branches in the district school and the more advanced subjects in Rockingham Academy at Hampton. He has spent his life on the home- stead, principally engaged in general farming and stock raising. In 1887 he built a fine barn, one hundred by forty feet, for the express accommodation of his cattle. He keeps a number of cows, and has bred some of the best stock raised in this section. When a young man Mr. Nason joined the State militia, in which his soldierly bearing and proficiency in drill won him rapid promotion. Ile rose from the rank of First Sergeant to those of Lieuten- ant Colonel, Colonel, Brigadier-general, and was finally appointed Major-general by the Governor of New Hampshire. lle retired from the militia in 1856.
Mr. Nason was married December 9, 1856, to Mrs. Mary A. (Perkins) Nason, the widow of his brother George. She is a daughter of Captain Nathaniel and Mary (Janvrin) Perkins and a grand-daughter of David Perkins, of
Hampton Falls. Her grandfather and father were members of the State militia, her father holding the rank of Captain. Seven children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Nason. Charles A., their eldest son, died at the age of eighteen years. Daniel died at the age of fourteen years. Richard married Alice Jacobs, and has no children. Mary married Alva Brewer, of Kensington, N. H., and has four children - Charles A., Mildred N., Her- bert A., and Elmer P. Jonathan married Martha L. Janvrin, and has no children. Martha married Ralph H. Blatchford, and has one son, Ralph N. David, the youngest son, who is a musician, lives in Newburyport, Mass. Mr. Nason's first Presidential vote was cast in favor of Henry Clay, the Whig candi- date in 1844; and he has given his allegiance to the Republican party since its formation. He was a Representative in the State legis- lature of 1860-61, has officiated as Moderator of the town meeting, and has been a member of the Board of Selectmen for two years.
P. MAJOR, a respected resident of Derry Depot, was born April 25, 1822, in the town of Derry, this county, son of John and Martha (Cheney) Major. He is of English origin, his paternal grandfather, Captain Major, having been born and reared in England. The Captain, who for many years resided in this part of New Hampshire, and here brought up his family, was a scafaring man during the greater part of his life, and obtained command of a vessel. After making many voyages, he was lost at sea. John Major was born in that part of old Derryfield now included within the limits of Manchester, Hillsborough County. After his marriage he settled in this county, where he spent his remaining days. His wife, who was a lifelong resident of the county, bore hin several children, of whom the survivors are: Philip, now residing in Derry; Isabella, wife of Ellsworth Carlton, of Derry; Thomas P., the subject of this sketch ; and Rebecca, who married James Reed, of Derry village. The father was a man of strict integrity, in view of which fact he was familiarly called by his many friends and acquaintances "Honest John."
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Thomas P. Major attended the district schools for a few years. Being an intelligent reader, he has since kept himself thoroughly acquainted with the general topics of the day. At the age of ten years he was put to work on a neighboring farm, and continued so engaged until he came of age. He subsequently learned the trade of a tanner and currier, at which he had worked about four years when ill health obliged him to give it up. In 1878 Mr. Major removed to Derry, and was one of the first to build in the locality. Since then he has watched with satisfaction the rapid growth and improvement of the place. In politics he is identified with the Republican party. For three years he served as Select- man of Derry, and for a time was Highway Surveyor. He is a prominent member of the various organizations of Derry, including the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities, the Knights of Pythias, the United Order of Pilgrim Fathers, the Eastern Star Lodge, and the Order of Rebekah.
Mr. Major has been twice married. On September 24, 1845, he married Rachel E., daughter of Deacon Daniel W. Hayes, of Farmington, N. H. She died in 1882, leav- ing no children. In 1884 Mr. Major was again married, Mrs. Harriet N. McGregor, the widow of the late W. K. McGregor, of Derry, becoming his wife. Mrs. Major was born and reared in this section of New Hamp- shire, as were her parents, James and Mary (Plummer) Nevins. The latter was a native of Londonderry, where two of her three sur- viving children are now living, namely : Will- iam P. Nevins; and Mary, who is the wife of Frederick Gilcreast. Mrs. Major is a mem- ber of the Congregational church.
RANK O. TOWLE, a representative farmer and large land-owner of South Hampton, was born in Hampton Falls, this county, December 7, 1846, son of Will- iam F. and Hannah D. (Berry) Towle. At least five generations of his family have resided in llampton. Ilis great-grandfather lived in the town for a number of years, and it was the birthplace of his grandfather, Caleb Towle. The latter, who was engaged in the manufact-
ure of shoes when a young man, later became a farmer. He was also toll-keeper on the toll road for a number of years. In the War of 1812 he served as Captain of an artillery com- pany. lle was a Democrat in politics. In religious belief he was a Christian Baptist. He died in Hampton Falls at an advanced age. His children were: Oliver, Mary Ann, Sarah, William F., Elbridge E., Elizabeth, Almira, and Emmons B. The last three are living. The parents celebrated their golden wedding, at which were present eight grand- children as well as their eight children.
William F. Towle, the father of Frank O., born in Hampton, March 5, 1821, was a com- petent farmer and a shrewd business man. He was engaged in trade for some time. From Hampton proper he moved to Hampton Falls, and subsequently to South Hampton, settling in 1851 on the farm now occupied by his son. A stanch Democrat, he took an ac- tive part in local politics, serving as Select- man for a number of years, and represented the town at Concord in the legislature of 1869-70. In religious belief, like his father, he was a Christian Baptist. He died in
South Hampton, August 12, 1893. His wife, who was born in Chichester, N. H., Oc- tober 24, 1806, died in South Hampton, Octo- ber 12, 1893. They were the parents of three children : Otis W., born July 22, 1843, a farmer of South Hampton; Frank O., the sub- ject of this article; and Charles H., born March 25, 1845. The mother by a previous marriage with Joseph Brown had three chil- dren --- Sarah A., John J., and James D. Brown.
Frank O. Towle attended the schools of his native town and Barnard Academy. He after- ward qualified himself as a bock-keeper at a commercial school in Boston, Mass. For some time he was watchman at the State Farm of Rhode Island, and later was similarly em- ployed at the Dexter Asylum in Providence, R.1. In 1876 he returned to his native town, where he has since been extensively engaged in general farming. His farm contains one hundred and twenty-five acres of upland, from which a beautiful view is obtained. He also owns land in South Hampton and East Kings- ton. As a farmer he is very successful,
ELIPHALET HUNT.
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partly owing to his commercial training, which has made hin a methodical and compe- tent business man. He has a pretty home and good farm buildings, and he spares no pains to keep his estate in good condition. Mr. Towle is a member of the society of Patrons of Husbandry at Kensington.
On December 30, 1880, Mr. Towle was married to Sarah E. Parker, who was born April 25, 1845, daughter of Edmund B. Bart- lett, of Kingston, N. H. In politics he is a Democrat. He represented the district in the State legislature in 1885, has served as Se- lectman of the town, and is now a member of the Board of Education. He belongs to Warren Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Amesbury, Mass. ; and to Wehanowowit Tribe, No. 22, Improved Order of Red Men, of Exeter, N. H. On religious subjects he holds liberal views.
. RANKLIN HUNT, a prominent and prosperous farmer of Sandown town- ship, son of Eliphalet Hunt, was born May 19, 1833, on the homestead where he now lives. He is of Massachusetts ancestry, his grandfather, Zaccheus Hunt, having been a native of Salisbury, in that State. He was
born March 12, 1764. While serving his country, Grandfather Hunt took cold from ex- posure, and died March 12, 1795, while yet a young man. His wife, whose maiden name was Miriam Swett, outlived him more than half a century, dying in October, 1852. They had six children, namely: Lois, who was the wife of Joseph Jackman, of Newburyport, Mass. ; Miriam, who married Israel Blake; Nancy, who married Peter Hardy, and Betsey, her twin sister, who became the wife of Moses Anson ; Abigail, who married David French ; and Eliphalet, the father of Franklin Hunt. None of the family are now living.
Eliphalet IIunt was born October 28, 1791 ; and from the time he was five years old until his death, November 20, 1876, with the ex- ception of three years spent in Manchester, this State, he lived on the farm now occupied by his children. He was a farmer, also a surveyor of land, and was one of the surveyors employed in 1825 in determining the boundary between New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
He married Susan Webster, a native of Rock- ingham County, where she spent her life, her birth occurring March 17, 1790, in Chester, and her death April 7, 1871, on the homestead in Sandown. They had nine children - Mary Ann L., Richard L., Elizabeth W., Susan, George Washington, Lydia W., Joan C., Brad- ley W., and Franklin. Mary A. L. Hunt, born August 23, 1814, died March 27, 1896. She married Moses Dudley, a farmer, and lived in the towns of Raymond, Fremont, and Sandown. Richard L., born March 8, 1816, is now living in Boston, Mass. Elizabeth W., born February 16, 1818, died February 14, 1845. Susan, born February 5, 1820, died October 20, 1893. George Washington, born June 5, 1822, was for many years a well- known hotel-keeper of New York City, among the hotels of which he has had the charge being the St. Denis, Winchester, Irving, and several others of like prominence. Hle mar- ried Elizabeth Ingalls, daughter of Samuel and Eliza (Clough) Ingalls, and is now living on the old Hunt homestead with his brother Franklin, engaged in farming. Five children were born to George W. and Elizabeth I. Hunt ; namely, Lisette G., Seward, George S., Agnes C., and Irving. Lisette G. married George S. Sanborn, who resides in Sandown. They have had two children -- Musette and Sherburn E., the latter now deceased. Agnes C. is a public teacher in the schools of San Diego, Cal. Seward, George S., and Irving are no longer living. Lydia W. Hunt, born July 9, 1824, and Joan C., born August 13, 1828, also make their home on the old farm, living with their brothers, the latter having but recently come from Boston, where she has lived for thirty years. Bradley W., born November 29, 1830, died July 15, 1841.
Franklin Ilunt, the youngest member of the parental household, with his brothers and sisters attended the district schools of San- down, afterward studying at the Atkinson Academy in this county. With the exception of a short time spent in Manchester, N. II., when he was quite young, Mr. Hunt has made his residence on the home farm. This hand- some property, belonging to him and his brother and sisters, contains two hundred acres of valu- able land, which is kept in a fine state of culti-
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vation. They have made the larger part of the improvements, having now a spacious and con- veniently arranged house, a commodious barn, with plenty of good out-buildings for the stor- ing of their machinery, tools, and farm prod- ucts. In addition to general farming they raise some stock, and are specially engaged in dairying, making some butter and a large quantity of cheese. In politics Mr. Hunt and his brother uniformly vote the Republican ticket. For three terms Mr. George W. Hunt represented his native town and Fremont in the State legislature.
ILLIAM P. NEVINS, Chairman of the School Board of Londonderry, was born in this town, May 23,_ 1841, son of James and Mary (Plummer) Nevins. His father was a native of Pelham, N. H., and his mother of Londonderry. The Nevins family is one of the old families of Pelham. Robert Nevins, grandfather of Will- iam P., was a native of that town. James Nevins settled in Londonderry when he was a young man, locating on the farm now occu- pied by his son, but originally owned by the Rev. Dr. Morrison, one of the pioneer clergy- men of this town. A hard-working and pro- gressive farmer, he was very successful, and was in comfortable circumstances at the time of his death. In politics he was successively a Whig and a Republican. He was in com- munion with the Presbyterian church, which he served in the capacity of Elder. Mr. Nevins lived to round out three- quarters of a century. Of his children two besides William P. are living, namely : Harriet, the wife of Thomas P. Major, of Derry Depot, N. II. ; and Mary, the wife of Frederick A. Gilcreast, of Londonderry. The others were : John, James E., Henry A., and Sarah E.
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