USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire > Part 4
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The father of this family was a man who never cared for public offices, preferring to live quietly and independently: He was a Whig and subsequently a Republican. Farm- ing and trading were the principal interests of his life; and he was also a cooper, so that in the case of either or both of the other enter- prises failing he still had a certain livelihood secured. This respected and law-abiding citi- zen of Candia passed into the other life March 25, 1866, aged seventy-three years. His family attended the Congregational church.
Charles R. Rowe was educated in the com- mon schools of Candia and the literary insti- tutions of New Hampton and New London. After leaving school he engaged in farming, and during the winters taught in various towns, among which were Candia, Hookset, New London, Suncook, and Pembroke, all schools of different grades. This occupation he followed before and after the war, in all a period of about twenty-five years. In 1862 Mr. Rowc enlisted in Company I, Eleventh New Hampshire Volunteers, with forty-two comrades from Candia, under Colonel Harri- man and Captain W. R. Patten, for a three ycars' term. The company was mustered in in Concord, N.Il .; and the young soldiers who set out on the journey little knew what perils they were now to encounter, or when
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they should again see their homes. Mr. Rowe remained in the service until the close of the war.
He was in his first baptism of blood at Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862, and was camped on Falmouth Heights, opposite the ill-fated city, which was so soon to be the scene of such suffering. From there his com- pany was ordered to Newport News, Va., to recruit, and from there to Mississippi, where the troops were holding Vicksburg in siege. From Vicksburg he went to Kentucky, then to Cairo, Ill., and from that point back to Vicksburg, where he remained until the evacuation of the city on July 4, 1863, then following the Southern army to Jackson, Miss., returning afterward to camp in the rear of the deserted city until they should be transported North. The men of Company I were then sent to Annapolis, marched over the Cumberland Mountains to Knoxville, Tenn., where they remained during the siege of that city, returning subsequently to Wash- ington, D.C. During the siege of Knox- ville, in the winter of 1863 and 1864, suffi- cient supplies could not be transported to the army ; and the men were destitute of sufficient clothing and shoes. Soldiers marching with bare feet left blood marks on the frozen ground, and food became so scarce that two ears of corn were issued as a day's ration. Mr. Rowe saw some of the most severe fight- ing of the Civil War, and his army record is one of which his descendants may feel proud. He fought through the bloody battles of the Wilderness, which made the date of May 6 to 12 a memorable one for both armies, Cold Harbor, Spottsylvania Court-house, North Anna River, and City Point, and then re- paired to the siege of Petersburg, where he was on duty until the city was taken. The war was shortly terminated; and Mr. Rowe re- ceived his discharge June 10, 1865, after a service during which he had not had a single day's furlough from military duty.
Very soon after his return to Candia he purchased the estate known as the Joshua Lane place, and has continued farming and dairying upon it ever since. Mr. Rowe was married December 7, 1865, to Miss Lydia J. Worthen, of Candia. Two children were born to them
- Carrie B., who married Allan H. Nelson, of Candia; and George L., who is engaged in the livery business at Candia Depot. George L. Rowe does an extensive amount of trans- porting, as there are always passengers to be taken to and from the railroad station.
Charles R. Rowe is a Republican in poli- tics. He has been superintendent of schools in Candia for several years, and is a man whose influence is always cast on the side of right and justice. A Congregationalist in religious belief, he has been a stanch sup- porter of the church of that denomination in Candia, having served as one of its Deacons for ten years. In his family relations he has been especially blessed, both of his children living in the town where their parents reside ; and in the social and business circles of his town he has an enviable reputation for integ- rity, sound judgment, and steadfastness of purpose.
AMES M. HEALEY, a well-known mill operator and extensive box manu- facturer of Raymond, was born in this town, June 32, 1848, son of John and Sarah (Heath) Healey. The family is a highly reputable one in this locality; and an account of Mr. Healey's ancestors is given in the sketch of Dana C. Healey, which appears elsewhere in this work.
James M. Healey acquired the elements of knowledge in the common schools of Ray- mond, Me., and worked at farming on the family homestead until reaching the age of twenty years. He then engaged in the mill business, sawing shingles, grinding corn, and advancing steadily in prosperity until 1892, when he engaged in the manufacture of both wood and paper boxes, which he is now carry- ing on upon a large scale. The mill, which was formerly the property of Abram Hodgkins, he bought in 1888; and he has rebuilt and en- larged it to its present proportions, eighty by twenty feet, and two stories in height. He put in a new and improved planing machine, manufactured by Hall & Brown, of St. Louis, at a cost of eight hundred dollars. He em- ploys twelve girls and from seven to twelve men, producing some twenty-five thousand
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boxes, large and small, per week; and the sawing capacity of the mill, which is provided with both steam and water power, is about thirty thousand feet per week. Besides the mill Mr. Healey owns two fine residences and a number of barns, storehouses, and other buildings. In politics he supports the Demo- cratic party, and has served on the Board of Selectmen for eight years in succession, hav- ing been Chairman for three years. On May I, 1869, he was united in marriage to Laura J. Underhill, daughter of Moses Underhill, of Chester, N.H. Two children came to enlarge and brighten the family circle - Annie L., now a teacher in this town; and Ruth S., who resides at home.
Mr. Healey is connected with several frater- nal organizations, being a member of Rock- ingham Lodge, No. 76, A. F. & A. M., of Candia; Junietta Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 47, of Raymond, in which he has filled important chairs; and Raymond Grange, No. 138, Patrons of Husbandry, of which he is at the present time Master and Overseer. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church.
LWIN C. MILLS, a prosperous farmer and shoe manufacturer of Sandown, was born October 24, 1851, in Lebanon, York County, Me., son of John and Sarah (Cowell) Mills, both natives of the same town. John Mills lived in Lebanon several years after his marriage, being actively engaged in farming and shoemaking. In 1865 he re- moved with his family to New Hampshire, locating in the town of Hampstead, where he has since devoted himself to agricultural pur- suits. His wife Sarah bore him five children, as follows: Elwin C., the subject of this sketch; Herbert W., residing at Hampstead, who married Miss Annie Knight; Flora M., who is the wife of Daniel W. Knight, of Dorchester, Mass .; Cynthia, who married Walter Knight, also a resident of Dorchester ; and John E., who married Miss Annie Saw- yer, and lives in Hampstead.
Elwin C. Mills completed his schooling in the academy at West Lebanon, Me. He re- mained under the parental roof-tree until his
marriage. Coming then to Sandown, he took up his residence on what was then known as the old Plummer homestead. He has since been intimately associated with the agricult- ural and business interests of the town. He owns one hundred and fifteen acres of land, which he industriously cultivates, harvesting good crops each year and raising some stock. During the warmer months Mr. and Mrs. Mills entertain summer guests, most of whom come from Boston and its suburbs. Their house has accommodations for about sixty boarders. Mr. Mills's factory is equipped with the latest approved machinery for making shoes, is supplied with steam-power, and gives constant employment to about fifteen men. He carries on a good business, selling the larger part of his manufactures in Boston. In politics Mr. Mills is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He is public-spirited and progressive, and takes an intelligent interest in local affairs. He has served on the School Committee six years. He was Selectman for two years, and for a time was Tax Collector. He is a member of Gideon Lodge, No. 84, A. F. & A. M., of Kingston, and is Master of Pomona Grange, which he assisted in bringing to its present high standing among its sister societies.
Mr. Mills was united in marriage January 29, 1873, to Miss Sarah M. Davis, a daughter of the late Giles M. and Mary W. (Plummer) Davis. Both her parents are natives of this county, the father having been born in Plais- tow, and the mother in Sandown, where she spent her life. Mrs. Mills was born on the homestead farm in Sandown, March 21, 1849, and, after attending the academy at New Hampton, was engaged in teaching school for eight years. She has had nine children, as follows : Cecil E., born April 7, 1874; Mabel E., born October 23, 1875, who is a teacher in the public schools; Arthur E., born No- vember 22, 1877; Willie, born April 13, 1879, who died September 5, 1879; Roscoe S., born August 12, 1881; Mary Alice, born July 10, 1883, who died August 30 of the same year; Herbert M., born April 16, 1885; Abbie E., born July 8, 1886; and Flora I., born November 23, 1889, who died September 8, 1890.
ALBERT C. BUSWELL.
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LBERT C. BUSWELL, M. D., a pop- ular medical practitioner and promi- nent citizen of Epping, N. H., was born in the town of Wilmot, N. H., October 3, 1853. His parents were Hiram and Mary J. (Frazier) Buswell. Hiram Bus- well, who was a native of New Hampshire and for many years a resident successively of Nashua and Weare, N. H., was for some time engaged in railroad work of different kinds. The latter part of his life was devoted to agri- cultural pursuits in the town of Weare. He died in 1893, his estimable wife having passed away in 1877.
Albert C. Buswell in his boyhood attended school in Nashua, N. H., and later took a four years' course at Colby Academy, New Lon- don, N. H., graduating in 1871. He then began the study of medicine with Dr. A. R. Dearborn, and was subsequently with Dr. G. W. Currier, of Nashua. He was grad- uated from the Medical School of Maine, Bowdoin College, in 1878, and began to prac- tise in Amherst, N. H., where he remained two years, spending the following year in Brooklyn, N. Y., and locating in Epping in 1881. Thoroughly grounded in medical sci- ence, and naturally gifted with the qualities that make the successful physician, he is one of the leading professional men of Rocking- ham County, and has a large practice in and about Epping. Dr. Buswell was Secretary of the Rockingham Medical Association during its existence.
He was married to Lillian H. Wilcox, daughter of William R. Wilcox, of Nashua, in 1879, and six children are now growing up in his home; namely, S. May, Wilcox F., Charles D., S. George, H. Wynn, and Albert C., Jr.
In politics Dr. Buswell is a stanch Demo- crat. Though not seeking official honors, he has served on the local Board of Health and on the Board of Education, and takes an active interest in the progress of town affairs. He is a strong advocate of popular rights, and opposed at all times to monopolies. Believ- ing in the good accomplished by brotherhoods and social organizations, which unite so many members of the human family by the ties of common interest, he belongs to a number of
them. He is a member of Sullivan Lodge, No. 19, A. F. & A. M., St. Albans Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, is Past Master of Rock- ingham Grange, Patrons of Husbandry ; and has been identified with the order of Knights of Pythias since 1890, being at present Grand Chancellor of the Grand Domain of New Hampshire. The Doctor and his wife are members of the Baptist church. 1136222
OHN H. FOSTER, of the firm Foster & Rowe, general merchants of Candia, was born in this town, January 18, 1844, son of True and Data C. (Hobbs) Foster. The founder of the family was an English emi- grant who settled in Scarboro, Me. Joseph Foster, the paternal grandfather of John H., followed the trade of a carpenter and cabinet- maker in Candia during the active period of his life, and died at the age of seventy-four years. . He reared a family of three children, all of whom have passed away.
True Foster, who was a native and lifelong resident of Candia, was also a carpenter, and worked at his trade during his long and active career, attaining a wide reputation as a skilful and reliable mechanic. After living seventy- four years, he died in May, 1869. In politics he was a Democrat, and in his religious belief he was a Congregationalist. He married for his first wife Sally Clay, of this town, who died leaving no children. His second wife, in maidenhood Data C. Hobbs, became the mother of three children, namely : Abbie, who resides in this town; John H., the subject of this sketch; and Effie, the wife of Albert Preston, of Auburn.
John H. Foster acquired his education in the common and high schools of his native town. After finishing his studies, he learned shoemaking, at which he subsequently worked for about fifteen years. He then abandoned the trade, and became a clerk in the general store formerly carried on by the late W. J. Dudley, with whom he continued for nine years. He was employed in the same capacity by J. A. Lane, of Hampton, during the fol- lowing two years, at the end of which he re- turned to Candia, where he resumed his former position with Mr. Dudley. He remained this
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time until Mr. Dudley's death, which oc- curred in 1895. Forming a copartnership with E. L. Rowe, he succeeded to the busi- ness of his late employer, which had been established over thirty-eight years. Messrs. Foster & Rowe have had a very flourishing trade from the start. The store is well stocked with general merchandise, including groceries, dry goods, hardware, grain and feed, with other staple and necessary articles for farm and family use. Its customers come from an extensive section of the district.
On December 23, 1866, Mr. Foster was united in marriage to Mary S. Godfrey, daughter of Jason Godfrey, of Candia. Mr. and Mrs. Foster have been bereft of the two children born of their union. Politically, Mr. Foster acts with the Republican party. He has served with ability as Town Clerk for two years, was supervisor of the check list for the same length of time, and has for the past year been Assistant Postmaster. He is a Free Will Baptist in his religious belief, and has been a member and a Deacon of that church and the superintendent of its Sunday-school. He is also Clerk and Treasurer of Rockingham Quarterly Meeting.
AVID SANBORN is well known to the people of Fremont township as the owner of one of the finest farms within its limits, on which he is actively engaged in cultivating the soil. He is a native of this place, his birth having occurred December 31, 1826, on his present estate, then the homestead of his father, Ebenezer Sanborn.
Ebenezer Sanborn was born in Danville, also in Rockingham County, and there lived until after his marriage with Miss Lydia Bean, a native of the same town. He subsequently came to Fremont, here buying a portion of the land now owned by his son David. He cleared and improved a good homestead, and, besides carrying on mixed husbandry, worked at his trades of tanning and shoemaking until his demise, in 1857. Ilis widow spent her last days in Raymond, dying in 1858. Of their family of ten children eight have passed to the other shore; namely, Mary, Daniel, Al-
vina, Elizabeth, Amos, Ebenezer, Jr., Calista M., and Lydia. The two now living are: Elijah, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; and David.
David Sanborn obtained a practical educa- tion in the public schools. Being the young- est son of the household, it fell to his share to assist in the work of the farm; and, as his parents began to feel the infirmities of age, he assumed the management of the property, and also looked after their welfare, caring for them in their declining years. After their death he bought out the interest of the remain- ing heirs, and has since been prosperously en- gaged in general agriculture. Besides culti- vating and improving the original homestead, he has added to his estate other land, till he is now the owner of four hundred acres. Mr. Sanborn's farm is among the largest in this vicinity, and, with its substantial and conven- ient dwelling and farm buildings, its well- tilled fields and its fine equipments, reflects great credit on him, and is an ornament to the town.
In September, 1862, Mr. Sanborn enlisted in his country's defence, joining Company K, New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Kingman, Lieutenant Colonel Henry W. Blair, and Captain Hall. With his com- rades he was an active participant in the siege of Port Hudson, as well as in other engage- ments of less importance, serving until the expiration of his term of enlistment, when, in 1863, he was honorably discharged at Concord, this State. In politics he is a stanch Demo- crat, faithful to the interests of his party, and has filled various town offices, including that of Selectman, with fidelity. In 1869 and 1870 Mr. Sanborn represented his district in the State legislature, and in the discharge of his duties was never unmindful of the welfare of his constituents.
OHN P. LAMPREY, proprietor of Pine Grove Farm, a fine estate of one hundred acres in the town of Kensing- ton, N.H., was born in Washington County, Mainc, May 28, 1826, son of Gilman and Esther (Leavitt) Lamprey. The land which he occupies has been in the family
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sinee 1732, his ancestor, Henry Lamprey, hav- ing pre-empted it at that time. It was then a part of the primeval wilderness, and was a favorite spot with the Indians; and relies of the departed raee are still found from time to time.
Samuel Lamprey, the father of Gilman, was born on the Lamprey farm in 1762, son of Samuel Lamprey, first, who also was one of the pioneers of Kensington; and Gilman, father of John P., was born here in 1795. Gilman Lamprey was in trade as a merehant in Eastport, Me., in his early manhood; and in 1843 he retired to his farm in Kensington, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was one of the influential citizens of the town, a Democrat in polities, and served for some time as Selectman. In religious belief he was a Universalist. He died in 1850. His wife was born in Eastport, Me., in 1794, and died in Kensington in 1870. She was the mother of five ehildren -- Gilman, Samuel, Sarah J., Esther E., and John P., the last named being the only one living to-day. Mrs. Esther Leavitt Lamprey's father, Jonathan Leavitt, was born in Hampton Falls, N. H., in 1756. He went to Maine in early life, and was an important factor in the first settlement of Eastport, better known then as Passamaquoddy. lle served as Captain in the Revolutionary War. He died January 25, 1810. A grand- son, General S. D. Leavitt, now residing in the city of Eastport, is one of its most promi- nent citizens, has been twiee elected to the State legislature, was Collector of Customs under President Cleveland, and subsequently Mayor of the city.
John P'. Lamprey was fifteen years of age when his parents removed to Kensington. The greater part of his education was ac- quired in Eastport, Me. He has now been living on the homestead upward of fifty-four years, and has been engaged during the greater part of that time in the pursuit of agriculture. The Lamprey farm, which orig- inally covered three hundred acres of land, now comprises one hundred aeres of good farming ground, and is beautifully situated. The residenee is roomy and substantial, fur- nished in excellent taste; and a limited num- ber of guests of the highest respectability find
quiet recreation at Pine Grove Farm every summer, renewing their strength amid its pleasant surroundings.
Mr. Lamprey was married September 7, 1854, to Mary L., daughter of Samuel and Ellen (Neal) Cobb. She was born in Liming- ton, Me., in 1827. Mr. Cobb was born in Limington, Mareh 11, 1785, but spent most of his active life in Bartlett, N.H. He was an active and energetie man, a good farmer, and a soldier in the War of 1812. He died in Bartlett, December 8, 1854. Mrs. Cobb, who was a native of Rhode Island, was born Au- gust 16, 1793, and died August 25, 1882.
She was the mother of eleven ehildren. As an artist Mrs. Lamprey has received a number of diplomas from different soeieties, and she has decorated her dwelling with paintings and sketehes of a high order of merit. Her artis- tic taste also appears in the other furnishings. Mr. and Mrs. Lamprey had one child, Gilman, who was born September 7, 1856, and died in January, 1895.
Mr. Lamprey is a Democrat, and has served as Seleetman of Kensington. On the subject of religion he holds liberal views. His wife is a member of the Congregational church. As old residents of the town of Kensington Mr. and Mrs. Lamprey are widely known and esteemed, and whoever has spent a summer at Pine Grove Farm looks back to the time with feelings of unmixed pleasure.
RTHUR W. DUDLEY, a successful agrieulturist of Brentwood township and one of the most prominent and popular citizens of this part of the county, was born July 22, 1846, on the farm where he now resides. He comes of distin- guished New England aneestry, being the lineal descendant of Governor Thomas Dudley, of Massachusetts. His grandfather, John S. Dudley, was a lifelong resident of Brentwood, and here reared his family of children, which included Winthrop H. Dudley, the father of Arthur W.
Winthrop Il. Dudley, who followed the ex- ample of his ancestors by making general farming his principal occupation, is now re- siding with his son Arthur on the old home
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farm. He succeeded to the property, and, except when travelling, has resided on it con- tinuously since. During the late Civil War he was employed by the United States govern- ment to procure for the army a certain amount of hay, which he bought principally in New York State and Canada. He is a stanch Dem- ocrat in politics, and for five years faithfully and ably served as County Treasurer. In 1844 he married Mary F. Robinson, a native of Brentwood, who dicd in 1867, leaving two children - Arthur W. and Sophia C. The latter now lives in North Carolina.
Arthur W. Dudley completed his early cdu- cation at the Pinkerton Academy in Derry, from which he graduated with the class of 1863. He then entered Dartmouth College, and subsequently graduated in the class .of 1867. After leaving Dartmouth he studied civil engineering, in which he has been en- gaged much of the time since. Some of his first important work in this business was per- formed for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, in whose cmployment he spent about a year. He was subsequently en- gaged by the New York, New Haven & Hart- ford Railroad Company for a year and a half, having his headquarters at Bridgeport, Conn. Returning then to the family homestead, Mr. Dudley conducted the farm for some time. In 1880 he went to Florida, where for the following six years he was employed by the Jacksonville, Tampa & Key West Railroad Company as chief engineer and superintendent of construction. Since that time he has lived on the home farm, which he is managing with good success. It contains two hundred acres of fertile land, and yields large crops of hay, corn, and potatoes each year. Mr. Dudley. is away from home a good deal still, employed in his profession. He takes a warm interest in local and county affairs, and is now serv- ing as Representative to the State legislature from Brentwood, having been elected thereto in 1894 on the Republican ticket. While looking closely after the interests of his town, he renders good service to the Commonwealth as Chairman of the Committee on Roads, Bridges, and Canals. He has been a member of the Town School Committee, for some years was Chairman of the Board of Select-
men, and was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1889. He is prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, having been a member of the Star in the East Lodge, No. 59, of Exeter, for the past twenty-four years. He likewise belongs to the Keenbor- ough Grange, No. 172, of Brentwood, of which he was the first Master, being at the present time Lecturer in the organization.
On August 20, 1872, Mr. Dudley married Miss Mary I. Lampiey, of Laconia, N.H. She died August 22, 1880, leaving threc chil- dren, namely : Frcd L., a graduate of Philips Exeter Academy, who lives in Exeter; Mary F. and John H., both of whom arc in school. On January 18, 1881, Mr. Dudley was again married, taking for his wife Miss Clara F. Hook. Mrs. Dudley was born February 22, 1862, in Brentwood, a daughter of Wilson G. Hook, of this town. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dudley attend the Congregational Church of Brentwood.
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