USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire > Part 42
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Reuben Batchelder, the eldest of David's children by his second wife, was born on the old Batchelder place in Hampton Falls, May 11, 1777. Hle acquired his first knowledge of books in the district school, and spent his manhood in the pursuit of agriculture. When he was twenty-eight years old, he purchased a farm, where he made his home for the re-
mainder of his life, and died at the age of ninety years and ten months. Mr. Batchelder was prominent in town affairs, and served for some time as Selectman. His wife, who was the daughter of Micah Tilton, of Hampton, died in 1837. They had seven children, of whom Emery and his brother John are the only survivors. The others died: David at the age of eighty-three years, Lucy and Rhoda at eighty, Dolly at forty-nine, and Nathaniel in infancy.
Emery Batchelder was educated in the dis- trict schools and at Rockingham Academy. He, too, has been engaged in farming since early youth. His farm of fifty acres, formerly known as the Cram place, came into his pos- session by purchase. Since then he has added a residence, which he had moved onto the estate, and has erected out-buildings. For some time he has suffered from blindness, the result of an injury caused by a fall from a tree in 1878. The loss of his sight was gradual, until he became totally blind. Mr. Batchelder was married December 18, 1838, to Dorothy A., daughter of Simon N. and Hannah (Towle) Dearborn, of Hampton. Of seven children born to them six are living. Charles E., who died at the age of thirty-four, was married to Lucy M. Tarr, and left one son, Benjamin F. Anna E. is the wife of Homer B. Crane, of Amesbury, Mass. John A. married Angie Woodward, and has five children - Mary E., Gertrude, Annie I., David, and John. Ellen P. married Irving Lamprey, of North Hampton, and has two sons - Ernest and Harold. Abbie C. is the wife of Cyrus W. Brown, of Pittsfield, and the mother of two children - Louise and Florence. David F. married Helen Brown, and has three children -- Arthur D., Martha H., and Paul E. And Mary L. is the wife of John L. Brown, and the mother of two children - Leavitt B. and Frank E. Mr. Batchelder's son David has served as Selectman of Hamp- ton Falls for two years.
Mr. Batchelder has been a supporter of the Republican party since its formation, having been previously a Whig. He cast his first Presidential, vote in 1836, when no less than four candidates - William H. Harrison, Hugh L. White, Daniel Webster, and W. P. Man-
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gum - called for Whig support; while the Democrats were unanimous in nominating Martin Van Buren. He represented the dis- trict in the State legislature of 1868-69, and served on the Hampton Falls Board of Select- men for two years. A member of the Hamp- ton Falls Congregational Church for fifty-four years, he has been an officer of the society some ten years. Mr. and Mrs. Batchelder rank among the oldest residents of Hampton Falls, and are held in the highest esteem by all their neighbors.
OHN W. LOCKE, a successful mer- chant of Seabrook, was born here Oc- tober 4, 1841, son of James and Han- nah P. (Chesley) Locke. He belongs to the fourth generation of his family born in Seabrook. The family was founded by Timo- thy B. Locke, who spent the latter part of his life in Seabrook and Kensington. John Locke, the grandfather of John W., was a tanner and currier, and had an extensive business. He was fifty-eight years of age when he died. His wife's maiden name was Mary Sanborn.
James Locke, who was reared in Seabrook, his native town, at an carly age developed a talent for trading. He spent some time in the South at Columbus, Ga., and Apalachicola, Fla. After his return home it is told that he occupied an old boat shop. Some time prior to 1822 he established a store on the premises now occupied by his son, where he carried on a successful business in general merchandise up to the time of his death. He took an active interest in public affairs, was a Major in the State militia, and represented Seabrook in the State legislature.
His death occurred February 27, 1866, in his fifty-ninth year. His wife, who was a native of Rye, this county, was a daughter of Simon Chesley, of that town. Mr. and Mrs. Locke reared three children. These were: John W., the subject of this sketch; Mary O., now the wife of Jo- seph L. Leavitt, of Exeter, N. H., and the mother of three living children - Major James Locke, George Thomas W., and Mary Mars- ton ; and James B., unmarried, who lives in Seabrook.
John W. Locke obtained his carly education
in a district school and at Seabrook Academy. He was engaged in the store with his father until the outbreak of the war, when the patri- otic enthusiasm of the time carried him, too, from his home to the battle-fields of the South. Enlisting August 11, 1862, in Company D, Fourteenth New Hampshire Infantry, he was subsequently with Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley. In the course of the service he was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant, after which he was detailed as military detective in Washington, and served in that capacity from December 1, 1863, to February 21, 1864. Receiving his discharge July 8, 1865, he re- turned home, and engaged in the grocery busi - ness at the depot in Seabrook. In 1867 he purchased from his brother the store estab- lished by their father. He afterward became manager of the Salem House in Salem, Mass., for a while. His present quarters were taken in 1873, and he has since been occupied in conducting a flourishing trade in general mer- chandise.
Mr. Locke was married in 1869 to Sarah E., daughter of William Southwick, of Salem, Mass., and is now the father of two children -- Rinda C. and James Edwin. He cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, and has been prominent in the coun- cils of the Republican party ever since. He was elected Representative to the General Court in 1883-85; was Postmaster of Sea- brook from 1889 to August, 1894; and has been Justice of the Peace some ten years. He belongs to Hampton Lodge, No. 21, Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows, and Hunt's En- campment ; to Waukewan Tribe, No. 16, Im- proved Order of Red Men, of Danvers, Mass. ; Council No. 15, Senior Order of United American Mechanics; and Council No. 7, Junior Order of United American Mechanics; and for a number of years was Commander of the J. A. Logan Post, No. 21, Grand Army of the Republic.
OSES E. KIMBALL, a successful business man residing at Windham Junction, is a native of Methuen, Mass., born May 28, 1829, son of Frederick and Azubah (Eastman) Kimball, the
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former of whom is a native of Haverhill, Graf- ton County, N. H. The Kimball family are . said to be of English extraction. Benjamin Kimball, grandfather of Moses E., was a Rev- olutionary soldier. After the close of the war he lived for many years in Methuen, Mass., where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. llis son, Frederick Kimball, spent his boy- hood on a New Hampshire farm, and subse- quently settled in Methuen, Mass., where he died in August, 1862. In Methuen he was engaged in farming, and carried on quite an extensive lumber business, so that at the time of his death he had accumulated considerable property. In politics he was a Democrat. He served Methuen as Selectman, and was one of its most prominent residents. Two of the children born to him and his wife, Azubah Eastman Kimball, are living, namely : Moses E., the subject of this sketch; and Emily, the wife of H. M. Howard, of Byfield, Mass. Frederick Kimball was a communicant of the Baptist church.
Moses E. Kimball grew to manhood in Methuen, Mass., receiving his education in the public schools of that town. In 1888 he came from Methuen to Windham Junction, which has since been his home. His resi- dence, with its surroundings, is one of the finest rural homes in Rockingham County. lle owns one hundred acres of land there and about two hundred and thirty-five acres in Derry, N. Il. During the past thirty years he has been engaged in lumbering more or less extensively, principally in Salem, Windham, Derry, and Londonderry, N. H., and in Methuen and Haverhill, Mass. All his life he has been a hard worker; and his industry, combined with his good management, has caused him to be recognized as a most capable man of affairs.
On April 28, 1853, Mr. Kimball was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Gross, a native of Methuen and a daughter of the late Benjamin Gross. Of their six children three are living, namely: Eugene C., residing in Lawrence, Mass. ; Frank W., residing in Methuen ; and Mabel L., the wife of James E. Anderson, of Exeter. Mrs. Anderson formerly sang in the Congregational church at Methuen, and has a well-established local
reputation as a musician, instrumental as well as vocal. The others were: Seymour M., Lillie L., and Jennie M. Jennie . M., who was the wife of Charles A. Wilman, left two children - Raymond and Maude, who live with their grandparents. In politics Mr. Kim- ball follows his father's lead, being, like him, a Democrat. He was Selectman and Street Commissioner of Methuen for several terms. The family are much esteemed in Windham society.
HARLES H. TURNER, one of the leading business men of Candia and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Candia, January 13, 1847, son of William and Mary J. (Robinson) Turner. The family is of English origin. Its founder built the second house of those erected on the territory now comprising Candia. Mr. Turn- er's great-grandfather, William Turner, who served in the Revolutionary War, was a resi- dent of this town when it was a part of Chester. Moses Turner, Mr. Turner's grand- father, was born in Candia, and there was pros- perously engaged in farming during the active period of his life. He was a worthy and use- ful citizen, supported the Democratic party in politics, and reared four children. His daugh- ter, Sarah, whose birth occurred in 1747, was the first white child born in Candia. He lived to an advanced age.
William Turner was born in Candia toward the close of the last century, and was reared to farming in this town. While still a youth he served in the War of 1812. He owned and cultivated a farm, and also kept a hotel. In the time-honored capacity of "Squire," though he was called Captain Turner, he transacted all the legal business of the community for many years. Acting with the Democratic party, he was prominent in local affairs. He served the town as Selectman and in other offices, and was Postmaster for a number of years. In his religious belief he was a Bap- tist. His death occurred March 31, 1851, at the age of fifty-one years. He married Mary J. Robinson, a native of Deerfield, this county ; and she became the mother of ten chil- dren, of whom five are living, and three served
DANIEL WADLEIGH.
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in the late war. The survivors are : George A. and T. Benton, both of whom are veterans of the Civil War, and reside in Candia ; Addic M., the wife of Richard Kuper, of New York City ; Sadie C., the wife of Albert C. Smith, of Somerville, Mass. ; and Charles H., the subject of this sketch. The mother, who is still living, draws a pension as the widow of a veteran of the War of 1812.
Charles H. Turner began his education in the schools of Candia. He also attended school in Boston for some little time. Subse- quently he enlisted as bugler in Troop M, First Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteer Cavalry, under Colonel Thompson and Captain Rhoades. He served through the whole period of hostilities, and was present at the battles of Antietam, South Mountain, Cold Harbor, White Oak Swamp, Petersburg, Wel- don Railroad, and other memorable engage- ments. The only injury he received was caused by a fall from his horse in front of Petersburg. He was discharged July 16, 1865. Returning to Candia, he was for the succeeding year engaged in shoemaking. He then became a clerk in M. A. Dexter's store, where he remained four years, was employed by E. E. Smith in the same capacity for two. years, after which he worked for W. A. Barker for one year, and for another year with Mr. Smith. The next two years he spent "on the road," representing the Athol Cracker Company. He then formed a partnership with Natt J. Cate, and engaged in business at the stand formerly occupied by C. S. Lang. The enterprise has been quite successful. The partners soon gained the good will of the gen- eral community, who now patronize them lib- erally.
On February 15, 1876, Mr. Turner was united in marriage with Nellie M. Sanborn, of Candia. Mrs. Turner is now the mother of one daughter, Addie L., who is attending school. Mr. Turner has filled the important chairs in Leola Lodge, No. 70, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a member of Fraternity Commandery, No. 518, United Order of the Golden Cross, of Candia, and of the Knights of l'ythias of Raymond; and for the past three years he has been Adjutant of D. B. Dudley Post, No. 79, Grand Army
of the Republic. In politics he is a Republi- can, and was Town Clerk for seven years in succession. Both he and Mrs. Turner attend the Congregational church.
APTAIN DANIEL WADLEIGH, one of the best-known residents of Kingston and an ex-member of the New Hampshire legislature, was born in this town, March 1, 1824, son of Jo- seph and Anna (Sleeper) Wadleigh. The family, which is of English origin, was founded in this country by John Wadleigh, who settled in Saco, Me. Daniel Wadleigh, first, Captain Wadleigh's grandfather, a de- scendant of John Wadleigh, was a native of Kingston. He located in the south part of the town, where he followed the trade of a black- smith ; and he died there.
Joseph Wadleigh, Captain Wadleigh's father, was born in Kingston, and in young manhood began work with his father. After being engaged in blacksmithing at South Kingston for some years, he moved to Kings- ton, where he settled upon the farm which is now owned by his son and he was an industri- ous tiller of the soil for the rest of his life. He died April 21, 1826. His wife, formerly Anna Sleeper, who was a native of Kingston, became the mother of five children, as follows : Jonathan, Daniel, Hannah, and Mary, who are no longer living; and a second Daniel, now the only survivor of the family. After the death of her husband Mrs. Wadleigh continued to carry on the farm with the aid of hired assistants until her son was able to take charge of the property. Iler declining years were passed at the homestead, where she died in April, 1883, at the advanced age of eighty- three.
Daniel Wadleigh, the subject of this sketch, acquired his elementary education in the com- mon schools, and pursued more advanced studies at Kingston Academy, which he at- tended two terms. When of sufficient age, he took charge of the farm in company with his brother ; and at the death of the latter the entire management of the place devolved upon him. lle has always lived at his present home, with the exception of a year spent in the northern
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part of the town. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of good land, which has greatly increased in productiveness under his able management ; and he carries on general farm- ing, his principal crops consisting of hay, grain, and potatoes. He has also given some attention to the raising of cattle and sheep and fruit growing. Aside from agricultural pur- suits he carries on lumbering operations upon quite an extensive scale, and he was for some time engaged in burning charcoal.
In politics he is a stanch Democrat, having been for many years an active and influential supporter of that party ; and he has made for himself an honorable record in the public ser- vice. He has served as a member of the Board of Selectmen for one term, and was a member of the llouse of Representatives for the years 1874 and 1875. He has served upon the grand jury for Rockingham County, also upon the petit jury in the United States District Court ; and for some years he held a Captain's commission in the Seventh Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteer Militia.
On December 24, 1854, Captain Wadleigh married Maria E. Hoyt, who was born in Dover, N. H., daughter of Benjamin Hoyt, late of that city. By this union there was but one child, who died in infancy. His wedded life was of short duration, as his wife died October 23, 1856, less than two years after marriage.
lle has been a tireless worker all of his life, striving diligently to obtain the most profit- able results and to increase the value of his property ; and he is greatly attached to his homestead and its surroundings. He possesses some rare books that are more than one hun- dred and fifty years old, and he takes great pleasure in showing these to strangers.
ILLIAM L. WHITTIER is a prom- inent farmer of Deerfield, where he was born in the home of his ances- tors, May 23; 1860. The Whittiers of Deer- field are descended from Thomas Whittier, who was born in England in 1620, and came in 1638 to Newbury, Mass., now a part of Haverhill. From him sprung all of the Whittiers in this country, including John G.
Whittier, the poet. The first in this branch of whom there is record was William Whit- tier, born in 1710, the great-great-grandfather of William L. Whittier. He was one of those who enlisted under Captain John Hazen' to go to Crown Point in 1760, receiving, ac- cording to the records, his discharge from duty in October of the same year. The powder- horn he carried on that eventful occasion is now in the possession of William L. His gun is preserved by Captain Isaac H. Morri- son. William Whittier, the Crown Point soldier, resided at East Kingston, N. H., and manufactured iron for the wholesale trade at Crowley's Falls, Brentwood, N.H. He mar- ried Abigail Morrill, and died, most probably in 1771, aged sixty-one years. He left a son, Isaac, born in 1736, who married Mary Blaisdell, and resided at East Kingston. Isaac was engaged with his father in the man- ufacture of iron at Crowley's Falls, and died in 1763.
William Whittier, son of Isaac, born at East Kingston, married Polly Rowell, who belonged to a Scottish family. In his early youth he went to Brentwood, where he also manufactured iron for the wholesale trade. He remained there until his forty-sixth year, when he came to Deerfield, and built the house now owned and occupied by the grand- son of his name. In politics he was a Demo- crat. Of four children born to him the sur- vivors are: William, the father of William L .; and Rice R., who resides with his brother. Mary, who was born December 1, 1808, died in 1863; and Betsy, born in 1811, died in 1890. The father died November 11, 1831, aged sixty-eight years. William Whit- tier, the third of the name in a direct line and the father of the subject of this sketch, was born December 5, 1814, in the house built by his father. A magnificent physique was one of the legacies handed down from his Scottish forefathers. In his eightieth year he was sufficiently vigorous to assist his son in loading a sled with logs, and then walk from the woods, a distance of a mile, feeling no fatigue from his exertions. He was elected to the New Hampshire legislature, serving two terms, of 1852 and 1853. He married Hannah F. Dearborn, who bore him two chil-
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dren - William L. and Lizzie M. The latter is the wife of Byron Swett, of Deerfield.
William L. Whittier received his element- ary education in the common schools of Deer- field. Subsequently he was a student of the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, from which he graduated in 1883, at the age of twenty-three years. Re- turning then to the home of his childhood, he has lived there since. Besides his farming interests, Mr. Whittier has a shingle and clap- board mill in operation in Deerfield. The floor space of this mill building is twenty- seven by forty feet in dimensions. In charge of one employee, it turns one hundred and fifty thousand shingles every year. Clapboard work is done by contract. For four years he was Director of the Creamery Association of Deer- field, during one of which he was its Presi- dent.
In 1893 Mr. Whittier was united in matri- mony with Miss Clara E. Dearborn, of Deer- field. The principles of the Republican party find in him an earnest advocate. He held the office of superintendent of schools under the old law for one year, and was a member of the School Board for three years. As a farmer he was naturally interested in the grange movement, and was for a time Overseer of the grange of Deerfield. He is a Baptist by faith and profession.
ON. ISAAC WOODBURY, of Salem, who has efficiently served as Com- missioner of Rockingham County, and has occupied a seat in the New Hampshire legislature, was born in Salem, August II, 1822, the son of Asa and Sarah (Thom) Woodbury. The Woodbury family is of English origin, and was established in this country in the early part of the seventeenth century. The Hon. Isaac Woodbury's pater- nal grandfather, Israel Woodbury, was an early settler of Salem, and fought for Ameri- can independence in the Revolution. Asa Woodbury, a native and lifelong resident of Salem, was a well-to-do farmer and one of the prominent men of the town. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Though an ardent Abolitionist, he was yet
highly esteemed by his townsmen of differing political opinions, and was elected to the Board of Selectmen, on which he served for some time. His death occurred in 1847, in his sixty-fourth year.
The Hon. Isaac Woodbury spent the first sixteen years of his life on his father's farm in Salem, attending the common schools of his native town and the academy at South New Market, N.H. On leaving school he obtained a position as clerk in a dry-goods house in Boston, Mass. He subsequently followed that line of work until 1847, when on account of his father's death he returned home, and took charge of the farm. From that time to the present he has been actively engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, in which he has achieved marked success. At one time he made a specialty of raising Devon cattle, and sold fine-blooded stock in New Hampshire and other States. He has a valuable farm of about one hundred and fifty acres, every rood of which is used to the best advantage.
Mr. Woodbury has been twice married. His first marriage was contracted with Caro- line W. Parker, of Cohasset, Mass., who died leaving six children. These were: Isaac F., now a resident of Allston, Mass., and senior member of the well-known firm of Woodbury & Leighton, contractors and builders, of Bos- ton; Sarah E., the wife of John W. Hall, of Methuen, Mass .; Mary C., the wife of C. E. Austin, of Methuen; Charles H., living in Allston, who is a member of the firm Mitch- ell, Woodbury & Co., Pearl Street, Boston, importers and wholesale dealers in crockery and Japanese goods; and Albert A. and John P., both deceased. Mr. Woodbury took for his second wife Mrs. Martha C. Smith, of Putney, Vt.
Politically, Mr. Woodbury favors the Re- publican side. He was three years Selectman of Salem, represented the town in the State legislature for two years, and was Commis- sioner of Rockingham County three years. He is a man of broad intelligence, strong character, and pronounced views. For a long time he has been an ardent advocate of tem- perance. An active worker for religious ob - jects, he is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and has for many years been
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and a grandson of Theophilus Hilliard, who was both a native and a lifelong resident of the place. Charles Hilliard made his living by boot-making and farming, following both occupations, as the occasion served, up to near the close of his life, which occurred in Octo- ber, 1880. His wife died in September, 1895. They were the parents of six children, namely : Charles Augustus, who married Ellen Perkins, and lives in Lynn, Mass. ; Caroline, now deceased, who was the wife of Jeremiah Blake, of Kensington, also deceased; John T., the subject of this sketch; Jeremiah, who married a Miss Pike, and is living on the homestead in Kensington; Abbie, who lived but five years; and Ellen, the wife of David Brown, of Kensington.
John T. Hilliard obtained his education in the district schools near his home and at the high schools of the county. He remained on the home farm, engaged in farming and boot- making, until about 1856. The following two years were spent by him in Bath, Me., employed in the retail boot and shoe trade. Returning then to Rockingham County, he operated shoe machines for Lynn (Mass.) manufacturers in Hampton, N. H., for three years, and subsequently in Kensington until September 2, 1862. On this date he enlisted for service in the Civil War in the Eleventh New Hampshire Infantry, under the command of Colonel Harriman and Captain William R. Patten. He was subsequently in the battle of Fredericksburg, the horrors of which are still vividly remembered by him. In the next spring he went to Vicksburg, and was there on July 4 when Grant obtained the famous "unconditional surrender." After that he went down the Mississippi to Jackson, Miss., where his regiment was engaged in a skirmish. From Jackson, a long and wearisome march, brought him to Knoxville, Tenn., in the siege of which he took part. After the siege he was detailed as mail agent, his first assignment taking him to the army of the Potomac. His duties as mill agent occupied him during the rest of the war, and he took no further part in the active hostilities. Receiving his discharge in June, 1865, at Concord, N. H., he returned to Kensington, where he made his home for three years, working in the mean time at shoc-
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