USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire > Part 47
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time carrying on farming to some extent. He supported the Whig party in politics, was highly respected, and died in this town at a good old age. He married a Miss Lovering, of Raymond, N.H .; and she became the mother of ten children, none of whom are liv- ing.
Moses Rowe was a native and lifelong resi- dent of Candia. Succeeding to the home- stead, he cultivated the farm successfully. He also engaged in the manufacturing of fish barrels, in which he had a prosperous business for several years. He was an industrious man, took no interest in public affairs beyond cast- ing his vote, and died in 1866, at the age of seventy-two years. His wife, a native of Candia, whose maiden name was Sarah Brown, reared a family of ten children, eight of whom are living. These are: Deacon Moses E., who is residing in Bedford, Mass .; Mary J., the wife of J. D. Guyer, of Boston; Dr. Hiram D., a resident of Brewster, Mass. ; Francis D., the subject of this sketch; Charles R., who occupies the old homestead in Candia; Lorinda, the wife of Gilman K. Worthen, of Manchester; Lavinia T., the wife of Henry W. Rowe, of Boston; and Henrietta, the wife of Calvin A. Rowe, also of Boston. Mr. Rowe's parents attended the Congregational church.
Francis D. Rowe was educated in the com- mon schools of Candia. For several years after completing his studies he was employed at a shoe manufactory in Deerfield, N.H. Some thirty years ago he bought his present farm in Candia, to which he has added more land, now owning one hundred and fifty acres, divided into tillage, pasture and woodland. He has made various improvements upon the property, in the way of enlarging and re- modelling the buildings and increasing the fertility of the soil. He raises large and su- perior crops, including thirty-five tons of hay annually, which is double the amount formerly produced, and makes a specialty of dealing in milk, handling the product of fifteen cows. He has utilized a constantly flowing spring, located upon high ground about fifty rods from his buildings, and by laying a line of pipe has a never-failing supply of pure water. As there is a good pressure, he has connected a line of
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hose to be used in case of fire. In polities he votes with the Republican party. He has served three years as a member of the Board of Seleetmen, a part of which time he was Chair- man of that body. He has also acted as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors.
In 1857 Mr. Rowe wedded Sarah Smith, a native of Deerfield. She died, leaving three children, as follows: Ellen E., who resides in Boston; Fred E., who resides in the State of Washington, and is now serving as Deputy Sheriff ; and Edward L., a merchant in Candia Village. The father entered a second mar- riage in 1880, contracted with Victoria M. Cooke, of Lynn, Mass., a daughter of the Rev. B. Cooke, now deceased.
Mr. Rowe is connected with Rockingham Lodge, No. 76, A. F. & A. M., of Candia; the Order of the Eastern Star, Adah Chapter, No. 9; and has been Steward of Candia Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. He is a mem- ber of the Congregational church, and Treas- urer of the society.
Edward L., youngest son of Franeis D. Rowe, was born in Candia, July 21, 1867, and acquired a good practical education in the common schools. He was engaged in farming with his father until 1895, when he formed a eopartnership with John H. Foster, and con- tinued the general mercantile business for- merly conducted by W. J. Dudley in Candia Village. The firm of Foster & Rowe earry a full line of groceries, grain, feed, dry-goods, patent medicines, and the like, and has already built up a large business. Edward L. is de- veloping business ability of more than ordi- nary degree. His well-known character as a conscientious and upright eitizen insures for him the confidenec of the general public. He is a Republican in politics, and is a member of the Congregational church.
J OHN P. ATWOOD, a well-known and widely respected eitizen of North Salem, was born in this town on April 6, 1857, the son of Jeremiah C. and Mary (Adams) Atwood. His father was a na- tive of the plaec, and his mother was born in Derry, N.H. His grandfather, John Atwood, was originally of Haverhill, Mass., but came
to Salem, where he praetieally established a new branch of the family. Jeremiah C. Atwood devoted his life to the pursuit of agriculture. He was very popular, and had a large acquaintance. He died in November, 1894, leaving two children, a son and a daugh- ter. His wife had preceded him to the world beyond by many years, dying while her ehil- dren yet needed a mother's care.
John P. Atwood was brought up and edu- eated in Salem. After leaving school, he took to farming, in which branch of industry he has been quite successful
He married Miss Etta J. Coburn, a daugh- ter of Albertus Coburn, a well-known and wealthy resident of Salem; and he and his wife are the parents of two sons - Irving S. and Ernest P.
Mr. Atwood, like his father, is a Democrat in political belief. He is a charter member of the Salem Grange, and member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics.
HARLES M. HOLMES, a lifelong resident of Londonderry, his native town, where he owns a handsome property of one hundred and thirty aeres, was born April 10, 1820. He is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Anderson) Holmes, the former a native of Hillsborough, N. H., the latter of Londonderry. The Holmes fam- ily is of Scotch origin. Robert Ilolmes was reared to man's estate on a farm in Frances- town, N. H., gathering strength from the genial sunlight and pure air of the New Hamp- shire hills. The years of his manhood were devoted to agricultural labor, at first in his native town, later in Londonderry, where he settled in 1812, his home being the farm now occupied by Charles M. His death occurred in 1840. In politics he was a Democrat. He was a well-known citizen in old London- derry, and had many friends. Charles M. Holmes is the only survivor of the family. He had three brothers and one sister - Oliver A., Christopher G., Nathaniel W., and Mary J.
Charles M. Holmes was educated in a dis- triet school in Londonderry, where his most important aequirements were the means there
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given him of acquiring knowledge. He has worked hard to attain his present prosperity, rising early and retiring late, performing con- scientiously year after year the myriad duties of farm life, and is able now to rest from his labors, and enjoy their fruits in his old age.
On November 25, 1848, Mr. Holmes was married to Mary A. Batehelder, a native of Grafton County, born October 25, 1826. She is a daughter of Jonathan and Sallie (Tueker) Batchelder, both natives of the same place, and a grand-daughter of Mark Batchelder, who fought for American independenee under Washington. She has two brothers living - Mark and Reuben Batchelder, both in Hudson, N. H. By her Mr. Holmes became the father of two children, now deceased ; namely, Mary J. and Christopher N. In polities he is a stanch Republican. Now seventy-six years old, he is as keenly alive to the interests of his native town as ever, and is as ready to do what he can for the general good. Having made life's journey hand in hand with his estimable wife for nearly half a century, he attributes much of his success to her wise counsel and ever- ready help and sympathy.
HARLES KIMBALL, a prominent and worthy citizen of Salem, was born in this town, April 18, 1822, a son of Joseph and Rebecea (Haselton)
Kimball. Both his parents were natives of Salem. The Kimballs were among the pio- neers of the town, their first progenitor to set- tle here taking up his abode in a log house. Oliver Kimball, the grandfather of Charles, fought for American independence in the Rev- olutionary War. Joseph Kimball was a life- long resident of Salem, and died here April 28, 1867. He was an honored eitizen, and served acceptably as Seleetman.
Charles Kimball grew to manhood in this town, receiving a district-school education and assisting on his father's farm. After he started out in life for himself, he worked prin- cipally at farming, gardening, and lumbering; but for four years he was in the mereantile business at Salem Depot. His undertakings have brought good returns, and he is now pos- sessed of a competence.
In politics Mr. Kimball is a Democrat, and in town affairs has been a leader of his party and the recipient of many official honors. For three years he was a member of the Board of Selectmen, and was its Chairman during his term of office. He served two terms as Town Treasurer, and represented Salem in the State legislature for one term.
Mr. Kimball was married August 1, 1844, to Miss Celenda J. Haselton, who was born in Salem, July 31, 1825, daughter of Silas and Lydia (Hall) Haselton. Her father is a na- tive of Manchester, N.H., and her mother of Salem. Mr. and Mrs. Kimball have three children - Arolin F., wife of Walter G. Woodbury, of this town; Charles F., also a resident of Salem; and Nellie E. Both par- ents were esteemed members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which the father offici- ates as Steward and Trustee.
LDEN F. SANBORN, one of the en- terprising men of push and brain that are doing their full share toward advancing the prosperity of Rocking- ham County, was born August 20, 1855, in Fremont township, on the farm where he now resides.
This homestead has been in the possession of the Sanborn family for five generations, the original owner having been Mr. Sanborn's great-great-grandfather, Daniel Sanborn, who came here from Kensington. Settling in the wilderness, he reelaimed a farm, and here reared his family, which ineluded Sherburn Sanborn, the great-grandfather of Alden F. Sherburn Sanborn was born on the parental homestead, January 10, 1756. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary army, taking an active part in the battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775. His son, Moses H. Sanborn, was the next in the line now being considered. He spent his life in agricultural pursuits on the Sanborn farm, which he partly eleared. . He married Susan Brown, also a native of Fremont ; and one of their sons was Alvah Sanborn, the father of the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch.
Alvah Sanborn sueeeeded to the ownership of the parental aeres, and has always lived on
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ALDEN F. SANBORN.
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the home farm, where his birth occurred De- cember 21, 1823. He is now the owner of about six hundred acres of land, which he and his son manage together. He has continu- ously been engaged in the independent calling to which he was reared, and from year to year has made substantial progress in the improve- ment of his property, which is among the most desirable and valuable estates in this vicinity. He has also given much attention to the lumber business. On September 6, 1843, he married Miss Nancy Page, a native of San- down, N. H. Of this union four children were born; namely, John P., Susan E., Alden F., and Eugene D.
John P. Sanborn married Isabella M. Higby, of New Hampton, N. H. ; and they now reside in Newport, R. I., where he is a well- known and influential citizen, being the editor and proprietor of the Newport Mercury, one of the leading papers of the city. He is an active politician, strongly advocating the prin- ciples of the Republican party, and was at one time Speaker of the House of Representatives. Susan E. Sanborn died at the early age of thirteen years. Eugene D., of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this volume, married Lucy May Currier, and lives near the old homestead. The father is a stanch Republi- can in politics, and has filled various offices of the town, which he represented in 1874 and 1875 in the State legislature. Now that the frosts of seventy-two winters have whitened his hair, he has partly given up the active management of his farm to his son Alden; yet he still takes as keen an interest in town, State, and national affairs as in his younger days.
Alden F. Sanborn was educated in his native town and at the New Hampton Literary Institute, and from his youth up has been interested in farming pursuits. Having con- tinued his residence on the old homestead, he is now carrying on business with his father, the two being among the most extensive land- owners of this locality. They raise large an- nual crops of the agricultural productions com- mon to the county, and keep a choice dairy, from which they sell the milk, this being an important branch of their industry. They likewise deal extensively in lumber.
Mr. Sanborn is prominent in public life,
and one of the most zealous and influential members of the Republican party. He has been an incumbent of nearly all the offices of the town, being at the present time Chairman of the Board of Selectmen and a Representative to the State legislature, his term expiring in January, 1897. Socially, he is an active member of the local grange, Patrons of Hus- bandry. Religiously, he and the entire family are members of the Free Baptist Church of Fremont Village.
Mr. Sanborn was married January 26, 1881, to Miss Luna A. Gove, who was born Decem- ber 26, 1857, in Raymond township. Her father, Samuel B. Gove, was for many years engaged in teaching and farming in Raymond. He there married Mary A. Tilton, who died in 1860, having borne him four children, namely : Edwin H., who died on March 16, 1890; Bert E. ; Sarah J. ; and Luna A., now Mrs. Sanborn. Mr. Gove, after the death of his first wife, married Miss Mary E. McClure. Mr. and Mrs. Sanborn have two children : Moses II., born September 17, 1883; and Edson D., born December 22, 1886.
OLNEY H. MOODY, a well-known dry-goods merchant of Derry Depot, and the present Representative of his district in the New Hampshire legislature, was born, March 26, 1859, at Tunbridge, Vt. His father, Florentine D. Moody, is the son of a pioneer settler of Orange County, Vermont, where he has been engaged in general farming the larger part of his life. Both he and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary HI. Crom, were born and reared in Vermont, and have always made their home in the Green Moun- tain State.
Volney H. Moody was educated in the com- mon schools and high school of his native town and at the Royalton High School, where he completed his studies. On attaining his ma- jority, he left the home farm, in order to find some more congenial occupation than tilling the soil. Coming to Derry Depot, he secured a position in the shoe manufactory of Colburn, Fuller & Co., with whom he remained several seasons. He then formed a copartnership with Mr. L. H. Pillsbury, and under the firm
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name of L. Il. Pillsbury & Co. carried on a substantial trade in general merchandise until 1890, in which year he established his present business. He carries a fine assortment of dry and fancy goods, his stock being one of the most complete in this section of the county. Ile is a man of excellent business qualifica- tions, fair and square in his dealings, and genial and pleasant in his manners, striving to please each of his numerous patrons. He
is a public-spirited citizen, true to the inter- ests of his adopted town and county, and is a stanch member of the Republican party. For three years he served as Selectman of the town of Derry, being Chairman of the board two years; and since the fall of 1894 he has capa- bly represented the town of Derry in the State legislature. Fraternally, he is a member of St. Mark's Lodge, No. 44, A. F. & A. M., of Derry Village, and of Echo Lodge, No. 61, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Derry Depot, having been through all the chairs of the latter order.
On September 3, 1885, Mr. Moody married Nancy J., daughter of John A. and the late Martha (Tenney) Gage, of Derry. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Moody has been blessed by the birth of one child, a boy, named Howard G. Moody.
AIGHTON BROTHERS, Isles of Shoals. - This firm consists of Oscar and Cedric Laighton, who are well and favorably known to the summer guests at the Isles of Shoals as proprietors of two of the finest and most popular hotels on this coast, and as the brothers of Celia Thax- ter, of beloved memory, poet and artist of the Shoals, for whose sake alone the islands would be held dear to the reading public. Their lives are of interest to many who may never have an opportunity to meet them. Oscar and Ce- dric Laighton were born in Portsmouth, N. H., the former June 30, 1839, the latter September 4, 1840. They are the sons of Thomas B. and Eliza (Rymes) Laighton. Thomas B. Laigh- ton was also a native of Portsmouth, son of Mark Laighton. He was a man of some cult- ure, and was for a while editor of the Ports- mouth Gasette. In 1845 he removed to the
Isles of Shoals, and took charge of the light- house, of which he was keeper some five years. In the mean time he purchased Apple- dore, and erected a hotel, which became famous as a summer resort. Opened to the public in 1848, it was successfully managed by the original proprietor until 1864. He died in 1866, in his sixty-seventh year. Mr. Thomas B. Laighton was a man of good execu- tive ability and pleasing personality. While living in Portsmouth, he held many public offices of trust, including that of Postmaster. His wife, who was a native of Newington, N. H., died in 1877, at the age of seventy- three. She had but three children, namely : Celia, Mrs. Thaxter, obiit December 26, 1894; Oscar; and Cedric. Mrs. Thaxter, who was born in Portsmouth, June 29, 1836, was a child of nine years when her parents removed to the islands. One of her poems, "Watch- ing," will not be out of place here, as it pict- ures the light-house-keeper returning from Portsmouth :-
In childhood's season fair,
On many a balmy, moonless summer night,
While wheeled the light-house arms of dark and bright Far through the humid air,
How patient have I been, Sitting alone, a happy little maid, Watching to see, careless and unafraid, My father's boat come in !
Close to the water's edge Holding a tiny spark, that he might steer (So dangerous the landing, far and near) Safe past the ragged ledge.
I had no fears,- not one :
The wild, wide waste of water leagues around Washed ceaselessly ; there was no human, sound, And I was all alone. . . .
Yet it was joy to hear From out the darkness sounds grow clear at last, Of rattling rowlock and of creaking mast,
And voices drawing near.
" Is't thou, dear father ? Say !" What well-known shout resounded in reply, As loomed the tall sail, smitten suddenly With the great light-house ray.
I will be patient now,
Dear heavenly Father, waiting here for thee : I know the darkness holds thee. Shall I be Afraid when it is thou ? . . .
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The Laighton children were educated under private tutelage at the Shoals. Oscar and Cedric, as soon as old enough, began to assist their father in his business, and after his death were fully competent to carry it on. Succeed- ing to the ownership of Appledore Island, they enlarged the hotel, which now has a capacity of five hundred guests, and purchased the Oceanic on Star Island, which has accommo- dations for three hundred and fifty persons. To the popularity and good management of the Laighton Brothers, no less than to the unique surroundings and the charm of propin- quity to a light-house, the success of these two large establishments is due.
Cedric Laighton was married in 1881 to Miss Julia Stowell, of New York City, and has three children - Ruth, Margaret, and Bar- bara. Oscar Laighton is unmarried. The brothers are Unitarians in religious belief. Cedric has a residence in Portsmouth, and Oscar lives on Appledore, even during the severity of the winter season, when, as his sister, Mrs. Thaxter, wrote, -
Through the wide sky (God's) north wind's thunder roars Resistless, till no cloud is left to flee,
And down the clear, cold heaven unhindered pours (His) awful moonlight on the winter sea.
ON. LEONARD ALLISON MOR- RISON, a direct descendant of one of the original families of London- derry, N. H., was born in Windham, February 21, 1843. The line of descent is: (1) John Morison, who with his family en- dured the hardships and perils of the famous siege of Londonderry, Ireland, in 1.688-89. He came to Nutfield, N. H., about 1720, with early settlers, owned the farm in Derry Dock now owned by Charles Day, and died there in 1736, at the reputed age of one hundred and eight years. His son was Charter James Mori- son (2), who preceded him to Londonderry, coming in 1719, and who owned the farm now owned by William O. Noyes in East Derry, and died there.
The son of James Morison (2) and the founder of the Windham family was Lieu- tenant Samuel Morison (3), who lived where his great-grandson, Albert A. Morrison (6),
now resides in Windham range. Deacon Samuel Morison (4) was the son of the Lieut- enant, and lived on the bordering farm. He was the father of Jeremiah Morrison (5), who married Eleanor Reed Kimball, of Bradford, Mass. ; and they were the parents of Leonard Allison Morrison (6), who lives upon the homestead. He was educated at the academy at Gowanda, Cattaraugus County, N. Y., and in the seminary now at Tilton, N. H. Always a great lover of books, history became his favorite study.
Mr. Morrison takes a strong interest in the public affairs of his town. He served as Se- lectman in 1871-72, and in those years be- came a Trustee, and aided in the establish- ment of the Ncsmith Free Public Library, which contains over three thousand volumes. He presided as Moderator at the annual town meetings for fifteen years, has been a Justice of the Peace since 1869, was an enumerator of the Tenth United States Census in 1880, and was one of the County Auditors in 1885-87. He was a member of the Republican State Committee in 1880-82; of the House of Rep- resentatives in 1885-87, being Chairman of the Committee on Education, and successfully piloting through the house the bill establish- ing the town system of schools. In 1887-89 he served the Londonderry district in the State Senate, where he was Chairman of the Com- mittee on Education, and was also a member of the Committee on Engrossed Bills, Agri- culture, State Prison, and Industrial School.
Since 1861 Mr. Morrison has been a con- tributor to the newspapers and magazines. His time since and including 1878 has been largely devoted to literary work. He is the author of the " History of the Morison or Mor- rison Family," an octavo volume of four hun- dred and seventy pages, published in 1880, which was favorably received by the members of the family and the historical community; and the large edition was soon exhausted. In 1880 he commenced the preparation of the "History of Windham in New Hampshire," upon which he spent three years of unceasing labor. The work was published in 1883, and takes a high rank among town histories. He also wrote a condensed history of Windham for the "History of Rockingham and Strafford
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Counties." In 1884 he spent several months in Europe in historical research and travel, visiting the Scotch settlements in Ireland, consulting many ancient records and libraries, and making the acquaintance of many dis- tinguished persons in different parts of Great Britain.
As a result of these travels and researches his "Rambler in Europe: in Ireland, Scot- land, England, Belgium, Germany, Switzer- land, and France; with Historic Facts relating to Scotch-American Families gathered in Scot- land and the North of Ireland," was published in 1887. He again visited Europe for his- torical purposes in 1889, travelling extensively in Wales, England, Ireland, and Scotland, in Normandy, France, Switzerland, and Italy, and in 1891 was published his "Among the Scotch-Irish; and through Seven Countries." He wrote a "Supplement to the History of Windham in New Hampshire " (1892) ; pre- pared "The History and Proceedings of the One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Incorporation of Windham in New Hamp- shire, held June 9, 1892." He is the author of "Lineage and Biographies of the Norris Family " (1892), "History of the Alison or Allison Family in Europe and America" (1893), "Descendants of Daniel Morrison, of Newbury, Mass., who appeared in Haverhill, Mass., Stratham, Epping, Candia, and San- bornton, N.H. ; published in the New Eng- land Historical and Genealogical Register " (October, 1894). His "History of the Sin- clair Family in Europe and America," five hundred and eighteen pages, with engravings, was published in 1896. He is joint author with Professor S. P. Sharples, of Cambridge, Mass., of the "History of the Kimball Family in England and America, " published in 1896.
Mr. Morrison's literary and historical work has completely absorbed his mind, and he has engaged in it with great enthusiasm and de- light. In recognition of his valuable services to education, history, and genealogy, Dart- mouth College conferred upon him in 1884 the degree of M.A. Ile was made a life member of the New Hampshire Historical Society in 1893, and is Vice-President for New Hamp- shire of the Scotch-Irish Society of America, having been elected in 1894 in place of the
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