USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire > Part 50
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Returning East, and having married, as already stated, Mr. Pillsbury remained occu- pied in business affairs until the opening of the war of the Rebellion. He enlisted in his
country's service, and was commissioned First Lieutenant, Company I, Fourth New Hamp- shire Regiment, and left for the seat of war September, 1861. Having reached Annapolis, he met with such a serious accident that he resigned and returned North. A few months later, his health having improved, and the call for three hundred thousand men being issued, he was appointed recruiting officer for the Ninth Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers. He was commissioned First Lieutenant of Company A. His regiment proceeded to Washington, and was in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. At the memorable battle of South Mountain an incident occurred which illustrates the alertness and power of judgment of the young Lieutenant, who by an adroit movement saved a portion of the companies of the Ninth New Hampshire Reg- iment from almost sure destruction. His com- pany, A, was leading in a charge upon a large number of rebels, who were driven through a picce of woods, and disappeared while the Union men moved into an open field adjoin- ing. The enemy re-formed under the protcc- tion of a battery, and their movement was dis- covered by Lieutenant Pillsbury, who haltcd his men, and fell back sufficiently to hold connection with support just at the moment when Major-general Reno rode along the line into the ambush, and, receiving the terrible volley from rebels screened by the woods, was instantly killed while on the very ground they had left a few moments before. Major-gen- eral Reno need not have lost his life, had he heeded Lieutenant Pillsbury's warning, as he had informed the general that the rebels were forming; but the advice was unheeded, with disastrous results as above.
Disabled by a severe attack of pneumonia, Lieutenant Pillsbury resigned his commission ; and, as soon as he was able to perform a little service in business, he was engaged at Wheel- ing, Va., superintending a party of experts in training men there in the art of manufacturing shoes by the most desirable New England methods. As soon as his health seemed well restored, he returned to Londonderry, raised for the town its quota of thirty men under the last call (1864), and was commissioned First Lieutenant of Company D, unattached artil-
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lery, Captain George W. Colbath, of Dover (a cousin to General Wilson), commanding. The company served in several of the forts in the first and second divisions of the defences of the capital. He commanded for a time the battery "Garryshay " in De Russe's division. Later he was appointed ordnanee officer of the First Brigade, Harding's division, and was stationed at Fort Reno, Md., where he re- mained until the elose of the war. He was mustered out at Coneord, N. H., June 19, 1865. A month later he engaged in the man- ufacturing of shoes at Londonderry, and suc- cessfully prosecuted the business until the need of larger buildings induced him to re- move his machinery to Derry Depot. After this removal he formed a business connection with the Boston house of E. P. Philips & Co., which continued until the dissolution of the firm. He shortly after beeame agent for the noted firm of Clement, Colburn & Co. of Bos- ton, now Colburn, Fuller & Co., shoe manu- facturers at Derry Depot. During this ageney the business has increased, until, from an annual trade of one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars, it has reached the sum of over half a million dollars per annum. About four hundred and fifty persons are now em- ployed in the immense establishment of the firm at Derry Depot. Additions to the fac- tory buildings afford room for about one hun- dred more hands, as the pressure of trade may require. Nearly six hundred different styles of boots and shoes are made in this great es- tablishment, for American and foreign trade. These goods seem to be, for real service, su-
perior to any known in the country. The especial effort in production is to attain all serviceable qualities and durability. These goods consequently find a ready sale, not only all over the United States, but the West Indies, along the east and west coast of South America, in Egypt and South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, as well as in several European ports. To the energy and enter- prise, integrity and tact of Colonel Pillsbury, New Hampshire people rightly credit the re- markable growth of the village of Derry Depot from an insignificant hamlet to one of the most thriving and beautiful inland villages of New England.
In 1868 he was elected Commissioner for Rockingham County on the Republican tieket, and again in 1870, 1871, and 1872, being Chairman of the Board nearly two years, and making the first general report of the busi- ness affairs of the county to the people thereof. In this position he performed ex- tremely valuable service in oganizing the sys- tem of conducting county affairs, embracing the institution of a new method of earing for the paupers at the county farm. His tact and good judgment seem to be equal to every requirement that presents itself. Chiefly through his influence and zealous effort came the appropriation for the erection of the asylum buildings for the aeeommodation of the insane poor of the county. With results as good as at the asylum at Concord, while saving largely in expense, the enterprise has proved the soundness and praeticability of the plan. In faet, while patients were as well treated as previously at extravagant expenses, the cost of the asylum building, nearly three thousand dollars, was saved the first year it was occu- pied. In June, 1877, William S. Pillsbury was appointed aide-de-eamp, with rank of Colonel, on the staff of Governor B. F. Pres- cott, of New Hampshire; and he has since borne this title.
Colonel Pillsbury was the original mover in the effort to cheek the overwhelming extent of the "tramp nuisance " in New Hampshire. The action he inaugurated culminated in the law for the suppression of trampage that has accomplished such good in the Granite State, and that has been so generally eopied in other States. Colonel Pillsbury is a Republican of lifelong affiliation. In Londonderry he has served as Moderator at town meetings about twenty-one years. He has also represented his town in the legislature, is a Justice of the Peace, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Leech Library at Londonderry, and a thirty-second degree Mason. He is a member of Aaron Hughes Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Nashua, N.H., of Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Oasis of Boston, Mass., and of the Order of the Eastern Star, Ransford Chapter, No. 3, at Derry Depot. Among the other fraternal orders of which he is a member are the
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Knights of Pythias, the Improved Order of Red Men, and Wesley B. Knight Post, No. 41, Grand Army of the Republic, of London- derry. Religiously, he is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, and for many years a Trustee of the society of that denomi- nation in Londonderry. He is not a secta- rian. His spirit is liberal and broadly toler- ant, as is all true Christianity. He once paid the expense of frescoing and painting a Meth- odist meeting-house, when the society little expected such aid from a religious brother of another denomination.
Colonel Pillsbury is a member of the well- known New Hampshire Club, its membership including many of the leading men of the State. Whenever an opportunity offers, Colo- nel Pillsbury expresses the liberality of his heart in quiet, practical ways that are not all known to the general community. A more public-spirited man in general affairs is not known by the citizens of Rockingham County, or perhaps this State. His notable success is due, among other reasons, to his industry, his high sense of honor, his heartiness, and his especially remarkable talent for systematizing, and for the organization and ready execution of plans. The almost invariably accurate judgment of men that he manifests is the secret of his power to fit the right man in the right place, where positions of responsibility and importance are concerned. Personally, Colonel Pillsbury is exceedingly attractive and cordial in manner. A true, gentle, manly feeling characterizes his association with all so fortunate as to meet him either in business or society.
AMES WILLIAM SOWERSBY, a well-known baker of Portsmouth, N. H., was born in this city on March 10, 1829. His parents were John and Mary (Lewis) Sowersby.
The name has in many cases been errone- ously printed as "Somerby." The "Went- worth Genealogy," vol i. page 384, is author- ity for the following : -
Henry Somerby, of Little Bytham, Lin- colnshire, England, died in 1609, leaving two daughters and one son, Richard, who in-
herited his father's estate. Richard Somerby died in March, 1639, leaving two sons --- An- thony and Henry, second - who in that year, 1639, sailed from England in the ship ‘ Jona- than,' landed in Boston, and thence went to Newbury, Mass., where they settled. Henry, the emigrant, who was baptized on March 17, 1612, at Little Bytham, Eng., married, after his arrival in this country, Judith, born 1628, daughter of Captain Edmund and Sarah Green- leaf, of Newbury. They had four children, a brief record of whom is as follows: Sarah, born in 1645, married John Hale, of New- bury; Elizabeth, born in 1646, marricd, in 1663, Nathaniel Clark, and, second, married the Rev. John Hale, first minister of Beverly ; John, born in 1648, died in 1650; Daniel, born in 1651, was mortally wounded by the Indians at Mount Hope on December 19, 1675, reached home, and died, single. His father's descendants in the male line thus be- came extinct. Henry Somerby, second, died October 2, 1652. His widow married, March 2, 1653, Tristram Coffin, and the estate passed into the Coffin family. Among her descendants was Joshua Coffin, the historian of Newbury. Anthony Somerby, brother of Henry, was a graduate of Clare Hall, Cam- bridge, England. He was the first school- master in Newbury, Mass., and was Town Clerk and Recorder. He had but one child, Abiel Somerby, from whom all of the name of Somerby in the United States have descended.
Mr. James W. Sowersby's paternal grand- father, John Sowersby, Sr., was a prominent member of the Universalist church in Ports- mouth, in which he officiated as Deacon for several years. His son, John Sowersby, was a native of this city, and always lived here. He married Mary Lewis, of Kittery, Me. ; and they had five children, but two of whom are now living - namely, James William and his sister, Mrs. Carrie Allen, who resides in Bos- ton. The father died here at the age of sixty- eight years, having been a hard-working man, faithful to the duties of every-day life. He also was a believer in universal salvation.
James W. Sowersby, the eldest child of his parents, was educated in the public schools of this city; and at the close of his school life he learned the baker's trade in the old
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and well-known establishment of Joseph Bond, of Wilmington, Mass. After serving his ap- prenticeship, he went to Hudson, N. Y., and worked as a journeyman for Charles Paul for four years. Mr. Sowersby then returned to Portsmouth, and entered Joseph Parry's bak- ery, being with him for eight years, at the ex- piration of which time he commenced business
for himself. In 1870 he bought his present plant of Mr. John Nutter, which he has man- aged for twenty-five years, with excellent finan- cial results, having made additions thereto.
In politics Mr. Sowersby is independent, having the moral courage to vote for the best man under all circumstances. For two years he has been Overseer of the Poor. He is a member of St. Andrew's Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and is also a member of Mechanics' Association of Portsmouth. Like his father and grandfather before him, Mr. Sowersby attends the Universalist church.
He was married in 1855 to Josephine Gowing, daughter of Jonathan and Jane (Holt) Gowing, of Wilmington, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Sowersby have one child, a daughter, Mrs. Carrie W. Leach, who resides in this city.
LIAS FRINK, a lumberman and bridge builder, was born February 8, 1813, in Newington, son of Cyrus and Abigail (Nutter) Frink. The father, a car- penter and bridge builder, was a native of Connecticut, born June 3, 1772. He came from Connecticut in 1793, and helped to build the Piscataqua Bridge in the capacity of overseer. Five years later, in 1798, he pur- chased a farm, and was married to Abigail Nutter, a native of the town. The nine chil- dren of this marriage were: Cyrus and Abigail (twins), Simes, Isaac, John, Darius, Elias, Margaret, and Hannah Frink. The father re- sided on the old homestead. He became the owner of several other farms by purchase. Ilis death occurred at Fox Point January 14, 1849, when he was seventy-six years old. He was prominent as Colonel of the militia during the War of 1812. He was a Repre- sentative in the State legislature for two terms, beginning about the year 1826. For several terms he was Selectman of Newing-
ton. His wife died in 1850. They were both buried in the Newington cemetery.
Elias Frink, a native of this town, educated at Gilmanton Academy, has also been a life- long resident. Beginning life for himself at the age of twenty-two years, he took charge of the bridge, which he and his brothers subse- quently purchased, and they were its owners when it was swept away in 1855. Mr. Frink then became a stockholder in a mowing-ma- chine company, for which he travelled a good deal, retaining, however, his residence in Newington. He was connected with this firm for seven years. In 1864 he moved to the farm he now occupies. He owns four other farms in the town, covering in all two hun- dred and eighty acres. Mr. Frink has also been extensively interested in the lumber business. His political outlook is from the Republican point of view. In 1851 he served the town as Selectman, and also served on the school board. He has been a member of the Masonic Order for sixty years.
Mr. Frink has been twice married. By his first marriage, performed April 8, 1835, he was united with Miss Elizabeth Pickering. She was born on April 8, 1808, and died September 30, 1848. On March 13, 1851, he married Miss Mary E. Pickering, who was born on January 5, 1835 .. They have had six children, as follows: Jane E., born Septem- ber 5, 1855; Adelle H., born February 21, 1859; Darius, born March 6, 1862, who has been prominent in political affairs, and served in several town offices; Abigail N., born December 12, 1864; Elias, born March 21, 1867, who died August 25, 1875; and Mary, born December 5, 1870. Mr. Elias Frink has been a member of the Congregational So- ciety for many years, and a liberal subscriber for the maintenance of the gospel. He was also one of ten persons who gave one hundred dollars each for the construction of the Con- gregational parsonage.
"A" LBERT F. NASON, of Kingston, prosperously engaged in farming, lumbering, and charcoal-burning, was born here, September 17, 1856, son of Nathan Nason, Jr., and Sarah K. (Page)
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Nason. The father was born April 27, 1831, in Bridgton, Me. His grandparents, Nathan and Mary ( Wentworth) Nason, both natives of Limington, York County, Me., after their marriage removed to Bridgton, Me., whence a few years later they went to the town of Den- mark, in the same State. Here Grandfather Nason carried on general farming until his death, which occurred in the prime of man- hood. He left his young widow with five children, namely: Freeman, now deceased ; Susanna, who died at the age of seven years ; Nathan, Jr .; John S. ; and Stephen. The last two are now living in Portland, Me.
Nathan Nason, Jr., who was a native of Bridgton, received his education in the schools of Harrison, Me., where he lived with his mother until after her second marriage. This event occurred when he was about twelve years old. He subsequently worked as a farm laborer until the year previous to his marriage, in which he followed the sea for one season. On September 13, 1852, he mar- ried Miss Sarah K. Page, who was born Jan- uary 14, 1833, in Sandown township, this county, a daughter of Moses Page. Mr. Page, who was born in Kingston, not far from the home of his son-in-law, lived for a time in Sandown after his marriage, work- ing at his trade of cooper, being likewise engaged in farming. Returning then to the place of his nativity, he settled on the farm now occupied by Nathan Nason, Jr., and his family, and resided there until his death, Feb- ruary 2, 1885. On July 4, 1853, Nathan as- sumed charge of his father-in-law's farm, on which he and his wife have since lived and reared their family. Of their eight children, one died in infancy. The others are: Albion WV., born June 20, 1854, a resident of West Kingston, who married Miss Anna Page; Albert F., the subject of this sketch; Ruth F., born January 15, 1859, who is the wife of Walter S. West, of West Kingston; Etta Mary, born June 30, 1861, who lives in West Kingston, and is the wife of George Martin; Roxana S., born August 29, 1862, who mar- ried L. W. Davis, of the same place; Seth F. and Freeman L., born respectively June 11, 1867, and October 2, 1869, who live on the homestead farm with their parents, as does Al-
bert F., the subject of this sketch. Freeman L. Nason married Miss Lila Hunt. In poli- tics the father is a Democrat, and has served the town as Road Surveyor and policeman. Both parents belong to the Baptist church.
Albert F. Nason has always made his home on the old farm, assisting his father in its management since he was a boy. He and his father own three hundred acres of land in this county. A part of it is under timber; and a part devoted to raising hay, grain, and vege- tables. Mr. Nason, his father, and brothers make a specialty of raising garden produce, which his brother, Seth Nason, sells in Haverhill, Mass., making weekly trips for the purpose to that city. They make large quanti- ties of charcoal every season, and sell it in all the cities and important towns within a radius of twenty miles, deriving therefrom a hand- some profit. He also shares with his father and brothers in a flourishing lumber business.
On October 1, 1876, Mr. Nason was united in marriage with Miss Laura D. Fifield, who was born October 23, 1856, at West Kingston, daughter of the late Peter S. and Catherine Fifield. Mrs. Fifield now lives on the old Fifield homestead. Mrs. Nason has borne her husband two children - Neva May and Eldora. Eldora married Horace G. Winslow, and both reside on the home farm. Both Mr. and Mrs. Nason are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church Mr. Nason is a zealous Pro- hibitionist, and he served on the School Board for three years. He belongs to Colum- bia Lodge, No. 85, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Kingston, and to Harmony En- campmient at Amesbury, Mass.
ORACE A. HILL, a leading citizen of Derry, Rockingham County, N.H., where he was born November 14, 1839, has shown a laudable at- tachment to the place of his nativity, in which he has spent his life up to the present date.
His great-grandfather, Benjamin Hill, was of English origin. Ile had the distinction, it is said, to have been the first Representa- tive elected to the State legislature of New Hampshire by the town of Chester. Ben- jamin Hill left a son who bore his name; and
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this second Benjamin also left a son, whom he called Charles. Charles Hill was born in Chester, and was there reared to maturity. He then removed from that place to Haverhill, Mass., where he lived for twelve years. He married Hannah T. Trickey, of Brookfield, N. H .; and soon after his marriage, about 1835 or 1836, he returned to Rockingham County, and settled upon a farm in Derry, which is now owned by his son Horace. Here he remained until his death, which occurred August 3, 1877.
To Charles and Hannah (Trickey) Hill four children were born: Charles H., who is living in Springfield, Mass .; William A., a resident of Hugo, Col .; Horace A., of Derry; and George A., who lives in West Springfield, Mass. Mr. Charles Hill was practically a self-made man, as he won his measure of worldly success quite independently of outside influence or aid. He was a Republican and a man of firm religious faith, a member of the First Church in East Derry. His widow sur- vived him five years, dying in 1882.
Horace A. Hill, whose life story is herein narrated briefly, grew to healthful and vigorous manhood on the home farm. As a boy, he went to the district schools; and at a later period he was a student at Pinkerton Acad- emy, which has so wide a reputation in the Granite State for its curriculum and disci- pline. For several years after leaving school and entering upon the serious duties of life, he was engaged in the lumbering business, which he carried on in connection with farm- ing. The latter occupation has, however, chiefly engaged his time and energies; and he has been largely interested in dairying. His farm consists of sixty-six acres of im- proved land, and is one of the most valuable in the vicinity of Derry. Mr. Hill has been engaged in the sale of farming machinery.
On November 3, 1869, Horace A. Hill was married to Miss Elizabeth H. Fitz, a daughter of Luther Fitz, late of Chester, a prominent lumber dealer of that section of Rockingham County. This marriage was blessed by the advent of three children : Emma J. and Ella M., twins, the former a teacher in the district schools, and the latter also a teacher employed in the public schools of Derry and adjoining
towns; and Albert L., now a student at Pin- kerton Academy.
Horace A. Hill has for more than a score of years been prominently identified with various organizations of the grangers in different lo- calities, and is an authority among those of the order. For twenty-two years he has be- longed to the Nutfield Grange, of which he was a charter member. For two years he was Master of this grange, and he held the position of Overseer of it for three years. He was also Overseer of the Eastern New Hampshire Pomona Grange for two years, and was its Master for a similar period. The importance of this position may be realized when it is re- membered that this grange comprised all of Rockingham and Strafford and a portion of Hillsborough Counties, and that its jurisdic- tion, moreover, included as many as forty subordinate granges. He was also one of the District Deputies of the grange, an office which practically involves an inspection of all subordinate lodges and the organization of
new ones. For four years he was Chief Mar- shal of the State Grange Fair at Tilton, N.H .; and he holds the same position this year again. He had previously had a good deal of experience in this line, as he had been Mr. James Cogswell's assistant for some time; and, when that gentleman died, he succeeded him in the office of Chief Marshal of the State organization.
Mr. and Mrs. Hill are members of the First Church at East Derry, and for several years the former has been superintendent of the Sabbath-school there. Mr. Hill is a Repub- lican in his political faith, and uses his in- fluence in supporting every movement toward the highest development of those around him. In social as well as business circles he is liked and respected, and he and his intelligent and cultured wife with their charming family do much toward elevating and refining the tone of society in Derry, where they are so cordially esteemed.
T HOMAS DUSTON, whose portrait ac- companies this sketch, up to two years ago was one of the most enterprising manufacturers of Salem. His name is still
THOMAS DUSTON.
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known to the trade in connection with seam - less Shaker socks, half-hose, gloves, mittens, and skein yarn. He was born in this town, August 1, 1841, son of Obadiah and Ann (Whitaker) Duston. His grandfather, David Duston, was fifth in descent from Mrs. Hannah Dustin, of Haverhill, Mass., whose sufferings at the hands of the Indians, and almost superhuman endurance thereof, make one of the striking pages of New England history. David Dustin, who was a native and lifelong resident of Salem, reared his children in the house where he was born. His son, Obadiah, also a native of Salem, was one of the promi- nent business men of his day. For some time he was President of the Five Cents Savings Bank of Exeter, N.H. He was a Selectman of Salem, where he was much respected. His death occurred April 10, 1888. Of his chil- dren, two are living - Mrs. Hannah Halliwell and Mrs. Harriet D. Hunt.
Thomas Duston attended the public schools of Salem, and graduated from Atkinson Acad- emy. Having been fond of reading through- out his lifetime, he was well informed on all topics of current interest. He engaged in the manufacture of yarn when quite young. Later he undertook, in addition, that of hosiery, gloves, and mittens. His factory was at North Salem, and its products were made known to the public by clever advertis- ing. One of his devices for this purpose was a unique business card, which bore on the re- verse side a series of questions and answers in catechism form, humorously, yet strikingly, setting forth the merits of his goods. As a manufacture, he was very successful. At one time he had an extensive business as civil en- ginecr. For a number of years he was also engaged in farming, lumbering, and the undertaking business; and he was President of the Squamscot Savings Bank at Exeter.
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