USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire > Part 55
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80
Elijah H. Prescott received the greater part of his education in the New Hampton Literary and Biblical Institution, there pursuing both his preparatory studies and his theological course. His first pastorate was at Unity and Dixmont. Me., where he remained four years. Afterward he was at Northwood, N. H., four years, at New Hampton nine years, at Frank-
lin Falls five years, at New Hampton again six years; and then he was for two years a member of the agency soliciting for the New Hampton Institute. Four years ago he took charge of the Free Will Baptist church at Candia Village, and during his pastorate he has worked zealously for the advancement of the church. Mr. Prescott is a scholarly man, and a competent and sagacious business man. Since June, 1872, he has acted as Secretary for the yearly meeting of the Free Will Bap- tist churches of New Hampshire. He was Supervisor of Schools two years in the town of Unity, one year in Northwood, and six years in New Hampton; and he has been Trustee of the New Hampton Institute since 1868, President of the Board of Trustees for more than twenty years, a member of the Exec- utive Committee since 1868, Treasurer of the institute for the past twenty-eight years, hav- ing charge of the financial affairs, including collecting and paying out money and raising money for the permanent fund and for current expenses.
He was married, November 28, 1860, to Amanda A. Meservey, of Appleton, Me., by whom he has one daughter, Annabel K., born January 9, 1862. She is the wife of Charles R. Dame, of Concord, N.H., and has three children - Charles P., George M., and Walter B., aged respectively nine and seven years and nine months. Mr. Prescott is an active Republican, and represented the town of New Hampton in the State legislature in 1881 and 1882.
EORGE HENRY TOWLE, M. D., the only physician in Deerfield, and who has practised there for the past twenty-seven years, was born in Barnstead, N. H., April 14, 1839. Jonathan Towle, great-grandfather of Dr. Towle, who sprang from a family of Irish origin, followed the occupation of farmer throughout his life. He married a Miss Marston, and was the father of a large family of children. Of these his son James was the next lineal progenitor of Dr. Towle. Like his father, he was a native of Pittsfield, N.H., and a farmer; and he also married a Miss Marston. His wife bore him
462
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
two children - Robie Marston and Samuel. Samuel is now deceased. James Towle was a Democrat ; and, though he never held any pub- lic office, he was interested in local issues. He died in 1814, aged about thirty-five years.
Robie Marston Towle, Dr. Towle's father, was born in 1809 in Pittsfield. He likewise followed the calling of farmer. In politics he was a Democrat, while he had not "the first atom of an aspiration" to public office. His death occurred in 1885, in his seventy- sixth year. He was married twice, on the first occasion to Miss Abigail J. Nelson, of . Barnstead. By her he became the father of eight children, as follows: Benjamin F., of Northwood, N. H. ; Hannah, the widow of J. Yeaton, of Epsom, Merrimack County ; Mary A., the wife of the Rev. Mr. Smith, of North- wood; James R., residing in the same town; George Henry, a resident of Deerfield; Daniel L., of Northwood; Samuel H., whose death, at the age of fifty-two, made the first break in the family : and Rebecca A., who is the wife of Orrin Palmer, of Northwood. His second marriage was contracted with a Miss Marston, which resulted in the birth of two children, both now deceased.
George Henry Towle, M. D., had few of the early advantages usually enjoyed by men who have accomplished anything in profes- sional life. At the age of twelve years he was apprenticed to a shoemaker, under a con- tract which secured to him three months' schooling every year. The schooling so re- ceived lasted but three years, and was subse- quently paid for by the pupil from the pro- ceeds of services rendered as a teacher during the winter sessions. After spending six years with his first employer, a determination to become something better than he was took possession of his mind. He now began to apply himself to study with this end in view, working between whiles at his trade, so as to be able to defray his necessary expenses. He became a student of the Pittsfield Academy. Then he attended the Hanover, N.H., and Harvard (Mass.) Medical Schools, and finally entered Bowdoin Medical College. From the latter he graduated in the class of 1865. After taking his degree of M.D., he located in Salisbury, N. H., where he remained for three
and a half years. He then came to Deerfield, where he has lived ever since, building up year by year his present high reputation as a physician and surgeon. Dr. Towle has had cases of violent accident, demanding quick decision and skilful surgery on the spot, in each of which he proved equal to the occasion.
In 1862 he was married to Miss Panthea Priscilla Tucker, of Pittsfield. She has borne him four children, namely: Edith L., the wife of C. R. Brown, of Deerfield; James B., who is in the dry-goods business in Manches- ter; George H., Jr., who is a student of Dart- mouth College, class of 1897; and Etta F., born in October, 1867, who died in August, 1882. Dr. Towle served on the School Board for fifteen years, and in 1881 and 1882 he rep- resented the Eleventh Senatorial District in the New Hampshire legislature. He is a member of Munni Lodge, No. 32, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Deerfield, having taken all the degrees; and also belongs to the Patrons of Husbandry, Deerfield Grange, No. 74, of which he has been Lecturer and Master and is now Secretary. Dr. Towle is a Dem- ocrat, and he takes an active interest in the success of his party. His family attend the services of the Congregational church. He has fought and won the battle of existence single-handed. His life is a lesson in courage and perseverance to the rising generation.
OHN P. WILSON, one of the most prosperous farmers in the county, and of whom a portrait is herewith pre- sented, has spent nearly fourscore years in Londonderry. He is a native of the town, born January 23, 1818, His parents, Thomas and Rebecca (Pinkerton) Wilson, were also born in this locality, his father in London- derry, and his mother in Derry His great- grandfather, James Wilson, was one of the Scotch-Irish colonists who settled and named Londonderry. James owned a large tract of land around what is now called Wilson's Crossing, so named after the family. Robert Wilson, John P. Wilson's grandfather, who was born in Londonderry, was a leading man in the locality, and a Colonel in the State militia. Thomas Wilson, our subject's
1,
JOHN P. AND ADALINE A. WILSON.
465
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
father, was a lifelong resident of Londonderry, a farmer by occupation, and in politics suc- cessively a Whig and a Republican. He died in 1862.
John P. Wilson obtained his education in the district school. He grew up on the home farm, imbibing health and vigor from the free outdoor life, and laying the foundation of the constitution that has enabled him to outlive the Scriptural span of human existence. When the time came for him to choose his life occu- pation, he decided upon that followed by his ancestors as good enough for him; and he has since given his best energies to agriculture. As a farmer, he has been very successful; and his farm, which covers about three hundred acres, is one of the best in the locality. Mr. Wilson spent eight years in Manchester, N. H. ; but the rest of his life has been passed in Lon- donderry.
He was married April 14, 1844, to Adaline Annis, who was born in Londonderry, Febru- ary 19, 1823, daughter of John and Delilah (Coburn) Annis. The union has been blessed by several children, four of whom are living, namely: Abbie, the wife of Clarence N. Gar- vin, of Londonderry; May, the wife of Frank A. Benson, of Raymond, N. H. ; and George W. and David B., residents of Londonderry. Those deceased were: Robert H., Rebecca P., Lillie J., John, Thomas H., and John E. Both parents are members of the Universalist church. Mr. Wilson in politics supports the Republican party. He takes an active interest in the welfare of the community, and is always ready to aid projects for the improvement of the town. He and his wife celebrated their golden wedding on April 18, 1894, when their many friends made the occasion one of unusual interest and good feeling by their warm con- gratulations and other tokens of good will.
NDREW F. FOX, an enterprising and successful agriculturist and a well- known and prominent citizen of Au- burn, Rockingham County, N. H., was born in Dracut, Middlesex County, Mass., February 19, 1825, son of Ezekiel and Sarah (Estabrook) Fox. He is a representative of one of the long-established families of New
England. The founder of this branch of the Fox family in America was Thomas Fox, who traversed the Atlantic and landed on these shores in 1639. His son, Nathaniel Fox, the great-great-great-grandfather of Andrew F., became one of the pioneer settlers of the town of Dracut, Mass. Nathaniel's son, the next in line, was Deacon Daniel Fox, who, marry- ing Miss Polly Jones, became the father of Joel Fox. His son, Joel, second, the grand- father of Andrew F., was a farmer in Dracut. He participated in the Colonial struggle for independence throughout the eight years of conflict. He married Miss Hannah Cheever ; and they became the parents of a family of seven children, all of whom have passed away. In national politics he was affiliated with the Democratic party. He departed this life in December, 1861, at the goodly age of seventy- seven years and four months, though surpassed by his father, Joel, first, who attained the ven- erable age of ninety-two years, passing away on February 8, 1849. Ezekiel Fox, son of the second Joel, was born in Dracut, where he was diligently engaged in general husbandry throughout his life. He also devoted consid- erable attention to the sale of pigeons. He married Miss Sarah Estabrook, by whom he had five children. The only one now surviv- ing is Andrew F. Politically, Mr. Ezekiel was identified with the Democratic party. He was not an aspirant to social or official distinc- tion. He died in 1849, at the age of sixty- one years.
Andrew F. Fox, when a young man, removed from Dracut to Auburn, then called Chester, in the common schools of which town and in Derry Academy he obtained his education. Having finished his course of study, he re- turned to the paternal estate in Auburn, and has resided thereon uninterruptedly to the present. The farm comprised five hundred and fifty acres, on which he formerly followed gen- eral husbandry in the summer season, and dur- ing the winter months engaged in lumbering ; but in 1887 he sold one hundred and fifty acres to the city of Manchester. In Novem- ber, 1847, Mr. Fox was married to Miss Mar- garet Ann Heath, a native of Auburn. Their union has been blessed in the birth of five children, all of whom are still spared to them,
466
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
namely : Sarah E., who is now the wife of James Benson, a resident of Massabesic; Cora A., who resides at Manchester as the wife of Dr. Adams; Frank A., who now lives in Massabesic, and who married Miss Incz Pol- land, of Lempster, N. H., who has borne to him four children - Cora, Ruby, Andrew, and Roland ; Mary G., now the wife of Samuel Richardson, and residing with her father on the old homestead; and Grettie A., who is now Mrs. Hazen Sanborn, of Auburn.
Mr. Fox is one of the prominent and leading men of Auburn, and he has served his fellow- townsmen in several important and responsible public positions. He has been a member of the Board of Selectmen for more than twenty years. He has officiated as Town Treasurer ; and for two or three terms he has constituted one member of the School Board, serving one of those terms under the new law. He has also enjoyed the distinction of representing his town and district in the legislative halls of the New Hampshire State Capitol during the sessions of 1852-53. For many years Mr. Fox has performed a large amount of pro- bate work, in the form of drawing up deeds and wills, settling estates, and the like. He has not identified himself with any social order of the community, but he is well known and universally esteemed throughout the vicinity. In politics he advocates the principles of the Democratic party. Religiously, he is a regu- lar attendant of the Congregational church of Auburn, to which he is a liberal contributor.
.
ILLIAM A. EMERSON, shoe man- ufacturer of Hampstead, N. H., was born in this town, September 7, 1842, son of Daniel and Ruth K. (Connor) Emerson. The first of his family to settle in the town of Hampstead was his great-grand- father, Robert Emerson. He came from Haverhill, Mass., to Hampstead at a time when there were only two families here, his household making the third. He died No- vember 18, 1809.
Robert Emerson was married November 19, 1767, to Mary Webster, who died July 24, 1787. She was the mother of seven children, Caleb, the grandfather of William A., being
the third in order of birth. He was born in Hampstead, April 7, 1770, and was a lifelong resident of the town, deriving a comfortable living from the pursuit of agriculture. In politics he was a Whig; on religious subjects, liberal. He died October 24, 1845, aged seventy-five years. Caleb Emerson was mar- ried December 12, 1797, to Betsey Nichols, a native of Hampstead, born November 26, 1775, who died June 23, 1840, in her sixty- fifth year. Three children were born to this couple, Daniel, the father of our subject, being the second child and only son.
Daniel Emerson was born in Hampstead, July 28, 1802. He learned the cooper's trade, and followed it in Hampstead for a number of years, the latter part of the time being in business for himself. He owned a good farm of one hundred acres in the town, to the cultivation of which he gave his atten- tion exclusively in the last part of his life. . Politically, he favored the Republican party. An active man physically, he took great pleasure in military drill, and was Lieutenant of a company in the old militia. He died April 17, 1863, aged sixty-one years. His wife, who was a daughter of James Connor, of Fremont, N. H., died April 17, 1895, at the advanced age of eighty-seven. She was a member of the Congregational church in Hampstead. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Emerson were the parents of eight children, four of whom are living, as follows: Daniel H., born July 24, 1828, who married Sarah Richardson, and has three children -- Laura, Albert, and Emma; James H., born September 5, 1830, of whom a brief sketch will be found in this work; Horatio B., born April 2, 1836, who has been twice married, his first wife being Lizzie Neal, his second Sarah Jeffries, and who has three children by his first union - David, Chauncy, and Lilla; and William A., the subject of this sketch.
William A. Emerson was educated in his native town. After leaving school, he learned the shoemaker's trade, at which he worked for some time, subsequently obtaining employ- ment in a market in Haverhill, Mass. He was manager of Emerson's Express, running between Haverhill and Hampstead for fifteen years; and in 1886 he started in the manufact-
467
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
ure of children's and misses' shoes, under the firm name of William A. Emerson & Son, his partner being his son Daniel. The firm manufactures for jobbers entirely, and has built up a good business, having a well- equipped plant with all necessary facilities for carrying on the manufacture of shoes, employ- ing one hundred and thirty-five hands and having a capacity of turning out two thousand pairs of shoes a day. A self-made man who has had little help in his upward career, Mr. Emerson's character is such as to win the re- spect of his fellow-citizens; and in proportion as he has prospered he is willing to help every worthy enterprise in the town of Hampstead.
He was married November 6, 1862, to Abbie H., daughter of Francis V. Dow, of Hampstead. Mr. Dow was a Major in the old military organization. Four children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Emerson. Daniel, the eldest, who was born December 2, 1863, is in business with his father. He was married June 3, 1886, to Esther, daughter of Edward Plunkett, of Dublin, Ireland, and has one child - William A., who was born Sep- tember 2, 1888. Frank W., who was born January 18, 1866, was married September 12, 1886, to Minnie, daughter of Moses B. Stevens, of Atkinson, N. H. He has no chil- dren. Arthur M., who was born March 10, 1870, has been twice married. His first wife, May Henward, of Eastport, Me., dying, left twin girls - Ella M. and Alice M., born May 31, 1889; and his second wife, to whom he was united November 9, 1890, Alice M. Ham- lin, of Haverhill, Mass., has one son - Clif- ford D., born August 27, 1892. Myron E., the fourth and youngest son, was born Decem- ber 10, 1883.
Politically, Mr. Emerson is independent. He has served as Tax Collector and Select- man of the town, and is at present chief of police. Prominent in social matters, he is a member of St. Mark Lodge, No. 44, A. F. & A. M., of Derry, of which he is Junior War- den ; a member of Bell Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of the same place; and a member of De Witt Clinton Commandery, Knights Tem- plars, of Portsmouth, N. H. He and his wife are communicants of the Congregational church in Hampstead.
HOMAS OSGOOD REYNOLDS, M.D.
Among the active and progressive phy- sicians and surgeons of Rockingham County none has worked harder to attain pro- fessional excellence, and none is more worthy of notice, than the gentleman named above. The son of Thomas F. and Mary (Currier) Reynolds, he was born in Chester, Rocking- ham County, N. H., December 24, 1842. He acquired his early education in the com- mon schools of his native town and Chester Academy.
The war broke out while he was yet in his teens; and on August 26, 1862, before he was twenty years of age, he enlisted as a private in Company I, Eleventh Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers. This regiment was sent immediately to the scene of action; and for a year young Reynolds served in the ranks, participating in some of the most momentous engagements of the Civil War. During the wholesale slaughter of Fredericksburg, De- cember 13, 1862, he was injured seriously in the left side by a piece of shell, and for years suffered from the effects of the wound; and at Jackson, Miss., in July, 1863, he was wounded in the leg by a minie-ball. After the cam- paign following the fall of Vicksburg, where he was serving in the Department of the Gulf, returning to Kentucky, he was assigned to the general hospital at Camp Nelson, October 24, 1863. Almost immediately thereafter he was promoted to the position of chief clerk; and he commenced the study of medicine under A. C. Rankin, Assistant Surgcon, United States army. He continued his academic studies under private instruction, working with an energy that insured success. His rapidity of execution, his earnestness of pur- pose, and his fidelity to every trust won him many friends.
Thus the time passed until the close of the war; and on May 24, 1865, the soldier-student was mustered out of service at Lexington, Ky. His connection with the army was not severed immediately, however; for shortly after he was examined by a Board of Army Surgeons, and appointed Assistant Surgeon by contract by the United States government, with the rank and emoluments of First Lieutenant. was assigned to his old station, Camp Nelson,
468
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
which was the headquarters of the Freedman's Bureau for that department, and entered on his duties at once, remaining until December, 1865, when the camp was disbanded. Return- ing to New Hampshire, he spent a week at home, and then entered Bellevue Medical Col- lege in New York City, taking also the regular spring course of study at Long Island College Hospital, and receiving special instruction from Professor Austin Flint. He completed his studies at the Albany Medical College, trom which he received his degree on Decem- ber 24, 1866, his twenty-fourth birthday.
Dr. Reynolds then travelled for a year through the Western States, and, when on his way back to the East, he was induced to begin practice at Port Huron, Mich. ; but the mala- rious climate drove him homeward, and after a stay of three months he returned to New Hampshire. June 8, 1869, found him again in his native State; and in February, 1870, he opened an office in Kingston, where he soon had a large and remunerative practice. Gifted with a resolute will and the Scotch power of perseverance, he pursued his studies under difficulties that would have discouraged another; and his nature is such that he has never ceased to be a student, nor will his in- vestigations cease while his mind retains the power of thought. He is pre-eminently quali- fied by nature for the work he has chosen - quick of perception, gifted with keen powers of analysis and rapid reasoning faculties, and is peculiarly successful in diagnosis. Dr. Reynolds has been a member of the New Hampshire Medical Society since 1872.
He was married, July 13, 1870, to M. Fanny, daughter of William and Mary A. (Holman) Smith, of Raymond, N.H. Her family, which is of English origin, has been native to New Hampshire for many genera- tions. The Doctor and his wife have one child, a daughter, Mabel.
In politics Dr. Reynolds is a Republican. Broad and liberal in his views, and in har- mony with the most progressive minds of the age, he has been prominent in educational matters, and was for five years a member of the Board of Trustees of Kingston Academy, and its President in 1880. He was made a Mason in 1864, joining Ion Lodge, No. 301,
of Potts Mills, Ky .; was Senior Warden of Gideon Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 84, of Kingston, N.H., in 1876-77, Secretary, and then Worshipful Master in 1879, 1880, and 1881, and representative to the Grand Lodge in 1882. Dr. Reynolds is a brilliant con- versationalist, gifted with a great command of language, and a fund of original wit and humor that makes his society ever pleasant. He is of a positive nature, and throws his whole soul into everything that he under- takes. Dr. Reynolds has accumulated quite a handsome competency, and his life henceforth can be more nearly devoted to his pet hobbies in science. He is a Grand Army man, and a Past Commander of General Patten Post, of Kingston. He is a good microscopist, and his researches in cryptogamic botany and biol- ogy during the past few years are worthy of note. He is devoted to the natural sci- ences, and is well up with the times in every- thing published on these subjects. If his life and health are spared, he will be heard from more generally beyond his own State before many years. He is more than an amateur as- tronomer, and has many original astronomical charts and devices of his own. He is a con- tributor of some note to several scientific mag- azines and other periodicals.
ILLIAM CLARK, of Londonderry, N. H., a leading citizen of Rocking- ham County, prominent in political and agricultural affairs, was born in London- derry, July 22, 1844. He is the son of Reed P. and Elizabeth (Perkins) Clark, the former a native of Hancock, Hillsborough County, N. H., the latter of Essex, Mass.
Reed P. Clark, who was the son of Ninian Clark, a native and lifelong resident of Hills- borough County, spent the greater part of his life in Londonderry. Though not highly edu- cated, he had a fund of practical knowledge and much force of character and natural abil- ity. An expert penman, he taught writing- school when a young man ; and, as an agricult- urist, he won lasting fame, raising nursery stock and experimenting on vegetables. He was the originator of the celebrated Clark's No. I potato, which he produced on the farm
JOHN P. KIMBALL.
47 1
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
now occupied by the subject of this sketch, and gave to the world as propagated by Reed P. Clark & Sons. His talents were of the most versatile order; for, in addition to his achievements in the fields of penmanship and agriculture, he won reputation as a horse trainer and as a skilled worker of wood and iron, and he found a field of useful activity in the political world. A Whig when that party was in existence, he later became a Republi- can of the most pronounced type, and was largely instrumental in changing Londonderry from a Democratic to a Republican town. H served as Selectman, as Representative to the State legislature, and as a member of Gover- nor Goodwin's Council. He was also for a number of years a Trustee of the New Hamp- shire State Reform School at Manchester. Reed P. Clark died April 8, 1882. Of his children the following are living: Joseph R., a sketch of wheni may be seen on another page ; Marianna P., wife of Professor W. H. Seaman, of Washington, D.C. ; and William, above named.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.