USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire > Part 64
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Mr. Entwistle enlisted June 21, 1861, in
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Company D, Third Regiment, New Hamp- shire Volunteers. At first the regiment was assigned to the Tenth Corps, commanded by General Gilmore; but, when General Grant received the chief command, it was under the orders of General Butler. Mr. Entwistle served from the beginning to the end of the war in the southern campaigns, sharing in the following actions: Port Royal Harbor, No- vember 7, 1861; Elba Island, March 7, 1862; Bluffton, March 16, 1862; Jehossee, April 10, 14, and 17, 1862; James Island, June 8, 1862; Secessionville, June 16, 1862; Pinckney Island, August 21, 1862; Pocotaligo, October 22, 1862; May River, January 7, 1863; Stone Inlet, April 7, 1863; Morris Island, July 10, 1863; Fort Wagner, July 18, 1863; siege of Wagner, July 18 to September 7, 1863 ; siege of Sumter, September 7 to March 1, 1864; Palatka, April 13, 1864; and Drewry's Bluff, May 13 to May 16, 1864. He estimates that for one year of the time he was constantly under fire. On July 10, 1862, he was wounded by a minie-ball in the ribs. He was wounded again at Drewry's Bluff, receiv- ing the injury this time in the right leg, and resulting in his capture by the enemy. On this occasion he was first taken to Libby Prison, and then, after the lapse of two weeks, to Andersonville, where he was held nine months. In the beginning of Feb- ruary, 1865, as he and other prisoners were being transferred to another place, fifty of the number, including Mr. Entwistle, jumped from the train, and escaped. After a peril- ous journey lasting twenty-one days, during which they suffered many hardships, he and two companions reached the Union lines on February 22. He received a fur- lough of thirty days after the assault on Fort Wagner, in recognition of meritorious conduct on the field. Also in the course of the service he was advanced to the rank of Sergeant. At one time he was recommended for a Lieutenancy, and would have received it but for a thoughtless speech of his uttered im- pulsively. He was honorably discharged at Concord, N.H., August 2, 1865.
After receiving his discharge, Mr. Entwistle returned to Portsmouth, obtained employment in the blacksmith's shop of the navy yard,
and worked there for about eighteen months. He was then appointed night patrol of Ports- mouth. The duties of this position had been efficiently discharged by him for two years, when he was elected Assistant Marshal. He held that office for nine years, and was then elected City Marshal, in which capacity he served eight years, making a continuous period of nineteen years spent in the public service. Subsequently he was Captain of Watch in the navy yard. From this position he was re- moved under the Democratic administration, and for five months of 1885 he worked in the blacksmith shop of the Boston & Maine Rail- road for the following three years. He was then reinstated Captain of Watch in the navy yard after the election of Benjamin Harrison to the Presidency, and remained this time seven years. His connection with the navy yard was ended by his resignation to accept the office of City Marshal once more, which he still occupies.
On October 13, 1859, Mr. Entwistle was united in matrimony with Elvira S. Dyer, daughter of Eliza Dyer, of Portsmouth, and subsequently became the father of three girls and two boys. Two of the girls and one son are now married. His son William has been a candy manufacturer in Portsmouth for a number of years. The other son is a machin- ist in the navy yard. Both parents are mem- bers of the Episcopal Church of St. John. In politics Mr. Entwistle has been a zealous Re- publican, doing good service on the commit- tee of Ward i for thirty years. He has served the community in the representative capacities of Selectman, Councilman, and Alderman, and in the office of Deputy United States Marshal. He is a member of St. John's Lodge of Masons, No. 1 : a charter member of Osgood Lodge of Odd Fellows, No. 48; and a comrade of Storer Post, No. 1, Grand Army of the Republic.
OHN S. GOSS, a veteran agriculturist of Rockingham County, New Hamp- shire, was born October 26, 1817, in the town of Rye, in the house in which he now lives. He comes of patriotic stock, and is a descendant of one of the
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early settlers of this town. Nathan Goss, the grandfather of John S., spent his entire lite in Rye, where he was engaged in farm- ing. He was a Revolutionary soldier, par- ticipating in the battle of Ticonderoga. Several of his brothers were Revolutionary heroes. Thomas having served under Captain Paul Jones. Richard was killed during the war; and James was stationed at Fort William and Mary, now Fort Constitution.
Thomas Goss, the father of John S., was born in Rye, which was his home through life. He was a farmer and miller, carrying on both occupations with an industrious zeal that brought him success. He saw active ser- vice during the War of 1812, commanding the minute-men from Rye. In the State militia he was successively Colonel, Lieutenant, and General. Ile was a brave and determined man, and at one time prevented the crew of a British frigate from landing at Rye, they hav- ing attempted to come ashore near the house now occupied by his son, John S., which was then his home. The General lived to the ad- vanced age of eighty-nine years, passing quietly away in 1857. His first wife, Sarah Marden, of Rye, bore him three children : William: Sheridan, who died young; and Surah A. His second wife, Abigail Locke, was the mother of one son, John S., who is the only child now living. William died in December, 1891. His wife was Betsey Berry, by whom he had six children --. Otis, Amanda M., Mary C .. Arthur L., Sarah A., and Na- thin R. Otis, the eldest of William's sons, is married, and has three children - Elzada, Isibel, and Olive A. Sarah A. (daughter of General Thomas Goss) married Ira Rand, and at her death left two children - Gilman ind Albert.
John S. Goss was reared and educated in his native town, and after the death of his par- ents succeeded jointly with his brother Will- fim to the ownership of the parental estate. Hle has a well-improved farm, much of the Jind being in a good state of cultivation, and comparing favor ibly with the best farms of this locality in its equipments. Mr. Goss has al- ways been a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, and cast his first Presidential vote in 1840 for Martin Van Buren. He was married
in 1855 to Sula A., daughter of Richard R. and Sarah A. (Leavitt) Locke, of this town. Mrs. Goss passed to the life immortal July 7, 1894, having been a true helpmate to her hus- band for nearly twoscore years. She was the mother of one child, Wallace S., who married Miss Sarah E. Caswell, of Rye. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace S. Goss became the parents of four children -- John S .; Melville J .; Leon W .; Philip N., who died September 13, 1894, aged seven months; and Lizzie Amy. Mrs. Wallace S. Goss died February 26, 1896.
HAUNCEY B. HOYT, of Portsmouth, N. H., the gifted manager of Hoyt's Orchestra, was born in Newington, Rockingham County, N.H., on March 1, 1865. He is the only son of Gil- bert Pickering and Elizabeth J. (LeGrow) Hoyt. William Hoyt, his great-grandfather, had nine children - Phebe, Winthrop P., Hanson, Charlotte, William, Hannah, David, Thomas, and James. Hanson, the son, was a native and lifelong resident of Newington, being an important man in his day and gener- ation. He married Olive F. Coleman, of the same town ; and they had nine children, five of whom are now living: Gilbert P., Ann S., Jo- seph S., Thomas B., and James W. John, Charlotte F., Marcus M., and Olive J. are deceased.
Gilbert Pickering Hoyt, son of Hanson, and father of the subject of this biography, was also a native of Newington. He was so fortunate as to have a farm given him for his name, He married in 1858 Elizabeth J. Le- Grow, of Somersworth, then called Great Falls, N. H .; and they had two children : Addie J., who married Charles H. Mitchell, a locksmith and dealer in ammunition in Dover, N. H. ; and Chauncey B. Four years after the birth of his son Mr. Hoyt (Gilbert l'.) removed to Greenland, N.H., where he took charge of the town farm for four years; and he subsequently officiated as superintend- ent of St. Paul's School Farm in Concord, N.H., remaining there five years. He then bought the Pickering farm, adjoining the one which had been presented him; and he
RICHARD R. MORRIS.
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still lives in Newington, carrying on a farm of seventy-two acres. In spite of his three- score years and ten he is nimbly active.
Chauncey B. Hoyt, after attending school in Concord, entered Brackett Academy in Greenland, where he was graduated in 1882; and he began the work of life by serving for two years thereafter as assistant book-keeper in R. H. White's retail dry -goods store in Boston. On account of failing health he then returned to Newington, and in the summer of 1885 he officiated as clerk in the Bartlett Hotel at York Beach, Me. For the ensuing year he was engaged as book-keeper for A. P. Wendell & Co. of Portsmouth, and after that he acted as travelling agent for F. W. Moses for two years. In 1888 Mr. Hoyt bought out Mr. Moses's interests in the music store, form- ing a copartnership with Herbert B. Dow, under the style of Hoyt & Dow, the firm con- tinuing at the same place, 17 Congress Street, ever since. By reason of his musical taste and training Mr. Hoyt is eminently fitted for the position he fills. He studied with George Loesch, of Boston, and for some time played second violin in the Amateur Symphony Or- chestra in that city. For a while he was also connected with Wright's Orchestra in Boston. Mr. Hoyt is quite versatile, being able to play with equal facility on several different instru- ments. In Hoyt's Orchestra, of this city, he plays bass, prompts, and is also business manager of the ten pieces and players.
In politics Mr. Hoyt is a Democrat, and prominent in official positions. He has served in the Common Council from Ward 2, is now filling his second year of a three years' term in the Board of Instruction, is Select- man, and has also recently been appointed Auditor of Rockingham County, which speaks well for his popularity. Mr. Hoyt attends the Universalist church. Ile is connected by membership with several social organizations: St. John's Lodge, No. 1, A. F. & A. M .; Osgood Lodge, No. 48, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Damon Lodge, No. 9, Knights of Pythias, of which he is District Deputy, having held all the chairs in the lodge: Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, of which he is Grand Master at Arms; Lucullus Division, No. 8, Uniform Rank, Knights of
Pythias; and he is also Trustee of Massasoit Tribe, Independent Order of Red Men, No. 16; and is now Major of the Second Battalion, First Regiment of New Hampshire. Mr. Hoyt is a worthy representative of a highly reputable Colonial family, "the carly genera- tions of which" in this country, it is said, were of "strict Puritan faith."
R ICHARD R. MORRIS, the efficient manager of the Star Brickyard in Ep- ping, N. H., was born in North Wales in 1846. Ilis parents were Owen and Elizabeth (Rogers) Morris, both of whom were natives of Wales, and there spent their lives. The father was part owner of the slate quarry at Carnarvonshire, North Wales, and officiated as superintendent thereof during most of his life. Capable and effi- cient, he had the respect and confidence of his fellow-townsmen. He died in 1893, at the age of eighty-two years, his wife's death pre- ceding his own some years.
Richard R. Morris's opportunities for ob- taining an education were limited to the night schools of his native country, he being obliged to work in the quarry from the time he was old enough to make himself useful until he was fourteen years of age. He then appren- ticed himself to a builder, with whom he agreed to serve seven years. At the end of five years, however, he was released from the apprenticeship, being appointed superintend- ent of the company. Two years later he withdrew, and established a business of his own, which he successfully managed until 1882. The next year Mr. Morris came to America, locating in Boston, where he was engaged in building with the firm of Norcross Brothers for nine years. In 1892 he came to Epping, in the employ of the same firm, con- tinuing in their service two years longer, then taking charge of the Star Brickyard, owned by Mead & Mason. During the present year (1896) they contemplate burning ten million bricks, which they sell in Boston, Lowell, and various places in New England. This in- dustry is among the leading ones of Rocking- ham County, giving employment to one hun- dred and twenty-five men. In politics Mr.
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Morris is a Republican, but he has no official aspirations. He is a prominent member of the Masonic Order, having taken the thirty- second degree. He is Past Commander of the Eminent Commandery, a member of the Con- sistory, and is also identified in the Knights of Pythias and the Uniform Rank degree.
The maiden name of his wife, to whom he was united in marriage in 1875, was Sarah Elizabeth Ada Lowcook, born at Great Crosby, Lancashire, England. Her father died when she was a child, and she was brought up by her grandfather, Mr. John Roughley, Postmaster of that place, with whom she lived until her marriage. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Morris, namely: Richard R., the eldest, who died August 19, 1877, at their home, Pen- rhyn Villa, Cavendish Road, Blundellsands, Eng. : Gertrude E .; William R. ; and Flor- ence Ada Morris. The family are highly re- spected members of the Methodist Episcopal church; and, like his worthy father, Mr. Morris stands well in word and work.
J OIIN ORIN DRAKE, a prosperous and progressive farmer of Rye, and a native of the town, was born November 14, 1851, son of Joseph J. and Clarissa D. (Knowles) Drake. The Drake family comes of ancient and honored ancestry. The first bearer of the name in this country, according to the records, was Robert Drake, who, born in the County Devon, England, in 1580, re- mained in his native country until sixty-three years of age. In 1643 he came to New Eng- land, and settled in Exeter, this county. He afterward removed to the town of Hampton, this county, the house in which he lived hav- ing stood upon the spot now occupied by the Baptist church of that town. He remained a resident of Hampton, where he resided during the remainder of his life, and died January 14, 1668, at the age of eighty-eight years. He was an influential man in the town, and in 1654 served as Selectman. A copy of his will may be found in the "Genealogy of the Drake Family," published by Samuel G. Drake in 1845. Robert's son, Abraham Drake, was, by his wife, Sarah, father of Abraham (2). The
line was continued by Abraham (3) to Abra- ham (4), who married Theodate Robey, and to Abraham (5), who married Abigail Weare. The last Abraham had a son, Jonathan, who was the great-grandfather of John Orin Drake. Jonathan's wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Ward, was a native of Hampton. Both she and her husband were lifelong residents of that place.
Colonel Abraham Drake, the grandfather of John Orin Drake, was reared in Hampton. In 1810 he moved to the town of Rye, and here purchased a farm on the Lafayette road, and until his death, in June, 1825, was chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits. During the War of 1812 he was Colonel of the Thirty- fifth New Hampshire Regiment. Colonel Drake married Mary Jenness, who bore him six children, of whom Joseph J., Orin, and Sarah reached maturity. Sarah became the wife of David A. Jenness, and with her reared three children - Emery, Harriet O., and Annie D. After the death of Colonel Drake his widow, who survived until 1885, married David W. Jenness, by whom she had two sons - Abraham and David.
Joseph J. Drake lived for a short time in Massachusetts during his early life, being em- ployed as a gate-tender at a railroad crossing in the town of Medford. In 1836 he returned to the place of his nativity, where he has since carried on general farming with signal suc- cess. He has been a Democrat since he cast his first Presidential vote in 1840 for Martin Van Buren, and has never missed a State election or town meeting. He was Selectman of Rye for six years, which included the period of the late war; and in 1883 and 1884 he rep- resented his native town in the State legisla- ture. He married Clarissa D., daughter of Nathan and Sarah H. (Brown) Knowles, of Rye. Ten children were born of the union; namely, Nathan D., Annie D., Mary J., Abram J., John H., Adams E., John Orin, Clara J., James B., and Leonia S. Nathan D. and John H. died in infancy ; Mary J., who was the wife of Alfred V. Seavey, died at the age of thirty-five years; and James B. died at the age of eighteen years. Annie D. married Joseph W. Garland, of Rye, and has two children - J. Oriss and Weston J.
JOHN FOLSOM.
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Abram J. married Emma Philbrick, who has borne him one child, Abbott B. Adams E. married L. Emma Marden, and has five chil- dren - Chester D., Grace E., Marcia L., Annie L., and Merton A. Leonia S. married Blake H. Rand. All the survivors are set- tled not far from the parental homestead in Ryc.
John Orin Drake completed his education at the Hampton Academy in Rockingham County, and was afterward employed as a clerk in the store of J. J. Leavitt in Hampton. In 1874 he returned to the home farm, where he has since resided, assisting in its management. During the winters of 1875 and 1876 and 1881 Mr. Drake taught school in the West district. In 1876 he was appointed by the Selectmen superintendent of the schools of Rye. In this capacity he gave satisfaction and was elected to the office by the people in 1877. He was Town Clerk from 1884 until 1887, inclusive; Selectman in the years 1888, 1889, and 1890; a member of the School Board from 1891 to 1893, inclusive; elected to the office of Town Treasurer in March, 1895, and in March, 1896; appointed Justice of the Peace in 1890, and Notary Public in 1895 ; and he has been School
Clerk for the past three years. Since 1873 he has been a member of Star of the East Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Exeter; and he is Master of the local grange. On August 4, 1876, Mr. Drake was united in wedlock with Miss Clara M., daughter of Joseph A. and Evelyn Leavitt Dearborn. Mr. and Mrs. Drake have three children - Mary L., Jennie C., and Evelyn K.
OHIN FOLSOM, a prominent citizen of Derry, N. H., and an ex-member of the State legislature, was born in Auburn, Rockingham County, February 22, 1826, son of John, Sr., and Dorothy (Under- hill) Folsom.
Mr. Folsom's father was a native of Penn- sylvania. He came to this county in the early part of this century, accompanied by his mother, and settled in that part of Chester which is now the town of Auburn, where he was employed in the construction of the Lon- clonderry turnpike road. Being possessed of
considerable mechanical genius, he invented a machine for producing nails from old scrap iron, which was the first device of its kind in this section; and he manufactured the nails here used in erecting many of the older build- ings. He carried on farming, also keeping a hotel in Auburn for several years, becoming widely known beyond the limits of Rocking- ham County as a genial landlord and as an able politician.
He supported the Whig party. His public services as a member of the Board of Select- men of Chester and as a Representative to the legislature extended over a period of many years. While serving in the House of Repre- sentatives, he displayed sound judgment in the transaction of public business, being espe- cially strong in debate, his forcible arguments generally carrying conviction to a majority of that body. For a number of years he acted as judge of the county, and no public official of his day was better known or more highly re- spected than was the late Judge Folsom. Some years previous to his death he moved to a farm in Derry, where the rest of his life was passed; and he died here in his seventy-fifth year. He was in many ways one of the most unique and forcible characters of his day, honorably filling a useful position in life; and his death, August 9, 1850, was the cause of general regret throughout the county. . In his religious views he was a Congregationalist. Judge Folsom's wife, Dorothy Underhill, was a native of Auburn. Of her children, there are five survivors, namely: John, of Derry, further mentioned below; Charles, who re- sides in New York City: Arthur, a resident of Pennsylvania; Richard, of Cincinnati, Ohio; and David, who also lives in New York.
John Folsom, the special subject of this sketch, attended the common schools of Au- burn, and completed his studies at the Chester Academy. At the age of twenty-one he ac- companied his parents to Derry, where he en- gaged in agricultural pursuits with his father ; and he has since resided upon the homestead farm here, which occupies an excellent loca- tion. The soil is extremely fertile, being ca -. pable of producing abundant crops, and is kept up to a high state of cultivation. Hle deals
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extensively in live stock, and buys a great deal of country beef, which he ships to market ; and in both agriculture and the cattle business he has been successful.
Mr. Folsom has been twice married. His first wife, who was before marriage Nancy Gault, became the mother of four children, namely: Lizzie, who is the wife of C. S. Pettee, of Derry; Kate B., wife of Fred S. Corwin, residing in Richmond, Va .; George H. ; and Dorothy J. The two last named are no longer living. By his present wife, whose maiden name was Adelaide D. Gott, he had one son, John Edward, now deceased.
Politically, Mr. Folsom acts with the Re- publican party, in which he occupies a promi- nent and influential position. For four years he labored both ably and diligently for the best interests of the town as a member of the Board of Selectmen; and he was twice elected Representative to the legislature from this district. He is a Deacon of the First Congre- gational Church, and is deeply interested, not only in religious matters, but in the general welfare of the community.
DWIN BATCHELDER, owner and pro- prietor of the Tasker Hotel at North- wood, N.H., was born in Epsom, this State, May 25, 1860, son of Samuel and Cazia (White) Batchelder. His family has long been known in the town of Epsom. His grandfather, Dearborn Batchelder, who was a farmer, after a long residence in the town, died there at the age of seventy. Dearborn Batchelder's children were: Charles, George, Adaline, and Samuel. Samuel Batchelder, who was born in Meredith, N. H., spent the greater part of his life in Epsom. Much of his time was devoted to general farming, though his specialty was breeding fine horses for the market. A lover of horse flesh him- self, he was an expert rider; and, when he ap- peared in the drill parade of the militia com- pany to which he belonged, he bestrode the finest horse in the company. He died at the age of sixty-six. His wife, who is a daughter of Reuben White, of Epsom, is now fifty-four years old. Her children are: Clarence; Edwin, the subject of this sketch; Samuel
R .; Ida (Mrs. Spaulding) ; Orrin; and Annie.
Edwin Batchelder began life's battle for himself at the age of fourteen, obtaining work in a hotel and the livery stable connected therewith. After being thus engaged for four years, he learned the shoe-cutter's trade, which he followed for seven years. In 1888 he opened a livery stable in Northwood, and, while building up a business, continued to work at shoe-cutting. In 1892 he purchased the farm and buildings he now occupies, and opened the Tasker House; and he has since done so well that he has given up his trade. He now manages the farm, which brings him a comfortable income; and the hotel, which, though open the year round, is specially pat- ronized by summer people, and is very popular on account of its good management and plenti- ful table; and at the same time he has a large livery business. A self-made man, whose prosperity has been self-achieved, Mr. Batch- elder is widely known and respected, and is one of the most influential citizens of North- wood.
In 1883 he was united in marriage with Anna M., daughter of Charles A. Hill, of Northwood; and two children have blessed their union - Harold E. and Ardys M. Mr. Batchelder is a stanch Democrat; and, al- though Northwood is a Republican town, he was elected Road Agent for 1896 by a major- ity of forty votes.
ON. JOHN M. WEARE, of Sea- brook, Rockingham County, N. HI., was born in this town, May 5, 1814, son of Joseph H. and Betsy (Mitchell) Weare. He is a lineal descendant of Nathaniel Weare, who came to this county when a child with his father, Nathaniel Weare, first, who was an early proprietor of Newbury, Mass.
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