USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire > Part 70
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
UFUS E. TUTTLE, one of the busy men of Nottingham, is a farmer as well as a carpenter and builder. A native of this town, he was born October 12, 1847, son of Eben S. and Sally (Clarke) Tuttle. He comes of an old and re-
56
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
spected family. His great-grandfather, Stolen Tuttle, was a pioneer settler of the district, where he devoted the remainder of his life to reclaiming and cultivating a farm. Nicholas, a son of Stolen and a native of Nottingham, where he spent his entire life, was an industri- ous and successful farmer, who made the best use of the opportunities offered by the time and place. He was united in marriage with Miss Rachel Lucy, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lucy, of Nottingham. The union was blessed in the birth of eight children, all of whom have now passed away. The mother was a member of the Free Will Baptist church of Nottingham. In politics her husband be- longed to the Democratic party. He died at the age of fifty-seven years. His wife, who survived him, lived to be ninety-three.
Eben S. Tuttle, who was also a native of Nottingham, born August 3, 1803, passed the earlier portion of his life as a farmer on the old homestead. While a young man, he learned the mason's trade, which he followed throughout the rest of his life, at the same time successfully carrying on his farm of sixty acres. In 1829 he was joined in matri- mony with Miss Sally Clarke, a native of Canada, who bore him seven children, all of whom are yet living. They are: Izette, Levi C., Martha, Nancy D., John M., Fanny L., and Rufus E. Izette, who is now Mrs. George WV. Trefren, of Somerville, Mass., has had five children - George, Aura, Edward, William, and Fred. Levi wedded Lenora Furber, the widow of the late James Horn, of Somers- worth, N. H., and became the father of two children - Leon and Lorie. Martha became the wife of Charles Head, of Nottingham. Nancy was married to Joseph C. DeMerritt, of Nottingham, recently deceased, to whom she bore four children - Eliza A., Sallie A., John L., and Effie L. John was joined in wedlock with Miss Clara Young, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Young, of Scarboro, Me., and has two children - H. Weston and Russell M. Fanny was given in marriage to A. F. Tuttle, of Nottingham, and has one child, Iber L. Eben S. Tuttle won the respect and confidence of all his neighbors, and for several years he served them in the capacity of Se- lectman. In politics he gave his allegiance
to the Democratic party. Both he and his wife were members of the North Nottingham Church. His decease occurred at the ad- vanced age of fourscore years.
Rufus E. Tuttle, after attending the public schools of his native town for the customary period, learned the trade of a carpenter in Somerville, Mass., and thereafter followed it for eight years. In 1876 he returned to Not- tingham, where he has resided ever since, giv- ing his attention to the care of a farm of eighty-five acres, and doing considerable busi- ness as a carpenter and builder. On May 6, 1876, he was joined in matrimony with Miss Eliza M. Evans, a daughter of Samuel D. Evans, of Milwaukee, Wis .; and they have had no children. Both he and Mrs. Tuttle are members of the Baptist church at North Nottingham. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Tuttle has taken a very active part in the civic and social affairs of his native town. Responding to the solicitation of his neigh- bors, he served on the School Committee for three years, has been Town Auditor, and since 1895 has served on the Board of Selectmen, of which he is the present Chairman. For the last sixteen years he has been Justice of the Peace, and at the present time he is a Con- stable of Nottingham. Mr. Tuttle also serves in the responsible position of Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Public Library of Nottingham. He is affiliated with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows as a member of Equity Lodge, in which he has filled many of the chairs, and of which he was the first Noble Grand.
ANIEL SMITH, who is an enterpris- ing and prosperous agriculturist, and an estimable citizen of Exeter, was born on the farm that is now his residence in 1815, son of John and Abigail (Hayes) Smith. He represents an old and respected family of the county, whose founders reclaimed from its State of wilderness the home farm that has descended from them through several successive generations to its present proprietor. Daniel Smith's grand- father, also uamed Daniel, who resided on the property occupied for years in agricultural
570
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
pursuits, passed away in 1817, at the vener- able age of eighty-six years. Grandmother Abigail Smith died February 17, 1824, in her seventy-eighth year.
John Smith, the father of the subject of this sketch, also born on this farm, followed the occupation of farmer. A modest, unassuming man, he yet fully discharged his obligations as a citizen. His demise occurred on January II, 1858, in his seventy-ninth year. His wife, a native of this county, born in Notting- hamn, died November 18, 1844, in her fifty- sixth year. She was generally regarded as a most estimable woman.
Daniel Smith attained maturity on the home farm, receiving his education in the district schools of Exeter. He has spent his long life in farming. The property contains three hun- dred aeres, and the buildings are neat and substantial.
In 1837 Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Ann Burley, who was a native of New Market, this county. The union was blessed by nine children, of whom eight survive. They were: John R., born February 15, 1842; Ellen E., born December 17, 1843,' who is now the wife of Charles Loeke; Martha J. B., born May 12, 1845, who is now Mrs. H. J. Paul; Charles H., born September 14, 1846; Daniel B., born Deeem- ber 3, 1849; Emeline, born in October, 1850, now deceased; Frank A., born April IO, 1853; James P., born August 12, 1856; and Rufus L., born October 16, 1860. The mother died in July, 1895. In politics Mr. Smith has always supported the Republican party, and has served in several local offices. He has served the community as Overseer of the l'oor and in other capacities. Now in his eighty-first year, he looks to be a much younger man.
G. BRACKETT,.a farmer and mason of Brentwood, was a soldier in the late war. He was born March 14, 1836, in Deerfield township, this county, son of George and Sarah (Davis) Braekett. George Brackett, who was born and bred in Cam- bridge, Mass., lived there until he was fifteen years of age. He then came to this county,
loeating in Deerfield, where he worked as a farm laborer until 1845. By prudent manage- ment he accumulated some money, with which he purchased the farm now owned and oceu- pied by his son, the subject of this article. Here he was prosperously engaged in tilling the soil until his demise in 1881. While liv- ing in Deerfield, he married Miss Sarah Davis, of that town, who survived him about a year. They were the parents of three children ; namely, E. G. Brackett, Martha, and George W. Martha, who is now dead, was the wife of the late Benjamin Drew. George W., now living in West Hampton, N.H., has been twice married. His first wife was Addie (Clay) Brackett, after whose death he married Miss Nellie Dickson.
E. G. Brackett received a common-school education, and at the early age of eleven years began the battle of life on his own account. Obtaining work on a farm, he continued en- gaged in the pursuit of agriculture for some seven years, when he learned the mason's trade. He has since worked at his trade in this State and in several Western towns and eities. On August 12, 1862, Mr. Brackett enlisted in Company A, Eleventh New Hampshire Vol- unteer Infantry, under Captain Horace C. Bacon and Colonel Walter Hiram. With his regiment he was sent at once to the field of action, and took part in many of the impor- tant battles of the Rebellion, among the more noted being those of Fredericksburg, Vicks- burg, Jackson, Knoxville, the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Spottsylvania, and Petersburg. He was present when the mine exploded at the latter place. He was also in the engagement at Pegram farm, and in other small skirmishes. He was twice wounded, the first time being at the battle of Fredericksburg, when he was injured in the right arm, and the second at the battle of Petersburg, when he received a wound in the left hand. He did his duty bravely, and for his services now receives a pension. He was honorably discharged June 10, 1865, at Concord, N.H. Mr. Brackett's wife had three brothers in the war. . After his return he worked at his trade for several years, and then in 1877 bought the old home- stead farm, where he has since resided. He has twenty aeres of well-tilled land, which he
571
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
handles to advantage, at the same time that he makes mason-work his chief occupation. He is highly esteemed as a citizen and neighbor, and has served in many of the minor offices of the township.
Mr. Brackett was married June 10, 1867, to Miss Sarah A. Purington, who was born April 21, 1851, in West Hampton, where her parents, the late Joshua and Sarah (Dow) Pur- ington, were numbered among the successful farmers of the community. Mr. and Mrs. Brackett have had four children, as follows: Cora, who is the wife of Daniel W. Garland, of Kingston, this county; Mattie M., who married George C. Goodrich, of Brentwood; Alice G., who lives at home; and Wesley E., who died at the age of seven years. Mrs. Brackett is a conscientious and active member of the Congregational church.
ILLIAM SMITH, an enterprising and industrious citizen of Ports- mouth, was born on Prince Edward's Island, March 30, 1840, of English parentage. His father, Henry Smith, a native of England, was born, bred, and married at Aix, Suffolk County. He was a farmer by occupation, and followed it in England until twenty-six years old. Then, accompanied by his wife, he shipped for Prince Edward's Island, where he resided for the rest of his life. His wife, also a native of England, whose maiden name was Mary Rice, bore him thirteen children. William Smith, the third-born of his parents' children, learncd the trade of a ship carpenter when young. After working at it for five years in Prince Edward's Island, he removed to St. John, N. B. There he lived sixteen years, working in the mcan time for the Hick- man Company, Stackhouse, Mclaughlin, and others. In 1891, wishing to try his fortune in the States, Mr. Smith came to New Hamp- shire, locating in this city, where he has since been employed by Mr. Kecne, contractor and builder of bridges. Mr. Smith is a thorough and skilful workman, fully acquainted with his trade in all of its details, his reputation in his linc of business being such that he is kept in constant employment.
Mr. Smith married Miss Hannah McDonald,
of Prince Edward's Island. Their union has been blessed by the birth of five children - James H., Jacob H., May, Maud, and Will- iam. James H. is a machinist, and lives in Dover, N. H. ; Jacob H. is a brass finisher in a brass shop of this city; and William is a laster in the Portsmouth shoc shop. The other two children are at home.
EWELL S. TILTON, an enterprising and successful agriculturist of Exeter, was born July 26, 1851, on the same farm where he now resides, son of Joseph and Martha J. (Smith) Tilton. He traces back his family history to a time anterior to the Revolutionary period. His great-grandfather, Ebenezer Tilton, was a na- tive of Deerfield, N.H. Joseph Tilton, Eben- czer's son, who on December 13, 1781, was also born there, was a soldier in the War of 1812. Joseph married Miss Betsy Pike, of Hampton Falls, N. H., and by her became the father of a son, also named Joseph, who was the father of Ncwell S. Joseph Tilton, Sr., lived to attain the grand old age of ninety years and three months.
Joseph Tilton, Jr., a native of Stratham, N. H., was a carpenter, and in the earlier part of his life followed that trade in Boston, Mass., for eight years. Returning at the con- clusion of that period to his native county, he subsequently engaged in general agricultural pursuits, which he followed very successfully to the day of his death. He was a stanch Re- publican since the organization of that party. He was united in marriage with Miss Martha J. Smith, a native of Stratham, and a daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Smith, both of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Smith, whose maiden name was Martha Fifield, was born in 1792, and lived into the middle of this cen- tury, passing away in 1854. Mr. Smith, whose birth occurred in 1790, was a militia man, and was called into service in the War of 1812. Having survived his wife over twenty years, he passed away April 27, 1875. Joseph Tilton and his wife became the parents of two children, namely: Newell S., the sub- ject of this sketch; and Nora M., who is now the widow of Samuel P. James, a veteran of
572
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
the Civil War, and resides with her mother. The father's life, most of which had been in his native county, closed January 8, 1895. The mother, now seventy-six years old, enjoys fair health.
Newell S. Tilton attended the district school until he was ten years old, after which ill-health compelled him to remain at home for several years. At the age of twenty he applied himself to the carpenter's trade. . This he did in two years, and thereafter worked at it for about half a dozen years. Returning then to the farm on account of his father's failing health, he was for a considerable time engaged in lumbering. During the past few years the paternal estate has been the chief object of his attention. The farm is an ex- cellent one. It contains about one hundred acres, and the buildings are modern and sub- stantial. In 1892 Mr. Tilton erected a barn that is one of the best structures of its kind in the county.
In April, 1893, Mr. Tilton was united in marriage with Miss Nellie A. Favor, of Nashua, N.H. He is widely and favorably known, and his, is a familiar personality in the social gatherings of the town and vicinity. His connection with fraternal organizations includes membership in the local lodge of Odd Fellows, of which he is a Past Grand, in the Encampment, and in the Rebekahs for a score of years. In politics he has been a loyal Republican, being a sincere believer in the principles of that party. In religious be- lief he and his family are Congregationalists, and are associated with the Second Congrega- tional Church of Exeter.
HARLES C. RUSSELL, a thorough business man and an esteemed resident of Exeter, was born in Brookline, N.H., in 1866, son of Rufus G. and Mary A. (French) Russell. His father, also a native of this State, in his younger days carried on quite an extensive lumber business. The last years of his life were spent in farming. He was a man who took great interest in public matters, and was prominent in local affairs. His death in 1889 was a loss to the community in which he lived, as well as to
his friends and relations. His estimable wife, who was a native of Massachusetts, survived until December, 1895.
Charles C. Russell was educated in the dis- trict school. His early life was spent on his father's farm, where he remained until he at- tained his majority. He then entered a grocery store as clerk, and continued to work in that capacity until May, 1890, at which time he purchased a grocery business here in Exeter, which he has successfully conducted since. He has now a thriving and lucrative trade. In his store may be found one of the most complete stocks of groceries in this city. In September, 1895, Mr. Russell was united in marriage with Miss Carrie McMartin, who was born in Southkill, Mc.
In politics Mr. Russell is a Republican, but does not personally care for political honors, preferring to devote his time and attention to the interests of his business. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. While not church communicants, Mr. and Mrs. Russell attend and support the Baptist church.
LFRED D. EMERY, Judge of the police court and general business agent of Auburn, was born in North Malden, near Melrose, Mass., March 2, 1845, son of Stephen and Mary A. (Holt) Emery. His paternal grandfather, Richard Emery, was a native of Auburn, then Chester, where he earned his living by farm- ing and the trade of wheelwright. Richard Emery was the father of seven children, of whom there are living William and Amherst, both residents of Auburn. He was a man of quiet tastes, and never cared to come before the public eye in an official capacity. He died May 28, 1837, aged fifty years and six months.
Stephen Emery, son of Richard, born in Chester, now Auburn, March 5, 1818, moved to Malden in 1839. He was a carpenter, and many of the houses in Melrose are samples of his handicraft. He married Miss Mary A. Holt, who was a native of that town, born November 5, 1820, daughter of Enoch Holt, of Andover, Merrimack County. Mr. Holt, who was a shoe merchant, is a Trustee of the
573
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
Griffen Library and Museum of Auburn, and was a member of the Constitutional Conven- tion of 1889. The only child of Stephen Emery's marriage was Alfred D. Stephen was a Selectman of Auburn, and took an ac- tive part in furnishing Auburn's quota of vol- unteers in 1861. He was a Democrat, and was interested in State and national politics. After returning to Auburn in 1860, he spent the rest of his life there, and died April 24, 1895, aged seventy-seven years, one month, and nineteen days.
Alfred D. Emery was educated in a gram- mar school, and in the high school of Melrose. In 1864 he began to carn his living as a clerk in one of the Boston markets. Six months after he enlisted in Company K, Eighteenth New Hampshire Volunteers, under Colonel Livermore and Captain J. A. Brown. Having served during the last year of the war, he returned home in May, 1865, and took up his residence on the old home farm at Auburn, where he has remained since. In 1864, April 17, he was united in marriage to Miss Caro- line F. Wood, a native of Auburn. Their children are: Sarah F., now the wife of Elmer E. French, of Candia, this county; Mary C., who is a teacher, and lives at home; Thomas, who is Postmaster at Auburn; Elvira R., also at home; Dana, now at college; and Walter, who is attending school.
Mr. Emery has served for ten successive years as a Selectman, besides one other term. He held the office of Moderator for a very long period, and was a member of the School Board for one term. He has been a Justice of the Peace for twenty years and a Notary Public for seven. In connection with the last-named capacities he has been extensively engaged in probate work for about fifteen years. His appointment to the office of Police Judge was made April 28, 1896; and on the following day he qualified and was duly in- stalled.
He is a member of Rockingham Lodge, No. 76, A. F. & A. M., of Camden, and is Past Commander of Bell Post, No. 74, of Chester, Grand Army of the Republic. He is also affiliated with Massabesic Grange, No. 127, of Auburn, of which he has been Secre- tary for five years. Judge Emery was at one
time a Democrat, but became a Republican in later years. His family attend the Methodist church.
ASHINGTON COLBY, a represen- tative citizen of Londonderry, N.H., is a native of Brentwood, this county, born May 22, 1832. His parents were Ebenezer and Sarah (Philbrick) Colby, respectively natives of Salisbury, Mass., and Danville, N.H. The genealogy of the Colbys has been traced back to Danish ancestors flourishing in England in 1140 A.D. The founder of the American family was Anthony Colby, who came from England in 1620, and, after residing for a while in Cambridge, Mass., then settled permanently in Salisbury. The house in which he lived is still standing, somewhat changed by remodellings, and is oc- cupied by one of his descendants, Moses L. Colby. Several of his descendants fought for independence in the Revolutionary War. John W. Colby, grandfather of Washington Colby, spent his life in Massachusetts. His son Ebenezer, who was a carpenter and a farmer, in 1852 removed to Londonderry, where he resided for the rest of his life, and died in 1886. In politics he was a Republi- can, in religious belief a Baptist and a mem- ber of the local society. Of his children, Al- bert P., Washington, and Moses F., all of Londonderry, are the survivors.
Washington Colby spent part of his child- hood in Massachusetts, his parents removing to Salisbury when he was two years old. At the age of ten he went with his parents to Manchester, N.H. His education, begun in the common schools of Massachusetts, was completed in those of New Hampshire. When about sixteen years of age, he obtained work in a shoe shop in Manchester. Here he learned shoemaking, and subsequently worked at that trade in several places. He was super- intendent of a shoe shop in Marlboro, Mass., for a number of years, and had charge at dif- ferent times of other factories. At one time he was superintendent of the shoe manufactur- ing department of the Charlestown State Prison in Massachusetts. In 1884 he retired from the shoe business, and took up his resi-
574
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
cence on his farm in Londonderry, which is a well-improved property of fifty acres.
Mr. Colby was married to Arvilla Nesmith, a native of Rockingham County, daughter of Cyrus Nesmith, now deceased. Mrs. Colby died November 18, 1893, leaving one son, Frank N. In politics Mr. Colby is a Repub- lican. He cast his first vote in Londonderry in 1852, and has not missed an election since, retaining his residence in this town, though employed elsewhere, and never losing interest in its welfare. He represented this town for two terms in the State legislature. In 1890 he was a candidate for County Commissioner on the Republican ticket, when the entire ticket was defeated in this county. He was Selectman of the town for three years, and is now one of the ballot inspectors. A Mason in high standing, Mr. Colby has been con- nected some forty-three years with Lafayette Lodge, No. 41, of Manchester.
OSEPH B. COLLINS, noted through- out Rockingham County as a collector of rare and valuable relics, was born August 7, 1833, in the village of Brent- wood, son of Stephen E. and Nancy (Sanborn) Collins. His paternal grandfather, David Collins, was for many years engaged in a mer- cantile business at Danville. In 1806 he came to Brentwood, where he and his wife spent their closing years. In his early life he learned the cooper's trade, at which he worked for a time. He was a man of considerable learning, and was interested in advancing the cause of education. In 1806 he was appointed a member of the first Board of Trustees of the Brentwood Library. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Ruthy Bean, fourteen children were born, and all grew to adult life.
Stephen E. Collins remained beneath the parental roof-tree until twenty-two years of age, when he married Miss Nancy Sanborn, a daughter of Jonathan and Sarah (Clifford) Sanborn. Both of her parents were natives of Fremont, N. H., where they resided until their removal to Brentwood. At that time they settled on the homestead now owned by their grandson, the subject of this sketch. They had ten children, of whom Nancy was the
youngest. The father was accidentally killed by being thrown from a wagon, November 24, 1834. He left but one child, Joseph B. His widow, who was an invalid for many years, passed away in 1869.
Joseph B. Collins lived with his mother until nineteen years old. He then went to New York State, and was there employed for a year in the Victory Collins Mills. After that he was employed by the Merrimac Manu- facturing Company of Lowell, Mass., until 1859. He worked for the following year in Lewiston, Me., and then for some time at Lawrence, Mass., in the employment of the Everett Manufacturing Company. In 1861 he returned to Brentwood, where he remained until 1866. Then, in Lowell, Mass., he en- gaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes. He conducted this enterprise successfully until 1870, when he finally returned to his present home, where he has since resided.
Mr. Collins was married June 21, 1856, to Miss Emily H. Thomas, who was born No- vember 24, 1831, in Belmont, Me. She was the oldest of a family of thirteen children born to Hosea B. and Caroline (Allston) Thomas. In politics Mr. Collins is a Democrat. Both he and his estimable wife have been members of the Baptist church of Brentwood Corner for a score of years. He is a man of superior in- telligence, well informed on current topics, and a most entertaining and instructive con- versationalist. His collection of curios, begun in 1843, is the work of more than a half- century. It includes many varieties of alma- nacs, one of the finest displays of coins in the country, and six thousand stamps, of which no two are alike.
EORGE F. HAYNES, the genial landlord of the Squamscot House in Exeter, was born in New Hampton, N. H., in 1856, son of George M. and Nancy (Woodman) Haynes. Jeremiah Haynes, the grandfather of George F., born December 28, 1778, in Wayland, Mass., spent his life in that State, and died there at Framingham in January, 1848. He married Miss Olive Morse, and by her became the father of three sons and two daughters. Of the number,
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.