USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire > Part 77
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Dr. Albert Tefft Severance received his primary schooling in Dexter, Me. When the tocsin of war sounded in 1861, he was the first man from Dexter to don the blue. He was enrolled in Company H, Sixth Maine Reg- iment of Volunteer Infantry, and was in active service for a period of three years. During that time he received ten wounds, one by a hayonet thrust inflicted at Fredericksburg. His regiment- formed a part of the Light Brigade of the Army of the Potomac, and was commanded by that brilliant fighter, General
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W. S. Hancock. At Fredericksburg he was promoted on the field of battle, a distinction conferred on but one other member of his regi- ment. He was mustered out as a non-com- missioned officer with the rank. of Sergeant. Returning to his native State, he took up his studies where he had left them, and subse- quently entered the dental profession. In 1885 he became a resident of Exeter, and dur- ing the years that he has lived in this town he has made many friends and gained a position of prominence through his professional skill.
In 1876 Dr. Severance was united in mar- riage with Miss Seddie E. Leavitt, of New Market. He is a stalwart Republican, be- lieving firmly in the principles of his party and actively working for the interests of his party. He is Secretary and Treasurer of the Rockingham County Republican Club and President of the Exeter Republican Club. He has efficiently filled the position of super- intendent of schools at New Market. His connection with fraternal organizations is lim- ited to membership in the Masonic Order.
DWARD BALLOU, who at one time was a prominent resident of Derry, was born in November, 1799, in the town of Deerfield, this county. His parents were Jonathan and Jeannette (McGregor) Ballou, and he was a grandson of one of the earlier settlers of Deerfield.
Edward Ballou was reared and educated in the place of his nativity, and on his father's farm obtained a practical training in the vari- ous branches of husbandry. In his earlier years he conducted a general store in Deerfield. Some time in 1821 he settled in Londonderry, which continued to be his home for a few years. In 1829 he came to Derry, and here purchased the farm now occupied by his widow and her family. Ile was a skilful and success- ful farmer, and was also largely engaged in lumbering and coopering. As a cooper he manufactured fish barrels, mostly for the mar- ket of Newburyport, Mass. In delivering them he made the journey to and fro with an ox team, the condition of the country roads in those days making any other mode of trans- portation almost impossible. Mr. Ballou, who
was a man of much influence in the town, served it as Selectman for several years, and for two years was its Representative in the State legislature. In politics he affiliated with the Democratic party, and was a valued member of the Presbyterian church of East Derry.
Mr. Ballou was married to Isabella D. McGregor, who was born in Londonderry in 1806, daughter of James McGregor. Her paternal grandfather, James McGregor, Sr., was born and bred in Rhode Island, whence he came to Derry, where he reared his family. Mrs. Ballou's father was a soldier in the War of 1812, serving as Sergeant in a company of New Hampshire men. He married Miss Rosanna Aiken, a native of the town of All- burn, this county. Of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ballou three are deceased - Sarah W., Isabella D., and Nancy R. The seven now living are: George W., Mary C., Nancy R., Louise, Jeanette M., Samuel A., and Edwin P. Mary C. is the wife of George Seavey, of Windham, this county; Nancy R. is the wife of Caleb Clark, also of Windham ; and Louise is the wife of Thomas Chapman, of Windham. The father died on the homestead in 1863. Mrs. Ballou, now ninety years old, is a typical representative of the pioneer women of Rockingham County. She has a large circle of friends, who heartily wish that her life, strength, and faculties may long be spared to her. She is a practical Christian and an esteemed member of the Presbyterian church.
ILLIAM E. MARVIN, member of the law firm of Frink & Marvin, of Portsmouth, was born here, January 1, 1872, son of William Marvin. The Mar- vins have been residents of this country for two hundred years. The first bearers of the name were three brothers who came from England. William E. Marvin is directly de- scended from Edmund Marvin. William Marvin, the grandfather of William E., was a wholesale fish dealer. William Marvin, Jr., who was also engaged in the same business, married, and was the father of four children, of whom William E. was the third-born.
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William E. Marvin graduated from the Portsmouth lligh School in the class of 1890, and then entered the Law School of Harvard University, from which he received the degree of LL. D. In March, 1893, he was admitted to the bar; and, after practising law for two or three months alone, he became a member of the law firm of Frink & Batchelder in August, 1894. At Judge Batchelder's death in Sep- tember, 1894, the firm name was changed to Frink & Marvin. Their practice continues thriving and lucrative.
In politics Mr. Marvin is a Democrat. At the present time he is President of the Board of Selectmen at New Castle, N.H., on which he has served two years. He is a member of the Southern New Hampshire Bar Associa- tion and a communicant of the St. John's Episcopal Church of this city.
SA W. BROWN, of Kensington, N. H., a member of the farming community and an carnest student in the fields of genealogy, archæology, and as- trology, was born in Kensington, April . 25, 1827, son of Emery and Hannah Locke (Gove) Brown. He is of English descent. His first ancestor in this country, John Brown, who was born in the mother country about 1589, sailed on the ship "Whale " in 1636, with a Mr. Dummer, and on arriving in America lo- cated in Hampton, N.H., being the first set- tler there. In 1638 he and his brother James were special envoys to England, sent for the purpose of procuring colonists to people the district. IIe died in Hampton, February 28, 1687. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Dummer, died July 6, 1672, aged about fifty-four years. The next in line of descent was Benjamin Brown, who was born in Hampton about 1650. He married Sarah Brown, of Salisbury, Mass., who was born April 12, 1658. Their son William, who was born in Hampton, June 5, 1680, married Ann Heath, a native of Haverhill, Mass., born June 30, 1684. Their son Benjamin
married Elizabeth Batchelder. Both were na- tives of Kensington, the former born Septem- ber 10, 1713, the latter May 10, 1716. Their son, Stephen Brown, who was born in Ken-
sington, June 5, 1750, married Elizabeth Nudd, of the same place, born May 2, 1752. Their son John, known in later life as Deacon John Brown, was a native of Kensington, born July 15, 1779. He married Lucy Rowe, who was born in East Kingston, November 26, 1784.
Their son Emery, the father of Asa W. Brown, was born in Kensington, July 29, I 804. He was reared on a farm, and, being a man of progressive views and business talent, seeing good opportunities in the prod- uce trade, opened a stall in Quincy Market, Boston, where for years he conducted a pros- perous trade. He made a specialty of butter and cheese, and was well known in business circles in several of our large cities as "Butter Brown. " A very energetic man, he recog- nized no limit to the scope of his operations; and his transactions extended even to the Far
West. In 1845 he moved to Cincinnati, where he now resides, the oldest Kensington man living to-day. In early life Mr. Brown
was a Democrat; but later his opinions changed, and he joined the Republican party. He is liberal in religious belief, but favors the Baptist church. He and his wife were born on the same day, July 29, 1804.
Mrs. Emery Brown was the daughter of Enoch and Hannah (Dearborn) Gove, and like her husband belonged to an old New England family of English origin. £ Her immigrant ancestor, John Gove, came from London, and settled in Charlestown, Mass., in 1646, dying there in November, 1647. His son, Edward Gove, was born in England in 1639, and was a resident of Salisbury, Mass., as early as 1657. He died in Hampton, N. H., July 29, 1691. Edward Gove was married in Salis- bury to Hannah Partridge, of that town; and their son John, who was born in Hampton, September 19, 1661, is the next in line. John Gove died in Hampton Falls (which place was called Hampton in his father's time), October 15, 1737. His wife's name was Sarah. John Gove, the son of this couple, was the great- grandfather of Mrs. Brown. He was born in Hampton Falls (later known as Seabrook), October 29, 1689, and died there March 23, 1759. His wife, whose maiden name was Ruth Johnson, was born in Hampton, Febru-
EMERY BROWN, born July 29, 1804; ASA W. BROWN, born April 25, 1827; ALBERT EMERY BROWN, born March 27, 1854; PEARLY OLIVET BROWN, born October 1, 1881.
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ary 24, 1695, and died in Seabrook, June 30, 1 766. Mrs. Brown's grandfather, Obadiah Gove, was born in Seabrook, September 2, 1723, and died in Kensington in December, 178o. His wife was Mary Dow, a native of Salisbury, Mass., born November 24, 1728. She died in Kensington, October 21, 1811. Enoch Gove, Mrs. Brown's father, was born in Kensington, August 10, 1764, and died there December 3, 1828. His wife, Hannah Dearborn Gove, was born in the same town, July 23, 1768, and died there June 2, 1842. Mrs. Emery Brown, mother of Asa W., died in Cincinnati, September 28, 1892, aged eighty-eight years. She was the mother of four sons and one daughter - Asa WV., Eliza K. (deceased), Charles E., George O., and Lewis G. Lewis G. Brown served throughout the war of the Rebellion, toward the close as Colonel of a colored regiment.
Asa W. Brown was educated in Boston, Mass., Brooklyn, N. Y., and Cincinnati, Ohio. He was a close student even in boyhood, and was honored with the Franklin Medal at Bos- ton in 1840. On leaving school he engaged in the butter business with his father; but he had no taste for commerce, his talent run- ning in other lines. He was successfully en- gaged as a music teacher in Cincinnati for over thirty-five years, teaching both vocal and instrumental music. While giving the hours of the day to this work, he devoted the night to archaeological and astrological research, and as the result of his studies he possesses the key to the zodiac. He has also been a close student of the Bible, especially of the Old Testament prophecies and chronology, and is thoroughly at home in a class of ancient lore of which few at the present day are masters. He hopes soon to place some interesting works before the public. Mr. Brown moved to Kensington in April, 1895. He has a farm of one hundred and eighteen acres, and is improving the ground and remodelling the residence.
He was married June 11, 1853, to Mrs. Anna Wagar, of Cleveland, Ohio, by whom he has one son, Albert Emery, born in Rock- port, Ohio, March 27, 1854. Albert E. Brown married Miss Sarah Stearns, and has four children - Pearlie O., Eben, Louis, and
Rachel. He is living, with his wife and fam- ily, on the farm with his father. Mr. Brown has been a member of the Republican party since its formation. He and his wife are of the Swedenborgian belief.
The accompanying portrait, representing four generations of the Brown family, will in- terest many readers of this volume.
RTHUR B. WILLIAMS, Chairman and Clerk of the Board of Selectmen of Derry, was born in Nashua, this State, August 15, 1871. He is the son of Stephen and Mary S. (Case) Williams, the former a native of Canaan, N. H., the latter of Richmond, Vt. Stephen Williams was a cousin of Longfellow, the poet, through his mother, who belonged to the Longfellow family. He was for many years engaged in the manufacture of furniture in Nashua, and in 1879 retired to a farm in Derry, where he died June 18, 1895. In politics Mr. Will- iams was a Republican. He was an active church member, and served as Trustee and Steward of the Methodist Episcopal Society in Derry. His wife, who is now sixty-two years of age, is still living in this town.
Arthur B. Williams, who was eight years old when his parents came to Derry, received much of his education in this town. He studied the higher branches in Pinkerton Academy, taking a two years' course, and laid the foundations of his commercial knowledge at Bryant & Stratton's Business College in Manchester, N.11. In June, 1891, he became a member of the firm of Smith & Williams at Derry Depot. At that time he was on the road as travelling salesman for Thomas Wood & Co., wholesale tea and coffee jobbers of Boston. The experience obtained through these two connections has been of much ser- vice to him since. In 1894 he settled per- manently in Derry, where he has since been engaged in mercantile business. Mr. Will- iams is an energetic and intelligent young man, who has already achieved success, and ranks among the rising commercial men of the county.
Mr. Williams was united in marriage with Addie J. Durkee, a native of Vermont. In
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politics he is a Republican, and he has evinced much sagacity and forethought in matters of public moment. He was elected to the Board of Selectmen in March, 1896. His subsequent selection for the offices of Chairman and Clerk of the Board indicates the high degree of respect his townsmen enter- tain for his judgment and executive ability.
ARON JEWETT, late of Stratham, a veteran of the War of 1812 and for- merly a member of the New Hamp- shire legislature, was born in this town, June 2, 1781, son of Jacob and Deborah (Light) Jewett. The family is of English origin, and the original ancestor in America was Maximillian Jewett, a native of York- shire, England, who emigrated with other members of his family in 1638, and was one of the first settlers of Rowley, Mass. The first bearer of the name to settle in this county was Joseph Jewett, Aaron Jewett's grand-
father. Born in Rowley, December 31, 1700, he came to Stratham about the year 1721, and some years later settled upon the farm which has since been the homestead of his descend- ants. He was known in his day as a "gentle- man." He was a man who possessed much natural ability and a high order of intelli- gence. He died at the homestead in 1765. His wife, a native of Stratham, whose maiden name was Anna Wiggin, survived him some years. Jacob Jewett was born in Stratham in 1743. Hle inherited the homestead where he resided until his death, which occurred when he was forty-four years old. He was an in- dustrious, energetic man and a worthy citi- zen. llis wife, Deborah, who was born in Exeter, N.H., in 1749, became the mother of six children, all of whom grew to maturity, and have sinee passed away. She lived to the age of eighty-four years.
Aaron Jewett attended the distriet schools of Stratham in his boyhood. At the age of fifteen he was bound out as an apprentice in Pittsfield, N. II., where he learned the trades of carpenter and cabinet-maker. He suc- ceeded to the homestead, upon which he re- sided for the greater part of his life. Many residences of the town now standing were
erected by him. He cultivated his farm of ninety aeres with profit; and, as his business operations were always successful financially, he accumulated a comfortable fortune. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812. Later he rose to a position of prominence in publie affairs, serving as a Seleetman for a number of years and as Representative to the State legislature of 1832-33. In the legis- lature he displayed marked ability and rare judgment in the transaction of public business.
On November 14, 1808, Aaron Jewett wedded Nancy Smith, who was born in Strat- ham, September 27, 1784, daughter of The- ophilus and Anna (Wiggin) Smith. The late Mr. Jewett, who was deeply attached to his home and family, gave his children the advan- tages of a liberal education. At his death, which occurred August 23, 1852, he left them all in easy circumstances. His wife died May 2, 1854. Both were members of the Congrega- tional church. Their children were: Mary Ann, Sophia Smith, Eliza Jane, Sarah Frances, and Deborah Light. The only survivor is Deborah Light Jewett, who still resides at the ancestral homestead. She received her eduea- tion in South New Market, at Hampton Acad- emy, at Tilton, N.H., and in Cambridge, Mass. She taught school for a number of terms, being very successful as an educator; but the greater part of her life has been spent at her home in Stratham. She is a member of the Congregational church, and devotes much of her time to church and Sunday-school work. She is highly respected for her many commendable qualities of heart and mind, and she enjoys pleasant and cordial social relations with a large number of friends and acquaint- ances here.
EORGE WARD, an experienced loco- motive engineer of Portsmouth, was born in New Hampton, N. H., Au- gust 2, 1841, son of Benjamin and Sally (Pease) Ward. Tradition says that the great- great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch came to New Hampton in pioneer times, and reclaimed a farm from the wilderness. Noah Ward, the grandfather, who was also a farmer, lived and died in that town. He married
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Sally Sanborn, of Meredith, N.H .; and they had six children, four boys and two girls, only one of whom, a daughter, is now living. His son Benjamin, the father of George, spent his life in agricultural pursuits in New Hampton, and died at the age of fifty-one years. His wife, Sally, who was a daughter of Simeon Pease, of Meredith, had five children by him, four boys and one girl, three of whom are now living.
George Ward, the youngest son of his par- ents, was educated in the public schools of his native town. At the age of twenty-two years he obtained a position as fireman on the Concord & Portsmouth Railroad, and there- after worked in that capacity for two and a half years. He was then made engineer of a shifter, and continued to fill that position for twenty-eight consecutive years. In October, 1895, Mr. Ward was given charge of a pas- senger engine on the road between Ports- mouth and Manchester, which is his present employment. He attends religious service at Christ Church of the Episcopalian de- nomination. In politics he has always been a Democrat. He is a member of St. Andrew's Lodge, No. 56, A. F. & A. M.
He was united in marriage with Alice W. Parker, a daughter of Charles Parker, of Ver- mont. Mr. and Mrs. Ward have three chil- dren, two girls and a boy. Ella, the eldest daughter, married Arthur J. Freeman, of Portsmouth. The son is attending a commer- cial college, and the other daughter lives at home with her parents. Mr. Ward's long ser- vice in the most responsible of positions is in itself a high encomium on his character and ability.
EORGE P. HARVELL, a represent- ative agriculturist of Londonderry and a native of the town, was born January 4, 1859, son of Joseph and Sallie (Menter) Harvell. His father, who was born in Litchfield, N. H., grew to manhood in that place, receiving his education in the common schools. Over half a century ago he came to Londonderry and settled on the farm now owned and occupied by his son, the subject of this sketch. For about thirty years he divided
his time between his farm and the work of clock repairing in Londonderry and adjoining towns. When away on the latter business, the care of the farm was turned over to this son. He resided on this place until his death, May 9, 1889. In politics he was a Republi- can. He was an esteemed member of the Methodist Episcopal church, which he also served acceptably as Steward and Trustee. His wife, Sallie, born in Londonderry, was a daughter of James Menter, and a descendant of one of the oldest families of this town.
George P. Harvell, the only surviving child of his parents, was but nine years old at the time of his mother's death. He was edu- cated in the common schools of Londonderry, and grew to manhood on the farm which has always been his home. This farm, containing one hundred and fifty acres of excellent land, is situated in the western part of the town. On it he is successfully engaged in general farm- ing. Like his father he is a Republican, but with an inclination to broader views. The Londonderry Grange counts him among its most highly esteemed members, and he is a Trustee as well as a communicant of the Methodist Episcopal church.
ANGDON M. PERKINS, a contractor and builder, carrying on his business in Portsmouth, N.Il., was born in this city, April 25, 1834. His father, Elias Perkins, was a native of Maine. He was born March 16, 1797, and removed to Portsmouth in the days of his early manhood, continuing his residence in this place until his demise, March 20, 1881. lle served in the War of 1812, although but a boy at the time, being among the youngest volunteers in the service. During his active period he was principally engaged in agricultural pursuits, but for some five years carried on the ice busi- ness, being a pioneer in that line. In politics he affiliated with the Democratic party, and in religion he held the Christian Baptist faith, he and his wife being esteemed members of the church at Rye. He married Mary, daughter of Mark Lang, of Portsmouth; and of the ten children included in their family circle Langdon M. is the only one now living.
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Langdon M. Perkins spent his years of boy- hood and youth on the parental homestead, where he assisted in the labors of the field when out of sehool, obtaining a practical training in the various branches of farming. While still a young man, desirous of learn- ing the earpenter's trade, toward which his tastes and talents inclined, he went to Rye, where he served a three years' apprenticeship with Lemuel Bunker. Going thence to Somerville, Mass., Mr. Perkins worked one season with a Mr. Randall, a eontractor; and on December 1, 1853, he started for New Or- leans, where he remained engaged in carpen- tering until the following April. He then went up the Mississippi to St. Louis, whenee via Buffalo and the lakes he returned to Ports- mouth. Making his home with his parents, Mr. Perkins then began working for Carr Leavitt, who lived four miles away, walking the intervening distanec each night and morn- ing. At length, forming a partnership with Joseph Whidden, under the name of Whidden & Perkins, he established himself in the ice business, which he carried on sueeessfully three years. At the end of that period, sell- ing his share of the business to his partner, Mr. Perkins bought out the iee trade of John Stokell, which he condueted for some years, when, his health failing, he sold out to his brother, and returned to the healthful oecupa- tion in which he was reared, buying a farm of one hundred and sixty aeres in Hartford, Vt. About two years later he eame baek to Ports- mouth, and resumed the ice business. Dur- ing the following winter he went South, loeat- ing in Bessemer, Ala., where he remained until warm weather, when he went to Vermont to look after his agricultural interests. With the exception of the next winter, which he spent in Birmingham, Ala., he carried on gen- eral agriculture for three years. Having at this time regained his former vigor, he again settled in Portsmouth, and, in company with his brother George, buying out all the iee business in the eity, carried on under the firm name of Perkins Brothers a flourishing busi- ness for five years. Once more disposing of his interest in the ice industry, he purchased the bakery of Joseph Parry, and removed the business to the foot of Daniels Street, where
in the year that followed, he built up a pros- perous trade. Becoming afflieted. with rheu- matism to such an extent that he was unable to attend to business, he was obliged to elose out his shop, paying his indebtedness to the last penny. After that he again entered into the iee business, building a house large enough to hold five hundred tons; but, this being inadequate to meet the demands of his trade, he ereeted a second house of the same capacity, and the next season put up one capable of holding eight hundred tons. He eondueted a flourishing business for seven years, when he sold out, and has sinee been engaged as a contractor and builder. In 1891 he formed a copartnership with Solomon Littlefield, and under the name of Perkins & Littlefield continued contracting until June, 1894, since which time he has been alone.
Mr. Perkins cast his first Presidential vote for John C. Fremont in 1856, and has sinee been identified with the Republican party. In 1864 he served as Street Commissioner. Socially, he is a member of St. John's Lodge, No. 1, A. F. & A. M., in which he has served as Deaeon, besides holding minor offiees; of Piseataqua Lodge, No. 6, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has been through all the ehairs: and of Strawberry Encamp- ment, in which likewise he has held all the offiees. Religiously, he is a member of the Court Street Christian Church. Mr. Perkins is a strietly temperate man, never indulging in strong drinks, and is a fine representative of the self-made men of the times. That he is a man of thrift will be seen from the record of his early experienee. On entering his ap- prentieeship he received thirty-five dollars the first year, sixty dollars the second, and one hundred and twenty-five dollars the third. He made such wise use of this that he was never without money in his poeket, and at the end of the third year had enough to buy a horse.
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