USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire > Part 8
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Alverdo; and two children who died in in- fancy. Alverdo Leavitt, whose home is in Portland, Me., married Eveline Allen, and has four children - Bertie, Lillian, Addic, and Laura.
Mr. Toppan Leavitt has been a stanch Democrat through all the fluctuations of po- litical power. He cast his first Presidential vote for Martin Van Buren in 1840, the year of the exciting "log cabin and hard cider " campaign, when the Whigs drank the health of their candidate, William Henry Harrison, in what the Baltimore Republican said was his favorite beverage, and the Democrats worked zealously for their unanimous choice, Van Buren. Mr. Leavitt has long been prominent in town affairs, and has served as Selectman and as Surveyor of Highways.
A" LDEN E. PILLSBURY, one of the progressive and prosperous farmers of Sandown, was born on the homestead he now occupies, July 25, 1837. His father, Lyman Pillsbury, was born in the town of Hanover, Grafton County. Lyman subsequently became a resident of Sandown, and died there, December 2, 1889. He owned the farm now in possession of his son, Alden E., and was there successfully engaged in gen- eral husbandry for many years. His first wife, born and bred in Sandown, whose maiden name was Clarissa Eaton, died a few years after her marriage. She bore her husband four chil- dren, namely : Mary J., the widow of the late Daniel Brickett, living in Haverhill, Mass. ; Alden E., the subject of this sketch ; Martha, who died at the age of fifteen years; and S. Newton, who died in 1870. On June 12, 1852, the father contracted a second marriage with Sarah H. Clay, who survives him, and is now living at Grand Rapids, Mich.
Alden E. Pillsbury attended the district schools of his native town in his boyhood, and afterward completed his education at Andover, Mass. He was but fourteen years of age when his mother died. Remaining on the home farm, he was carly initiated in farm duties. After the demise of his father he came into possession of the homestead property. Mr. Pillsbury has a fine farm of one hundred and
fifty acres, much of it being in an excellent state of cultivation. He is profitably engaged in general farming, stock raising, and dairying, In politics he favors Democratic principles. but reserves the right to vote for the men and measures he deems the best. Although not an office-seeker, he never shirks a citizen's responsibility, and has served his fellow-towns- men as Selectman, Tax Collector, and member of the School Board, holding each office two years. He is connected with the local grange by membership, and takes an active part in promoting the welfare of the organization.
On February 1, 1871, Mr. Pillsbury mar- ried Miss Lizzie P. Sargent, who was born May 9, 1841, in Amesbury, Mass., daughter of Orlando and Abigail (Patten) Sargent. Mr. Sargent, a well-known farmer of that town, where he and his wife spent their entire lives, died there in May, 1876. His wife's death occurred March 6, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Pillsbury have two children, namely : Frank N., born April 4, 1872, who is living at home; and Gertrude S., born October 7, 1877, who is still attending school.
EORGE E. GOWEN, a successful general farmer of Stratham and ex- tensive manufacturer of evaporated apple, was born in West Newbury, Mass., July 1, 1846, son of Ezekiel and Hannah (Colby) Gowen. Mr. Gowen's grandfather, Ezekiel Gowen, Sr., who served as a sol- dier in the War of 1812, and was an indus- trious farmer of York County, Maine, died in Shapleigh at the advanced age of ninety-five years. He was the father of nine children, of whom Ezekiel, Mr. Gowen's father, was the youngest.
Ezekiel Gowen, Jr., was born at Emery's Mills in the town of Shapleigh. At the age of twenty one he settled in Massachusetts, where the rest of his life was passed. In 1846 he bought a farm in West Newbury, and was thereafter engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1879. He was known and respected as an upright, conscientious man and a worthy citizen. In politics he was suc- cessively a Whig and a Republican. In his religious belief he was a Methodist. His
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wife, Ilannah, who was born in Newburyport, Mass., in 1814, became by him the mother of eleven children, of whom eight grew to ma- turity. These were: Mary,, Benjamin C., Sarah E., Charles W., Francis H., George E., Oscar, and Carrie 1. Six of the number are now living. The mother, who still survives, is a resident of Stratham.
George E. Gowen acquired a practical edu- cation in the schools of West Newbury. At the age of seventeen he started in life as a shoemaker, working upon women's pegged shoes for eight years. He then engaged in farming, and in 1877 he moved to Stratham, where he bought his present farm of seventy acres, the cultivation of which has since been his principal occupation. He carries on gen- eral farming, while he makes a specialty of fruit growing and market gardening. He raises large quantities of apples, which he con- verts into the commodity known as evaporated apple, and disposes of at a satisfactory profit. In 1895 he produced fourteen hundred cases, each containing fifty pounds of evaporated apple. He employs an average of twenty men in this business, and uses the best ma- chinery, which is run by steam-power.
On February 6, 1872, Mr. Gowen was united in marriage to Mary A. Smith, daugh- ter of Lewis W. Smith, of West Newbury, Mass. Of this union there were born eleven children; namely, May 1., Grace E., Helen P., Clarence E., Ralph E., Bertha E., G. Arthur, R. Howard, Benjamin F., Philip L., and Shirley W. The mother, who attended the Congregational church, died in 1895. Mr. Gowen also attends the Congregational church.
He acts in politics with the Republican party. He served as a member of the Board of Selectmen of Stratham for five years, dur- ing one year of which he presided as Chair- man; and he is connected with the Patrons of Husbandry.
HARLES H. KNOWLES, a worthy representative of the farming com- munity of this county, was born in Chester on the homestead where he has since resided, May 1, 1838, a son of Dear- born and Jane C. (Page) Knowles. The
homestead, passing from father to son, has been in the possession of the Knowles family for several generations. Nathan Knowles, Sr., the great-grandfather of Charles H., came to Chester from the neighboring town of Hampton, and, settling on this farm, began the pioneer labor of clearing and improving it. He made much progress in this work, placing sufficient of the land in cultivation to support his family. Nathan Knowles, Jr., the grand- father of Charles H., succeeded to the home- stead, which he carried on very successfully, adding materially to the improvements begun by his father.
Dearborn Knowles inherited the ancestral acres, and was prosperously engaged in mixed husbandry until his demise, December 3, 1880. He married Jane C. Page, a native of Ray- mond township; and they had two children - Charles H. and William D. The latter, who was born in 1843, married Miss Lucy Burn- ham, and is now living with her at Thetford, Vt. The mother, remarkably bright and ac- tive for a woman of eighty-five, resides on the homestead, cared for by her son, Charles H.
Charles H. Knowles acquired the rudiments of his education in the common schools of Chester. He afterward attended the academy in Chester, N. H. On the home farm he re- ceived the practical instruction in the various branches of agriculture that fitted him for his duties as the next proprietor. He has one hundred and fifty acres of land, which he man- ages to the best advantage. In the winter season Mr. Knowles devotes a part of his time to lumbering. He is a public-spirited member of the community, which he has served as Selectman and in other capacities. In poli- tics he is an earnest advocate of Republican principles. During the late war he was drafted into the army; but he did not serve, and furnished a substitute in his place.
The marriage of Mr. Knowles with Miss Mary A. Hook, of this town, was performed November 19, 1861. Mrs. Knowles was born November 26, 1840, daughter of George W. and Betsey (Smith) Hook, both natives of Rockingham County, born respectively in Exeter and Raymond. After their marriage her parents settled in Chester, where they re- mained for the rest of their lives, the father
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engaged in farming and shoemaking. Mr. and Mrs. Knowles have three daughters, namely : Eva, who is the wife of Burt S. San- born, station agent at Whiting, R.I .; Jennie M., who married Samuel E. Ray, a farmer and butcher of Auburn, this county ; and Sadie L., who is the wife of Herbert Jenkins, a ma- chinist in Portsmouth, N. H. Both parents are active members of the Congregational church.
ENJAMIN G. MOULTON, a well- to-do resident and real estate owner of Kensington, was born in this town, April 18, 1821, son of Benja- min and Mchitable (Brown) Moulton. Mr. Moulton's grandfather, Benjamin Moulton, who was a native of Hampton Falls, settled in Kensington in pioncer times, attained pros- perity as an agriculturist, and died in this town at the age of seventy-five years. He was a Whig in politics and a Universalist in his religious belief. He married Elizabeth Rowe, who bore him twenty-two children. Twelve of the number grew to maturity, but all are now deceased. The mother lived to the age of eighty-six years. Benjamin Moul- ton, Mr. Moulton's father, was born in Ken- sington, August 15, 1795. He succeeded to the home farm, where he resided throughout his life, industriously occupied in its cultiva- tion. Originally a Whig, he later joined the Republican party. Besides serving his town as a Selectman, he represented the district in the legislature during the year 1837-38. He also served in the War of 1812 as a soldier. His death occurred when he was eighty-six years old. His wife, before marriage Mehita- ble Brown, born in Hampton Falls, N. H., in 1793, became the mother of three children. These were : Benjamin G., the subject of this sketch; Hannah S., who resides on the old homestead; and Elizabeth S., who died at the age of seventy-two years. The mother lived to the age of eighty-four. Both parents attended the Universalist church.
Benjamin G. Moulton acquired his educa- tion in the schools of Kensington, and grew to manhood upon the homestead farm. He took charge of the property during his father's de-
clining years, and has followed farming in this town to the present day. In 1845 he made his first purchase of real estate, which con- sisted of four acres of land. This he has in- creased from time to time by the addition of adjoining land, so that now the original plot has become a farm of one hundred and fifty acres. In 1857 he bought the farm upon which he now resides, having occupied it since 1870. He conducts general farming with success, keeps his buildings in good re- pair, and enjoys a desirable measure of pros- perity. Mr. Moulton attends the Universalist church. In politics Mr. Moulton is indepen- dent, preferring to support candidates accord- ing to his own opinion of their fitness for office.
AMES F. SARGENT, of Sandown, was born here, July 30, 1855, son of Aaron D. and Catharine (Jackson) Sar- gent. His grandfather was William Sargent, who spent the larger part of his life in the town of Loudon, Merrimack County, although his closing days were passed in San- down.
Aaron D. Sargent, who was a native of Lou- don, born in 1829, left the place of his na- tivity when quite young. He went first to the neighboring town of Canterbury and thence shortly after to Lowell, Mass. In Lowell he learned the trades of machinist and black- smith. After his marriage he returned to this county and worked at his trade in Plaistow for a time. Subsequently, purchasing the farm where his son, James F., now resides, he car- ried on general farming and blacksmithing as long as he was able. He is now practically retired from active occupation, and he and his wife are tranquilly passing their declining years on the homestead with their son and his family. Soon after the breaking out of the late Rebellion, he enlisted in Company K, Fifteenth New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry. After the expiration of his term of service he re-enlisted in Company D, Eighteenth New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry. He was in action at the siege of Port Hudson and in other engagements of less importance. Finally, receiving a severe injury in the
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leg, he was discharged on account of disabil- ity, and sent home. On recovering from his wound some months later, he resumed farm- ing, in which he was engaged until his retire- ment. His wife, whose maiden name was Catharine Jackson, was born in 1830 in Car- lisle, Mass. She bore him seven children, as follows: Edwin J., who married Johanna C. West, and has lived with his brother, James F., since the death of his wife on December 15, 1889; Elmira, who is the wife of David B. Smith, a farmer in the town of Fremont ; James F., the subject of this sketch; Emma J., the wife of Charles E. Wood, of Los An- geles, Cal. ; Anna F., who is the widow of the late Frank P. Sanborn, and lives in Man- chester, N. H. ; Charles A., a shoemaker living near the old homestead, who married Miss Louise Hennessy ; and Walter H., a shoemaker, who married Miss Rachel H. Galvin.
James F. Sargent was reared and educated in the town of Sandown, and has always lived on the home farm. Mr. Sargent is exten- sively engaged in manufacturing shoes. His factory, which is located on the farm, turns out fifteen hundred pairs of shoes a week when running with a full force. Its average product is one thousand pairs per week. The shoes are made by machinery for the Boston whole- sale trade. Mr. Sargent invariably supports the Democratic party in politics. He has served as Selectman for the past six years, being at the present time Chairman of the Board. He was Supervisor for an equal length of time, and he has filled other offices. In 1891 and 1892 he represented Sandown in the State legislature with honor to himself and to the credit of his constituents, having been elected on the Democratic ticket. He is a Universalist in religious belief, while his family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church of Sandown.
On April 6, 1882, Mr. Sargent married Miss Florence M. Currier, who was born in Dan- ville, this county, December 28, 1861, daugh- ter of David B. and Julia (Hunkins) Currier. Her mother died when she was an infant; but her father, now seventy-five years old, still lives in Danville. Mr. and Mrs. Sargent have one child, Bertha E., born September 6, 1883.
R EV. SAMUEL HOYT, late of New- ington, was born in the year 1809, on the family homestead in this place. His father, Samuel Hoyt, was a farmer; and the son was brought up on the home farm. He received his early educa- tion in the district schools. When he was eighteen years of age he became a student at Kent's Hill Academy in the State of Maine. This was a Methodist school, and here he began to prepare himself to enter the minis- try. Subsequently he was engaged in teach- ing in Portsmouth, N. H., for some years. At the end of that time he joined the Methodist Conference, and was ordained in the same year. The first church he had charge of was in Epping, this county. He was afterward pastor in Concord, Exeter, and other places in the State. In 1844 his father's death made it necessary for him to give up his pastoral duties, in order that he might return to the farm at Newington to take on himself the di- rection and support of the family. At the same time that he cultivated the farm, which became his by inheritance, he assumed local ministerial charges in the immediate neigh- borhood. He owned at this time between eighty and a hundred acres of land. He was a Republican in his politics, and served in the State legislature as a Representative for three terms. He was always a Prohibitionist, and during his last years he supported that party.
The Rev. Mr. Hoyt was twice married. His first marriage was contracted with Miss Eliza Colby, who bore him no children. His second marriage took place May 5, 1855, when he was united to Miss Harriet Murray, of Portsmouth, a daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Hodgdon) Murray. The lady's .father was a farmer and a carpenter by trade. Of Mr. Hoyt's second marriage three children were born. These were: Arthur G., who died in 1888; Frank M., who is a resident of Boston and a member of the firm Lothrop Publishing Company in that city; and Emma H., who is the wife of Mr. Alva R. H. Foss, of Rye, this county. Mr. Hoyt was an ex- emplary member of society in all the rela- tions of public and private life. He died January 22, 1893; and his remains were in- terred in the Newington cemetery. His
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widow still resides on the farm. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which her husband was a minister; but she afterward joined the Congregational church, which has no society in the immediate neigh- borhood. The death of the Rev. Samuel Hoyt inflicted a real and acknowledged loss on the community in which he lived. But the influence of a good life must be felt long after its material and visible end; and of him it may truly be said, "His good deeds live after him."
R ICHARD P. GOSS, an influential and valued citizen of the town of Rye. Rockingham County, N. H., was born and reared on the home- stead that he now owns and occupics. His father was Joseph Pickering, who married Mary J. Goss, the daughter of Richard and Mary Foss Goss, of this town. Mr. Pickcr- ing died at the age of forty years; and, his wife having preceded him to the other world, their young son, Richard P., was left an orphan.
Richard P. was adopted by a near relativc, and his name changed from Pickering to Goss by enactment of the State legislature. He received such educational advantages as his native town afforded, attending the district schools in his youth. He has always made farming his principal occupation : but being a man of versatile talents, with a mechanical ability far above that of the average laborer, he can turn his hand in many directions. For several summers he has owned and oper- ated a threshing machine, threshing much of the grain raised in this locality. He is a skilful and thorough-going farmer, wise and systematic in his methods, and has met with a deserved success in his various undertak- ings. He has served his fellow-townsmen as Road Surveyor, Selectman, and School Com- mittee, performing his duties with fidelity in cach position. Among the local improve- ments in which Mr. Goss has taken an active interest is the building and grading of the public highways, and it is largely due to his strenuous efforts that the roads of Rye are in such a fine condition. In politics he is a
steadfast Democrat, and cast his first Presi- dential vote in 1856 for James Buchanan.
Mr. Goss married, October 17, 1858, Har- riet J. Locke, daughter of Richard R. and Sarah A. (Leavitt) Locke, of this town. Their union has been blessed by the birth of six children ; namely, Clarence A., Estelle J., Annie A., Gilman P., Erastus L., and Walter W. Clarence A., who lives in Rye, married Ella J. Garland; and they have two children - Harriet D. and Annie M. Estelle J. is the wife of Edward P. Philbrick, of Manchester, N. H., and has two children - Neil B. and Hester. Annie A. died at the age of nine years.
AMUEL J. COLCORD, a highly respected citizen of Exeter, Rock- ingham County, N.H., who is suc- cessfully engaged in lumbering and milling, is a native of Deerfield, N. H., where he was born in 1849. At the age of four years he was adopted by Samuel and Caroline (Haines) Colcord, residents of Exeter.
Samuel Colcord was a carpenter by trade ; and he followed that occupation at Exeter until the latter portion of his life, when he engaged in lumbering. Quiet and retiring, he entertained no political aspirations, but lived a life of devotion to his family and of strict application to his business. He passed away in 1876, respected by all those who had the pleasure of his acquaintance; but his esti- mable wife still survives him, and in her life has rounded out three-quarters of a century.
Samuel J. Colcord, with whom this bio- graphical sketch is principally occupied, spent his boyhood and youth at the home of his foster-parents. He enjoyed excellent ed- ucational advantages, being for some time a student at Phillips Academy in Exeter, a pre- paratory school of world-wide fame. Conclud- ing his course of study at the age of fifteen, he engaged with his father in carpentering, which he followed for nine years. At the end of that time he applied himself to the pursuit of lumbering and milling, a business which he has conducted very prosperously for the past twenty years.
In 1873 Mr. Colcord was united in marriage
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with Miss Harriet W. Chase, who is the daughter of Elisha Chase, a resident of Strat- ham, N.H. They have two children, namely : Anna J., who is now the wife of Fred H. Knight, of Exeter; and Fred L.
Mr. Colcord and his family stand high socially in Exeter and the vicinity. In na- tional politics he is a vigorous supporter of the principles set forth by the Republican party. Although he does not seek for social or political distinction, yet, as his qualities and worth are extensively recognized, he has been elected by his fellow-citizens at various times to positions of public trust, and he is now serving in his second term as Selectman of Exeter. The town election of 1896 was the most excitable and hotly contested one that has been known in the annals of Exeter, but he received his official appointment by a majority of one hundred and eleven popular votes.
He is not unknown in fraternity gatherings, as he is affiliated with the Royal Arcanum, being a member of Friendship Council, No. 141, which is located in Exeter. His relig- ious faith and sympathies, and also those of his wife, bring them into affiliation with the Baptist Church of Exeter. Mr. Colcord is among the prominent business men of Exeter, and is a citizen of true worth. In spirit he is broad and progressive, an earnest promoter of any project that looks to the development of the natural resources of the town and to the intellectual, moral, and religious elevation of the community. He owns and lives in the enjoyment of one of the finest residences in Exeter.
The portrait on the page opposite the begin- ning of the foregoing sketch will be recog .. nized and appreciated as an admirable likeness of its subject, Mr. Samuel J. Colcord.
FORGE W. DOLBER, a prominent farmer of Chester, was born October 6, 1823, in Candia, this county, which was likewise the birthplace of his father, John Dolber, his grandfather, William Dolber, and of his paternal great-grandfather, William Dolber, who was an able and indus- trious farmer, married Abigail Hill, also a
native of Candia, and the daughter of a Revo- lutionary soldier.
John Dolber was a lifelong resident of Candia, where in addition to general farming he worked at the carpenter's trade until his demise in 1850. In early manhood he ren- dered military service to the Union with a company from Portsmouth, N.H. He mar- ried Polly Stevens, of Chester, a daughter of Ebenezer Stevens, who was a farmer of Kings- ton township, this county, where he was born and reared. Having survived her husband many years, she died in 1873. They were the parents of six children, of whom Will- iam, Ansel, Charles, and Mary are deceased. George W., the second-born, and Lavinia J., the youngest, are living. The latter is the wife of John Wason, a Chester farmer, of whom a brief sketch may be found elsewhere in this volume.
George W. Dolber remained at home during his earlier years, attending the district school and assisting on the farm. At the age of seventeen years he went to Newburyport, Mass., where he was employed driving a milk wagon for four years. Returning then to Candia, Mr. Dolber worked at the shoemaker's trade until 1860. In that year he came to Chester to care for his mother's brother, then a man enfeebled by age, and, settling on his present farm, has since been engaged in general agriculture. He has been very pros- perous, and now has a large part of his farm of one hundred and fifty acres in a high state of cultivation. By many improvements he has rendered it one of the most attractive homesteads in this section of the county. Besides general farming he is also engaged in lumbering on quite an extensive scale. The Republican party receives his support in poli- tics. He was identified with the Know Nothings when that party was in existence. He takes an active interest in local affairs, and has served in various town offices, includ- ing that of Selectman, to which he was elected for several terms.
In 1849, September 16, while living in Candia, Mr. Dolber was married to Elizabeth Emerson. Mrs. Dolber was born in Candia, May 3, 1831, daughter of Jonathan and Mary (Nelson) Emerson, natives respectively of
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