USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire > Part 18
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
Frederick H. Emerson received his schooling in Lebanon, N. H., and at the age of nineteen entered the employ of F. L. Simmons as clerk; he clerked successively for that firm, for C. E. Delano, and for J. E. Lincoln, with whom he re- mained for seven years. In 1888, in company with C. J. Richardson, he bought the stock of goods of G. C. Whipple and entered upon a suc- cessful career of business in the Whipple block. In 1893 the firm was burned out, but soon re- stocked the store, and lias now one of the finest stores in the county, fitted up in the most sub- stantial and elegant fashion.
Mr. Emerson resides on Elm Street. Feb. 2, 1887, he married Fannie G., daughter of Alpheus W. and Parthenia (Peck) Baker, whose sketch
102
BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
appears on another page of this Book of Biographies. Three children have been born to our subject and his devoted wife: Stuart was born Aug. 27, 1891; Dorris, born Feb. 3, 1893; and Lloyd, born Feb. 8, 1895.
Mr. Emerson is a Republican. In his religious views he is a Unitarian. He is a member of the Franklin Lodge, No. 6, F. & A. M .; St. Andrews Chapter, No. 1; Washington Council, No. 10; Mt. Horeb Commandery of Concord; and of the Mystic Shrine, Mt. Sinai Temple, Montpelier, Vt. He is past master of the Blue Lodge, and is past high priest of St. Andrews Chapter. He is also affiliated with the A. O. U. W.
JOHN S. FREEMAN is a member of the firm of Moulton & Freeman, who are doing an extensive grocery business in Lebanon, N. H. Mr. Freeman was born in Lebanon township, Feb. 12, 1849, and is a son of Silas H. and Sarah J. (Greeley) Freeman, grandson of Nathaniel and Polly (Hall) Freeman, and a great-grand- son of Col. Edmund Freeman.
Col. Freeman was a resident of Mansfield, Conn .; in June, 1764, he led a party of nine north into New Hampshire, where they settled the town of Hanover. They laid out 100 acre lots for the members of the prospective settle- ment, and in October of the same year roads were cleared by a force of twenty-two men, led by Col. Edward's son, Edmund. This action was taken under a grant of the town of Hanover, Grafton Co., N. H., which was made July 4, 1761, by Governor Benning Wentworth to Col. Edmund Freeman and Joseph Storrs, with two hundred and forty other petitioners. As has been narrated, Col. Freeman helped survey the grant into 100 acre lots and settled there with his family in 1764, he being the first to settle in that town. Col. Freeman cleared his farm and made considerable improvement in his surround- ings; as promoter of the scheme, he laid aside lands for a college, now Dartmouth, which has enjoyed a memorable and proud existence. He was captain of militia in the Revolution. In 1780 he sold his property in Hanover and settled in the town of Lebanon, where his descendants still live. His death took place about the age of seventy.
His son, Nathaniel, succeeded him on the Lebanon farm, living in peace and enjoying the good-will and friendship of his neighbors to the time of his death, which occurred about in his eightieth year. His death was sincerely re- gretted by all to whom the name of Lebanon was dear. His children were: Luther, Silas H., Nathaniel, Albert, Sarah, and Mary. Of the children, Nathaniel is the only one living.
Silas . H. Freeman was born in the town of Lebanon and resided there all his life on a farmi in the eastern part of the town; his attention was devoted to farming, except for a saw-mill, which he owned, and where he did custom sawing and what little lumbering came his way. He died at the age of seventy-three. His wife, who was the daughter of John Greeley, and own cousin of Horace Greeley, was afflicted with rheu- matism, and died at the age of forty-seven. Two sons are the only surviving children; they are: John S. and George Allen. Mary and Abbie died in youth.
After our subject had finished his education he took charge of the homestead, and early in life began to deal in cattle and stock of all kinds. With the valuable instruction he received as a boy from his father he was enabled to become a model, prosperous farmer, on whom were bestowed many of the good things of life. Many improvements in the appearance and general utility of the farm were made, among which was a remodeling of the buildings on better plans. In 1894 he rented the farm and moved to the village of Lebanon; there he bought the interest of F. L. Simmons in the firm of Simmons Bros. and has since been one of the firm. In the spring of 1897 Mr. Moulton bought the interest of the Simmons, the firm now being Moulton & Free- man. They have probably the largest grocery business in the county.
Mr. Freeman married Emma F., daughter of David M. Ross of Hanover, grand-daughter of Nathan Ross and great-grand-daughter of Thomas Ross. Thomas Ross joined the Con- tinental army at the age of fourteen and saw much of the hardships that were undergone. He was among the early settlers of Hanover, N. H., coming from Billerica, Mass .; he cleared a farm and spent his days in farming. His son Nathan built the house, now standing, where our sub- ject's wife was born. Three children have been
WILLIAM W. OLIVER.
103
BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
born to our subject and his wife, namely: an infant daughter, who was removed from their presence to the blessed regions; Bessie V., born Feb. 1, 1878; and Ross M., born Dec. 22, 1880. In politics, Mr. Freeman is and has always been a stanch Republican. He served as representa- tive in the Legislature in 1883-84; in 1879-82- 93-94 he acted as selectman. He also served on the school board seven years. He was one of the organizers of the Grange in Lebanon and served four years as its master, raising the mem- bership during that time over the hundred mark. He is a member of the Franklin Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 6. He has served as Governor of the Lodge of Pilgrim Fathers. He is a Methodist in his religious belief.
W. W. OLIVER, junior member of the gen- eral mercantile firm of Cogswell & Oliver, of Lisbon, N. H., was born in the Province of Que -. bec, Oliver's Corner, town of Magog, March 7, 1858. He is a son of Edward B. and Mary O. (Foss) Oliver, grandson of Capt. William Oliver and Polly (Remick) Oliver, and great- grandson of Dr. William Oliver, who was born in England in the year 1766, and settled in Boston, Mass., after his immigration to ,this country. His wife was Elizabeth Chatterton, born Nov. 10, 1751. Dr. Oliver moved from Boston to Acworth, N. H., and from there to Oliver's Corner, Magog, P. Q.
Capt. William Oliver was born in Acworth, N. H., July 20, 1793, and in early life settled at Oliver's Corner, town of Magog, Can. He reared three children, namely: Edward B .; Mary B. (Perry); and William W. He was a Conservative in his political affiliations. In the War of 1812 he held a commission of Lieuten- ant; later on he was a Captain of the Militia. In religious matters he favored the Congrega- tional Church. His death took place March 12, 1881. His wife died Aug. 16, 1848.
Edward B. Oliver was born in Hatley, Can- ada East, May 22, 1818, and completed his edu- cation in his native town. He adopted the trade of a carpenter as a life-calling, and followed it during the active period of his career at Oliver's Corner, Can. Like his father, he was a Con- servative in politics. His wife was born in
Stanstead, Canada East, Jan. 22, 1818. They were married Feb. 14, 1839, and to them were given six children to cherish and rear, as fol- lows: Aza A., born July 19, 1843, and died at the age of 10; James B., July 6, 1845; Ida M. (Remick), Sept. 9, 1847; Marion B. (Rexford), May 16, 1850; Adams P., Jan. 18, 1852; and the subject of this sketch, William W., who was born March 7, 1858. The father departed this life Sept. 1, 1896; his wife having died ten years earlier, Aug. 20, 1886. They were Congrega- tionalists, Mr. Oliver being a deacon of that de- nomination at Fitch Bay, Province of Que- bec, Can.
Our subject, after acquiring an education in the district schools of Oliver's Corner, town of Magog, and the Academy at Magog, went to Fitch Bay to clerk for T. B. and H. M. Ryder; he remained with that firm one year, going from there to Sherbrooke, where he was engaged nine months in the mercantile business. He then removed to Newport, Vt., where he worked two years as clerk and as expressman for H. S. Root.
In the month of January, 1883, Mr. Oliver moved to Lisbon, N. H., and entered the employ of the firm of Oakes & Bennett, and worked for them for two years. The firm then underwent a change in its constituents, Mr. Bennett selling his interest to Carlos M. Cogswell; Mr. Oliver clerked for the new firm, which did business under the style of J. N. Oakes & Co., until March 1889, when he purchased the Oakes interest, and formed a new partnership with Mr. Cogs- well. This last company, known as the firm of Cogswell & Oliver, has been engaged in a gen- eral mercantile business, which has been in every respect successful and lucrative. Messrs. Cogs- well & Oliver, with their wide experience in their line of work, have been able to command a great part of the patronage of the citizens of the town of Lisbon; enterprising and energetic, they have achieved their present success by only the most honorable means. Mr. Oliver is a Re- publican, but takes no more than a passive in- terest in political matters.
On Sept. 15, 1887, he married Alice M. Boyn- ton, daughter of Dr. Charles H. and Mary Huse (Cummings) Boynton; this union has resulted in the birth of two children: Mary B., born June 7, 1890; and Charles F., born Feb. 1I,
104
BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
1895. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver are members of the Congregational Church of Lisbon, N. H. Mr. Oliver is a wide-awake, progressive business man, and alive to all that pertains to the best interests of the town. He is a thirty-second de- gree Mason; a member of Kane Lodge, No. 64; and of Franklin Chapter, No. 5, R. A. M., of Lisbon. He has held all of the important offices in Kane Lodge, and is at present Worshipful Master. He has also filled the principal offices in the Chapter, having been High Priest in 1890- 1891-1892, and at the present time holds some of the minor offices in the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter of the State of New Hampshire.
In connection with his personal history, we are pleased to be able to present Mr. Oliver's por- trait, which appears on a preceding page.
WILLIAM B. WEEKS, a practicing attor- ney-at-law of Lebanon, N. H., was born in the town of Canaan, Grafton Co., N. H., May 14, 1839, and is a son of William Pickering and Mary E. (Doe) Weeks, and a grandson of Brackett and Sarah (Pickering) Weeks, who were prominent members of the farming community of the town of Greenland, Rockingham Co., N. H.
William Pickering Weeks was born in Green- land, Feb. 22, 1803, and was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1826. He turned his at- tention to the legal profession and read law under Hon. William H. Hayes and Charles N. Coggswell of South Berwick, Me., being ad- mitted to the bar in 1829. He located in Canaan in November of the same year and shortly after became the partner of Mr. Blaisdell; with whom he was associated for three years. He then associated himself with Judge Sargent, and that firm existed until 1845. From then to the end of his professional career he was content to practice alone. His practice was extensive and lucrative, being included chiefly in those branches of law relating to debt and credit, and to the validity of titles, in which he made him- self a recognized authority among his fellow- members of the bar. . He was very painstaking in business and wanted matters done in a meth- odical manncr to leave small room for a mistake; cvery matter of however great or slight import- ance received its due notice. He was a man who
took a real interest in the welfare of town, county, and state, and served his town as repre- sentative in 1839-40-50-54, and was elected to the Senate in 1848-49, being the president of that organization during the last year of his term. He was also in the Constitutional Convention of 1850. He was a very lenient and honorable creditor in his dealings with those whom he had given financial assistance, for he loaned large amounts of capital. He owned no small amount of land; being very fond of sheep and cattle, he kept numbers of the choicest he could obtain, besides many good horses. His much-lamented death took place Jan. 8, 1870, at the age of sixty-six. He married on July, 1833, Mary E., daughter of Joseph Doe of Derry, N. H., and be- came the parent of five children: Joseph D., William B., Marshall H., Mary E. D., and Susan H.
William B. Weeks received a liberal education in the academy at Canaan, and in Dartmouth College, from which he graduated in 1861. It had long been his aim and desire to follow the profession of his father, and accordingly after his graduation from college, he entered nis father's law office and entered upon the study of his future profession; he also read law under Judge Charles Doe of Portsmouth, and Foster & Sanborn of Concord. He was admitted to the bar of New Hampshire in 1864, and hung out his shingle for his first client in Canaan. He was then associated for a time with Judge Isaac Blodgett, and then alone until he went to Mon- roe Co., West Virginia, where he intended to make his permanent home, but because of the hostile feeling prevalent there at that time to all of Northern birth, he returned after a year's ab- sence to scenes more congenial, and settled in Lebanon. He has received the confidence and esteem of the business men by his ability and sound integrity; he numbers his clients by the score. He is a well-read man in his profession, which means much, considering the number of decisions a lawyer must keep posted on; he bears the reputation of being very correct in his legal knowledge.
In 1866, he married Henrietta M., daughter of John and Augusta (Chandler) Bridgeman of Hanover. Mr. and Mrs. Weeks have never been made happy by the birth of any children to them; they are very fond of children, and to fill up a
105
BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
void in their hearts and lives, adopted Mrs. Weeks' little nephew and niece: Ethan Allen Bridgeman and Amy M. Bridgeman. Amy died at the age of thirteen years. Ethan Allen Bridgeman has grown up to a noble man, who is the pride of his parents; he is superintendent and manager of a publishing house of Seattle, Washington. He married Annie McClellan; they have had four children, the eldest, a son, died while an infant in arms. The remaining three are: Leland M., Alma M .; and Ethan Allen, Jr. Our subject's son is devoted to his parents.
Our subject's home is on Bank Street, and is the residence, earlier known as Senator Aaron H. Cragin's place. Mr. Weeks is a large pro- prietor in real estate in the shape of farms about Canaan; he has besides the Lucerne Hotel. He is a stanch Republican, and although destitute of political ambition, has held the office of justice of the peace for a number of years. He is liberal in his views of religious matters.
HARRY N. MARSTON, a manufacturer of rakes of Lebanon, N. H., was born in the above town, April 9, 1862; he is a son of Nathaniel B. and Emma J. (Kendrick) Marston, and grand- son of David C. and Elizabeth (Badger) Marston. Our subject is descended from an old Puritan family, which had its origin in this country from a Thomas Marston, who was born in England in 1617, and came to Salem, Mass., in 1634; later in life he settled in Hampton, N. H. From our subject's grandfather the line runs back through Nathaniel and Patience (Knowlton) Marston, Robey and Hannah (Drake) Marston, Daniel and Sarah (Clough) Marston, Simeon and Hannah (Carr) Marston, Ephraim and Abi- gail (Sanburn) Marston, Thomas and Mary (Estow) Marston, and William, who was the eldest son of Thomas, the founder of the family. Ephraim Marston, born Aug. 8, 1654, was a farmer, and a distinguished citizen of his town, for whose interests he worked assiduously and unremittingly. His son, Simeon, born in 1683, was a farmer; Simeon's son, Daniel, born Sept. 13, 1708, was a captain of Colonial troops in the French and Indian War. His son, Robey, born in 1747, settled in New Hampshire, where he be-
came a large land-owner and an active, public- spirited citizen, prominent in the affairs of his town.
Nathaniel Marston, our subject's great-grand- father, was born Nov. 23, 1773, and became pos- sessed of the homestead by inheritance, but disposed of it in 1806 and moved to Monmouth, Me., later to Alexandria, N. H., and last to Deerfield, N. H., where he died at the age of seventy-one.
David C. Marston, the grandfather of Harry M., was born Dec. 22, 1799; he moved to West Lebanon, and later to Northwood, N. H., where he spent the remainder of his days as an agricul- turist, dying at the age of seventy-nine. There were seven children born to him, six by his first marriage, as follows: Samuel B., Mary E., Mary E., the second; David William, Nathaniel B., and Thomas B. David C. Marston married as his second wife Sarah Barry, who bore him one child, Sarah J.
Nathaniel B. Marston was born in Alexandria, N. H., Dec. 2, 1829, and attended the district schools of that place. When eighteen years old he went to Concord and learned the carpenter's trade and then came to Lebanon and worked for William S. Ela and Austin Hurlbutt a few years, after which he lived for a time in Quincy and Lawrence, Mass. He then went to Alex- andria, N. H., built a saw-mill, and operated it two years, coming to Lebanon at the end of that time. Upon his arrival in Lebanon he built a saw-mill, where he is now located and ran it until 1869, when he sold it and went into the business of contracting and building houses, which voca- tion he followed a few years. His next venture was in the manufacture of drag rakes, where the Key Manufactory is now, later moving to Lyman Whipple's building, continuing in that branch of industry until he was burned out in 1887. After he was burned out he bought the site of his saw-mill, which he had before oper- ated, rebuilt the mill, and made drag and hand rakes until 1894, when he sold it to his son, Harry N. Marston. Since then he has carried on the manufacture of snow shovels and of a patent weighing pitchfork, which is his own in- vention; it is a fine and useful article for ascer- taining the exact weight of a fork full of hay. He also manufactures a car-pusher, his own in- vention, by which a sixty-ton car on the railroad
106
BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
track can be moved with ease by a mere boy. It is not only very practicable, but so exceed- ingly simple that it has been a success from the start. He also manufactures largely a machine used to lay matched flooring, an invention of his own, which gives entire satisfaction, and finds a ready sale. During his residence in Lebanon he has dealt considerably in real estate, and has built and sold a number of dwellings.
Mr. Marston married Emma J., daughter of Egbert B. Kendrick, who was born in Lebanon, a son of Stephen Kendrick, a native of Ames- bury, Mass. Stephen Kendrick was one of the early merchants of Lebanon and built the brick house where F. B. Kendrick lives, besides many other dwellings now the homes of many of Le- banon's citizens. He was a leader in every good work and very active in building the Congrega- tional Church at Lebanon. His descendants are numbered among the best and most well-to-do people of the town; he was the father of nine children, all of whom have been instrumental in the development and growth of the town of Le- banon. Egbert Kendrick, his son, was a promi- nent and influential citizen of Lebanon in his early years; he was a painter by trade, but re- tired not very late in life to live on the com- petency he had acquired by the work of his earlier years. Four children were born to our subject's father, as follows: Harry N .; George F., born Sept. 22, 1864, married Jennie Simmons; and has lost one daughter, Grace; Willie, born May, 1867, died in his youth; and Ina Belle, born Jan. 14, 1870, and married D. L. Fifield. Our subject's father is a Republican in respect to his politics and a member of the Congrega- tional Church. He is a member of Mascoma Lodge, No. 20, I. O. O. F., and is past grand, and is a member of the Grand Lodge.
Harry N. Marston, with his brother George, has carried on the manufacture of drag and hand rakes for a number of years past; their factory has an average output of from 500 to 700 dozen rakes annually. Their goods have a ready sale in Boston, Mass., and in Portland. Our subject married Belle Putnam, and has one child by this union, Harold. Mr. Marston is a pushing, energetic young business man with hosts of friends, who are pleased to see his honest efforts in building up and maintaining a fine trade go with such success.
NED G. ENGLISH, a general merchant of Lisbon, N. H., was born in Lisbon, Sept. 29, 1860, and is a son of Lewis and Emily C. (Page) English, and a grandson of Andrew English. The grandfather of our subject was a native of Lyme, N. H., where he followed the vocation of a farmer throughout his life. His education was obtained in the common schools of that place. He was a stanch supporter of the Demo- cratic party, and lost no available opportunity in showing his steadfast loyalty. In the State militia he held the commission of Lieutenant. On religious subjects he was a liberal. He mar- ried Mary Goodell, and to them were born the following children: Asenath; Eunice; Louis; Mary; David; John; Andrew; Lewis; and Rebecca.
Lewis English was also educated in the schools of Lyme, and followed the same calling of farm- ing as his father; the scene of his agricultural la- bors, since 1849, has been in Lisbon, where he is now living in retirement at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Like his father, he is also a good Democrat, and has served as selectman, and as collector of taxes. He married Emily C. Page, daughter of William Page of White- field, N. H .; three children were born, who were named Van, Ned, and Lee. Mr. and Mrs. Eng- lish are Methodists in their religious belief.
Ned Goodell English, upon the completion of his education, in the schools of Lisbon, finishing in the High School, clerked for J. Burton, who conducted a country store in Woodsville, N. H .; he remained there one year. In 1880 he worked in the Sunset Hill House in Lisbon for one season, and in the fall of the same year en- tered the employ of S. S. Peach & Co., of Wells River, Vt., as a clerk in the firm's general store. In the spring of 1885 he severed his connection with the firm, and in May of the same year purchased a half interest in the firm of L. A. Young & Co. of Lisbon, N. H., which continued under the style of Young & English until December, 1886, when our subject became sole owner, and since that time . has conducted the constantly growing business under the style of N. G. English. He deals in general merchandise, and has built up a thriving trade. His business ability and substantial worth are appreciated by his townspeople, who are outspoken in their expressions of good-will
107
BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
toward him. In April, 1895, he branched out in business, and purchased the grist mill, for- merly owned and operated by Hon. W. H. Cum- mings, and has since done a very creditable busi- ness, doing custom grinding, in addition to deal- ing in all kinds of grain.
In 1887 he married A. Annie Clark, daugh- ter of Moses and Martha P. (Rowell) Clark, the former of Newbury, Vt., and the latter of Bath, N. H. One child, Harold Lewis, was born June 16, 1887. They are Congregationalists, and attend the church of that denomination in Lisbon. Mr. English is a Democrat, and was postmaster under Cleveland's first administra- tion for three wears. He is a Mason of the 32d degree, and belongs to Kane Lodge, No. 64, of Lisbon, N. H .; Franklin Chapter, No. 5, of the same place; St. Girard Commandery, K. T., Lit- tleton, N. H .; and Edward A. Raymond Con- sistory, Nashua, N. H .; also a member of the New Hampshire Society of Sons of the Amer- ican Revolution.
JASON DENSMORE, the subject of this sketch, is the sole proprietor of the noted and mammoth steam brick works of Lebanon, where the best quality of bricks in the State are manu- factured, including the specialty of the diamond and round-cornered bricks for cornice work. The products of his brick yard find a ready de- mand among the prominent builders of the State.
Mr. Densmore was born in Chelsea, Vt., Oct. IO, 1843, and is a son of William and Lydia M. (Davis) Densmore, and a grandson of Joel and Sally (Bixby) Densmore. Joel Densmore was born in Vershire, Vt., Dec. 2, 1788, and was a practical farmer of his day; late in life he con- ducted a farm in Brookfield, Vt., and after his retirement passed his last days of exemption from the toil of his former years in Corinth, where he died Jan. 3, 1870, at the age of eighty- two. His wife, Sally Bixby, was born Sept. I, 1770, and departed this life Sept. 24, 1846; she bore our subject's grandfather the following large family: Lydia, born Feb. 25, 1813; Will- iam, Dec. 19, 1814; Fanny, Dec. 12, 1816; Polly, Oct. 13, 1818; Charles, Oct. 26, 1820; Azio, Feb. 20, 1823; Alma H., Feb. 21, 1825; George W.,
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.