Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire, Part 2

Author:
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Buffalo, Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 612

USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire > Part 2

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Asa Randall was born in Deerfield, N. 11., March 3, 1793, and died in 1866. He followed the trade of a blacksmith, in addition to his call- ing of a farmer. During the troubles over the boundary between Maine and New Brunswick, known as the Aroostook War, Mr. Randall en- listed in the militia of the State of Maine, where he was then residing. In the Mexican War Mr. Randall saw two years service, returning at the end of that time, broken down in health, and never fully recovered. In politics he was a Democrat to the back-bone. His wife, Mary A. Chase, was born near Fredrickstown, in the Province of New Brunswick, Aug. 16, 1800, and passed away to the realms of delight in Octo ber, 1878. They reared the following twelve children: Drusilla, deceased; Daniel, who died in the Army: David, died in infancy ; Lavina married Asa Kelly of Newbury, Vt : Andrew J .. the subject of this sketch, and George W. who lives in Haverhill, were twins; Sarah, de- ceased; Hannah, deceased; an infant, who died

BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.

while still in arms; Abagail, deceased; Martin, deceased; and Cynthia, deceased.

(Our subject was reared at Fayette, Maine, un- til ten years of age, attending during the years of his boyhood the common schools of his native town. Upon the removal of the family to Or- ford, N. H., he attended school for a time, and finished his education in the common schools of Bradford, Vt., when he was nineteen years of age. April 1, 1844, he took upon himself his own support, and worked on a farm until 1848, when he went to the vicinity of Boston. At Dedham he spent one year working in the gar- den of a wealthy resident of that place. In Bos- ton he became foreman in a manufactory of trunks and valises, and remained there till 1855, when he went to Fayette, Me., for one year. September, 1856, he first came to Haverhill, and worked in a paper-mill. He then took up the trade of a paper-hanger and a painter, in which he spent the remaining years of his active life, with the exception of six years, following his return from the war, in which he took up marble cutting. September 10, 1861, Mr. Randall en- listed in the 6th Regiment, N. H. Vol. Inf., and served 23 months, being discharged Aug. 3, 1863, ranking as second sergeant. In all, Mr. Randall took part in six battles, which were the following: Camden, N. C .; Second Bull Run, Va., in which he narrowly escaped capture; Chantilly, Va .; Fredericksburg, Va .; Antietam; and South Mountain. His health was very much impaired by diseases, contracted while in the army, and by reason of such disabilities draws a pension from the Government.

Mr. Randall contracted his first marriage in Massachusetts, to Harriet M. Wiley, daughter of Capt. David Wiley, a sea captain; Capt. Wi- ley's wife was Thankful Young. One child, Walter Newell Randall, was born of this first marriage; he is working on the railroad from North Abington to Hanover, Mass. Mr. Ran- dall married the second time May 17, 1856, in East Livermore, Me., Miss Eliza Sanderson, who was born in Franklin Plantation, Franklin County, Me. She is a daughter of John and Hannah (Randall) Sanderson. Walter Newell Randall, the son of our subject's first wife, mar- ried Etta Thompson, who was born in Welle- fleet, Mass .; to them were born two children: Lulu M .. and Harrie Newell. Our subject and

his wife are attendants of the Congregational Church. He was a member of the F. & A. M., Grafton Lodge, No. 46, of Haverhill. In politics, Mr. Randall was a stanch Democrat, as was his father, in all national affairs. In town and county politics, he was a non-partisan, and voted for whoever he thought was the best man.

MELVIN J. MANN, a passenger conductor on the B. & M. R. R., was born in Benton, of this county, May 8, 1856, and lives at present in Woodsville. He is a son of Geo. W. and Sarah T. (Bisbee) Mann, a grandson of Samuel and Mary (Howe) Mann, and great-grandson of Sol- omon Mann. Mr. Mann is of Scotch descent, his great-great-grandfather coming from Scot- land, and settling in Hartford, Conn. Solomon Mann was born in Hartford, and lived the calm, peaceful life of a tiller of the soil; in politics he was a Whig, but could never be persuaded to take a prominent part.

Samuel Mann was born in New Haven, Conn., October 20, 1773, and received his education in the schools of his native town, which were private institutions, for there were no schools of a public character in that locality at that time. When he was 16 years of age, he went to Landaff, Graf- ton County, N. H., where he worked as a farm- hand for eight dollars a month. After six years of scanty wages, he had, by strict economy and the closest figuring, saved enough to buy a small farm, which he cultivated for 40 years. He finally sold it and removed to Benton, and bought a farm, now owned and occupied by his son, George W. Mann, who is the only survi- vor of eight children born to Samuel Mann.

Hon. George W. Mann, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Landaff, N. H., February 20, 1821, and obtained his early education there. At the age of 14, he removed with his parents to Coventry (now Benton), where George W. has lived since, completing his education at Newbury Seminary, Vt. For a short time after leaving the Seminary, he was engaged in farming, and teaching school in the winters; but having learned the carpenter's trade, he finally gave all of his time and attention to build- ing; his farm was still cultivated, however,

BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.

Hle has been very successful at his trade; his work as a contractor and a builder has taken him to all parts of the county. He was very conscientious in all of his work, and no faulty construction or poor lumber was allowed in any of his work. His first wife was Susan MI .. daughter of William Whitcher of Benton. Five children blessed this union, of whom Ezra B .. whose sketch appears elsewhere, and George II .. are the only ones living. Edward F., who died at the age of forty-eight, was at the time of his death Superintendent of the Con- cord & Montreal Railroad. The other two de- ceased were Osmond C. and Orrin L., who were twins. Mr. Mann's first wife died at the age of 24, and he married as his second wife Sarah T., daughter of Gad and Lilla Bisbee of Haverhill. Five children, all of whom are living, were born to Mtr. and Mrs. Mann by this marriage: Mel- vin J., Ilosea B., Susan M., Minnie S., and Moses B. Mr. Mann is a strong Democrat, and occupies an important place in party politics. He has been Collector of Taxes; Superintendent of the School Committee : member of the Highway Commission; Justice of the Peace for 40 years, and still the incumbent; Notary Public; dele- gate to the Constitutional Convention of 1876; member of the State Board of Agriculture; and Representative from the town for eight years.

Melvin J. Mann lived in Benton until lie was 21, and attended the common schools. working on the farm after he was 20. For six years before he was 21, he carried the mail from Benton to North Haverhill. At the age of 21, he became a brakeman on a freight train, work- ing at that job for three years, when he was made a conductor of the train. For three more years lie had charge of his freight train, when he was transferred to a passenger run, in 1883.

On Jan. 31, 1883, our subject united his for- tunes with those of Mary, daughter of John A. and Elizabeth ( Davis) Merrill; Mary Merrill was born in Kennebunkport, Me. John A Mer- rill was born in Kennebunkport March 10, 1830. and followed the pursuit of agriculture; he was a son of John and Elizabeth ( Record) Merrill of Kennebunkport, and a grandson of Obed and Judith ( Durrell) Merrill, and great-grandson of John Merrill, who married a Miss Fucking Eliza- beth Record's father died when Elizabeth was

four years old; her mother, who was a Miss Brown before marriage, married again after the death of her first husband, her second partner being Seth Huff. Elizabeth Davis, our sub- ject's mother-in-law, was born at Center Har- bor, Nov. 28, 1832, and died at Woodsville, Ang. 6, 1805; she was a daughter of fra and Mary ( Lord) Davis. Our subject and his wife attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Mann is a member of the Mooschillock Lodge. No. 25, of the I. O. O. F. Ile is also a member of the Order of Railway Conductors, Concord Division, No. 335. In politics he is a Demo- crat, and an enthusiastic advocate of the white metal. Mr. and Mrs. Mann have an adopted daughter, Mande P. Mann.

REV. GEORGE E. BROWNE, at Center Haverhill, was born in Warren, N. 11., May 31, 1841. He is a son of Jonas G. and Angela H. (Whiteman) Browne, and grandson of John and Olive (Colby) Browne; the latter was a niece of Daniel Webster. John Browne was of English descent, the son of Caleb Browne. the eldest of three brothers, who came from England. Caleb Browne was a soldier in the Revolution, and during part of his service an attendant on Gen. Washington. He endured many of the greatest hardships for freedom's sake; on many occasions his feet would become torn and bleeding, because of the lack of shoes.

Jonas G. Browne was born in Franklin, prob- ably; his parents moved to Lyman, and thence to Coventry (now Benton), when he was a small child; he attended school in Lyman. Soon after his marriage with our subject's mother, he removed to Warren, where George E, Browne was born; after a few years he returned to Ben- ton, where he lived till 186), engaged in farm- ing and lumber manufacturing. He came to Center Haverhill in 1860, and with our subject purchased what was known as the Metcalf farm, consisting of 150 acres, where he lived with his son till his death in his 76th year, Oct. 2, 1889. He served as selectman in Benton a number of years, when a resident of that town; he was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the See- ond Adventists Church. His wife was born m Warren, and was a daughter of Richard and

BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.

Phoebe (Willoughby) Whitman, the latter a native of Holderness, N. H. Richard White- man was by trade a chair-maker, but spent most of his life in agricultural work; he was a soldier of the War of 1812, and drew a pension up to his death at the age of 70. His brother Ste- phen was also a soldier of the same war, and lived to be over 90 years of age. To Jonas G. Browne were born six children: Marium M., de- ceased; George E., the subject of this sketch; Olive died in infancy; Clara A., deceased; Cy- rena M., deceased; Imogene P., who married Calvin Cummings of Ashland, N. H., and has one daughter, Sarah A. Mrs. Browne died Dec. 18, 1879, at the age of 65.

Rev. George E. Browne was reared in North Benton and attended the district schools until he was 21. From that time until his father's death, he was always associated with him in business. After his father's second marriage he moved to a farm he purchased near the Met- calf property, where his father settled. Several additional farms were purchased by our subject and his father. He also owned extensive real estate in Benton and Easton, N. H.,

Mr. Browne was married Sept. 9, 1863, at North Benton to Evaline D. Hutchins, who was born in Benton, the daughter of Noah C. and Hannah (Jesseman) Hutchins. Hannah Jesse- man was born in Franconia, and was a daughter of Solomon and Hannah (Colby) Jesseman; Sol- omon's father, George Jesseman, came from the bonny land of Scotland. Noah Hutchins was born in Bradford, Vt., and was a son of Benja- min .C. and Philena (Keith) Hutchins. Benjamin Hutchins, an iron founder in early life, and later a farmer, was residing near Plattsburgh, N. Y., at the time the battle of that name and local- ity took place. After coming to Benton, he was a maker of baskets, butter tubs, and wooden trays, in addition to farming; he lived to be 75 years old. Noah C. Hutchins was a farmer throughout his life; he died at the early age of 38. He was a Democrat and a member of the Free Will Baptist Church. To our subject and his wife seven children were born: Jonas N. married Emma Bancroft, and has five children; George Parker; Harry Raymond; Bertha May; Lilian Eveline; Hazel Theo; Allen M. married Lizzie Titus, and has one daughter, Beulah Hel- en; Abbie F. died at the age of ten; Marium M.,

a teacher; Ida C. married Mooers Clough, and lives near Center Haverhill; Josie L. died at the age of two years, nine months; Grace Edith. Both subject and his wife are members of the Second Adventists Church.

Rev. George Browne began studying and fit- ting himself for the ministry in the latter part of the 60's; he was ordained a minister of the gospel, Aug. 20, 1871, and is at present pastor of the Christian Church in East Roxbury, Vt. He has held preaching services in various places in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Canada. He is a member of Green Mountain Christian Union, and of the missionary society, entitled North New Hampshire Blessed Hope Conven- tion. He was formerly a Democrat, but since his connection with the ministry, he has taken no active part in politics.

UEL SPENCER, living on his farm on Lord's Hill, where he is engaged in dairy-farm- ing, was born on his present farm, Dec. 19, 1839. He is a son of James and Paulina (Brown) Spencer, and grandson of Aaron Spen- cer.

Our subject's grandfather came to New Hampshire from Rhode Island or Connecticut, and was just getting a start in life, when the unfortunate accident occurred, in 1787, which terminated his career. He was working on a bridge near Pompanoosuc, and slipped and fell into the icy water; the chill that he received was too much for him, and he died from the effects of it. He had been married a short time to a Miss Flitcher; after Mr. Spencer's death, she married a Mr. Thatcher, and lived to be over ninety years old at her death.

James Spencer was born in Hanover in 1785, and held chiefly to the occupation of a farmer: when a young man he learned two trades, that of making spinning-wheels, and later that of paint- ing. From the age of two until he was four- teen, he lived in Bennington, Vt., his father hav- ing died, and in that place and in other localities in Vermont in which he lived he attended the schools. When about twenty-one he returned from Vermont to his native town Hanover, and made it his home until his death in 1856, at the

HON. GEORGE H. ADAMS.

BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.

age of seventy-one. There were born to him eleven children, four boys and seven girls, seven children by his first wife, and four by the second. Our subject is the only one living of the entire family. in which he was the ninth child. His mother, who was Paulina Brown before her marriage, was a daughter of Abraham Brown, and was born in the town of Hanover.

L'el Spencer has always lived on the home farm in Hanover: he attended school in the winter months until twenty years of age. The summer of 1861 he worked out, and in the fall joined the army. He enlisted Oct. 4. 1861. in the 7th Regiment, N. H. Vol. Inf .: he served two years and four months, and was mustered out Feb. 4. 1864. He belonged to the southern department. and saw service in Florida and South Carolina, being present at the battle of Morris Island, and at the Siege of Charleston. He was wounded Sept. 7. 1863. in the foot, and was not able to stand on his foot for a year. Upon his return from convalescing from his wound, he farmed as well as he could. His brother had charge of the farm, and he worked for his brother in the summer of 1865: his brother died in the month of November of that vear. Since 1866 our subject has carried on the farm alone. A number of years ago, when so many sheep were raised in New Hampshire. and a good price was given for the product, he conducted his farm as a sheep-farm; the farm consists of 150 acres, and is now devoted to ·lairving.

Mr. Spencer was married June 3. 1868, in Hanover, to Ruth F. Emerson, who was born in that town, and was a daughter of Moses C. and Sarah S. (Freeman) Emerson. The par- ents of Sarah Freeman moved to Alabama. where she lived until she was ten years of age. and they died: she then returned to the town of Lyme, where she lived with an aunt. Moses C. Emerson was the father of eleven children. six by his first wife, four by his second, and one by his third; of these eleven children, Mrs. Spencer was the second in order of birth. Mo- ses C. Emerson was a son of Moses and Abigail (Hughes) Emerson, the former a son of Robert Emerson, who married a Miss Watts. Mrs. Spencer's great-grandmother Hughes, nec Sarah Freeman, lived to be for years old. She mar- ried Nathaniel Hughes.

Four children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Spencer, as follows: Myra: James, a member of the Morning Star Grange of Lyme: Kathrina Emerson, a student at the Normal School at Plymouth; and Louise E. The fam- ily's religious beliefs are embodied in the doc- trines of the Congregational Church, of which they are leading members; Mr. Spencer is a Deacon. Mr. Spencer is a member of the G. A. R., L. D. Gove Post. No. 56, of Hanover Village. His politics are Republican, and he has served as road surveyor, and as a member of the school committee.

HON. GEO. H. ADAMS, ex-Judge Advocate General on the staff of Governor Smith, is a native of Campton, where he was born, May 18. 1851. After the usual training in the public schools, he entered Kimball Union Academy at Meriden, and fitted for college.

He graduated from Dartmouth College with the Class of '73, and at once became principal of the High School at Middleboro, Mass., where he remained one year; at the end of that time turning to his chosen profession, the law, as a student in the office of Hon. Henry W. Blair at Plymouth.

In 1876 he was admitted to the bar, and in that year also came his first political honor in the form of an election to the Constitutional Convention. This has since been followed by membership in the Legislature of 1883. in which he performed the duties, attendant upon a pro- longed and somewhat turbulent session, with great display of zeal and skill. In 18So he was appointed a deputy collector of internal revenue for his district, and then received an appoint- ment on the Governor's staff. in '93 and '94. He is president of the Pemigewasset National Bank of Phmonth. He lives in Plymouth, where he practices law, as the partner of Hon. Alvin Bur- leigh.

General Adams is eminently qualified for the positions he has held. He is now serving as solicitor of Grafton Co. In disposition, he is one of the most genial of men; a merry, laugh- ter-loving spirit wins him friends; and back of that lies a measure of ability and a capacity for work that make him a dangerous antagonist at

BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.

the bar, and that fit him to adorn high places in the esteem of associates and acquaintances.

General Adams has long since given promise of success. His law practice has covered every portion of preparation and pleading; his social duties, calling him into every field of activity, have developed the gentlemanly qualities that need no nurture. We are indeed pleased to be able to present General Adams's portrait, as a rising young lawyer of the county, and as one, who has won many laurels in his profession.

CHESTER M. FAIRBANKS, a practical, scientific farmer, living near the village of Han- over, N. H., was born in Cornish, N. H., Nov. 30, 1822; he is a son of Rufus and Sarah (Wake- field) Fairbanks.

The founder of the American branch of the Fairbanks family was one George Fairbanks, who emigrated from Somerby, West Riding, Yorkshire, England, in 1633. making the long ocean voyage in the good ship "Speedwell." In 1636 he erected a dwelling in Dedham, Mass., so substantial and durable in its structure that it is in good condition after the storms and vicis- situdes of two centuries and a half, and is oc- cupied at the present time by the family of one of his descendants. He died in Dedham, Dec. 5, 1668. His wife, who bore him seven children, bore the name of Grace. His son, Jonathan, was born in England, and came to America with him; he lived in Dedham with his parents at first, but finally moved to Sherborn, in 1657; he served as selectman of the town. Seven children were born to him and his wife. The second child in the family, George Fairbanks, was the father of Eleazer Fairbanks, Sr., who was born June 8, 1655, and lived in Sherborn, Mass., as early as 1680; his wife was Martha Bullard. Eleazer Fairbanks was selectman in 1703. Eleazer's son, Capt. Eleazer Fairbanks, lived in Sherborn, Mass .; he was born Dec. 12, 1600, and died Sept. 19, 1741.

The great-grandfather of our subject, Rev. Eleazer Fairbanks, son of Capt. Eleazer, was born in Sherborn, Mass., July 23, 1716, and married Prudence Carey. They removed to Killingly, Conn., and later to Munson, Mass.,

where Mr. Fairbanks died. He was a minister of the Congregational Church.

Abel Fairbanks, the grandfather of Chester M. Fairbanks, was born May 12, 1754, in Brown- field, Mass., whence he removed to Cornish, N. H. He was a farmer, and carpenter of steady and industrious habits, much looked up to by his neighbors for his sterling worthi and good common sense. Personally he was a fine-ap- pearing man, large and robust in stature, with a pleasant, kindly countenance, which was lit up with a smile for everyone. He married Han- nah Hobbs, a daughter of Benjamin and Eliza- beth (Flint) Hobbs; `she was the eighth of eleven children in her parents' family. Mr. and Mrs. Fairbanks moved to Sharon, Vt., in 1873, and · lived there four years, and then moved to Fairfield, Vt., where Mr. Fairbanks died March 27, 1842; his wife passed away April 9, 1840. They were members of the Congregational Church.

Rufus Fairbanks was born in Sharon, Vt., June 18, 1785, and died in Cornish, N. H., Feb. 16, 1863; he was a farmer all his life, and much esteemed by all who had the pleasure of know. ing him. He was a member of the Congrega- tional Church. Dec. 12,1819, he married Sarah Wakefield, who was born in Newport, N. H., April 26, 1785, and died Marchi 15, 1871. She was a daughter of Jonathan Wakefield, who married a Miss Fletcher; Jonathan Wakefield was a farmer most of his life, and a blacksmith in his early days, being very ingenious at his trade. He was a Free Will Baptist, and it is thought he was a Democrat, and it is also likely that he fought in the War of the Revolution. The Fairbanks family were of large service to the Continental Army in its fight with the sol- diers of King George, for there were over two hundred Fairbanks whose names appear on the . rolls. The first postmaster of the City of Bos- ton was a Richard Fairbanks.

Chester M. Fairbanks was reared in Cornish. N. H., where he lived until twenty-seven years of age, attending the district schools until he was eighteen. At the latter age he learned the carriage-maker's trade, and worked in Cornish three years as an apprentice, and five years as a journeyman. He then went to White River Junction, and worked five years and a half as a pattern maker, also manufacturing several hun-

BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.

dred hand-cars for the railroad. In 1855 he re- moved to Lebanon, and was employed in the machine shops there twenty-four years. In 1879 he came to his present farm in Hanover, of 112 acres. Although he has ostensibly been en- gaged at his vocation of a farmer since he has settled in Hanover, yet he has been called fre- quently to Lebanon to work at his trade. Mr. Fairbanks is the inventor of a roller gauge for circular saw. which is the best ever put on the market, and is used all over the country, for it has established a solid reputation as a superior article; it is known as "Fairbanks' Roller Gauge."

Mr. Fairbanks was united in marriage Feb. II, 1855, at Hartland, Vt., to Mary E. G. Le Seur, who was born in Stow, Mass., and is a (laughter of John and Sophrona (Gates) Le Seur, both of whom were born in Massachu- setts. John Le Seur, as the name indicates, was of French origin; his wife was a daughter of Joel Gates, who married a Miss Piper. Five children, as follows, have blessed the union of our subject and his wife: Hattie Sophrona, de- ceased: Mary Esther; Jennie Maria, who mar- ried Thomas A. Lampshire of Woodstock, Vt .: George; and Frank A. Frank A. married Lilla Clough of Norwich, and makes his home at Woodstock, Vt.

George Fairbanks was born March 10, 1862, and was a student in the district schools till he was seventeen years of age. He does an ex- tensive business throughout the county in farm implements and fertilizers. He was married in Hanover, N. H., July 5. 1884, to Jennie M. Bab- bitt, a native of Hanover, and a daughter of Leonard H. and Rachel N (Merrill) Babbitt, whose deaths occurred Feb. 14 and 17, 1892. Rachel Merrill was a daughter of Nathaniel and Rachel (Morse) Merrill. Leonard Babbitt was a son of Isaac and Wealthy (Lovejoy) Babbitt. To George Fairbanks and his wife have been born two children: Jennie May; and Ethel Esther. George and his wife are members of Rebecca Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 25, of Lebanon. He is a member of the Good Samaritan Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 75, of Hanover; he has served as P. G. and as delegate to the Grand Lodge; he is also a member of Morning Star Encamp- ment of Lebanon; and a member of Canton Hanover of White River Junction. He is also

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Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire, Part 2

Author: Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Buffalo, Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 612

Author:
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Buffalo, Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 612