USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire > Part 26
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WILLIAM H. ADAMS. proprietor of the largest general store in the village of Campton, N. H., was born in Boston, Mass., Oct. 22, 1851. He is a son of Hon. Francis M. and Susan H. (Nye) Adams. Our subject's paternal ancestor was born in Boston, and educated there, being a graduate of the old Latin School. Early in life he became a messenger for the Governor's Coun- cil, and served continuously through the terms of three successive Governors. He then filled a similar office under the Supreme Court. He served as Sheriff of Suffolk Co. for over forty years. He possessed a fine education, and took great pride in teaching his children, and was in turn cherished by them as a kind and loving parent. He was the master of several languages, besides being acquainted to a greater or less de- gree with others. He was commanding in pres- ence. powerfully built, yet with a natural grace rarely seen. His many noble characteristics endeared him to a large circle of friends: his fearlessness and upright character won him the respect of all classes. His last two years were spent in great suffering. occasioned by fatal in- juries he received in his side, when he fell from a car step. His death occurred at the age of sixty-eight. His wife was Susan, daughter of Capt. Nathan and Sarah H. ( Hinkley) Nye. The Captain was lost at sea while making a voyage from New York to Rochelle, France, on a packet ship. Capt. Nathan Nye's wife was a native of Barnstable. Mass., and was a great worker in propagating the blessed principles of Chris-
tianity. She was a descendant of Gov. Thomas Hinkley, the first Governor, of Barnstable, Mass., and one of the early magistrates of the Pilgrims.
Our subject's parents had six children, namely : Mary E .; William H., the subject of this sketch; Helen M .; Annie C .; Eliza; and Frederick G. Our subject was educated in Boston, but his schooling was cut short abruptly in 1863. when at the age of thirteen, he entered the United States Navy, and for three years saw service in the Atlantic Squadron, and also in the Pacific Squadron. He then entered the merchant ma- rine, and remained there until 1879: during that time he was with the expedition that took pos- session of Russian America; he was stationed on board the Ossipee, and is supposed to be the only one living at this time that took part in that important event. During his connection with the merchant marine he circumnavigated the globe three times, and was only wrecked once, that being off Cape Cod. After his retirement from the navy, he settled in Grand Rapids, Mich., and worked at the manufacture of furniture for a while, but eventually came to Campton Village and bought a one-half interest of the store of G. W. Robinson, and with him as a partner con- ducted a general store for a period of eight months. Then Joseph Cook bought out Mr. Robinson, and the business was then carried on under the firm name of Cook & Adams until Mr. Cook died, June 12, 1891 : since that time our subject has managed the business alone.
In 1891 Mr. Adams bought the site of the old Morrison store, that had burned down, and built a handsome store. 72x32, with basement, sheds. and store-house. He makes use of the base- ment, first and part of the second floor. In such commodious quarters he has one of the most complete general stores in the town of Campton : the store is finished in natural wood, with excel- lent lighting facilities from the large front win- dows, and is well stocked with a very carefully selected line of goods. There is a fine office fitted up in the store that corresponds with the general appearance of the rest of the store. The towns- people are justly proud of this splendid structure that adds so much to the good appearance of Campton Village. The second floor and the attic are used by the I. O. O. F. as their lodge and banquet rooms. Our subject has served as postmaster of the village for four years, and has
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been secretary of the Republican Club for eight years. He is a liberal and open-handed sup- porter of the Congregational Church. He is a member of the Olive Branch Lodge, F. & A. M .; and also of the Pemigewasset Chapter, No. 13, R. A. M., of Plymouth, N. H.
Mr. Adams married Sarah F., daughter of Joseph and Eliza (Kenrick) Cook. Joseph Cook was a son of Moody Cook, and was born in Campton, making his home on the homestead with his parents until the years of manhood. He then bought a farm near by, at the head of the Bog Valley, which he conducted with profit until the year 1847, when he came to Campton Village and entered the mercantile business. He was associated, as we have noted above, with our subject : he also built a shop and manufactured clothing. In that business he was twice burned out, but rebuilt each time. He also ran the Hillside Boarding House for a few seasons. He married Sally P., daughter of Gen. Moses Cook; she died in February, 1847, leaving him two chil- dren: Perkins T. and Luella F. He was again joined in marriage, the lady of his choice being Eliza, daughter of Alexander and Eliza (Barker) Kenrick. Eliza was born Oct. 23, 1822; her father was a sea-faring man. Joseph Cook by his second marriage had the following children : an infant daughter, who died while a babe; Ella F .; Sarah F .; Lucy E .; and Alice K.
Mr. Adams is the father of the following chil- dren: Helen Eliza, born at Grand Rapids, Mich., Feb 15, 1880: Lucy Cook was born March 20, 1882, and died Aug. 12, 1884: Marion Frances, born in Campton, May 8, 1885; Ida Elizabeth, born in Campton, June 9, 1887.
DARIUS MOULTON, one of the leading citizens of West Campton, N. H., and proprietor of one of the largest general stores in that part of the county, was born in Ellsworth, Feb. 7, 1842, and is the adopted son of Edmund and Betsey (Hill) Moulton. Edmund Moulton was one of the pioneer farmers of Ellsworth, and after clearing and improving his farm, he moved to the town of Campton and purchased a farm, where he followed the pursuit of agriculture, and was one of the leading and substantial men of
his community. He and his wife died about the age of seventy.
Darius Moulton early in life learned the car- penter's trade, which he labored at until he en- listed for the war. He enrolled his name to fight under the Stars and Stripes, August, 1862, and became a member of Co. A., 6th Reg. N. H. Vol. Inf. He joined the army at Antietam, and served two years and nine months, being dis- charged in May, 1865. At Spottsylvania he re- ceived a wound in the left shoulder, and was taken prisoner at Chapin's Farm, Va. He was first taken to Libby Prison, and later transferred to Salisbury, N. C. Altogether he suffered the torments and cruelties of five months of Confed- erate prison life.
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After the war he bought the D. M. Rowe place at West Campton, improved the property, and followed his trade until 1884, when he bought the E. H. Sanborn store, and has since carried on a general store stocked with a well-selected line of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, etc. He has one of the largest and best-kept stores in that section of the county, and has patrons from many localities. His uniform rule has been to please everyone, and to see that no one goes away from the store dissatisfied because of lack of attention or of courtesy. He has shown exceptional business tact and skill in his manage- ment, and deserves credit for the straight-for- ward method of dealing with everyone, that wins the confidence and good wishes of many patrons. His integrity is as unquestioned as his business ability.
He married Julia A., daughter of Stephen Ordway of Constableville, N. Y. Two children have come to brighten the household and to be a comfort in their declining years. Jennie Eudora, born in 1870, is a professional nurse. Alice May, born in 1874, married D. M. Young, and lives at West Campton. She has presented her husband with two children: Julia Blanche and Carl Darius. In his religious views our sub- ject has favored the M. E. Church, and is closely identified with the good work of that organiza- tion. He is generous and liberal in all his gifts, and a good friend to the unfortunate one. He is an unyielding supporter of the Republican ticket, and served in 1895 as selectman of the town. His able and careful work in office won him the thanks of many of his fellow-citizens.
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GEORGE W. FULLER, a farmer of the town of Littleton, and a veteran of the late war for the Union, was born in Littleton, N. H., Oct. 23, 1832; he is a son of Thomas and Lydia (Clay) Fuller. Thomas Fuller was born in Bristol, Grafton Co., N. H., May 13, 1787; when a young man he went to Lancaster and bought a farm and made it his home for a few years, working at his occupation of a farmer; at length selling his property, he went to Dalton, N. H., and pur- chased a 100-acre tract of timber land, and set about to clear it. After having put the greater part of it under cultivation, and having erected farm buildings, he sold the farm and removed to the town of Littleton, where he bought the farm now owned by B. W. Kilburn of Littleton, and there he opened up a brick-yard, the first in the town, and carried on the manufacture of bricks after the old style; the supply of bricks being ex- ceedingly limited in that part of the county, he found a ready demand for his product, and he was able to realize very largely on his plant when he sold it and moved to North Littleton. In North Littleton he carried on general farming a few years, and then sold and bought the Brooks's stand at Dalton, N. H., and kept the village hotel there for fifteen years. Upon his retirement from the hotel business he bought a farm near by, and was actively engaged in farm- ing up to a very short time before his death, March II, 1878, at the age of ninety-one years. He married as his first wife Mary Clay; by her early death our subject's father was left a wid- ower with the following six children: Luther W., Edgar R., Chase C., Robie C., Lydia 1., and Lovina G. His second wife, the mother of our subject, was Lydia, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Clay. She was born July 15, 1793, and (lied April 11, 1880; her children were: Mary Jane and George W. Mr. Fuller was a Whig and later a Republican in politics. In religious belief he was a Universalist, while his wife was a member of the M. E. Church.
George W. Fuller, after acquiring a district school education, took up the occupation of stage driving, having the route from Lancaster, N. H., to St. Johnsbury, Vt .; he also accom- panied touring parties through the mountains as a guide, becoming very skilled in this line and much sought after by the sight-seeing public. In 1864 he enlisted in Co. I., N. H. Heavy Artil-
Icry, and served eleven months for his country. Returning to New Hampshire, he determined to settle down permanently, and for this purpose in 1865 purchased the Moses Dow farm in North Littleton, where he has resided since. His farm gives abundant evidence of thrift and enterprise; the buildings have been built over, and now are fully adequate to their owner's needs; his live stock includes a choice herd of cows. He is a member of Sanders Post, No. 48, G. A. R.
Mr. Fuller married Miss Lucy A. Fisk, daugh- ter of William and Adaline (Dyke) Fisk. Their only child, Charles E., born Aug. 2, 1859, mar- ried Miss Minnie Fuller, and has one child, J. Mabel. Charles E. Fuller owns a farm adjoining that of his father's, and is a saddlemaker by trade.
DAVID P. FOSS, is a leading citizen of Campton Village, and proprietor of the Hotel Foss. He was born in the town of Thornton, Grafton Co., May 18, 1840, and is a son of Car- ter and Mahala (Whitney) Foss, and grandson of Ebenezer and a Miss Hoyt. Ebenezer Foss came from Concord, N. H., among the very first settlers, and located a farm on the Mad River, town of Thornton, Grafton Co. The farm was chiefly of forest land, and Mr. Foss cleared and cultivated it, making it very productive. He was a wide-awake, progressive man, and not afraid of hard labor. Both he and his good wife lived to an advanced age. Their children were: Ebenezer, John H., Carter, Langdon, Stephen, Milton, Ruth, Sally, Betsey, and Jacob.
Carter Foss, our subject's father, learned the trade of a carpenter early in life, and worked at it several years, also engaging in the business of moving houses, and of general contracting. He bought a large unimproved farm in the town of Thornton, on the Mad River, and cleared the land, remodeled the farm buildings, and sold it about the ycar 1840, realizing a good profit. He then bought another farm, where his son's family now reside, and on it built a work-shop and car- ried on the manufacture and repairs of wagons; many of his wagons are in active service yet, and show his good and conscientious workmanship. Carter Foss was in vigorous health up to a year
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preceding his death. His death occurred in his ninety-fourth year. His wife died at the age of eighty-nine. They were both of strong, hearty constitutions. The children born to them were: John; Stephen; Julia; Walter; and Stillman; and our subject, David P.
David P. Foss made his start in life by buying a farm in the town of Thornton; in 1870, how- ever, he went to Hillsboro, Wis., and purchased a 120-acre tract of new land, and set about its improvement, by erecting buildings, clearing the land of its timber. He soon was esteemed as one of the leading farmers of that section, but he was not permitted to remain in the west, for his 'services were required at home to care for his aged parents. Accordingly, he sold his prop- erty in Wisconsin, in 1882, returned east and took charge of the homestead till the death of his parents. He then bought the 'bus line run- ning between the village and the railroad depot, and also engaged in carrying guests to the many mountain homes and hotels. He carried on this line of business for five years, and sold out, and has since been practically retired from active business, except such work as was necessary in looking after his property. His commodious and well-appointed home is located in the center of the village, at the junction of the two streets, and is undoubtedly the pleasantest home in the vil- lage. For some years he has furnished accom- modations to the traveling public at his home; it is not advertised as a hotel, nor does Mr. Foss claim it to be one. The generous hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Foss is enjoyed by a large circle of warm acquaintances. No social gathering is complete without their enlivening presence; genial and warm-hearted, they win the love and respect of everyone. Their home is surrounded by neat and well-kept grounds, which they nat- urally take great pride in. Our subject is con- tinually making improvements, and beautifying the premises. He is a lover of good horses, and always keeps some of the best in his large and well-arranged stables.
Mr. Foss married Ida M., daughter of William and Sarah (Whitney) Merrill. He is a stanch Republican in his political sympathies, and, although very active in the interests of the party of his choice, he has never accepted any office which his friends and admirers would have be- stowed upon him.
REUBEN H. AVERY, a retired carpenter and farmer of the town of Campton, Grafton Co., was born in Ellsworth, N. H., Feb. 17, 1826. He is a son of Samuel and Temperance (Avery) Avery, and a grandson of David Avery and a Miss Willey. David Avery's birth-place is not positively known; he was a farmer and owned farms in Rumney and Campton. He and his wife possessed strong and robust constitu- tions, and lived to a good old age. They reared a large family of children, among whom were David, Jr., Ezra, and Samuel.
Samuel Avery, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Campton and settled in Ellsworth. There he bought a farm and occupied himself in tilling the soil and in laboring at his trade of a carpenter. Later on he moved to Campton, where he died at the age of seventy; his wife was also about that age at her death. Samuel Avery was a Whig. His chil- dren were: Mary S., William, Oliver, Harris, Betsey, Reuben H., Riley, Ezra, and Moses H.
Reuben H. Avery learned the trade of a car- penter early in life and followed it to a great extent through life. In 1877 he bought the Joseph Smith farm in the town of Campton, on the banks of the Pemigewasset River, and built a new house and barns, and in many other ways improved the property. He was very active in business until 1893, when he retired from active life. He has been a remarkably successful man and has accumulated a comfortable fortune; he enjoys the respect and friendship of all those who have had the good fortune to meet him.
In 1849 he married Lucinda N., daughter of John Stevens of Ellsworth. She was born Sept. 21, 1825, and died May 19, 1857. He married as his second wife Almira A. (Hunt) Wiggins, daughter of James Hunt. She died Oct. 29, 1874, at the age of forty-four. She left her hus- band four children as a precious legacy: Fred- erick A., born May 4, 1860, and died in 1863; Albert E., born Oct. 30, 1862, married Gertrude Calley, and has one child, Lester A .; he is a merchant of Lancaster, N. H .; Reuben L., born March 22, 1867, married Addie Carr, who died, leaving him one child, Addie; he is a lumber dealer; George E., born Nov. 6, 1869, has charge of his father's farm, and looks after all the interests of the various properties of his father; he lives at home. Mr. Avery was again
HON. HENRY C. LIBBEY.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
joined in marriage, the lady of his choice being Betsey R., daughter of John and Hannah (Ram- sey) Homans. He was a Democrat in his early days, but has always supported the Republican party since its organization. He is a strong advo- cate in the cause of temperance, and would like to see temperance laws in force throughout the State.
HON. HENRY C. LIBBEY. Our list of the leading citizens of the town of Lisbon would be decidedly incomplete without the addition of the name that heads this personal sketch. He is in- terested in many enterprises that have built up and benefited the town in many ways, and his concern for the welfare of the town is never abated. He was born in Bethlehem, N. H., Aug. 2, 1839; he is a son of Nathaniel and Tirza (Lord) Libbey, and grandson of Charles and Sarah (Pray) Libbey. Our subject's education was received in the common schools of White- field, Coos Co., N. H .; when he had finished his schooling, he turned his attention to lumbering, which has remained his principal occupation, with very profitable results. He is a member of a stock company, and also its treasurer and gen- cral manager with office at Lisbon, N. H., which owns and operates mills for the dressing of lum- ber in Rimouski, Canada. He is also a stock- holder and president of the Saranac Glove Co. of Littleton, N. H. He is president and mana- ger of the Lisbon Edison Electric Light Co. of Lisbon, N. H. In the Lisbon Bank and Trust Co. he is also a stockholder.
Charles Libbey, the grandfather of Henry C. Libbey, was born in Berwick, Me., Dec. 16, 1749, and followed the occupation of a farmer all his life. His wife bore him six children, namely: Abigail, Experience, John, Jeremiah, Joshua, and Nathaniel.
Nathaniel Libbey was born in Berwick, Me., Dec. 22, 1790, and in his early manhood took up a sea-faring life, but after a few years' trial of its dangers, he turned his attention to the milling business. He bought mills at Ossipee, N. H., and remained there for about twenty years, mov- ing from there to Bethlehem, N. H., where he turned his attention to lumbering several years.
He eventually settled on a farm in Bethlehem, where he passed his declining years in peace and quiet. He represented the town of Bethlehem in the State Legislature. His wife was a daugh- ter of Nathan Lord of Lebanon, Me. There were born to them eleven children: Mercy A., Charles, Sarah Ann, Elizabeth R., Daniel L., Jeremiah, Hannah M., John Q., George W., Nathaniel W., and Henry C., the subject of this sketch. Our subject's father died July 18, 1840; and his mother finished her career and joined the great throng on the other shore Oct. 24, 1846.
Our subject is strongly Republican in his political views, but has not taken a very active interest in politics; he represented the town of Lisbon in the State Legislature in 1894. So- cially, he is a member of Whitefield Lodge, F. & A. M., of Whitefield, N. H. On Nov. 22, 1865, he married Ellen M., daughter of Henry and Evelyn Thomas of Littleton, N. H .; by this union they have become the fond parents of four children: Blanche T., born Sept. 7, 1866; Her- man T., July 6, 1868; Grace E., June 13, 1878; and Ethel M., Aug. 24, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Libbey are faithful attenandts of the M. E. Church of Lisbon, N. H.
The portrait of Mr. Libbey appears on another page of this work.
IRVIN W. SMITH, who is well known among the leading agriculturists of the town, is located in the Connecticut Valley at North Lit- tleton. He was born March 25, 1862, and is a son of Rufus and Lusella M. (Town) Smith, grandson of Josiah and Margaret (Sanborn) Smith, and great-grandson of Zebulon and Eliza- beth (Folscom) Smith. Zebulon Smith, who was a son of Benjamin Smith, and grandson of Joseph Smith of old Puritan stock, was born April 1, 1767, and followed the occupation of . farming, holding by no means an unimportant place in the esteem and respect of his neighbors. He lived in Stratham, N. H., and died at the age of fifty.
Josiah Smith was born in Sanbornton, where his parents were living, Nov. 28, 1800; he learned the stone-cutter's trade, and removed to North Littleton, where he bought 100 acres of timber
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land, and started in to clear and cultivate it. In addition to his regular occupation of farming, he followed his trade of stone-cutting. Later he bought the farm, where our subject resides, and while living there was appointed postmaster of North Littleton, and filled the office very accept- ably through his term. That was the first post- office ever established in the town of North Lit- tleton, and the only one for miles, and people even from Bethlehem used to come to North Littleton for their mail. Mr. Smith was popular and well liked. In politics he was a stanch Dem- ocrat and took great pride in witnessing the evo- lutions of the militia on the general training days. He died Oct. 21, 1864. His wife lived to the age of seventy-two, departing this life April 23, 1873. Their children were as follows: Samuel; Rufus; Wellington; and the twins, Elizabeth and Judith.
Rufus Smith, our subject's father, was born in Littleton, Aug. 16, 1830, and attended the public and select schools. Like his father, he also learned the trade of stone-cutting, and worked at it for his support when only eighteen years old. His first home was the B. F. Elliott farm, where he farmed and worked at his trade, remaining there for about ten years, selling' so as to realize a good profit for the many improvements he had made that added much real value to the prop- erty. He then bought his father's farm, and has made it his home since; he has built himself a shop, where he has fitted stone for monumental and building purposes. Mr. Smith was ever wide-awake in adopting improved methods, and in improving the grade of his live stock; he owns a very nice herd of cows, and derives a comfort- able income from them. He has always sup- ported the Republican ticket, but has never brought forward his name in urging his nomi- nation. He is liberal in his religious views, and a member of the Burns Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 66, of Littleton. He married Miss Lusella M. Town, daughter of James W. Town of the town of Littleton. The children in our subject's parents' family were as follows: Addie E., who died at the age of twenty-seven, was the wife of Edward Barry, and left at her death one child, Martha B., who resides on the old homestead with her grandfather; Minnie E. died at the age of fifteen: Irvin W. is the subject of this short sketch; Erwin J., born July 13, 1864, married Mary Cary, and resides in Apthorp, N. H.,
where he lias charge of the granite works; he is a member of the 1. O. O. F., and is also a Mason; George W., born May 6, 1873, is a stone- cutter in North Littleton, and is a member of the 1. O. O. F. Lodge.
Irvin W. Smith has always stayed at home with his father, and is now associated as a part- ner in farming. In 1896, he made several needed and beneficial improvements in the home, and by his excellent work in managing the farm has proved that he is entitled to a high rank among the intelligent, progressive farmers of Grafton Co. He married Miss Stella S. Lang, daughter of Jonathan Lang. In his political views our subject is a Republican, and is a chairman of the school board, and has taken an extraordi- narily keen interest in the town schools.
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