USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire > Part 29
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On Feb. 18, 1860, in the village of Orford, N. H., our subject's nuptials with Adeliza Merrill were consummated; she was a daughter of Stephen and Adaline (Towe) Merrill. Three children have been born to our subject and his wife, as follows: Albert Edwin, who died in in- fancy; Harry Edgar, born May 4, 1868; and Lettie Adaline. Lettie A., the only daughter,
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was completing her fourth year in N. E. Con- servatory at Boston, Mass., and within a few months of her graduation, when she was taken ill, and yielded up her young life to Him, who gave it, Feb. 15, 1895, in her twenty-first year. She was a remarkably beautiful girl, and an ac- complished vocalist and musician. Her death was a sad blow to her devoted parents and to scores of friends outside the immediate family circle. Harry E. Morrison was married, March, 1889, to Nellie J. Danforth, who died March II, 1895; she bore her husband one son, Samuel R. Morrison, Jr., who takes after his grandfather in many respects. Harry E. Morrison formed a second matrimonial union, Nov. 25, 1896, with Frances Buzzell of Haverhill, N. H. Harry is a Mason, being a member of Mt. Cube Lodge, No. 10, of Orford; he and his wife are members of Mt. Cube Grange of the town of Orford. He has been a selectman since March, 1896. Samuel R. Morrison has been a prominent man in the town, and has held the following offices: Selectman for four years; tax collector for ten years; and supervisor for a long period.
The publishers of this Book of Biographies of Grafton Co. take pleasure in presenting, in con- nection with this sketch of his life, Mr. Morri- son's portrait, which will be found on a preced- ing page.
GEORGE F. ABBOTT, M. D., a prominent physician and surgeon of Littleton, N. H., and until of late years the leading druggist of the village, was born in Littleton, June 7, 1849; he is a son of George and Esther Ann (Parker) Abbott, grandson of Ezra and Marian (Lang) Abbott, and great-grandson of Ezra Abbott, Sr. Our subject is a direct descendant of George Abbott, an early emigrant from England, and among the early settlers of New England.
Ezra Abbott, Sr., was a farmer of Newbury, Vt., removing late in life to Bath, N. H., where he died about eighty years old; his wife was also an octogenerian. The children, who grew up to maturity, were: Reuben, Ezra, and Hannah.
Ezra Abbott, Jr., was born in Newbury, Vt., and served in the War of 1812. He owned and operated a farm in the town of Bath, Grafton Co., until 1820, when he changed his residence to Lit-
tleton, and purchased a farm on Mann's Hill, dying there at the advanced age of eighty-one. His wife passed away to the other shore at the age of sixty-five. Their family consisted of the following children: Sarah, George, Jacob, Mary Ann, and Nancy M., besides several they lost by death when infants.
George Abbott, our subject's father, when he had attained his majority, by his work on the farm had saved enough money to buy his father's farm, and from the start exhibited the character- istic traits of a practical, progressive farmer. He continued buying land until he owned some 400 acres, which he kept in the best state of cultiva- tion, and making a success of his farming until 1860, when he sold his property, which included a farm-house and two capacious barns. After disposing of his farm he purchased a farm of lesser extent, known to-day as the Willard farm, where he resided a few years, making many val- uable improvements, among which was the re- building of the house and the erection of new barns. He then sold the Willard farm and bought the Phillip place on Cottage Street, and then became a partner of the firm of Hale, Edi- son & Abbott, proprietors of a general store, doing a large and profitable business. After two years Mr. Abbott bought out his partners and carried on the trade for a number of years alone, also including in his work a produce business, shipping potatoes and other agricultural pro- ducts to Boston in car-load lots. His health having become impaired by close in-door work, he disposed of the store and returned to farm life, but later on became interested with his son, the subject of this sketch, in the drug business for a few years. The past ten years of his life have been spent in retirement from business. His wife was Esther Ann Parker, daughter of Evan Parker of Lyman, N. H .; she died at the age of thirty-five, leaving four children, as fol- lows: William E., a farmer, whose home is in Kansas; George F., the subject of this sketch; Henry C., a farmer of Kansas; and Ella J., who died at the age of eighteen. Mr. Abbott mar- ried as his second wife Miss Emeline Applebee, daughter of Nathan Applebee of Littleton, and by her he had two more children: Belle E., who married H. D. Stevens; and Anna B., who died at the age of ten. Mr. Abbott was originally a Whig, but later in life transferred his political
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allegiance to the Democratic party, and has filled the following offices of trust and responsibility : justice of the peace, selectman for twelve years, and representative in the State Legislature for the session of 1867-68. He is a member of the M. E. Church. He belongs to Burns Lodge, No. 66, F. & A. M .; Franklin Chapter; St. Girard Commandery; he was a charter member of the latter organization and held many of the offices in it. He was also a member of the La Fayette Lodge, I. O. O. F., and was Past Grand of it, and of the Encampment.
Dr. George F. Abbott attended the schools of Littleton, and then entered the H. L. Tilton dry goods store as a clerk, remaining there in that capacity for eighteen months; for three years fol- lowing he was clerk in F. Hodgman's drug store. He then launched out in business for himself, and, with his father, bought the drug store of P. Parker & Son, and conducted it with profitable returns for five years; at the end of that time his father sold his interest to Charles Colburn. Later our subject bought out his partner, and a few years later took in J. B. Coburn as a partner, and started a branch store in Bethlehem, being the first store of that description in that village. This arrangement continued unaltered for two years, when Dr. Abbott sold the Littleton store to W. F. Robbins & Co., and kept the Bethlehem es- tablishment himself, continuing to run it until 1881, serving as Postmaster there from 1875 to 1880. Selling his business, he bought out the Lord Bros. drug store at Tilton, which he con- ducted with a fair measure of success for five years, and then entered the Medical Department of Dartmouth College, from which he graduated in 1890, and then took one course for the diploma of physician and surgeon at the Balti- more Medical Institute. He opened up his office at No. 5 Main Street, Littleton, N. H., and en- tered' upon a general practice extending fifteen miles in each direction; he has made a specialty of diseases of the eye. In 1896, having made rapid progress in his profession, he took a post- graduate course at the "Post Graduate" of New York City in some of the branches of medicine in order to perfect the knowledge and skill in the healing art that he already possessed.
Dr. Abbott married Miss Carrie M. Parker, daughter of James and Betsey (Blakesley) Parker of Dalton, and later of Littleton; Mr.
Parker is now a retired tanner. Our subject has one child, Ruth, born Aug. 14, 1889. Dr. Abbott is a Republican and served as town treasurer of Bethlehem. He is a member of the Burns Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 66; Franklin Chapter; St. Girard Commandery. He is also a member of the Foresters and the Order of the Golden Cross, in both of which he is examining physi- cian; also examining physician of the New York Mutual Life Insurance Co. He is a member of the M. E. Church.
JOHN R. FOSS, a retired merchant of Camp- ton Village, N. H., was born in the town of Campton, Grafton Co., N. H., Feb. 22, 1823. He is a son of John H. and Elizabeth (Chase) Foss, and grandson of Ebenezer and a Miss (Hoyt) Foss. Ebenezer Foss came from Concord, N. H., and settled on the Mad River, in the town of Thornton, Grafton Co .; he was one of the first-comers, and cleared and cultivated a farm of his own choosing. He and his wife lived to a hale old age. Their children were: Ebenezer, John H., Carter, Stephen, Milton, Ruth, Sally, Betsey, Jacob, and Langdon.
Our subject's father, John H. Foss, was born in Concord, N. H., and learned the blacksmith's trade; he worked at this trade in Thornton, and later in Campton. He also owned a pleasant home, and a small tract of land, which he culti- vated in his leisure moments. He worked at his trade until about seventy years of age, and de- parted this life at the age of eighty-four. His wife was over the age of seventy at the time of her decease. Eleven children were born to them, namely: Greenleaf; Sarah, who was not per- mitted by an all-wise Providence to reach an age of maturity; Louisa; Judith; Ann; Sarah; Perry ; Jacob; William; John R., the subject of this sketch; Wellington. Mr. Foss was a Democrat all through his life, and liberal in his religious views.
John R. Foss received a good education of its kind in the district schools of his native town, and worked with his father at the trade of a blacksmith twenty-five years until his health failed him, when he left the forge and souglit lighter employment, and entered upon a mer-
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cantile career, and carried on a large general store. In 1896 he sold his interest in the store to his son-in-law, Henry Fifield, and retired from active business. He was quite successful in trade and enjoyed the good-will of many patrons. He is respected by all for his strict integrity and methodical business habits. He has always been among the first in any project to aid in the devel- oping of the town and increasing its prosperity. He has very acceptably filled the office of Post- master for eight years. He has also served four years as selectman, and six years as town clerk. In all his public work he has viewed the inter- ests of the town as he would his own private interests, and acted accordingly. Mr. Foss owns a fine residence, which he built in Campton.
Our subject married Nancy Richards; after her death he was married again to Mary Wilkins; she died in 1857, leaving one child, Emma, who married William J. Chase, and lives in Ashland, N. H. Mr. Foss's third wife was Laura Emer- son, by whom he has three children: Lucia, born in 1859, married Henry Fifield; Edwin B. was drowned at the age of twenty-seven; Laura is the assistant postmistress of Campton Village.
CHARLES A. HOLDEN, of the firm of M. Holden & Sons, camphor refiners of Rumney, N. H., and also one of the model farmers of the town, was born in North Groton, Nov. 28, 1840. He is a son of Milton and Jane (Fairbanks) Holden. Milton Holden was born in North Groton, July 11, 1804, and was descended from Richard Holden, who was born in England, and was the first representative of the family to set- tle in the New World. Richard's father was a resident of Suffolk Co., and very wealthy, owning thirteen brick houses at the time of his death. Richard, like other young men of his time, was obliged to learn a trade, and accordingly became a glazier. He determined to come to America and grow up with the new country. He came in 1634, and we find him among the Pilgrims at Ipswich, living later at Cambridge, Watertown, and Groton, dying in the latter place a land- owner. He married Martha Fosdick. Their son Stephen, next in line of descent to our subject, was born in Groton, Mass., and married Hannah
Lawrence; he was engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. John Holden, next in line of descent, was born in Groton, Mass., and married Sarah Davis, settling in the town of Townsend, Mass .; like his father, he was also a farmer. Their son, David, was born in Townsend, Mass., and died in Hollis, Mass .; he married Sarah Hemingway. David Holden, Jr., our subject's grandfather, was born in Townsend, Mass., July 31. 1769; we find deeds recorded of his pur- chase of 100 acres of land in the town of Groton, Grafton Co., N. H. He settled in what was then styled the wilderness, and built a small log cabin ; later he erected a more pretentious house and necessary farm buildings, cleared the land, and purchased additional acreage, at length owning over 150 acres. He also bought and sold several pieces of property. In his younger days he learned the cooper's trade, and was always more or less engaged in that pursuit. He was a pro- gressive man in all the ideas that that term im- plies. He died about fifty years of age. His wife was Bridget Atwell, who was born May 24, 1770, and died about 1842. This union was blessed with fourteen children. The record is as follows: David, William C., Phineas H., Bridget, Josiah R., Myra A., David, Milton, Adams M., Sarah, Lucetta, Charles C. P., and Mary Ann.
Milton Holden, our subject's father, was born in Groton, N. H., July II, 1804. As he was one of a large family, it was necessary that some of its members take up other occupations than that of farming; with this end in view he set out for Boston, where he worked one year at boating on the Middlesex Canal, from Boston to Lowell. He then went to work for Mr. Henshaw, who carried on a manufacture of saltpeter and glass, and refined the camphor gum. Mr. Holden de- voted most of his attention to the camphor refin- ing, and after thoroughly learning the process he took in his brother, Adams M. Holden, and taught him also. They then went into business in Boston, and a little later bought out all other parties there that were interested in the refining of camphor. In this way they rid themselves of competition, and did a large and successful busi- ness. About the year 1833, Milton Holden sold his interest to his brother and came to Groton, N. H., buying the old homestead and carrying on farming until 1844. In that year he returned to Boston to assist his brother as foreman, leav-
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ing the farm in charge of a man he hired, to fill the wants of his wife and children. In 1851 the railroad was built to Rumney, and Adams M. Holden brought his stock to Rumney, where he could carry on his refining more profitably, for fuel was much cheaper. The two brothers again formed a partnership, built a plant east of Rum- ney Depot on the line of the railroad, and com- menced operations, doing a small business at first. In 1862 our subject's uncle, Adam, died, and our subject's father carried on an exception- ally large business through the war, refining as high as 100 tons of camphor in a year. Milton Holden died in 1888. He was a very active, en- terprising man, and eminently the architect of his own fortunes. He was never at a loss to de- termine the right course in his business; if an opportunity presented itself for the advancement of his fortunes, he was always prepared to grasp the situation and take what was offered. He was a self-made man and worthy of imitation; he was universally admired for his keen business per- ception. In politics he was a Republican, and filled several positions high in honor. He was selectman of the town of Groton, and repre- sented that town in the Legislature. In Rumney he served three years as selectman. He owned a small home near the refinery. Since 1865 his two sons have been associated with him in busi- ness as partners, under the firm name of M. Holden & Sons; all the business since that time to this has been conducted under this name. He married Jane Fairbanks. She died at the age of thirty-eight. The union was blessed with nine children : Angenette, Frances, John M., Will- iam, Charles A., James, Lucy, Sarah A., and an infant.
Charles A. Holden was educated in Groton and Rumney, and assisted his father until he was nineteen years old, when he went to Natick, Mass., and worked at shoemaking until the war broke out. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. C., 32nd Reg. Mass. Vol. Inf., and was discharged in 1865. He was severely wounded in the left side when before Petersburg; he served in all the principal battles in which the Army of the Potomac par- ticipated. After the Rebellion was crushed to earth he returned to Natick, Mass., and followed his trade until November, 1865, when his father offered him an interest in the refining industry. He thereupon came home to Rumney, and has
since been one of the firm. They were doing a good business until the tariff cut down the profits and let in foreign competition. Our subject bought the Otis Blanchard farm of about forty acres, adjoining the plant, where he has enlarged and improved the plant. He inherited the home- stead, and carried that on too, until he rented it lately. He has a fine mica mine that promises well, which he intends to work.
Charles A. Holden married Lucy, daughter of William and Mehitabel (Hills) Greenough of Rumney, N. H. Four children were born to them, of whom two are living. Following is the record: Carrie, died at the age of five and a half months; Willie, died when aged three years; Georgianna married B. B. Weeks, Jr., the station agent of Rumney. She is the mother of one child, Mabel Alline. Alline is at home with her parent.
Our subject is a stanch Republican, and has always been active in town affairs. He was a member of the board of selectmen for two years. He was tax collector two years; member of the school board two years; and moderator for sev- eral years. His religious views are those upheld by the Universalist Church. He is a member of the Olive Branch Lodge, F. & A. M., of Ply- mouth; Knights of Honor; G. A. R. Post, No. 75, of Rumney, and is Past Commander of the same, and has served in all the chairs. He was a delegate-at-large to the National G. A. R. Con- vention of 1894, at Pittsburg. He is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, No. 188, of Run- ney, and served as its first Master.
GUY E. GREELEY, a retired glove manu- facturer of Rumney, N. H., was born at Leb- anon, N. H., April 10, 1817, and is a son of Shubal and Lydia (Whitney) Greeley, and a grandson of Matthew and Abigail (Dow) Gree- ley. Matthew Greeley was born in Salisbury, of Scotch-Irish descent; he was a soldier in tlie Revolutionary War, participating in the Battle of White Plains as a private. After the war he married and moved to Salisbury, N. H., where he bought a farm and resided there a few years engaged in the vocation of an agriculturist. He then sold out and purchased a saw-mill in Canaan, N. H., but later disposed of it and se-
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cured a farm in Enfield, where he was living when he retired from active labor, and went to live with his son, in the State of New York. He soon became homesick and returned to his home in Enfield, N. H., where he lived till his death, which took place after he had passed the age of eighty years. His wife was also blessed with a rugged constitution, and lived to an advanced age. In religious belief they inclined toward the Congregational Church. The children born to them were: Shubal; Ephraim; an infant, un- named; John; Matthew; Sally; Hannah; Achsah; and Lydia.
Our subject's father learned the carpenter's trade, and held to it during his active years as a means of livelihood. His lot was necessarily cast in different towns wherever there was a call for his services; he worked at boat-building for the Government during the War of 1812. His last days were spent on a farm in Rumney, now the residence of his son, Charles, departing this life at the age of eighty-six. His wife also died at the same age, and they were buried on the same day. They surrounded themselves with the fol- lowing children: Ira, Guy, Charles, Peltiah, Nancy, Susanna, Lucia, Lydia, and Abigail.
Our subject was only seven years of age when his father settled in Rumney, and, therefore, re- ceived his education in the town of his present residence. At the age of eighteen he took up the trade of stone-cutting; but after one year's trial he took a dislike to it and went to Hanover to work in a hotel; he was engaged in the livery business for four years as a journeyman. He then began driving a stage from Hanover up through the mountain valleys, and continued at this occupation for twenty years, becoming a very expert driver. In 1857 he went to the State of Georgia and drove a team there until 1860, when he returned to Rumney and bought the old tannery of Shepard & Nichols, and under the firm name of Whitney & Greeley began the manufacture of Plymouth Buck Gloves. After three years he bought out his partner and ran the business alone for three years; he then en- tered into partnership again with Mr. Whitney, and the business was conducted under their com- bined capital and management until Mr. Whitney's death. Since then our subject was the sole proprietor, and remained so until his health failed him, in 1882, and forced his retire-
ment from business life. He has a fine home on Main Street on what is known as the Hadley place; Mr. Greeley had the former building re- moved, making of it a tenement house, and erected a new house in its stead. .
Mr. Greeley married Lydia J., daughter of Dearborn Crawford, and granddaughter of Abel Crawford of White Mountains fame. He was bereaved of her presence in her twenty-ninth year; she was a victim of consumption. His second wife was Abi, daughter of Otis and Mercy (Piper) Whitney. Otis Whitney was born in Hope, Me., March 16, 1802, and is a son of Silas and Susan (Sargent) Whitney. Silas Whit- ney was born in Thornton, N. H., and removed to Maine, where he spent his life engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. Silas Whitney and wife both died between the ages of forty-five and fifty. Their children were: Otis, Sarah, Mary, Jacob S., Susan, Hopestill, and Hannah. Otis Whit- ' ney served seven years apprentice as a carpenter, and worked all his life as a carpenter and as a cabinet-maker, having a reputation of being a very skilled workman. He settled in Rumney, N. H., and built a large house, about the year 1846, where his daughter Sarah now lives. The house was built by his own labor; the lumber was all planed, doors and other articles of fine carpentry were all made by him. He died March 20, 1881 ; his wife was born March 7, 1794, and was called to fairer scenes Jan. 13, 1880. Fol- lowing is the family record: Mary, born June I, 1824; Maria, born Oct. 14, 1825; Abi, born June 24, 1827; Sophia, born July 29, 1829; and Sarah, born July 16, 1831.
Mr. Greeley's children by his last marriage are: Otis Warren and Mary Maria. Otis War- ren was born Dec. 7, 1860, and is general bag- gage master in the Union depot at Boston, Mass. Mary Maria, born July 16, 1864, married Albert M. Spaulding, a camphor refiner of Rumney, N. H. Their union has been blessed with two children: Joseph, born March 17, 1892; and Guy, born July 16, 1894.
Mr. Greeley is one of the substantial men of Rumney, and has always aimed to advance its in- terests whenever an opportunity offered. Politi- cally, he is an earnest advocate of the principles of the Republican party, but has been too busy to give time or attention to the holding of any office. Both he and his wife are Universalists.
HON. GEORGE W. MANN.
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IRA CUMMINGS, a farmer of the town of Groton, N. H., was born in the same town, March 1, 1855, and is a son of Edward and Martha (Clark) Cummings, and a grandson of Ira and Betsey (Hardy) Cummings. Ira Cum- mings, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Groton, on the farm which Daniel Kidder now owns; he lived the calm and honorable life of a farmer. He died with the dropsy at the age of fifty-four. His wife was Betsey Hardy. The children born to them were: Ira, Mary, Emma, Charles, and Edward. In politics he supported Whig prin- ciples.
Edward Cummings was born in Groton, and inherited the homestead, and lived there until after his marriage to Martha, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Neal) Clark, when he removed to the home of his wife's parents, and took care of them in their last days. His father-in-law left him the homestead of 125 acres, which is finely located near the village of North Groton; there he made his home until his death. He built a new set of farm buildings, and was just fairly started in life, when he succumbed to an attack ยท of typhoid fever, due principally to overwork, at the early age of twenty-eight. His wife died at the age of fifty-two of a stroke of paralysis. Two children made up the family: Ira, the subject of this sketch; and Mary, who died at the age of thirty years; she was the wife of Horatio Bryar. Mr. Cummings was a Republican in his political attachments.
Ira Cummings was educated in the public schools, and remained at home with his mother till he reached the age of twenty-two, when he went to Boston and worked three years at the ice business. In 1886 he returned to Groton and bought his mother's farm, and besides carrying on general farming operations, he worked at mica mining; he has superintended several mines. For a period of eight years he ran the stage and mail line from North Groton to Rum- ney. In 1892 our subject sold his farm to F. E. Belden of Boston, who has since organized a mining company, and is developing the mica in- dustry; the mine is one of the best in the town, and is proving very profitable to its owners. Mr. Cummings carries on his farm in a systematic and intelligent manner; he is town librarian, and keeps the library in his home.
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