USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire > Part 31
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DAVID BARTLETT PULSIFER.
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gaged in the manufacture of wood pulp at Bar- net, \'t., in 1885, and remained there in that busi- ness for four years. He then sold his interest and became superintendent of the Fiber-wood Co. at Livermore Falls, continuing in that capacity until the mill burned in 1894. There- upon, in partnership with James N. McCoy, he leased the water power, rebuilt the mill, and put in new and improved machinery. This mill they have continued to operate, employing twelve men; the work is the manufacture of first-class pulp for paper makers, principally of spruce. They have one of the best water powers on the river or in Northern New Hampshire.
Mr. Stanley married Mary R., daughter of Rev. Joseph Boardman of Barnet, Vt., and has five children: Robert R., born March 3, 1889; Herbert W., born Dec. 11, 1890; Agnes, born Sept. 27, 1892; Richard B., born May 5, 1894; Mary, born Dec. 28, 1895. Mr. Stanley is a Re- publican. Socially he is a member of the Pas- sumpsic Lodge, F. & A. M., of St. Johns- bury, Vt.
DAVID BARTLETT PULSIFER of the town of Campton, Grafton Co., N. H., is the son of Moses and Mary (Bartlett) Puisher, grandson of Joseph and Mary (Brown) Pulsifer, and great-grandson of Joseph and Sarah (Lov- ell) Pulsifer. Joseph Pulsifer, Sr., was born in Ipswich, Mass., in 1705, and was married to Sarah Lovell, in 1744. Their children settled in Connecticut, New York, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Joseph Pulsifer, Jr., was born in Ipswich, 1745, and learned the cabinet-maker's trade and worked at it until the times became hard and the people about Ipswich were pretty well supplied. The demand for such articles as he made was not so strong in those days as it is now; we are liv- ing in an age when every family has an oppor- tunity of furnishing the house with good furni- ture. But it was not 'so in those days, and accordingly Joseph Pulsifer longed for a farm he could call his own and a place where he could turn his trade to some practical use. With this object in view he set out with his wife, on horse- back, for the new lands, which could then be
found as near as New Hampshire. They settled in Campton, N. H., still the home of their de- scendants. The river farms being pretty well taken when he came, he took up a farm near the center of the town, where he lived a few years, but finding the soil sandy and not strong enough to raise heavy crops, he, in company with Chiliub Brainard, started out to look for a better loca- tion. Climbing tall trees to survey the country they finally decided upon the hill, where David B. and Thomas S. Pulsifer now live, as the best spot to be found. Brainard cleared the farm where our subject now lives, and Joseph Pulsifer cleared the one owned by Thomas S. Pulsifer. Joseph built himself a small frame house, and the nails being exceedingly scarce, and very ex- pensive, he fastened the boards and even the shingles with wooden pegs. Besides clearing the land of the heavy timber, he supplied the neighbors with furniture. There being no saw- mills he would cut down large, straight-grained maples, split them up into boards and with the assistance of an adz and plane, prepare them for desks, tables, stands, etc. With the help of his sons, who were large strong men, the shortest being five feet eleven inches in height, he cleared the 100 acres, which has since proved to be one of the best farms in town. Joseph Pulsifer died in 1832, and his wife in 1830. Their children were: Mary, married Darius Willey; Joseph, married Abigail Willey; Sally, married Joshua Fletcher; Annie, married Samuel Elliott; Han- nah, married Tristram Bartlett; John, married Polly Palmer; Moses, married Mary Bartlett : Elizabeth, married Jacob Gidding; Charles, mar- ried Nancy Webster; Ruth, married James Bur- beck.
Moses Pulsifer was born in the town of Camp- ton, N. H., in 1784, and married Mary, daughter of Deacon David Bartlett, a resident of New- buryport, Mass. Moses bought the C. Brainard lot of 100 acres, where he built his house and proceeded to improve the land. A short time later he bought 100 acres more, which inchided Mt. Prospect, with its elevation of 2,963 feet above sea level, which has become one of the most noted peaks in this section of the State. A wagon road has since been laid out to the top, many hundred people ascend each year, as it overlooks the surrounding mountains; valleys, with their rivers, Squam Lake, Winnipiseogee,
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with its many summer resorts. Near the peak of the mountain are two cold springs, and the noted Miser's Cave. He built the house and barns now owned by our subject about the year 1817. In his political affiliations, he was a Whig, and later a Republican; he held some of the minor offices of the town. Both he and his wife were active members of the Congregational Church. Moses Pulsifer departed this life at the age of seventy-one; his wife rounded out eighty-two years before she was called to join her friends and loved ones gathered on the golden shore. Their children were as follows: Mary Ann, Louise, Rebecca, who died Nov. 5, 1848, aged thirty-two years; Hannah; Joanna; David B .; Catherine B., died at the age of three years; and Sarah L.
David Bartlett Pulsifer, the subject of this notice, attended the district and high schools of his native town, and being the only son, he re- mained at home with his parents and cared for them in their last days. He has since carried on general farming on the old homestead under methods which are worthy of imitation. His motto has been to do well whatever. he did, and thereby has succeeded through life. He bought the Huckins farm adjoining, and with the assist- ance of his son, J. Warren, he built a fine set of buildings and then presented farm and buildings to his son, who has since proved himself a model young farmer. J. Warren Pulsifer has taken a few summer boarders, for the scenery is very beautiful from his place, but he has mainly con- fined himself to general farming operations. Our subject has bought other pieces of out- lying land, making altogether a farm of over 300 acres. He has also remodeled the buildings and made a great many improvements on the land that add to its value and appearance. He keeps a choice dairv and sheep, in which stock his second son, George Edwin, is a partner. The highest of his ambitions is to teach his two sons to succeed, and show them by their father's suc- cess that what man has done man can do.
Mr. Pulsifer married Isabella W., daughter of Reuben and Sally (Johnson) Draper. She was born in Plymouth, Mav 6, 1825, and has proved herself a faithful wife and a loving mother. Three children were born to them: Flora L., Toseph Warren, George Edwin. Flora L. was born Oct. 18, 1859, and married Henry C.
Smith, a farmer of the town of Holderness. They have two children: Ralph W. and Edith I. Joseph Warren was born Oct. 13, 1861, and married Marietta Merrill of Rumney. George Edwin was born March 21, 1864, and married Lizzie G. Pulsifer. Our subject is a Republican, and has held office as selectman for five years, and other minor offices as well; in 1896 he was elected to represent his town in the State Legis- lature. The family are active members of the Congregational Church.
As a leading farmer of Grafton Co. and worthy citizen, it affords us much pleasure in being able to present to the readers of this book the por- trait of Mr. Pulsifer, which is shown in connec- tion with this personal history on another page.
WILLIAM KENNEY, a prominent member of the farming community of Littleton, N. H., was born on the place that is still his home, Dec. 20, 1867; and is a son of John and Kath- erine (Dooley) Kenney, and a grandson of James and Ellen (Donohue) Kenney. James Kenney was a farmer, and lived in Ireland. Our subject's father was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, and learned the trade of a carpenter as his means of support ; he came to New York when a young man and worked on the railroad at his trade. being at one time boss on building the railroad from Nashua to Wells River, and to St. Johns- bury, Vt. His wife, Katherine Dooley, was born in the same county, and came to Boston, Mass., when a young woman; she was a daughter of John Dooley. Our subject's father and this young lady, although from the same county, had never met before coming to this country, one of the strange pranks of fortune bringing them together. Having been married and having ac- cumulated enough means to purchase a farm, they bought the I. Goodall farm of 200 acres in the town of Littleton, and settled down to a com- fortable rural existence. Mr. Kenney was not satisfied until he had made his farm one of the best in his part of the town by many needed im- provements. In 1868 he built himself a nice house and barns; his interests in live stock is extensive, owning twenty head of cattle and a flock of fifty sheep. He died Jan. 28, 1891. His
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wife still resides on the homestead with the sub- ject of this sketch. Their children were: James, born Oct. 20, 1851, an engineer at Newport, Vt. He married Mary A. Londergon, and has one child, Charlie. The next child was Michael, born July 20, 1853, who is a plumber by trade and lives in Minneapolis, Minn .; he married Mary Stack. Ellen, born July 6, 1855, is living at home. Katherine, born March 9, 1857, married James Callahan, and has borne him five chil- dren: Mary, Katie, Annie, Daniel J., and John H. John, born May 12, 1858, is in the lumber business at Mt. Sunapee, N. H. Edward, born Oct. 9, 1859, married Lula White, and runs a restaurant. William, the next child, is the sub- ject of this short biography. Henry, born Jan. 9, 1869, married Lizzie Holland, and is clerking in Boston. Mary died young. Our subject's parents have always been devout members of the Catholic Church.
William Kenney attended the public schools for his education, and has always remained at home on the farm, and at the death of his father succeeded to its full management. He has proved himself a model, young farmer, thanks to the excellent instruction accorded him by his late father; the farm has steadily increased in value and utility, and is a source of considerable income to Mr. Kenney. It is located at Mann's Hill. Mr. Kenney is a Democrat in his political attachments.
ARTHUR W. EMERSON, editor of the Republic-Journal of Littleton, N. H., was born in Sunapee Harbor, N. H., Jan. 28, 1860, and is a son of Joseph and Cecelia (Simpkins) Emer- SO11.
Our subject's father was born in Methuen, Mass., in 1819, and was left an orphan when a very young lad. He learned cabinet-making as his trade, and having very little opportunity of obtaining a fair education, he devoted the spare moments and chances that he could obtain to making up for what he had lost in his youth. He was a great lover of books, and very early in life fixed his ambition on being a minister. He finally became a circuit-rider, and later on en- tered the Methodist Conference of New Hamp-
shire, and was appointed pastor of the M. E. Church at Penacook, then called Fisherville, where he was located until the outbreak of the late Rebellion. Feeling that he could do more by his example and service in upholding the Union, he enlisted in the 7th Reg. N. H. Vol. Inf., and served as chaplain and postmaster of the regiment; he was captured at Newmarket Heights, Va., Sept. 29, 1863, and was exchanged and returned to his regiment Jan. 14, 1864, broken down in health through his confinement in the terrible Confederate prisons. After the close of the war, he settled in Fernandina, Fla., and was presiding elder of East Florida; while crossing the St. Johns River in a small boat the craft capsized, and he was drowned in 1875. His wife died in Jacksonville, in 1888. Five children were born to them, as follows: two children, who died when infants; Hattie E., who is superintend- ent of the Boylan Industrial Home for Colored Girls; Francena, who married D. B. Plumer of Lakewood, N. J., now and for many years a suc- cessful manager of resort hotels; and Arthur W., the subject of this sketch.
Our subject at the age of fourteen years en- tered a local printing office in Fernandina, Fla., and there served his apprenticeship as a printer, but being desirous of an education, he left the printing office, and with his sisters came to New Hampshire. He worked at farming and in an iron foundry to earn the necessary money for a good education. He then entered the Man- chester Union office of Manchester, N. H., where he worked for three years, after that putting in one year in the Mirror office of the same city, and also working in the printing offices of Con- cord. For three summers he had charge of the Pigeon Cove Hotel at Pigeon Cove, Mass. In 1887 he was the editor and manager of the Times and Journal at Lakewood, N. J., but re- turned to Pittsfield, in his native State, as one of the proprietors of the Suncook Valley Times. He sold out his interest there about one year later, and for about five years following he was editor and part proprietor of the Bellows Falls Times at Bellows Falls, Vt.
In 1894 Mr. Emerson came to Littleton as manager for the Plumer Publishing Co., and has since been editor of the Republic-Journal, a paper established by Chester Carey and H. II. Metcalf about 1865: to-day it has a circulation
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of 2,700 copies per week, the largest circulation of any paper in the State north of Concord. Mr. Emerson is a man of splendid executive ability, and most versatile in the use of the pen; he thoroughly understands all branches of the pub- lishing business, from the duties. of compositor to those of the editor. He is firmly established in the good-will of the many patrons of the paper, and is much respected by all who have the pleas- ure of knowing him.
He married Miss Mabel Cross Day, daughter of William F. Day of Bradford, Mass., a retired shoe manufacturer, and they have four children, who are named Paul A., Cecelia D., Dorothy, and Kenneth W. J. Mr. Emerson and family make their home in a fine residence on High Street.
DR. VALENTINE MANAHAN, a retired eminent physician and surgeon of Enfield, N. H., was born in Sutton, N. H., Nov. 17, 1825, and is a son of John and Lucintha (Filch) Mana- han, and grandson of Adam and Ruth (Gutter- son) Manahan.
Our subject's grandfather was born in the north part of Ireland, and . like most natives of that part of the Emerald Isle was of Scotch descent. As early as 1789 we find a record of him at Methuen, Mass., subsequent to which time, and following his marriage, he settled in Deering, N. H., where he died at the age of seventy-four. His first wife, Dr. Mana- han's grandmother, was a descendant from one of the early families, being a daughter of Will- iam Gutterson, and granddaughter of Deacon William Gutterson. She died in the prime of her young womanhood, and left four children: John, Richard, William, and Joseph. By a sec- ond union, Adam Manahan became the parent of six children, as follows: Stephen, Valentine, Samuel T., Ruth, Polly, and Elvira.
When a young man, John Manahan settled in Sutton, N. H., where he followed the occupation of farming until 1826, in which year he moved to New London; he was born May I, 1792, in Methuen, Mass., and died in New London at the age of seventy. He was a Whig politically, and stood the draft of the War of 1812. His wife,
Lucintha, a daughter of Benjamin Filch, was born in 1800, and at the age of eighty-two obeyed the invisible summons to lay down life's weary burden and come to Him who giveth eternal life. There were born to our subject's parents the following eight children: Emily, Lucinda, Mary, Valentine, Abby A., Newton, Frances A., and William H.
Dr. Manahan's private school education was supplemented by an attendance at New London and Pembroke Academies, after which, in 1846, he became a student of medicine under the direc- tion of Dr. H. C. Bickford of New London, later on studying in the offices of Dr. Thomas Chad- bourne and Dr. E. G. Moore of Concord, N. H., and then took a course of lectures at Dartmouth College. He then continued his medical course under Prof. E. E. Phelps of Windsor, Vt., one year. He received his degrees and diploma as a physician from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Penn., which he attended, and from which he graduated March 9, 1850. For a short time he practiced in Antrim, N. H., and then moved to Springfield, N. H., where he followed his profession from 1851 to 1866, removing from the latter place in 1866 to Enfield, where he suc- ceeded Dr. Currie. For twenty-two years he faithfully and successfully performed the duties of his calling and established a reputation second to none in his vicinity, enjoying a wide-spread and lucrative practice, enabling him to retire, in 1888, from medical practice, relinquishing at that time his office to Dr. J. A. Leet, and since giving his attention only to such critical cases that his patrons are unwilling to trust to less-experienced hands. Few men have proved themselves better adapted to the avocation of their choice; ever ready with a cordial greeting, a kind word, and a pleasant smile, his cheerful presence in the sick- room has been a tonic in itself, and to all classes, whether poor or rich, high or low, his services have been uniformly extended. Dr. Manahan is a member of the New Hampshire Medical Society, and of the American Medical Society. Socially he is a member of the Social Lodge, F. & A. M., of Enfield; and St. Andrews Chapter, R. A. M., of Lebanon. He was a member of the board of education of Springfield, N. H., from 1852 to 1856, and has been state justice of the peace since 1852. He has traveled extensively in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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Dr. Manahan was joined in marriage, Oct. 21, 1852, to Miss Abby E. Porter, daughter of Hon. Reuben Porter of Sutton, N. H., and later of Warner, N. H. Mrs. Manahan died Jan. 5. 1856. leaving no issue. As Dr. Manahan has never been blessed with children of his own, being of a free and liberal disposition, he took great in- terest in rearing and educating a niece and nephew, and now has a young lady attending Radcliff College.
HON. WYMAN PATTEE. The gentleman, whose name heads this sketch, stands among the first business men of the county, and of the town of Enfield, where he makes his home. Of late years he has withdrawn himself from many for- mer fields of activity and usefulness, and is lead- ing a retired life for the most part, although a director and stockholder in the Enfield Mills Co. still. He was born in the town of Canaan, N. H., Aug. 28, 1826; he is a son of James and Rebecca (Currier) Pattee, grandson of Daniel and Judith (Barnard) Pattee, and a great-grand- son of Capt. Asa Pattee. Capt. Asa Pattee died in 1825, aged ninety-one years. He was a vol- unteer in the Revolutionary War, and a captain of State militia. His name is included among those of the pioneers of Canaan, settling on the south roads at an early date. He secured some 200 acres of land by purchase.
His son, Col. Daniel Pattee, inherited the homestead, and became one of the leading and representative farmers of that town, occupying a prominent place in the official records of his time, serving as selectman, and in many minor offices of the town. He was born March 8, 1764, and died March 2, 1850; his wife's birth is given as May 17, 1766, and her death Oct. 23, 1820. Their children were as follows: Judith, born Jan. 24, 1787; Betsey, Nov. 5, 1788; Dorothy, Sept. 10, 1777; Marian, April 21, 1793; Mehita- bel, Feb. 10, 1795; Sylvester B., Nov. 19, 1797; Daniel, Jr., Jan. 12, 1799; James, Jan. 25, 1802; Moses D., Feb .. 6, 1804: John, April 8, 1806; Hannah D., Feb. 27, 1808: and Lewis M., Jan. 25, 1814. Col. Daniel married again after the de- cease of his first wife, the bride being Dorcas Floyd, who was born March 21, 1785, and died
June 18, 1868; this union resulted in one child, Jessie, who was born Feb. 10, 1823.
James Pattee, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Canaan, and in- herited the homestead, having cared for his parents in their last days. In the State militia he held a commission as colonel. About the year 1868 he retired from active farm labor, and removed to Enfield and bought the residence where his daughter now lives; his most pleasant employment was in watching the progress of his sons, who followed the example of thrift and in- dustry he set for them. He served as selectman in his native town, and was for many years an acknowledged leader. His death occurred Sept. 28, 1872. His first wife was Rebecca, daughter of Nathan Currier; she was born April 6, 1803, and departed this life for the one promised to Christians, March 12, 1841. The following chil- dren were born of this union: Wyman, our sub- ject: George W., born May 9, 1829; James F., June 19, 1831 ; Ann R., Feb. 25, 1835; Burns W., Jan. 16, 1837; and Angelina, Sept. 26, 1840. Mr. Pattee married as his second wife Rosamond H. Jones, who was born March 10, 1812, and died February, 1896. Two children were the issue of this second union: Ella M., Nov. 20, 1846; and George W., Feb. 8, 1850. Of all this family, the only ones living to-day are Wyman, Ann R., and Ella M.
For an education our subject attended the dis- trict school, and Canaan Union Academy, from which latter institution he graduated in 1841. He then went to Cambridge, Mass., and worked in a bakery for two years and a half, returning to Canaan, where, with Mr. Perley, under the firm name of Pattee & Perley, he carried on a general store, and conducted a lumber business; they owned their own mills, and bought the timber land, cleared it, and marketed the product. After ten years at this business in Canaan he sold out and removed to Ottawa, Canada, with his part- ner in 1859 and carried on a large lumber busi- ness, supplying the trade from their large saw- mills. Three years marked the length of his stav in Ottawa, Canada: he then came to Enfield. and was elected Sheriff of Grafton Co., and served in that capacity about four years; during this time he was appointed to settle the estate of Caleb Dyer, and it consumed so large an amount of time-in fact his whole time-that he resigned
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from the position of Sheriff. About the same time lie leased the Shaker Mill, and from then until Nov. 15, 1894, he was an extensive manu- facturer, dealer, and shipper of flour, grain, and feed; on the above date the mills were sold, and our subject retired to enjoy the fruits of his years of toil. But he was not permitted to lead a life of inactivity, for in 1895 the Enfield Mill Co. was incorporated, and our subject, as one of its large stockholders, is interested in the manufac- ture of yarns, which go to meet the demands of the Baltic Mills and others of the same char- acter. The new mill is 112 feet long by 60 feet broad, and is carried up three stories, and will employ fifty hands. It is built on the site of the old bedstead factory, which was formerly owned and conducted by the community of Shakers. Our subject's business experience and financial ability have caused him to be sought by various corporations to fill important offices in their ser- vice. For thirty years he served as auditor of the Northern R. R., and is a director of the Peterboro & Hillsboro R. R. During the life of the Mascoma Fire Insurance Co., he was one of its directors. Upon the organization of the Na- tional Bank of White River Junction, Vt., Feb. 6, 1886, he was elected a director, and has since filled that position.
Mr. Pattee purchased the house formerly known as Dr. Currier's residence, and has made of it a handsome structure, both within and with- out, renovating it throughout and altering and remodeling it wherever his good judgment dic- tated it would be best, so that now it is essen- tially a modern house, and is fitted with the latest appliances for comfort and convenience. Mr. Pattee is a strong Republican, and in 1860 was appointed by the Governor and Council to the office of Sheriff of Grafton Co. In 1875 and 1876 he represented the town ably in the legisla- tive halls of Concord. In 1855 and 1856 he rep- resented the town of Canaan at Concord. As town treasurer he served thirteen years, and as moderator sixteen years. In his religious views he is decidedly liberal; he attends the Univer- salist Church, and is a generous contributor for its support.
Our subject's nuptials with Mary Jane Burley were consummated May 13, 1857; she is a daugh- ter of Joshua and Mary (Holt) Burley. Joshua Burley was born in the town of Lyme, and was
a stone-mason by trade and a contractor for heavy stone work. He built all the abutments of the railroad bridges from Canada to White River Junction. Many had attempted and failed to make the rock cut on the Boston & Lowell R. R., near Lowell, Mass., but Mr. Burley took the contract, and completed the work, per the speci- fications. In 1854 he moved to Iowa City, then the capital of the State of Iowa, and bought a large farm, where he spent the remaining days of his life. He belonged to the famous "Gray- beard" Regiment during the late Rebellion; his health broke down while in the service, and he died in the hospital at Keokuk, Iowa, in 1865, being over sixty years old, his birth occurring in 1803. His wife was born in 1807, and was taken to her long home at the age of eighty-four. There were born to them the following children: Mary Jane, John D., Elizabeth A., Gordon, Charles H., William F., Georgette, Mary J., Wyman H., Elizabeth A., Harriet E., Emma, Ella M., and George I.
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