USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire > Part 32
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Three sons have been born to our subject. The eldest, Edward B., born Feb. 26, 1860, died Feb. 23, 1863. James Wyman, born July 27, 1864, married Miss Marie Valentine Rutter, and is bookkeeper and paymaster of the Baltic Mills, and also a member of the Enfield Mill Co. John Holt, born Dec. 23, 1867, is a graduate of Tufts College. He married Gertrude A. Way, and re- sides in Melrose, Mass., with his wife and child, Madeline Emily. He is assistant receiving teller of the Bank of Redemption of Boston, Mass.
CAPT. BENJAMIN COLBURN, a leading farmer and respected citizen of the town of Leb- anon, was born in the above town, Feb. 25, 1824. He is a son of Benjamin W. Colburn and Betsey Wood, daughter of Ephraim Wood, and grand- son of Stephen Colburn and Mariam Wood, daughter of Joseph Wood.
Stephen Colburn was among the first settlers of the town, and was always engaged in farming. While a young man he served in the Revolu- tionary War, for which his wife received a pen- sion after his death. He was a sturdy, hard- working man, with little time to spend in a social way, but yet he won the hearty friendship of his pioneer neighbors by his cheerful and liberal dis-
1
ASA A. BROWN.
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position. He died at the age of sixty-six; Mrs. Colburn lived to the good old age of ninety-four. Their children were: Henrietta, Orrin, Amos, Austin, Melinthia, Affie, Sally, Emma, Alpheus, and Benjamin W.
Our subject's father cared for his parents, and upon his mother's death inherited the home- stead; he did not remain there very long after his mother died, but sold the property and bought 100 acres of George Wood, where he made his home ever afterward, carrying on gen- eral farming, dying there at the extreme age of ninety-two years. The last few years of his life were spent without the comforting presence of his wife, who preceded him to the "fields beyond the swelling flood" at the age of seventy-six. Mr. Colburn was a Whig and later a Republican, and an attendant of the Congregational Church. During his occupancy of the farm he rebuilt the old buildings and added some new ones, besides making other general improvements. There were born to him eight children, named as fol- lows: Cynthia, Maria, Benjamin, Albert, Martha J., G. Henry, M. Elizabeth, and Frances.
Our subject, after attending the district school, finished his education at Pembroke Academy. Returning to his father's home from the acad- emy, he assisted him and cared for his parents, and in due time inherited the property. He has since built a new barn and made other improve- ments that have added real value to the farm, to which he has added 150 acres by purchase, mak- ing 250 acres in all in the farm. For many years he made a specialty of sheep raising, but now de- votes his time to dairying, owning some twenty head of fine cattle. In 1896 Mr. Colburn, in com- pany with George H. Billings, built an under- ground brick building, II feet wide by 200 feet long, steam-heated, which is for the purpose of cultivating mushrooms, in which branch of agri- culture Mr. Billings has had a wide experience. This building is the only one of its kind in the United States, and it is the object of the owners to supply the city markets in the winter with this delicate edible.
Mr. Colburn married Susan A., daughter of George and Harriet (Harley) Wood. Our sub- ject has three children. Charles E., born Feb. I, 1849, married Emma Harris, and lives in Everett, Mass. He is a conductor on the electric railway of that place and owns considerable real estate.
Frank E., born July 7, 1852, married Ella More- house, and lives in Applegate, Cal. He owns and superintends a mine, and also owns a large ranch. He has four children: Ernest, Myrtle, Jessie, and Mattie. Both our subject's sons are well advanced in the degrees of Masonry. Mr. Colburn's only daughter, Inez E., born Dec. 27, 1857, married George H. Billings, and has three children: Ellen F., born Dec. 22, 1886; Oscar H., April 23, 1890; and Edna B., Dec. 14, 1893. Our subject, although a stanch Republican, has never held office. He and his wife attend the Congregational Church, of which they are con- sistent members. He is a member of Franklin Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 6; St. Andrews Chapter, R. A. M .; and Washington Council. He was a captain in the State militia.
ASA A. BROWN, a prominent lumberman of Wentworth, N. H., whose portrait appears on the opposite page, is the son of Josiah P. Brown, and grandson of Benjamin Brown. Benjamin Brown was born in Old Hampton, Mass., and passed the years of his youth there, removing soon after marriage to Tilton, N. H., where he remained until his death. He was a farmer by occupation. He married Miss Philbrook of San- bornton, N. H. Five children resulted from this union: Josiah P., Hannah, Stacy, Joseph, and Benjamin.
Josiah P. Brown was born in Old Hampton, but was reared and received his education in Til- ton, where his father moved in the early part of Josiah's life. He was a man of strong personal character, eager in the acquisition of knowledge, and strong to overcome obstacles. His educa- tion was not confined to the limited schooling he received, but was extended by the large amount of reading he did. He had strong, sensible opinions of his own on most subjects, and his judgment in matters of doubt was much in de- mand. He was a natural mechanic, but followed farming most of his life. He was a good musi- cian, and the best mathematician of his town. His position in life was of his own making, and he was respected by all for his noble, honest efforts in gaining an education and in making a way in life. The greater part of his days were spent in the town of Wentworth.
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He married Nancy Brown; she lived to the age of seventy-seven. Her husband was a sojourner on this earth almost the same length of time, for he died wlien seventy-eight years old. Their children were: Bradbury T., Ben- jamin, Sarah J. (Cross), Joseph (deceased), John G. (deceased), Dorinda A. (Webster), Hannah E. (Blood), Byron W., Alonzo, who ended life's pilgrimage in his sixth year; Asa A., Marshall J. (deceased), Mary A. (Conant) (deceased), Martha A. (Waldron) (deceased), and Alfonzo. Mr. and Mrs. Brown were attendants of the Free Will Baptist Church. He was a Democrat, and served as selectman a few years.
Asa A. Brown, the subject of this sketch, was born March 31, 1837, in Wentworth. He was educated in the schools of his native town. At an early age he began to follow the milling busi- ness as his occupation. He was engaged in Gov- ernment work at Watertown, Mass., for four years. He then went to Vershire, Vt., where he worked at his trade for fourteen years. In 1882 he returned to Wentworth and bought his brother's mill, located in the southwestern por- tion of the town, where he has been actively engaged in lumbering ever since. He owns a good farm and 3,000 acres of timber land. His average production of lumber at his mill is about 1,000,000 feet per year.
In 1866 he joined his fortunes in marriage with those of Viola B., daughter of John Philbrook of Tilton, N. H. They have a family of five chil- dren: Evarts P. married Addie Whicher of Wentworth, Lester R., Hubert L., Harold C., Clyde C. Mr. Brown is a Democrat and has a keen interest in public affairs. He served as selectman of Vershire, Vt., during his residence there. He is well liked by all his neighbors and friends; his integrity in business is unquestioned, and his social and private life is blameless.
LEWIS R. BROWN, superintendent of the Palermo Mica Mine, and a resident of North Groton, N. H., was born in the town of Warren, N. H., Nov. 3, 1853, and is a son of John and Mary (Robinson) Brown.
Our subject's father was born in Hebron, N. H., and was engaged early in life in contract work on the construction of the railroad from
Concord to Warren .. Upon his retirement from contracting he bought the Paul Chase farm in the town of Groton, where he carried on general farming until his death, at the age of seventy years. His wife preceded him to that country from which no traveler returns. He was a Re- publican in politics, but never held any office, as he had no aspirations in that direction. Six chil- dren were born to him: Mary A. and Myra A., twins; John R .; Abbie E .; Frank R .; and Lewis R.
The subject of this memoir was educated in the public schools and entered the lumber busi- ness as a starter in his struggle for a livelihood and a comfortable competence. In 1876 he pur- chased the Rev. Kinne place in North Groton, and began work in the Fletcher Mica Mine. From 1878 to 1882 he was foreman in the Val- encia Mica Mines, where he proved his excellent judgment and expert knowledge of mica mines by predicting for it a large degree of success. He then took charge of the Palermo Mica Mine, and for nine years was its efficient superintend- ent, and most instrumental in developing what has shown itself to be the largest producing mine in the New England States, with a product of the very finest quality; the first prize was taken by this mine at the World's Fair in 1893. For the first four years the mine turned out an aver- age of three tons of mica in a day, and at times when running at its full capacity the output has reached as high a figure as seven tons per day in the rough. While engaged in this line of work Mr. Brown has taken out of the mine some of the finest specimens of crystal quartz, chryso- beryle and chrysolite, rubellite and tourmaline, and has built up a collection that is unrivaled for beauty and value by any in this section of the State, at least.
Mr. Brown married Miss Annie M. Bryar, daughter of Jonathan K. and Lydia P. (Fellows) Bryar of Groton; one child was the result of this union: Annie Eva, born Jan. 30, 1892. In poli- tics Mr. Brown is a Democrat, and although fully capable of filling any office at the gift of his fellow-townsmen, he has been forced to refuse all offers of political advancement, because of the confining nature of his work, which does not allow him much spare time to devote to matters extraneous to his business. In his religious views he is liberal.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
HON. EUGENE A. WELLS, of the firm of Wells & Flanders, owners of large cider-mill and saw-mills of Enfield, N. H., was born in the town of Canaan, N. H., Aug. 15, 1851. He is a son of Peter S. and Arvilla (Kimball) Wells, grandson of Ezekiel and Polly (Colby) Wells, and great- grandson of Ezekiel, Sr., and Phebe (Meacham) Wells.
Our subject's great-grandfather, born in the State of Connecticut, was one of the first settlers of the town of Canaan, taking up his residence on the farm where E. W. Dow now lives. He later moved to Canaan Street and built the large house, now the home of Mrs. Wallace, being one of the best houses in the town at that time. He owned large tracts of land, improved and other- wise, and was an extremely popular and well- liked man among his fellow-townsmen. He served as high sheriff of the county, and was an officer of the Revolutionary War. His death occurred at the age of seventy-two; his wife lived on to the advanced age of ninety-four, when she too obeyed the invisible summons. Of sixteen children born to them, the following grew up to manhood and womanhood: Ezekiel, Jr., Caleb, Enos, La Fayette, Phebe, Hannah, Mahala, Polly, and Sally.
Ezekiel Wells, Jr., inherited the homestead and followed farming and the trade of a carpenter; he was also skilled in brick-laying. He died at the age of eighty-four, and his wife at the age of ninety-four. He was a colonel in the State militia, and a Democrat in his political prefer- ences. The children born to them were: Peter S .; Ezekiel, Jr .; Louisa; Polly; and four who died in their youth.
Peter S. Wells was born in the town of Canaan and lived on the homestead, which was his by in- heritance, until 1876, and was a very dutiful son to his parents, and cared for them most tenderly in their last feeble years. In 1876 he sold the farm to S. J. and E. W. Dow, and bought an in- terest in the very mills which our subject and Mr. Flanders now operate, and, under the firm name of Blake & Wells, ran it some four years, when he sold his interest to his son, Eugene A., and Mr. Blake sold his share to H. Flanders. Then our subject's father retired from active business. During the management of himself and Mr. Blake, shingles and building timbers, both in the rough and planed, were manufac-
tured. He owned a nice home in Enfield Vil- lage, and lived to enjoy eighty years of life, and was sick only the six months preceding his de- cease. He was always a strong, sturdy, hard- working man, who seemed to take a delight in work, and to have a corresponding dislike to being idle. He was a Democrat, and served the town of Canaan in the capacity of representative and selectman; in his religious affiliations he was a Universalist. His first wife, Elmira, daughter of Asa Paddleford, died at the age of twenty- seven, and left two children. The elder, Francis H., was a railroad section boss for some twenty- five years, and then bought a mill in Enfield, and ran it for twelve years, after which he retired at the age of fifty-eight. His wife, Sarah Webster, bore him one child, Katie, who married L. S. Nelson. George F., the younger son, lives in the town of Canaan, N. H. His second wife, our subject's mother, was a daughter of Abraham Kimball, and lived to the age of seventy-six. The children by the second marriage were Fred B. and Eugene A., our subject. Fred B. Wells re- sides at Montreal, Canada, where he is president of a railroad, and a very successful business man.
Eugene A. Wells, after finishing his studies in the district school, began a business life as a clerk in a store; when his father moved to En- field and began milling, our subject worked with him a short time, and then in company with H. Flanders he rented a part of the mill and power, and manufactured butter tubs and sap pails, until the whole property was deeded to him and his partner. Since they have had complete control of the mill Wells & Flanders have enlarged it, putting in a new water wheel and introduced the very latest and most approved types of machin- ery for planing, shingle-making, pressing cider, etc .; the cider business is very extensive, and has made as high as 1,496 barrels of the liquor in one season; they have both custom work and a large wholesale and retail business. The mills do the largest business of their kind in this sec- tion of the county. Mr. Wells also carries on a coal and wood business, of which he is sole pro- prietor, and owns a choice farm in Enfield, where he has a granite quarry. During his business life in Enfield, he has also been interested in the meat and produce business, and has dealt con- siderable in real estate, owning at the present
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time a single tenement, a double tenement, and one dwelling intended for three families. In 1895 Mr. Wells built for his own use the fine home on Wells Street, which is fitted with all the modern appliances for ease and comfort, and is a notable addition to the number of handsome structures which adorn the streets of Enfield. From the time of his first residence in the town he has taken a lively interest in its development and growth, and has been among the foremost of the promoters of its welfare. He is an uncompro- mising Democrat, and votes the straight ticket; he represented the town of Enfield in the Legis- lature in 1877-78; was selectman in 1889; was town treasurer one year, besides being a member of the school committee, and holding other offices of somewhat lesser importance.
Mr. Wells married Kate E. Nichols, daughter of Benjamin Nichols of Canaan, N. H., and has three children: Lona A., born May 8, 1880; Ned E., Aug. 29, 1882; and Robert B., Feb. 4, 1887.
COL. JEWETT D. HOSLEY (deceased) of West Lebanon was the son of Luke G. and Polly (Niles) Hosley, and was born in Hillsboro in 1820. Luke G. Hosley was a native of Gill, Mass .; he was a noted teacher of his day, and a very talented musician, composing numerous pieces of great merit, that are sung to-day. His career was cut short in the prime of his life, not being permitted to pass the half-century mark. His wife departed this life about. the age of seventy-three. They reared a fine family of seven children; the record is as follows: Jane, Minerva, Jewett D., Abigail, Jeannette, and John and Joseph, twins.
Col. Jewett D. Hosley secured his education in the common schools of Hillsboro and in Han- cock Academy, an institution which was in high favor in those days, but has since given way to other schools with larger endowments. He was also fortunate in securing instruction under the celebrated educator, Rev. Mr. Canning, in his private school at Gill, Mass. For four years fol- lowing his school days he was a member of the household of ex-Governor Pierce, the father of our ex-President, Franklin Pierce. In this way he became closely associated with the ex-Presi-
dent and was a warm personal admirer. He early evinced splendid business talent, and iden- tified himself in the lumber business of his native town; he continued in this connection till 1847, when he became associated in the building of the Northern R. R. He served as superintendent of laying track one year, until 1848, when the road was completed, when he received the appoint- ment of superintendent of the Western terminus of that line, having charge of all the road's in- terests and the dispatching of trains at White River Junction and West Lebanon, where he located. He discharged the duties of his office with great credit to himself and to the acceptance of the traveling public; he was remarkably faith- ful to the interests of the railroad, very rarely absenting himself during the thirty-five years of his service.
Col. Hosley was a Democrat of the old school and was ever true to the principles of his party in every detail; however, he believed in a fair battle, and could never be accused of intolerance. His political career was remarkably free from any of the enmities and heart-burnings so com- mon to American politics. He has often been a candidate for office, but owing to the normal heavy Republican majority, he has almost in- variably been on the losing side, although at several times pushing his opponent very closely. Since 1853 he has been a candidate of his party for one or other of the branches of the Legisla- ture ten times, but party lines were too closely drawn to allow the breaking down of party bar- riers to honor one in an opposing party of how- ever great merit. He was once successful in his fight, being elected a selectman in the town when it was Republican more than two to one. He was three times the unsuccessful candidate in the old Eleventh District for State Senator, once a candidate for councillor in 1886, and twice a can- didate for Congress, in 1881 and in 1883. Under Pierce's administration he was appointed Post- master of West Lebanon, and again under Presi- dent Buchanan did he fill the office. He was a trustee of Tilden Ladies' Seminary since about 1856, and was for a time chairman of its execu- tive committee. His title of colonel was won originally as a member of the staff of Governor Henry Churchill when he was only twenty-two years of age. He was afterwards colonel of the 26th Reg. of New Hampshire Militia. Socially,
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he was a member of Blazing Star Lodge of Con- cord. He was a supporter of the church located in his section of the town, although not a mem- ber. He was at all times and under every cir- cumstance connected with any movement that he thought would tend to improve and benefit the town.
In 1844 Col. Hosley entered into the marriage compact with Mary S. Moore of Hillsboro; five children resulted from this union. Three of them are now living: Anna A. (White); Jennie, who resides at West Lebanon, and is postmistress at that place, being appointed by President Cleveland; she is extremely well-liked in society and is very popular among her associates; she is an attendant of the Congregational Church. Harry H., the only son, graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1875, and is now attached as lieutenant to the new cruiser Indiana. Mrs. Hosley died Nov. I, 1874, aged fifty-three years. Two daughters, Jessie (Mrs. William S. Stearns), Josette (Mrs. Artlıur Barney) have also died. Our subject de- parted this life Dec. 8, 1895, and was mourned by many friends. Of his father's family of five children, only one survives, Mrs. William Conn of Portsmouth, a twin sister of the late J. J. Hos- ley of Danbury.
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FRANK J. WOOD, an energetic and enter- prising agriculturist of the town of Lebanon, was born in the above town Jan. II, 1856. He is a son of Jeremiah and Martha Ellen (Dickenson) Wood, grandson of Henry G. and Betsey (Ger- rish) Wood, great-grandson of Capt. Joseph, Jr., and Sarah (Gerrish) Wood, and great-great- grandson of Joseph and Anna (Palmer) Wood.
Joseph Wood, Sr., father of Capt. Joseph Wood, the centenarian, was born in Mansfield, Conn., in 1728. He was one of the proprietors of Lebanon, and came to his new home with his wife and the children that were then born, about 1765 or 1766. His good judgment and clear foresight as to the future of this part of the country secured for him a large portion of those beautiful interval lands lying on the east side of the Connecticut River and south of the Mascoma River, extending easterly back among the hills,
thus including a fair portion of the uplands. He erected his first dwelling on the south side of the King's Highway (so-called), which was laid out by the proprietors of the town, and ran in an easterly direction from the interval land, through Lebanon, passing by the Porter place, the Aspin- wall hill, the Abel Storrs and the Col. Constant Storrs farms to the Enfield line; the house was located about seventy rods east of the present residence of Oliver L. Stearns. It was in this part of his large possessions that he began to clear the land and prepare a home for the family, and here it was that the youngest children were born. Mr. Wood was blessed with a strong con- stitution and was imbued with a large amount of perseverance and the principles of industry, so he was enabled to work with a will and the strong power of his arm to fell the forest trees and clear a farm. He was assisted in this work by such of his sons who were old enough to help him. After a few years he succeeded in his purpose and was gratified in seeing wide fields under cul- tivation and barns filled to overflowing. It soon became apparent to him that with the increase of his worldly goods and additions to his family it was necessary to build larger barns and provide a new house for the family that would be more adequate to their wants. Choosing for a site a place near the intersection of the King's High- way, he built a large dwelling-house, with the end in view of making it answer the double pur- pose of farm-house and tavern. This was prob- ably the first tavern in the town, and like all country taverns of that time was rude in its con- veniences and unceremonious in its management ; but, neverthless, it was truly a travelers' home, where the landlord was pleased to welcome and attend to the wants of the weary traveler, who in turn was grateful to find a resting place. Mr. Wood continued in his farming and tavern- keeping until 1789, from which time until his death, Nov. 2, 1798, at the age of seventy-three, his son Joseph Wood, Jr., was associated with him. He was active in town and county affairs during the vigorous years of manhood. He was also actively engaged in furthering the religious interests of the community, and was one of a committee appointed to procure a minister for the first church society, and was one of the first who united with the Congregational Church under the pastorate of Rev. Isaiah Potter. He
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excelled in his discriminating judgment as to the value of land and other property, and so was uni- formly successful in all transactions of that nature. His wife was one of the strong women of the day, and possessed an independent mind; she was almost as much entitled to credit for their success in life as her husband, as her judg- ment and prudence were exceptional. She died March 1I, 1813, aged eighty-five years. Their children were as follows: Rev. Samuel, born in 1753; Mariam, 1755; Jane, 1757; Capt. Joseph, 1759; Capt. Ephraim, 1761; Anna, 1764; Capt. Roger, 1766; Capt. John, 1768; Rev. Benjamin, 1770; and Rev. Luther, 1772.
Capt. Joseph Wood, Jr., was born in Mans- field, Conn., in 1759, and was seven or eight years old when he came with his parents to Leb- anon. He received a fair education, and taught school in his younger days. In 1782, he married Sarah, daughter of Henry Gerrish of Boscawen, N. H., and bought a small farm and carried on farming. Later he bought a farm adjoining that of Deacon Stearns, where he carried on general farming, dealt in lumber, and speculated in cattle until he became associated with his father in the management of the homestead and in keeping the tavern. Selling his own farm, he went to live with his father, and on the latter's death he in- herited a large portion of his father's estate, in- cluding the homestead, to which possessions he afterwards added many acres and became one of the largest land-owners and farmers of the town. Before his death he gave each of his sons a farm valued at $3,000.00, and each of his daughters $1,000.00 in cash, and by his will each received nearly $1,000.00 more. He offered as a premium a yoke of steers or a colt to every grandson named Joseph Wood; his wife not to be outdone in this particular by her husband, offered as a premium a string of gold beads to every grand- daughter who should be named after her, Sarah Wood. Thus their children were encouraged to obey the Scriptural injunction: "To go forth and multiply." Consequently among the eleven branches of their family it is not strange to find that there were eleven Josephs and ten Sarahs; cach Joseph preferred a colt, and each Sarah re- ceived her gold beads.
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