USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire > Part 36
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Elmer E. Emerson finished his education in the Lebanon High School, and at seventeen years of age entered his father's factory as pack- ing and shipping agent, in which department he remained four years. He then entered the tem- pering and hardening department, where he re- mained until 1895, when his father died, and he retired from active work. Mr. Emerson bought the Willis place, a three-story building formerly conducted as a hotel, in East Lebanon, pleasantly located on the corner of the streets and over- looking Mascoma Lake with its many changing scenic views. He has taken off the third story and made many noticeable improvements about the building and the grounds.
Mr. Emerson married Mary W. Tracy, daugh- ter of James H. Tracy of Hartland, Vt., a farmer of that town, who has made a success of his calling through many years work and labor. Our subject has two children: Josephine B., born Dec. 24, 1883; and Charles Tracy, born Dec. 30, 1885. Mr. Emerson is a Democrat, and a member of the Helping Hand Lodge, 1. (). O. F.
EDMOND EASTMAN, a highly successful and well-to-do farmer of the town of Lebanon, was born in the same town March 25, 1832. He is a son of Isaac and Hannah (Baker) Eastman, and grandson of Parson and Mittie (Sweet) East- man, who were among the pioneer families of the town of Boscawen, N. H., and prominent members of the farming community of that town. Parsons Eastman and his wife both lived to be about eighty years old. Their children were: Edmond, George, Enoch, Isaac, and Sally.
Isaac Eastman, the youngest son, was born in Boscawen, but early in life removed to the town of Lebanon, taking up the farm, where his son Gideon now lives, and dying there at the age of ninety-two, after a prosperous career at his call- ing. He married Hannah, daughter of Andrew Baker; Mrs. Eastman our subject's mother passed away to those gone before at the age of seventy-five. There were born to them the fol- lowing children: Gideon, Jeanette, Edmond, Mary, William, Hiram, and Hannah.
Our subject received a limited education in the district schools of Lebanon, and soon after was apprenticed to the trade of brick mason. When twenty years of age, he entered the service of the Northern R. R., now a part of the great Boston & Maine system, and by faithful attention to his duties was soon promoted to the position of conductor of a freight train. He was in the employ of this railroad a number of years, then worked for the Great Western, and still later for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. His last railroad work was performed on the Central Pa- cific in California, resigning from the employ of that railroad in 1870. On each road he worked several years, and gave entire satisfaction to both the public and his employers. Although his rail- road experience was broad and covered quite a period of time, he escaped any serious accident or personal injury by always running on time and by exercising his best judgment in cases where any doubt existed about the orders given him. This record for a man, who was engaged in railroad work as long as he, was quite remark- able and has not often been equaled or sur- passed.
After his resignation from the employ of the Central Pacific and return to the New England States he took a good rest and then took up the
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business of contracting for brick masonry, the scene of his operations in this line being chiefly i11 Boston, Mass., and Concord, N. H. But at length, arriving at that age when country calm and retirement offer such an allurement to one who has become tired of the bustle and excite- ment of city life, he returned to his native county and. town in New Hampshire and took up his residence in East Lebanon, following farming ever since. His farm, which is one of the finest and best-kept in the town or county, is located at the foot of Mascoma Lake, with a fine view of the lake, surrounded by its beautiful scenery of hill and forest, of East Lebanon and the Shaker Village.
Our subject married Hannah Plastridge, daughter of Dr. Caleb and Zeruah (Ticknor) Plastridge. Dr. Caleb Plastridge was a son of Caleb Plastridge, Sr., of Cornish, N. H., to whom the following children were born: John, Asa, Charles, Amesey, Hannah, Mariam, and Caleb. Dr. Plastridge served as a boy as fife major in the War of 1812; his early years were taken up in farming, an occupation he never tired of. He studied medicine under Dr. Martin of Plainfield, N. H., and when competent to practice came to East Lebanon, where he bought the Paine farm and left at his death some 300 acres to his heirs. He built up a large, successful, and lucrative practice, and his memory is held dear by many of the present generation, through the grateful remembrance their parents had of him as a skill- ful physician and surgeon. With his beautiful lome he took great pains, dotting the lawns with maples, which to-day mark in the best possible manner his industry; he also had large fruit orchards. Two large groves of mulberry trees he set out to supply food for the 10,000 silk worms which he imported. His wife and daugh- ter spun the silk from the cocoons, and besides knitting it into stockings, they colored and sold it in the skein; this was a very fine and delicate work, as it required from 150 to 200 little silk fibres to make one thread. Some of the stock- ings knit in those days and handsomely em- broidered are still in the family's possession. Dr. Plastridge was active until three weeks of his death, which occurred at the age of eighty-three. His wife, who was of nearly the same age, fol- lowed him two years later. Politically, he was a Democrat; religiously, a liberal; and socially,
a member of the Masonic fraternity. His chil- dren were: Darwin, Arabelle, Don Carlos, Janette, Zeruah, Emma, Byron, Ellen, and Han- nah. Byron Plastridge, the brother of Mrs. Eastman, succeeded his father on the farm, and carried on general agricultural operations until his death, making many valuable additions to the real property of the place, including the erec- tion of a large and well-equipped barn. Since Byron Plastridge's death our subject has more than kept the farm up to its previous standard of excellence, and has proved himself a model farmer in many respects. The only children born our subject were twin daughters, born July 4, 1873; one of them died as an infant; the other, Zeruah P., lives with her parents. Mr. Eastman is a Democrat, and a liberal in religion.
JOSEPH S. PILLSBURY, a contractor and builder of the town of Enfield, N. H., was born in the town of Grantham, Sullivan Co., N. H., Dec. 15, 1850. He is a son of Thomas J. and Charlotte C. (Eastman) Pillsbury, and a grand- son of Major Moses and Hepsibeth (Greenough) Pillsbury.
Major Moses Pillsbury, who obtained his title from being a drum-major in the War of 1812, was born and lived in Springfield, N. H .; where his farm was located was afterwards set off from the town of Springfield and became a part of Grantham. He was a leading man in his town, as well as having an excellent reputation as a good farmer. He was a Democrat, and was the first selectman ever elected in the town of Grantham, and continued to serve in that ca- pacity for many years. He was a Baptist in religious belief. He died at the age of eighty- nine, and his wife at about the same age. His children were: Martha, Ezra, Greenough, Thomas J., Lewis, Charles, Moses, Phebe, and Betsey. The six boys were all large and power- ful men, and their total height was just thirty-six feet, making an average of six feet for each.
Thomas J. Pillsbury, our subject's father, was born in Corydon, N. H., and upon becoming a man bought a farm in that town, where he re- mained a few years. He then disposed of his property and bought a farm at Sunapee Harbor, lived a little later on in Grantham, and was still
HARRISON B. MARDEN.
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later a resident of Plainfield for six years, until he settled in the eastern part of the town of En- field, where L. S. Hastings's beautiful summer home is now. Mr. Pillsbury lived there thirty- two years. He was a Democrat, and throughout his long and useful life he missed but one elec- tion, and that was caused by a fever, which was the only sickness he ever had. He served as selectman of the town of Grantham, and in some of the offices of minor importance. He was born July 8, 1802, and died May 10, 1891. By his first marriage he had the following children: Rosilla, Abbie, and Dudley. His second wife, who was born Aug. 26, 1816, was a daughter of Jeremiah and Betsey (Leverett) Eastman. Five children were the result of the second union: Addie, Clarence, Marcellus, Joseph S., Alice. Mrs. Pillsbury is still enjoying the best of health and makes her home with our subject; she is ex- tremely active, and does not look even sixty years old. Time, that ruthless destroyer of beauty, has been very kind to her, and exceed- ing gentle in placing the burden of years on her brow.
Joseph S. Pillsbury spent his boyhood days almost the same as most boys who are brought up on the farm do; he assisted in the work when- ever he was able and attended the neighboring district schools until he was of age, when he en- gaged in the carpenter's business. After a while he began contracting, and has been engaged in contracting, building, and in farming ever since. He was given the home farm and made many improvements, which suggested themselves to his practical eye; after his father's death, in 1891, he sold the homestead and bought at North End the Lowe estate, consisting of a small farm. In connection with his general contracting business, which nets him a good income, he has dealt con- siderably in farming tools.
June 23, 1875. he married Miss Ella J. Burn- ham, daughter of Mark P. and Ruhama (Stevens) Burnham, and grand-daughter of Jeremiah K. and Polly (Pettingill) Burnham. The two latter were among the early settlers of the town and members of its respected farming community ; the husband died at the age of thirty-three, and the wife at the age of seventy. Their children were: Mark P., Mehitabel, Henry, and Mary. Mark P. Burnham was born in Enfield, Aug. 25, 1820, and after an active life at farming and con-
tracting, is tasting the delights of a retired life on his small farm at Lock Haven, town of En- field. His wife, Ruhama Stevens, died in 1867, aged forty-four years, leaving two children: Ella J., born Sept. 15, 1851, now Mrs. Joseph S. Pills- bury ; and Mary A., who was born Sept. 26, 1857. Mr. Burnham's second wife was Betsey A. John- son, and his third helpmate was Mrs. Dolly C. Gove. Our subject has one child, Lora M., born July 8, 1876, a teacher in the school. Mr. Pills- bury is a Democrat, and served as selectman in 1878-79-80. Socially, he is a member of the Social Lodge, No. 50, F. & A. M.
HARRISON B. MARDEN, deceased, an old and highly respected citizen of Plymouth, N. H., is the son of Israel Marden, and grandson of George Marden. George Marden was a farmer. He came from Rye to Allenstown, N. H., where he died in middle age. He married Sarah Dowst. Five children blessed this union : Betsey (Brown), Sally (Brackett), Israel, John, and Jonathan.
Israel Marden was born in Rye, N. H., and went to Allenstown with his parents and lived and died on the farm that he inherited. He mar- ried Rachel, daughter of George Ham of Pem- brook, N. H. She died at the age of eighty-three: her husband preceded her by a number of years, relinquishing his hold on life when he was sixty-five years old. They reared a family of seven children: Harrison B., the subject of this sketch; William D., Israel G., John, James C., Sally N. (Kenison), and Betsey (Batchelder). They were attendants of the Christian Church. Israel Marden was a strong Democrat, and took much interest in town affairs. He served as se- lectman and in other public offices. He was elected twice as the representative from the town to the State Legislature.
Harrison B. Marden, the subject of this sketch, was born in Allenstown, N. H., Aug. 9. 1820. He received his education in the town of his boyhood years. At the age of fifteen he started to work in a stable, and in 1830 he was given the task of driving the stage between Dover and Concord, later from Concord to Ply- mouth. When the railroad was completed to Plymouth Mr. Marden drove between the rail-
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road and towns not yet reached by it, thus bring- ing them in touch with the railroad system. When the road reached the Fabian House he discontinued staging in that section, transferring his base of operations to the Pemigewasset Val- ley, where he staged for the ensuing thirty-four years. Since then he was not engaged in any active business. He made Plymouth his home for thirty-five years.
Mr. Marden married, in 1847, Dollie Annette, daughter of Winthrop and Nancy (Hains) Gove of Wentworth, N. H. They have reared one child named Charles Henry, who married Annie B., daughter of Charles H. Fansworth and his wife, Ann Eliza Cushing Webster, of Lowell, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Marden have a family of three children: Paul F., Pauline, and Phyllis. Charles H. Marden is engaged in the hotel business.
Mr. Harrison B. Marden was a man well known throughout the county and was one of the few men who was familiar with the old stage routes, that were once the lines of travel through the State of New Hampshire. Mr. Marden was a member of the Universalist Church, In poli- tics he was a firm Democrat. He died at his home, Nov. 3, 1896, after a severe illness of sev- eral months' duration. We are pleased to be able to present Mr. Marden's portrait in connec- tion with this sketch.
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LORENZO D. DUNBAR, a retired mer- chant and highly esteemed citizen of the town of Enfield, was born in Grantham, N. H., Feb. 5. 1833. He is a son of Ancel and Betsey (Nichols) Dunbar, and grandson of John Dun- bar, who came from Bridgewater, Mass., to Grantham, N. H., where he bought 640 acres of new land, covered in the most part with timber. He set to work with great energy and vim to fell the trees, and succeeded in clearing the greater portion of it. At first he built a small house for temporary use, and when his work was crowned with success, and he became endowed with a goodly share of the desirable things of this world, he built a more commodious and comfort- able one. He gave each of his six sons a farm and assisted them in building their farm build- ings and in getting their property into first-class
shape. He lived to a good old age, leaving a memory behind him that was much cherished by his children. The following children were born to him: Ancel, Azel, Apollos,, John, Calvin, Keziah, Susan, Lucy, and Polly.
Ancel Dunbar was born in Bridgewater, Mass., and received a farm from his father, on which he erected a substantial set of buildings. He had in his early days learned to make nails, and so made by hand all the nails that were used in the construction of the barns and house. The farm, with all the appurtenances, is now owned by C. Walker, and the excellence of its arrange- ments is unsurpassed by that of any other farm in its vicinity. The homestead of Ancel's father is owned by Attorney-General Eastman; it is known as Dunbar Hill, and as a summer resi- dence is a charming place. When Ancel Dunbar sold his farm he moved to Ludlow, Vt., where he bought a farm and lived a few years, and then returned to the town of Grantham, where, hav- ing passed the age of eighty years, he breathed his last, surrounded by children and grand- children. His first wife was Miss Mckinstry, who died in middle age, leaving the following children: Ancel, Jr., Dolly, Frederick, Anna, Samuel, Metcalf, Cynthia, William, and Austin. His second marriage was with our subject's mother, Betsey, daughter of Jonathan Nichols; she died at the age of fifty-four of pneumonia. The children by this marriage were: Lorenzo D .; Mehitabel, who died at the age of thirteen; Ancel, who was called home when five years old; and George W., who lives in Grantham, N. H. Our subject's father was a volunteer of the War of 1812, a Whig and Free-Soiler in politics, and a member of the M. E. Church.
Lorenzo D. Dunbar attended the district school and Meriden Academy, and accepted at the age of seventeen the position of teacher in a district school where the former preceptor had had trouble and did not finish the term. Our subject took hold of the school with his custom- ary energy, and, in addition to finishing the term to the entire satisfaction of trustees and scholars, continued for three terms to wield the rod and to impart instruction to sixty-four scholars. Upon leaving the school he clerked six years in Horace Ford's general store at Grantham, and when the store changed hands and became the property of Dodge & Hall, he remained with the
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new firm six more years. He then bought the interest of Mr. Dodge, and with Mr. Hall, under the firm name of Hall & Dunbar, ran the store for six years, after which he became sole pro- prietor and conducted the establishment until 1887, doing a large and lucrative business which forced him to enlarge the store to meet the re- quirements of his ever-increasing trade. He also owned a small farm, and devoted some of his time to the management of that. Mr. Dunbar served as postmaster from 1866 to 1885, with the exception of one year, and was assistant post- master before 1866. He was a member of the school committee three years, and represented the town in the Legislature in 1874 and 1875; he was also selectman from 1878 to 1886, a period of eight years.
In 1886 Mr. Dunbar removed to the town of Enfield and built the home where he now re- sides, a fine residence on Pleasant Street. He owns a number of tenements. His efforts in accumulating a fortune during the years of his business activity were very successful, and he has always had money to loan on good security. He is a stockholder in the Dodge, Davis & Co. Wool Factory. He was one of the district com- missioners to build the walks through the village of Enfield, there being over two miles in the aggregate, and was one to advance the funds for the same. He has been town auditor for five years, and has settled many estates, such is the confidence reposed in his business ability and strict integrity. In politics he is a stanch Repub- lican.
March 9, 1859, Mr. Dunbar married Miss Ellen . Huse, daughter of John and Lucinda (Davis) Huse, and granddaughter of William Huse, the son of James Huse who served in the Revolution and in 1794 settled in the town of Enfield on Shaker Hill. John Huse was born Feb. 23, 1810, and died Oct. 1I, 1862; he was interested in the milling industry, and was later on a farmer. He served in the late war in Co. B., 6th Reg. N. H. Vol. Inf., and while a mem- ber of that company in Washington, D. C., died of heart dicasc. His wife was born Jan. 24, 1813, and died Oct. 20, 1882. Their children num- bered two: Ellen, born Jan. 23, 1835: and Ed- win E., born Dec. 26, 1838. Mr. Dunbar is a liberal supporter of the Congregational Church, to which he is greatly attached.
LEWIS COGSWELL, a retired engineer of the Concord Division of the Boston & Maine R. R., and now a citizen of Enfield, N. H., was born Aug. 8, 1833, in the same town of which he is an honored resident. He is a son of Joseph and Laura (Clifford) Cogswell, grandson of Joseph, Sr., and Hannah (Burnham) Cogswell, and great-grandson of Samuel and Elizabeth Cogswell.
Samuel Cogswell was aged ninety-three years when he died in 1834: his wife passed away in 1814, at the age of seventy. Those of their chil- dren, who grew to maturity were: Jones, Sam- uel, Joseph, and Lucy.
Our subject's grandfather was born in Essex Co., Mass., Jan. 8, 1765, and followed the occu- pation of a farmer in his early days; when he came to New Hampshire he settled in the north- eastern part of the town of Enfield, where he bought 100 acres, on which was a small log- house in a small clearing. Outside of such small improvements as we have mentioned the farm was, to all purposes, untouched by the ruthless hand of civilization. Joseph set to work with a will and energy that were unconquerable, and in a comparatively brief space of time had cleared and put the farm into shape, and built the neces- sary farm buildings. On this farm he died Jan. 19, 1847. He was twice married. His first wife, Hannah Burnham, born Nov. 25, 1770, died Feb. 12, 181I, at the age of forty-one. She was a de- scendant of the Thomas Burnham who emi- grated to America in 1635 in the ship Angel Gabriel and settled at Cape Ann. The children born to our subject's grandfather by his first mar- riage are as follows: Sally, born Dec. 26, 1791 ; Betsey, May 26, 1793; Lucy, Dec. 29, 1795: Joseph, April 13, 1798; James, Nov. 12, 1800; Hannah, Oct. 29, 1802: and Lois, June 9, 1805. By his second marriage, with Hannah Johnson, there was no issuc.
Joseph Cogswell, Jr., father of Lewis, was born in the town of Enfield, and with his brother James bought the homestead, where he lived a calm peaceful life until his death, Feb. 3, 1866; he was a Democrat and an attendant of the Con- gregational Church. His wife, who was the daughter of Isaac Clifford of Wentworth, Graf- ton Co., N. H., died March 1, 1895, aged ninety- three years, one month, and nine days; she was a Universalist. Their children were: Maria,
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born Nov. 6, 1829; Lewis, Aug. 8, 1833; Adaline, Oct. 13, 1835; Milo, June 6, 1839; and Chester, June 18, 1844.
Lewis Cogswell attended the district school and assisted his father and worked.out until he had attained the years of his majority, when he tried farming for a short time, but soon relin- quished it to engage in sawing wood for the Northern R. R., in which work he was employed two years. He then entered the railroad shops at West Lebanon, where he was made use of in various departments for some four years, when he began firing. Being naturally very careful and reliable, he soon proved himself capable and thoroughly competent to occupy a more ad- vanced position, and he was accordingly given charge of an engine. After two years as engi- neer on the old Northern R. R. he ran an engine on the Jersey Central for four years, and then returned to the old Northern, and ran an engine from Concord to White River Junction until 1887, when his health compelled him to resign his position and take up less trying work. It is worthy of note that in this long period of his connection with railroad life, he never had an accident of a serious or fatal consequence, and never received more than a trifling injury. Upon his retirement from the railroad he bought a small farm in Enfield: he never returned to his seat in the cab, for rheumatism had taken hold of him, and he thought it would be better to en- gage in farm work during his declining years. His original farm being not large enough to suit him, he sold it, and bought the Alfred Huse estate in the village of Enfield, and the old Cur- rier farm, and has since been engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, retiring as much from active business life as his disposition will permit. From the Currier farm, a title to which he secured, he has sold quite a number of building lots; the re- mainder he cares for.
Mr. Cogswell married Miss Melinda J. Cur- rier, daughter of William and Betsey (Jones) Currier. William Currier, a son of Richard and Betsey (Huse) Currier, was born in Enfield, May 2, 1802. Richard settled in Enfield, in 1794, and became an extensive land-owner, and reared a large family. His son William settled on the farm now owned by our subject, and followed the pursuit of agriculture. He was also a stone- mason, making a specialty of constructing heavy
work, such as abutments and piers for bridges. He lived to the age of seventy-five. His first wife, the mother of our subject's wife, died young, leaving two children: Melinda and Bet- sey. Mr. Currier married as his second wife Tirzah Alexander, and had two children: George W. and Lewis D. Our subject's union has never been blessed with children. He is a Democrat, and has served the town of Enfield four years as supervisor. He is a Universalist in his religious attachments, and a member of the Franklin Lodge, No. 6, F. & A. M., of Lebanon, N. H.
HON. JOHN K. BUTMAN, one of the largest general traders and merchants of Graf- ton Co., is located at Butmanville, town of Leb- anon; he was born in Vershire, Vt., Dec. 3, 1826. He was a son of Paul and Mary (Kenney) But- man, and grandson of Thomas and Ann (Hunt) Butman. Our subject's grandfather served in the Revolutionary War, and in an engagement at Fort Constitution had his leg broken, for which he received a pension; he settled at Kingston, N. H., where he followed farming a few years. Then he moved to Enfield, N. H., bought a saw- mill and farm and went into business until his death in 1843, aged eighty-four years; his wife followed him five years later, aged seventy-seven ; she was a very strong woman, and it is said she could lift more pounds than the ordinary man ; their children were also strong, and most of them lived to a good old age, many passing seventy years. The names of their children are as fol- lows: Amos, born May 28, 1787; John W., May 7. 1789: Mariam, Nov. 24, 1791; Nancy, Dec. 13, 1793: Stephen, Oct. 12, 1796; Mary P., March 10, 1799; Paul Q., May 21, 1801 ; Stephen, July 16, 1803; Thomas, July 29, 1805; and Cyn- thia, Sept. 2, 1807.
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