USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire > Part 53
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Deacon John Hazeltine was born in Concord, N. H. He was the son of James Hazeltine, and grandson of Richard Hazeltine, who came from Bradford, Mass., to Concord, and there reared his family and passed his declining years. James, his son, was born and brought up in Concord. His residence was in Rumney, N. H., when he died. Deacon John Hazeltine, the son of the preceding and grandfather of our subject, went to Rumney with his parents, and there he was educated and spent the remainder of his life. He was an agriculturist, and managed a large, finely improved farm. He was a devout Christian, and served as deacon of the Baptist Church for over fifty years. He was a thoroughly good citizen, and made his influence felt in town affairs. He married Hannah Ayer. Both lived to a good old age, Mr. Hazeltine being ninety-three years old at the time of his death, his wife passing away a few years his junior. Their family was made up of: Amos, James, John, Priscilla (Har- ris), Nancy (Ramsey), Mary (Harris), .and Martha.
Martha, youngest daughter of Deacon John Hazeltine, was a lcarned and accomplished lady, for several years principal of the celebrated Fe- male Seminary at New Hampton, N. H. She married a Prof. Smith of Brown University, R. I., surviving that event but a short time. In the
rosters of the military expeditions, during the troublulous times of the French and Indian War, the names of the members of this family con- stantly appear.
James Hazeltine, the second son, and father of the subject of this notice, was born in Rumney. James was reared and educated to the pursuit of agriculture. He married Lydia, daughter of Thomas Stevens of Rumney. They were the parents of two children: Miron J .; and Lydia A., who married David P. Walker of North Dun- barton, N. H., and has borne him a family of three children, consisting of: Miron D. (de- ceased); Walter C .; and Milton J. Mr. Hazeltine died at the age of twenty-six. His widow mar- ried as her second husband Morrill Currier, Esq., of Wilmot, N. H .; she departed this life at the age of seventy-two. Mr. Currier lived to the ripe old age of ninety-three.
Miron J. Hazeltine was born in Rumney, Nov. 13, 1824. After his father's death his mother moved to Lowell, Mass. At that place Miron received his rudimental education and fitted for college, entering Amherst in 1847. Unfortu- nately he was not permitted to enjoy the benefits of a complete college education, for he met with a serious accident in his sophomore year that compelled him to leave school.
After having sufficiently recovered so as to be able to stand mental strain, he took up the study of law, and followed it as closely as his health would permit for four years, in the city of Lowell. After that he went to New York City as principal of a select classical school. In 1862, after about ten years of service, he closed the school, and came to Thornton, where he pur- chased a small farm, now known as "The Larches." He has made this place his home ever since.
He was married, in 1853, to Hannah M., daughter of Asa Bryant, who was a second cousin of the great American poet, William Cul- len Bryant. She was born in New Boston, N. H. Her mother was Mehitabel Snow of Easton, Mass. Mrs. Hazeltine's father died at the age of sixty-nine; her mother fell into that last sleep that knows no mortal waking at the age of sev- enty-two. There were seven children in the Bryant family: James C .; Caroline C. (Drake); Cyrus P .; Mary T. (Packard); Deborah G. (Foss); George N .; and Hannah M. (Hazeltine).
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Mrs. Hazeltine is a graceful and accomplished poetess. Her preserved pieces would hill two octavo volumes, most of which have been widely copied here with flattering praise, and several in England. "The Triumph of Prometheus, the joint production of herself and husband, occu- pies one and one-half hours in reading. In 1876 she won a $25.00 prize in gold, given by the Hartford innes for a chess poem, naving twelve competitors; subject "The Final Mate."
Nr. and Mrs. Miron J. Hazeltine have become the parents of seven children: Miron W., who married Annie Ferrin, and has a family of two girls, Fanny G. and Esther; James B., died at the age of eight; Fanny only lived two years; Robert E. L .; Theodora E .; Alice M. married M. J. Gilman of Franconia, N. H .; and Louis P.
Mr. Hazeltine has been a hard student throughout his whole life, and is a finished scholar in the dead languages. He has trans- lated into a new metrical version the entire Anacreon. He is also well-grounded in the science of astronomy. He has an exceptionally good memory, which is shown by his knowledge of the relative positions of all the visible stars, and by his ability to call each star by its proper name.
While at Amherst College he became inter- ested in the game of Chess and, finding it worthy of study as a most scientific game, has devoted especial attention to it. His reputation as a chess expert, às one versed in all the intricacies of the game, is more than national; it is world- widc. He has been chess editor of the New York Clipper since August, 1856. His editorials are read in all parts of the globe, and are translated into a variety of languages. He is an apt scholar, and an author of no mean ability. His poems, when printed, will fill a volume worthy a place in any library.
Mr. Hazeltine has the distinguished honor of continuing in the capacity of chess editor longer than any other man. He is the oldest editor of his special line in the world. An interesting fact, which shows his faithfulness throughout his life, is that he has never failed to perform his work, even for a single week, during the whole of that protracted period.
If Mr. Hazeltine lives to October, 1897, he can celebrate his semi-centennial as a member of the College Greek Fraternity, Delta Upsilon.
Upon the publication, in January, 1894, of the initial number of Volume XIV. of the British Chess Magazine, Mr. Hazeltine's likeness ap- peared as the frontispiece, accompanied by a neatly written personal sketch.
He has a private library, which contains 650 volumes treating upon the subject of chess, 100 classical books, and about 1,000 books of a mis- cellaneous nature, many of them rare and valu- able.
He has an extensive correspondence, and his word, upon subjects which he treats, is law.
He is a Democrat in his political principles, and holds commissions as justice of the peace and notary public for the State of New Hamp- shire.
The first wife of the celebrated Adoniram Jud- son, D. D., was Ann, daughter of Mr. John Has- seltine (sic), born in Bradford, Mass., Dec. 22, 1782; married Feb. 5, 1812, and immediately sailed for Burmah, where she died in October, 1826. A full account of her "Life" was pub- lished in 1853.
WILLIAM KENDALL, a highly respected and prosperous farmer and retired lumber dealer of Benton, N. H., was born April 16, 1835, in the town of Winchester, N. H.
His great-grandfather was of English origin, and came to this country early in the history of the New England Colonies. Isaac Kendall, grandfather of William, was born in Massachu- setts, and was a soldier in the Continental Army in the War for Independence. He reared a family of eight children.
George W. Kendall, son of the preceding, was born in North Brattleboro, Vt., Nov. 22, 1799; he died in Martin Co., Minn., Nov. 14, 1871, aged seventy-two years. He was a successful farmer, and followed that vocation throughout his life. He was united in marriage to Electa Cowin, a native of Chesterfield, Mass. Fifteen children were the fruit of this union, of whom twelve reached maturity: Dwight; Charles; Geo. S .; James .; Lucy; William, the subject of this sketch; Isaac; Cynthia M .; Elvira; Mary; Arthur; and Job. The devoted wife and motlier went to her rest May 29, 1861, aged sixty years.
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George W. Kendall was an enthusiastic admirer of Andrew Jackson, and Jackson's Democratic principles; although quite active in politics, he never sought for nor held office. Both he and his wife were consistent members of the Baptist Church.
William Kendall obtained his early educa- tional training in the public schools of his dis- trict. At the age of fifteen he learned the shoe- maker's trade. Then for five years he worked on a farm in Franconia, N. H. As might be ex- pected of any ambitious youth, Mr. Kendall did not find his work profitable enough to suit him. So he removed to New York City, where he worked for the firm of Winch & Spooner in the ice business for six years. At the end of that period he embarked in the ice business on his own account, and found it very profitable. At length the war broke out, and, fearing its effects on his business, he sold out and went to New Orleans, where he took the management of a plantation. He remained in charge during the war, and superintended the entire business of raising sugar-cane and cotton, and also the get- ting out lumber from the primeval forests.
When he returned north he engaged in the mercantile business at Beverly, Mass., but not liking that line of work, he resumed his former occupation as a dealer in lumber in East Lan- daff (now Easton), where he remained twenty- two years in partnership with D. J. Whitcher. The business was done under the name of Whitcher & Kendall. During that time they did a thriving business; they sold out in 1893 to the Fall River Paper Co. at a handsome figure. Our subject at once purchased his present well-im- proved and valuable farm of thirty-five acres where he has lived since. He is an unyielding Republican, and has occupied posts of honor at the disposal of his fellow-citizens; he has served as selectman and as road agent; and in 1897 was elected to the Legislature from the town of Ben- ton, but he does not aspire to public office. How- ever, he believes that a person should faithfully perform whatever duties the people trust to them.
Mr. Kendall has the happy faculty of making things succeed to which he puts his attention and energy. His business life has been marked by numerous successful ventures that were due to his own superior qualifications. He has made
many friends, and they unite in praising his methodical business habits and his strict in- tegrity.
On Feb. 10, 1869, he was joined in wedlock to Betsy S., daughter of Samuel and Emily (Quimby) Whitcher of East Landaff (now Easton). They have no children. Mr. Kendall and wife are regular attendants of the M. E. Church, of which his wife is an active member. He is a Mason, and belongs to Kane Lodge, No. 64, of Lisbon, N. H., and of Franklin Chap- ter of the same town.
HENRY G. BILLINGS of Lebanon, N. H., is a dealer in marble and granite monumental work, and the proprietor of a livery and board- ing-stable; he was born in Windsor, Vt., May 7, 1840. His parents were Darwin G. and Orphia (Smith) Billings. The father having thoroughly mastered the trade of polishing and marking tombstones, settled down in business for him- self at Windsor, Vt., where he built up a large and successful trade, becoming well known over an extensive territory for the superiority of ma- terial used and excellency of workmanship. He accumulated a comfortable fortune, and was hon- ored by his townsmen with public office. In 1890, at the age of eighty years, having been in active business until within four years of his death, he passed away, leaving a widow and five children, the fourth of whom, Henry G., is the subject of this sketch. Henry finished his edu- cation in the High School of Windsor, Vt., and at the age of twenty entered the Armory to work. During the Civil War he was appointed inspector of arms. At the close of the war he engaged in the livery business at Windsor for a short time, but gave it up to enter the service of the Sixth Avenue Street R. R. of New York City. Later he made his home in Union Village, Vt., and for several years carried on a flourish- ing lumber and marble business.
On May 1, 1876, Mr. Billings made a start in the livery and marble business at Lebanon, N. H., where he met with misfortune in the great fire of 1887. But rallying with pluck and energy he purchased what was known as the Blodgett property, and set out once more in the livery
COL. FRANK C. CHURCHILL.
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business. The marble trade has grown and pros- pered. In 1896 he built a two-story building, the lower story of which he utilizes for sample rooms, and for the working of marble; the upper story he rents to the Granite State Free Press and the H. E. Waite Printing Co. He owns a pleasant home on Elm Street, which he has re- modeled and provided with modern conven- iences.
Mr. Billings is a steadfast Republican, and has served his town as tax collector for eleven years. He is a member of Franklin Lodge, No. 6, F. & A. M.
Mr. Billings married Miss Belle M. Russell, daughter of Eben H. Russell of Windsor, Vt. In 1890 Mrs. Billings died at the age of forty- seven. Six children were born to them: Gracie; Fanny (Mrs. Samuel Bean): George, who died at an early age; Atherton, who is a traveling sales- man for the McCormick Harvesting Co. of In- dianapolis, Ind .; Helen, who graduated from the Lebanon High School in 1896; and Harry, who is a student in Phillips' Academy at Andover, Mass.
COL. F. C. CHURCHILL. A group of the prominent men of Lebanon would be decidedly incomplete without the addition of the gentle- man whose name heads this sketch and whose portrait is shown on the opposite page. He is the treasurer of the Carter & Churchill Co., ex- tensive manufacturers of shirts, coats, overalls, and other goods of a kindred nature. Outside of his business he has taken a very active and intelligent interest in the material progress of Lebanon, and this has made him most popular in all the trade circles. He is one of the direc- tors of the Lebanon National Bank, and is trus- tee of the Lebanon Savings Bank. He is also one of the directors of the Lebanon Electric Light & Power Co.
He was born at West Fairlee, Vt., Aug. 2, 1850, and is a son of Benjamin P. and Susanna (Thompson) Churchill, grandson of Capt. Will- iam L. and Eliza (Lanphear) Churchill, and a great-grandson of Francis and Phoebe (Leather) Churchill. Francis Churchill was born in Ply- mouth, Mass., June 1, 1762, and was a descend-
ant of a long line of Puritan ancestors. The line runs back through Jonathan, Eleazar, Eleazar, Sr., to John Churchill, the first representative of the family in the New World; he came from Eng- land and settled in Plymouth, Mass., in 1644. Francis Churchill, the great-grandparent of our subject, was a carpenter by occupation and served in the War of the Revolution by assisting in the coast defense of Plymouth.
The former's son, William L., was born March 22, 1787, and emigrated from his native place to West Fairlee, Vt., where he made a set- tlement as one of the pioneers of that region. He had learned the carpenter's trade and fol- lowed it all his life in connection with the work incident to the occupation and cultivation of a farm. The house, which he built at that time on his property, is still in good condition and is owned by Francis V. Churchill at the present time. He served in the State militia, holding a commission as captain. His death took place at about the age of seventy; his wife also de- parted this life at about the same age; she was born in Norwich, Conn. The home circle was made up of the following children: William L., Jr., Austin F., Chauncey C., Eliza J., Benjamin P., and Francis V., who is the only one sur- viving to-day.
Our subject's father, Benjamin P. Churchill, was reared on the farm and attended the district school of his neighborhood; being naturally bright and studious, he made a good record, and after the completion of his education taught school several terms. He later on learned the carpenter's trade, making his home on a farm adjoining the old homestead, dying there at the age of forty-two; he was born Sept. 2, 1822. Like his father before him, he was a strong Abolitionist and Republican ; he was well known in the State, and was very popular. Many es- tates were settled by him, such was his reputa- tion for strict probity and conscientiousness. He was a leading member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. His wife was a daughter of Alex- ander and Matilda R. Thompson; she still survives him. Three children were born to them, as follows: Frank C., William A., and Edward, who died when an infant.
Col. Frank C. Churchill obtained his school- ing in the public schools of West Fairlee and in Thetford Academy, Vt., afterwards teaching
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school for a time as an excellent discipline of his powers that would stand him in good stead in business life. His first step into the world of trade was as a clerk at Lyme for D. C. Churchill & Co., for a period of two years; this was the training he had in the role of a salesman. In 1870 he came to Lebanon as bookkeeper and general manager for the H. W. Carter Wholesale House of Notions. In 1877, under the firm name of Carter & Churchill, they enlarged the busi- ness by entering upon the manufacture of gar- ments in their factory on Mascoma Street; this enterprise continued for two years, Col. Churchill acting the while as salesman. They then pur- chased the old Catholic Church on Parkhurst Street and remodeled and enlarged it into a factory for the manufacture of shirts, coats, over- alls, etc., both in work and in sporting garments. In 1886, finding themselves cramped for lack of room, they bought the Gerrish warehouse, altered it in plan considerably, put in new machinery, introduced steam power, and trans- ferred their manufacturing interests to it, using the old factory for storage. To-day they have one of the largest and finest plants of its kind in the State, running some seventy-five machines and employing over 100 hands. Their product find a ready sale, both in the State and abroad throughout the nation, having a reputation of being made on honor; orders are received from California and Florida, and from all the popu- lous States lying between.
In his political views Col. Churchill is a Re- publican and an active worker in the interests of that party; he served two years as chairman of the State Republican Committee; he was a member of the Executive Council of Gov. D. H. Goodell in 1890 and 1891; he was a delegate to Minneapolis in the convention which nominated for the Presidency ex-President Benjamin Har- rison. He was a member of Gov. Nathaniel Head's staff in 1878-79.
Socially, he is president of the Langdon Club; a member of the Franklin Lodge, No. 6, F. & A. M .; St. Andrews Chapter, No. 10; Washing- ton Council; and Mt. Horeb Commandery, K. T .; and of the Scottish Rite. He is also a mem- ber of the executive committee of the Franklin Lodge, F. & A. M. He belongs to the Amos Keag Veterans; New Hampshire Veterans' As- sociation; and was secretary of the commission to
build the John Stark monument in the State House Park, Concord, N. H.
Col. Churchill married Clara G. Turner, daughter of Francis H. and Sarah (Perkins) Corser, and adopted daughter of George and Abbie Turner, in 1874. In 1892 he built a hand- some home near the park; he also owns several houses which he rents. He was chairman of the building committee to erect the Memorial Hall; in 1892 he presented a handsome statue, which has graced the lawn adjoining the hall since.
HERBERT W. LITTLE, yard conductor of the B. & M. R. R., residing in Woodsville, N. H., was born in Bath, N. H., June 7, 1871; he is a son of Warren and Luella Elizabeth (Little) Little, who, though of the same name, were not related. His grandfather was David Little, a farmer, who was born and reared in Lyman, the son of David Little, Sr. Clarissa Amy was a daughter of Herman Amy, who married a Miss Amy, a daughter of Abraham Amy. Elizabeth Little, the mother of our subject, was born in Lisbon, and is a daughter of John Little. War- ren Little is a trackman in the service of the railroad; to him and his wife were born two children: Herbert W. and Mabel Inez.
Our subject went to the Bath, Lisbon, and Woodsville schools until he was fifteen years old, and since the age of sixteen years has sup- ported himself. He first worked with the track- men of the railroad for a short time; in the early spring of 1887 he began work in the coal shed of the railroad company, and on April 2, became a brakeman, which position he held for four years and a half. In October, 1892, he was pro- moted to the post of conductor, with his work mostly confined to the Woodsville yards.
He was married, Dec. 21, 1887, in North Hav- erhill to Mattie M. Morse, who was born in Lan- caster, N. H., daughter of Horace F. and Mattie (Perkins) Morse. Horace F. Morse, a veteran of the late war, serving in the 2nd Reg. of Sharp- shooters, was born in Lisbon in 1838, and died Jan. 27, 1896; he was engaged in lumbering most of his life. Horace F. Morse was a son of Leon- ard oMrse, and a grandson of Obadiah Morse; Leonard Morse, who was killed at the age of
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sixty, had a brother Elisha, who lived to be 104 years old, dying in California, and leaving a for- tune of $4,000,000.00. Leonard Morse's wife was Lydia Walker, who was a daughter of Leon- ard Walker, who married Sallie Corey, who was a daughter of Ephraim and Sallie (Stevens) Corey. Mattie Perkins, the wife of Horace F. Morse, was a daughter of Thomas Perkins, born Nov. 25, 1804, and died July 20, 1871, and Martha Spaulding, born Sept. 30, 1808, and died Nov. 14, 1886. The latter was a daughter of Daniel and Martha (Curtis) Spaulding, who were among the first settlers of Lancaster. Martha Spaulding was born in Northumberland, a direct descendant of the once famous Hannah Dustin; her father's parents were the first to set- tile in Northumberland.
Our subject and his wife are regular attend- ants of the M. E. Church, in the charitable work of which Mrs. Little takes a prominent part. Mr. Little belongs to the Knights of Pythias, Mt. Gardener Lodge, No. 55. He is also a member of I. O. F. Court, Woodsville, No. 692; and is senior woodard of the lodge. Politically he is a Democrat in every respect, and never fails to express his preference in the elections.
CHARLES H. HARDY, a farmer and lum- berman of the town of Haverhill, was born in the same town the 29th day of October, 1850. He is a son of Abraham and Nancy (Bailey) Hardy, and grandson of Joseph and Lucy (Jeffers) Hardy. Joseph Hardy was a farmer by occupa- tion. His son, Abraham Hardy, was born in Haverhill, and resides now in Plymouth; he was sixty-nine years at his birthday in February, 1897. He followed farming and lumbering, and was for twelve years a boss in the bridge and building department of the railroad. In politics lie ever associated himself with the Democratic party, and served in various positions of the town, such as selectman, road surveyor, etc. His wife, a daughter of John and Ann (Ladd) Bailey, was born in Alexandria; her father was a farmer, and a veteran of the Revolution. Three girls and one boy were born to Abraham Hardy and his good wife; they were as follows: Charles H .; Lucy A., who married Albert Kenniston of Ply- mouth; Anna D., deceased; and Ida J., whose
first husband was Will Jesseman, the second Dudley D. Poiting, and the third Joseph San- burn, with whom she lives at present in Ply- mouth. By a second marriage, one more son, Forest A., who lives at Plymouth, was born to our subject's father.
Charles H. Hardy managed to acquire a fair education in the district schools of Warren, West Rumney, Plymouth, and Dorchester, in which places his father resided at various periods in our subject's boyhood. He began life for himself at the age of sixteen, working on farms and driving a four-ox team at that time; whenever an oppor- tunity offered of going to school, he never failed to grasp it, and in this way prolonged his school days to the age of nineteen. At the time of his marriage, in 1872, he bought a farm in Dorches- ter, where he remained two years, selling his property at the end of that period and removing thence to Warren Summit, where he made his home for five years, two of which years were spent in tilling a farm he hired, one year in work- ing on the railroad, and two in the woods lum- bering. From the Summit he went to Landaff, where he worked in a saw-mill and as a lumber- man for a year and a half. His next residence was in Benton, where he lived two years, renting and cultivating a farm in the summer time and lumbering and driving a team at Wildwood in the winter. His present farm he bought in De- cember, 1885; it consists of 160 acres, all of which is in a very good state of cultivation, and demonstrates a thrifty and progressive owner. Each winter he runs from three to four teams in his lumbering business.
In Dorchester, Sept. 27, 1872, he linked his fortunes in marriage with those of Ellen M. Hobbs, who was born in Wentworth; she is a daughter of Carey and Sarah (Crockett) Hobbs, and granddaughter on her father's side of Joshua and Lois (Putney) Hobbs, and granddaughter on her mother's side of Chase and Hannah (Towle) Crockett. Carey Hobbs, a farmer, in the late war was a private of Co. K., 12th Reg. N. H. Vol. Inf., and lost his life in the great struggle between the blue and the gray at Get- tysburg, Pa. One son, Harvey Almando, born Dec. 20, 1873, is the sole issue of the union of our subject and his wife. He is a Democrat in politics, and has served the town in the capacity of road surveyor.
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