USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire > Part 57
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Sylvanus Blandin, the oldest child in a large family, born to the preceding, was born in Beth- lehem, and there, passed his school-boy days. There being no railroad facilities at that period for the rapid transportation of freight and mer- chandise, horses furnished the power for the transmission of goods; our subject's father was engaged in this business, teaming between Beth- lehem and Boston. No matter what his work, he always operated a farm in connection with it. About eleven years of his active life was spent in Brownington, Vt., returning to pass the sunset period of his life on the old homestead in Beth- lehem. He married Harriet Greenwood of Roy- alston, Mass., and reared a family of six chil- dren: Almira G. (McGregory): George W. of Roylston, Mass .; Charles K. of Meredith, N. H .; John S. of Bethlehem, N. H .; Willis B., the sub- ject of this memoir; and Maria (Gordon) of Beth- lehem, N. H. Sylvanus and his wife both passed away at about the age of eighty years. In poli- tics he was a Democrat. He was a man of energy, with the invaluable adjuncts of push and great executive ability. Liberal and free-hearted,
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he was always ready with a kind word, and sub stantial assistance to the unfortunate one.
Willis B. Blandin, the subject of this short sketch, was born Oct. 29, 1832, in the town of Bethlehem, N. H., and received his somewhat limited education in the public schools of his native town. At the age of eighteen he faced the problems of life; his first employment was with J. G. Sinclair of Bethlehem, N. H., where he re- mained for a period of five years. In this con- nection he made himself almost invaluable to his employer, and it was with genuine regret that Mr. Sinclair bade him good-bye when our sub- ject left to take up the vocation of farming in the town of Bath, N. H. The farm that he bought at that time he still owns. He remained on the same until 1886, when he purchased a place in what is called the upper village, and moved there, making it his home at the present time. He has been very successful in his chosen vocation, and is now in the possession of a well- earned competence, the result of his own skill, industry, and perseverance, and can look back upon a well-spent life, conscious of never hav- ing done an intentional wrong to anyone. He was married in 1860 to Jane C., daughter of Rufus Noyes of Landaff, N. H. The beloved wife and mother passed away at the age of sixty- three, in 1896. Two children were born to them: Charles, who died at the age of twenty-three; and Amos N., who is now manager of the Bath Lumber Co. of Bath, N. H. Mr. Blandin is a firm Democrat, but does not pose as an office- seeker; however, he has been honored by the office of deputy sheriff, which he has held for eighteen years, and is still the incumbent.
Amos N. Blandin, the only living son and child of Willis B. Blandin, was born in East Landaff (now Easton), Sept. 6, 1864, and re- ceived his preliminary education in the public schools of Bath, and in the academy of the same place. He also attended Phillips Exeter Acad- emy of Excter, N. H., where he fitted for Dart- mouth College, but did not pursue his college education as he first intended. Beginning at the age of fifteen years, he taught five terms in the Bath and Landaff public schools. Completing his education at the age of seventeen, he started out to support himself, working on a farm until he had saved a sufficient amount to buy a team of horses. He then bought a wood lot, and carried
on a lumbering business, at which he was re- markably successful. The field promised so well for a larger outlay of capital than he possessed that he conceived the idea of forming a stock company. It was accordingly formed, and the shares sold; it was known as the Bath Lumber Co., with Edward Woods as president, and our subject as treasurer and manager, a position he now holds. He has characterized his life in the business world by the strictest integrity and hon- esty ; his natural aptitude for business has made it possible for him to have attained his present conspicuous position in the community.
He married Catherine E., daughter of Edward and Mary (Carlton) Woods of Bath; this union has been blessed with one child, Catherine E., who was born Dec. 11, 1892. In politics Mr. Blandin has taken a prominent and noteworthy part; he supports the Democratic party, and has served his town in the capacity of selectman and representative. He was sent as a delegate to the Chicago Convention of 1896, which resulted in the nomination of William J. Bryan of Nebraska.
EDMUND W. LOCKE, deceased, late a prosperous and leading agriculturist of the town of Alexandria, N. H., was born in the above town, where he passed his whole life, Feb. 13, 1843. He is a son of George and Elizabeth (Cheney) Locke, and a grandson of Elijah Locke, a native of Rye, N. H.
Our subject's grandfather was by occupation a farmer, and followed that vocation a greater part of his life in Alexandria. He married Han- nah Sanders, a native of Rye, and to them were born the following children: Betsey, Nancy, Samuel, Benjamin, and George. They were Free Will Baptists in religious belief.
George Locke, the youngest son of the parental family and the father of our subject, was educated in the schools of Alexandria, and, like his father, also engaged in agricultural pur- suits all his life. He was a leading man in his community and did much to advance the inter- ests of the town and to further its growth. He was a stanch Democrat. His wife, Elizabeth, daughter of David and Anna Cheney of Bristol, N. H., bore him the following named children:
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David: Nancy; Abigail; Mary; Elizabeth; Sarah; Leonard; and Edmund W., who is the only one now living. They were members and attendants of the Congregational Church. The father died Nov. 20, 1882, and the mother Jan. 30, 1800.
Edmund W. Locke after completing his edu- cation in the schools of Alexandria, his native town, turned his whole and undivided attention to farming life and was considered a very pros- perous man. He was kind-hearted and very obliging to his neighbors, who sorely felt the loss of such a man. He was a stanch Demo- crat, and served as road surveyor for a number of years, and was also a member of the school board.
March 3, 1870, he married Susan Smith, daughter of Ransom R. and Mary (Colburn) Smith, whose sketch appears in this book under the title of Clarence A. Smith. His death took place Dec. 30, 1891. His widow still survives, and is living at Bristol, N. H., and is a member of the Baptist Church, as was her husband when living.
HON. CHARLES E. DRURY, superintend- ent of the Bath Lumber Co., is the son of Moses W. and Caroline (Merrill) Drury, grandson of Windsor and Clara (Kendall) Drury, and great- grandson of Maj. Buckminister Drury. The lat- ter received his military title from his official connection with the State militia, in which he was always actively interested. He also served in the Revolution.
Windsor Drury was born in Landaff, N. H., where he was reared and educated; he bought a farm near the old homestead, where he carried on farming operations thoughout his life. His wife, Clara Kendall, bore him a family of four children: Windsor, Jr., Sarah (Brooks), Louisa, and Moses W.
Moses Webster Drury, the father of our sub- ject. was born in Landaff, and passed the years of his minority there. He learned the trade of a millwright, and at the age of twenty-one went to Northfield, Mass., prosecuting his chosen trade. He always followed his trade, and was not turned aside by glittering prospects in other lines. After a four years' residence in Northifield he changed
his residence to Turner Falls, where he lived till he died at the age of forty. His partner though life's joys and sorrows was Caroline Merrill, who departed this life and rejoined her husband in the world beyond at the age of sixty-three. They reared four children, who were as follows: Alice (Shattuck) of Brooklyn, N. Y .; Charles E., the subject of this sketch; Josie of Keene, N. H .; Flavia (Splan) of Bellows Falls, Vt.
Hon. Charles E. Drury was born in that part of Landaff that is now known as Easton, April 4, 1859. His education was very limited, being thrown upon his own resources at the age of eleven years. At that tender age he hired out on a farm for two years, at the expiration of which period he began to follow the milling busi- ness, working in the mills near home for a time; after a few years spent in Massachusetts he re- turned to his native town, and in 1878 began milling on his own account. He necessarily started in on a small scale, but gradually in- creased his facilities, until he had built up a large and prosperous business, which he disposed of in 1890, and came to Bath, where he soon after, with A. N. Blandin, built the mills of the Bath Lumber Co., with which he has since been asso- ciated as superintendent, besides owning consid- erable stock.
Mr. Drury was joined in the holy bond of mar- riage in 1878 with Julia A., daughter of Lindsey Whitcomb of Bethlehem, N. H. This union has been blessed with four children, namely: Vera, Mabel, Ray, and Flora. Our subject's political attachments are found in the National party ; previous to the time when he supported the cause of temperance with his vote, as well as with his influence, he was a Democrat in his principles. In his native town of Landaff he served on the school board at two different times in the ca- pacity of chairman of that body. He was elected to that position on the Democratic ticket. In 1889-90 he represented his town on the Prohibi- tion ticket in the State Legislature; he is now chairman of the school board of Bath, elected on the Independent ticket. He has also been an efficient highway surveyor and a surveyor of lumber.
In 1894 a campaign paper was started in the town of Bath for local purposes; the editor and the printer of the same remained but a few months. In order to maintain the public enter-
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prise Mr. Drury bought the plant, and has con- tinued the publication of the sheet, acting as manager and editor. The paper is known as the Bath Contest, and is devoted to forwarding the good cause of temperance. Our subject is a member in good standing of the M. E. Church, and is interested in all of its good work. Al- though not having had the advantages usually afforded the youth of this country, he has ob- tained a good general education by his system- atic habits of reading. He is well posted on all subjects that form the theme in educated circles. His record is worthy of emulation as a self-made man ; he is admired by all for his clear-headed business ability, and strict and unflinching in- tegrity.
GILBERT A. BULLOCK, deceased, late a prominent leading merchant of Alexandria, N. H., was born in the above town, Dec. 26, 1846. He is a son of Ariel K. and Orpha (Simonds) Bullock, and grandson of Hezekiah and Mary (Martin) Locke.
Our subject's grandfather was a native of the town of Grafton, N. H., and followed farming all his life in that town. His wife bore him six chil- dren, as follows: Ariel, Gilbert, Martin, Lydia, Sabra. and Pluma. They were Methodists in their religious belief.
Ariel Bullock, the eldest son, was educated in the schools of Grafton, and then turned his at- tention to pursuits of agriculture, which he fol- lowed all his life in Grafton and Alexandria, where he died about the year 1882. He was a stanch supporter of the principles advocated by the Republican party. His wife, Orpha, was a daughter of Timothy and Abigail Simonds of Alexandria, and to them were born five chil- dren: Kendrick, George, Mary E., Gilbert, and Hezekiah. They were members of the M. E. Church. Our subject's mother died in the year 1877. Gilbert A. Bullock, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the schools of Alex- andria and of Manchester, N. H., and after com- pleting his education clerked several years in Concord, N. H., and then went to Holyoke, Mass., in the same capacity, remaining there four years, after which he came to Alexandria, N. H., and for ten years, until 1883, was farming
in that town. In that year he entered upon gen- eral mercantile business, and was engaged in that branch of industry for about three years, selling out at last to J. F. Phillips, and retiring on account of his failing health, and still retain- ing the farm. He was a very prominent man, prosperous and successful in business and uni- versally liked by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance, for his honest and charitable deal- ings in whatever work he was engaged. Politi- cally he was a firm Republican, and held the office of town treasurer for several years. In the M. E. Church of Alexandria he was a trustee for many years and a leader in all the good work done by that organization. His much-lamented death took place Nov. 11, 1886.
In 1871 he contracted a marriage with Clara A. Gale, daughter of Luke and Louisa (Perkins) Gale, and of this union the sole isstie was a daughter, Eva L., born Aug. 10. 1874. The mother and daughter are prominently connected in the Methodist Church of Alexandria. In 1888 Mrs. Bullock was elected librarian by the trus- tees of the Haynes Free Public Library, and has since held that position.
EBEN T. BAILEY, a leading agriculturist of the town of Alexandria, was born in the above town, March 28, 1827, and is a son of John and Rachel (Haines) Bailey, and a grandson of George Bailey. The grandfather of our subject, a native of the Granite State, was a cooper by trade and followed that in connection with farm- ing all his life. He is an adherent of the Demo- cratic party, and was liberal in his religious be- lief. He reared four children: George, Rebecca, William, and John.
John Bailey was educated in the schools of Newbury, Vt., and followed the same calling as his father, in Alexandria, being a cooper and far- mer. His wife, Rachel, is a daughter of James Haines of Sanbornton, N. H. To them were born five children: Warren, Lydia, Rufus, Re- becca, and Eben T.
Eben T. Bailey was educated in the schools of Alexandria, and when a young man learned the shoemaker's trade, and supported himself five years at that calling. He then turned to agricul- tural pursuits and purchased a farmi of 160 acres
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i11 1850, and has ever since engaged in farming; he is a stanch Democrat and has held the office of collector of taxes one year.
In 1849 he was joined in matrimony with Lonise Ackerman, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Ackerman of Farmington, N. H., and to them were born two children: Frank L., who mar- ried Mary A. Darling of Malone, N. Y., and has one child, Mary F .; and Emma R., who married Orrin S. Gale of Alexandria, N. H., and has two children: Shirley and Angie L. The family at- tend the Union Church of Alexandria, N. H.
MOSES F. WILBUR. Among the hotels located north of Concord in New Hampshire, there are few that equal in appointments and ser- vice the Hotel Bristol, of the town of that name; and great credit is due to Mr. Wilbur, the subject of this sketch, for the splendid manner in which he conducts it, and for its high place in the esti- mation of the traveling public. It is commodious and roomy, and will accommodate 100 guests; it is fitted with all the modern improvements, such as steam heat, electric lights, and bells, and has a first-class livery and laundry in connection with it. It is situated twelve miles north of Franklin, N. H., and is only about a five min- utes' walk from the Boston & Maine R. R. Sta- tion, while about two miles to the north is one of the finest summer resorts in New Hampshire, New Found Lake.
Moses F. Wilbur was born in Fremont, Rock- ingham Co., N. H., May 15, 1854, and is a son of Warren and Sarah (Sanborn) Wilbur, and grandson of Rev. Warren Wilbur.
Our subject's grandfather was a native of New Hampshire, and after completing his education, which was obtained in the district schools of his native town, engaged in pastoral work, as a min- ister of the Methodist faith. After several years, he relinquished that line of work and followed the trade of a shoemaker for a short time, and later engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he followed as long as his years and health would permit in the town of Fremont, N. H. He was twice married. By his first marriage he became the parent of four children: Mary; Betsey; Louise; and Warren, Jr., the father of the sub-
ject of this sketch. His second union resulted in the birth of three children: Sylvester, Benson, and Angeline.
Warren Wilbur was born in Fremont, N. H., March 25, 1826, and secured a district school cducation in the schools of that place, and then turned his attention to agricultural. pursuits, which he followed all of the active period of his life, living his last years in Bristol, N. H. He was a Democrat politically. He married Sarah, daughter of John S. Sanborn of Fremont, N. H., and to them were given eight children: Huldah S. married Daniel B. Burley of Fremont, N. H., and has one child, Fred; John W. married Tavia Moulton of Bristol, N. H., and has one child, Harry J .; Moses, the subject of this sketch; Os- man S. married Vira Norris of Hill, N. H .; Frank W. married Mamie Emerson; Charles E. mar- ried Jennie Nickerson of Cape Cod, Mass., and has two children, Pearl and Hattie; George M. married Jennie Clement of East Hiram, N. H .; and Hattie B., the youngest of the family. They favored the M. E. Church. Warren Wilbur died March, 1895.
Our subject received his education in the dis- trict and high schools of Bristol, and then learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade, which he followed three years, when he engaged in job teaming for ten years. He then engaged in the livery business in Bristol, which he still con- tinues. In 1889 he purchased the Hotel Bristol of Bristol, N. H., and has given his best efforts to give it a prominent place among the hostel- ries of the State, and has met with abundant suc- cess, which is measured by the large patronage he has from the traveling public, who like to stop there, sure of obtaining the very best of accommodations. He is a Democrat, and has held the office of sheriff four years, road agent five years. Socially he is a Mason, and belongs to Bristol Lodge, No. 79, of Bristol, N. H .; St. Omer Chapter of Franklin, N. H. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., Cardigan Lodge, No. 38, of Bristol.
Jan. 17, 1874, he was joined in the bonds of matrimony with Kate E. Sanborn, daughter of James T. and Sarah (Moulton) Sanborn of Bris- tol, N. H. To our subject and his wife has been born one child, Mabel L., born Sept. 16, 1881. The family are regular attendants of the Congre- gational Church of Bristol, N. H.
$
IRVING B. ANDREWS.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
IRVING B. ANDREWS, a well-to-do citizen of Lisbon, N. H., who has been very successful in his business of lumber manufacturing, was born in Orange, N. H., Nov. 29, 1857. He is a son of Benjamin F. and Abbie (Sanborn) An- drews, and grandson of Samuel Andrews.
Samuel Andrews was born in Sutton, N. H., and was engaged in farming during the active period of his lite in the town of Orange, N. H .; he was a leader in town affairs in his time. He was a firm Republican, and represented the town of Orange in the New Hampshire Legislature; he was also selectman and justice of the peace. He married a Miss Fowler, who was born in Sutton, N. H., and to them were born a large family of children, of whom Mrs. Tenny and Benjamin F. Andrews, the father of our subject, are the only ones living.
Benjamin F. Andrews was born in Sutton, N. H., March, 1827, and was educated in the schools of his neighborhood. When a young man he moved to Orange, N. H., where he en- gaged in the lumber business; later on he was in Canaan, N. H., in the same work. About 1890 he came to Lisbon, where he is now living in retirement. His wife was a daughter of Jona- than Sanborn of Canaan, N. H .; she bore him four children: Delbert O. married Ida Whittier of Enfield, N. H., and has one child, Ernest; Ralza E., a Congregational minister of Ban- gor, N. Y., married Clara Fernald of Canaan, N. H., and has three children, Lela, Ethel, and B. Fay; Ella D. married L. W. Cheney of Man- chester, N. H., and has one child, Lera. The fourth child is Irving B., the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Andrews died in 1892. They were Congregationalists in matters of church attend- ance. Benjamin F. Andrews represented the town of Orange in the Legislature and served in other town offices; served several years as select- man.
Irving B. Andrews was educated in the district schools of Orange, N. H., and took a higher course at the academy of Canaan Street. Later on he went through New Hampton Institute, and graduated in 1875. After his graduation he spent a short time in Colorado, returning east to go into the lumber business with his father in Canaan, N. H. In 1890 he came to Lisbon, N. H., where he is engaged in manufacturing linnber for the wholesale trade, shipping to the
eastern markets-Boston, Springfield, and Low- ell, Mass., and other New England points. He owns and operates two saw and dressing mills, one in Franconia and one in Easton, N. H. He is also one of the directors of the Parker & Young Manufacturing Co. of Lisbon. He is a stanch Republican, and is at present a member of the school board of Lisbon. Mr. Andrews was married April, 1880, to C Ella Knowlton, a daughter of Col. James S. Knowlton of Dan- bury, N. H. They had one child, Lyle S. J., born Feb. 27, 1881.
In 1891 he was united in the bonds of matri- mony with Miss Lilla Davis, daughter of George W. Davis of Canaan, N. H. Mrs. Andrews is a graduate of Tilton Seminary, in the Class of 1889. Our subject's nuptials have been blessed with the birth of three children: Neal D., born May 15, 1892; Laurence, Nov. 23, 1893; and George I., Dec. 20, 1895. Both Mr. and Mrs. Andrews are members of the Congregational Church; Mr. Andrews is a trustee of the Con- gregational Society.
As a prominent citizen, and largely interested in manufacturing, we present Mr. Andrews's portrait on a preceding page.
JAMES GORDON, a prosperous farmer and carpenter of Woodsville, N. H., was born in Shipton, Province of Quebec, Dec. 24, 1844, and is a son of John and Rhoda (Pope) Gordon, the former a farmer of Scotland, and the latter a native of Wheelock, Vt.
John Gordon came to this country from Scot- land, when a young man, with all the push and energy of his native land, with the bright pros- pect of a promising future to lure him on. He was educated in the schools of his native coun- try, and learned the trade of a baker, which he followed until forty years of age, when he turned his attention to the pursuit of agriculture, whichi he followed the remainder of the active period of his life. He served in the British Army. His wife, Rhoda Pope, bore him ten children, five of whom are now living: Theodora, Lorin, Fred- erick, Mary Ann; and James, the subject of this memoir. In his religious views he sided with the Established Church of England. He died
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about the year 1876. His wife, the beloved mother of his children, preceded him in 1872.
James Gordon was educated under the Queen's Government in the schools of Shipton, Province of Quebec, removing to this country at the age of eighteen, and ever afterwards mak- ing the United States his home. At first he worked in several different localities, but finally settled down in Woodsville, N. Il., where he bought a farm, working at his trade of carpen- tering in the fall and winter, and cultivating his farm the rest of the year. He devotes his ex- cellent farm of about fifty acres principally to the raising of hay. In politics he is a Democrat, and is a hard worker in the interests of that party, but has never sought an office at its disposal. lle has been united in marriage twice. His first wife he married in 1873; her name was Eva Burt of Wells River; she died in 1876. In 1877 he formed a second union with Jennie, daughter of Samuel and Gracia (Eames) Hancock of Woodsville, N. H., and by this second union have been born three children: Leslie J., Nina J., and Harold. They are regular attendants of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Z. N. HUTCHINS, the efficient and popular bookkeeper of the Bath Lumber Co., is a son of William V. and Martha (Newell) Hutchins, and grandson of James and Jane (Reed) Hutchins. James Hutchins spent the most of his life in the town of Bath, in what is called the Upper Vil- lage, where he carried on a general mercantile business. He was a leading man of the town, and served officially in various capacities; he was endowed with an uncommonly good intellect and common sense, and was often sought for ad- vice. He married Jane Reed, who died at the age of eighty-nine. They reared a family of eight children. The eldest child, William V., the father of our subject, was born in Bath, where he was also reared and educated. Being of a busi- ness turn of mind, like his father, he also en- gaged in the mercantile.business. He was quite fortunate in his enterprises, and was enabled to build the old brick store, and the stone resi- dence now known as the Old Stone House, built in 1836, that still grace the streets of Bath. The mercantile business claimed his attention until
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