USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire > Part 59
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On a preceding page will be found a finely finished portrait of Mr. Hewitt.
JOSHUA NUTTER, a prosperous black- smith and wheelwright, engaged in the manu- facture of heavy wagons, sleighs, etc., in Swift- water, town of Bath, was born in Bath, Nov. 7, 1861. His father was Joshua M. Nutter of Ports- mouth, and his mother Sarah Heath of Haver- hill. The Nutter family is of English origin, and is able to trace the line through eight genera- tions, beginning with Elder Hatevil Nutter, who was born in England in 1603, and married Annie The second in the line of descent, Lieut. Anthony Nutter, was born in 1630, and married Sarah Langstaff. Hatevil Nutter married Sarah Thurber. John Nutter, born in 1721, married Annie Sims, who was born in 1727; they were married in 1747. John Nutter, Jr., born in 1757, married Elizabeth Dam, who was born in 1758. Joseph Nutter, born in 1787, married Phebe Hoyt, who was born in 1789. The seventh gen- eration is represented in the father of our sub- ject, Joshua M. Nutter, who was born in 1818, and married Sarah Heath, who was born in 1828. Joshua Nutter, the subject of this sketch, and the son of the foregoing couple, is a member of the eighth generation.
Joseph S. Nutter, the grandfather of our sub- ject, born in Barnstead, N. H., moved to Ports- mouth, upon the completion of his education in his native town. In New Hampshire's seaport he entered upon a lime, lumber, and wood busi- ness; in the prosecution of his work and in the enlarging of his facilities he purchased and util- ized a wharf. Among the business men of the city he was counted as one of the leaders; he re- tained his prominent place in the world of trade to the very last of his years of activity. His wife, Phebe Hoyt, bore him the following children : Lucy A., Joseph S., Charlotte E., Joshua M., and
Mary R. They were Universalists in their relig- lous belief.
Joshua M. Nutter owed his education to the public schools of Portsmouth, N. H .; upon leav- ing school, he clerked in a general merchandise store in his native town. He then went to Bos- ton, Mass., and clerked in a grocery store there, and afterwards in Cambridge, of the same State. About 1848 our subject's father moved to New- ington, N. H., bought a farm, and spent the re- mainder of his years in tilling the soil. He affili- ated politically with the Democratic party. He married Sarah Heath, daughter of Isaac and Harriet (Willis) Heath of Haverhill, N. H., and to them were born twelve children, among whom those living to-day are: Joseph M., William S., Sarah H., Joshua, Corinne H., Nathan H., James H. Those deceased number the following five persons: Phebe S., Isaac H., Nathan, Char- lotte P., and McClellan. The family were Uni- tarians in religious belief.
Joshua Nutter, the subject of this memoir, was furnished with a limited education, acquired in the district schools of Bath, N. H., and learned the blacksmith's trade at an early date of G. W. Libby of Haverhill, but only remained with Mr. Libby four months, and then engaged with Harry Libby of Orford for the following five months. He then, with the experience thus obtained, opened a shop on the site of his pres- ent factory, and there did a thriving business from the first, and never lacked custom. For the. first year his work netted him the very comfort- able sum of $700.00, which was considered very good at that time for a country shop. His yearly earnings vary now from $3,500.00 to $4,000.00. His work consists in the manufacture of heavy wagons, sleds, etc., besides what he does in the way of repairs and general blacksmithing; his wagons and sleds have acquired a wide repu- tation for excellence in Grafton Co. and through- out the States of New Hampshire and Vermont. He is a young man of exceptional puslı and busi- ness enterprise, and a well-merited success has crowned his efforts.
In August, 1885, he married Mina Prescott, daughter of Asa P. and Ann (Ball) Prescott of Bath, N. H., and to them have been given four children to train and rear; they are: Hortense C .; Charlotte G .; Asa P .; and an infant daughter as yet unnamed. The family are Unitarians.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
HON. ELKANAH H. GOODNOW, former proprietor and manager of what is now the Fran- conia Inn at Sugar Hill, Lisbon township, N. H., but now retired to the seclusion and quiet of his farm, was born in the town of Lisbon, N. H., May 9, 1840. He is a son of Elliott F. and Per- sis (Morse) Goodnow.
Abel Goodnow, the grandfather of Elkanah H., was born and lived in the State of Vermont, where he followed the pursuit of agriculture all his life. They raised a large family of children, of whom we are able to state nothing except that Elliott F., the father of our subject, was the youngest of the sons; he was born May 6, 1812, in Windham Co., Vt.
This son, Elliott F., was educated in the schools of his native town, and was engaged in farming all of his life. He owned and operated a large farm in the town of Lisbon on what is now known as Sugar Hill: among his neighbors he held a high place, and was held in universal esteem. He was a stanch Democrat, but never aspired to any political office, of whatever char- acter. His wife, Persis, was a daughter of Farn- ham Morse of Methuen, Mass .; there were born to them seven children: Maria, Lucetta, Elka- nah H., Abel, Freeman, John, Mvron, and Har- riet. Mr. Goodnow departed this life Dec. 24, 1871; his wife survived him about fifteen years, dving Sept. 1, 1886. They were members of the Free Will Baptist Church of Sugar Hill, Lisbon.
Our subject, after attending the schools of Lis- bon in his boyhood, was engaged in farming un- til 1868, when he commenced keeping summer boarders. The business gradually increased, and i11 1871, Mrs. Messenger of Brooklyn, N. Y .. and her friends became interested in it, because of the location and the surrounding scenery ; they boarded at the Goodnow farm-house, which was owned by our subject: the house accommodated about twenty guests, but thev soon became cramped for want of room, for the business had taken on a very prosperous appearance. Through Mr. T. WV. Peckett, the idea of building a Sugar TTill hotel was conceived; this was the first step in making Sugar Hill the popular summer resort it has become. The new hotel. the parent of all subsequent hotels at Sugar Hill. was built in the fall of 1874. and christened the Goodnow House. It at once sprung into the favor of those seeking pleasure, rest, and recreation among the granite
hills of New Hampshire, and took its place among the longer established White Mountain resorts. On the change of management, in 1892, the name was changed from Goodnow House to Franconia Inn. Those who had known Mr. Goodnow as a model host for so many years, re- gretted very much his retirement, on account of failing health; he was very well known among the hotel men. of the State, and was much thought of as one of the pioneers in the matter of keeping pleasant and profitable summer hotels.
In October, 1863, he was joined in matrimony with Mira Knight, daughter of James and Ellen (Howard) Knight of Franconia, N. H. They are liberal in their religious views, and although members of no church, they contribute to the support of churches of any and every denomina- tion. Mr. Goodnow is a Democrat, and repre- sented the town of Lisbon in the Legislature of the State of New Hampshire in 1885-86. He was also a member of the board of supervisors two terms.
HIRAM S. BOWLES, a prominent citizen and leading blacksmith of the town of Easton, Grafton Co., N. H., was born in East Landaff (now Easton), N. H., Oct. 20. 1856. He is a son of Alonzo B. and Evaline (Stewart) Bowles, and grandson of Elijah Bowles, who followed the calling of a farmer throughout his life in his native town of Easton, N. H.
Alonzo Bowles, the father of the subject of this sketch, after securing a common school educa- tion, turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and held to his calling during all the years of his active life. Being a man of marked ability and strongly marked characteristics, he became very successful in his business, and accumulated a comfortable competence; among his associates he was well liked, and deservedly popular. He was an unyielding Democrat, but did not seck nor desire office. His wife bore him the follow- ing eight children: Merick, Georgiana, Louvan- nah, Hiram S., Myron C., Martha, Orin G., and . Fred TT. They were earnest supporters of the Advent Church.
TTiram S. Bowles obtained his schooling in the district schools of Landaff, and at early age
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
worked in a hotel at Sugar Hill, known as the Sunset Hill House, owned and operated by Bowles & Hoskins, for ten years. He then moved to his present home in Easton, N. H., where he does expert construction and repair work in blacksmithing and in work pertaining to the wheelwright's trade. He is a Democrat, and administers the law in civil cases as a justice of the peace.
Oct. 13, 1881, he was joined in wedlock with Florence Bowles, daughter of Kirk and Marrilla (Cooley) Bowles, the former of Franconia, and the latter from Benton, N. H. Mr. and Mrs. Bowles have been blessed with the birth of one child, Gladys M., born. Oct. 14, 1891. Our sub- ject and his wife are liberal in their religious views, and are not bound to any church in par- ticular.
CHARLES A. YOUNG, a prosperous lui- berman of Easton, N. H., who, although quite young, has built up a remarkably large and flourishing business in lumber, was born in East Landaff (now Easton), N. H., March 7, 1858. He is a son of Timothy B. and Mary M. (Keyes) Young, the latter of Manchester, N. H.
Caleb Young, the grandfather of Charles A., was born in the Province of Quebec; he was a farmer by occupation, and came to Landaff when a young man, settling on the farm, now owned by the father of our subject, and leading an en- tirely rural life the remainder of his days. He was a Democrat in respect to his political views. He married Athildred Bowles, daughter of Tim- othy Bowles of Lisbon, N. H., and to them were born thirteen children, as follows: Maria; Bet- sey; Walter; Timothy; George; William; Celia; Ellen: Flora; Rufus; Warren; Elvira; and one, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Young were consistent members and liberal supporters of the M. E. Church.
Timothy Young, the second son of Caleb Young, was born Nov. 13, 1832, and was edu- cated in the district schools of that part of Lan- (laff township now known as Easton ; his educa- tion completed, he worked for a number of years as a farm hand, and then learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade, which he has made the chief
means of support during the rest of his life. He is a Democrat, and has served as selectman for a number of years, holding that office as late as 1894; he has also been a justice.of the peace. On Jan. 10, 1856, he was united with Mary M. Keyes, daughter of Amasa and Sarah (Favor) Keyes, and to them were born six children, namely: Charles A., born March 7, 1858; Edson M., Jan. 21, 1860; Alice M., Dec. 10, 1861; Hat- tie A., Oct. 6, 1864; Frank W., April 16, 1867; and Alfred T., Nov. 5, 1870. Edson M. married Mary Page of Lisbon, and they have one child, Millard P. Alice M. married Joel W. Brown of Melrose, Mass .; she died at Colorado Springs, Sept. 21, 1894. Frank W. married Nellie Pease of Franconia, N. H., and has one child, Harold. Alfred T. married Mary L. Poor of Landaff, N. H .; they have one child, Roscoe A.
Charles A. Young was educated in the district schools of Landaff and Easton, and took a one year's course in the New Hampton Institute. His first venture in the business world was to make a contract with the Parker-Young Co. of Lisbon, N. H., agreeing to saw one million feet of lumber; after satisfactorily fulfilling the con- tract, Mr. Young engaged in the lumber busi- ness on his own account. He now owns and operates a steam saw-mill, which has a capacity of cutting two million feet of lumber annually ; he also owns about 1,000 acres of timber and pasture land. The finished product of his mill he disposes of to local and eastern markets. In poli- tics he is a local leader in the Democratic party, and has served as town clerk; he was postmaster under both of Cleveland's administrations, and also Harrison's; during that time he was also carrying on a general mercantile business in his store in Easton, and there he kept the post- office. When he sold out, in 1894, to Mr. Lynch, that gentleman assumed the duties of the post- mastership, and is still the incumbent.
June 26, 1888, Mr. Young married Hattie C. Poor, daughter of Adams M. and Jane (Clough) Poor of Landaff, and to them was born one child, Harry K., born March 2, 1893. Mrs. Young succumbed to the dread power of the Angel of Death a few days after the birth of the child, on March 11, 1893. Mr. Young is liberal in his religious views.
It is quite noticeable that Mr. Young and each of his brothers have a child, cach being a son.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
HON. NATHANIEL W. CHENEY, post- master of the town of Franconia, N. H., and one of its prominent citizens, was born in Sutton, N. H., Jan. 23, 1824. He is a son of Thomas and Mehitabel (Wadleigh) Cheney, and grandson of Nathaniel Cheney, who was a native of Hamp- stead, N. H., where he spent his life engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was widely known as one who was always strictly honest in all his dealings, a reputation that is surely worth hav- ing. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, in which he fought for three years. He married Mary Stevens of Hampstead, N. H., and to them were born the following children: Daniel, Waite, Nathaniel, Timothy, Thomas, Silas, Caleb, Mary, and Polly. Mary Cheney married Asa King of Whitefield, N. H .; and Polly mar- ried a Mr. Morrill. The family were liberal in their religious belief.
Thomas Cheney, the father of our subject, was educated in the common schools of Sutton, N. H., and learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade, which remained his vocation throughout the active period of his life; in his later years he was a contractor. In his political affiliations, he was first a Democrat, and then a Whig. When the call for volunteers was issued in the War of 1812 he responded and enlisted; in the campaign following he received such injuries as to procure lıim a discharge. His wife, Mehitabel, was a (laughter of Thomas Wadleigh, who was one of four brothers, who came from England and set- tled in Sutton, N. H .: these brothers became very prominent in their respective communities, one becoming a judge and State representative. Two children were born to Mr. Cheney by this, his first marriage: Miriam, deceased; and Nathaniel WV., the subject of this sketch. After his first wife's death he formed a second union with Sally Rowell of Sutton, N. H .; this was productive of five children: Charles, Mary, Abram, Sarah, and Ralph A. In respect to their religious be- lief they were Adventists.
Nathaniel W. Cheney began his education in the district schools of Sutton, and finished by taking a higher course of instruction at Hancock Academy, and also at Unity Scientific Institution of Unity, N. IT. He then became a school teacher, and up to the year 1873 he was engaged in his profession in various towns of New Hamp- shire. In 1869 and 1870 hie represented the
town of Franconia in the legislative halls of Con- cord, and proved himself to be a man who was thoroughly capable of holding that position. In 1873 he was elected registrar of deeds, and held that position two years. In his political belief he is a stanch Democrat; he was appointed post- master by the Democratic administration, Oct. 14, 1893, and is still the incumbent. He has also served the town as selectman.
He has twice entered the state of matrimony. In 1846 he was joined at the altar with Rebecca Wilson of Benton, N. H., and from this union two children, Emma and Flora, were the result; the latter married Harry W. Priest of Fran- conia, N. H. Mrs. Cheney died in August, 1863. He then took for his wife Mrs. Agnes M. (Spurr) Hopkins of Chelsea, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Cheney are inclined toward the Universal- ist Church.
WILLIAM B. HURD, a prosperous and in- fluential farmer of the town of Lyman, N. H., was born in Littleton, N. H., Sept. 27, 1834; he is a son of Timothy B. and Eliza G. (Partridge) Hurd, the former of Bath, and the latter a native of Littleton, N. H. The father of our subject, who was born in 1797, learned the trade of a clothier, and carded wool and dressed cloth in Lyman, N. H., until 1846, when he purchased the farm now owned by his son, William B., and thereafter led an agricultural life. He was a Re- publican, and was elected to the office of select- man on several different occasions, fulfilling the duties of said office in a very creditable and sat- isfactory manner. In 1829 he married Eliza G. Partridge, a daughter of Nathaniel and Persis (Goodall) Partridge of Littleton, N. H., and to them were given three children. The eldest,
Eliza, married Russell Underwood of St. Johns- bury, Vt., and has four children: Timothy H., Edgar R., Lizzie, and Ines. Persis A. married Warren McIntire of Littleton, N. H., and has reared a family of four children: Harry H., Har- vey IT., Anna, and Ardell. Mrs. Hurd was a member of the M. E. Church; her husband was liberal in his religious views, and did not be- long to any church organization.
William B. ITurd, the youngest child of his parents, was educated in the common schools of
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
Lyman, and worked on the home farm, where he has spent his life in the pursuits of agriculture. He is thoroughly acquainted with the best methods of farming, ready to discard an old and worn-out theory for one that is up-to-date and practical. He has been honored with an election to the board of selectman for two years. By his first wife, Harriet E. Kenerson of Peacham, Vt., whom he married in 1856, he had six. children: Harriet E. married Arthur Aldrich, and has one child, Ervill; Nellie C .: Myra F. married Harvey Lewis, whom she has presented with six chil- dren: Cyrus, Royal, Alice, Grace, Nellie, and Bell: Eliza E. married Ervin Prescott, and has one child, Ervin, Jr .: Tina B .; and Willie E., now deceased. Mrs. Hurd died Jan. 23, 1894. April 17, 1895, he formed a second union with Julia O. Jackson of Littleton, N. H. Mr. Hurd is lib- eral in his religious views; his wife is a member of the M. E. Church of Littleton, N. H.
REV. JOHN F. OLIN, town clerk of Lyman, N. H., and a prosperous farmer of that place, was born in Moultonboro, N. H. He is a son of Rev. Charles and Betsey B. (Mann) Olin. The ancestors of our subject were of Welch origin, and the name was originally spelled Llewellyn. The great-grandfather of our subject came from Rhode Island, and settled in Vermont. Reuben Olin, the grandfather of John F., was born in Guilford, Vt., where he identified himself with the farming community of that place, and was regarded as a very able man. He married Han- nah Nichols, and to them were born the follow- ing children: John, Rachel, Nancy, Charles, Ruth, George, Sarah, Calvin, and Lucinda. They were somewhat liberal in their religious belief, and did not unite with any church.
Rev. Charles Olin was born June 11, 1809, and received a common school education in the schools of Guilford, Vt .; having fitted himself for the ministry, he became what was termed a cir- cuit preacher, holding services in several towns of Vermont. He was a member of the Vermont M. E. Conference, and afterwards of the New ITampshire Conference. After twenty years of circuit work he settled down to local preaching.
At the age of fifty-two, in 1861, such was. his patriotism and love of country and right, he en- listed for the preservation of the Union, in Co. I, 7th N. H. Vol. Inf., and served until the spring of 1863. While in the army he contracted yellow fever, from the effects of which he never fully re- covered; he died in 1884. He was joined in mar- riage with Betsey Mann, daughter of Obadiah Mann of Raymond, Me., Oct. 3, 1837; their union resulted in the birth of the following chil- dren: Hester A .; Charles W .; John F .; Thomas C .; Celia; and a child, who died in infancy. Mrs. Olin still survives her husband, and lives with her son, John F. Olin.
Rev. John F. Olin, upon the completion of his education in the schools of Moultonboro, N. H., applied himself to box-making and to learning the carpenter's trade. He also worked in an iron furnace, having charge of the cupola iron fur- nace at Lakeport, N. H., where he remained about three years. He then moved to Stamstead, Province of Quebec, and learned the tinsmith's trade, and carried on a highly prosperous busi- ness for about eight years. At this time he gave up business life and entered the ministry to preach the Gospel. He took charge of his first pastorate in 1884, at South Columbia, N. H., achieving good success, allying himself with the Methodist denomination. In 1888 he moved to Lyman, N. H., and preached the blessed news of salvation to all until 1894. He characterized his ministry with a simple and convincing earnest- ness, that was the means of bringing souls to re- pentance, and to believe on the Lamb who was slain that we might live. His private life, noble and almost without fault, has been useful as an example and a guide to the erring one who has been trying to lead a better life. Since his retire- ment from the ministry he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he has found to be quite profitable. He is a Prohibitionist in politi- cal belief, and has served in the past as a mem- ber of the school board, and as a trustee of the public library ; at present he is filling out his term as town clerk of Lyman.
In 1872 he was joined in the holy bonds of matrimonv with Orpha E. Alexander, daughter of Arba Alexander of Farnham, Province of Quebec. Their union has been blessed with the birth of two children: Clayton P., born June 14. 1873; and Myrtle P., born April 24, 1892.
HON. JOEL SPOONER.
.
MRS. LAURA SPOONER.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
HON. JOEL SPOONER, deceased, a former prominent citizen of the town of Franconia, Grafton Co., N. H., was born in the above-men- tioned town May 8, 1821. He was a son of Jonathan and Abigail (Archer) Spooner, and grandson of Thomas Spooner. Thomas Spooner worked all his life at farming, and was well known and influential among the members of his farming district. He gathered about him the fol- lowing family of children: Elijah, Jefferson, Madison, Jonathan, Priscilla, and Polly. They were Free Will Baptists.
Jonathan Spooner, after competing his educa- tion, which was obtained in the common schools of his native town, learned the trade of a ham- mersman and worked in a forge at St. Johnsbury, Vt., and later in Franconia, N. H. He was a stanch Democrat in his political beliefs and con- victions. His wife, Abigail Archer, bore him five children, as follows: Joel, Charlotte, Annis, Solon, and Ahmeda. Their religious views placed them in the fold of the Baptist Church.
Joel Spooner secured his education in the schools of Franconia, and turning his attention to farming was engaged in the pursuits of agri- culture the greater part of his active life. He was at last forced to abandon farming because of his failing health and enter into mercantile busi- ness, buying out E. B. Parker of Franconia, N. H., and conducting the affairs of his store for ten vears, when he sold out and retired from active business. He was much liked by his patrons and his business associates, for his straight-forward methods of transacting business met popular ap- proval and contributed largely to his financial success. In politics, he was a Democrat, and was honored with high offices of trust by his townsmen on several different occasions. He served as selectman a number of years, and rep- resented the town of Franconia in the legislative halls of Concord, N. F .; he was collector of taxes for a period spanning twenty years. He was en- (lowed with more than ordinary intelligence, which received a thorough training in the severe school of experience: generous and kind-hearted, he made many friends, and was very fortunate in retaining their friendship.
In 1847 he married Laura Eastman, daughter of Simeon and Judith (Quimby) Eastman, the former of Lisbon, N. H., and the latter a native of Franconia. N. H. The union of our subject
and his wife has been blessed with the birth of three children: Isaac E., who married Alice Wells of Franconia, N. H., died in 1879, aged thirty-one years; Abbie J., who married Charles S. Morgan of Littleton, N. H .; and James G., deceased. Mr. Spooner died Sept. 10, 1895. He was a member of the Baptist Church of Fran- conia, N. H., as is his wife, who survives him.
As being among the leading citizens and rep- resentative men of Grafton Co., the accompany- ing portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Spooner will be viewed with a large degree of interest.
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