USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire > Part 6
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Jacob S. Perley was a son of Jacob and Do- rothy (Hale) Perley; Jacob Perley was the eld- est of seven sons born to his parents, as follows: Jacob: Jonathan; Jeremiah; Nathaniel; Samuel; Francis; and Putnam.
The first Perley in America, and ancestor of our subject, was Allen Perley, who was born in Wales in 1608, and died in Ipswich, Mass., Dec. 28, 1675. He came to America when twenty-two years old, in the same fleet which bore Gov. Winthrop, of Colonial renown; he settled first in what is now the town of Woburn, and that locality has been known for two and a half centuries as Perley Meadows, and through it runs Perley Brook. He was a large land-own- er, holding in his own right land in five different towns. He married in 1635 Mrs. Susanna Boke- sen, who died in Ipswich, Mass., Feb. 11, 1692, after sixteen years of widowhood. One record gives a slightly different account, making his date of arrival at Charlestown, July 12, 1634, and his removal to Ipswich being placed in 1636.
Allen Perley's youngest son, Thomas, was the father of Jacob, grandfather of Francis, great- grandfather of Jacob, Sr., and great-grandfather of Jacob, Jr., the father of our subject, Jacob S. Perley.
Jacob S. Perley was married June 19, 1850, in Hanover, N. H., to Harriet Eliza Fellows, daughter of Ira and Abigail (Wright) Fellows, the latter a daughter of Asa and Hulda (Knapp) Wright. Tra Fellows was a son of Isaac, Jr., and Jane (Burnham) Fellows, and a grandson of Isaac Fellows, Sr. who married Mrs. Abigail Blake, a daughter of Capt. Prescott. Isaac Fellows, Sr., was a son of Jonathan Fellows, and his third wife, Deborah Hilton, and a grandson of Isaac Fellows, who married Joanna Fellows. The two last named were born in 1635 and 1646, re- spectively, and died April 12, 1721, and Marchi 20, 1732, respectively, both in their eightv-sixth vear. Of seven children born to Mrs. Perley's parents, six survived: the record is as follows: Harriet E., the wife of our subiect; Julia Pin- neo (Whiting): Susan C. (Tinney): Asa W., who lives in Hanover: Miranda M. (Foss); and Ira P. of Manchester, N. H. There were born to Jacob S. Perley and his wife, Harriet E. Fel- lows, three children, of whom Eva Eliza alone survives. She married. Nov. 19. 1884, Irving P. Fitts, son of Richard and Mary D. (Rodgers)
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
Fitts. Mr. Perley was a Republican in politics. His widow is a member of the Congregational Church.
The Fitts family in America sprang from Robert and Grace D. Fitts of Ipswich, Mass., who came from Fitzford, Tavistock, Devon, England, settling in Ipswich, about 1635. He was a man of liberal education, and took a lead- ing part in the affairs of the colony. The Fitts family in Hanover traces its descent as follows through the successive generations: Abra- hanı and Sarah (Thompson) Fitts; Richard, Sr., and Sarah (Thorn) Fitts; Richard, Jr., and Sa- rah (Brown) Fitts; Ephraim and Rhoda (Worth- en) Fitts; and Richard and Mary (Powell) Fitts. Richard Fitts was one of the first settlers of Hanover, arriving in that town in 1791; he re- moved to Enfield a few years, but soon returned to Hanover, and took up a farm in the eastern part of the town. From him spring the family in Grafton County.
GEO. N. RUSSELL, the subject of this per- sonal narration, a leading farmer, and extensive lumberman of the town of Orford, was born March 2, 1854, in a house which formerly stood on the foundations of his present home, on the farm which he now cultivates. He is a son of Nathaniel and Persis (Hancock) Russell, and grandson of Nathaniel Russell, Sr.
The grandfather of our subject died about the time his son was born. His widow, who was Mary Bradford, a descendant of Gov. Bradford of early Colonial Massachusetts, married as her second husband Bailey Sargent, a drover of the town of Orford, who met her when on a trip to Boston, and brought her to Orford to preside over his home. The Russell family had been living in Boston at the time of the death of Nathaniel Russell, Sr. Nathaniel Russell, Jr., was an only son of his father. His mother bore her second husband six children .~
The father of our subject was born in Pelham, N. H., Feb. 5, 1811, and died on the farni, where our subject still resides, Aug. 15, 1889. He came with his mother and step-father to Or- ford when he was five years old. He grew up in Orford, attending its district schools, and at the age of twenty-four bought the farm, on which he
lived and carried on his farming until his death, at the age of 78 years and six months. He was a Republican in politics, and served frequently as selectman, at one time holding the office for seven successive years. He was a member of the, Congregational Church. His wife, Persis Hancock, bore him five children, as follows: Mary B., deceased, was twice married, her first husband was Edwin Gilmore, and her sec- ond James W. Gilmore, now living in Mel- rose, Mass .; Marion R. married Franklin Eaton, now of Minneapolis, Minn., her first hus- band was Mendal Bridgman of Hanover; Emina A. married Benjamin F. Trussell of Orford; Ada C., now deceased, was the wife of Walter S. Horton; and George N., the subject of this sketch.
George N. Russell's mother was a daughter of Joseph and Lydia (Peck) Hancock; Lydia Peck was from Montpelier, Vt., and died not very long after her marriage, leaving a family of small children. Joseph Hancock followed the trade of a blacksmith in early life, and was later a minister of the Congregational Church. He was born in North Braintree, Mass., and died at the age of eighty. He was a son of Samuel Hancock. Joseph Hancock was a militiaman, being called into active service at Plattsburgh, N. Y. He died in the town of Orford, where he spent the last ten years of his life.
George N. Russell was reared on the home farm, and up to the age of eighteen was attend- ing school in the district schools and in Orford Academy. From eighteen to twenty, he lived in the city of Manchester, where he was employed at various occupations. After the death of a sis- ter, he came home to take care of the old folks; he met and married his wife, and settled down on the old home farm. His first marriage was solemnized in Orford, Oct. 27, 1875: the bride was Loraine S. Morrill, a daughter of Deacon Benjamin and Harriet (Simonds) Morrill of Or- fordville. Their union was prolific of two chil- dren: Florence A., who is teaching in Orford, after two years in the high school; and Harry M., who is still attending school, and living at home. Mr. Russell was married the second time, April 19, 1884, to Eliza A. French of Or- ford; she is a daughter of David and Charlotte L. (Morey) French; two children were born of the second marriage, namely: Carlie P .; and
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
Fay F. Our subject's first wife was a member of the Congregational Church of Orfordville. Mr. and Mrs. Russell are members of the Mt. Cube Grange, No. 236, of Orford. In politics he is a Republican, and has been selectman since 1894, and is now first selectman. His farm comprises 100 acres, and supports some thirty head of cattle; the milk product is dis- posed of to the creamery at Orfordville; Mr. Russell is President of the Creamery Co., and has been for the past three years. Our subject, in addition to his farming and attending to his dairy, is also inuch interested in lumbering, as was his father before him; his father purchased large timber tracts on the mountain east of the farm, and worked up the timber on them into lumber.
1242310
FRANKLIN WRIGHT SMITH, an elderly resident of the town of Hanover, in which he has passed his entire life, engaged in that most independent of all pursuits, farming, was born in the same house in which he now lives, Dec. 21, 1813.
Our subject's great-grandfather, Timothy Smith, was an old sea-captain of Connecticut, and was almost blind, when he brought his fam- ily to the town of Hanover, of which he was one of the original grantees. He wished to do well for his large family of children, and for that reason canie to a new country ; he made a pleas- ant home for them, and when he left mortal scenes, he had the satisfaction of knowing that those he left behind were well provided for. He gave each of his four sons 100 acres of land, and to cach of his five daughters 50, and to Dartmouth 100. His journey up the Connecti- cut River to Hanover, in 1765, was made in flat-boats; they drove their oxen along the bank, so as to tow them past the rapids in the streamn. He kept a ferry opposite our subject's house, which was the first ferry in this part of New Hampshire. The Indians were never trouble- some, although the family were frequently ap- prehensive of them, as they created trouble in White River Valley, not far away. Timothy's father was named Sammuel, but not much is known about him, as he never came to New Hampshire. Timothy Smith married Esther
Webster, and their son, John, is the next in line of descent to our subject.
John Smith came from Hartford, Conn., witli his father's family, and made a permanent set- tlement in Hanover, in 1765. In the previous year he had visited this part of the country, working out in different settlements, and had decided to make his home there. He returned to Connecticut and journeyed to Hanover, with his wife, Anna Hovey. He was twenty-five years old at that time, and died about 1804.
Timothy Smith, our subject's father, was born on the homestead in Hanover in a log-house, near where our subject's house now stands, 1780, and died on a Tuesday, Sept. 28, 1875, after liv- ing ninety-five years on the same farm, quite an exceptional record. Our subject himself has lived there eighty-three years already. The present house, which took the place of the log structure, was built in 1797. Our subject's brother, Timothy Dwight, was a quartermaster in the late war, and was sent west to fight the Indians: he had to take command of a fort, where they were soon in a state of siege. He sent two men on horses for aid, and while await- ing their return, the members of the garrison were so hard pressed for want of food, that they welcomed any kind of food, and even went so far as to eat the meat of a skunk. Our subject's father married Achsah Wright, daughter of Amasa and Hannah (Conant) Wright: Amasa Wright was a farmer, who was born and passed his years in the town of Han- over. Of nine children born to Timothy Smith, our subject, the eldest, and Adaline A., the sev- enth in order of seniority, are the only ones liv- ing at the present time.
Our subject assisted his father in carrying on the farm work until 1850, when he assumed en- tire charge; the farm is a well-improved one of 150 acres. Mr. Smith has always been a Re- publican in politics, as his ancestors were Whigs before him; he has never consented to run for office.
Mr. Smith was married March 9, 1837, in Hanover Center, to Adaline E. Smith, daughter of Asel and Anna (Owen) Smith, grand-daugh- ter of Edward, Jr., and Hannah (Chandler) Smith. Edwin Smith, Jr., was a son of Deacon Edward Smith, who was a brother of our sub- ject's grandfather, John Smith, son of the Timo-
.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
thy Smith who made the original settlement in Hanover. Anna Owen's father married Mary Gillette. To our subject and his wife have been born seven children, namely: James Bradley; one who died before it was named; Laura C .; Frank Welford died in the army; Julia A. A., de- ceased: Edward Timothy died in Kansas; and Samuel Wright. James Bradley lives in Gor- ham, Russell County, Kansas, where he is farm- ing: he married Helen I Pierce, and has had three children, two of whom are living. Laura C. married Elias S. Leavitt, and has borne him three children: Mr. Leavitt is retired from farm- ing, and is living in Hanover. Samuel Wright is farming on the old homestead; he was born Feb. II, 1855. Mr. Smith has ever taken a keen interest in the affairs of the town, and has proved himself in every way to be an honest, upright citizen, whose desire is to see that law and order abide in the community, and that the town keeps up its high rank among the towns of the State.
Mr. Smith's father kept tavern for many years in the house where he now lives.
H. T. HOWE, the popular host of the Hotel Wheelock, was born in Thetford, Vt., April 29, 1849. The history of the Howe family in Amer- ica begins with that of four brothers, who emi- grated from England at the same time a little over two hundred years ago, settling in Marl- borough, Mass. One of the brothers built & tavern there, and it has been kept in the family for the past two hundred years, being now in the possession of ex-Mayor T. Herbert Howe of Marlborough: it is known as Longfellow's Way- side Inn. -
The great-grandfather of our subject, Nehe- miah Howe, came from Henniker, N. H., to Thetford, Vt., in 1800, where he bought a farm, and lived on it to a ripe old age. His son, Da- vid, lived all his life in Thetford, where he fol- lowed farming; he was also a minister in the M. E. Church, and died in 1860.
Our subject's father, William Howe, lived most of his life in Thetford, prosecuting his trade of a blacksmith. During the few years he was absent from his native place, he worked at Carthage, N. Y., where he met and married his
wife. Her name was Sarah Baston and her par- ents were of German birth or descent. William Howe died at the age of sixty-five, in the year 1874.
Our subject passed his early life in his native town, attending the district schools and two terms in private schools: He learned the car- penter's trade, and became his own master at nineteen, working at his trade through the sum- mer months, and finding employment in the saw-mills in the winter. In 1874 he went to Cal- ifornia, remaining there three years, during a part of which time he kept a, market in Oakland. Mr. Howe returned to Thetford in 1877, and la- bored at his trade until the fall of 1888, when he came to Hanover, and purchased a livery stable, to which he added in a short time two others by purchase, owning now one of the largest and best-equipped livery establishments in the State. He controls the coach line to the station at Nor- wich, and supplies teams for all purposes in the region of Hanover. He is well known to the traveling public as a popular and accommoda- ting liveryman, ever ready to assist his customers in any direction in his power.
In November, 1895, he assumed charge of the Hotel Wheelock, which, under indifferent man- agement, had run down to an alarming extent. In the hands of Mr. Howe its trade has been built up, and its service improved, until there is no village in the State, of the size of Hanover, that can boast its equal. Mr. Howe is a typical host; genial and accommodating, he is ever on the alert to make his hiostlery home-like and pleasant to his guests; by his uniform urbanity of manner, he instills a desire in each departing guest a desire to return again.
Mr. Howe was married to Carrie E. Alby of West Fairlee, Vt., to whom was born one daugh- ter. Mabel E., now living in the city of Boston. His second wife was Nettie E. Moody, daughter of William and Semple (Wallace) Moody; Mr. Moody served in the Northern Army in the late Civil War. Our subject's second union was productive of three children, namely: One, who died unnamed; Effie May; and Edith. Socially Mr. Howe belongs to the Good Samaritan Lodge, No. 75. I. O. O. F., of Hanover; and to the Grafton Star Grange, No. 60, of Hanover, also. He is a Republican in politics, and has served as deputy sheriff for a number of years.
1
HON. WILLIAM D. BAKER.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
HON. WILLIAM D. BAKER, ex-member of the upper house in the State Legislature of New Hampshire, and a leading farmer of the town of Rumney, being especially interested in the raising of blooded stock and in dairying, is one of the most public-spirited men of the State. He was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 7, 1854, and is a son of Samuel D. and Mary E. (Harris) Baker, a grandson of Mosesand Polly (Dearborn) Baker, and a great-grandson of Moses Baker, who canie from Londonderry, N. H., where the first representative of the family settled when he emigrated to this country from England.
Our subject's great-grandfather came to Graf- ton Co., settling in the town of Campton, and cleared a large farm, where the village of Camp- ton is now situated. He was one of the leading spirits of his locality and was of great assistance in the developing of this part of New Hampshire. He served in the State Senate of 1794-95-96- 97-99.
His son, Moses Baker, in the year 1834, emi- grated to Erie Co., N. Y., which was considered very far west in those days. There he followed farming and took a prominent part in all public affairs. He and his wife lived to be upwards of eighty years of age. They had three sons and jour daughters: Benjamin, William, Samuel, Abbie, Electa, Ellen, and Mary A.
Samuel D. Baker, our subject's father, when a young man went to Philadelphia, Pa., as a clerk in the Continental Hotel; he entered into the married state while there and held his posi- tion until 1862, when he came to Grafton Co. and served as chief clerk in the provost marshal's office, settling the accounts during the war and until everything was set right, in 1867. He then bought a farm in the town of Rumney, on the Baker River, and engaged himself in the cultiva- tion of it; he hired men to do the summer work while he assisted S. H. Dumas at the Boar's Head Hotel, Hampton Beach, where he spent twenty-six summers. He died, in 1891, at the age of seventy years. Ilis wife is living on the homestead at the age of sixty-seven. He was a stanch Republican and was elected to nearly all the town offices. He was not only highly re- spected as a friend and a neighbor, but also as a very public-spirited citizen, who was very thoughtful of the community's welfare. His children were: William D., the subject of this
notice; Caroline E .; and Harris, who was not permitted to reach the years of manhood.
Hon. William D. Baker was educated in the State Normal School, graduating with distinc- tion from that institution in 1875, and from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1878; trom there he took a two years' course at Dartmouth College, his poor eyesight restraining him from further study. He was obliged to obtain open-air work to save his eyes, and accordingly returned to the farm, where he recovered somewhat and ac- cepted a clerkship in the customs department of the Grand Trunk Railway at Island Fond, Ver- mont. He remained in that connection for five years, when his weak eyes again compelled him to return to work not so trying on the eyes. So he gave up his clerkship, much against the wishes of the customs department officers, and again returned to farm labor. He came home, bought the noted Quincy farm, adjoining the homestead, which he now owns, making alto- gether 250 acres of choice farming land; he has made many improvements in buildings and the land, and is considered one of the most model farmers of the valley. He makes a special study of the best and most approved methods of dairy- ing and stock-raising, and has twenty head of pure-blooded Jersey and Holstein cows. The Elmwood Dairy Farm of Quincy is known favorably throughout this and adjoining coun- ties. Besides his dwelling-house on the home- stead, he has a summer cottage called the Maples at Stinson Lake.
Mr. Baker married Miss Winnifrede A. Woodbury, daughter of L. A. Woodbury of Island Pond, Vt. In politics he is a stanch Re- publican, and has served efficiently in the follow- ing offices: Senator for two years, during which time he introduced and secured the passage of sundry bills, aimed at the protection of pure dairy and farm products, such as the Oleomar- garine and Tuberculosis bills. He was first se- lectman of the town for five years; and is a member of the Republican State Central Com- mittee, and secretary of the Second Congres- sional Republican Committee and also secretary of the Grafton Co. Republican Committee; chairman of the board of selectmen; chairman of the board of library trustees; president of the Rumney Library Association; State justice of the peace and notary public.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
In the various agricultural and dairy associa- tions of the county and State he has occupied a prominent place. He was superintendent of the Dairy Department for this State at the World's Columbian Exposition, in which the New Hampshire exhibit of dairy products was awarded the highest average of any State in the country. He is secretary of the Grafton County Agricultural Society; secretary of the New Hampshire Horticultural Society; a director of the Granite State Dairymen's Association; a vice-president of the National Dairymen's Union. He is past master of the Grafton Co. Pomona Grange; past master of Rumney Grange; and district deputy of the State Grange. He is an associate member of the Louis Bell Post, No. 3, G. A. R.
As a prominent citizen of Grafton Co., as well as of the State of New Hampshire, and a gentle- man, who has been frequently honored with pub- lic office, and esteemed by his fellow-citizens, we place the portrait of Hon. William D. Baker in this Book of Biographies.
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE is the out- growth of a school which the Rev. Eleazar Wheelock opened in his home at Lebanon, Conn., Dec. 18, 1754, for the Christian education of Indian youth. The school, however, was known as Moor's Indian Charity School, so named from Joshua Moor, who in the following year contributed a house and two acres of land. In 1764 thirty scholars were in attendance, of whom about one half were English students, preparing to serve as missionaries to the In- dians.
Funds for the maintenance of the school were received from various sources-from private in- dividuals, from the General Courts of Massachu- setts Bay and of New Hampshire, and from Great Britain, where the enterprise had awakened the deepest interest. From the latter source an endowment was secured, chiefly through the efforts of Samson Occom, the Indian preacher, who was commissioned to make a tour of England and Scotland for this purpose in 1765. The sum of ten thousand pounds was thus raised, and committed to the charge of a board of trustees, with the Earl of
Dartmouth at its head. As the result of this en- dowment it was determined by Dr. Wheelock to enlarge the purpose of the school, especially to reach "a greater proportion of English youth," and to change its location. Various proposals for a site were made, but after careful investiga- tion the site chosen was the townhip of Han- over, in the region of Cowas or Coos, in the Pro- vince of New Hampshire. Apart from the near- ness of this site to the Canadian Indians, the de- termining reason for the choice seems to have been the attractiveness of the location, and the fact that it was the natural center of "more than two hundred towns, chartered, settled, or about to be settled." Removal to the province of New Hampshire also gave the assurance of a charter, which it had thus far been difficult to obtain.
The charter was given by Governor John Wentworth in the name of King George III., and bears the date of December 13, 1769. A draft of the charter submitted by Wheelock re- ceived important modifications from the Gov- ernor. In particular he rejected the suggestion of a co-ordinate board of trustees in Great Britain; he gave to the college the name of Lord Dartmouth, its most active patron in Great Brit- ain, although Wheelock had proposed to the Governor to call it by the name of Wentworth; and instead of incorporating it as a "school" or "academy," he adopted a hint from Wheelock's postscript and made it a "college." The first board of trustees consisted of the Governor with three of his council, the Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, one mem- ber of the Connecticut Colonial government and six Connecticut clergymen selected by Dr. Wheelock.
Dr. Wheelock was elected president of the college, with Mr. Bezaleel Woodward, a grad- uate of Yale in 1764, as his associate. The first class of four students was graduated in 1771, the commencement being attended by the Governor of the Province of New Hampshire and a com- pany of gentlemen from Portsmouth, who made' their way in part through almost trackless forests.
The school which Dr. Wheelock had brought with him from Lebanon, Conn., consisting of eighteen whites and six Indians, was put into the charge of Mr. David McClure. It was made an independent institution, with a separate char-
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
ter, to be known as Moor's School. This school was maintained as late as 1849. It still retains its charter, has a board of trustees, and holds a small endowment.
Two events in the early history of the college materially affected its charter and growth. First, the gradual withdrawal of the support of its pa- trons in Great Britain, whose interest lay en- tirely in the education of Indians; second, the lawsuit between the college and the State Of New Hampshire for the control of the college, which resulted in a final decision by the Supreme Court of the United States in favor of the trus- tees of Dartmouth College. The decision was rendered in February, 1819. Since the re-estan- lishment of the college by this decision, its his- tory has followed the general course of educa- tional progress in New England.
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