USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire > Part 60
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HUGH NELSON, the subject of this sketch, is one of the representative and leading agricul- turists of the town of Monroe, Grafton Co., N. H .; he was born on the estate, which is still his home, Nov. 2, 1858, and is a son of Nathan and Mary Ann (Paddleford) Nelson, grandson of Robert and Agnes (Gray) Nelson, and great-grandson of William Nelson, who came from Scotland and settled in Ryegate, Vt., in December, 1775.
Robert Nelson, his son, was born in In Shan- non, Scotland, and came with his father to this country; he spent the active period of his well- spent life on a farm in Lyman, now Monroe, N. H., that he cleared and cultivated. His wife, a Miss Agnes Gray, bore him fourteen children, eleven of whom lived to rear large families; the other three died in infancy. The names of those that reached maturity are as follows: Robert, David, Nathan, Hannah, Margaret, Mary, Eliza, Nancy, Isabel, Alice, and Ruth. Their religious . faith was that held by the Presbyterian Church.
Nathan Nelson, the father of Hugh Nelson, was educated in the schools of Lyman, now Mon- roc, N. Il., and since the time he was fifteen years old has lived on the paternal estate, with the exception of two years spent in the west, where he was in the employ of a large pork pack- ing house in St. Louis, Missouri. When he re- turned he bought the farm, that our subject now owns, of his grandfather; he is still living on the farm with his son Hugh, and is very active for a man of eighty-two summers. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and has served as selectman, surveyor of highways, and as a member of the school committee. He married Mary Ann, daughter of Philip and Abigail Paddleford, and
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to them were born the following family: Philip P .: Abbie and Louise, twins; Herbert ;. Fred; Hugh, the subject of this brief memoir; and Annie M.
Hugh Nelson obtained his first mental train- ing in the schools of his native town; from them he was advanced to Newbury Academy, at New- bury, Vt., and Peacham Academy of Peacham, \'t. After the completion of his education he worked in a store in Newbury, Vt., for E. A. Day, and afterwards was employed by Day & Oakes at Lisbon, N. H., where he remained two years and a half as a clerk, leaving at length; he returned to Monroe and turned his attention to the pursuits of agriculture, and has prospered in his labors in that direction ever since. He cul- tivates a farm of 600 acres, which is devoted to hay, grain, and stock raising. His live stock is valuable, and shows the result of good breeding and careful selection. He has sixty head of cat- tle, forty-five sheep, ten horses, and thirty hogs. He has also a flock of about 100 Narragansett turkeys, which is about as fine a collection of those birds as may be found. His sugar industry is not the least of his enterprises. He has 1,500 sugar maples, and makes on an average two tons of sugar annually. The best methods and the latest improved evaporators are used; the evap- orators are those manufactured by the G. H. Grimm Co. of Rutland, Vt. His farm shows the mark of a cultivated and intelligent man, who is ever on the lookout for better and more scientific methods of farming; he believes that only in the latest methods may farming be made practical and successful.
Our subject and Eliza Bolton were joined in the sacred bonds of matrimony on the Ist of Feb- ruary, 1887. Mrs. Nelson is a daughter of Nathan T. and Agnes (Paddleford) Bolton of Monroe, N. H. As a result of this union four children have been born, of whom one died in in- fancy. The names of the remaining children are as follows: Ruth A., Philip E., and Dorothy A. The family are devout members of the M. E. Church of Monroe, N. H., and may be found en- listed in any of the blessed work initiated by that organization. In politics he is a Republican ; has been chairman of the school board four years and was town treasurer one year, and taught and has served as moderator for several years, three terms of school in Monroe.
HAMLIN R. PRIEST, a prominent mer- chant, and highly-esteemed citizen of the town of Franconia, N. H., was born in Lisbon, N. H., Aug. 30, 1842. He secured his.education in the schools of Lisbon, and started out in life as a clerk in a general store. He also worked in a bobbin mill several years, and later on opened a boot and shoe store in Franconia, N. H., which he carried on for about four years. His next venture was to open a summer boarding house at Franconia, and then managed a hotel in Whitefield, N. H., about twelve months. He then returned to Franconia, reopened the sum- mer boarding house, and remained there two years, moving from there to Littleton, N. H., where he engaged in the same line of business. About 1884 Mr. Priest returned to Franconia, N. H., and opened a grocery store, where he handles all kinds of staple and fancy groceries, canned goods, and other articles of like nature.
He is a son of John and Sally A. (Hayward) Priest, and grandson of Thomas Priest, who was a native of Lisbon, and one of its earliest inhabi- tants. His occupation was that of a farmer, com- bined with occasional work as a blacksmith. He was well known and prominent, and respected for his honest and upright character, scorning to take advantage of any weak point in those with whom he had dealings. He was an Abolitionist, later becoming a Republican. He married Dolly Quimby of Lisbon, N. H., and to them were born four children, namely: John, Moody, David, and Kimball. They were Baptists.
John Priest was born in Lisbon, in 1811, and attended school during his boyhood days in the neighboring schools. His first venture in life · was to peddle tinware about the country for sev- eral years. After a few years he started up a small manufacture of wagon spokes and bobbins, which grew under his watchful care into a very prosperous business. He invented the Priest Swing Cattle Stanchion. He was a stout Repub- lican in politics. His wife, Sally A., whom he married Nov. 27, 1834, was a daughter of Deacon Lewis Hayward of Lisbon, N. H .: their union was blessed with four children, as follows: Han- nah, born April 22, 1836, married Stephen Eaton of Sutton, Vt .; Thomas J., born June 3, 1840, married Lucy Grimes of Franconia, N. H .: Hamlin R., our subject; and Susan A., born Sept. 15, 1846, who died in infancy. Our sub-
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ject's parents were members of the Baptist Church.
Hamlin R. Priest is a thorough-going Repub- lican, and holds the office of overseer of the poor of Franconia, N. H. During the last three years of President Harrison's administration our sub- ject was assistant postmaster of Franconia. Nov. 30, 1871, he married Betsey E. Blake, daughter of James H. and Lucinda C. (Noyes) Blake, both natives of Lisbon, N. H. Two children have come to the Priest household to bless it: Law- rence H., born Jan. 26, 1878; and Leslie D., Oct. 12, 1883. Mr. Priest personally has a leaning toward the Advent doctrine; his wife is a mem- ber of the Franconia Congregational Church.
GEORGE H. BURT, a retail dealer in boots, shoes, and groceries of Franconia, N. H., was born in the above town, May 20, 1849. He is a son of Simeon L. and Adaline F. (Young) Burt, and grandson of Daniel Burt, who was a native of the Granite State, and came to Franconia when quite young, later moving to Littleton, N. H., where he lived several years, finally settling in the town of Bethlehem. He was a farmer, and worked unceasingly at his occupation through- out his life. He married a Miss Lovejoy, who bore him the following children: Almira, Louis, Mary, Melina, Martha, Simeon, Clark, and Mar- tin. Their religious views were the same as those advocated and supported by the Baptists.
Simeon L. Burt, the father of George H., car- ried on agricultural operations the greater por- tion of his life, especially the younger and more vigorous years were spent in that vocation. About 1866 he commenced to carry on a gen- eral mercantile business in Franconia, N. H., in the store now owned by his son, the subject of this sketch. Only about two years were spent in this business; he then purchased a summer boarding house, which he ran successfully for five years. He then changed his residence to Whitefield, N. H., where he hired a hotel, and managed it a short time: he died in 1876. He was a prominent Democrat, and hield the offices of selectman, representative, collector of the taxes for one term, and also justice of the peace. He married Adaline F. Young, daughter of
Priest Young of Franconia, N. H., and to them were born two children: George H .; and Mary F., who married Edwin N. Parker of Lisbon, N. H., and has one child, Addie M. They were Baptists in their religious faith.
George H. Burt was educated in the public schools of Franconia, and completed it with three terms in New Hampton Institute; he then clerked four years in the general store of O. & W. F. Parker of Franconia. At the end of that time he purchased the store he now owns and occupies with a fine line of goods. It was the only, and is still the only, shoe store in the town, and accordingly Mr. Burt does a very successful business. He is a Democrat, and is now town clerk. He has been selectman four terms, post- master four years, and justice of the peace since 1890.
In 1879 he was joined in the holy bonds of matrimony with Julia A. Knights, daughter of Roswell Knights of Franconia, N. H. They have been blessed with the birth of one child, Harold K., born April 26, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Burt are leading members of the Congregational Church of Franconia, N. H. Both he and his wife are members of Lafayette Grange, No. 208, of Franconia, N. H.
HON. HIRAM NOYES. To residents of Grafton Co., and its vicinity, the charming little village of Sugar Hill, Lisbon township, needs no words to sound its praise. Splendidly located, well laid out, with beautiful residences, pleasure resorts, parks, and shady streets, it can hold its own among villages of its character. It is espe- cially well known as a summer resort, and there are numerous hotels and superior boarding- places which offer the best of accommodations for rest and enjoyment to those in seek of it. Among these summer hotels, Hotel Lookoff takes a prominent place. This institution, which is owned by a stock company, the principal stockholders of which are our subject and his only son, William H., has been in operation since 1887, when it was built by our subject. It is one of the handsomest summer hotels in Graf- ton Co., and is located on the side of Lookoff Mountain, overlooking Franconia, White Moun-
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tains, and other near ranges; the view is hardly with an equal, and forms one of its chief attrac- tions. There is a bountiful mineral spring on the property whose water has a wide and deserving reputation, although its good properties have been known but a short time.
Mr. Noyes's grandfather, Timothy Noyes, was a native of Richmond, N. H., who came to Lis- bon, N. H., when a young man and followed farming there the remainder of his life; he was well known and prominent in his day, and, being successful in his business ventures, was able to accumulate considerable property. He married Sally Jewett, who was born in Richmond, N. H., and to them were born the following seven chil- dren: Rebecca, Phebe, Eunice, Ruth, Mehita- bel, John, and Hiram. Timothy Noyes and his family were Free Will Baptists.
John Noyes, the father of our subject, obtained his schooling in Lisbon, N. H., and became a farmer like his father before him; although the most of his time was spent in Lisbon, he also did some farming in Landaff and Bethlehem. He voted the straight Republican ticket ever since the organization of that party. He was united in marriage with Mary Spooner, in 1829; she was a daughter of Simeon and Priscilla (Priest) Spooner, who were natives of Richmond, N. H., and among the first settlers of Lisbon. Three children were born to our subiect's parents: Hiram, Curtis C., and Mary H. Curtis C. married Julia Brown of Lisbon, and had a family of four children, all of whom are living; they are: Frank, Charles, Hattie, and Lena R. Mr. Noyes died in 1873. Mary H. was twice married; her first husband was John Durgin of Bath, Me., who was killed by a fall from a vessel. She then married D. S. Young of Colebrook, N. H., and by this union there has come one child, Ned R.
Hon. Hiram Noves was born in Lisbon, N. HI., Nov. 22, 1821, and received an education in the schools of his native town. For about eleven years of his early manhood he followed the voca- tion of a farmer. He then bought a share in two starch mills, and was actively interested in the manufacture of starch for about seven years. Selling his stock in the mills, with the proceeds he purchased a one-half interest in the mercan- tile business of Wells & Young, Mr. Young re- tiring: the business was conducted for five years
under the style of Wells & Noyes, and for about three years in his own name, having secured the entire interest. The store burned down, and our subject rebuilt it and ran it for nine more years, selling out about 1887 to J. H. Wells, and build- ing the Hotel Lookoff, before mentioned.
In politics he is a strong Republican, and was given a commission as postmaster under Presi- dent Rutherford B. Hayes, holding the office until Cleveland's election. He served as select- man, and as justice of the peace several years, and represented the town in the State Legislature at Concord, N. H., in 1868-69-71.
In 1853 he married S. Maria Quimby, daugh- ter of Levi and Phebe (Parker) Quimby, the for- mer of Franconia, and the latter of Whitefield, N. H. Levi Quimby was killed while participat- ing in a sham battle at Lisbon, N. H., Oct. 6, 1836. Two children have resulted from the union of our subject and his wife: Mae L., born March. 26, 1855, married Charles J. Jepperson of Lisbon, N. H .; William H., born Jan. 28, 1867, is assistant manager of the Hotel Lookoff.
WILLIAM H. LYNCH, postmaster, and the leading general. merchant of Easton. N. H., was born in Derby, Vt., Oct. 6, 1853. He is a son of John and Margaret (Mitchell) Lynch.
John Lynch came to this country from Lim- erick, County Cork, Ireland, with his wife and settled in Derby, Vt., where he engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, and rose to a prominent place in the business and social life of that town. Nine children were born to him and his wife, namely: Ellen : John ; Daniel; Andrew; William H .; Julia; Edward; George; and one, who died when an infant. Politically he attached himself to the Democratic party, and was active in furthering its interests, but never aspired for any office. He was a regular communicant of the Catholic Church.
William H. Lynch secured a good common school education in the district schools of Derby, Vt., and, upon the attainment of years of man- hood, went to Boston, Mass., where he became interested in the milk business, having the entire charge of a large milk route for about four years. Ile then returned to Derby, Vt., and remained
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there for two years, going from there at the end of that time to Littleton, N. H., where he en- gaged in the livery business, which was run in connection with the Thayer House. Disposing of his hotel and livery business at the expiration of several years successful work, he engaged with Charles F. Eastman as coachman, and stayed with him in that connection eight years. Upon leaving the service of his employer, Mr. Lynch went to Pasadena, California, and made a short stay, but returned in 1894 to Easton, N. H., and purchased the store, which he conducts at present. All kinds of groceries and supplies of a kindred nature are kept in stock; the business has grown and prospered under his careful man- agement, and reflects great credit upon him. Energetic and forceful, he is one of the most promising young business men in his section of the county. He is a stanch Democrat, and is at present holding the office of postmaster of Eas- ton, holding the appointment from Cleveland's administration.
On Nov. 1, 1893, he was joined in marriage with Mary Lunnie, daughter of William and Margaret Lunnie of the Province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada. Their union has been blessed with the birth of one child, Edward B., born July 3, 1896. Mr. Lynch is liberal in his religious views.
THE HAYNES FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY of the town of Alexandria, N. H., lately estab- lished in that town, owes its origin and mainten- ance chiefly to the gifts and bequests of three men, who have given liberally of their means to found what will prove to be a blessing to the community. The library trustees elected the present librarian, Mrs. Clara Gale Bullock, widow of the late Gilbert A. Bullock, in 1888, and she has diligently and efficiently discharged the duties pertaining to that position in such a manner as to meet the entire satisfaction of all those interested. To Mrs. Bullock we are greatly indebted for the few facts which we present of the lives of the library's benefactors.
Timothy Haynes, who made the original be- quest, and after whom the library was named, was born Sept. 5, 1808, in the town of Alexan- dria, and was a son of David Haynes, who was
born in 1785. David Haynes married Rebecca Bailey, who was born in 1790, and had four chil- dren: Timothy, born Sept. 5, 1808; Clark, born in 1810; Rebecca, born Feb. 27, 1813; and David, born Feb. 10, 1817. Timothy Haynes married Laura Brackett, daughter of Willie Brackett of Littleton, N. H., Sept. 21, 1842; their union was blessed with four children: Alrie R., born Jan. 25, 1844; William B., Nov. 14, 1846; Nellie S., Oct. 8, 1847; and Elizabeth B., Sept. 15, 1850. Timothy Haynes graduated from the New Hampton Institute, and went to Hanover, and attended the Medical Department of Dartmouth College, from which he graduated a full-fledged physician; he practiced medicine all his life in Concord, N. H., and upon his death, in 1885, willed $1,000.00 to the town of Alexandria to es- tablish a free library, provided the town would raise an equal amount, and in consequence of his thoughtful and philanthropic act, the library was called the Haynes Free Public Library.
Clark Haynes, the younger brother of the foregoing, was the next liberal-minded man to give of his means in the support of this worthy cause. He was born in Alexandria in 1810, and attended the schools of his native town until seventeen years of age, when he started out to earn a living for himself. He walked to Boston to an uncle of his, without a dollar in his pocket; there he found employment in an ink factory and earned enough to pay his expenses at New Hampton Institute, which he then attended, and graduated in 1834. In his own neighborhood, and in New Hampton, he taught several terms of school. He was a strong Free Will Baptist, and studied for the ministry, and preached quite a good deal, but on account of his health, he gave it up and went to farming. He lived (in Alex- andria) alone, did his own work in the house and on the farm, and in winter walked several miles to teach school. Later he took care of his aged grandparents, after which he went to San- bornton (now Tilton), and taught school, and there married Mary A. Clark, daughter of David H. and Charlotte (Burleigh) Clark. Three chil- dren were born to them: Erving W., born Jan. 4, 1845; Laura A., born Dec. 22, 1849; Clara J., born May 14, 1851. Clara J. lives in Franklin, where her father died, Jan. 1, 1895, believing in Him who doeth all things well; he was taken care of in his last years by his daughter Clara.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
He lived in Tilton twenty-five years, where his · wife died at the age of fitty-seven; after that sad occurrence he bought a residence in Franklin on Pearl Street, where he lived at the time of his death. Clark Haynes acquired a handsome property, and enjoyed a serene old age, and was laid away to await the last trump in Franklin Cemetery. In 1893 he gave to the Free Public Library in his native town of Alexandria the sum of $1,000.00, provided the trustees would agree to pay him a low rate of interest for the use of it during his lifetime; it was accepted on those conditions, and the interest was paid until his death. His son Erving lives in Franklin. Laura married C. A. Williams, and now lives in Oregon City.
The last benefactor of the library, whom we will mention in this connection, is E. A. Perkins, who, in 1894, donated to the Haynes Free Pub- lic Library the sum of $2,000.00, provided the trustees pay him a low rate of interest during his lifetime. They accepted the offer, and the library building was then erected. His English ances- tor, John Perkins, came to Boston in 1631, and a few years later settled in Essex Co., where he engaged in farming; his descendants are now found in nearly every State in the Union, and in the Dominion of Canada. Our subject's grand- father, Jacob Perkins, settled in Hebron, N. H., where his son, Elias, our subject's father, was born. Elias Perkins bought a farm in the town of Alexandria in 1818, and died in 1863. Our subject was born July 28, 1822, in Alexandria; he spent his boyhood days working on the farm, getting what education he could in the public schools of that time. In 1844 he went to Bos- ton and learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed till he retired in 1892. Mr. Perkins had of course rather uphill work, having no one to help him, but by untiring industry and perse- verance he succeeded fairly well. He lived in Cambridge, Mass., three years, in Dorchester, Mass., sixteen ycars, and since then has made Quincy of the same State his home. He was quite prominently identified with the local build- ing trade in Dorchester and Quincy, and also in town affairs and in various business corporations. For four successive years he was a member of the board of selectmen of the town of Quincy, and after the adoption of a city charter has been on the board of assessors, holding the position
of principal assessor. For twenty-five years he has been one of the directors of the Dorchester Mutual Life Insurance Co., and a member of the executive committee of that organization, and also one of the trustees of the Quincy Savings Bank. His record is clean and open to the clos- est inspection; he has won the confidence of the community where he has done business a larger part of his busy life. In his views on religion he is very liberal, and is a constant attendant of the Unitarian Church. In 1865 he married Mary F. Hills of Hudson, N. H., but has never had any children.
DAVID K. PRIEST, a prosperous agricul- turist and leading citizen of the town of Fran- conia, N. H., was born in the above town, March 23, 1846. He is a son of Moody and Persis (Aldrich) Priest, and grandson of Thomas Priest, who was a native of Lisbon, and one of the early inhabitants of that town. He was a far- mer and blacksmith, and followed his trade through life with a large degree of success. He was well known throughout Lisbon and that section of the county as a man who would scorn to do any under-handed or dishonest work; he could be always relied on to do the fair thing by his customer, or with whomsoever he had to deal. He was originally an Abolitionist, and strong in his advocacy of the cause of the slaves; when the Republican party was organized and took upon itself the championship of the down- trodden race, he joined its ranks and was ever after a firm and loyal Republican. He married Dolly Quimby of Lisbon, N, H., and to them were born four children: John, Moody, David, and Kimball. They were members of the Baptist Church.
Moody Priest, the father of our subject, was born in Lisbon, N. H., Dec. 17, 1813, received his cducation in his native town, and followed the pursuits of agriculture all his life, both in Lisbon and in Franconia. He was also the owner of starch mills, which he operated in Lis- bon, and Franconia, N. H. He was a Democrat in respect to his political principles, and held a prominent place in the councils of his party. He represented the town of Franconia in the .New Hampshire State Legislature in two terms of one
ALONZO COOLEY.
MRS. EMELINE COOLEY.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
year each; he also held other town offices of a minor character. His wife, Persis, was a daugh- ter of David Aldrich of Franconia, N. H .; she bore him the following children: Dolly Q., Mercy A., David K., Moody B., and Harry W. Our subject's father died Aug. 26, 1887; the mother passed away April 20, 1888. In their religious belief and affiliations they were Adventists.
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David K. Priest was educated in the schools of his native town, and there turned his attention to the pursuits of agriculture, and has been in- terested in farming all his life in the town of Franconia, N. H. He is a Democrat, and has only held the office of road agent, preferring to devote his time to his honored calling rather than to waste it in the uncertain field of politics.
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