USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire > Part 61
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In 1866 he was joined in the holy bonds of matrimony with Eliza J. Wells, daughter of John M. Wells of Franconia, N. H .; Mrs. Priest bore our subject one child, who died in infancy. They are members of the Advent Church of Franconia, N. H.
ALONZO COOLEY, a retired farmer of the town of Easton, N. H., was born in Lisbon, N. H., July 1, 1815; his parents were Ephraim Cooley of Northfield, Mass., and Rebecca Whit- comb of Lisbon.
Aaron Cooley, grandfather of our subject on his father's side, was a native of Massachusetts, and settled in Vermont, removing later in life to Landaff, N. H., where he died in 1834. By his first wife four children were born: Ephraim, Benjamin, Aaron, and Achsah. The family was augmented by his second matrimonial union to the extent of seven children, namely: Seneca, Hiram, Alvin, Moses, Eli, Persis, and Eliza. They were attendants of the Methodist Church.
Ephraim Cooley, the eldest child, was born in Northfield, and completed his education in the schools of that town; when his father came to Vermont he accompanied him. Ephraim first moved to Lisbon, and later to Landaff and there he passed the rest of his active years in carpentry and in tilling the soil, and was successful in his efforts. He was a Democrat, politically, and held several town offices. He was joined in Hymen's bonds three successive times. His first wife, Hannalı Hall of Boston, bore him three
children, of whom only Seraph grew up to ma- turity. His second marriage, with Rebecca Whitcomb, daughter of Josiah Whitcomb, re- sulted in the birth of two children: Alonzo and Ephraim, Jr. He was married the third time to Electa Young, daughter of Caleb Young of Lis- bon, N. H., and their union was blessed with one child, Alden (now deceased). Mr. Cooley was a Methodist in his religious attachments, and be- longed to the church of that denomination.
The subject of this sketch secured his educa- tion in the common schools of Landaff, and worked on his father's farm until he was twenty- five years old, in 1840, when he bought 160 acres, the nucleus of his present farm; this has been increased by purchases from time to time till he owns at present about 280 acres, devoted to general agriculture and stock raising. He is an earnest and uncompromising Democrat, and has held many of the important town offices to the general satisfaction of his fellow-citizens. He has officiated as selectman, town treasurer, collector of taxes, surveyor of highways, mem- ber of the school committee.
On July 6, 1840, he married Emeline Wallace, daughter of John and Vashti (Brooks) Wallace, the former of Cold Range, Mass., and the latter a native of Richmond, N. H. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cooley, nine of whom survive, and several have families and children of their own. The record reads as follows: Laura L., born June 3, 1841; John F. (deceased), May 8, 1843; Dennis W., Dec. 2, 1844, a dentist of Antrim, N. H .; Sarah E., Nov. 20, 1846; Per- sis E., July 8, 1849; Hiram K., July 11, 1851; Edwin W., March 17, 1854, a physician of Blooming Prairie, Minn .; Orissa M., Jan. 3, 1856; Alice M., Feb. 9, 1859; and Elra M., July 21, 1863. Laura L. married Charles Colby of Whitefield, N. H., and bore him one child, Dora; after her husband's death she formed a second union with Z. Thayer of Waverly, Mich. John F. married Julia E. Baker of Whitefield, N. H .; they have two children, Arthur A. and Ward F. The union of Dennis W. Cooley and Emma J. Langley of Montpelier, Vt., resulted in the birth of three children: Myrtie B., Blanche, and Wal- lace D. Sarah E. married Henry Thayer of Landaff, and has six children: Elmer H., Etta M., Lizzie E., Cora B., Bernie, and Lee. Persis E. married Woodman W. Thayer of Landaff,
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now Lancaster, and has presented him with two
There were born to our subject's parents ten children, Lillie B. and Willard I. Hiram K. children, of whom the first two died in infancy. married Julia D. Foster of Landaff, and to them were born three children: Ray, Scott, and Earl. Orissa M. married Ransom D. Quimby of Beth- lehem, N. H., and their union has been blessed with three children: Bertha A., Smith A., and Gertrude Mabel. The family are attendants of the Free Will Baptist Church of Sugar Hill, in the town of Lisbon, N. H.
As a truly representative citizen of this county, a portrait of Mr. Cooley is given a place in this volume, and as fitting companion picture to his, we also present that of his estimable wife.
JAMES F. WENTWORTH, who is farming near Grafton Pond, in the town of Grafton, this county, was born in Jamaica Plains, near the city of Boston, June 10, 1837.
Our subject is a son of James Madison Went- worth, a native of Ossipee, N. H., who was a cousin of Long John Wentworth, late of Chi- cago, Ill., the famous leader of the Republican party of the Prairie State. Our subject's father followed farming most of his life, and was also engaged at times in the meat business. He died April 15, 1869, at the age of fifty-seven, from the effects of exposure and wounds received in the service of the Federal Government during the Civil War. His body rests in Forest Hill Cemetery, in Boston. When his son, our sub- ject, enlisted in defense of his country, he did also, so as to be with his son. On his first attempt to pass the examination he was refused because of his age, having passed the required years of service; not discouraged or giving up in the least in his labor of love he applied again, and this time was shrewd enough to place his'age lower than it really was; he was accordingly enlisted in due form, and was assigned to Co. K., 47th Reg. Mass. Vol. Inf. He served under Gen. Benjamin F. Butler around New Orleans, and at the close of his nine months' service suffered sunstroke at Cairo, Ill. He was a Democrat in politics prior to 1860, and from that time until his deathi voted the Republican ticket at every opportunity. He married Elizabeth P. Humphrey, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Dickerman) Humphrey.
Our subject is the third child. George A., the next child in order of birth, is a Boston artist, liv- ing at Jamaica Plains with his aged mother, who has passed the age of eighty-three; she is a mem- ber of the M. E. Church, and is held in high re- gard by her fellow-church members. George A. Wentworth enlisted three times in the United States Army in the late war, serving in the 32nd and 44th Regiments Mass. Vol. Inf., and in the 2nd Reg. Mass. Vol. Cav. William Henry lives at Port Henry, New York State. Lydia E. and Frederick, the twins, are both deceased. Julia M. is the wife of James B. Gutridge of Roslin- dale, Mass. Dexter B. is a resident of Somer- ville, Mass. Lula, the youngest, is deceased.
James F. Wentworth, in whose behalf this sketch is written, was reared at Jamaica Plains, Mass., and attended the primary and grammar schools of that town. When thirteen years of age he began to support himself, driving a truck wagon to the Boston market for a gardener of Jamaica Plains for two or three seasons. When nineteen he became driver of an express wagon between Jamaica Plains and Boston for Levi Champion, who afterwards became his father-in- law. He was so occupied for a period of four- teen years, extending from in the fifties until 1870, except for the time he was fighting for the Union.
On Sept. 12, 1862, he enlisted in Co. K, 44th Reg. Mass. Vol. Inf., and served in North Caro- lina, under Gen. Foster, being present at the battles of Kingston, Rawles's Mills; Goldsbor- ough; Whitehall; and at the siege of Little Washington. Two days after his enlistment, on the 14th of September, 1862, he was married at Jamaica Plains by the Rev. Dr. Cushing to Mary A. Champion, daughter of Levi and Mary (Doe) Champion, the former a son of Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Nudd) Champion. There were born to our subject's wife's parents five children: the first two died in infancy, unnamed; Mary A. (Wentworth); Sarah J .; and Susan L.
In 1870 Mr. Wentworth purchased his present farm of 260 acres, situated on Riddle Hill, con1- manding one of the finest views in the State; the farm overlooks the town of Grafton, Canaan, En- field, and Alexandria, as well as several towns in the adjoining county. He carries on general
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farming operations, and for the last few seasons cultivated the summer boarder with signal suc- cess.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Wentworth has been blessed with two children: Levi F., who is farming with his father; and Annie M., the wife of Lyman A. Ford, who is engaged in the ex- press office at Manchester, N. H .; Mr. and Mrs. Ford have one child, Lela Ellen. Our subject and his wife are members of Eureka Grange, No. 69, of Grafton Center. In politics Mr. Went- worth is a Republican, and has taken a promi- nent part in the politics of his chosen town, and is serving his eighth term as selectman.
HON. WILMER LANGWAY, a prosperous farmer and first selectman of the town of Ly- man, N. H., was born in the town of Whitefield, Coos Co., N. H., July 31, 1852. He is a son of Peter and Azubah (Judd) Langway.
Peter Langway was born and reared in the town of Three Rivers, P. Q., and at the age of eighteen years came to Littleton, N. H., and up to the year 1863 was interested in the lumbering business. In that year he purchased a farm in Lisbon, which he operated with flattering suc- cess for three years till 1866, when he bought the farm now owned and oper- ated by his son. He is a Democrat in politics. He married Azubah Judd, Dec. 23, 1848; she was a daughter of Benjamin and Polly (Judd) Judd, both natives of Landaff, N. H. To Mr. Langway and his wife two children were born, Myron E., and Wilmer, the subject of this sketch. Myron E. married, Nov. 24, 1870, Han- nah J. Parker of Lyman, N. H., who has pre- sented him with three children: Leon B., born Jan. 3, 1873; Cecil, May 1, 1889; and Mabel, now (leceased. They were Methodists in religious at- tachments. Mrs. Langway died in the month of January, 1875. The father survives and lives with his son.
Hon. Wilmer Langway passed the bright and careless hours of youth in the several towns of Whitefield, Lisbon, and Lyman, N. H., in each of which he attended the district schools, and made the most of his opportunities to obtain an education. When he had completed his course
at school, he taught school for one term in the town of Lyman. He then turned his attention to farming, and has been engaged in that most `ancient and honorable of callings ever since. He is a stanch Democrat, and represented his town in the legislative halls of Concord during two sessions, the first term being in 1885, and the second being in 1895. Since 1882 he has been serving most of the time as selectman, being elected first as third selectman, then as second, and is now the first selectman of the town, and is chairman of the board. He has been a member of the school board, trustee of the Free Public Library of Lyman, and overseer of the poor, be- . sides officiating as justice of the peace, and set- tling many estates. Socially he is a member of Lyman Grange, No. 237, he and his wife being charter members.
May 6, 1879, he was married to Bertie I. Bowers, daughter of Isaac and Emiline (John- son) Bowers, the former of Hebron, N. H., and the latter a native of Fairlee, Vt. The following children have been born to our subject and his wife: Howard C., born June 4, 1880; Alta Zora, Jan. 9, 1883; Don B., July 7, 1884; Charles W., Nov. 10, 1891; and Paul Wilmer, born Jan. 7, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Langway are Methodists.
HON. JONATHAN BOWLES, a prosper- ous general merchant and postmaster of the village of Sugar Hill, Lisbon, N. H., was born in Lisbon, April 21, 1841. His grandfather, also named Jonathan Bowles, was a native of Rich- mond, N. H., and followed the vocation of a far- mer all of his life. He married Phoebe Parker, who was born in Reading, Mass., and to them were born thirteen children, all of whom lived to mature ages. This is the record: Benjamin, Polly, Leonard, Amasa, Chandler, Phoebe, Abi- gail, John, Lavina, George, Esther, Sally, and Simeon. They are attendants upon the Free Will Baptist Church.
Leonard Bowles, the father of our subject, was born in Lisbon, N. H., Aug. 8, 1801, and received an education in the schools of his neighborhood. He took up the pursuit of agriculture as a voca- tion in life, and was identified with the farming interests of Lisbon throughout his life. He was
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a stanch Democrat, and held the office of select- mian, and road surveyor for several years. He married Vienna Gove, daughter of John M. and Anna (Montgomery) Gove, natives of Ack- worth, N. H. The family, which our subject's parents reared, comprised seven members, as fol- lows: Almond, Phoebe A., John, Jonathan, Gil- man, Vienna, and Ella. Mr. Bowles died Feb. 14, 1880. The family were Free Will Baptists.
Jonathan Bowles was educated in the district schools of Lisbon, N. H., and turned his atten- tion when a young man to the pursuits of agri- culture; he was interested in farming until 1885, when on account of failing health he entered upon a general mercantile business at the village of Sugar Hill; his efforts have met with good, sub- stantial success, and he is respected as a man of rare business qualifications and of the strictest integrity. He is an uncompromising Democrat, true to his party in the least matter; he is at present postmaster, a position he has held off and on for the last seven years. In 1881 he repre- sented Lisbon in the New Hampshire Legisla- ture, and won golden opinions of his fellow- members in the house by the intelligent interest he took in all matter brought up for action. He has been justice of the peace for many years, and was highway surveyor in 1865.
He married Julia Knight, daughter of Samuel and Betsey (Keniston) Knight, who were natives of Parsonsfield, Me. One child, Kate H., born Aug. 31, 1875, is the sole issue of our subject's marriage; she resides at home with her parents. Mrs. Bowles was taken from the loving embrace of her husband and daughter by the cruel hand of death, Oct. 15, 1896. Mr. Bowles and his daughter attend the Free Will Baptist Church.
BENJAMIN TUCKER, notary public and justice of the peace of Bethlehem, N. H., was born Nov. 20, 1836, in New Bedford, Mass., and is a son of Charles R. and Dorcas F. (Fry) Tucker, both natives of the "Bay State."
Benjamin Tucker, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was born in Dartmouth, Mass., and was en- gaged throughout the active period of his life in pursuits of an agricultural nature. He was a
member of the fifth generation that had been born on the family estate. Because of his own merits, and from his belonging to one of the earliest and best families of that section, he be- came a very prominent man, and succeeded in a financial way. He was a Whig in politics. His wife, Lucretia Russell by name, bore him three children: John; Rhoda; and Charles R., the father of our subject. He was a member of the Quaker sect.
Charles R. Tucker was born in Dartmouth, Mass., on the homestead, which for more than 240 years has remained in the unbroken posses- sion of the Tucker family; his birth took place March 5, 1809. He belonged to the sixth gen- eration of Tuckers, who have claimed Dart- mouth as their birthplace. After leaving the Friends' School at Providence, R. I., about the year 1825, the young man became a teacher, and discharged the duties of a pedagogue in his na- tive town and in Westport, Mass., for about four years. In the year 1830, he went to New Bed- ford, Mass., and entered the counting-room of Isaac Howland, Jr., & Co. Six years later he started out in business for himself, and in 1844 entered into partnership with Edward D. Man- dall, and thus the distinguished and successful business house of Charles R. Tucker & Co. was established. He early took a high position among the merchants of New Bedford. His con- nection with the Merchants' National Bank con- tinued for a period of more than a quarter of a century, and for the twenty-three years preced- ing his death he was president of the institution. There was another and more important sphere of activity and usefulness, in which Mr. Tucker held a place quite as conspicuous and in which as great a reliance was felt and reposed in the soundness of his judgment and fidelity to the right. This was as a member of the Church of Christ, as a leading member and official of the Society of Friends; in such associations was the light of his character and the influence of his judicious activity most widely felt. There was no place in the society that he did not at some time occupy. His much-lamented death took place on the 21st of December, 1876. Sept. 19, 1833, he married Dorcas Fry of Weare, N. H., who was born in Bolton, Mass .; she died one year previous to him. Their children numbered eight, as follows: Benjamin R., born March 14,
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1835, died March 11, 1836; Benjamin, the sub- ject of this sketch, born Nov. 20, 1836; John F., born Aug. 13, 1839, died June 14, 1886; Henry R., born April 18, 1842, died Aug. 9, 1872; Charles R., Jr., born Aug. 19, 1844, died Feb. II, 1891; Robert E., born Aug. 30, 1846, died Feb. 22, 1873; Edward T., born Sept. 29, 1849; and George H., born Jan. 19, 1852.
Our subject was the recipient of a good educa- tion in his youth; he first attended the academy at New Bedford, and then the Boarding School of Friends, at Providence, R. I. He finished with a higher course, pursued in Haverford Col- lege at Philadelphia, Pa. After the completion of his education he clerked two years in the Merchants Bank, New Bedford, of which his father was president. He then worked about three years for Charles R. Tucker & Co., ship agents and owners in whale fishery. In 1858 he entered into partnership with George F. Wilson and Prof. Eben N. Horsford and organized the Rumford Chemical Works, Providence, R. I., and was connected with that company two years, selling out to Mr. Wilson.
At this time he went west and engaged in the wood, coal and grain business in Milwaukee, Wis., where he remained a member of the com- mercial circles for two years. In 1862 he sold out his business and removed to Mammoth City, Colorado, where he became interested in the mining business, and was a member of the first stock company which was organized for gold mining in that State. His stay in Colorado was cut short at the end of two years, and he re- turned to Dartmouth, Mass., and farmed on the ancestral estate for eight years. In 1875 he moved to Bethlehem, N. H., on account of fail- ing health, and finding that the climate agreed with him, he settled down and has made it his home since. He is a Republican, and has held the office of school commissioner, auditor, select- man, of which he is a present member, and all minor offices. He is a member of the Bethlehem Grange, No. 203.
In 1876 he married Maria McKeage of Broughton, Canada, and to them have been born the following children: Edith, born Nov. 25, 1877; George E., born Dec. 7, 1885. Religiously he belongs to the Church of Friends, or Quakers. Mrs. Tucker is a member of the Episcopal Church of Bethlehem, N. H.
WARREN W. McGREGOR, postmaster of the village of Bethlehem, N. H., was born in the same town, where he now makes his home, June 15, 1858. He is a son of Willard A. and Almira G. (Blandin) McGregor, and grandson of Gaius McGregor.
The grandfather of our subject spent his years in agricultural operations, and in lumbering in the town of Bethlehem. He married Miss Bet- sey Hoyt of New Hampshire, and to them were born six children, who are as follows: Sophronia, Nancy, Maria, Willard A., Gaius B., and Mary. They favored the religious doctrines which form the basis of the Presbyterian form of belief.
Willard A. McGregor, after securing an edu- cation in the schools of Bethlehem, became in- terested in lumbering, and also in farming; he owned a saw-mill, and did a very good business. He was a Democrat, and represented the town in the legislative halls of Concord; he was also selectman, justice of the peace, and the incum- bent at various times of various minor offices. His wife, Almira, was a daughter of Sylvanus Blandin of Bethlehem, N. H. There were born to them three children: John; George; and Warren, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Mc- Gregor died Jan. 25, 1881. In their religious at- tachments they were Methodists.
Our subject's boyhood years were usefully em- ployed in helping about the home farm, and in going to the district school, not far distant from his home. When a young man he learned the carpenter's and builder's trade, at which he was employed ten years. He then entered the ser- vice of the Boston, Concord & Montreal R. R., which is now incorporated in the great Boston & Maine R. R. system; he became station agent at Bethlehem Junction and Bethlehem, N. H., and still retains that position. He has been post- master since May 1, 1893. He is a Democrat, and holds the office of town treasurer.
In 1890 he married Eulie A. Chamberlain, daughter of Jack Chamberlain of Bethlehem, N. H. They are members of the Methodist Church of Bethlehem, N. H. Mr. McGregor, socially, is a Mason, and belongs to Burns Lodge, No. 66, of Littleton; Franklin Chapter of Lisbon ; Omega Council of Plymouth; St. Gerard Com- mandery, of Littleton; Edward A. Raymond Consistory, of Nashua, N. H .; and to the Mystic Shrine of Montpelier, Vt.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
NATHAN H. NUTTER, who is engaged in the successful pursuit of agriculture on Briar Hill, town of Haverhill, was born in the town of Bath, Jan. 18, 1868, of Joshua and Sarah ( Heath) Nutter, to whom were born twelve children, as follows: Phoebe, deceased; Joseph; Isaac, de- ceased; Nathan, deceased; Simms; Sarah; Joshua; Charlotte, deceased; Corinne; Nathan H .; McClelland, deceased; and James. Our sub- ject's father was a son of Joseph and Phoebe (Hoyt) Nutter, all from Barnstead, N. H. Joshua in his earlier years clerked in a store in Ports- mouth, N. H., and after his marriage farmed in the town of Newington of the same county. In the fifties he came to Bath, and passed away at the end of a long and singularly useful career at the age of seventy-six, February, 1896. His wife was a daughter of Isaac and Harriet (Willis) Heath. He was a member of the Ammonoosuc Grange of Swiftwater, N. H .; in politics he was a Democrat, but would never accept an office.
Nathan H. Nutter lived in Bath, and went to school and worked on his father's farm till he had attained his majority; he then received wages from his father for his services, and in 1892 had saved up enough to buy his present farm of 260 acres on Briar Hill, moving into his new home and settling down as a householder April 1, 1893. Before he bought his farm, and while he still remained at home he employed his winters in logging, and a good part of the sum- mers in pressing hay and in other like farm work tor his father.
Mr. Nutter was married Feb. 22, 1890, at Bath, to Althea S. Thayer, daughter of George and Sarah (Cross) Thayer; the former parent a son of Ephraim W. and Zubia (Quimby) Thayer, and the latter a daughter of Richard and Mary A. (Martin) Cross. There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Thayer the following children: Alice J .; Althea S., the wife of our subject; William, died in infancy; William, the second of that name; and the triplets, Leslie, Lillian, and Lena. The union of our subject and his wife has been pro- ductive of three children: Neal, Kathleen, and Jeanette. They attend both the M. E. and Uni- tarian Churches at Swiftwater. They are both members of Ammonoosuc Grange at Swift- water. Mr. Nutter is a Democrat. Althoughi at an age when most young men are just begin- ning to be independent of their parents, Mr. Nut-
ter has already made a splendid record as a pro- gressive, up-to-date farmer. He is a good judge of horseflesh, and deals considerably in that line; he keeps from twenty-five to thirty cows, and sends the milk product to a creamery. In good years he raises from 1,100 to 1,200 bushels of potatoes, besides grain crops of good quality. In smaller live stock he keeps some forty hogs and a yard of poultry. Mr. Nutter is counted as one of the best agriculturists in his vicinity, and is respected for his push and energy, combined with the strictest integrity.
CHARLES A. ROBY, a prosperous and suc- cessful farmer of the town of Alexandria, was born in the above town Nov. 22, 1827, and is a son of Lowell and Margaret (Keniston) Roby, both natives of the town of Weare, N. H.
Lowell Roby was educated in the common schools of Weare, and became a farmer, and fol- lowed that calling nearly all the active period of his life in the town of Alexandria, and was con- sidered a very prominent man. His political views and beliefs were those advocated by the Democratic party. His wife, Margaret, was a daughter of Benjamin Keniston of Weare, N. H., and to them were born the following chil- dren: Sally, born March 10, 1806; Oliver, July 22, 1807; John, June 20, 1809; Lowell, Sept. II, 18II; Levi, Sept. 28, 1813; Eldrich, March 21, 1819; and Charles, Aug. 25, 1821. In their re- ligious belief Mr. and Mrs. Roby favored the Methodist Episcopalian and Universalist churches respectively.
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