USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire > Part 62
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Charles A. Roby was educated in the schools of Alexandria, and upon the completion of his education engaged in teaming and taking care of horses in Lowell, Mass., where he has lived the most of his life. In 1892 he moved back to Alexandria, N. H., and is now living in retire- ment on his farm, having accumulated a hand- some competence to support him in his declin- ing years. He married Abbie Gale, daughter of Stephen Gale of Hebron, and to them were born two children: George, deceased; and Emma B. Mr. Roby is a member of the M. E. Church. He was bereaved of the presence of his wife May 23, 1896.
ΔΌ 1
GEORGE C. PATTEN.
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BOOK OF. BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
HENRY P. SMITH, a leading and highly successful druggist of the town of Bethlehem, N. H., was born in Dalton, N. H., Jan. 1, 1860, and is a son of Howland E. and Susan A. (Brown) Smith, the former of Lunenburg, Vt., and the latter a native of Bradford, Vt.
Abijah Smith, the grandfather of our subject, was born and educated in the town of Hanover, Grafton Co., N. H .; at the age of twenty-one he went to Lunenburg, Vt., and there engaged in farming, which continued to be his sole employ- ment through life. He married Catherine Thomas, daughter of Enoch and Mary (How- land) Thomas, and from their union, thus con- summated, six children resulted: Calvin, Sybil, Mary, Fannie, Sylvia, and Howland E. Mr. Smith rounded out his career at the age of seven- ty-seven years, dying in 1854: his wife passed to the bright world beyond in 1832. They were Baptists in their religious attachments.
Howland E. Smith was born in Lunenburg, \'t., Feb. 6, 1821, and was educated in the com- mon schools of that place; when still a young man he learned the carpenter's trade, and that in connection with farming was his chief occupa- tion in life. He is now living in retirement at the home of his son in Bethlehem, N. H. He is a loyal Republican, but never accepted any office. In 1842 he married Susan A. Brown, daughter of John and Susan (Brock) Brown, and to them were born two children, namely: Emma J., who married John M. Clark of Lancaster, N. H., and has two children, Walter H. and Millard F .; and Henry P., the subject of this personal narration. They are devout and consistent members of the M. E. Church of Bethlehem, N. H., and still re- tain a very lively interest in its work.
After our subject had secured an education in the schools of Lisbon he entered the employ of C. J. Kelsea of Lisbon as his drug clerk; he did not remain there long, but came to Bethlehem, where he took charge of his employer's branch store. Later on, in company with Dr. Hildreth, he bought the Bethlehem store, and carried on the business for about four years under the style of H. P. Smith & Co .; Mr. Smith then secured his partner's interest, and since 1887 he has car- ried on a very successful and profitable drug bus- iness. He also purchased the drug business, which was carried on by Robinson & Amsden in Bethlehem, and now conducts both stores at
Bethlehem Street. Our subject's summer trade is especially extensive, because of the visitors and sight-seers, who come to the White Mountains. He is a Republican, and has served as town treasurer, and as a member of the board of edu- cation, which latter position he now holds. So- cially, he is a Mason, and belongs to Burns Lodge, No. 66, F. & A. M., of Littleton, N. H .; Franklin Chapter of Lisbon, N. H .; St. Gerard Commandery of Littleton, N. H .; Edward A. Raymond Consistory (thirty-second degree), of Nashua, N. H .: and is a member of Mt. Sinai Temple of Montpelier, Vt.
On Oct. 21, 1884, he was joined in matrimony with Clara L. (Wilder) Bradley of Bethlehem, N. H., who has made him the proud father of two children: Amy W. and Eugene W. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are not members of any church organization, but take great pleasure in contrib- uting to any good work furthered by whatever organization.
GEORGE C. PATTEN, proprietor of the Pattenville Mills of Pattenville, N. H., was born in Boston, Mass., July 10, 1852, and is a son of George C. and Melissa (Whiting) Patten.
Our subject's father came from New Bruns- wick to Boston, and was engaged in the publish- ing of books: his life was cut short at the age of twenty-cight by the dread disease, consumption, when our subject was only four years old. His wife, Melissa Whiting, bore him two sons, of whom our subject is the only one surviving; the other, Frank, died at the age of one year. Mrs. Patten was a daughter of Solomon Whiting, a farmer and millwright of Groton, and as our subject lost his mother by small-pox when a young lad, he went to live with his grandfather, Solomon Whiting. Mr. Whiting was the owner of the Mullican Mills, early known as the Ran- kin Mills, where he manufactured lumber. His son, Robert C., succeeded him, but upon the lat- ter's death from an accident received in the mill in 1874. George C. Patten became the owner of the property, which he has conducted with a large measure of success since. The mills have been enlarged and remodeled to suit his ad- vanced ideas, and in 1895, a sixty horse-power boiler and engine were introduced for use in an
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emergency, when the head of water during a drouth should be insufficient to run the machin- ery. In 1893 he put in a large cider press, styled the Mt. Gilead press, which is operated with hydraulic pressure; this press is one of the finest in the State, and grinds as much as 750 bushels per day, and has a large patronage among the apple producers of the vicinity. In the saw-mills he manufactures all kinds of bill timber, shingles, and butter trunks. He owns a pleasant home, with capacious barns, recently erected.
Mr. Patten married Miss Jennie E. Sanborn, daughter of Madison Sanborn of Littleton; she died in her eighteenth year, leaving as her legacy one child, Frank T., born June 28, 1880. Mr. Patten is a Republican, and liberal in his re- ligious views. In business affairs, he has ever exhibited a strict integrity, and sound common- sense, combined with the vital elements of push and energy, that have won him the unstinted ad- miration and respect of all with whom he has been in the least associated. As a worthy gen- tleman, and representative citizen of Grafton County, we insert his portrait in this volume.
CHARLES W. CUMMINGS, a retired mer- chant of Warren, N. H., is the son of Jotham Cummings, and the grandson of Henry Cum- mings, who it is thought was born in Hollis, N. H., but spent most of his life in Groton, where he departed this life. He was a carpenter by trade, and made it the means of support in carly life: in later years he took to farming. His chil- dren were: Henry, Daniel, Jonathan, Anson, Sally, and Hannah.
Jotham was born in Groton, N. H. He learned the trade of a cooper, and his early days of man- hood were spent in Boston, where he worked at his trade, and being a good workman he com- manded a good salary. He married Mary, daughter of Isaac Cheney of Groton, by whom he had four children: Emily J. (Clark); Sarah J. (Piper); George J .; and Charles W., the sub- ject of this sketch. After marriage he returned to his native town of Groton, settled down on a farm, and for the rest of his life carried on a good farm in connection with his trade of cooper. Ile died in 1893, aged eighty-nine; his wife fol-
lowed him in 1895, aged eighty-seven. They were consistent members. of the Congregational Church. In politics he was a strong and enthu- siastic Republican, but refused to accept any office at the hands of his fellow-townsmen, ex- cept the position of town clerk.
Charles W. Cummings, the subject of this notice, was born Aug. 20, 1847, in Groton, N. H. He received mis primary education in the district school of his native town, and then attended the Newbury Academy at Newbury, Vt., and Meri- den Academy of Meriden, N. H. After leaving school he clerked in a store for three years, and in 1873, began a mercantile life on his own ac- count in Groton. He remained there three years when he went to Meriden and carried on a suc- cessful business there for six years. He then sold his business and went to Concord and en- gaged in trade there for one year, finally settling in Warren, where he continued in the mercantile business until 1891, being compelled at that time to retire by reason of ill health. He sold his busi- ness to the firm of Kittredge & Son, and during the winter seasons since he has been south at work as the soliciting agent.of a Florida hotel.
He was married, in 1873, to Emily E., daugh- ter of Ira and Mary (Whitcher) Merrill of War- ren, N. H. Mr. Cummings is a strong Republi- can. He has served as postmaster of Warren during Harrison's administration. He is a mem- ber of the Moosehillock Lodge, No. 63, F. & A. M., of Wentworth, N. H .; Pemigewasset Chap- ter, No. 13, R. A. M., of Plymouth; St. Gerard Commandery, No. 9. of Littleton; Edward A. Raymond Consistory of Nashua. He is a mem- ber of the Harmony Lodge, No. 65, I. O. O. F., of Tilton, N. H. He belongs to Arch Lodge, No. 53, K. of P. He is also a member of Friend- ship Lodge of the Grangers of Tilton.
Mr. Cummings met with marked success in his business life. His careful, methodical habits and his strict, undoubted integrity gave men a confidence in him, that was not easily destroyed or shaken. He always took a great interest in his business dealings; in fact, he was so much absorbed in mercantile matters that his health failed, and he was forced to leave the active bus- iness world in which he was so familiar a figure. His many virtues have endeared him to his neighbors, and he is consequently a very popular man.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
WOODBURY F. LANGDON, a prominent citizen of the town of Plymouth, was born in Rumney, Grafton Co., Feb. 1, 1830, and is a son of James Fogg and Rhoda (Hill) Langdon, and grandson of Woodbury Langdon, and a descend- ant of the old Langdon family, a record of whose achievements may be found in the Colonial and State annals of New Hampshire.
Our subject's grandfather, whose wife was Mary Woodlock, was a sea captain, and died at City Point, Va., when his son, James Fogg, was an infant.
When a mere lad circumstances forced our subject's father to take upon himself the burdens of life, and he rose to the emergency, and ac- quited himself manfully, cheerfully, and success- fully. He was born in Durham, N. H., April 27, 1804, and resided in that town until about thir- teen years of age, cultivating the soil and work- ing hard, improving his time and limited school advantages to the best possible advantage. He was then employed as clerk for Ebenezer Coe, a merchant of Northwood, N. H., for two years, and afterwards worked for Judge John Harvey in the same capacity for three years. At the age of nineteen he commenced driving stage from Northwood to Meredith Bridge, and continued on this route for several years, when he removed to Rumney, and drove from Rumney to Concord until 1837, when he purchased the stage route between Concord and Haverhill and staged there until the advent of the railroad. He also drove a stage from Plymouth to Stanstead, and in connection with the B. C. & M. R. R. one from Stanstead to Meredith. For upwards of thirty vcars he was engaged in staging, occupying the "box" himself, even when proprietor during that period. and was very popular with the traveling public because of his honesty, cheerfulness under the most trying circumstances which ever befell a stage-driver, and because of his obliging nature, which many times lcd him out of his accustomed course to grant a favor.
Mr. Langdon was the pioncer expressman of his section of the State, commencing when rail- road facilitics were meager, and, as they ad- vanced, taking advantage of them, until the busi- ness assumed large proportions, and Langdon's Express reached to all points between Concord and Littleton. His line was then consolidated with Chency & White's Express, and the result-
ant company did business as Cheney & Co.'s Ex- press until it was united with Fiske & Co.'s Ex- press, forming the strong corporation of the United States & Canada Express Co., in which Mr. Langdon retained an interest until 1881. In 1853 he was appointed by President Pierce routc agent between Concord and Littleton, and con- tinued to fill the duties of that position until his resignation after six years of service.
With the exception of a short residence in Concord, he lived in Plymouth from 1847 until his death in January, 1887. During this period of his life he was not an idle spectator of the labors of others, but gave his valuable aid and assistance to all matters that had a bearing on the good of the community. He was largely in- terested in real estate, constructed a number of houses, and was one of the originators of the Pemigewasset Fire Co., and in various ways im- pressed his individuality on the town. He was a public-spirited man and a public benefactor. His greatest service to the town of his residence was the Water Works system, introduced by him in 1881, at a time of life when most men prefer to rest from labor: he was assisted in this work by his son, Woodbury F., and carried the important work to a successful completion at an expense of $40,000.00. Politically he always re- mained true to those old democratic ideas of Jefferson and Jackson, and represented Ply- mouth in the State Legislature. He was a plain, unassuming man, with little taste or desire for ostentation or the manifestation of pride, and was thoroughly democratic in all his walks as in his political affiliations, and probably no one in the locality of his residence and in the scene of his labors enjoyed a higher degree of personal popularity and respect.
In October, 1827, Mr. Langdon marricd Rhoda Hill, daughter of Daniel Hill of North- wood, and the record of the children born to them is as follows: Mary E., who died young: Woodbury F .; Mary E. (Hill); John G., who died in 1860. at the age of thirty-four; and Josephine (Lcach), who died in 1884. Our subject's mother pased away in May, 1888, aged cighty-thrcc years.
Our subiect fitted for college at Tilton. and Andover Academy, and graduated from Bow- doin College as a member of the Class of '53. He then studied law in the office of Baker & Pca-
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body at Concord, after which he went west to Minnesota, where he spent sixteen years, en- gaged in dealing in hides, grain, and farm imple- ments. At the death of his brother, John C., in 1869, our subject returned to his native State, took up his residence in Plymouth, and has lived there ever since. The first seven years that suc- ceeded his return he was express agent at Ply- mouth, and since that time he has had charge of the Plymouth Water Works. He is a large real estate owner, and makes a specialty of raising small fruit. He has opened a street through the west side of the village and named it Langdon Street. He is a member of the Washington Lodge, F. & A. M., of Wasioga, Minn., and is also connected with the Plymouth Grange, No. 239.
In 1857 Mr. Langdon married as his first wife Annie E. Merrill, daughter of Phineas Merrill of Stratton, N. H .; she died in 1880 at the age of forty years, and left one child, Frank W., who followed his mother three weeks later at the age of twenty-two. Our subject married as his sec- ond helpmate, in 1895, Donna B. Morrill, nee Gould, daughter of Dr. J. B. N. Gould of Mere- dith, N. H.
EDWIN A. KENYON, dealer in all kinds of agricultural implements, located at Enfield, N. H., was born in Middlebury, Vt., March 24, 1838. He is a son of Alexander and Ann (Curby) Ken- von, and grandson of James Kenyon, who was a farmer of Plainfield, N. H., but was killed early in life by being thrown from a wagon, leaving four children: Jarvis, Edith, Janette, and Alex- ander.
All of the children of James Kenyon settled in the State of New York with the sole exception of our subject's father, who, following the pur- suits of agriculture, bought his first farm and home in Middlebury; on this small farm, on which he erected a set of buildings, and made other improvements to enhance its value, he lived for some ten years, and sold to good ad- vantage. With the proceeds from the farm lie bought a saw-mill in the same town, and mann- factured lumber of all varieties, including shin- gles, laths, pickets, etc. In the latter part of his life his healthi failed him, and he lived with his
son, our subject, until his death, in 1881 ; he was born in 1808. His wife was born in 1800, and fell into the last sleep in 1879. Their children were: Sophronia, David Y., and Edwin A. Our subject's father was a Whig and later a Republi- can in politics, and a Congregationalist in his re- ligious beliefs and attachments.
Our subject started out in life to support him- self at the calling of a farmer, buying his father's farm, and operating it and dealing in cattle and stock until 1859, when he sold that property and purchased a large farm in Alstead, N. H. In that town the same transactions took place, farming and speculating in cattle, for some four- teen years. He then, in company with George Britton, went into mercantile trade at Surrey, N. H., under the firm name of Britton & Kenyon, but he soon bought his partner out, and ran a general store some three years, serving as post- master in the meantime. At the end of the three years he disposed of his property and went into the same business at Newport, N. H., continuing there until 1878, when he came to Enfield and bought the house now known as the Webster House, it being then a private dwelling-house, the property of the Valentine estate. This build- ing Mr. Kenyon fitted up and ran as a hotel under the title of the Kenyon House, for a few years, when he sold it, and has since done a pros- perous business in agricultural implements and phosphates. He owns a fine farm near the vil- lage of Enfield, which he leases to tenants. His beautiful home is located on Wells Street, over- looking Mascoma Lake.
Our subject has been a very active citizen, being a promoter and supporter of many im- provements to the village and town. Although he is a stanch Republican, and has been chair- man of the Republican Committee for many years, he has never expressed the least desire to hold any office, and has often refused tempting offers of political advancement.
Mr. Kenvon married Janette Cooper, daughter of Charles Cooper; she died at the age of forty, leaving two children: Alice and Florence. Alice married Edwin Tennev of Worcester, Mass., and has one child. Bessie. Florence married Edwin Spencer. a resident of Enfield, and an em- plovec of the Baltic Mills; they have one child. Edwin A. Mr. Kenvon married as his second wife Miss Frances Riley, who was for many
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years the leading milliner of Enfield. She is a daughter of James Riley of Newport, N. H.
Mr. Kenyon enlisted in 1864 as a private in Co. A, 18th Reg. N. H. Vol. Inf., and after serv- ing nine months and a half returned home as a corporal; he was called to City Point first, and was afterwards stationed at Fort Steadman. He has been for several years and is now commander of the G. A. R. Post of Enfield; he is also a mem- ber of the W. R. C., of which his wife is presi- dent, and has been since its organization. He is a loyal supporter of the Congregational Church, and a member of the Social Lodge, F. & A. M., of Enfield, N. H.
HENRY L. MORRILL, a retired boot and shoe dealer of Chicago, Ill., and a resident real estate owner of Campton, N. H., was born in Campton Village, N. H., June 22, 1852, and is a son of Henry F. and Clarissa (Morrill) Morrill.
Our subject's father was born in Gilmanton, N. H., and entered upon the pursuit of agricul- ture in his native town, but he soon moved to Campton, where he purchased a farm, and made it his home for the remainder of his life. He was possessed of a strong, robust constitution, and accomplished much work; under his skillful manipulation and judicious management the farm proved very successful, and he was enabled to retire during his last years with the reputation of being one of the leading farmers of Campton. Politically he was a Whig, and after that party's final dissolution he was a Republican; although capable of filling office very acceptably, he has always retused any offer of political elevation. His wife died at the age of seventy-three, leaving three children: John F., Henry L., and Nancy E.
Henry L. Morrill received a good public school education in the schools of his native town. At the age of twenty he removed to Chi- cago, Ill., with his elder brother, John F. Mor- rill, and engaged in the wholesale jobbing of boots and shoes. This partnership continued for one year, when our subject went into business with Mr. Garven, under the firm name of Garven & Morrill, remaining in such partnership for one year, and since that time, and until 1891, he was engaged in business by himself. In that year he
closed out his business, and practically retired from active work. He came east to settle his father's estate, and while here built an elegant residence at Lower Campton Village, in 1893, where he has spent his summers since; he also owns a large farm here. He built himself a hand- some residence in Chicago, which he occupies while there, but the greater portion of his time is spent here for the health of his family.
He married Myrta R., daughter of Seth W. and Roxie E. (Warner) Dunklee of Brattleboro, Vt. Seth W. Dunklee was an extensive dealer in wood and lumber; he died at the age of seven- ty-three. His wife is still living at the age of eighty-one, and is blessed with remarkably good health. The children that made up their house- hold were: John O .; Eugene E .; Oscar W .; Lizzie H .; Mattie E .; and Myrta R., our subject's wife.
Mr. Morrill is the proud father of three chil- dren, two girls and one boy: Hazel E. was born Jan. II, 1887; Pearl E., was born Aug. 15, 1886; Henry F. was born Aug. 31, 1888. Our subject is a Democrat in his political affiliations. The Unitarian Church claims him as one of its liberal and earnest supporters.
DR. CHANNING BISHOP, a physician of the town of Bristol, was born in the village, July 26, 1864.
His father, Dr. James M. Bishop, was a native of Hanover, this county, where he was born May 14, 1821, and where he resided until 1840. He was a son of John and Abigail (Parker) Bishop, who died when he was only seven years of age. He was adopted by his mother's parents, with whom he moved to Canaan, when nineteen years old. He attended the Academy of Lebanon and Canaan a few terms, supporting himself the while by teaching in the winter and working upon farms in the summer. X Thus having ob- tained a good academic education, he entered the office of Dr. Jones of Canaan, in the spring of 1846, and later studied medicine under the direc- tion of Dr. Wheat of the same town, following out a year of study. The two following years were spent in the study of his profession, in the office of Dr. Mead of East Hanover, teaching
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
each winter. In the spring of 1849, after teach- ing a winter term of school in Mame, he went to Plymouth, and became an assistant to Dr. Goodrich with the intention to succeed to that gentleman's practice, when he moved South, as was his original intention; but Dr. Goodrich de- ciding to remain, Dr. Bishop determined to locate in Bristol, and on Nov. II, 1849, opened an office there, where he continued ministering to the physical ailments of his large circle of patients until his death. To further perfect him- self for the profession, he took a course in the Eclectic Medical College of Worcester, Mass., in the year 1854-55, where he received the degree of M. D. Although having studied under allo- pathic preceptors, Dr. Bishop had gradually broken away from that school and followed al- most entirely homeopathic methods. He was greatly interested in the prosperity of his town- ship and community, and was honored with the local offices of treasurer and superintendent of schools for a number of years. The village also received the benefit of his services as a member of the board of education, and also of the board of health. # Nov. 11, 1852, he married Margaret A. Locke, daughter of Samuel and Betsey (Phil- brick) Locke of Concord, N. H. By this union there were four children: Mary Abbie; Daniel Locke, who died in infancy; Lizzie Bell; and Channing, the subject of this sketch.
Dr. Channing Bishop was reared in his native village, attended its graded schools, and supple- mented that education in Tilton Seminary, Brown University, and Boston University School of Medicine, graduating from the latter institu- tion in June, 1889. He immediately obtained an office in Bristol, and succeeded to the large and lucrative practice of his father. May 15, 1893, in Lebanon, Dr. Bishop was married to Lena B. Cragin, daughter of Richard W. and Nancy (Emory) Cragin. Dr. and Mrs. Bishop are at- tendants of the M. E. Church of Bristol. The Doctor is well-read, a deep and profound thinker, with good judgment and calm, logical common sense. These qualities, united to fine social ad- dress, tend to make him popular, and command for him the confidence and esteem of the entire community. Possessing a strong ambition and a high standard of professional excellence, with the aid and sympathy of a noble life companion, he is well fitted to secure in due time the perma-
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