USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire > Part 64
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76
On June 3, 1865, a day after his return from the front, he was married, in Manchester, N. H., to Ella J. Hannaford, a daughter of Russell J. and Sarah L. (Holt) Hannaford. Sarah L. Holt CHARLES H. HEATH, a brick mason, in which trade he is a skilled artisan, lives on a fine fifty-acre farm on the banks of the Pemigewasset River, in the town of Bridgewater, and was born in the town of Ashland, N. H., July 24, 1848. He is a son of Charles B. and Abigail B. (Cross) Heath. The latter is the daughter of Abijah Cross, a soldier in the War of 1812, who married a Miss Sarah Ferrin; Abijah was a son of Simeon Cross of the town of Methuen, Mass., who was one of the first settlers of Bridgewater, and pur- chased a tract of 300 acres in the town; his wife was born in Wilton, N. H., and was a daughter of Nathaniel B. and Sarah W. (Upham) Holt, the latter a daughter of Ezra and Bethia (Burnap) Upham. Russell J. Hannaford was the son of Guy and Elizabeth (Tilton) Hannaford of Peacham, Vt .; and Tilton, N. H., respectively. Guy Hannaford was the son of James and Lydia (Russell) Hannaford, both of Peacham, Vt. In the summer of 1866 Mr. Heath learned the brick mason's trade in Manchester, and worked there at that trade six years, then moved to New Hampton, where he made his home for five years was Abigail Corliss, also of Methuen, Mass. . on his father's farm, plying his trade in Ashland,
Richard Cross was the father of Simeon Cross, and came from England and settled in Methuen, Mass.
Charles B. Heath was born in Bridgewater, N. H., and was killed by the cars in 1886, at the age of sixty-two. He was an expert carpenter and machinist, but in his later years devoted his at- tention to agricultural pursuits. He was a son of Joseph and Hannah (Heath) Heath, the former a son of Josiah Heath, who in late life was a far- mer and formerly a shoemaker, having three or four workmen in his employ; his wife was Sarah Bennett. Charles B. Heath served in Co. A., 7th Reg. N. H. Vol. Inf., and on acount of severe wounds was discharged at the end of fifteen months' service.
When our subject was six years old his parents moved to the town of Bridgewater, and there he
attended the district schools until his fourteenth year, when he followed his father's example and enlisted in the Union service. He was one of the youngest volunteers who ever carried a mus- ket and fought in the Federal Army, and had to make several attempts before he succeeded in en- listing; his mother objected every time because of his extreme youth, but finally seeing his fixed determination to go she gave her consent, and he acordingly was enlisted in Co. E., 12th Reg. N. H. Vol. Inf. After two years service he was discharged in the spring of 1865, having served through all the severe engagements in the Wild- erness campaign, receiving at Cold Harbor three severe wounds: in the heel, in the back, and in the knee, from which he is still a sufferer.
then lived in Ashland for six years.
On July 3, 1883, he took up his residence on his present farm in Bridgewater, which has been his abiding place ever since. All through the summer and fall months he is engaged in laying brick, and his services are in great demand, be- cause of his skill and careful workmanship. On purchasing his present home he tore down the old house and barn standing there, and con- structed a complete set of new and modern build- ings, most of the work being done by his own hands. After laying the foundations he em- ployed a journeyman carpenter for two months to assist in constructing the frames, in erecting the heavy timbers, and inclosing them. After that period of the construction, he did every bit of the work on the building, lathing, plastering, painting, and finishing them in every particular,
CHARLES WRIGHT PULSIFER.
361
BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
with his own hand, so he is now the owner of a thoroughly finished and beautiful home, situated between a clear running river on one side and a wooded hill on the other.
To our subject and wife were born three chil- dren: Harry S., a successful and leading pho- tographer of Plymouth, married Eda Mann; Lula Mabel is the wife of Dr. I. H. Small, D. D. S., of Roxbury, Mass .; Inez I. is the wife of Samuel A. Patterson, an attorney-at-law of As- bury Park, N. J .; he is a member of the Presby- terian Church. In politics Mr. Heath is a stanch Republican, and has served the town of Bridge- water two years as supervisor, and three years as constable. He is a member of Passaconway Lodge, No. 49, Knights of Pythias, of Ashland; O. W. Keyes Post, No. 35, G. A. R .; and Camp No. 6, Sons of Veterans, of Ashland; and is also a member of the A. P. A. Mrs. Heath is a mem- ber of the Pythian Sisters, and of the Women's Relief Corps. They are both regular attendants and valued workers of the Baptist Church of the town of Ashland.
CHARLES WRIGHT PULSIFER, one of the most prosperous and best-known farmers of Campton, Grafton Co., was born on the home- stead, which is now owned by his brother, Thomas S. Pulsifer, April 9, 1828. He is a son of John and Polly (Palmer) Pulsifer, a grandson of Joseph and Mary (Brown) Pulsifer, and a great-grandson of Joseph and Sarah (Lovell) Pulsifer.
Joseph Pulsifer, Sr., was born in Ipswich, Mass., 1705, and entered into the married state in 1744. His children have settled in Connecti- cut, New York, New Hampshire, and in Maine. His son Joseph, who was born on the home- stead in Ipswich, learned the cabinet-maker's trade, and practiced it in his native village, until the times became hard and the demand for arti- cles manufactured by his trade exceedingly small. So our subject's grandfather determined to seek a new home where he could find land to work in addition to his work at cabinet-making; so hearing from some of his neighbors who had gone to Grafton Co., N. H., and who gave good reports of the country, he determined to make his home there. In pursuance of this idea he
started with his wife for Campton, bringing what articles they could on horseback. Upon their arrival they found all the choice river farms had been already settled, so they settled upon a claim in the center of the town. After they lived there a few years and found the land too sandy to cul- tivate heavy crops, and feeling sure that better land might be found, Joseph Pulsifer set out with Chiliub Brainard to locate a new farm. They prospected, as it were, for the location by climbing tall trees, and in that way obtained a fair idea of the lay of the land. They at last decided on the hill, where Thomas S. and David B. Pulsifer now live; they at once set to work to clear the land of the heavy growth of timber that covered it, Joseph clearing where Thomas S. Pulsifer lives now, and Chiliub Brain- ard preparing for cultivation the farm now owned by David B. Pulsifer. Joseph built a small frame house, and fastened all the boards and shingles with wooden pegs, because of the scarcity and expense of nails. He managed to do some work at his old trade of cabinet-maker; the large straight-grain maples, having been felled, he would split them into boards, for saw- mills were not yet introduced into that pioneer country, and then with the aid of adz and plane he would make them into useful articles of fur- niture, such as desks, tables, bureaus, etc. Many of the newly married couples of that day started out in housekeeping with furniture that came from Joseph Pulsifer's workshop; his descend- ants have many of the pieces of furniture to-day. and they show that he was a very skilled work- man. With the help of his sons, who were all strong and well-proportioned, the smallest of them being five feet and eleven inches high, he cleared a large farm, and was acknowledged to be one of the leading farmers of the vicinity. Hc died in 1832, and his partner in life was taken to her rest in 1830. Their children were, as ap- pears in this record: Mary married Darius Willey: Joseph married Abigail Willey; Sally married Joshua Fletcher; Annie married Samnel Elliott : Hannah married Tristram Bartlett ; John married Polly Palmer; Moses married Mary Bartlett: Elizabeth married Joseph Giddings; Charles married Nancy Webster; Ruth married James Burbeck.
Maj. John Pulsifer, our subject's father, stayed at home and cared for his parents in their de-
362
BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
clining years. He carried on general farming operations, and by careful management he was enabled to buy land adjoining his father's prop- erty, until he became the owner of 300 acres. About the year 1812 he built himself a large house, which is still standing, and two barns. In addition he made many other improvements, but to say simply that he made many improve- ments does not describe the scope and magni- tude of his labors, for he was a model farmer and was never satisfied unless everything was done in the best possible way, conducive to the best possible results. He took a very lively interest in town affairs, and was ever ready by word or deed in bettering the condition of the town and keeping it abreast with the best. He served in the State militia as a captain and also as a major. The Congregational Church became his choice in respect to religious worship. He was born Feb. 2, 1781, and died at the age of ninety-three years; even at the time of his death his constitu- tion seemed unimpaired, his death resulting from a broken hip occasioned by a fall. His wife was born in 1784 and died in 1839. His second wife was Martha L. Foss, and she lived to enjoy her ninetieth year. His children by his first wife were: George, Martha, Sarah, Phebe, Joseph, Walter, John M., Elizabeth, Lydia, Thomas S., and Charles W.
Charles Wright Pulsifer secured a good edu- cation in the public school, and worked on the homestead with his father until 1856, when he bought the E. B. Morrison farm of 100 acres; he has since added thirty-six acres more. The farm lies in the western part of the town of Campton, in what is known as the Bog Brook Valley: the soil is of the best quality, and the land has a good fall. Our subject has built a new barn, remodeled the house, and enlarged it considerably ; he has also cleared some new land and made many general improvements on the farm. His choice dairy includes eighteen head. He is also interested in the raising of sheep.
He married Melvina Cook, who was born July 30. 1830. She is a daughter of Thomas and Martha (Bartlett) Cook. Our subject has two children: Willard C. and Lizzie G. Willard C. was born May IT, 1858, and married Clara J. Worthen, and has two children, Fred E. and Maud L. He is engaged in general farming with his father. Lizzie G., born Sept. 27, 1868, mar-
ried George E. Pulsifer, who is one of the lead- ing young farmers of the town of Campton.
Throughout his life Mr. Pulsifer has main- tained unswerving allegiance to the Republican party, and never let an opportunity pass in sup- porting it. He has served in various town offices, and has been selectman for six years. He is a member of the Congregational Church. He is also a member of the local Grange, and takes great interest in its aims and hopes.
Mr. Pulsifer's portrait, which appears on an- other page, will doubtless be viewed with much interest by all who have learned to know him and to respect him for his many good qualities.
HON. DAVID A. GRANT, a dairy farmer and sheep raiser, is engaged in his calling on his farm, near the village of Lyme. He was born in his present home, Sept. 24, 1856, and is a son of Sidney S. and Louisa (Turner) Grant, the latter a daughter of David and Lavina (Jenks) Turner. ' The Grant family originated from Matthew Grant, who came over to America, in 1630, on the ship "Mary and John." The one who founded the branch to which our subject belongs was born in 1605. Following is the record of his descendants in a direct line to David A. Grant: Samuel Grant, born in England, Nov. 12, 1631, was married Nov. 6, 1659: Nathaniel, born April 14, 1672, was married May 16, 1699; Benjamin, born Feb. 8, 1708, was married Feb. IO, 1731; Benjamin, Jr., born in 1745, was mar- ried in 1772; Alanson, born June 24, 1775, was married Nov. 24, 1799; Sidney S., the father of David A., was born March 16, 1816, married June 24, 1837, and died Feb. 28, 1893.
Benjamin Grant, Jr., the great-grandfather of our subject, was a soldier in Gen. Wolfe's army before Quebec, and died in that war, leaving an only son, Alanson, and his wife to mourn his loss. He was never seen by his son, who was born when his father was in Canada. Benjamin Grant, Jr., owned a mill on his farm at the brook, and there a son, brother of Alanson, was killed. The first church in the town of Lyme was on the farm, not far from the site of the old mill.
Alanson was born, it is thought, in a house that stood in the south-western part of the farm,
363
BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
but which has been removed long since. He was a carpenter and farmer. His wife was Polly Fairfield.
Sidney Grant was born in Lyme village, and was occupied in farming all his life. He was a member of the Congregational Church, and a deacon many years. He was a Republican, and represented the town in the Legislature two years, and was selectman for twelve years. Five children were born to him and his wife, as fol- lows: Maria, wife of Dr. Walker of Greenfield, Mass .; Turner, who died in the army in 1863; Caroline M., who married Adna Chase of Lyme; Mary E., deceased, who married West S. Balch of Lyme; and David A., the subject of this sketch. The mother died Feb. 14, 1895.
There is quite a sad and affecting little story connected with the death of Turner Grant, our subject's older brother. Turner, a cousin and a friend were inseparable friends. When one joined the army the rest did also, and messed and tented together. They were all taken with the measles, and one of them, the friend, was re- covering, and would have soon been on his feet a well man, when the other two took an unfavor- able turn and died. The shock of their death affected the friend so severely that he began sinking, and died very soon after. Their bodies were sent home, and were laid to rest together, inseparable in death as in life, the funeral taking place from the church in the village of Lyme.
Mr. Grant was educated in the district schools and in Thetford Academy, living on the farm in the meantime till he was eight years old, when he went to the village and spent twelve years, as his parents had moved there. When they re- turned to farm life Mr. Grant, our subject's father, and his father purchased from time to time pieces of farming property till their posses- sions included 425 acres, Mr. Grant's amounting at the present time to 350 acres. When Mr. Grant was twenty-three he took charge of the farm, and his parents made their home with him. His dairy is kept up by ten cows of stand- ard quality. He owns 150 sheep, and derives no small part of his income from the wool and mut- ton.
Mr. Grant and his wife were united in mar- riage, Nov. 11. 1879. She is Phebe Whipple, a daughter of Simeon R. and Lucy (Rugg) Whip- ple, and was born in Lyme. Her father was a
son of Joel G. and Lois (Goodell) Whipple, and her mother's parents were Nathan and Lavina (Newcomb) Rugg. Our subject's marriage has been blessed with two children: Fred Whipple, born Nov. 2, 1880; and Mildred M., born Jan. 15, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Grant are members of the Congregational Church of Lyme, and are well thought of as among its best workers; Mr. Grant is a deacon. He is a member of Morning Star Grange, No. 62. He is a Republican of no, uncertain type, and has been a selectman for three years, and a member of the school board. In the election of 1896 he was chosen by the citi- zens of Lyme as their representative in the Leg- islature at Concord.
GEORGE S. SMITH, proprietor of Hillside Farm, near East Hebron, N. H., was born in the town of Bridgewater, this county, Oct. 22, 1853. He is a son of Phineas B. and Maria (Gibbs) Smith, the latter is a daughter of George and Dorcas (Durant) Gibbs. George Gibbs was a painter and carpenter in early life, and later fol- lowed farming, living to the age of sixty-five.
Phineas Smith was born at Fremont, N. H., in 1823. When a young man he taught school in Grafton Co. a number of years, and also in Mas- sachusetts, in the region of Cape Cod. He lives at present on his fine farm in Plymouth. In pol- itics he is a Republican, and accepts the Univer- salist creed as his belief in religion. He is a son of Samuel and Sally (Beede) Smith. Samuel Smith was a member of the State militia, lived to about the age of eighty-one. His wife, a daugh- ter of Phineas Beede, lived to the advanced age of ninety-two years. Phineas Smith was thrice married; of the first marriage only one child was born, and of the second eight children were the result, and no children by his last marriage.
Our subject was reared in the town of Bridge- water, and attended the district schools in that and neighboring towns, and also a few terms to good advantage at New Hampton Institute. Until attaining his majority he remained at home working for his father, and after he became of age still remained on the farm most of the time, until his marriage at the age of twenty-three. Shortly after he was married he and his wife en-
364
BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
gaged to work on a farm at the head of New Found Lake, near East Hebron, remaining there five years. In 1882 he bought his present farm of 165 acres, to which he added other tracts, and now lives on a high piece of land, the whole estate amounting to about 265 acres.
He was married March 15, 1877, to Emma McClurc, daughter of George W. and Mary Ann (Merrill) McClure. Mrs. Smith was born April 20, 1857, and departed this life June 8, 1886. Their union was blessed with four children: Bertha M., Bernetta M., Roy M., and Jenette. Roy M., the only survivor of the children, was born July 18, 1882. In politics Mr. Smith is a Republican, and has served as selectman some seven years, two years at one time, and is now in his fifth consecutive term. He is a member of Olive Branch Grange, No. 79, of Hebron. Among his towns-people he is regarded as a man of excellent judgment, and of many noble parts, and is much respected as one who has been of great service to the community in which he lives.
HON. JOHN E. MARTIN, an eminent citi- zen of the town of Grafton, where he is engaged in dealing in lumber, grain, phosphates, and farming implements, was born in the above town Aug. 26, 1845. He is a son of Lyman R. and Ruth (Davis) Martin, and grandson of James and Jennie (Ford) __ artin.
James Martin was born in the State of Rhode Island, and settled in Grafton, N. H., at an early day. To the vocation of farming he added that of pearl-ash and pot-ash burner, a pursuit he fol- lowed during the active period of his life. He was a very prosperous man for his day, and ac- cumulated considerable property, mostly in real estatc. He was a Whig in politics, and liberal in his religious views. His wife, a daughter of Robert Ford of Grafton, N. H., bore him the fol- lowing children, twelve in number: James, Lyman R., Sally, John, Robert, Mary A., Lydia, Benjamin, Ira, Janette, Albert, and George.
Lyman R. Martin, our subject's father, was born Feb. 22, 1817, and attended the district schools until nearly the age of maturity. Farm- ing and lumbering were his chief occupations
during life; he was also a skilled stone-wall builder, and occasionally took contracts for that kind of work when his other business would per- mit. He was a stanch Democrat, and was hon- ored by his party with two terms in the State Legislature. Of his marriage with Ruth Davis of the town of Grafton three children were born: John E., the subject of this sketch; and two that died in infancy.
John E. Martin attended the district schools, and early turned his attention to mercantile pur- suits; he was in business in Grafton Center twelve years, and then removed to Grafton, where he continued in the same line of business for six more years.
In 1885 he gave up his store and purchased the farm he now owns, and in the following years en- gaged in the lumber business, owning a saw-mill at Grafton Center. He has also developed an ex- tensive trade in grain, phosphates, and farming implements. He is an old line Democrat, one of the "wheel-horses" of the party in the town of Grafton, which he has served in various official capacities, having been selectman three years, town clerk three years, treasurer eleven years, supervisor several terms, and justice of the peace since 1889. He represented the town in the Leg- islature in 1889, and was postmaster for Grafton under Cleveland's first administration, and deputy postmaster for a term extending over twenty years.
He was married Dec. 15, 1869, to Maria E. Shaw, daughter of Gilman Shaw of Manchester, this State.
HON. LORENZO FLANDERS, who is farming in the town of Bridgewater, Grafton Co., was born in Bradford, N. H., Aug. 13, 1823. His grandfather Flanders lived in Hopkinton, N. H., where he followed farming and lived to be seven- ty-five or eighty years old.
Lorenzo Flanders's father, Moses, was born in North Hampton, N. H., lived in Bradford for a time, and then moved to Bridgewater in the spring of 1838. The house in which he lived, now our subject's residence, was built by a man named Brown, who was afterwards killed by the Indians in Minnesota sometime in the fifties.
365
BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
The farm now comprises 100 acres, some fifty acres of the original tract having been sold. Moses died in July, 1859, one month before his seventy-third birthday. He married Nancy Emery, daughter of Moses Emery, and to her were born seven children: Elmira (Austin), de- ceased; Janette (Hunt), deceased; Alonzo, who lives in Henniker, N. H .; Cordelia (Austin), de- ceased; Lorenzo, the subject of this biography; Moses, who lives in the town of Bridgewater; and Diantha, deceased, who was married in the State of Iowa, and died soon after the nuptials were consummated.
Our subject was reared in Bradford and War- ner before coming to Bridgewater in 1838, and attended the district schools in these different towns until he was nineteen years of age. When he attained his majority he went to Lowell, Mass., and worked for three years in the cotton mills, and one year in the bobbin shop. He returned home for a year or two, and then moved to Holyoke, Mass., where he engaged in carpentry work for one year, and after a short time he went to Minnesota and pur- sued the latter trade. The State was still very much unsettled, and the Indians were very pre- valent at that time. One hundred acres in what is now the city of Minneapolis he could have bought for a few hundred dollars. He then re- turned to his home in Bridgewater, and, his father dying a few years afterward, he has been engaged in farming there ever since. He was married Dec. 12, 1858, to Eliza S. Tilton, daugh- ter of Benjamin and Betsy (Batchelder) Tilton. He was married a second time Nov. 12, 1863, to Mrs. Hannah W. Page, a daughter of Asa and Sarah (Wells) Drew, and granddaughter of Amos Drew. To our subject has been born four chil- dren: Annie E., by his first wife, who died at the age of sixteen ycars; and by his second wife, Luella S., who died in infancy; Leonard D., who is farming with his parents; and Emery M., a foreman in a shoe factory in Boston. Three brothers of Mrs. Flanders fought on the side of the Union in the late war; one died in the army, one soon after his return, and the third in August, 1895. Our subject and wife are numbered among the prominent members of the Free Will Baptist Church. In politics he is a Democrat, and represented the town in the State Legislature in 1887.
AMOS M. PIKE, a farmer of the town of Haverhill, was born on the farm, where he now makes his home, Oct. 24, 1839. Daniel Pike, his great-great-grandfather, lived at Dunstable dur- ing the Revolution; he married Miss Kendall, who bore him eleven children, of whom Joseph was the third in seniority. Joseph Pike served in the Revolutionary Army, and married Abigail Sawtelle, who presented him with thirteen chil- dren, of whom Parley was the eldest. Parley Pike, born at Hollis, N. H., Sept. 20, 1778, died Oct. 25, 1838, married Mary Cross, who was born July 12, 1778, and became the father of a fine family of fifteen children. The second child, Eli Pike, the father of our subject, was born in Plymouth, N. H., Sept. 8, 1806, and died in Hav- erhill in the house which shelters his son, Amos M. Pike, Feb. 18, 1883. He was reared in Ply- mouth, and attended the district schools till the years of early manhood; he followed farming as a principal means of support. He also worked at the butcher business for a term of years at Brighton, Mass., and at the age of seventeen was a truckman at Charleston, Mass., and drew much of the stone that entered into the construction of Bunker Hill Monument. He lived in Massachu- setts till about 1830, coming to Haverhill at that time. In North Haverhill he and his two brothers, Newhall and Asher, owned a brickyard for a short time, and made the brick with which the court house and county buildings at Haverhill were constructed. About 1835 he sold his inter- est in the brick business, and bought a farmi in the northeast corner of Haverhill township, set- tling on it before there was any settlement in that locality, and there engaged in farming and lumbering till his death, in 1883. He was mar- ricd in Charleston, Mass., March 18, 1832, to Mary Ann Sinnott, who was born in Saco, Me., Sept. 10, 1809, and died in Haverhill, Oct. 6, 1858. She was a daughter of William Sinnott, who married a daughter of Stephen Richards of Saco, Me. William Sinnott was a ship carpenter by trade, as was his father, William Sinnott, Sr., who was born on board ship on the ocean when his parents were making the passage from Eng- land to America. William Sinnott, Jr., was an officer in the militia, and his sword has been handed down to his descendants, and is now in the possession of his grandson, the subject of this sketch. Newhall Pike, the eldest brother of
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.