USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire > Part 66
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JAMES K. PIERCE, a leading dry goods merchant of Plymouth, N. H., is the son of Lem- mon Pierce, and grandson of Rufus Pierce, whose father came from England, and was one of the first settlers of Putney, Vt. Rufus Pierce spent his life on the homestead engaged in farm- ing, dying at the age of sixty-five. He reared a family of twelve children. Lemmon, the fourth son, was born on the homestead. He worked at his trade of miller the early part of his life; but he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits in later years. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel Fisher of Hinsdale, N. H. Eight chil- dren were born to them: Franklin; Daniel Rufus; Taylor; Charles; James K .; William; Alice, who died at the age of fourteen; and Mrs. Hattie Tiff. Lemmon Pierce was called above when he was aged sixty-two years; his wife passed away at the age of sixty-four. In politics he was a Whig, until the Republican party was organized, when he joined its ranks.
James K. Pierce was born in Putney, Vt., Nov. 22, 1845. He received his education in his native town. From the time he was fourteen till he was twenty years old he labored alternately on the farm and in the mill-farming in the summer, and working in the mill through the winter months. He then peddled crackers for a Brattle- boro, Vt., firm for one year. At the end of that time he started in business for himself, at first running a grist-mill at Williamsville and later at Brattleboro, where he remained-until 1888.
In that year he came to Plymouth and opened up a dry goods store. There being stores in the
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village with an established trade, Mr. Pierce was advised by some not to enter in the business, but as he is a man of strong determination and earn- estness of purpose, he started his undertaking, and the result to-day shows the wisdom of his plan, for he has one of the largest and best- equipped stores in the village, with his share of custom. He has also established a grist-mill and does considerable business in that line. Mr. Pierce holds a membership in these orders: Olive Branch Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M .; Ply- mouth Lodge, No. 66, I. O. O. F.
In 1866 he married Cora Carleton of Bernard- ston, Mass. She left him one son, Clarence C. He was joined in wedlock again, the second wife being Helen M., daughter of Hiram Eldridge of Brattleboro, Vt., whom he married in 1875. Mr. Pierce is a Republican, and has served two years as a member of the board of selectmen of the town of Plymouth.
DR. HAVEN PALMER, a leading physician of Plymouth, N. H., is the son of Lewis J. Pal- mer, and grandson of John Palmer; John Palmer spent most of his years at Fryeburg, Me., en- gaged in farming. The Palmer family is of Eng- lish origin, the first representative in this country being Walter Palmer, who settled in Stonington, Conn., in 1653. Nottinghamshire was the place of his residence in England.
John Palmer married Annie Estes, and en- joyed a long life of married happiness. He passed away at the age of seventy-one; his wife, who was a few years his junior, survived him long enough to die at exactly the same age as her husband to a day. Their family consisted of two sons and four daughters.
Lewis J. Palmer was born in Fryeburg, Me., and lived there until he was about thirty years old, when he removed to Jefferson, N. H. At that place he bought a 150-acre farm, and there the rest of his life was spent engaged in agricul- tural pursuits. He was a Democrat, and always took the greatest interest in town affairs. At different times he served as selectman, tax col- lector, town treasurer, and in 1878 and 1880 rep- resented the town in the State Legislature. He married Susan H., daughter of William and Mary (Hall) Summers of Norfolk, Virginia. At the
age of seventy-five Lewis J. Palmer departed this life; his wife died at the age of seventy-four. Four children were born to them: Flora E., who died at the age of twenty-three; Luella, who passed away aged also twenty-three; Dr. Haven; and Lewis H., now in McComb City, Miss.
Dr. Haven Palmer was born in Jefferson, N. H., Sept. 19, 1843. He received his early edu- cation in the schools of Jefferson, after which he attended Lancaster Academy. He then taught several terms of school, studying medicine at the same time. His instructors in the profession were Drs. J. W. Barney and J. D. Folsom, the latter of Lancaster, N. H. He then attended the Portland Medical Institute, and finished his pro- fessional education at Bowdoin Medical School, graduating from the latter school in the Class of '71. In 1875 Dr. Palmer located at Meredith, N. H., where he remained for nine years; at the end of that time he moved to Plymouth, N. H., where he built up a flourishing practice, and is now engaged in active work. Besides his prac- tice in the immediate vicinity, he has many calls from the neighboring towns. He is a member of Olive Branch Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M. He belongs to the New Hampshire Medical Society. He is also a member of the Winnipiseogee Acad- emy of Medicine at Laconia, N. H.
In 1875 Dr. Palmer was united in the marriage bond to Lucy J., daughter of Charles Ellis of Lancaster, N. H. His family consists of three children : Bessie, Harold H., and Doris.
'DAVIS BAKER KENISTON, a leading clothier of Plymouth, N. H., is the son of George Washington Keniston, and the grandson of Will- iam and Sally (Morrison) Keniston. William Keniston was a farmer, and resided at Sanborn- ton, N. H., where his son, George Washington Keniston, was born, Dec. 22, 1810.
When a boy of eleven years George W. Kenis- ton walked to Campton, a distance of thirty miles, to take up his residence with his brother Samuel. He learned the stone-cutter's trade, and for a number of years was the efficient foreman of Cady's Stone Works at Medford, Mass. On Sept. 14, 1837, he married Deborah Davis, the oldest daughter of Col. Davis and Hannah
ENOS HUCKINS, M. D.
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(Church) Baker of Campton, and settled down on a farm in Thornton. Five years after he moved to the Baker farm, a large farm in Camp- ton, where he resided till the date of his death, which occurred Sept. 29, 1884. He was select- man of the town while living in Thornton, and deputy sheriff for Grafton Co. in 1849-50. In 1859-60 he represented Campton in the State Legislature. In 1865 he was elected treasurer of the committee for funding the town debt of Campton, an office he held till the bonds were paid in 1878. He was also from time to time honored with many other offices of trust and re- sponsibility at the disposal of his fellow-towns- men. He always remained true to the trust re- posed in him. His life was marked for its energy, perseverance, and strict honesty. He had four children: Emma Elizabeth (Mrs. Thornton); George Hancock; Ann; and Davis Baker.
Davis Baker Keniston, the subject of this sketch, was born in Campton, July 1, 1850. He received his early education in the Campton dis- trict schools. From the district school he went to New Hampshire Conference and Female Col- lege at Tilton, N. H., and pursued his studies there for a time, after which he attended Kimball Union Academy at Meriden, N. H.
He remained on the homestead in Campton engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1883. In the fall of that year he came to Plymouth and entered the clothing and furnishing business. He is highly respected in the financial circles of Plymouth, and leads in many public enterprises. He was a charter member of the Campton Grange, and held the office of secretary for that organization until his removal to Plymouth. He is treasurer and one of the directors of the Ply- mouth Veneer Co., of Plymouth. He is a mem- ber of the Olive Branch Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M .; Pemigewasset Chapter, No. 13; Pilgrim Commandery of Laconia. He held the office of Master of the Lodge for three years, and is at present High Priest of the Chapter. He is also a member of the Plymouth Lodge, No. 66, 1. O. O. F. In politics he adheres strongly to the Democratic faith.
He was married, in 1876, to Ada E., daughter of Lucius M. and Elizabeth (Cutter) Howe of Plymouth, and has a family of three children: Elizabeth H .; Davis Baker, Jr .; and Sarah Thorndike.
ENOS HUCKINS, M. D., a leading physi- cian of Plymouth, N. H., is the son of Enos Huckins, Sr., grandson of John Huckins, and great-grandson of Robert Huckins. Robert Huckins and his brother were the first representa- tives of the family in this country, emigrating from Scotland. Robert settled in the lower part of this State, and his brother went west.
John Huckins, the son of Robert, was a far- mer and passed most of his life in the town of New Hampton, N. H. He married Judith Per- kins. He was bereaved by her death in compar- ative early life, after giving birth to seven chil- dren: Dorcas (Hanaford), Rachel (Smith), Judith (Plaisted), Thomas, Enos, John B., and Nathaniel. Mr. Huckins married as his second wife Mary Burnham. They reared three chil- dren: Jane, Calvin, and Daniel. Mr. Huckins died in his ninety-third year. He was a deacon of the Free Will Baptist Church for fifty years.
Enos Huckins, Sr., the father of our subject, was born on the homestead in New Hampton and received his education in the schools of that place. He took up the trade of a shoemaker, and at the age of twenty-five he moved to the town of Warren, where he worked at his trade the remainder of his life. He married Betsy, daughter of Satchel Ingalls of London, N. H., whose wife's name was Hannah Heath. Mr. Huckins died at the age of forty-three; his wife survived him a few years, departing this life at the age of fifty-eight. Three children blessed this union: Charles, residing at present in War- ren; Dr. Enos, the subject of this sketch; and Cora J., deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Huckins were warm supporters of the Free Will Baptist Church. Mr. Huckins's political principles were Republican.
Dr. Enos Huckins was born in Warren, Aug. 10, 1845. He obtained his rudimentary educa- tion in the district schools of his native town. He started out to make his own way in life at an . early age, working at various employments, tak- ing up whatever came to hand, gaining consider- able experience the while. He finally took up the study of medicine; he put in two hard years of study in the Eclectic College of Cincinnati, going from there to the University of Philadel- phia, and graduating from the latter institution in the Class of 1876. He at once commenced to practice his profession in the town of Warren,
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remaining there four years. The four years fol- lowing were spent in Ashland, and, in 1884, he came to Plymouth, where he has built up a large practice. Dr. Huckins is a well-read man in the line of his profession, and enjoys the confidence of his patrons, who know that he will do for them all that human skill can accomplish.
Dr. Huckins was married to Martha G., daughter of True and Sally (Clough) Merrill of Warren, N. H., in 1868. She was removed from his side in 1894, at the age of forty-four.
Dr. Huckins belongs to the Vermont State, New Hampshire, and New England Medical So- cieties. He is a member of Mt. Prospect Lodge, No. 69, A. F. & A. M .; Pemigewasset Chapter, No. 13; Omega Council, No. 9. He is also a member of Grafton Lodge, No. 62, I. O. O. F .; and Baker River Lodge, No. 47, K. P .; and is now serving as district deputy of the latter organ- ization. He is also a member of the Improved Order of Red Men of Meredith. The publishers of this Book of Biographies take pleasure in pre- senting Dr. Huckins's portrait on another page of this volume.
WILLIAM M. PEPPARD, manager and proprietor of Tufts & Co.'s drug store of Ply- mouth, N. H., is the son of John W. Peppard, who was born in Nova Scotia in 1827, and came to Cambridge, Mass., in 1843. There he worked for a time for a firm that was engaged in manu- facturing ladders, with whom he remained until he fully learned the business, when he was sent to Rumney, N. H., to select and buy material for the company. After spending a short time under their employ at that place he began business on his own account as a wholesale dealer in ladder material, furnishing goods for his aforetime em- ployers and other houses engaged in similar work, as far south as Florida and west to the Missouri River. He followed this business until 1892, when he retired from active life and moved to Plymouth, N. H., where he now resides.
He married Mary G. Merrill of Kennebunk- port, Me. She was removed from his side by the relentless hand of Death in the early years of their married life, leaving him two children: John Eugene, who died at the age of twenty-
four; and William M. John W. Peppard is a stanch Republican, and has on several occasions represented the town of Rumney in the House of Representatives. He has been a trustee of the State Reform School for the past eighteen years.
William M. Peppard, the subject of this sketch, was born in Rumney, N. H., Dec. 21, 1861. He received his education in the district schools of Rumney, and in New Hampton Insti- tute.
After leaving school he clerked two years in Plymouth, spent two years traveling, and one year at home. In 1884 he came to Plymouth and commenced clerking in John S. Tufts' drug store. Mr. Tufts died in 1888, and in 1892 Mr. Peppard bought the interest of the daughter, and continued in the same business with no other change. He has a large, finely equipped and well-stocked store, centrally located on Main Street.
Mr. Peppard was joined in the matrimonial bond Dec. 24, 1889, to Alice M., daughter of John S. and Agnes (Wight) Tufts of Plymouth. They have three children: John T., Eugene, and Alice Lydia.
Mr. Peppard is a member of the following orders: Olive Branch Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M .; Pemigewasset Chapter, No. 13; Omega Council, No. 9; Pilgrim Commandery of La- conia; Plymouth Lodge, No. 66, I. O. O. F .; and Knights of Pythias.
He is a firm believer in Republican principles.
WILBUR C. STEARNS, claim agent for the B. & M. R. R., is the son of John Stearns, Jr., and grandson of John Stearns, who came from Massachusetts, and was an early settler of St. Johnsbury, Vt. He married Miss Goss, and they reared a family of six children: John, Jr .; Clark; Daniel; Susan (Green); Becky (Brown); and Direxy (Ayer).
John Stearns, Jr., was born on the homestead in St. Johnsbury, Vt. He was brought up to the trade of a harness-maker, and passed the greater. part of his life in Danville, Vt., working at his trade. He married Lydia, daughter of Caleb and Patience Wheaton of St. Johnsbury. John Stearns died at the age of sixty-three; his wife
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survived him many years, passing away at the age of ninety-one. Their children were: Per- melia (Emery), deceased; Rector, deceased; Wil- bur C., the subject of this sketch; Maria, de- ceased; Mason, deceased; Fannie (Pierce), de- ceased; and Mary M. (Raney) (Harden) (Dole). Mr. Stearns was a stanch Democrat. The Con- gregational Church numbered him among its worshippers.
Wilbur C. Stearns was born in Danville, Vt., Oct. 3, 1821. He was educated in the public schools of his native town. At the age of thir- teen he began to support himself and to assist his mother in maintaining the family. Young as he was then, he commenced to drive a stage between Danville and Barton, Vt., a drive of twenty-five miles; he kept this up during the summer, and attended school the following win- ter. He also learned the trade of a harness- maker, and could make a good harness even at that age.
In the spring, when he was fourteen, he took up staging again, and drove for a number of years between Danville and Craftsbury, Vt., a twenty-five-mile trip; in the summer time he would often make the round trip in one day. At length he sold this route, and took the route be- tween Montpelier and Bakersfield, Vt., a forty- six-mile drive. He had this route six years; he then staged between Montpelier and Barton, Vt., a drive of fifty-five miles. This drive was in op- position to another stage line on the same route, and Mr. Stearns was hired for the sole purpose of forcing the other man out, which he success- fully accomplished in one year's time. He then went to manage the staging between Littleton and the Profile House in the White Mountains; he held this place for sixteen years, at the end of which time a railroad had been completed, ren- dering staging at that point unprofitable and un- necessary. Mr. Stearns, as a stage-driver, has a record to be proud of; for all through his stag- ing career he never killed or spoiled a horse, and never tipped over or injured a passenger.
For a few years before he had entirely relin- quished the whip and reins, he was employed in the winter months by the B. C. & M. R. R. as tracer of cars and lost freight. When he discon- tinued staging, he still remained with the rail- road in that capacity, even when it underwent a › change of management. He is now employed on
the B. & M. R. R. as claim agent, being a special agent.
Mr. Stearns has lived in Plymouth the past thirty-two years. He was married in 1845, to Lucy H., daughter of Thomas and Abigail Reed of Worcester, Vt. She died, leaving him one child: Ella E., wife of W. R. Bracket, formerly employed on the B. & M. R. R., now retired in Littleton, N. H. They have one child, Lucy S. Mr. Stearns was again joined in marriage in 1881, the bride being Mrs. Lois B. (Elliott) East- man, daughter of James and Susan (Cole) Elliott. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Elliott are: A. Edward; Kate G., widow of E. O. Smith, de- ceased, and has one child, Lois O .; Anna, wife of C. Matthewson of Meredith, N. H.
Mr. Stearns is a Democrat, and cast his first Presidential vote for James K. Polk. He is a member of the Olive Branch Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M .; Pemigewasset Chapter, No. 13; St. Gerard Commandery; and Edward A. Raymond Consistory of Nashua.
WILLIAM D. SARGENT, foreman of the shops and engine house of the B. & M. R. R., at Woodsville, is the son of Gideon L. Sargent, who spent most of his life in Loudon, N. H., where he died in 1853, at the age of fifty-two. He was a cooper by trade, and followed the same through his life. He married Abiah Sargent of Canter- bury, N. H .; she died at the age of forty-nine, after presenting her husband with three children: S. Alonzo (deceased); William D .; and Samuel L., who lives now at Gilford, N. H. Gideon L. Sargent and wife are regular attendants of the Free Will Baptist Church. He was a Democrat politically, and served a number of times as se- lectman of the town.
William D. Sargent, the subject of this sketch, was born May 18, 1838, in Loudon, N. H. His school years were spent in the public schools of his native town. At the age of seventeen he.be- gan to fight life's battle in earnest, accepting a situation on the railroad. He had no false pride, and was not ashamed to begin on the bottom round, knowing well that efficient service meant sure promotion. For thirty years he was con- nected with the road as a trainman, being an en-
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Branch Valleys. One may recline in the ham- mocks and view Mt. Lafayette and the Hay- stacks twenty miles away. In 1886 Mr. Sanborn, realizing the needs of the place, erected a three- storied building, opposite and adjacent the hotel, naming it Maple Villa. It is beautifully finished throughout; it has twenty-five rooms, which are furnished with entirely new furniture, which was made to match the rooms. The rooms are large and light and can be had single or en suite; there are open fires in the public rooms. In 1890 he built a large hall, the lower floor of which is used for dancing and evening parties, with sleep- ing rooms on the second and third floors. The grounds are carpeted with a beautiful lawn, well- shaded, with a tennis court and croquet ground marked out.
In 1895 the old and beloved "Stag and Hounds" burned down; so in 1896 .our subject built additions to Maple Villa, with large and spacious kitchen, dining-room, bath, extra sleep- ing-rooms, etc., and can accommodate seventy- five people in this building. The patronage dur- ing 1896 has been large, and most gratifying to our subject, who likes to see his efforts appre- ciated. In the past year of 1896 he has also com- pleted a large and elegantly appointed stable, where he keeps stylish turn-outs for the pleasure and comfort of his guests, and the finest roadster and cart in this part of the State. He owns 225 acres of land, comprising meadows, gardens, groves, and beautiful walks. In politics our sub- ject is a Republican, and although his time is very much in demand during the summer, yet he has found time to serve in various offices at the disposal of the voters of the town. He has served as town clerk, treasurer, chairman of the board of selectmen for five years, and represen- tative from the town during the session of 1895.
Mr. Sanborn married Julia E., daughter of William P. and Julia W. (Foss) Robinson. Will- iam P. Robinson was born in Pawtucket, R. I., and was engaged early in life in the mercantile business in Plymouth, but moved to Thornton, where he spent several years, thence he moved to Campton Village, where he lived some twenty- two years. He died at the age of sixty-three, of heart trouble; his wife passed away at the age of sixty-two, stricken down by a complication of diseases, principal among them being bronchial trouble. Their children were: George W.,
Charles C., Jennie, Julia E., and Frank S. To our subject as the fruit of his union with Julia E. Robinson, there came but one child, which died in infancy.
Mr. Sanborn is a liberal supporter of the Con- gregational Church. He is a member of the Olive Branch Lodge, F. & A. M., at Plymouth; and of the Pemigewasset Chapter, R. A. M .; and of the Pilgrim Commandery of Laconia. He is also an honored member of the Pemigewasset Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Campton. He has been an honest and upright citizen, and as such enjoys the respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens, and it is with pleasure that we give his portrait a place in connection with this brief sketch of his life.
GEORGE H. GREELEY, a coal and wood dealer of Plymouth, is the son of Merrill Greeley, and grandson of Nathaniel Greeley, who was the first settler in the town of Waterville, N. H., coming from Salisbury of the same State. He · moved to Thornton in the latter part of his life, and died there in 1884, at the age of eighty-four. Nathaniel Greeley married Nancy Wyman; she was removed from the family circle at the age of sixty-two. Their children were: Merrill and Henry S.
Merrill Greeley was born in Waterville, N. H., July 3, 1832. He was educated in the schools of Plymouth. At the age of twenty-one Merrill Greeley and his brother Henry opened up a hotel in Waterville for summer boarders. Their build- ing burning down in their second season gave them a severe blow, but Merrill continued to take boarders at his private home for a few years. He then built a new hotel, and continued in that business until 1882 or 1883, when he sold out and moved to Thornton, and about three years later moved to Plymouth. He was a thorough Democrat and very pronounced in his views, tak- ing an active interest in the welfare of that party. He served in various town offices of Waterville, and represented the town two terms in the State Legislature. He was a Master Mason, and a member of the I. O. O. F. During his residence in Plymouth Mr. Greeley was engaged in the livery business, and also dealt in coal and wood. He was among the first in moving to establish
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an electric light plant in Plymouth, and at his death was president of the Electric Light Co.
He led to the altar Elizabeth, daughter of Clark Merrill of Hill, N. H. Their children are: Mabel L. and George H. He died Oct. 7, 1894, leaving his wife and two children to survive him; they still make Plymouth their residence. Mr. Greeley contributed largely to the furnishing of the Universalist Church of Plymouth, and was one of its most liberal supporters.
George H. Greeley was born in Waterville, N. H., Nov. 3, 1872. He received his education in the Waterville and Plymouth schools, finishing with a business course at Boston. He was asso- ciated with his father in the coal and wood busi- ness for a short time before his father's death, and at that occurrence assumed complete control of it, and has carried it on very successfully since. He has shown himself to be a very capable and enterprising young business man. He has an office in the Rollins Block. Mr. Greeley is a Master Mason, a member of the Olive Branch Lodge, No. 16. He is a Republican in politics.
HENRY F. KING, a prominent farmer of the town of Haverhill, and a leading citizen of the village of Woodsville, is the son of Russell and Ann (Walker) King, and grandson of William King.
William King spent most of his life in Lang- don, Vt., removing toward the end of it to Hav- erhill, where he closed his years at the age of sixty-nine. He was a man of great ability and sound judgment, and operated one of the largest farms in Langdon; it is still known as the old King farm. He married Miss Darby, a native of Connecticut. She departed this life about the age of ninety. They were faithful and consistent members of the Congregational Church, and might be relied on for assistance in any worthy cause. They reared nine children; the record stands as follows: Oliver; Hezekiah; William; Russell; Hiram; Harvey; George; Betsey (Evans); and Samuel.
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