Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire, Part 67

Author:
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Buffalo, Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 612

USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire > Part 67

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).

Russell King was born on the old King farm in Langdon, Vt., and there passed most of the years of his minority, occupied in obtaining an education in the district schools, and in working

as much as he was able around the farm. At an early age he went to Boston and made it his home for a few years, going from there to Charleston, N. H., where he remained until 1836. In that year he came to the town of Haverhill, purchased a valuable piece of farming property, and lived there until death relieved him from further mortal labor and pain. He was a man that always felt an interest in town affairs, and managed to keep in close touch with all the local political developments. He was for many years a leader, and looked to for the best of advice and counsel. In politics he was a Whig, and as such represented the town two terms in the State Leg- islature; he was also justice of the peace for many years. During the time when the State militia organization flourished Mr. King took an absorbing, whole-souled interest, serving as a captain of an artillery company. He married Ann Walker of Rockingham, Vt .; she continued a most efficient and loving helpmate until her death at the age of sixty-eight. Their family con- sisted of the following children: Samuel, who departed this life in the State of Pennsylvania; Henry F., our subject; Charles R., living in Alle- gany, Pa .; and Elizabeth (Whitcher).

Henry F. King was born in the town of Hav- erhill, N. H., Feb. 13, 1838, and received his schooling in his native town. When he attained his majority he went to the State of Pennsyl- vania and followed railroading for two years. Upon receiving word of the failing health of his father he returned home and began farming, be- ing associated with his parent in business; later on he bought the homestead, and has remained on the same ever since, always engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, and most successful in all of his business ventures. His attention is devoted to general farming, and stock raising. At the present time he is the oldest person living in the village precinct in years of residence. His farni is mostly of good interval quality, bordering on the Connecticut River, on the edge of Woods- ville.

He was joined in marriage, in 1862, with Luvia, daughter of John Weeks of Bath, N. H. They have one child, Anna, who married L. E. Davison, and has presented him with two chil- dren: Harold and Mildred. Mr. King is a firm Republican in politics; in 1887, when the town was strongly Democratic, he was nominated on

378

BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.

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

379

BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.

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; William1; Russell; Hiram; Harvey; George; Betsey (Evans); and Samuel.

Russell King was born on the old King farm in Langdon, Vt., and there passed most of the years of his minority, occupied in obtaining an education in the district schools, and in working

Henry F. King was born in the town of Hav- erhill, N. H., Feb. 13, 1838, and received his schooling in his native town. When he attained his majority he went to the State of Pennsyl- vania and followed railroading for two years. Upon receiving word of the failing health of his father he returned home and began farming, be- ing associated with his parent in business; later on he bought the homestead, and has remained on the same ever since, always engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, and most successful in all of his business ventures. His attention is devoted to general farming, and stock raising. At the present time he is the oldest person living in the village precinct in years of residence. His farm is mostly of good interval quality, bordering on the Connecticut River, on the edge of Woods- ville.

He was joined in marriage, in 1862, with Luvia, daughter of John Weeks of Bath, N. II. They have one child, Anna, who married L. F. Davison, and has presented him with two chil- dren: Harold and Mildred. Mr. King is a firm Republican in politics; in 1887, when the town was strongly Democratic, he was nominated on

380

BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.

the Republican ticket for representative, and. came within six votes of being elected. He has served as selectman for three years, and as deputy sheriff of Grafton Co. for three years. In 1880 he took the census of the town. He served one term as justice of the peace, and has been a member of the board of fire commission- ers, serving most of the time as chairman since its organization.

GEORGE H. CORLISS, a leading hardware dealer of Plymouth, is the son of Cyrus Corliss, grandson of Isaac Corliss, and great-grandson of George Corliss.

George Corliss's birthplace was Alexandria, N. H. He lived on the homestead all his life en- gaged in farming. He died when about seventy years old. He married Sally Simonds, who sur- vived her husband a number of years, passing away at about the age of ninety. They reared a family of seven children: Isaac, John, Polly, Eben, Daniel, George, and Sally.

Isaac Corliss, the eldest son of George Corliss, was born in Alexandria, where he lived the most of his life. His latter years were spent in Pier- mont, N. H., where he died, aged seventy-eight. He married Dolly, daughter of Daniel Heath; she passed away at the age of sixty-two. Their family consisted of: George; Daniel; Stephen; Cyrus; Roxanna (Pillsbury); Kimball; Almira (Bohanan) (Bean); David; Charles; and Isaac.

General Cyrus Corliss, the fourth son of Isaac Corliss and the father of the subject of this sketch, was born, in 1811, in Alexandria, N. H. He learned the trade of blacksmith, and followed it during his younger years. He was employed on the railroad for a time. The past twenty years has been passed on the farm. He received his title of General from his connection with the New Hampshire State militia.

He was married to Almira, daughter of Samuel and Anna (Sayles) Reed, in 1832. Three years later he came to Plymouth, and now resides on Road Seven, about one and one-quarter miles west of the village. His wife was separated from him by the hand of Death when she was aged seventy-nine years. They brought up to ma- turity three sons and three daughters: Cyrus

served in Co. B., 15th N. H. Vol. Inf., and lost his life on a railroad in Iowa, in 1875; Almira married Charles Q. McQuesten of California; Frank R. served in Co. A., 6th . N. H. Vol. Inf., and now resides in Clinton, Iowa; Clara A. mar- ried J. H. Morrison, and died in 1877; George H., the subject of this sketch; Emily married Martin Merrill in 1869.

George H. Corliss was born in Grafton, N. H., Sept. 15, 1846. He came to Plymouth with his parents when he was a young lad, and received his education here. At the age of nineteen he went to work in a tannery, and labored there two years. He then learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade, which he followed until 1893. In that year Mr. Corliss bought out P. H. Craw- ford's hardware store on Main Street, and has been engaged in that business since.

Mr. Corliss's political principles are Demo- cratic. He made a very successful and efficient chief of police of the town of Plymouth for sev- eral years. He is a member of the Olive Branch Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M.

Mr. Corliss was married, in 1872, to Eva G., daughter of John and Nancy Harvey of Laconia, N. H. Their children are: Fred G., born in 1874, now in the store with his father. He was married, June 23, 1896, to Miss Mary B., daugh- ter of Caleb M. Ames of Holderness, N. H. Cyrus L., born in 1876, who is now attending college in Middletown, Conn.

CHARLES C. WRIGHT, associate editor and half-owner of the Plymouth Record, a paper devoted to the interests of people in and about Grafton Co., N. H., is the son of Charles Wright, and grandson of Dr. Samuel and Mary Ann (Webster) Wright.

Our subject's father was born in the town of Holderness, now Ashland, Sept. 14, 1829; as a young man he learned the trade of a brick mason, and was thus employed in New Hampshire and upon the public works of Boston for several years, after which he was engaged for a number of years in the manufacture of paper at Ashland, N. H., and St. Johnsbury, Vt. In the business world, his name was ever a synonym for prompt- ness, honor, and integrity. He was a strong Re- publican, and in 1871 and 1872 represented Ash-

ANDREW R. SMITH.

381

BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.

land in the State Legislature. In 1873 he was appointed a railway postal clerk, and performed service constantly on the route between Ply- mouth and Concord for seventeen years. In that service, as in all his other relations in life, he was faithful and made friends of all with whom he was brought in contact. He was a man of very strong characteristics: strong, true, consist- ent, and sincere in his love, affection, and devo- tion to his family and friends; his friendship, once gained, could not, except for the most potent reason, be broken or shaken. In all mat- ters pertaining to the upbuilding and upholding of good morals in society he was always alert and ready to do his full share. Firm as a rock in his beliefs, yet he was as tender as a woman to all in any trouble from whatever cause.

The last four years of his life were spent in failing health, the result of a severe injury, re- ceived in a railway accident at Ashland, N. H. He died Sept. 21, 1894. He was married March 18, 1857, to Mary T. Cheney of Ashland, who was a sister of Col. Thomas P. Cheney. Mrs. Wright and her son, Charles C., live in Ply- mouth, N. H.

Charles C. Wright was born in Ashland, N. H .. June 30, 1872. He was educated at the Nor- mal Training schools of Plymouth, and the New Hampshire Conference Seminary at Tilton. In January, 1889, Mr. Wright and Mr. Edward A. Chase bought the printing business of W. J. Ran- dolph and were associated as partners for two years, until August, 1891, when our subject acquired the entire interest in the establishment and conducted the business alone for almost three years. In June, 1894, they again became partners, and secured the ownership of the Ply- mouth Record of Plymouth, N. H., and the Northern Herald of Lisbon, N. H. These papers are still owned and edited by Messrs. Chase and Wright, with their office and press and all the requisites for publication at Plymouth.

On Sept. 13, 1893, Mr. Wright was married to Mira Holden Adams, daughter of Edgar Adams of Plymouth. One child, Edgar Cheney, has been born to them. In 1893 Mr. Wright was ap- pointed a member of the reportorial staff of the Boston Herald, and still continues to represent that paper in his district. He is secretary of the Plymouth Fair Association, and a member of the press organization of New Hampshire.

ANDREW R. SMITH, a stone contractor of Plymouth, is the son of Benjamin Smith, Jr., and grandson of Benjamin Smith, Sr.

Benjamin Smith, Sr., was born in New Hamp- ton, N. H. He learned the trade of a carpenter and engaged in that branch throughout his life. He married Samantha Hibbard, who lived to the age of ninety. Mr. Smith died at the age of eighty. They reared a family of three children: Benjamin, Jr., Obediah G., and Betsy (Webber).

Benjamin Smith, Jr., was born in the same town in which his father had been reared and passed his life. He received his education in the schools of the vicinity. He earned his livelihood in his younger years by his trade of a ship-car- penter. He did not continue to work at this all his life, but engaged in house-carpentry in later years. He married Sarah, daughter of Moses Smith of Bridgewater, N. H. She departed this life in 1893, at the age of eighty-three. Mr. Smith lived in Groton the twenty years previous to his death. He met his death by drowning in Newfound Lake while in bathing. He was fifty- six years old. They were members of the local M. E. Church. He was an old line Whig and in later years a Democrat. He took a keen inter- est in town affairs and served in various offices with great credit to himself. Eight children were born to them: Benjamin HI .; Cyrus M .; Obediah G .; Andrew R .: John S .; Sarah E., wife of Thomas Wilson of Holderness, N. H .; Marcia A., wife of Sylvester Swett of Plymouth; and Mariam, wife of Louis P. Grant also of Ply- mouth.

Andrew R. Smith was born April 2, 1848, in Groton, N. H. He received his preliminary edu- cation in the Groton district schools, taking ad- vanced work at Meriden Academy. He left the parental roof at the age of fifteen, and by work- ing his way was enabled to spend some part of the year in school. When twenty years old he learned the trade of a stone-cutter, and soon after, having served his apprenticeship, he became en- gaged in contracting. Considerable of this work has been done for the railroad in this vicinity. He is still actively engaged at his business, and has a large and varied trade.

In 1870 Mr. Smith was married to Louisa A., daughter of Job Wilson of Rumney. Their chil- dren are: Rose C., Rosco M., and Thomas C. Mr. Smith has made Plymouth his home for the

382

BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.

past thirty years, and has a comfortable residence on Highland Street. He is a member of Baker River Lodge, No. 47, K. of P.

The portrait of Mr. Smith, appearing on another page of this work in connection with this short sketch of his life, will stand for years to come as portraying and representing a man respected and esteemed by the community in which he lived and labored.

JOHN C. BERRY, a life insurance agent of Plymouth, N. H., is the son of Otis Berry, and grandson of Robert Berry.

Robert Berry came from Strafford, N. H., and settled in Campton. He passed his life on the farm, engaged in tilling the soil and raising stock. He married Esther Otis; they enjoyed a calm, peaceful life, and surrounded themselves with a family of five children: Robert, Jr., Ro- silla, Hannah, Otis, and Daniel.

Otis Berry was born in Strafford, N. H., but moved to Campton with his parents at an early age. The old homestead in Campton continued to be his home throughout the rest of his life. He learned the cooper's trade, and followed that in connection with his farm work. He married Esther, daughter of Simon Lovett of Campton. She died at the age of seventy-nine. Mr. Berry lived to see seventy-seven summers when he joined those gone before. They were the parents of a family of eight children: Benjamin F .; Hiram O .; William H .; John C., the subject of this sketch; George W .; Charles E., who died in the Civil War of 1861-65; Arvilla, deceased; and Mary Esther, also deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Berry favored the Free Will Baptist Church. In politics Mr. Berry was a Republican.

John C. Berry was born in Campton, N. H., May 14, 1845. He was educated in the common branches in the Campton district schools, taking an advanced course of study in the Plymouth High School. He remained on the farm with his father until he became of age; in 1869 he took up the trade of stone-cutter, and followed it for fifteen years. Since 1884 he has been working at life insurance, except two years, in which he was engaged in selling meat and. provisions.

In 1868 Mr. Berry was joined in the holy bonds of matrimony to D. Jennie Garland,

daughter of William P. Garland. Their family consists of the following children: Albert, who died at the age of sixteen; Hubert F .; Arthur G .; Ethel L .; Leon; and Elsie. They are attendants of the M. E. Church.

The great-grandfather of Mrs. Berry was Jonathan Garland, who was killed by the falling of a tree, March 30, 1812. His children were as follows: Nathan, who died May 10, 1830; Han- nah died July 10, 1832; Benjamin, born in 1784, died Feb. 9, 1848; Jonathan, Jr., born in 1796, died April 1, 1868; and Marian, who was born in 1794, and died in October, 1880. Jonathan Garland, Jr., was born in Pittsfield, and married Deborah Goss, who was born in 1801, and died in December, 1869, at West Campton. Follow- ing is the record of their children: William, born at Pittsfield, in 1822, died in July, 1826; Mary E., born at Holderness, May 6, 1824, died in May, 1876; she was married in 1854 to Mr. Godfrey, and in 1858 to Samuel Roulett, who was born in 1809 or 1810, and died in 1877; Henry R., born in Holderness, May 20, 1826, died in Sep- tember, 1851, and left no children to survive him; Huldah B., born in Holderness, April 11, 1827, is still living, and is the widow of Daniel Chase, to whom she was married in September, 1849; he was born in 1825, and died in 1878; four chil- dren were the issue; William P., the father of Mrs. Berry, was born in Holderness, May I, 1829, died March 1, 1887, was married to Louise Avery in the month of August, 1848; she was born in 1821, bore her husband four children, and is still living: George W., born in Holder- ness, July 19, 1832, is living; he married, April 19, 1864, Eliza A. Batchelder, who was born in December, 1839, is living, and has a family of children; Jane N., born in Holderness, March II, 1834, is living with her husband, Henry C. Randlett, who was born in 1832; Climenia F., born in Campton, May, 1836, died March, 1858, was married in 1865 to Samuel Hurd, who was born in 1833, and is still living with one child, the fruit of their union; Marilla, born in Camp- ton, May, 1838, is still living, the widow of Rus- sell F. Shaw, born in 1836, died in 1882, whom she married in November, 1863; Emily, born in Campton, June 14, 1840, died in 1894, leaving three children, the issue of her marriage, in 1859, to Russell Glover, who was born in 1830, and died December, 1890; Silas, born in Campton,

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.

Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire, Part 67

Author: Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Buffalo, Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 612

Author:
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Buffalo, Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 612