USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire > Part 68
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
August, 1842, died December, 1842; Elmira, the youngest of the family of twelve, was born in Campton, March, 1844, is living with her hus- band, John Peterson, born in 1840, with whom she was united in marriage December, 1869.
Mr. Berry is a stanch adherent of the cause of Prohibition. He has labored long and earnestly to bring about the coveted end. It needs no argument to show the evils of intemperance, and the great good that would follow its overthrow. The silver question and the tariff issue could easily solve themselves if the American people did not squander such enormous sums of money on spirituous liquors. Poverty and crime would die out, and all classes, the rich and the poor, the high and the low, would live together in per- fect amity. Mr. Berry is one of the foremost workers in the State in this grand work, and was sent to the national convention, held in Pitts- burg, in 1896. He had the honor of heading the State Prohibition ticket of 1896 as nominee for the office of Governor.
AUSTIN W. WOODMAN, D. D. S., of Ply- mouth, N. H., is the son of Charles Woodman, and grandson of Isaac Woodman. Isaac Wood- man passed the greater portion of his life on a farm in Woodstock, N. H., dying there at the age of sixty. He married a Miss Locke; she was taken to the world beyond when in her ninety- ninth year. They raised a family of five boys and one girl.
Charles, a son of Isaac Woodman, was born in Woodstock, and was educated in its district schools. Arriving at the necessary age, he taught several winter terms of school. He then went to Boston and worked there for a while, finally returning to West Thornton, where he was en- gaged in the grocery business for nineteen years. Owing to the confinement and worry in this business, his health began to fail, and he accord- ingly sold his store and bought a farm in Bridge- water, where he still lives at the age of seventy- four. He was united in marriage to Jemima, daughter of Jacob Avery of Campton, N. H. Mrs. Woodman has passed her sixty-eighth birthday. Their family circle is made up of: Jacob A., Addie C., Charles S., Lyman B., Cory-
don E., and Austin W. Mr. Woodman is an ardent Republican, and has served in various town offices.
Austin W. Woodman, D. D. S., the subject of this sketch, was born in West Thornton, N. H., April 5, 1865. He obtained his education in the Bridgewater schools, taking advanced work in New Hampton Academy. His first enterprise was acting as guide for parties about the Rang- ley Lakes, in Maine, during the summer season. In the winters he studied, preparing himself for his profession; three winters were spent in this way with his brother, who was a practicing dent- ist of Ashland, N. H. Dr. Woodman attended the Boston Dental College, and graduated in the Class of '91. After graduation he returned to Ashland, and practiced with his brother for two years. In 1893 he opened up an office in the Fox Block in Plymouth, and, aided by the splen- did location, he has succeeded in building up a large practice.
Dr. Woodman is a member of the Alumni As- sociation of the Boston Dental College. He be- longs to the following lodges: Grafton Lodge, No. 62, I. O. O. F., of which he is Past Grand; Knights of Pythias, Baker River Lodge, No. 47; and Wambeck Encampment, of which he is dis- trict deputy grand master.
Mr. Woodman led to the altar in 1894 Martha S., daughter of Lorenzo and Elizabeth French of Rumney, N. H. They have been blessed with one child, Charles Lorenzo.
MRS. SARAH G. BUCHANAN, widow of the late Collins M. Buchanan, is the daughter of Levi F. and Ann M. (Gotham) Ranlet.
Levi F. Ranlet was born in Meredith, N. H., where he spent his boyhood days. He learned the trade of a blacksmith, first working at Lan- caster, N. H., and followed the same until his health failed. He died, aged seventy-five years, in Plymouth, N. H. He married Ann M., daugh- ter of Robert and Dollie Gotham. His wife passed away at the age of seventy-one. The family consisted of six children: Noah Webster; Sarah G. (Willis) (Buchanan); the twins, Edgar G. and Henry C .; Charles F .; and George M.
Sarah G. Ranlet, the second child, married as hier first husband Cyrus Willis, son of Samuel
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
Willis. Samuel Willis was a farmer by occupa -. tion and passed the most of his life in Canaan, N. H .; the last twelve years, however, were spent in Parisville, N. Y., where he died about the age of eighty. Samuel Willis married Hannah Hoyt of Canaan, N. H. She departed this life about the age of seventy-five. They reared six chil- dren: Samuel, George, Betsy, John, Ottis, and Cyrus.
Cyrus Willis was born in Hanover, N. H., in 1815. He was educated in Canaan. At the age of fifteen he started out in life and assisted in driving cattle to Boston. He then took up stage- driving, his first route being between Plymouth and Bristol, N. H. After a few years staging in New Hampshire, he went south to Virginia, where he engaged in the same occupation. He finally returned to his native State and located in Littleton, driving the stage from there to Wells River, and also to the Profile House. He was a resident of Litteton when he died, Jan. 23, 1860. Mr. Willis was a Whig and took a keen interest in politics. He was deputy sheriff of Grafton Co. at one time. He married, in 1851, Sarah G., daughter of Levi F. Ranlet. Mrs. Willis's birthplace was Lancaster, N. H. They had one child: Freeman C. Willis, who was born Sept. 20, 1853. He married Lizzie R., daughter of Frank Chase of Campton. Their children are: Lyman C .; Frank B .; Harriet E .; Allen S .; and Samuel S. (deceased).
Mrs. Sarah G. Willis remained single a few vears until 1862, when she was married to her second husband, Collins M. Buchanan, son of Alexander Buchanan.
Alexander Buchanan was a native of Scotland, emigrating to Canada when a young man. He settled in Castlebar, and lived there the re- mainder of his life. He reared a fine family of seven boys.
His son, Collins M., was born in Castlebar, Canada, in 1838. He was educated in his native town. Becoming of age, he came to New Hamp- shire, and settled in Littleton. It was there he met his future wife, and the friendship that soon sprung up between them soon ripened into an intimacy that resulted in marriage. In 1869 Mr. and Mrs. Collins M. Buchanan came to Ply- mouth. Mr. Buchanan had a peculiar fitness for managing hotels. He was well liked by the trav- eling public, and would go to a great deal of
trouble to accommodate them in any way. His first venture was in Plymouth, and from there he went to Campton and kept a hotel, and at a later period he kept a hotel in Laconia; at the same time he and his step-son, Freeman C. Willis, operated a hotel in North Woodstock, and at the time of his death he was running a hotel in Manchester. Mr. Buchanan was a strong Dem- ocrat, and served as under-sheriff of Grafton Co. for several years. He was a member of the I. O. O. F.
His widow, Mrs. Sarah G. Buchanan, resides in Plymouth, on Russell Street.
FRANK C. CALLEY, a glove manufacturer of Plymouth, is the son of Chase W. Calley and grandson of David Calley, who came from Stratham to New Hampton. He did not make a long stay at that town, but moved on to Hold- erness, and spent the most of his days there, dying at the age of seventy. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits throughout his life. He married Martha Marsten of New Hampton; she finished her earthly pilgrimage at the age of seventy-eight. Their children were: Elmira (Cox); Nathaniel; Marsten; David; John M .; Elizabeth; Chase W .; Joseph; and Martha.
Chase W. Calley was born in the town of Hold- erness, Aug. 13, 1823. He received his educa- tion in the schools of Holderness and Plymouth. He was engaged in farming with his father, until he was twenty-one, when he went into the glove business in partnership with J. C. Draper. At the end of two years they dissolved partnership, Mr. Calley assuming control of the entire con- cern. During war time Mr. Calley did as much as $40,000 worth of business in one year. He has continued in the same business from the start with the exception of three years spent in doing contract work for the railroad. He built a tannery on Mill Street, in 1847, and is still using the same building for tanning purposes. He is a strong Republican. He belongs to Olive Branch Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M .; and. Pemigewasset Chapter, No. 13.
He was married, in 1856, to Mary, daughter of Louis Keyes of Rumney. She passed away Sept. 30, 1890, aged fifty-six, leaving three chil-
CLINTON B. SIMPSON.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
dren, all boys: Frank C., the subject of this sketch; Epes J., special agent of the London As- surance Corporation, with headquarters in Chi- cago, Ill .; and Clarence W., now residing in Boston.
Frank C. Calley was born in Plymouth, Sept. 7, 1859. He received his education in his native town. Frank was employed with his father in the glove business until he was twenty-one. He then went to work in the Rollins Factory, and worked there twelve years, and in 1888 he began the manufacturing of gloves himself. His fac- tory is in the Wiggin's Block on Main Street. He has made a reputation for keen business sagacity and fertility of resource.
In 1889 he was married to Alice M., daughter of Charles Bartlett of Bethlehem. He is a mem- ber of the Plymouth Lodge, No. 66, I. O. O. F. He is a strong Republican, and is now filling out his second term as the town treasurer.
CLINTON B. SIMPSON, proprietor of one of the largest and most extensive general stores between Plymouth and Woodsville, is located in West Rumney. He was born July 10, 1840, and is a son of Hugh B. and Sarah A. (Edmunds) Simpson, and a grandson of Samuel and Sarah (Simpson) Simpson.
Samuel Simpson was born in Greenland, N. H., July 13, 1779, and married Sarah Simpson, who was born April 25, 1782, and died Feb. 7, 1880, in her ninety-ninth year. About the year 1812 they came to West Rumney among the very first settlers: our subject's grandfather cleared about 100 acres, where B. H. Merrill now lives, and built a log-cabin, later replacing it with a frame dwelling. He owned a farm in later years in Groton, also. He was the first in this part of the State to raise mules and sell them in Ports- mouth in the winter; it proved a very profitable business for him, and he was soon imitated. His children were: Hugh B., Benjamin, Samuel, David, Albert M., John, Ulysses, and James M.
Hugh B. Simpson was born in Rumney, July 21, 1805, and left the parental roof when a young man, and went to Massachusetts, engaged in clerking in stores. He married there, in 1836, Sarah A., daughter of John and Mary (Murrey)
Edmunds. She was born Dec. 1, 1811, and de- parted this life Aug. 3, 1882. Her children were: Clinton B., Charles E., and Mary C. After his marriage Hugh B. Simpson came home and cared for his parents. His father having died, he bought the hotel at West Rumney, and car- ried on hotel business in connection with his farming for the remainder of his life. He put in a small stock of goods, and carried on trade in a small way, until 1861, when he sold out to our subject. He was a Democrat, and served as se- lectman and as representative from the town of Rumney ; also served as postmaster under Presi- dent Buchanan.
Clinton B. Simpson received a public school education in his native town, and assisted his father in the store until 1861, when he bought the stock of goods and conducted the store alone. He was burned out in 1891, on November 22; but in twenty-four hours he had procured an- other stock and reopened his store in a small building situated near by. In the same year he began to build a new store, and it is a fine struc- ture for the purpose; it is 30x40, with an addi- tion 28x18, and two stories high. Our subject keeps the most selected, as well as an extremely large and diversified stock of everything custom- ary to be met in a country store. In connection with this he bought the Robert Morse place, and has been at great pains to beautify and enlarge it; he also owns large wood lots in the town of Dorchester and Groton. He is a Democrat in his political affiliations. He has been selectman in the town for seven years, and filled the posi- tion of postmaster under Cleveland's first ad- ministration and was again appointed by Harri- son December, 1893. He is also notary public and justice of the peace, overseer of the poor, and funeral director. He is a member of the Mooselanck Lodge, F. & A. M., of Wentworth, N. H.
In 1862 he was joined in the holy bond of mat- rimony with Elvira, daughter of Timothy P. Smith; she died in 1880, at the age of thirty-nine. She bore our subject the following children: Edward H. married Bertha E. Merrill and is a typewriter at Charlestown, Mass .; Charles A. married Flora E. Smith, and is station agent at Scott Junction; there is one child, Paul 12; Car- rie M. is at home: also Arthur E. is at home. Mr. Simpson married as his second wife Augusta
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
L., daughter of Daniel D. and Mary E. Valentine of Yonkers, N. Y. Mr. Valentine is the presi- dent of the Mrs. G. B. Miller's Tobacco House of New York City. His wife was born in Rumney, and is a daughter of John and Sarah Smart. Mrs. Valentine died at the age of thirty- six, leaving these children: Charles L .; Augusta L., our subject's wife; Lizzie I .; Daniel L .; and Edwin V.
Mr. Simpson has had by his second wife the following children: Edith M., Clinton V., and Hattie E.
As one of the county's representative men, we place the portrait of Mr. Simpson in this volume.
GEORGE E. CUMMINGS, superintendent of the White Mountain Division of the Boston & Maine R. R., is the son of George S. Cum- mings, who was born in New Hampton, N. H., in 1829, and there reared and given an educa- tion. At the age of twenty-one he began rail- roading, and kept at it for fifteen years. He came to Woodsville on the advent of the railroad to that place and was a resident of that village the rest of his days. He was the founder of the firm of C. B. Drake & Co., the large drug firm of Woodsville, and retained his interest until 1890. He was a successful business man, and most highly honored and respected by those with whom he came in contact. He married Marietta Vin- ton of Greenfield, Vt. She died at the age of thirty-four, leaving three sons: George E., Charles L., and Wesley B. His second wife was Mary Harrington of Littleton, N. H. She lives at present in Woodsville, and has one daugh- ter, Mary (Noble). George S. Cummings de- parted this life in 1894.
George E. Cummings, the subject of this notice, was born in Rumney, N. H., Oct. IO, 1853. His parents moved to Woodsville, while our subject was an infant, and there he received his education. At the age of fourteen he began to face the stern realities of life. He cast in his lot with the railroad interests, commencing as an engine cleaner. He worked about the engine house until 1870, when he was put on a freight train as brakeman. His steady, conscientious work entitled him to the notice of his superiors,
and his rise to his present position of division superintendent has been gradual but sure. From brakeman he became a baggageman, and then he was transferred to the passenger service.
In 1884 he was made wood agent of the Bos- ton, Concord & Montreal R. R. He remained in active service with the road when it was leased to the Boston & Lowell Co., being stationed at Concord for four years as transfer agent. He then came back to Woodsville as train master, promoted a little later to assistant superintend- ent, and since 1892 has been superintendent of the Northern Division of the Concord & Mon- treal R. R. Upon the transfer of that road to the Boston & Maine R. R., he still held his position. His division is now called the White Mountain Division of the B. & M. Mr. Cummings has well merited his present post of responsibility and trust, for he has been in all lines of service from the lowest up. His native energy and progres- sive nature are seen to their full advantage in his gradual climb to success. He is pleasant and agreeable in his manners, and considerate of those who are under his orders, and in turn is well liked by them.
He was joined in wedlock, in 1883, with Liz- zie P., daughter of Edwin P. Fisher of Boston. They have one child, Helen M., as the fruit of this marriage. Politically Mr. Cummings is a firm Democrat, and is fearless in his opinions of the issues of the day. His father was one of the promoters of the Woodsville Electric Light plant, and was a director of the same until his death. Since that time our subject has succeeded to his father's position as director, and is now the efficient superintendent of the same.
GEORGE A. GOODHUE, the merchant tailor of Plymouth, N. H., is the son of George F. Goodhue, and grandson of Adoniram Good- hue, who was a carpenter at Beverly, Mass., and died there at the age of eighty-two. He reared a family of five children, four boys and one girl.
George F. Goodhue was a shoemaker by trade, and worked at the same at Beverly until his death at the age of thirty-two. He married Adalina, daughter of Horace P. Brown of Bev-
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
erly, Mass. She was taken to her home beyond the skies when thirty-two years old, leaving one child, the subject of this sketch.
George Albert Goodhue was born June 13, 1860, in Beverly, Mass. On the death of his parents, his grandmother Brown gave him a home and a mother's care; he remained with her until her death in 1878. He received his educa- tion in Beverly, Mass., and also in Hanover, N. H. After his grandmother's death he went to Newburyport to learn the tailor's trade, finishing his apprenticeship in Plymouth, where he served his last year.
In 1890 he launched out in business for him- self, setting up a tailoring establishment at Ash- land, N. H., where he remained eighteen months. From Ashland he returned to Plymouth and lo- cated in the Wiggin's Block, where he still keeps his shop.
Mr. Goodhue was married in 1890 to Lucy A., daughter of John and Susan Clement of Leb- anon, N. H. Their children are: Claude C .; and the twins, Hazel Adaline and John Leslie.
Mr. Goodhue is a firm believer in Republican doctrines. He is a supporter of the Baptist Church. He holds a membership in the Ply- mouth Lodge, No. 66, I. O. O. F .; and has been the treasurer for the same during the past two years.
HON. JAMES ROBIE, agent of the Ameri- can Express Co., at Plymouth, is the son of Samuel Robie, and grandson of James Robie.
James Robie, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Durham, N. H., and was an carly settler of Meredith, N. H., where he car- ried on farming and reared his family. He was united in marriage to Ann Boynton. Mr. Robie (lied at the age of forty; his wife survived him many years, and was finally called home to her well-earned rest at the age of ciglity-two. They were the parents of seven children: Samuel; Thomas: James, who died in youth; Nancy; Polly: Sally (Boynton); Phoebe (Roberts).
Samuel Robie was born in Meredith and was educated in the same town. He lived on the farm, engaged in agricultural pursuits until the death of his parents, when he sold the property and bought a farm in New Hampton, making
that place his home for the remainder of his life. He married Eunice, daughter of Joseph Roberts of Meredith. She died at the age of seventy-six; Mr. Robie passed away at the age of fifty-threc. They brought up to maturity a family of six chil- dren: Susan E. (Pike); Mary (Strong); Nancy (Wilkinson); James; Thomas; and William R. Mr. and Mrs. Robie in church matters favored the Free Will Baptist. Samuel Robie was an up- holder of Democratic doctrines. He was a great reader and always well posted, but not an active political worker.
James Robie, the subject of this sketch, was born in New Hampton, Oct. 25, 1828. There he spent his boyhood days and obtained his school- ing. At the age of sixteen he struck out for him- self, working at first in a tool factory of Frank- lin, but he did not like the work, so he secured a job in a cotton factory as second hand in the weavers' room. His wages were forty-one cents per day, and he had to pay $1.25 per week for board. He worked at this trade during 1847 and 1848.
When the railroad was finished to New Hamp- ton, he was the first agent at that point; and as the road was extended he became the agent at Ashland and then at Plymouth. He remained in the employ of the company twenty years in vari- ous capacities; seven years of this time he was passenger agent at Concord.
In 1868 he entered the service of the Ameri- can Express Co., and was a messenger for ten years. In 1878 he was appointed express agent at Plymouth, a situation he still retains.
Mr. Robie was married, March To, 1850, to Ella A., daughter of James Hines of Laconia. She died at the age of twenty-seven, leaving one daughter: Laura (Fay). Mr. Robie married, in 1857, as his second wife Caroline, daughter of Asa F. Merrill of Holderness. She departed this life at the age of twenty-three, and left one son: James M. Tune 10, 1863, Mr. Robie was again joined in the bonds of marriage, the bride being Frances A., daughter of Samuel Jameson of Melbourne, Canada, East. Their children are: Ada F. (Russell); Albert S .: and Howard T. The family are attendants of the Episcopal Church.
Mr. Robie is a Democrat. In 1889 he was urged to accept the nomination as representative to the Legislature, and was elected. During his term in the Legislature he succeeded in secur-
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES, GRAFTON COUNTY.
ing appropriations for the new Court House, and also for the State Normal School buildings, which are located in Plymouth. Mr. Robie worked quietly but effectively, and the result was a great victory for Plymouth. He is now rewarded for his labors by the sight of the new, well-equipped school buildings and the substantial Court House that adorn the beautiful village of Ply- mouth. He has served as one of the trustees of the Holderness school for several years, and is the present incumbent.
HON. GILBERT M. SULLOWAY, de- ceased. Among the prominent citizens of the town of Grafton, who have passed away in recent years, and whose memory and works are still very present, there has been no one that has left so great a void in the life of the town than the hon- orable gentleman whose name heads this notice. He died Nov. 28, 1896, just a few short weeks after he had been elected a representative to the State Legislature. His death was much lamented by a very wide circle of friends, for he was very popular and well liked among all his associates, and valued friendship at its true worth as one of the blessings of life. He is a descendant of one of the oldest and foremost families in the town. He was born in the house which remained his home throughout his whole life. The grand- father settled on Razor Hill in 1812. He married Rhoda Hoyt, whose father was a lieutenant in the Revolutionary War.
Greely Sulloway settled on the farm at Wild Meadows, Oct. 6, 1830, purchasing a tract that included in its extent an open meadow, sup- posed to have been deprived of its timber by the beavers, or perhaps by the hand of the red men; because of this absence of timber it was esteemed a very choice piece of land in those days.
Greely Sulloway, Jr., married Betsy L. Smith, a daughter of James T. and Rachel (Hoyt) Smith; the former a.son of Peter and Molly (Taylor) Smith. To our subject's parents were born four children: Hon. Cyrus A., the well- known attorney of Manchester, N. H., now rep- resenting his district in the United States Con- gress, having previously served as representative in the State Legislature; Sarah E., who is living
on the old homestead with our subject's widow; a child, James G., who died in infancy; and Gil- bert M., the subject of this sketch.
Gilbert M. Sulloway was born Jan. 26, 1853, reared in the town of Grafton, and attended its district schools until the age of twenty. From the days of his youth he made farming his study and vocation, and was counted as one of the most successful and practical farmers in his part of the country. He has always taken a lively in- terest in politics, and was a leader in his town. He served as moderator, supervisor, and select- man, and was also a member of the school board, and was justice of the peace several years. His last elevation to office we have already referred to at the beginning of this sketch, and it was par- ticularly unfortunate for the town of Grafton that he was not spared to advance its interests in the legislative halls of Concord.
Mr. Sulloway was married April 5, 1876, to Charlotte A. Shaw, daughter of Frederick C. and Sarah (Shaw) Shaw. Sarah Shaw was a daugh- ter of David and Sarah (Morrell) Shaw, the for- mer a son of John Shaw. Frederick Shaw was the son of Diamond and Rachael (Dresser) Shaw. The former a son of Benjamin Shaw, and the latter a daughter of John Dresser. To our subject and wife eleven children were born, namely: Frederick Greely; Cleora B .; Walter B .: Marion W .: Helen M .; Avery I .; Cyrus A. and Sarah E., twins; Harriett J .: Gilbert W .; and Winifred L. The family attend the Universalist Church. Mr. Sulloway was a leading member of the Eureka Grange, No. 69, of Grafton Center.
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