USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire > Part 71
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When a young man Jonathan Emerson left the homestead at Weare and moved to Grantham, N. H., where he leased a farm and entered upon a successful career as a farmer, being soon able to own a farm of his own and to lay up consider- able wealth. After a number of years in Grant- ham he sold his farm and followed the business of milling for several years at Bradford, N. H., going from there to Newbury and buying a farm. By this time he was in the possession of a comfortable fortune, and thereafter he made the practice of buying farms, occupying them a few years, while making improvements on them, and then selling them at an advanced value, in- variably realizing a good amount of money by these speculations. His field of operations was quite extended, including New London and many other places in that vicinity; he finally came to Lebanon and settled down for good, buying a pleasant home on Mascoma Street; but very soon receiving a good offer for the prop- erty, he disposed of it and bought land in New- port, where he was bereaved of the cheering presence of his wife, who died at the age of seventy-nine. He then sold his Newport prop- erty and came to Lebanon, dying in that town in his eightieth year. He was a Democrat and very liberal in his religious views. He reared a large family, all of whom grew up to maturity and made happy marriages; they were as follows: Hiram, Susan, Jonathan, Arvilla; James, who was distinguished as an inventor; Moses, Albro V., Cyrus, and Lucinda and Lucina, twins.
Albro V. Emerson was born in Sutton, N. H., and after finishing an education, which was very limited, he went to Newport, N. H., and served an apprenticeship to the trade and business which he made his life-work, that of making edge tools. In 1856 he came to the town of Lebanon and bought of Leonard Stearns the scythe fac- tory at Scytheville and carried on his chosen business under the firm name of A. V. Emerson & Co., which after two years was changed to Emerson & Cummings, running under that style two years, when Mr. Emerson sold his in-
terest to his partner and accepted a position as forenian of the J. Cummings & Co., manufac- turers, who sold to Phillips, Messer & Colby, who ran it about one year when Mr. A. V. Emer- son bought back the plant and operated it for a year, when the firm became Emerson & Kendall for two years, Mr. Kendall being succeeded then by M. W. Emerson, the firm being known as Emerson & Co. for three years. The Emersons then sold the plant to Cummings & Purport, who ran it under the style of the Mascoma Edge Tool Co.
In 1871 A. V. Emerson, our subject's father, went to Littleton and started a similar factory, and then went to Holyoke, Mass., where he was engaged with his brother in testing water wheels. In 1873 he went to Taftsville, Vt., where the Emerson Edge Tool Co. was organized and run nine years, the members of the company being A. V. Emerson, Enos Dole, and A. G. Dewey. In 1882 Mr. Emerson came to East Lebanon and ran the same business alone under the title of the Emerson Edge Tool Co., using the old slate factory, which he remodeled and adapted to his wants. He made a specialty of the Emerson Standard Scythe, Emerson Corrugated Scythe, and Diamond Axes. He was born in 1827 and died in 1893; his wife was born in the same year, and preceded him to the regions promised to those of blameless life, one year. She was a daughter of Silas Kempton. The following chil- dren were born to our subject's parents: Mary A .; L. Isabel; Frank V .; Helen J .; and Elmer E. Our subject's father was a Democrat in his politi- cal antecedents, Baptist in regard to his religious preference, and socially a member of Franklin Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 6.
Frank V. Emerson graduated from New Hampshire College of Agriculture and Me- chanics' Arts in 1875, and was a clerk for his father until the latter's death; since then he and his sisters have composed the firm, and Mr. Emerson has complete management of the con- cern. He manufactures 4,500 dozen scythes and 600 dozen axes per year. The superior quality and finish of their goods has gained for them a wide reputation, extending not only throughout New England, but also through the Central and Western States. Our subject bought the hand- some Cushion homestead at East Lebanon, which he has fitted up in first-class shape, remod-
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eling it where necessary and putting in modern conveniences. The house was built over 100 years ago by Col. Payne, and has grand, wide halls and fire-places, as they used to have in the houses of the better class during Colonial times; it was a castle in its day against the incursions of the Indians. It is situated on a rise of ground which affords a beautiful view of the mountain ranges, Mascoma Lake, and the Shaker Village. Mr. Emerson also owns several tenements and other property of a landed nature. He is a Democrat politically and loyally supports the choice of his party. He is a Baptist in regard to his views on religious subjects. He is a mem- ber of Franklin Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 6; and St. Andrews Chapter, R. A. M.
Mr. Emerson married Mary L. Baker, daugh- ter of Lewis Baker of Fort Ann, Washington Co., N. Y. She was taken from her husband and two little children at the age of forty-one. Stod- dard B. was born March 1, 1880; and Isabel K. was born May 10, 1884.
CHARLES R. GIBSON, M. D., a practicing physician of Woodsville, N. H., and president of the Woodsville Loan and Banking Co., is a son of Reuel Gibson, and grandson of Arrington Gibson, who made his home chiefly in London- derry, Vt. Arrington Gibson and his wife were stanch patriots of the War of 1812; Arrington served in the army, and his wife molded bullets for the use of the soldiers. This loyal woman was named Betsy Cochran. Her death was caused by an injury she received from a fall from a sled while going home from church. She was forty-five years of age at the time of her death. Their son, Reuel Gibson, was born in London- derry, Vt., in 1811. He was brought up on the farm, and educated to the life of a tiller of the soil. He married Emily, daughter of Benjamin Barnard of Peru, Vt. She died at the age of sixty; Mr. Gibson is now living in Londonderry, Vt. Five children were born to them: Francis M., now in Lincoln, 'Neb .; Albert, residing in Weeping Water, Neb .: Cyrus IT., died at the age of twenty-two; Dr. Charles R., the subject of this sketch; Benjamin A., living in Denver, Col.
Dr. Charles R. Gibson was born in Allstead, N. H., May 12, 1853. The district schools fur-
nished hint a good knowledge of the common branches as a foundation upon which to build the elaborate superstructure of a professional education. Having taken advanced work in the Academy of New Ipswich, N. H., he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. S. T. Smith, at Allstead. He then entered Bowdoin College, and prosecuted his studies in the healing art, graduating from the Medical Department with the Class of '75. He had also taken advanced work with the College of Physicians and Sur- geons in New York, and became a graduate of that institution as a member of the Class of '75. The ensuing eighteen months were spent with much profit and valuable experience in the Maine General Hospital at Portland, finally locating in the fall of in 1877 Woodsville, where he has practiced since. He has been a constant student, and has obtained a deep insight into the intricacies of his chosen profession; and at the same time his excellent principles and obliging and genial disposition, with his care in the treatment of all cases en- trusted to him, have been the means of building up a large and successful practice.
In '1880 he was married to Jennie, daughter of W. R. Park of Plymouth, N. H. Dr. Gibson is a member of the Moosehillock Lodge, No. 25, I. O. O. F. In politics he is a strong Republi- can, and loses no chance to support its principles. He is a director of the Woodsville Savings Bank, and has served as president of the Woods- ville Loan & Banking Co. since 1874.
JOEL READ, a leading farmer of Plymouth, is the son of Edwin R. Reed, who was born in Nashua, N. H., at what was then known as Readville. He left home at the early age of seven, and began to support himself. He learned the trade of a tanner, and worked at it during his younger years, but the most of his life was spent on the farm engaged in the pursuit of agri- culture. He owned a farm in Dorchester and made it his home for several years; the latter years of his life were passed on his farm in Ply- mouth. He married Lucy S. Tarr of Nashua, N. HI. He died at the age of sixty-three, leaving his wife and six children: Henry, Albert, Joel, Mil- ton, Ellen (Weeks); Minnie (Brown). Mr. Read
CLARENCE A. SMITH.
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was a Democrat and served as selectman of the town of Dorchester for seven years. The Read family were regular attendants of the Universal- ist Church.
Joel Read was born June 14, 1851, in Nashua. He remained on the homestead with his parents till he became of age. Mr. Read carried on his farming operations in Dorchester until 1882, when he purchased his present farm of 210 acres in Plymouth, and has since been a resident of Plymouth. He has eighty-five acres of his farm under cultivation. There is also a back lot of about 200 acres which he uses for pasturing pur- poses. His farm is nicely located in the Pemige- wasset River Valley, about two miles from Ply- mouth Village.
Mr. Read was united in marriage, in Jan. 21, 1872, to Martha, daughter of Lucian Follansbee of Dorchester. They have one son, Will W. They favor the Universalist Church. Mr. Read is a member of the flourishing Plymouth Grange, No. 239.
CLARENCE A. SMITH, deputy sheriff of Bristol, and the leading blacksmith of the town, was born in the town of Orange, this county, Feb. 18, 1861, and is a son of Richard R. and Sarah E. (Eastman) Smith.
Asa Smith, the great-grandfather of our sub- ject, was a shoemaker by trade, and was born in Warren, N. H., June 6, 1776; he carried on his trade in connection with farming all his life. He married Susan Webber of Rumney, N. H., and they were blessed with the birth of the following children: Sherburne, Hannah, Susan, Tamalı, Rachel, Abigail, Lucy, Richard R., Kimball, and Jonathan. They were Baptists in their religious perferences.
Richard R. Smith, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was born April 14, 1807, in Rumney, N. H., and was a farmer, and followed that occupation in the town of Orange all of his life. He mar- ried Mary Colburn, daughter of Samuel and Sybil Colburn of Dedham, Mass., and from this union there were nine children. The eldest, Susan W., born Sept. 1, 1834, married Edmond W. Locke, now deceased, of Alexandria, whose sketch appears in full elsewhere in this book; Richard R. was born April 3, 1837; Henry P.
was born Feb. 28, 1839: Mary C., born March 2, 1841, married Joseph Eastman of Orange, N. H., and has two children, Willie R. and Cora M .; Daniel J. married Sarah Howard of Erie, Penn., and has two children, Ora and Bertha; Julia A. married Jacob Ferrin of Groton, N. H., and has three children, Nellie A., Walter S., and Lizzie M .; John M. married Ida Hazelton of Hebron, and has one child, Ellen; Samuel C. married Maria Whitford of Waterbury, Penn., and has two children, Richard and Betsey; George M. married Ida Gifford of Waterbury, Penn., and has one child, Eva. Mrs. Smith, the mother of the foregoing children, died Nov. 21, 1863, and Mr. Smith then formed a second matrimonial alliance with Diantha R. Smith, who bore him two children: Willie M. and Harvey. Willie M. married Christina Kenney of Bristol, N. H. Harvey married Clara Hazelton of Groton, N. H. They favored the Congregational Church. Mr. Smith died March 17, 1881, and his second wife May 17, 1891.
Richard R. Smith was educated in the district schools of Orange, N. H., and upon completing his education and until he was twenty-three years of age drove an ox team, hauling ship spars, which were shipped to Boston, Mass. He then engaged with the Northern Railroad, and later with the Boston & Lowell, and with the Boston & Maine; he commenced as a section hand and gradually worked his way to the position he now holds, that of road master of the B. & M. R. R., which he has held since 1879. Politically he is a Republican, and in 1896 was elected to repre- sent the town of Canaan, N. H., in the legisla- tive halls of Concord. In 1858 he was joined in marriage with Sarah E. Eastman, daughter of Joseph Eastman of Orange, N. H. To our sub- ject's parents have been born two children: Sid- ney R. married Cora B. Smith of Canaan, N. H., and has one child, Herman S .; Clarence A., the eldest child, is the subject of this sketch. They also adopted a daughter, Ola M., who married Albert IT. Wilson of Canaan, N. H., and has one son, John R. They are attendants of the Free Will Baptist Church.
Clarence A. Smith first undertook to cope with the stern realities of life as a member of the iron gang on the Northern Railroad, and worked two years in that heavy work. He then learned the blacksmith's trade of J. D. Webber of Canaan,
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N. H., and in 1880 moved to Bristol, where he engaged with Anson Buckston a short time, and in 1881 purchased a shop, which he now owns and occupies, and has since carried on a thriving business; he also owns and conducts a shop at the lower end of Bristol Village, and employs as many as four men the most of the time. Politi- cally he is a stanch Republican, and has been a member of the board of health seventeen years, has served as selectman one year, as the local police several years, and has been deputy sheriff since 1894.
In 1884 he was joined in marriage with Linnie M. Griffith, daughter of Henry Griffith of Bris- tol, N. H. Their union has resulted in the birth of one child, Roy R., born Oct. 24, 1884, who represents the fifth generation of the family on the mother's side, descending from the Locke family, among the first settlers of Bristol. Our subject's portrait appears in connection with this sketch on a preceding page ..
GASPER POLICE, the leading fruit dealer of Plymouth, N. H., was born in the sunny land of Italy, April 20, 1856. In 1882 he left his native land to seek his fortune in the New World, locating at first in Concord, N. H., where he worked nine months with his brother, becom- ing accustomed to American customs of life. He then made a short visit to his old home, and on his return to the United States entered the fruit business in Pittsfield, N. H. His venture prov- ing very profitable, and realizing the advantage of a life-partner in his work, he again made a visit to Italy, and married Moruzzia Guiditta.
Ilaving returned to this country with his wife, he opened a fruit store in the village of Plymouth in August, 1890; he is now doing a large whole- sale as well as retail business. His trade has been constantly increasing, and he now has a branch store in Berlin, N. H. His stores are well stocked with a full line of the best fruits. He occupies a corner store in a brick block cen- trally located on Main Street. Mr. Police's suc- cess has been due to his careful business habits and to his energetic and untiring efforts to give satisfaction to everybody. Mr. and Mrs. Police have been blessed with one child, Wentto Police, who was born June 24, 1891.
AMASA WALKER AVERY, a jeweler of Plymouth, N. H., is the son of Ezra W. Avery, and grandson of David H. Avery. David H. Avery was born in the lower part of the State, but early in life went to Rumney, and there en- gaged in farming. He remained in Rumney until about 1840, when he removed to Campton, in a part of the town that was later set off in the town of Plymouth, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1852, when he was aged eighty-seven years. He married Susannah Wil- lic; she died at the age of eighty-nine, leaving · the following children: Samuel, Elias, Lois, Susan, and Ezra.
Ezra Avery was born in Rumney. He learned the trade of tanner and shoemaker, and operated a tannery in Campton Hollow for a time. He then opened up a shoe store in Plymouth, and continued in the business several years. After this he returned to Campton and was employed in a store there for a time. He then went back to the old homestead, and cared for his parents till their death; he was cultivating the farm at this time. In 1861 he moved to Plymouth, where he died at the age of seventy-nine. He married Ruth Bueknam of West Cambridge, Mass., who lived to the age of seventy-two, when she was stricken down. Their children were: Adalina A. (Smith), Arthur A., George A., and Amasa Walker. Arthur and George died in infancy. Ezra Avery was an old line Whig, afterwards be- coming a Democrat.
Amasa Walker Avery was born in Campton, Sept. 10, 1836. He received his education in the schools of Campton, Rumney, and Plymouth; at the age of twenty-one he began to work at glove cutting. The first year he obtained $18 for a month's work; upon his demand for $26.00 a month for the second year he was refused, and so he returned to the farm, preferring farm labor than glove-cutting at $18.00 a month. After he had been back on the farm a year he was offered a chance to take up his former occupation of glove-cutting at the salary he had demanded. He worked at this until 1861, when he went to Philadelphia and worked in the Armory there for a year or more. Upon his return to Ply- mouth he started in the glove business for him- self, and followed it until 1885. In that year he bought the late L. C. Hull's jewelry stock, and has since been engaged in the jewelry business;
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he occupies a store in the Kidder Block on Main Street, and carries a line of books and stationery in addition to his jewelry stock.
Mr. Avery is an unyielding Democrat. He is a member of the Plymouth Lodge, No. 66, 1. O. O. F., and is the permanent secretary of the same.
He was married, in 1865, to Martha, daughter of James Bump of Campton, N. H. She died at the age of twenty-seven, and left one child: Alberta R. (Drew). Mr. Avery married again in 1873, Ida B., daughter of Walter H. Sawyer of Woodstock, being his present wife. They have two children: Lena B., born in 1874; and E. Walter, born in 1883.
JOHN H. MUDGETT, a retired carpenter of Plymouth, N. H., is the son of Jessie Mudgett, grandson of John Mudgett, and great-grandson of Joseph Mudgett.
It is thought that Joseph Mudgett lived most of his days in Brentwood, N. H., for there is where he reared his family of three boys and five girls. He passed his years on the farm. His son John was born in Fremont, N. H., where he was engaged in farming all his life. He married Mary Clifford; they had a family of six children: Samuel: Joseph: John, Jr .: Jessie; Abigail; and Hannah (Mrs. Thomas Tukesbury).
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Jesse Mudgett, the youngest son of John Mudgett, was born in 1802, in Fremont. He attended the district schools, and there received his education. At the age of sixteen he began to serve his apprenticeship as a carpenter. After serving his full time he went to Holderness, bought a small farm, and made it his home throughout the remainder of his life, working most of the time at his trade. He was united in marriage to Ruth, daughter of Moody Carr of Fremont. Moody Carr was a direct descendant of George Carr, a shipbuilder, who lived in Ips- wich, Mass., in 1630. Seven children were born into the family: Rhoda C .: John H., the subject of this sketch; Mary C. (Huckins); Moody C .: Elizabeth G. (McDonald): Abbie A .; and James C. Jesse Mudgett passed away Dec. 11, 1879: his wife departed this life July 7, 1877, aged seventy-eight. Mr. Mudgett was a Whig during
the life of that party, and became, upon its de- cease, a Republican. He represented the town twice in the State Legislature; yet he was not an office-seeker; he only served at the solicitation of his party, and from a desire to do his duty.
John H. Mudgett, the subject of this sketch, was born in Holderness, Feb. 16, 1829. His education was obtained in the district schools of Holderness, in Holmes Academy, in Plymouth, and in Tilton Academy. He began to teach school at the age of eighteen, teaching five win- ter seasons, and spending the summers assisting his father. He served his apprenticeship as a carpenter with his father, and followed the trade all his life. Until 1869 he lived on a small farm in Holderness; in that year he came to Ply- mouth, where he lives now.
Mr. Mudgett was married, in 1860, to Mary E., daughter of Peter Walker of Campton, N. H. They have two daughters: Caroline W. and Mary L. The family are attendants of the M. E. Church. Mr. Mudgett is a strong Republican, and represented Plymouth in the State Legisla- ture during the years 1885 and 1886.
FRED G. WEEKS, D. D. S., is a skillful young dentist of Woodsville, and is centrally located in a finely furnished suite of rooms in the Opera House Block, having the corner rooms, Nos. IT and 12. In his short experience in the profession, he has secured a large practice, and competes successfully with older practitioners.
Our subject is a son of James II. and Louisa A. (Weeks) Weeks, and a grandson of John and Mehitabel (Holmes) Weeks. John Weeks was born in the vicinity of Portland, Me., and was an early settler of Chatham, N. II., where he lived the calm and undisturbed life of a farmer. ITis wife died at the age of seventy-two, and he at the age of sixty-nine. They reared seven children: James H .: Dr. Stephen H .; Dr. Albian; Joseph ; John: Susan (Chase) (IIcad): Lydia (Weeks).
James HI. Weeks was born in 1831, in Chat- ham, N. IL., where he passed a happy youth under the parental roof, obtaining his education in the district school near by. The pursuit of agriculture became his chosen vocation, and he followed it until 1804, when poor health com-
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pelled his retirement from the heavy work and exposure incident to farming ; he then moved to the city of Manchester, where he now lives. He married Louisa A., daughter of Eliphalet Weeks of Chatham, N. H .; she was born in the year 1832. They brought up to maturity three chil- dren, who were as follows: Addie (Bovce), who died at the age of thirty-six; Frank H., who is living in Manchester, N. H .; and Fred G.
Fred G. Weeks, the subject of this sketch, was born in Chatham, N. H., April 23, 1869, and re- ceived his preliminary mental training in the schools of Chatham, taking advanced studies in Fryeburg Academy. The thorough knowledge of his profession was acquired at the Boston Den- tal College, from which he graduated with the Class of 1894. He immediately located in Woodsville, N. H., and entered upon a success- ful struggle for a practice. He is a member of Kane Lodge, No. 64, F. & A. M., of Lisbon, N. H .; also of the I. O. O. F., of Woodsville.
HON. JOHN F. PHILLIPS, a well-to-do farmer and leading citizen of the town of Alex- andria, was born in the above town June 23, 1842, and is a son of Alvah and Ruth (Sleeper) Phillips, the former of Groton and the latter of Alexandria.
John Phillips, the grandfather of our subject, was born March 9, 1760, and it was supposed he was a native of New Hampshire. He was a farmer by occupation, and followed that most independent and healthful of pursuits all his life, the latter part of which was spent in Groton. He served in the Revolutionary War as a drummer boy. In 1783 he married Annie Cummings of Plymouth, N. H. She was born March 11, 1764. Their union was blessed with twelve children, as follows: Annie, born April 28, 1784; Abigail, Dec. 25, 1785: Lewis, Feb. 13, 1788; John S., Dec. 1, 1789; Annie (2nd), Aug. 28, 1791 ; Polly, Aug. 24, 1792; Polly (2nd), July 1, 1795; Katie, July 17, 1798; Henry C., Aug. 18, 1800; Jesse, Feb. 16, 1802; Alvah, Oct. 30, 1803; and Seth, April 22, 1807. Our subject's grandparents, in their religious belief were Free Will Baptists.
Alvah Phillips was educated in the schools of Groton, and became a farmer, living most of his
life in Alexandria, where he lived and died on the first settled farm in that town, departing this life April 21, 1867. He was a stanch Whig dur- ing the life of that party, and upon its dissolution joined the ranks of the Republican party, but would never accept an office of whatever char- acter. He was a very successful man in life, and considered by his neighbors as a very prosperous farmer. Dec. 30, 1830, he was married to Ruth Sleeper, daughter of Peter and Sally (Atwood) Sleeper, native of Alexandria, N. H., and to them was born one child, John F., the subject of this mention. In religious belief they favored the Free Will Baptist Church. Our subject's mother died July 29, 1885.
John F. Phillips was educated in the district schools of Alexandria, N. H., and upon complet- ing his education turned his attention to the pur- suit of agriculture. In 1886 he engaged in gen- eral mercantile business in Alexandria, which he carried on until 1895, when he sold the stock and good-will of his large patronage to his son Will A. Phillips. In politics he is a Democrat, and was selectman six years, collector of taxes two years, member of the school board two years, representative în State Legislature two years, and town treasurer three years, which latter posi- tion he still holds. Socially he belongs to Bris- tol Lodge, No. 46, Knights of Pythias, of Bris- tol, N. H. He is also a Mason, and belongs to Union Lodge, No. 79, of Bristol, N. H .; St. Omer Chapter of Franklin, N. H .; Mt. Horeb Commandery of Concord, N. H .; Alpha Lodge, Perfection, of Nashua, N. H .; and thirty-second degree Edward M. Raymond Consistory.
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