USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Book of biographies. This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Grafton County, New Hampshire > Part 72
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In 1859 he was joined in the bonds of matri- mony with Sarah A. Pattee of Alexandria, daughter of William S. and Betsey (McMurphy) Pattee of the same place, and to our subject and wife have been born eleven children: Alvah B., deceased, born April 21, 1860; Ruth E., de- ceased, Aug. 10, 1861; Henry C., Jan. 19, 1865; Arthur J., deceased, June 16, 1867; Will A., Jan. 3, 1869; Mary F., deceased, Dec. 18, 1870; Levi H., Feb. 4, 1872; James C., deceased, April 20, 1875: and Lou B., Dec. 26, 1876. Mrs. Phillips died Aug. 2, 1881. By our subject's second wife, who was Sarah A. Ferrin, daughter of John Fer- rin of Thornton, N. H., was born one child, Jason F., Nov. 30, 1885, died July, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips are liberal in their views on
HORACE B. STANLEY.
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religious subjects, and are not connected with any church organization.
In 1862 Mr. Phillips enlisted in the United States service, Co. C., 12th Reg. N. H. Vol. Inf., under Col. Jolin A. Potter, and was present at the engagements at Fredericksburg. Chancellors- ville, Gettysburg, and Warping Heights, and was discharged Dec. 23, 1863. He belongs to Nelson Post, No. 40, G. A. R., of Bristol, and holds the office of senior vice-commander.
HORACE B. STANLEY, a resident of En- field, N. H., and manufacturer of the Eclipse Corn Planter, with factory located in the above town, was born in the same place, July 21, 1836. He is a son of Joseph and Hepzibeth (Burnham) Stanley, grandson of Matthew and Mary (Spen- cer) Stanley, and great-grandson of Joseph and Martha (Rogers) Stanley.
Joseph Stanley served in the Revolution and settled in the northwest part of the town of En- field, and followed farming, his last farm being located on Moore Mt. He lived to a very ad- vanced age, as did his wife; they led an upright, exemplary life, being of a religious turn of mind and zealous promoters of their belief, in which work they were able to accomplish much, for they were active, never seeming to tire, and ex- ceptionally fluent and forcible speakers. Their children were: Ruth, Mary, Matthew, Jonathan, and Lavina.
Matthew Stanley settled in Enfield, and after securing a recognition as one of the town's en- terprising citizens, he moved to Strafford, Vt., where he died at the age of thirty-seven; his wife lived to be sixty years old. Their children were: Phineas; Matthias; Abijah; Joseph; John; Daniel; William; and a daughter, who died young.
Our subject's father was born in Enfield, and after serving an apprenticeship as a cabinet- maker worked at his trade as a journeyman until about thirty years of age, when he bought a lot where N. S. Wheeler now lives, and built a house and shop and carried on the cabinet-making bus- iness on his own account. He became an expert in his trade, and took great pride in the elegant finishing of his work, which was almost exchi- sively of the finest grade of furniture, with most
beautiful inlaid work and veneering. The crea- tions of his brain and hand were really works of art, and many articles turned out from his work- shop are treasured by the first families of Enfield and the adjoining towns. He died at the age of seventy-nine; his wife was in her ninety-first year when she was called home to join those gathered on the further shore. She was a daugh- ter of David and Rachel (Choate) Burnham, the former of whom was a ship-builder of Ipswich, Mass., in his younger days, finally moving to Enfield in 1807, and becoming the owner of a large farm, which he cultivated the remainder of the years of his very active life, dying there at the age of ninety-three; his wife preceded him at the age of sixty-six. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Burnham were: Polly, Olive, Hepzi- beth, Eleanor, Fidelia, Cynthia, and Thomas. The following children were born to our sub- ject's parents: Thomas J., who died in youth; Joseph B., who passed away at the age of fifty- four; Elbridge G .; Horace B., the subject of this sketch; Marcia A .; Ellen F .; and Imogene A .; all are living and enjoying good health, except the two noted above.
Horace B. Stanley at about the age of eighteen learned the carpenter's trade, and worked at it a short time, and then entered the bedstead fac- tory at Enfield, where he remained two years, going from there to Fitchburg, Mass., where he was employed in the pattern shop about two years. With his brother, Joseph B., he then went to Concord and learned the jewelry business, re- turning to Enfield, Dec. 5, 1861, and opening a jewelry store, soon working up an extensive and paying trade. He was engaged in this business until Dec. 5, 1895, when he disposed of it to give his whole time and attention to manufacturing corn planters and putting them on the market. In 1886 he bought the patent for the Eclipse Corn Planter and Fertilizer Distributor com- bined, which has proved a model machine, real- izing all the expectations placed in it. Soon after securing the right to it, he began to manufacture and found, when he placed it on the market, that it met with a hearty reception and a ready sale. He has since had calls for it from all parts of the country, and has agents throughout the New England, Central, and Western States, who look after its advancement and sale. The use of this practical corn planter has extended and the de-
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mand has increased year by year, until now he manufactures enormous quantities per year. A single trial of its merits by the progressive agri- culturist has invariably been sufficient to con- vince him of its accurate work, and to make him desirous of owning one. Mr. Stanley not long since purchased the M. E. George residence at the corner of Pleasant and Schools Streets in the village, where he has built a new barn and reconstructed the dwelling according to plans of the most advanced and modern type.
Mr. Stanley married Emeline A. Gates, daugh- ter of Americus and Esther (Huse) Gates, who were natives of the town of Canaan and Enfield respectively. Mr. Gates was a farmer by occu- pation, and quite early in life settled in Man- chester, N. H. Our subject has had one child, Grace L., who married Fred A. Spencer of Bris- tol, and a stockholder and director of the Dodge, Davis & Co., woolen manufacturers; Mr. and Mrs. Spencer have one child, Stanley A. Our subject is a stanch Republican, and a liberal supporter of the Universalist Church. Among the citizens of Enfield he has a reputation of the best for uprightness of character and pushing business enterprise; and it is with pleasure that the publishers of this volume present his portrait on a preceding page.
MAJ. FRANK TIFFT MOFFETT, M. D., deceased, and to the time of his death a resident of Littleton, was born in Littleton, Aug. 6, 1841, and was a son of Alden and Almira (Blood) Moffett, grandson of James Moffett, and great- grandson of William Moffett.
William Moffett, an emigrant from the town of Moffat, in Scotland, settled in Winchendon, Mass., in 1753, and was esteemed by his asso- ciates as an enterprising and patriotic citizen. Hle was a soldier of the Revolution in the Mas- sachusetts service, and saw hard fighting in the struggles of Lexington, Bunker Hill, and Sara- toga, falling in the last-named battle. His son James, after residing for a time in Langdon, N. H., settled at length in Littleton in 1815. His son Alden married Almira Blood, and became the parent of our subject. Alden Moffett was a
prominent man in the town, and was colonel of the 32nd Reg. of N. H. militia. His children were: Alice Maria, Charles, Frank Tifft, David Blood, Sewell Tolman, and Fred. David was a soldier of Capt. Farr's Company D., 13th Reg. N. H. Vol. Inf., in the War for the Union, and died in the service.
Frank Tifft Moffett was educated in the com- mon schools of Littleton, and in the High School at Barnet, Vt. He was an unassuming young man of sturdy physique, and unquestioned char- acter. At the age of twenty-one he entered the Union Army as a private in the 14th Reg. N. H. Vol. Inf., Capt. Hodgdon's Company D. His enlistment was credited to the town of Sea- brook. His tendency toward the medical pro- fession was manifested in the army, as his apti- tude for that work secured him the place of hospital steward. In performing the duties of this position, he laid the foundation for the suc- cess which he afterwards attained as a surgeon. His military service extended from Aug. 15, 1862, to July 8, 1865. He was with Banks on the Red River expedition; also participating in the valley campaign with Sheridan, taking part in the famous battles of that period; he accom- panied his regiment to Savannah, passing Sher- man's command as it emerged from its march to the sea; he was a member of the detachment which met the captors of Jefferson Davis and escorted them to Augusta, Ga., where the ex- President of the Confederacy was placed on board the government transport.
He ever afterwards manifested a lively inter- est in military affairs. He was a charter member of Marshal Sanders Post, G. A. R., organized at Littleton, Oct. 29, 1872, and was its surgeon from that date till the day of his death. He was a delegate to the State Encampment in 1886, and in 1894, though he was probably not in at- tendance on the latter date. He accompanied the department delegation to the general encamp- ment in Boston, in 1890, and to Washington in 1892. He was influential in the organization of the Moore Rifles in Littleton, which became a company in the 3rd Reg. of the New Hampshire National Guard. He was assistant surgeon of this regiment from July 1, 1884, to May 22, 1889, with the rank of captain, and surgeon from the latter date to May 24, 1894, with the rank of major. He was punctual and useful in the per-
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formance of all the duties, which pertained to these muhtary and sem-military positions.
He was a companionable man, with strong social characteristics. These naturally brought him into relation with the more important social organizations.
Dr. Moffett's active connection with Free Masonry began in 1873, when he received the degrees in Burns Lodge: entered Apprentice, August 7; Fellowcraft, September 4; and Master Mason, October 25. He received the chapter degrees at Lisbon, April 25, 1878, and those of Omega Council at Littleton, Jan. 10, 1881. He received all the orders of knighthood in St. Gerard Commandery, May 28, 1880. The vari- ous degrees of the Scottish Rite were conferred upon him at Littleton, Aug. 22, 1894. The pres- sure of professional duty prevented his accept- ance of official positions in these organizations, and yet but few men maintained a deeper interest and more punctual attendance than did Dr. Mof- fett. Ile also became a member of Lafayette Lodge of Odd Fellows in Littleton, June 25, 1884.
The study of medicine was commenced under Dr. C. M. Tuttle in Littleton, in 1867; he at- tended three courses of medical lectures, and graduated from the Harvard Medical College in 1870. He located for the practice of his profes- sion at Littleton, in 1871, and prosecuted his work with distinguished success in Littleton, and in a large part of the surrounding country. His devotion to his practice was practically uninter- rupted, with the exception of a trip to Bermuda, taken in 1875, on account of the impairment of his health. While his attention was usually oc- cupied with calls at his office and about his home, he loved the lonely night rides among the moun- tains and valleys over long distances and in all scasons to relieve the sick, and all in the need of medical attendance. Ile received a large pro- portion of the professional calls from the towns along the line of railway to the White Mountain Notch. He will be long remembered by the Signal Service as the physician, who ascended Mt. Washington in mid-winter, in 1872, and took charge of the remains of the first member of the corps, who died at the Summit Station.
With his associates of the regular school hic was a member of the White Mountain Medical Society. Ile was also a member of the State
Society, and one of its delegates to the Ameri- can Medical Society at Baltimore in 1883. Hc then became a member of that organization, One after another the local contemporaries of his early practice had passed away, until he was the senior of the resident practitioners of the allopathic school in Littleton.
He has honorably borne his part in public affairs. He was a Republican in politics by con- viction. lle never swerved from his political re- lations as regards matters of principle; he never hesitated to exercise his own judgment, and to act with independence in the exercise of the riglit of the suffrage; he tolerated no censorship over his right to cross party lines in voting for candidates of his choice.
He was a member of the board of health in 1874-75-76-77 and in 1887. In 1882, after a long series of fierce political contests in Littleton had been waged, the two political parties were nearly equal in political strength. Dr. Moffett and Mr. Henry Green were presented as the strongest candidates in their party. The Legislature was called upon to decide the contest, and for the first time since 1868 Littleton was represented by Republican members. They took their seats on the 27th of June. The session was memor- able for its great Senatorial contest, which finally, on the end of August, resulted in the election of Hon. Austin F. Pike; Hon. Harry Bingham of Littleton, then State Senator, was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate.
Dr. Moffett married, May 23, 1871, Alice 1. Tuttle, daughter of his distinguished medical preceptor, Dr. Charles M. Tuttle; his wife, with two daughters, Bessie T., now a student in Smith College, and Grace Isabelle, survive hin.
Up to a few months before his death it was not apparent to Dr. Moffett's friends that his end was near, and with little warning to them, a rapidly developing complication of complaints brought him suddenly low. He was prostrated on Wednesday, and remained unconscious till he breathed his last on Sunday, July 12, 1896.
His funeral occurred from the Congregation- alist Church under the direction of St. Gerard Commandery of Knights Templar, and in ac- cordance with the beautiful ritual of that order. Marshal Sanders Post, G. A. R., took part in the services as an organization. The religious ser- vices were conducted by the Rev. Edgar F.
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Davis, minister in charge of All Saints' Church, of which Dr. Moffett's family are communicants. The sense of sadness and loss which pervaded the entire community was everywhere apparent. All places of business were closed, and a large attendance at the church services made still more evident the respect and sympathy of the people.
No man in Littleton or the surrounding coun- try has been nearer the heart of the people than Dr. Moffett in the period of his professional activity. Night and day, in winter's storm and in summer's heat, he has patiently served them as the good physician, knowing no distinctions aniong men and no guide but duty. His kind- ness of heart, his industry, and his professional skill brought his personality home to thousands, to whom the strong man was a help and inspira- tion. He was modest, unassuming, clear-headed, clean-minded, self-reliant, skillful, and conspicu- ously successful. He was discreet and self-con- tained. A social or professional confidence could never be tossed by him into the thoughtless gossip of the town. If he had disappointments and sorrows, he bore the burden alone, and no one saw the secrets of his heart. Among his pro- fessional brethren he was the soul of honor, and an exemplar of the ethics of his calling. While his professional ability demanded the utmost confidence of the people, their profound respect for his sturdy manhood was the crowning fact. No man remembers of Dr. Moffett the expres- sion of an unworthy purpose, the indorsement of an unseemly thought, or the very semblance of a dishonest act. The memory of his self-sacri- ficing life is now the heritage of his family, his friends, his brethren, and his contemporaries. The stanch physique, the skilled intellect, and the great heart have not been spared in the cease- les labors of a quarter of a century, in which no call of duty has been unheeded and no oppor- tunity to help the poor, the sick, and the afflicted neglected. He had toiled to the high plain of professional accomplishment, and before the slow descent had begun he laid down his burden. He will be remembered as he was, when he stood on the summit of a noble life in the ripe- nes of his wisdom, and the perfection of his powers.
" His life was gentle; and the elements
So mixed in him, that Nature might stand up, And say to all the world, 'This was a man !'"
FRANK P. BOND, a member of the firm of English & Bond, the leading grocers of Little- ton, N. H., was born in Dalton, N. H., April 18, 1855. He is the son of Lucius and Laura (Bal- lou) Bond, and grandson of John and Comfort (Everette) Bond.
Our subject's grandfather came to Dalton from Hanover, N. H., when he was twenty-five years of age, being one of the first arrivals at that place; his occupation was farming. He was a leading and influential man in his community, and at all times evinced a great interest in the growth and prosperity of the town in which he had cast his lot. He served in the various town offices with fidelity and no little distinction. His wife was Comfort Everette of Hanover; she lived to be sixty-eight years of age. Mr. Bond fin- ished his earthly pilgrimage at the age of seven- ty-eight. Two children were the result of this union: Julius and Lucius.
Lucius Bond was reared to a noble manhood in his native town of Dalton, N. H. He suc- ceeded to the ownership of the old homestead, where he lived all his life engaged in farming. In respect of political belief he was a Democrat, like his father, and took a lively interest in pub- lic affairs. He was an unassuming man and dis- liked to attract especial notice. For this reason he was not an office-seeker, never presenting his claims for any office of honor; however, he was called upon by his neighbors to rep- resent the town in the Legislature; he also served in minor offices of the town. He departed this life at the age of sixty-nine. He married Laura, daughter of Aaron Ballou of Dalton. She was called home to a well-earned rest when forty-six years of age. Their children were: Aden, who died at the age of twelve; Frank P., the subject of this brief sketch; and Aaron J., who lives in Adams, Mass. Lucius Bond mar- ried as his second wife Addie Gale, and she still survives him.
Frank P. Bond was reared and received his preliminary education in Dalton; he was then ad- mitted for a course in Littleton High School. Soon after finishing his education he opened up a large store devoted to general merchandise in Dalton, and successfully carried on the business there for ten years; in 1886 he sold his store and stock and came to Littleton, where, in partner- ship with Mr. English under the firm name of
AARON CLARK.
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English & Bond, he opened up a large grocery store, and is still engaged in the same business. They have a well-stocked store of an extensive variety, which commands a good share of the custom of the town.
In 1878 Mr. Bond was joined in the bond of Hymen to Emma L., daughter of E. P. Cushman of Dalton, N. H. They have one child, Bernard Q. Mr. Bond is a member of the Burns Lodge, No. 64, F. & A. M .; Franklin Chapter, No. 5. R. A. M .; St. Gerard Commandery; and Omega Council, No. 9 .; and the Edward A. Raymond Consistory, S. P. R. S., thirty-second degree. He is a firm Democrat, and has served in the town offices of Dalton, and has been one of the select- men of Littleton for three years.
AARON CLARK, an ex-soldier of the late Civil War, now incapacitated from any manual work, from sickness contracted while in the army, was born in the town of Dorchester, N. H., Oct. 10, 1832, and is a son of Samuel and Betsey (Rollins) Clark, and grandson of Samuel Clark, Sr.
Samuel Clark, Sr., was a native of the State of Massachusetts, and for the greater part of his life followed the occupation of fishing along the coast. It is thought that he and his wife were Methodists in their religious belief. To them were born six children: John, Samuel, Andrew, Robert, Charles, and Eunice.
Samuel Clark, Jr., the father of Aaron, was educated in the district schools of his native town, and after completing his education there turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, first in Roxbury, Mass., and spending his latter years in Dorchester, N. H. He died in 1864, and his death was a sad blow for the community in which he had long been an acknowledged leader; his wife was taken home in January, 1848. To Mr. and Mrs. Clark were born the following chil- dren: Emeline; John; Jane; Joanna; Cynthia, deceased; Aaron, the subject of this sketch; Henry; Maria; Amy; and George W. Emeline married Gilman Jesseman of Dorchester, N. H., and was blessed with two children, Williani and Christine. John married as his first wife Irene Dolliff of Wentworth, and as his second wife
Betsey Gray, by whom he had three children : John, Belle, and Blanche. Jane married Timothy Jackman of Stowe, Vt., and has one child, living, Willie. Joanna married Shem G. Ackerman of Alexandria, and has five children: William, John, Abbie, George, and Fred. Henry married Isabelle Collins of Enfield, N. H., and had three children, Lillian, Julia, and Rose, by his first marriage. By his second wife, who was Emma Rowe of Enfield, he had three more children: Frank, Minnie, and George. Maria married Hutchinson Waldren of Dorchester, and has two children : Clarence and Fred. Amy married Cal- vin Powers of Plymouth, N. H., and has four children: Alma, Betsey, Nellie, and Mary. Our subject's parents were Methodists.
Aaron Clark, after completing his education in the schools of Dorchester, N. H., learned the stone-cutter's trade, and worked at it five years in Quincy, Mass. He then came to Alexandria, N. H., and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, which he followed about six years, until the call for troops at the outbreak of the late war. He enlisted in the United States service Aug. 12, 1862, being enrolled as a member of Co. C., 12th Reg. N. H. Vol. Inf., under Capt. Fowler of Bristol, N. H., Third Division of the Fifth Army Corps, under command of Col. Pot- ter; our subject held the non-commissioned office of corporal. He was discharged for disability Feb. 26, 1863, having contracted malaria poison, from which he was never afterward entirely free. He has tried at times to engage in heavy farm work, but has not been able to stand anything but the lightest labor, and since 1885 he has been helpless and dependent on his family for neces- sary care; the privation, which would have re- sulted to the family from the head of it being sick is alleviated somewhat by his pension from the Government.
Sept. 23, 1855, he married Mary E. Marston, daughter of David C. and Mary (Badger) Mars- ton of Epsom, N. H. To our subject and his esteemned wife have been born five children: Emma A., born April 24, 1857, married Law- rence W. Goudy, and has one child, Aaron C .; Cynthia A., born July 11, 1859, married Jeff Gray of Alexandria, N. H., and has four children : Gertrude, Ralph, Maud, and Mary; Hattie M., born Sept. 14, 1861, married Henry Phillips of Alexandria, N. 11 .; Sami S., born Dec. 26, 1863,
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married Alma Swain of Meredith, N. H., and has three children: Aaron F., Ruth, and Blanche; Jennie M., born May 3, 1866, married Charles S. Gray of Alexandria, N. H., and has one son, Donald C. The family are attendants of the Free Will Baptist Church. Mr. Clark is a member of Nelson Post, No. 40, G. A. R., of Bristol, N. H.
The publishers of this volume take pleasure in presenting a portrait of Mr. Clark, as he is a fitting representative of that Grand Army, com- posed of the noblest of Columbia's sons, who fought, bled, and died in her defense.
AMOS MANSFIELD KIDDER, a retired New York banker, is a descendant from the James Kidder who was born in Greenstead, Sus- sex County, England, in 1626. There is much obscurity enveloping his early life, so it is not definitely known at what time he left the home of his youth and came to America; however, he must have come at quite an early age, for we find him in the records as a resident of Cam- bridge, Mass., in 1650.
Amos M. Kidder is the son of Oliver Blake Kidder, grandson of James Kidder, Jr., and great-grandson of James Kidder. James Kidder was one of the immortal patriots of '76, who gave to mankind a new meaning of liberty; his wife was Jennie Lind.
Oliver Blake Kidder, the third son of this union, was born in Bridgewater, Grafton Co., N. H., in 1797. His life-training was received on the farm; and he pursued this avocation with a great measure of success throughout his life on what is known as Kidder's Hill.
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