USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Croydon > Croydon, N.H., 1866. Proceedings at the centennial celebration, June 13, 1866. A brief account of the leading men of the first century Together with historical and statistical sketches of the town > Part 7
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As a politician he is known far beyond the limits of his native town. His opponents give him the credit of possessing a large share of sagacity; and they ascribe to him a controll- ing influence with the political party to which he belongs. And it will be admitted by all that for years his influence has been very sensibly felt in the councils of the Republican party of New Hampshire. H. 188
PAINE DURKEE, son of Rufus, was born on the 7th day of October, 1817. He followed the vocation of his father, that of tanner, at the East Village until 1852, when he went to
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California and worked in the mines one year. In March, 1861, he was elected Representative of Croydon, and in September of the same year enlisted into the military service; was chosen First Lieutenant, and stationed at Fort Constitution in Portsmouth Harbor. He was detailed as Quarter Master, and acted in that capacity until May, 1862, when the illness of his family obliged him to leave the service. In 1864 he again entered the service, enlisting into the First Regt. Heavy Artillery. He was chosen First Lieutenant of the 11th Co., and was stationed in the defenses of Washington; where he was again detailed as Quarter-Master, the duties of which office he performed with fidelity until the close of the war. In April, 1866, he was appointed Inspector of Customs at Portsmouth, N. H., which office he now holds.
LAVINA DURKEE, sister of the foregoing, married John B. Stowell, Esq., and removed to Newport, where he became a prominent and influential man, and held many important offices. He afterwards removed to Manchester, N. H.
DWINNELL.
AMOS, IRA and CYRUS DWINNELL were in the early days mechanics at the Flat.
EASTMAN.
STEPHEN EASTMAN was a cloth-dresser by trade, resided at the Flat, and for many years took a conspicuous part in the affairs of the town. He was for a long time a leading Justice, for a dozen years Selectman, and Representative in
J. H. Bufford's Lith
I.C. Eastman
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1817, '18 and '19. He was affable, honest in his dealings, and much respected.
MOSES EASTMAN, a noted school-master, was son of Philip Eastman, one of the earliest settlers at Ryder Corner.
JOSEPH EASTMAN came to this town from Hopkinton, N. H., about the middle of the century, and settled at the East Village. He was a joiner by trade, and a valuable citizen. He afterwards removed to the west part of the town and turned his attention to farming. He was a Repre- sentative in 1838 and 1839.
TIMOTHY C. EASTMAN, son of Joseph Eastman, Esq., was born May 30, 1821. His time during his minority was divided between farming, mechanical work, teaching, and attending school at Kimball Union Academy. In 1845 he married Lucy, daughter of John Putnam, Esq. After four years of farming in the East, he removed to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1850, and commenced the milk trade. After the first two years he kept one hundred cows. In 1853, in connection with his milk business, he commenced dealing in cattle for the Cleveland market, and in 1854 began to ship them to New York and Boston. In 1857 he removed to New York, where he has since resided, and is one of the most extensive and successful dealers in cattle in the city. He has achieved a handsome fortune. In youth he was fond of hunting and fishing, and being a man of uncommon physical power was always the champion of the wrestling match. During the past year he has purchased him a beau- tiful farm on the Hudson River, about sixty miles above the city of New York, containing four hundred acres of choice
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land, where, besides a large number of working and fat oxen and horses, he keeps over one hundred cows, from which during the past season he has sold over $10,000 worth of milk. Many are they who can attest to the generous hospitality of Mr. Eastman. He 2. Oct-11,1893,- Bacsansscarquale
PROSPER L. EASTMAN, son of Joseph Eastman, Esq., was born March 1, 1825. Jan. 4, 1846, married Eleanor H. Haven, daughter of Moses, and granddaughter of Rev. Jacob Haven. In 1855 he went West, and engaged as a drover in . Ohio and Wisconsin for four years, at the expiration of which time he returned to New York City, and became connected in business with his brother as a cattle broker. He is now located at Albany-the great cattle rendezvous from the West-where he is operating in connection with his brother at New York. Like his brother, in him are com- bined enterprise and sound judgment.
ELLIOT.
LEISTER HALL ELLIOT, son of Dea. Ezra Elliot, was born August 1, 1835; fitted for college at Essex, Vt .; graduated àat the University of Vermont, at Burlington, August, 1861, and at the Union Theological Seminary, New York City, June, 1864. He was licensed to preach by the Brooklyn Congregational Association, April 6, 1864; acted as pastor of the Congregational Church at Colchester, Vt., for one year, and was ordained as pastor of the Congregational Church at Winooski, Vt., May 2, 1866. October 2d, 1866, he was married to Miss Lois M. Johnson, of Greensboro, Vt.
J. H. Bufford's Lith.
T. L. Eastman
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EMERY.
GEN. NATHAN EMERY, an active and successful farmer, was noted for his public spirit, and more especially for his zeal and interest in the militia. He passed through all the various grades from private to Major General, and contrib- uted liberally both of time and money to maintain the honor of the institution. He married Esther Hagar, a lady of excellent judgment. He died at the Flat-whither he had removed to spend his declining years-in 1857, aged 65 years.
FOSTER.
HERSCHEL FOSTER, clergyman at Fairlee, Vt., born in 1801, is son of Lemuel and Chloe Powers Foster, and on the mother's side grandson of Ezekiel Powers.
FRYE.
DAVID FRYE, the father of the Fryes, came to this town from Worcester County, Mass., and settted in the west part of the town, near the Mountain. Son Dounel Iv, Free,
FERRIN.
JOHN FERRIN married Hannah Jacobs, daughter of Whitman Jacobs, and after devoting several years to farm- ing in Croydon, removed to Morristown, Vt., where he carried on a successful mercantile business, and where he occupied a prominent position in town. He was Represent- ative two years, and an active justice until his death. He
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was a man of large physical and mental endowments. His eldest son, WHITMAN W., is a distinguished lawyer at Montpelier; and his second son, HARRISON, a worthy farmer, has been a Representative from Morristown.
FLETCHER.
REV. LUTHER JACOBS FLETCHER, son of David Fletcher, · was born Nov. 25, 1818. His father was a blacksmith by trade, and he, the youngest son, was the "heir apparent" to the bellows and the anvil; but his love for books was stronger than the paternal decree. He pursued his preparatory stud- ies at Unity Academy, and graduated at the Norwich Uni- versity, 1841. In 1842 he was settled as pastor of the Universalist church in Surry, N. H. The year after, he was chosen Principal of the Mount Cæsar Seminary at Swanzey, but the duties of his two-fold office proving too severe for him, after three years service he removed to Brattleboro, Vt .; from thence he was called to Cambridge, Mass., and soon after to Lowell, where he labored for four years.
Here pecuniary considerations induced him to turn his attention to the law. In this profession also he was quite suc- cessful. His clear head, ready talent, and eloquent tongue, made him quite popular. At the end of three years he was appointed Commissioner of Insolvency, and soon after eleva- ted to the position of Judge. When this court was united with that of the Probate, he re-entered the ministry, and returned to his old society at Lowell. He remained there but three years, when he was called to settle in the city of Brooklyn, but the health of his son induced him to remove to Bath, Me., where he is now settled over a large society.
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He has published a Service-Book and a series of text-books which are quite popular, and is now publishing a work enti- tled, Gloria Patria, consisting of Prayers, Chants and Liturgical services for public worship. He was a member of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts, in 1856, in which body he took an active and leading part. Hed fon 20 1884 Frontalin
CYRUS KINGSBURY FLETCHER, second son of Timothy Fletcher-who was for a long time a worthy, gifted and zeal- ous deacon of the Baptist Church at Newport-was one of the Committee of Arrangements, and is a most worthy and exemplary farmer. He married Rachel Jacobs, daughter of Luther, and resides on the old "Jacobs Farm," so long occu- pied by her grandfather, Whitman Jacobs.
GIBSON.
WILLIAM GIBSON, one of the early settlers of the town, married Abigail Sanger, a daughter of Isaac Sanger. They had eight children. The following includes those of the family, in part, who have turned their attention to literary and professional pursuits.
WILLARD P. GIBSON, son of William, born September 2, 1798, studied medicine and graduated at Castleton, Vt., in 1822; spent fifteen years in the practice of his profession at Newport and elsewhere, and then turned his attention to theology. He died October 23, 1837, four days after his ordination.
OTIS GIBSON, son of William, was born June 8, 1807; studied medicine, graduated at Woodstock, Vt., in 1830, and settled at Wellsboro, Pa.
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ALANSON, son of Gardner, and grandson of William, was a clergyman. Is now deceased.
AUSTIN, son of Samuel and Susan Gibson Putnam, clergy- man. (See Sketch.)
BUSHROD RICE and GARDNER WINSLOW, sons of Will- iam Gibson, were both physicians. The former died at Pomfret, Vt., many years since; the latter entered the army as an officer, and was killed at Cold Harbor.
Of the children of Winslow Gibson, OTIS is a missionary at Fuh Chau in China; HENRY graduated at the New York Medical College and went to China, where he died; GARD- NER, clergyman, resides at Moira, N. Y .; FRANKLIN, clergy- man, died in Connecticut.
LIZZIE and MARY W. F., daughters of Willard P. Gibson, made literature a profession. The latter has for several years past resided in Europe, where, besides publishing sev- eral books, she has contributed much both of prose and poetry to the magazines.
WILLARD PUTNAM and OTIS LLOYD, sons of John Gibson, are both clergymen.
LEWIS W., a clergyman, and OTIS, a physician, are sons of Otis Gibson.
GOLDTHWAIT.
SAMUEL GOLDTHWAIT came to this town from North- bridge, Mass., in 1780, and settled in the north-westerly part of the town; was an extensive and wealthy farmer; was a Representative and Selectman, and took an active part
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in the construction of the "Croydon Turnpike." He died at the advanced age of 93.
CAPT. ZINA GOLDTHWAIT, son of Samuel, was born Nov. 6, 1787, commenced on the homestead, and was an extensive and tidy farmer, kept a dairy of fifty cows. He was a high- toned, exemplary man, gentlemanly in his bearing, and quite a favorite. While in town he held many offices. He removed to Newport, where he has been elected to many important town offices, and been a leading member of the Baptist Church. He married Anna, daughter of Col. Henry Howard. Daughlin Many Anai'm, Daniel Wand MD -dottMonselicese A vera - hum, 1889- Francis H. 6 July 141823 m. jelen Pp. com/ -.:
GOODWIN.
ISRAEL GOODWIN, remembered by many for his clear intellect and social qualities, resided at the Flat, and in his earlier days worked at cloth-dressing. He married Miss Betsey Melendy, and about the year 1824 removed to Plain- field, Vt., where he occupied a prominent position; was Representative two years, and State Senator two years. He was appointed Judge and removed to Montpelier, where he died. He exerted a wide influence, and was esteemed one of the most correct and competent business men in the county.
GUSTIN.
DR. EZRA GUSTIN, son of Ezra Gustin, studied medicine with Dr. Elias Frost, of Plainfield, and after three years of most successful practice in his native town, died November
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29, 1818, aged 30 years. As a teacher he was much beloved. As a man he was possessed of superior judgment, self-reliant, energetic, and much a favorite. He married Anna Hold- brook, daughter of David, who survived him but one year- left one child, the late Mrs. Lewis Richardson, who died in 1858.
HALL.
LIEUT. EDWARD HALL came to town during the Revolu- tion, bringing with him seven sons-Ezekiel, Abijah, James, Edward, John, Darius and Ezra-and settled on the flat, south of the farm of J. Nutting. From this family and Rev. Samuel Read Hall have descended the Halls. The family were shrewd, and fond of amusements.
ABIJAH HALL, remembered for his capital jokes and un- fathomed resource of fun and anecdote, was drowned near the Glidden Bridge.
CAPT. AMASA HALL, son of Abijah Hall, was born Feb. 7, 1789; married Rebecca L. Melendy in 1811. He was an active business man and one of our most successful farmers. He was distinguished for energy and decision of character, a clear head and ready judgment. He belonged to that portion of Croydon which was subsequently set off to Gran- tham. He was a Captain in the war of 1812; was Select- man of Grantham for eight years; Representative from Croydon in 1824 and 1825, and from Grantham in 1832, '34, '35, and '36; Road Commissioner in 1841, and a Direct- or in Sugar River Bank from its first organization until 1861. He was an influential member of the Congregational Church. In 1858 he retired from active business.
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ADOLPHUS HALL, only son of Amasa Hall, was born December 7, 1811; married Sally Leavitt, daughter of Dud- ley, and sister of Dr. Nathaniel Leavitt. Like his father he was a successful business man. He was bred a farmer, but since 1861 has been engaged in mercantile business. He was Selectman of Grantham in 1859 and 1862, Repre- sentative in 1860 and 1861, and County Treasurer in 1865 and 1866.
DANIEL R. HALL, son of, Abijah Hall, and grandson of Lieut. Edward Hall, was born July 3, 1802. He took much interest in the militia; was an efficient officer in the " Croydon Rifle Company;" was Colonel of the 31st Regi- ment, and Brigade Inspector under Gen. Nathan Emery. He was Town Clerk ten years, Selectman in 1855, and Representative in 1862 and 1863. He is a Director in the First National Bank at Newport. As a Justice he has for many years done most of the business in his section of the town. He married Martha, daughter of James Perkins.
HORACE P. HALL, son of Col. Daniel R. Hall, was born August 5, 1827. He fitted for college at Marlow and Kim- ball Union Academies. After spending two years at Mid- dletown College, Ct., and another at Amherst College, Mass., he abandoned his studies on account of ill health, and went West. He was for two years Principal of Marshall Academy, Ill., for seven a Professor of Latin in Union College at Merom, Indiana, and is now Principal of the Academy at Pendleton, Indiana. He was for a time connected with the army. In 1863 the Asbury University conferred on him the honorary degree of Master of Arts.
JAMES HALL, son of James and Huldah Cooper Hall, was for many years an enterprising farmer and merchant in.
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Croydon, but removed to Newport, where he now resides, and where he has been elected to many offices, and has exerted a wide influence.
JOHN HALL, son of James Hall, Esq., and grandson of James Hall, Sr., was born in October, 1813; studied medicine with his uncle Albina Hall; graduated at Brunswick, Me., and commenced the practice of his profession at Newark, Ohio, where he died. His two daughters, JULIA and MARY, are both well educated and accomplished teachers.
ALBINA HALL and LYMAN HALL, sons of James Hall, after spending most of their minority in town, turned their attention to medicine. The former married Livia Powers, and after practicing awhile in Maine and New York has returned to Croydon. The latter followed his profession at Cornish Flat until his death, which occurred but a few years since. Albina de Fab 51895-02-Newfriend-a. 94
AHIRA HALL, son of James Hall, removed to Chau- tauque County, western New York, where he was an active Justice. His son JOHN, a wealthy lawyer, has been a mem- ber of the Assembly of the State. JAMES, a physician, was surgeon in the army, and died in the service. ALBINA, a clergyman, is settled at Girard, Pa.
CAPT. EDWARD HALL, son of Lieut. Edward Hall, opened the first store of note in town. It was situated on the top of the swell of land between East Village and Four Cor- ners. He is remembered as a shrewd, prosperous trader. He died March 14, 1817, aged 57 years.
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CALVIN HALL, son of Capt. Edward Hall, a popular man and extensive farmer, after enjoying many honors in his native town, removed to Lowell, Mass., where he now resides.
NATHAN HALL, son of Edward Hall, Jr., is an independ- ent farmer residing at the Flat. He was Chief Marshal at the Celebration, has been many years elected to town offices, and is now a Commissioner for Sullivan County.
GEORGE HALL, son of Edward Hall, Jr., was on board the Cumberland during its fight with the Merrimac, and swam to the boat when it went down. The British and French ships were by, as witnesses of the conflict. The Captain saw what the result must be, and inquired of his men, "Shall we strike colors and save life, or fight on ?" The gallant crew replied, " We can be shot, or sunk in the ocean, but surrender-never."
PLINY HALL, son of Martin, and grandson of Capt. Edward Hall, was born Sept. 21, 1817. At the age of seven, on the death of his father, he went to live with his uncle Calvin Hall, and labored on the farm until he was twenty-one. In 1842 he entered the store of Ruel Durkee, Esq., where he was principal clerk for nine years, and was chief clerk to his successor for three years. He then return- ed to farming, which occupation he has since followed. He was appointed U. S. Assistant Census Marshal in 1850 ; was elected Representative in 1851 and 1852, and County Treasurer in 1855 and 1856. He was appointed one of the Committee on the Apportionment of the Public Taxes, in June, 1852, and U. S. Enrolling Officer in 1864.
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CAPT. ARIEL HALL, son of Darius Hall, married Ase- nath, daughter of Capt. John Humphry, and after operating® awhile in town removed to Williamstown, Vt., where he now resides and is carrying on extensive farming business.
CAPT. WORTHEN HALL, son of Darius, and grandson of Lt. Edward Hall, was born July 11, 1802. He had few early advantages ; until he was twenty-five years of age he struggled against all the embarrassments which a deficient education, poor health, poverty and ill-luck, could throw in his pathway. In 1827 he went to sea in a whaling vessel, before the mast, as a common sailor. He was adapted to the business, and was regularly promoted at the end of each successive voyage, until the fall of 1837, when he became Master of the ship, which position he held for eighteen years, until he left the sea. He has circumnavigated the earth twice, doubled Cape Horn six times, and the Cape of Good Hope as many more ; has killed five hundred whales, and brought home more than twenty-two thousand barrels of oil. Aug. 1, 1837, he was married to Polly D. Lovewell, who was with him some ten years at sea, two of which she spent at the Sandwich Islands. He was elected a Director of the Sugar River Bank, and is now a director in the First National Bank at Newport, and was chosen Representative from his native town in 1866. He was generous to his con- nections, and retired with a fortune. His present affluence and luxury presents a pleasing contrast with his early pover- ty, and affords to the young another example illustrating the truth that early indigence and embarrassments are no insurmountable barrier to success in after-life.,
While at sea, a most thrilling incident occurred : Mary, & _~ his darling and only daughter, while at play, fell overboard, """
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Worthun Hall
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and in a moment would be swallowed up by the angry waves. In an instant, forgetting all personal danger, he plunged in- to the ocean after her. Buoyed up by her clothes, she rode upon the waves like a little fairy, and as her father ap- proached she raised up her hands imploringly towards him, exclaiming, "Father, I am overboard!" And now who shall depict the terrible frenzy of that wife and mother as she sees them both sinking to a watery grave ! She knew her. husband was unaccustomed to swim ; the ship under full headway, was fast leaving them behind ; to her anxious heart it seemed as though the boat never would lower, and she felt that both must be lost. Twice had they already gone down. Once more, and they shall never again rise to bless her on earth. It is the last time-"O my God ! they are sinking !" Rushing forward with both arms extended, as though she would fly to their relief, she exclaimed in the wildest despair, " They are lost ! they are lost !" Overcome by her emotions, she sank down in unconsciousness. As a good Providence would have it, both were rescued alive. Nothing can be more touching than the pitying moan of that daughter, as she clung to the bedside of her father during the hours of his slow recovery from his death-grapple with the ocean.
DOCT. SILAS HALL, son of Ezra Hall, was born in Dec. 1792. In 1808, moved with his father to Cayuga Co., N. Y. In 1815, commenced the study of medicine with Consider King, an excellent physician, and received his diploma in 1818. After ten years of practice at Sempronius, the county seat, he removed to Monrovia, where he has since resided.
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SAMUEL READ HALL, son of Rev. Samuel R. Hall, was born Oct. 27, 1795. He was educated at home, and at the Academies of Bridgeton, Me., and at Plainfield, N. H. He studied theology, was licensed to preach in 1822, and was ordained over the church at Concord, Vt., in 1823. In 1830 he was appointed principal of the English Department in Philips Academy at Andover, Mass. In 1837, took charge of the Holmes Plymouth Academy at Plymouth, N. H., and in 1840 was installed pastor of the Congregational Church at Craftsbury, Vt. He has been an extensive au- thor, having published some fifteen or twenty volumes on various subjects. In 1838 the degree of M. A. was conferred on him by Dartmouth College.
HAVEN.
REV. JACOB HAVEN, son of David Haven, was born at Framingham, Mass., April 25, 1763. He graduated at Harvard College in 1785, studied theology with Rev. Mr. Kellogg of his native town, and was ordained and settled at Croydon, June 18, 1788. As a preacher, his sermons were always terse and logical, and his oratory solemn and impressive. He was Town Clerk thirty-one years. He died March 17, 1845, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. As he was the first, and for more than half a century almost the only clergy- man in town, he is, and will long continue to be recollected with much interest-and few men have a better claim to the remembrance of their townsmen. (See also speech of Dr. Stow.)
WHIPPLE HAVEN, a brother of the above, married Judith Stow, an aunt of Baron Stow; was a cabinet maker at the
Jacob Haven,
مه
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East Village, and is remembered as a worthy man and good mechanic.
HANNAH HAVEN, daughter of Rev. Jacob Haven, and second wife of Simeon Wheeler, was born April 28, 1795, and died at Newport, Dec. 20, 1842. She was an intelligent and well educated lady, and much beloved by her associates. She was the mother of several children, some of whom survived her and partake of the mental and moral qualities which distin- guished her. JACOB W., a young man of much promise, and a printer and editor by profession, died in 1853. Lucy P. · married Frederick Stevens, Esq., and resides with her husband and young family in Minnesota. HANNAH, her youngest surviving daughter, married Austin Corbin, Esq., for- merly of Newport. He was for some years a successful law- yer and banker in Iowa, and is at present a banker in the city of New York. The family resides in Brooklyn, N. Y.
MIRANDA HAVEN, youngest child of Rev. Jacob and Asenath Haven, was born March 8, 1799, married William Armes, Esq., of Stanstead, Canada East. They afterwards removed to Sherbrook, C. E., where he died and where his widow still remains. They had six children. ADELINE ASENATH married Samuel Tusk, of Sherbrook. MIRANDA married Thomas Goldsmith, a successful goldsmith at Troy, N. Y. ADELIA married John McNeil, and CALISTA Lem- uel Farewell, both residing at Sherbrook. WILLIAM, the son, went to California.
HAGAR.
AMOS HAGAR married Sarah Powers and settled on the Hagar place, opposite the C. K. Fletcher farm, and was the man from whom have descended the Hagars.
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HOLBROOK.
LEANDER HOLBROOK, son of Peter, and grandson of David Holbrook, was born April 11, 1815. The family came from C Upton, Mass. His father, a merchant at the East Village, died in 1822. Owing to a want of proper management in the settlement of his estate, the son was left penniless. At the age of seventeen, he left the farm and prepared for col- lege, defraying his expenses by teaching, after which he studied law. He attended the Law School at Harvard College, Mass. Was admitted to the bar in 1846, and soon after opened an office at Milford, Mass., where he now resides.
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