Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885, Part 10

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal Office
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885 > Part 10

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Thomas R. Prentiss was born in Langdon, N. H., in 1803, and came to Alstead about 1834. He followed mercantile pursuits about ten years, and subsequently engaged in the manufacture of paper. In company with his son, Frederick L., he built a paper-mill upon the site of the one destroyed by fire in 1868, and which was in turn destroyed, in 1881. He died September 27, 1879. Two of his eight children are living, viz. : Lewis M., in Chicago, and Frederick L., in this town. The latter served as a drummer during the late war, and is the present town clerk.

Obadiah Blake, a native of Massachusetts, was an early settler in Keene. George, son of Royal and grandson of Obadiah, died in Wisconsin, and his son, George W., now resides in Alstead, on road 46.

John Turner, from Mansfield, located in Walpole at an early day and died in this town in 1860. His son John G., born in Walpole in 1810, came to Alstead in 1844, and for about ten years drove a stage between Charlestown and Marlow. Since 1847 he has been actively engaged in farming. His son E. A. is the present chairman of the board of selectmen and has served the town as representative.

Timothy Tufts was born in Charleston May 29, 1824. He obtained a common school and academic education and followed teaching successfully for several years, or until 1844, when he embarked in mercantile pursuits, as a clerk in Alstead village. In 1848 he formed a co-partnership with Oliver B. Campbell, and from 1851 has conducted the business alone, doing a very successful trade, and has also a fine farm on road 28. He is a member of the Congregational church and has been town treasurer more than ten years. He married H. Sophia P., daughter of Joseph Kingsbury, and has one son, James A. The latter is now a professor in Phillips Exeter academy, where he fitted for college, graduating from Harvard in 1878. He married, the same year, Effie Locke, of Arlington, Mass., and has one son and one daugh- ter. The late Hon James Tufts, of Nebraska, was his brother, and a former resident of this town. He was born in Charlestown in 1829, and graduated at Middlebury college in 1855. He held the office of judge of probate in Nebraska, was speaker of the first legislature of Idaho, acting governor of Montana, wrote the laws of Dakota, and held other positions of trust and re- sponsibility.

TOWN OF ALSTEAD.

Josiah Cooke, from Coventry, Conn., came to Alstead in 1774. He mar- ried Huldah Bassett for his first wife, Lucy Desmond for his second, and reared one son and two daughters. The son, Capt. Josiah, married Sarah Emerson, who bore him three sons and two daughters-John, Arva, Beniah, Polly and Sarah. John married Eunice Parker, rearing one son and one daughter, the latter of whom, Philetta, resides in town. Arva married Rhoda Willard, who bore him five children, three of whom are living. He was a farmer, served the town as selectman, and died in 1844, aged forty-nine years. His eldest son, Josiah W., resides in Chesterfield. Charles E. has always resided in town, spent his early life on the Cooke homestead, owned and operated a saw and grist-mill (with Wilson D. Holt) eleven years, and in 1869 bought the foundry business of Robb & Kidder, which he still con- tinues. He represented the town in 1863-64, has been selectman six years, and has also served as town treasurer. He married for his first wife Luthera Holt, and for his second Maria H., widow of Nelson E. Beckwith, and has ' three children-Charles H., Oliver A., and Hattie A. (Mrs. S. S. Wilder). Beniah, the youngest son of Capt. Josiah, pursued a collegiate course at Schenectady, N. Y., became a teacher in Fitchburg, Mass., edited a news- paper there a short time, then came to Keene and bought the Cheshire Re- publican, continuing it until his death. He also started two other papers in Keene, and was postmaster there. He married Rebecca Harrington, who bore him five children, and died in 1884, surviving her husband a number of years. Henry, the youngest son of Arva, went to Boston when seventeen years of age, entered a store, a business of importing millinery goods, as er- rand boy, became a partner in 1860, and sole owner in 1872. He accumu- lated a large property and died in 1880, leaving no issue. Harriet A. mar- ried S. G. Anderson and died in 1865. Rhoda E. married James Estabrooks and resides in Newton, Mass., six of her family of seven children living. Fred A. came to Alstead and is now a farmer near the Center.

Isaac Fisher, from Framingham, Mass., located as a farmer in Stoddard. He married twice, raising three sons and three daughters by his first wife and one son, Benjamin H., by his second. The latter has been a resident of this town for the past forty-nine years. He learned the cabinet maker's trade in Keene, and, after working here one year for Stephen Kittredge, began busi- ness for himself. He married Mahala B. Edson, in 1837, and six of a family of eight children are now living, all of whom except the youngest, Flora E., who resides with her parents, have married and left town.

Russell Tinker, born at Lempster, N. H., in June, 1818, located in Marlow when eighteen years of age, where he remained until 1866, then purchased his present farm in this town, on road 14. He has held the office of select- man three years and has also served as supervisor. He married Mary, daughter of Jonathan Jefts, of Stoddard, November 16, 1841, and has two sons who reside in Alstead.

Abraham Browne, with his sons, Abraham, Jr., Nathaniel and Oliver, came

TOWN OF ALSTEAD.

from Grafton, Mass., and located just northeast of Warren Pond, about 1775. Oliver, with his father, located where Alonzo M. Fogg now lives, Nathaniel, where James A. Browne now resides, and Abraham, JI., upon the hill to the north. Abraham, Sr., died in 1808. Abraham, Jr., married Lucy Golding, of Grafton, Mass., by whom he reared ten children ; was a respected citizen, and died at the age of eighty-two years. Dea. Nathaniel Browne married Molly Gee, of Marlow, had four sons and two daughters, represented the town, and filled various town offices. Oliver removed to Surry. Abijah, son of Abraham, Jr., married Sarah, daughter of Simeon Shephard, and reared sev- eral children, of whom James A., the youngest is the only one now living. He has been a justice of the peace about ten years, and a selectman three years. He married Martha A. Raney, May 10, 1846, and has no children. Gard- ner Shepard Browne, son of Abijah, born Sept. 12, 1810, graduated at Dart- mouth in 1834, and was for many years a Congregational clergyman, was also a teacher, and for the last twenty-five years of his life practiced medicine in Hartford, Conn. He died in Chicago, December 29, 1876. The other two children of Abijah, Lucy B. and Nancy G, married and resided outside the county.

Thomas Wood, of English descent, came from Brookfield, Mass., to Al- stead in March, 1780. He married Molly Taylor, of Hopkinton, Mass., by whom he had seven sons and three daughters. He took an active part in the Revolution and was at the battles of Bunker Hill and White Plains. His sons were Thomas, Samuel, John, Benjamin, Joseph, William and James. Ed- win, son of Benjamin, Jr., was born while his parents were in Orange, Graf- ton, Co., but was brought to Alstead in childhood and has since resided here, being now, at the age of seventy-two years, the only male descendant of Thomas Wood residing in the town.

Absalom Kingsbury, from Coventry, Conn., came to Alstead in 1771, and moved his family thither the following year. His first wife, Rebecca Rust, bore him eight sons and two daughters, the sons being as follows: Asa, Ebenezer, Ephraim, Obadiah, James, Elisha, Joshua and Amariah. His second wife was a widow Wilson. Asa studied medicine with Dr. Frink, of Keene, entered the Revolutionary service, and died at New York, in August, 1776, aged twenty-four years. Lieut. Ephraim, who continued on his father's farm, married for his first wife, Kezia Richardson, of Wrentham, Mass., and for his second, Hannah Leonard, of Carver, Mass., by whom he had six daughters. Elisha K., married Phebe Beckwith, who bore him six sons and two daughters. Absalom served the town as justice of the peace, treasurer, and representative, and was instrumental in organizing the first church.

Col. Cyrus Kingsbury, from Worcester, Mass., came to Alstead in 1785. He married, first Annas S. Taynter, and second, Philete Partridge, rearing five sons and one daughter. He held a military commission for a consider- able time, served as deacon of the Baptist church, and represented the town a number of years, and finally, in 1814, removed to Bloomfield, N. Y., where

TOWN OF ALSTEAD.

he soon after died. His family returned to Alstead. Cyrus, Jr., the only child of the Colonel's first wife, though a cripple from his birth and ever afflicted with ill health, graduated at Brown University. R. I., and subse- quently at Andover Theological Seminary, and, in 1816, went as missionary among the Western Indians, where he spent the remainder of his life. He established a flourishing station among the Cherokees, called Brainard, and two among the Choctaws, called respectively, Elliot and Mayhew. Joseph, a half-brother of Cyrus, Jr., spent his life in Alstead. Originally a Whig in politics, he became a Republican on the organization of that party, represented the town in the legislature, and held various local offices. He died in 1865, aged seventy-six years. He married Keziah, daughter of Lieut. Ephraim Kingsbury, who bore him one son and five daughters. Two of the daugh- ters, Clarissa (Mrs. William Howard), and H. Sophia P. (Mrs. T. Tufts), reside in town, and Harriet M. (Glickmyer), in Brooklyn, N. Y., and Annas S. in Concord, N. H.

Dea. Jeremiah Howard, from Ipswich, Mass., came to Langdon, with his wife and three children, in 1783 or '84. He took up wild land, built a log house, and reared a family of four sons and five daughters. Stephen, his first born in Langdon, spent his life on the old farm, reared seven children, and died in 1873, aged eighty-seven years. When Stephen became of age, his father bought the land where Alstead village now is, and built a saw and grist-mill where the Holmes mill now is, though a mill had previously been built there, by Mr. Towne. In 1828 Mr. Howard's mills were destroyed by a freshet, but were rebuilt after a few years. He died in 1837, aged eighty- one years. He served in the Revolution and was pensioned in his old age. William Howard, his grandson, aged seventy-four years, has resided at Alstead since 1836. He married Clarissa Kingsbury, February 28, 1836, and has reared two sons and a daughter. His eldest son, Edward B., is at the head of the pork-packing and provision firm of E. B. Howard & Co., of New York. Frank O., the youngest, is a hardware clerk, in Indianapolis, Ind. The daughter, Ellen S., is Mrs. W. D. Holt, of this town.

Jonathan Shepard, of English descent, came from Coventry, Conn., in 1768, and a few years later moved his family here. For his first wife he married Love Palmer, of Stonnington, Conn., who bore him seven sons and three daughters, all of whom, except the oldest daughter, lived in this town. By his second wife, Polly Underwood, he had one daughter. Jonathan's sons were Jonathan, Oliver, Nathaniel, Amos, Simeon, Joshua, and Roswell, all of whom came to the town about the same time with their father, and some of them became the most wealthy and influential persons in the town. Jona- than, a shoemaker, married Hannah Benjamin, of Hartford, Conn., and had born to him six sons and a daughter. Capt. Oliver married Zerviah Hatch, who bore him two sons and two daughters. He represented the town in the colonial congress and state legislature nine years. Nathaniel married Lois Marvin. Gen. Amos married Thankful Cadwell, of Hartford, Conn., and

TOWN OF ALSTEAD.

was the first merchant in the town, served as a major-general of militia, rep- resented the town in legislature many years, was councilor and state senator, and president of the senate seven years. He died in 1812, leaving a large property. Simeon married Rachel Brooks, who bore him four sons and four daughters. Joshua married Lucy Farnsworth and reared two sons and four daughters. Roswell died in youth. William, the eldest son of Capt. Oliver, born here March 6, 1778, married Sally Fisher, reared five children-Amos, Cyrus, Maria, Willard and Oliver, and died June 6, 1841. Oliver, Jr., born March 18, 1818, was chairman of the board of selectmen ten consecutive years, including the war period, when he was town agent for procuring re- cruits, represented the town in the legislature two terms, was a justice of the peace many years, settled many estates, and died February 29, 1876. He married William's cousin, Susan, daughter of Gardner and Sarah (Merri- field) Shepard, who survives him. Their children are Ella N. (Mrs. L. F. Wood), of Keene, Herman O., a clerk in Worcester, Mass., and Albert C., who resides with his mother in Alstead. Gardner Shepard married twice, reared twelve children and died January 16, 1861. Charles, one of his younger children, a clairvoyant physician, practiced in Alstead until 188r, when he went to South Deerfield, Mass. Phila P. (Mrs. J. V. Greene), resides in Al- stead. Sumner G. resides in South Newfane, Vt. Amos, eldest son of Will- iam married Abigail Fletcher, of Lempster, N. H., in 1831, and had children as follows : Cyrus, Sarah S., Harvey E., Norman A., and William C., only the latter of whom is living. He spent about twenty-five years in the grocery business at Fitchburg and Springfield, Mass., returning to his native town in 1878. Amos Shepard died December 25, 1873. Cyrus died in 1861, and Henry E. died a prisoner of war, in Libby prison.

Henry A Lovell, son of Aldis Lovell, was born in Drewsville, N. H. Feb- ruary 12, 1837. At the age of seventeen he began life as a clerk, and at the age of twenty-four began business for himself where he is now located. In 1868 his store was burned, but was immediately rebuilt, and for four years he operated a branch store at East Alstead. He married Georgina B. Fellows, of Hopkinton, N. H., in 1866, and has two sons and a daughter.

George W. Kilburn came to Alstead when a young man, married Lovina Marvin, December 31, 1820, and died November 29, 1880, surving his wife from November 18, 1878. Of their six children, Alfred, Mary L., Maria, Frank, Cyrus, and Josephine, two are living.

Whitney, son of Nathaniel and Nancy (Whitney) Breed, and great-grand- son of Dr. Nathaniel Breed, the first settler in Nelson, was born in Nelson in 1810, and came to Alstead in 1832. He married Persis Hatch, October 26, 1837, who bore him two sons and four daughters. Mr. Breed has been a justice of the peace forty years and a deacon of the Congregational church at Alstead Center thirty-five years.

John Banks, progenitor of the Banks family in Alstead, was in the employ of Nathaniel S. Prentiss, and came with him from Grafton, Mass., in 1774.

TOWN OF ALSTEAD.

He married Susan Prentiss and reared a large family of children, one of whom was the father of Gen. N. P. Banks, of Waltham, Mass. Two sons of John,-Andrew and Jabez M., spent their lives in Alstead. Andrew married Fannie Livermore, resided on a farm on road 36, reared eight children, and died in 1876, aged 83 years. His son Gardner G. has been engaged in the manufacture of lumber at the outlet of Warren pond over thirty years. He married Ella, daughter of Jonas S. Partridge, and has no children.

Azel R. Emerson, son of Hazen, and grandson of Richard, who came to Alstead from Haverhill, Mass., in 1786, was born December 29, 1822. He lived with his father upon the farm until twenty-one years of age, taught school two terms, and in 1847 started, with O. F. Beckwith, the first iron foundry and plow manufactory in Alstead. In 1849 he purchased Mr. Beck- with's interest, and in 1853 sold out the business. In 1854 he was elected a selectman of the town, and later on removed to Hinsdale, N. H., where he engaged in the foundry, machine and agricultural implement business, re- maining until 1860, when he sold out, and, in 1861, and for some years after 1862, was engaged here in the same business. He held the office of town clerk from 1866 to 1871, was selectman in 1868, '70, '71, '73 and '76, and has held most of the town offices at various times. In 1873 he was appointed postmaster, which position he now holds.

Levi Townsend came to Alstead from Massachusetts about 1800, and lo- cated in the southern part ot the town. He was a farmer, married Mehitable Chandler, and had born to him four children, all boys. Charles, the only son now living, was born June 6, 1808, and, when young, went to Lowell, Mass., and became overseer in a cotton factory. He married for his first wife, Eliza A. Parker, of Lowell, moved to Alstead, and engaged in farming. His first wife bore him six children. He married for his second wife, Lu- cinda Messer, of Marlow, who bore him two children, and died July 14, 1871. Mr. Townsend resides in Keene with his daughter Eliza (Mrs. H. H. Beck- with.)

Elijah Towne came to Alstead, after having previously lived in Weathers- field, Vt., Windsor, Vt., and also in Munson, Mass. He married Miriam Lane, and had born to him ten children, five of whom are living. Of these, Samaria married Dean Towne and lives in Worcester, Mass. Miriam mar- ried Richard Blodgett and lives in Claremont, N. H. Marcia married Wil- liam Ellis and also lives in Claremont. Elisha lives in Keene, and Salem in Walpole. Mr. Townsend died here at the age of eighty-four years.

Benjamin Proctor came to Alstead, from Ipswich, Mass., and settled in the southwestern part of the town, on lands owned by H. G. Barnes, of Wal- pole. He lived upon this place for many years, and then moved upon the farm now owned by Ezra Webster, where he died, March 23, 1854, aged eighty-six years. He married Susannah Lowe, who died April 5, 1858, aged eight-five years. Only two of his ten children are living, Ebenezer and Louisa. The latter married Philip Wheeler. Ebenezer was born November

L Robertson> 5

TOWN OF ALSTEAD.

17, 1805, and married Anna K., daughter of Daniel Bird. She was born in Watertown, Mass., in 1811. Of their six children, four are living. Of these, Mary F. married Merrill White and lives in Keene. Hattie A. married John Wood and lives in Athol, Mass. John E. lives in Walpole, and Frank H. in Athol, Mass. Ebenezer Proctor represented this town in 1849-50, and was selectman. He moved to Walpole in 1869, where he now resides.

James Spencer was born at Springfield, Vt., in May, 1819. He learned the blacksmith trade there, married Susan M. McCrae, and reared two chil- dren, J. H. and Susan A. The former is a blacksmith in Keene, and the latter is the wife of H. P. Ware and resides in Alstead. James came to Al- stead about 1846 and was engaged in the blacksmith business here. He was a celebrated clarionet player and died February 18, 1883. His widow resides in Keene, aged sixty-three years.

Lauson Robertson, son of Alexander, was born in the town of Chesterfield, N. H., April 23, 1811, in the western part of the town. When a young man he worked in a store for Oscar Cooledge, in his native town. October 13, 1835, he married Edith, daughter of John Harris, of Chesterfield, and came to the town of Alstead and located at the Center, where he kept a store. He re- mained there for five years when he sold out and removed to what was known as Paper Mill Village, now Alstead, and purchased the hotel and brick store opposite. Here he carried on both enterprises about nine years, when he gave up the hotel. He then built the house where his widow, now Mrs. Kimball, resides, and continued in the store for some years longer, and then sold out. He carried on a large business, was called upon to settle estates and act as guardian, and was sought often in counsel by his townsmen. He was county commissioner in 1858-'61, and was also selectman. He died October 31, 1863. His family consisted of four children : Herman L., born October 19, 1838, died December 30, 1868 ; Stella E., born September 18, 1841, died July 16, 1843 ; Edward H., born June 19, 1844, died February 12, 1849; Frank H., born June 18, 1853, and is now residing in Boston, Mass. Mr. Robertson was just and upright and much respected, and in his death the town lost an active business man and a good citizen.

The First Congregational Church of Alstead .- The first baptism in town was administered in September, 1768, by Rev. Thomas Fessenden, of Wal- pole. In 1770 the town "chose nine men to conduct religious worship," one of the number being appointed to procure a minister. In 1773 a committee was chosen to select a site for building a house of worship, and the same year Rev. James Treadway was employed to supply the town with preaching, and was subsequently given a call to settle with them in the ministry, but declined because no church had been organized. In 1776 a vote was passed by the town to build a house of worship, yet it was not carried into effect until 1781, when a wooden structure was built at what is now known as Alstead Center. The church was organized in 1777; but, owing to the loss of the early records, no details relative to its organization can be gath-

TOWN OF ALSTEAD.

ered. Those who expected to constitute the new society met in a barn, and the Rev. Mr. Fessenden, of Walpole, conducted services. The Lord's supper was first administered to the church by Rev. Mr. Hall, of Keene. The same year a call was renewed to Mr. Treadway, but owing to a disagreement on the part of the members, he was not settled. In 1780 Dr. Payson, of Rindge, was employed as a canidate, and in June, 1781, Rev. Jacob Mann, was called, was ordained in February, 1782, and remained with the society until May, 1789. The society now has forty members, with Rev. George A. Beckwith, pastor. Their church building, a neat wood structure capable of seating 200 persons, built in 1882-83, is valued at $3,000.00.

The Second Congregational Church .-- In 1788 a number of the members of the first church became dissatisfied with their pastor, or pastors, withdrew from the society, and with others, organized the Second Congregational church, at East Alstead, with eighteen members, over whom Rev. Levi Lank- ton, of Southington, Conn., was installed, September 2, 1789. He remained with the society about a third of a century, receiving into the church ninety- three members. The society now has sixty-seven members, a Sabbath-school with sixty-five members, and a church building capable of seating 250 persons, with Rev. George A. Beckwith, pastor.

The Third Congregational Church .- On the 3d of August, 1842, this church was organized, located at Alstead village. It grew out of the incon- venience undergone by the people in this vicinity reaching the other churches, and was made up of members as follows: twenty from the church at the Center, eight from the church at Langdon, one from the church at Acworth, and one from the church at East Alstead, making, with three who united by profession, thirty-three in all. Their first minister, Rev. Darwin Adams, remained about three years, and was succeeded by Rev. John Lawrence. Their church building, erected in 1843, is a neat wood structure capable of seating 250 persons, and valued, including grounds, etc., at $2,500.00. The society now has twenty-five members, with no regular pastor. It has also a Sabbath-school with fifty-five members.

Methodist Church .- A Methodist class was in existence at East Alstead previous to 1820. A house of worship was built in 1839, and a church con- stituted, which at one time had fifty members. The organization continued until about 1865, when, the membership having become so greatly decreased, preaching was discontinued, and the membership transferred to Marlow church. Their church building, a brick structure, was sold and remodeled into a store. Mr. Samuel M. Kidder was connected with this society longer than any other person now living.

Baptist Church .- In December, 1790, a Calvinist Baptist church was organized at the Center, which became quite large and was for many years very prosperous. At length, in connection with the Universalist society, formed in May, 1820, they erected a church building at Alstead village, and finally became extinct.

TOWN OF CHESTERFIELD.

C HESTERFIELD lies in the western part of the county, in lat. 42° 54' and long. 4° 40', bounded north by Westmoreland and Keene, east by Keene and Swanzey, south by Winchester and Hinsdale, and west by the west bank of Connecticut river, and has an area, exclusive of the Con- necticut, of about forty-four square miles, or 28, 160 acres. In tracing the sketch of the grant of Chesterfield, etc., it is necessary to glance at the trouble attending the settlement of the boundary line between New Hamp- shire and Massachusetts, which are written up in the sketch of Hinsdale and in the county chapter, on page 64, and hence are omitted here. In 1733 Massachusetts granted a township to Josiah Willard and cthers, lying to the northward and eastward of Northfield, which they named Arlington. It em- braced a portion of the territory now belonging to Hinsdale and Winchester. Subsequently, pending the King's decision respecting the dividing line be- tween the two Provinces, the general court of Massachusetts granted upwards of thirty townships lying between the Merrimac and Connecticut. Of these, townships named 1, 2, 3 and 4, lay along the Connecticut, just north of Ar- lington, and were nearly identical, in numerical order, with Chesterfield, Westmoreland, Walpole and Charlestown. These four townships were accepted by the general court November 3, 1736. The following year, December 13, 1737, Samuel Chamberlain, of Westford, Mass., was empow- ered to call the first meeting of the proprietors of No. I, for organization. No settlements were begun in Chesterfield under this grant, however, and the settlement of the boundary line of the provinces being consummated by the King in 1740, left the territory in New Hampshire, and thus annulled the grant.

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Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885, Part 10

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal Office Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal Office
Number of Pages: 1034