Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885, Part 39

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 39

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Dr. Isaac Baker, born in 1770 and died in 1847, purchased from Solomon Gee what has ever since been known as the Baker farm, about 1795. After-

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wards buying a lot near the corner of roads 12 and 16, he built the present house. Aside from practicing his profession he was actively engaged in farm- ing, while duties as town officer required much of his time. He was an earn- est sustainer of the Methodist church from the time of its organization. He married Abigail Kidder in 1799, and had five children, as follows: Betsey married Amos Huntley ; Willard A. ; Abigail married Dr. Thomas J. Stevens ; Isaac K., and Osman C. Willard A., (1803-1866) was an honored citizen, and the respect in which he was held found expression in long continued election to town office. He married in 1828, Amanda, daughter of Gen. Huntley, and had two children, Franklin W. and Osman K. Isaac K. (1810- 1879) married Almira Gale, removed to Massachusetts, had one son, Isaac A. Osman C. (1812-1871) was educated at Wilbraham academy and Wesleyan university, failing health preventing his graduation. While in college he was licensed a local preacher. In 1834 he became a teacher in the seminary at Newbury, Vt., was elected principal in 1839, which position he held until 1844, when he took charge of the Methodist church at Manchester, N. H. In 1846 he was chosen presiding elder of the Dover district. In 1847 he was elected professor in the Biblical Institute at Concord, where he resided until his death. He was made one of the bishops of the M. E. church in 1852, and served in this official capacity until 1866, when partial paralysis prevented further labor. He married Mehitable Perley, of Lempster.

Francis Brown, of Marlow, was the sixth generation of the family in America- He removed from Watertown, Mass., where his ancestor had settled, about 1790, settling on road I. He was a prominent man in town and one of the early supporters of the Baptist church. His family consisted of Fran- cis, Jonathan, Calvin, Gardner and Harry. Francis and Gardner settled in Acworth, Jonathan inherited the homestead; living in town at a time when its development was at the height, his excellent judgment was appre- ciated by his townsmen in giving him charge of its road building for years.

David Downing (1738-1798) was a native of Massachusetts. He was a ship-carpenter ; was wounded in the French war. He married Susannah Beechanı, who died 1831, aged 100 years and six months. They had two sons, Samuel (1761-1867), who was the last surviving soldier of the Revolu- tionary war, and Daniel (1763 -- 1798) who was also engaged in the struggle for independence. The latter settled in Antrim, married Betsey Blanchard, removed to Marlow in 1794, bringing his parents and only child, James, with him. He located a little way off from road 30. After his father's death, James lived with his step-father, "Gen." Levi Blood, in Gilsum. On reach- ing his majority in 1811, he married Lydia Ayers and returned to his old place. He reared a family of eight children : Daniel (1811-1885) married Lucy Upton, settled near the old place and resided there the greater portion of his life. In 1883 he purchased a place in the village, having sold his farm to O. S. Rogers ; James (1815) married Electa Foster, purchased the Phelps place on road 30, where he has always lived, has had four chil-

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dren, Albert S., George E., Herbert J., Ellen C .; Betsey (1817) married Daniel Newell ; Hiram (1819) settled in Massachusetts; Franklin (1821) resides in Swanzey; Lydia (1824) married Chester Nichols; Nancy J. (1826) married Josiah Spaulding, Jr .; Allen (1830-1831).

Amos F. Fiske (1805-1873) came to town from Massachusetts in 1828. He was employed by his brother-in-law, Francis D. Ellis, for several years as clerk, finally succeeding him in business, as reference to the historical sketch will indicate. As a merchant he was eminently successful. He was always a firm supporter of the M. E. church, and at his death gave it a fund of two thousand dollars. He was a member of the state senate in 1863-64, from the old tenth district, was director of the Keene National bank several years. He married Eliza Stone. Their children were : Mary, died young ; Harriet (1834) married Marshall Perkins; Charles H. (1835) died young ; Arthur W. (1838) for many years in business here, postmaster 1861-1869, resides now in Washington, D. C., married Emma Burr, has two children, Charles and Fred ; Catherine (1840) married Perley E. Fox; Henry (1842-1876); Eliza (1844-1878) married Alfred F. Howard, collector of the port at Portsmouth, had one child, Arthur.

The Farley family traces its origin to William the Conqueror, 1066. The original spelling of the name was Ffarlea, being also spelled ten other ways. In 1640 George Farley emigrated from Scotland and landed at Roxbury, Mass., from whom descended Ebenezer Farley (1762-1835), who settled in Marlow 1790, coming from Hollis, N. H., where he had married Susanna Jones, 1794. She died 1864, at the age of ninety-one. He was a farmer, settled on road 26, one-half mile east of the village. He accumulated quite a property, which passed to his son, Bethuel Farley (1794-1864), who has held various positions of public trust. Has been selectman and town clerk ; was representative in 1829; was colonel of the 28th Regiment for four years ; was appointed deputy sheriff in 1840, holding the position for fifteen years ; he was census taker for the towns of Marlow, Alstead, Chesterfield, Gil- sum, Sullivan, Walpole and Westmoreland in 1840 ; was admitted to Cheshire county bar in 1856 ; was land surveyor for fifty years, and was one of the few Masons living in town during the anti-Mason difficulties of 1826. About 1833 he erected the house now occupied by Lucius P. Farley, it being one of the first erected at the village. In 1814 he married Hannah Way (1796 --- 1839), a daughter of Wells Way. He married second, Susannah P. Pierce, daughter of Ezekel P. Pierce, of Chesterfield, who bore him two children, Lucius P. (1843), and Dallas I. (1844), who resides at Valligo, Cal., being in the service of the United States government. Lucius P. married, in 1868, Jane R. Knight, and has had five children, Flora C. (1868), Frank B. (1870), Ella S. (1871), James W. (1874-1875), Eva M. (1876).

Patrick Giffin emigrated from Ireland and settled in Marlow about 1793, at corner of roads 24 and 25. Possessed of an energetic disposition, he soon be- came prominent in managing town affairs. His family was imbued with his

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spirit, and have been quite active as citizens. John was a selectman for several years, was one of the company that went to the defense of Ports- mouth in 1814. He succeeded his father in the ownership of the homestead, passing it to his son Edward, who still owns it, though he is at present in Nebraska. David lived for many years on road 5, was selectman several times. Allen has been a very prominent man in official circles, in both town and state, and has proved himself able and efficient. He was moderator and selectman for a long term of years, representative eight years, member of the Governor's council in 1857-'58, presidential electorin 1864. register of probate for Cheshire county, 1866-1872. Since 1863 he has resided in Keene. Reu- ben was a farmer and millwright, always resided in town, was in trade a few years, opposite the postoffice.

Samuel and John Gustin, brothers, were the first settlers in town, locating near Gustin pond, on road 13. They erected there the first habitation in town. Samuel was unmarried, always living with his brother. He was a fit man for his times; earnest and positive, he labored faithfully to establish the settle- ment. He was the first town clerk, one of the selectmen, proprietor's com- mittee, and lot layer, for several years. He was agent for the settlers in ob- taining an extension of the charter, also represented them in the contests re- specting boundaries ; in these positions he seems to have stood firm for what he deemed right. As member of the Committee of Safety he was imbued with a spirit of liberty, which found expressions in many ways. John shared his portion of the hardships, and bore a part of the honors incident to the new settlement. He had married in Connecticut, Lydia Mack, who, with two children, John, Jr., and Clara, were brought to the new home in the wilder- ness. Three more children were born to them. Lurana, Seba, and Abijah. They occupied the log cabin a few years, when a new house was erected on road 12, on the east side where the new barn of Willard Lane stands. This was replaced by the present house early in the present century. Here both John and Lydia died, the latter in 1847, aged 101 years, the oldest person who ever lived in town. John, Jr., married Esther Way, and removed after a few years to Canada. Clara married General Huntley ; Lurana married Abi- jah Mack, who removed to Canada ; Seba married Polly Grimes, settling in Chelsea, Vt. Abijah remained on the homestead, married, first, Early Miller, and their children were Elisha and Clarinda ; second, Charlott Royce, who bore him five children-Early, who married Daniel J. Dum ; Abijah, who removed to Vermont; Charlott, who married Sherman Stone ; John, and Jane N., who married Franklin W. Baker, and have four children-Henrietta, who resides in Brattleboro; Abbie M., who married Fred A. Lebourveau, and resides in Walpole ; Ellen and Lola, who resides in Massachusetts. Early has two sons, Lucius M. and Hamlin D., both of whom reside in town.

The Huntley family has been very numerous in town, one branch only of the three that came here has remained with any degree of permanence, the other branches have, however, one or two representatives. Nathan Huntley was

John 2. Jones.

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among the first settlers in town, locating on Marlow Hill, on road 18. He la- bored with the Gustins, Royces and Tubbses in establishing the township. His wife, a sister of Stephen Gee, Sr., and his sons, Nathan, Jr., Russell, Rufus, Isaiah, Luman and Elisha, soon followed him thither. Of these Nathan, Jr., married Mary Parsons, in Connecticut, settled on road 9, where C. Winham lives, had three children, Gurden, Enoch and Louis, when his wife died and he married Eunice Royce who bore him two others, Elisha and Mary. Louis married Sally Wood, settled on road 5, near A. G. Baker's. He was a stirring, active, capable man, and was intrusted, by his townsmen, with the manage- ment of many business affairs-children, Gardner, Lucy, married Gurden Lewis, and Mary Parsons, married Russell Huntley, a commission merchant in Boston-children five in number. Gardner married Clarissa George, who bore him one child, Ezra G. He has been town clerk, selectman and super- visor several years, was representative in 1869-'70. He married Jane Towne, and three children have been born to them, Walter S., of Lynn, Mass., married Emma Manning, a noted elocutionist, Henry H. married Ellen Clark, resides on road 23, and Frank P. married Abbie Burge, resides in Claremont. Gard- ner married second, Rhoda Tubbs, who bore him two sons, Orren G. and Os- man B. Mary, the youngest child of Nathan, Jr., married Nathaniel Richard- son, and had three children, all of whom were inclined to corpulency to a re- markable degree, only one, Rosina D., reached mature years. She at one time weighed five hundred pounds, and traveled extensively, visiting all the princi- pal cities of the union. She was possessed of pleasing and accomplished manners.

Russell settled on road 7 near the school-house in district No. 3. His family consisted of Elijah, Phebe, Luther, Hubbard and Ethelinda. Elijah settled on road 7, where his son Willis I .. now resides. He married Betsey Brockway. His other children were Willard, resides in Vermont ; Hibbard, settled oppo- site the old place, on road 7, where his son Leonard B. now resides ; Luther and Elijah on road 5. Phebe married her cousin Martin ; Luther, Hannah Gale ; Hubbard, Mehitable Rogers; Ethelinda, married Leland Lewis, re- mained on the old place, and had six children who grew up ; Phebe married Stephen Allen, of Lempster ; Lucinda married Solomon Bumford, second, Jackson V. Herrick ; Hubbard R. and Henry A., who reside in Malden, Mass .; George R. went west, and Melissa married David Reynolds, of Lempster. Rufus settled on road 9, where W. H. French lives. His children were Mar- tin, married Phebe ; Lucy married Asa Way; and Clarinda, married Nathaniel Brown. Martin and Phebe's children were Merinda, Russell, Luman, Rufus M. and Calista. The sons are remembered in connection with the early busi- ness interests at the village. Calista very early manifested decided musical talents, and by perseverance she has brought herself very high in the art. In 1866 she visited Italy, to better perfect herself in the science ; later she sang with credit in the principal cities of Europe. She now resides in Lynn, Mass. Isaiah, together with his family ( f six children, removed to Vermont quite early.

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Luman married a daughter of Elder Beckwith, and settled in Charlestown, where they reared a family of five children. Elisha, the youngest of Nathan senior's children settled on road 7, the Lewis place of the present. About 1790, he removed to the " Hill," where he erected a house in which he kept " tavern" many years. Possessed of considerable ability he was for years charged with the transaction of public affairs, was moderator of annual town meetings for twenty-two years, selectman fourteen years, representative for terms covering seventeen years. From 1808 to 1821 he was justice of the court of sessions, circuit court and court of common pleas ; a soldier in the Revolution, and later very prominent in militia circles, passing through suc- cessive grades to that of brigadier general. He married Clara Gustin and had a family of ten children, Elisha, Rhoda married James Mather, Lucinda died young, Curtis married Betsey Lewis, settled on road 6, where George L. resides, his family consisted of Harriet, married John Winham, had three children, Elisha married Lurana Whittermore, Dudley married Maria (Hall) Baker, settled on road 5, on the farm originally owned by Aaron Huntley ; their children are two in number, Melvin J. married Frances (Dodge) Reed, and resides with his father, and Lizzie married Walter Page ; Nathan R. married Charlott Matterson. has had one child Austin, deceased; William L. resides in Mass .; George L. on the homestead, married Almira Brooks, has four boys, Clarence, Edgar, Orison, and Forest. Clarissa married Charles Matterson ; Alden B. removed from town; Alden, third son of Elisha remained on the Hill several years after the death of his father, was the last postmaster at the Hill postoffice. He removed to a place on road 26, later he married, first, Delight Gee, who bore him Elisha A. and Delight, who married Francis J. Rogers-children, Ellen and Frank. Elisha resides in Boston, being in the employ of R. H. White & Co. While a resident of Marlow and Alstead he was honored by election to many official positions. Alden married second, Hannah Scott, and his third wife was Mrs. Harriet Fox. Rufus removed to Bennington. Amanda the youngest of the family, married Willard A. Baker.

John Jones the ancestor of the family in Marlow and Dublin lived in Framingham, Mass .. (1674-1746). He was one of the Sudbury company that marched against the French, in Canada, in 1790. John, Jr. (1709-1778), alone of his children grew up. He married, in 1738, Elizabeth Gibbs, and reared a family of six children, Samuel (1746-1820), was the fourth. He married, in 1775, Amna Gates, and had ten children. In 1779 Samuel removed from Framingham to Dublin, N. H., where for two years he had been pre- paring a home. In 1803 he purchased land in Marlow, adjoining the Jones place, of which it eventually became a part, but he never became a resident of town. In 1805 his fourth child, John (1781-1846), settled on road 24 where he lived until his death. He married, in 1806, Mary Buss, of Marlboro, reared a family of six children, Edmund (1807-1882), Gilman (1809-1869), Franklin (1811), Ashley (1814-1877), John Quincy (1817), Mary (1824- 1847). Franklin and John Q. have always resided in town, Edmund and Gilman the greater part of the time.

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Edmund was for many years prominent in the exercise of official duties in town, holding at one time or another nearly all the offices in its gift. Was representative 1851 and '52, He was postmaster three years, merchant sev- eral. In 1833 he built the Ashuelot House, the first hotel at the village, which he conducted till 1852, when he erected a second on Forest street, where he passed his later years. For many years he was employed as manager of pub- lic houses in Keene, Bellows Falls, Wilton and Nashua. In this capacity he became widely known. He married, in 1831, Marilla Tubbs, a descendant of one of the first settlers in town, and one child, John Tubbs (1836), was born to them ; he died young. Gilman was by occupation a farmer and lumberman. He settled on road 25, was selectman several years. During the latter part of his life he resided in Keene. He married, in 1836, Eliza Towne, they had two children, Adeliza (1838), who married Daniel Cole, and Lyman (1839- 1841). Gilman married second (1841), Chestina Towne. Edward L. was his third child. He married, in 1869, Lydia D. Buss. Franklin, also a farmer, re- mained on the homestead several years after the death of his father, but fin- ally purchased a place in the village where he now resides. He married, in 1840, Louisa Wilson, and their children are Milan F. (1846), married, in 1872, Sarah I. Dodge, and Manley W. (1851), married in 1882 Ellen C. Guillon. Milan has held several town offices and was representative in 1882-84.

Ashley, married in 1842, Philinda Mayo, and soon after removed to Stod- dard, where he was engaged in hotel-keeping, remaining here about four years. He then went to Cold River, after a year or two returned to Marlow, then re- moved to Keene, where he spent the remainder of his life, being engaged in farming and hotel-keeping. His family consists of Georgianna P. (1843); Abbie M. (1846) married, in 1868, Charles W. W. Ball; John Quincy (1848), married, in 1877, Sarah M. Carter ; and Frank A. (1853).

John Quincy's boyhood was like that of all others, whom fate makes the youngest of the family. When about eighteen, opportunity for attending school at Unity offered itself, and later similar privileges at Hancock were improved. Winters were spent in teaching district school in which calling he earned quite a reputation ; later he was employed by his brothers in their hotels. In 1847 he engaged with Daniel Buss in house carpentry, this continued till 1852, when he began the manufacture of doors, sash and blinds, and this with kin- dred labor has furnished employment since. In earlier years, when the " old militia " was a requisite in the state, he was deeply interested in its affairs and rose through successive grades to that of brigade quartermaster. Other than his regular business duties have almost constantly required his attention. Po- sitions of honor and trust in various capacities have been assigned to him. As a town officer he has filled all the elective ones, several many times in succession, was representative in 1859-'60, '64 and '65, was delegate to the constitutional convention 1876, and is at present a trustee of the Keene Five Cent Savings bank. In addition to these duties, probate and other legal matters have for years demanded his continual care. His life has been

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one of ceaseless activity. In times of affliction appeals to him have ever brought a ready and willing response. He has always been an earnest and energetic promoter of those objects which have tended in any manner to the prosperity and welfare of the town or the growth of public weal. He married, in 1848, Cynthia Gould, of Stoddard ; a son, Elgin A. (1852), is their only child. After attending school at Mount Vernon, N. H., he was graduated at Dart- mouth college in 1874. After teaching a few terms, in 1880 he engaged in mercantile business at which he is still engaged. He married, in 1880, Sarah C. Boynton, of Brattleboro, Vt. He has held the office of superintendent of schools in 1876, '77, '78 and '80, and town treasurer in 1881, '82 and '83.

Ira Knight removed from Hancock, settled in Marlow on road 28, in 1811. He built a log house a few rods west of the present house, where he lived till 1828, when the new one was erected. He married Abigail Pratt, and reared a family of ten children ; Lewis A., who settled near the old place, married Thankful Gibbs, had four children, Adelaide R., wife of D. M. Tif- fany, Mason city, Iowa, Osro L., also of Iowa, Harlon N., and Ella dying young. Lewis later owned the Baker farm several years, has been selectman, was placed in charge of the county alms house as its first overseer. He mar- ried second, Almira Adams. Nathaniel settled on road 28 corner of 25, but removed a few years later to a place nearer the village, married Zelpha Mil- ler-children, Lydia married Cyrus Farnsworth ; Levis A. married Martha Burt, resides in Bennington; Alfred T. married Mary Fletcher; Milan A. mar- ried Vesta Shelley. Ira D. resided several years in town, but of late in Keene, married Cordelia Heminway, had ten children, the oldest, Jane, alone living in town, married Lucius P. Farley. Mary A. married Joseph Clyde, resided on the homestead several years, when they removed to the village. They have had two children, George W., and Melbourne E. drowned in 1862. George W. married Felicia L. Shepardson, has been town clerk and treasurer several years, representative in 1880-'82. Eben P. married Jane E. Lovejoy, who lived but a short time, married second, Elvira Richardson, has one son, Eugene W. He has been selectman. For many years he has been an extensive dealer in sheep and cattle. Susan P. married Samuel D. Bill, of Gilsum, resides now in Keene-children, David D. died young, and Fred W. married May E. Hartwell. Benjamin F. was for many years associated with E. A. Fox in the currying business, married Lucy Barney, has had three chil- dren, Emma, and Eddie, both of whom died young, and Melbourn E. Sarah married Horace Darrah, of Bennington, has had five children, two of whom are living, Jennie, married Charles Bass ; Belle, Albert Clement. Elvira and William, two other children of Ira and Abigail, died unmarried.

Eber Lewis was among those who removed from Lyme, Conn., in 1767, settling on road 10. A few years later he erected the " stone" house that stood at the corner of roads 10 and 17. He was for many years selectman, proprietor's committee, and member of the committee of safety, was an ensign in the company called to answer alarums from the time of Lexington till the

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close of the war. William Lewis (1763-1850), his nephew, first came to town in 1774, when eleven years of age. Returning to Connecticut he remained ten years, when he came to Marlow to locate. He purchased land of Elisha Huntley on road 7, his house being about 80 rods north of the present one on the old farm. His brother John spent the winter of 1784 with him here. In 1785 he brought his wife to the new home, here Dudley and Betsey were born. In 1794 they removed to the house built by Gen. Huntley, which stood in the present door-yard, here William, John and George were born, the new house being built about 1799, in which Gurden and Oliver were born. John, Sen., and his wife made a visit to Connecticut when they had been in town about six years. To prepare their two children for the trip, Mrs. Lewis carded, spun wool, and made each article of clothing the chil- dren wore, buying nothing except one-half a yard of shoe binding, with which to fit out the shoes. Mr. Lewis was a prominent man in town affairs, hold- ing many of its offices, was representative in 1824-'27-'28-'34. Dudley (1787-1859) settled on road I, where he always lived. He was often en- trusted with public duties. He married, in 1809, Early Gee, and reared a family of four children : Gilbert, at one time in trade with A. F. Fiske, later at Goshen and Unity ; Dudley H .; Mary E., married Jacob Sanborn ; Mad- aline, married Harvey Sanborn. Dudley H., (1819-1879) resided in Boston from 1839 to 1849, when he purchased a farm on Marlow Hill, where he lived till 1865, when he removed to the village. He has been selectman, town treasurer, and also representative. He married, in 1842, Charlotte Lewis, has had three children-Etta W. (1845) married, in 1865, George H. Messer ; Della E. (1851) married, in 1874, Charles H. Cook ; Emily M., (1854-1868). He was killed by being thrown from a stage coach, Novem- ber, 8, 1879. William, Jr. (1794), settled in the west. John settled in Unity, married Fanny Gee ; his son William lives on road 5. George (1799 -1868) lived with his father one year, when, in 1822, he built the house on road 6 where F. R. Huntley resides. After living here eleven years he removed to the farm now owned F. W. King on road I. He married, in 1820, Mehitable Way, and had three children : Charlotte A. (1822); Chris- topher A. (1825-1874); Mehitable (1837), married F. W. King. George Lewis was for many years an extensive wool dealer. Gurden (1804-1883), lived with his father on the old place and succeeded him in its ownership, living upon it until failing health forced him to leave it to reside with his son Louis H., who still keeps possession of it. though he resides on road 6. Gurden married, in 1826, Lucy Huntley. Besides L. H., they had children : Frances Matson, and Sarah Ann, wife of Andrew J. Barney ; Louis H. married Louise Rogers ; they have two children, Rosa and Ormand.

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Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885, Part 39

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