USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885 > Part 49
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1000 Comstrets
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college, and in mathematics could easily have entered the senior class of any college of that day in the country. He had acquired this knowledge very largely through his own unaided efforts. His parents employed private tu- tors for him occasionally, two of whom were Messrs. Willard and Harvey Bill of Gilsum, the latter of whom was, for many years, editor of the Cheshire Re- publican, in Keene. David, his youngest brother, married Arvilla, daughter of James and Abigail (Keith) Matthews, then of Nelson, formerly and after- wards of Hancock. They had two sons and a daughter. The latter, Miss Emily Normanda Seward, who died May 27, 1885, was a well educated lady of rare beauty of character. The younger son, Mr. James Byron Seward, was educated at the Westbrook seminary in Maine, and the Kimball Union academy, at Meriden, N. H. After being employed in various places in Keene, Boston and New York, he finally commenced business for himself, and is now a commission merchant in New York city. Josiah Lafayette, the elder son, was born in Sullivan, April 17, 1845. His early education was obtained in the school district where his father lived. In the autumn of the years 1859 and 1860, and in the winter of 1860-'61, he studied at Westmore- land, in a select school, taught by Rev. S. H. McCollester, afterwards presi- dent of Büchtel college in Ohio. In 1861, Mr. Seward entered the Phillips Exeter academy, and graduated there in 1864, and was one of three, each of whom received the highest rank. He entered Harvard University in 1864, and graduated in 1868, and received the degree of A. M. in 1871. In 1869, he taught a public school in Frankford, West Virginia, being one of the first teachers in that state after the public school system was introduced, and was compelled to endure all of the odium and prejudice which the south- ern people, at that time, were accustomed to heap upon a Yankee school- master. In 1870, he taught a private school in the Selwyn's theater building in Boston, preparing young men for college. In 1870-'71, he became the first principal of the Conant Free school in Jaffrey, which had been estab- lished through the munificence of John Conant, Esq. In the autumn of 1871, he entered the Harvard Divinity school and received the degree of B. D. from there in 1874. December 31, 1874, he was ordained over the South Congregational (Unitarian) church and society in Lowell, and still labors in that parish, which is one of the largest and most flourishing of the Unitarian churches in the country.
Orlando Leslie Seward, son of Orlando and Lydia Seward, a great-grandson of Captain Samuel Seward, and whose early youth was passed in Sullivan, received the degree of Bachelor of Science from Dartmouth college in 1875. He is a civil engineer in Keene, and has unusual skill in mathematical draw- ing, and is a respectable portrait painter.
Rev. Granville Wardwell, born in Nelson, December 7, 1819. lived in Sul- livan during the most of his youth. He graduated at Dartmouth college in 1848. He studied divinity at Lane seminary, Walnut Hill, Ohio, one year, and also at the Andover Theological seminary, where he graduated in 1853.
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He was ordained as an evangelist at Sullivan, October 19, 1853, at the same time that Rev. E. C. A. Wood: was ordained, of whom we shall speak. He preached at Kalamazoo, Mich., from 1853 to 1855. From 1855 to 1857 he taught in the Phillips Andover academy, in which institution he had also taught during his theological studies from 1851-'53. He preached at Kennebunk, Me., in 1857-'58, and afterwards moved to Westminster West, Vt., where he died, June 24, 1858. Rev. Ezra Wardwell, his brother, lived temporarily in Sullivan, but was never considered a resident of the town.
Edgar Vinton Wilson, Esq., son of Frederic Almon and Cadelia (Mack) Wilson, of Sullivan, took the degree of Bachelor of Science at Cornell uni- versity in 1872. He is a nephew of Rev. Prof. Dexter Wilson, of that insti- tution, and formerly a professor at Hobart college. Mr. E. V. Wilson is now a lawyer at Athol, Mass., where he has built up a good practice.
Rev. Enoch Charles Augustus Woods, son of Enoch and Elizabeth (Frost) Woods, of Sullivan, was born at Newport, N. H., September 11, 1824. He graduated at Dartmouth college in 1850. He studied theology at the Ando- ver Theological seminary, where he graduated in 1853. He was ordained at Sullivan, where he had spent the most of his youth, October 19, 1853, at the same time and place as the ordination of Rev. Granville Ward- well, and as a missionary of the American Home Missionary society. He went immediately to Wapello, Iowa, where he died November 4, 1854, ex- actly one year from the day of his arrival, after a faithful ministry. He was a cousin of the three Frost brothers, a sketch of whose lives we have given.
Prof. J. Willston Wright, of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York city, is a grandson of the Rev. Joel Wright who once preached in Sullivan, and is a native of that town.
Rev. Artemas Bowers Muzzey, a graduate of Harvard in 1824, and an hon- ored preacher in the Unitarian denomination, should be mentioned, as he lived for quite a time with his uncle, Rev. William Muzzey, in Sullivan. Rev. Edwin Jerome Gerry. recently deceased, another honored Unitarian preacher and home missionary, lived for a time with his uncle, John Winch, in Sulli- van. Rev. Calvin Stoughton Locke, a son of Amos Locke who was born and died in Sullivan, is another respected preacher of the Unitarian persua- sion and a well-known school teacher in Dedham, Mass. He lived for sev- eral years with his uncle, Charles P. Locke, in Sullivan. His father's sister, Cynthia Locke, married the Rev. Moses Gerould, of Alstead and Stoddard, whose son, Rev. Samuel Lankton Gerould, graduated at Dartmouth in 1858, and now preaches at Goffstown.
Harrison Rugg, one of the five children of Elijah Rugg, came here with his father, from his native town, Lancaster, Mass., in 1796. He reared a family of six children-four sons and two daughters. Horace K., the oldest, now lives in Acworth, N. H. Edward E. lives in Keene, an engineer in the Symonds's tannery. Daniel W. has lived in Sullivan most of his life, upon the farm where he was born, and which he still owns, though his present res-
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idence is at East Sullivan. He has been selectman four years, and was a del- egate to Concord, for the Republican party of the town.
Judson White, a r.ative of Uxbridge, Mass., came to this town with his father, Josiah G., an early settler here. George, son of Judson, was born on the place he now occupies, and has always been employed in farming. He has been selectman seven years, and represented his town in 1875 and in 1876. He has been chorister at the Congregational church for over thirty years. He married Lovina L .. daughter of Asa Ellis, and sister of Deacon Atwell C. Ellis, and has had born to him two children, only one of whom, Samuel S. is living. The latter resides with his parents on the old farm.
Daniel Goodnow, a native of Nelson, and a soldier of 1812, was the son of Abraham Goodnow, born in Sudbury, Mass., and one of the earliest set- tlers of Nelson. The former had three children, only two of whom are living, viz .: Caleb and Mrs. Mary M. Raymond, of Westminster, Mass. Caleb left home when he was twenty-one years of age, was a mill hand in Massachusetts, and also in Marlboro and Keene. He came to East Sullivan in 1843, and bought the mill on the site of which he built another in 1846. He repre- sented this town in 1859 and 1860, was councilman at Keene in 1880, and has been postmaster here seventeen or eighteen years. He married twice, first, Mary L. Burr, of Marlboro, N. H., who bore him six children, five of whom are living; and second, Mrs. Fannie B. Smith, of Harrisville. His oldest son, Charles F., is married, and is a butcher in Bellows Falls, Vt. Ella M. is married to Marshall W. Nims, and resides in Winchendon, Mass. Fan- nie L. is the wife of Minot W. Hubbard, and lives here, on road 19. Leslie H., one of the firm of Goodnow Bros., is town treasurer, and is a leader and teacher of the Sullivan band. D. Wilmer is also of the firm of Goodnow Bros.
Roswell Hubbard and his brother Erastus came to Sullivan, originally from Connecticut, and located in the southern part of the town, at an early day. He was a prominent man in town affairs, and held most all the offices. Hezro, son of Roswell, was born here, married Nancy M. Mark, of Gilsum, and moved to that town, where he died. He reared two children, Elizabeth, who died at the age of four years, and Hezro W., who lives in Keene, and carries on the machine business. There are now some of the descendants of this family living in the town of Sullivan.
Samuel Winchester was born in Ashburnham, Mass., November 12, 1785, and remained there until 1812, when he removed to Sullivan. His first wife was Sally Foster, of Roxbury, who bore him one daughter, Sally F., now Mrs. Levi Barret, of Gilsum. His second wife was Chloe F. Boynton, of Sullivan, who bore him eight children, four of whom are now living. His third wife was Eusebia Eames. Elliot C, son of Samuel, represented Sulli- van in 1871-'72, held various minor offices, and took the census of Gilsum and Surry, in 1880. He married Anna E. Rawson. He has been a success- ful farmer and stock breeder, and a specialist in sugar making.
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Hon. Charles Carter Comstock, the subject of this sketch, was born in this town on the 5th day of March, 1818. His father was a farmer, and his son, Charles, was brought up in the customary manner of the New England farm- er's boys, in assisting the father in agricultural work, and acquiring a knowl- edge of the rudiments of learning at the district schools during the winter months. To the enterprising youth these advantages and the healthful influ- ences of the home surroundings were sufficient to lay a solid foundation for any business pursuits he might select as his future avocation. In those New England hives of industry there were seldom any drones. Charles at the age of eighteen years, induced his father to sell the old farm in Sullivan, and purchase a much larger and better one in Westmoreland, which was then considered a very bold if not a reckless undertaking. Still, by hard work and perseverance it proved to be a success, notwithstanding the great finan- cial crisis of 1837, which swept over the country before the first crop had been harvested upon the new farm. In 1842, he built a saw-mill, and carried on the business with success, until the year 1853, when he removed to Grand Rapids, Michigan, then an embryo city of about three thousand inhabitants. It was soon after this time that the writer of this sketch made his acquaint- ance, and of him and his career since, can speak from personal knowledge. Mr. Comstock is possessed of great individuality. His methods of thought, action and business are distinctive, and in some respects peculiar to himself. His mind, supported by a vigorous constitution, is strong, and his insight into the future is far-seeing. His estimate of results from plans of action deter- mined by himself is remarkably accurate. He seldom misses his aim, and when he does, it results from intervening causes over which he has no con- trol, and which could not naturally be expected to arise. Honorable in all the relations of life, his word is esteemed reliable, and needs no cement of bond and seal to insure the performance of what he promises. In his domes- tic life and social relations he is kind and genial; benevolent to a fault, his gifts are unostentatious and the deserving have no better friend. He has a rare faculty of estimating men at their true worth and consequently has seldom been imposed upon by false or assuming friends. His attachments are formed with care, but when once seated his friendship is of the staunchest type. It is needless to say that one with such positive convictions, and courage to follow where they lead, will meet with opposition ; but those who oppose Mr. Comstock concede his honesty of purpose and integrity of character. Possessed of characteristics such as these Mr. Comstock laid the foundation of his business enterprises at Grand Rapids, the home of his adoption. This city, now one of the largest manufacturing cities of the west, with a popula- tion of over forty thousand souls, was then in its infancy. Here Mr. Com- stock engaged in the lumbering business in 1853, and soon after enlarged its scope to embrace the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds, he and his part- ners being the pioneers in the introduction of machinery for that purpose at this place. In 1857 he purchased of Messrs. E. W. & S. A. Winchester their
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furniture factory and business. Then came the great financial depression of that year which swept down the business of the west like a tornado. He was compelled to assign for the benefit of his creditors, but continued the busi- ness for three years in the name of his assignees, they doing nothing. He determined by industry and economy to pay every creditor in full, and in a few years he accomplished this purpose, and not a dollar was lost to any of his creditors by his failure, and he thus laid the foundation of a lasting credit and secured a reputation for business integrity which has continued unim- paired to the present time. In 1862 he inaugurated the first wholesale furni- ture establishment entered upon in this city-an example which has been fol- lowed by many firms and corporations until the city has become famous for the manufacture of furniture.
In 1863, he commenced the manufacture of pails and tubs which he de- veloped by the use of improved machinery. The magnitude of the business thus built up can be imagined when the fact is considered that his annual consumption of hoop-iron aggregated 300 tons. To supply his saw-mills he purchased large tracts of pine timbered land upon the tributaries of the Grand River, from which he annually manufactures 10,000,000 feet of lumber. His real estate in the city is extensive, and aside from other improvements made thereon he has erected a fine four-story brick block upon Canal street in which he carries on the grocery business. He is president of and owns the majority of the stock in the Grand Rapids Chair Company. He is also a farmer, and owns and carries on several large farms in the vicinity of the city. He has also made large investments in pine lands in the state of Louis- iana ; his purchases there aggregating 34,000 acres of as choice pine as is situated in that state. He is the proprietor of Comstock's Addition to the city of Grand Rapids, upon which numerous dwellings and the Grand Rapids Chair Factory have already been erected. Mention has been made of a few of the enterprises in which he has been engaged calling for the employment of a large number of men and requiring considerable capital to carry them on, for the purpose of merely illustrating what enterprise, pluck and business capacity will do when controlled and directed by sound judgment and energy.
His political career deserves a separate mention. His political attachments and sympathies were with the Democratic party. But accustomed to think for himself, he was quick to see and frank to criticise and condemn their mis- takes and short-comings. During the civil war he was what was then known as a war Democrat. He was elected mayor of the city in 1863 and re-eleted in 1864. He originated and carried through the plan of bonding the city to obtain recruits to fill its quota of troops for the service ; and at the same time, on his recommendation, a sinking fund was provided to retire the bonds at maturity. He took great interest in promoting the general welfare of the city and in carrying forward much needed improvements. His administration of city affairs was a popular one.
In 1870 he was nominated for governor of the state by the Democratic
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party. At that time the average Republican majority in the state was 30,000, and of course his election was out of the question ; but he made an excellent canvass, and the Republican nominee was elected by a reduced majority. Mr. Comstock at this time had decided views upon financial questions. He had noted the disastrous results to the manufacturing, commercial and business interests of the country by the sudden expansion and contraction of the cur- rency, and he insisted that it was the duty of congress to provide against such consequences by so regulating the amount of currency in circulation that it should always be adequate to the just demands of business. This was the end he insisted should be reached ; the means whereby it could, in his opinion be accomplished were pointed out, but are too lengthy to be stated here. In 1873 he was nominated as the people's candidate for congress, and was again defeated by 114 votes. In 1878 he accepted the nomination to congress as the candidate of the Greenback party, and wanted only 710 votes of an election out of a vote of about 36,000. Again in 1884 he was the choice of the Democratic and Greenback conventions, who united in presenting the name of Mr. Comstock as their candidate for congress, and he was elected after a close, active and vigorous campaign over Hon. J. C. FitzGerald, who was an able lawyer, formerly a state senator and candidate of the Republican convention. Mr. FitzGerald was a man of means, of great energy, and went into the canvass to win. He was supposed by his friends. to be invincible, and although the district gave its popular vote in favor of the Republican nominee for governor, yet Mr. Comstock's great popularity with all classes of the community carried him through one of the most hotly contested campaigns ever held in the district, and elected him over his com- petitor by a handsome majority.
Mr. Comstock was married January 9, 1840, to Mary M., daughter of Samuel Winchester, of his native town. She died of consumption in Decem- ber, 1863, leaving three daughters and one son. She was a devoted wife and a faithful christain mother. The eldest daughter, Alzina, together with her husband, Mr. Albert A. Stone, and their child, were lost with the steamer " Brother Jonathan," off the coast of California, July 30th, 1865. Tileston, the only son, died of consumption September 16, 1870. The other two daughters are married and reside at Grand Rapids. Mr. Comstock was married to his present wife in 1865, and by whom he has two daughters, one married, the other at school. Mr. Comstock has now arrived at sixty-seven years of age, his silvered hair betokens the approach of the time which marks the boundary of human exertion, yet his temperate and methodical habits have preserved his mental and physical condition so that the vigor of his earlier years is little, if any abated. It is hoped by the writer that many years of usefulness yet remain for him.
Atwell C. Ellis, the eldest of two children of Asa and Lucy (Rugg) Ellis, and grandson of Simeon Ellis, who settled in Sullivan, from Keene, was born in the east part of Sullivan, October 12, 1821. He was educated at the pub-
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lic and select school in Sullivan and Nelson. He has followed agricultural pursuits, and has manufactured lumber over twenty years. Since 1838 he has been a member of the Congregational church, of Sullivan, for eleven years was deacon of the church, and for the last five years has been deacon of the church at East Sullivan. For thirteen years he faithfully served his town as town clerk, until 1881, when he was prostrated by rheumatism, and for more than a year confined to his room. Two terms in the state legislature he acted for the people of Sullivan, 1867-68. As selectman he officiated for five years, 1859-60-61-65-66, and for thirty-three years was an officer in the Sabbath-school. He was happily marrried, February 3, 1846, to Nancy Adams, daughter of Jonas, and a native of Stoddard. But one child, Austin A. Ellis, has been born to them. He is now a manufacturer of lumber, and is one of the selectmen of the town.
Nathan Taft came from Westminster, Mass., and located in the western part of Nelson, on road 15, soon after 1790. His wife was Bolton, from Gardner, Mass., and they were married about 1797, and reared six child- ren. Hollis Taft, of Keene, is the youngest, and only one now living. Nathan Taft, Jr., born on the farm in Nelson, 1799, lived there until seventy-one years old. He married Sarah Barstow, of Nelson, and had three children. His second wife was Achsah Hardy, who reared four children. Elbridge H. Taft, of East Sullivan, S. Hardy Taft, of Keene, and Dr. Albert H. Taft, of Winchester, are all that remain of this family. Edward N. Taft, another son, was killed at the battle of Williamsburg, Va. Elbridge H. Taft, born July 27, 1830, was engaged in the lumber business in Harrisville twenty-seven years as overseer. He settled at East Sullivan in 1874, represented Sullivan and Gilsum in the legislature of 1881-82. He married, December 19, 1860, Mary L. Baker, of Nelson, and has had four children, two of whom are- living.
Joseph Foster, son of Benjamin and Mehitable Foster, of Lunenburg, Mass.,. married Sarah Jones, January 17, 1760. He resided at Lunenburg, Mass., Fitzwilliam and Marlboro, N. H., and they both died at Marlboro, (on the " Houghton place," now in Roxbury,) in 1804. Their children, born in Lunenburg, were Rebecca, September 16, 1760 ; Enoch, August 21, 1762 ; James, April 24, 1764 ; Stephen, December 11, 1768; Sarah, Octo- ber 19, 1770. Stephen Foster, married Lydia Nichols, removed with his father to Fitzwilliam and thence to Marlboro, and in 1799 settled on the farm in Sullivan where Henry Rawson now lives, and died there Decem- ber 10, 1855. Their children were Stephen, Jr., born September 20, 1798 ; Lydia, born November 16, 1800, died October 4, 1816; Ephriam, born No- vember 16, 1802; Joseph, born February 27, 1805; Mary, born March 28, 1807 ; Hosea, born August 12, 1809; Mehitable, born May 2, 1813 ; Eliza- beth, born May 9, 1815, died July 22, 1831 ; Thomas, born April 18, 1817, died in infancy. Stephen, Jr., married Nancy Briggs. To them were born M. Theresa and George West. He was a farmer in Gilsum, and died August
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12, 1870. Ephriam married Sybil Mason. To them were born Sarah N., Mary J., Ellen E., Mason, and Sumner C. Joseph married Susan Stratton. Mary married Cutler Knight. Hosea married Nancy Richardson. Mehita- ble married Rev. D. P. French, and resides in Nashville, Illinois.
Joseph Foster, in 1829, made, as is supposed, the first reed organ in this country, and the same is now in existence at Keene. He and his brother Ephraim were for many years engaged in the manufacture of reed instru- ments in Keene. He died October 3, 1875. Hosea Foster has resided in Keene for thirty-seven years, and for the last fourteen years he has been clerk in the register of deeds office. George W. Foster has resided in Keene for about twenty-five years, a popular teacher of music and an extensive dealer in musical instruments.
Several of the original proprietors of Sullivan had served in the Revolu- tion. There were Sullivan men in the war of 1812, and Sullivan "acted well her part" in the great war of the Rebellion. She sent nearly twenty inen into the service, not to speak of the natives of the town who enlisted from other places. They were brave soldiers ; none deserting, none failing in cour- age, enthusiasm or patriotic service. We cannot name the living lest we might do injustice by omissions. The nine who died deserve an honorable mention. It was a great sacrifice for so small a community, and it was a most precious sacrifice. All were honest, respectable, industrious, and re- liable young men. There was no exception to this statement. Their names shall follow : Silas Black, of the 2d N H. Vols., died in hospital, December '20, 1861 ; Andrew J. Rugg, of the same regiment, died in hospital, at Phila- delphia, July 5, 1862 ; Edwin T. Nims, of the 14th Regt., died at Poolesville, Md., December 18, 1862; Henry McDonald, of the 6th Regt., was instantly killed in the second battle of Bull Run, August 28, 1862 ; Russell T. Holt, of the 14th Regt., died of disease in Washington, June 21, 1863 ; Dauphin Spaulding of the 14th Regt., died at Washington, February 7, 1864 ; Henry D. Spaulding, his brother, of the same regiment, died at Natchez, Miss., July 1I, 1864 ; Orlando K. Spaulding, who enlisted in an Illinois regiment, died at New York city, on the way to his home, March 12, 1865; and Charles C. Wilson, of the 14th Regt., who was killed in the terrible battle of Opequan, September 19, 1864. Wilson had attained to the rank of sergeant. He had been educated, with his sister (Miss Abby M.), at the Kimball Union acad- emy, at Meridan, N. H. He was a fine scholar and, had he lived, would most likely have followed some learned profession. He was the only son of Charles Franklin Wilson, Esq., for many years the clerk of the town. Black's body was buried at East Sullivan ; Rugg's, Nims's, and Holt's at the new cemetery near the church; O. K. Spaulding's at the old cemetery, and D. Spaulding at the East Sullivan cemetery. The body of McDonald was bur- ied on the battlefield. The body of Wilson, with several others, was buried on the Winchester or Opequan battlefield, in what is now the national ceme- tery there, and the state of New Hampshire has erected an enduring monu-
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