Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 10

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., Syracuse Journal Company, Printers
Number of Pages: 1266

USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886 > 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).

General Dow was the first postmaster of Haverhill, and received his com- mission for that office from President Washington. He took a deep interest in all local matters, and was active in promoting the welfare of the town. His name appears as one of the incorporators of Haverhill academy, and he was a heavy subscriber to the stock of a bridge company, for the purpose of building a bridge across the Connecticut river in Haverhill. He was the owner of the "Dow farm," so-called in local parlance, a tract of land two and a half miles north of Haverhill Corner. His residence was that now owned and occupied by Milo Bailey.

General Dow was a man of great independence of mind, and early led off in a protest against being taxed for the preaching of the gospel. He was fond of discussion, especially the discussion of religious questions. In per- son he was tall and commanding, with dignified bearing and courtly manners. As a citizen he was enterprising, energetic, a true and earnest patriot, and a man of high character and fine literary attainments. His prominent stand- ing in his profession, and his great abilities, made him not only a foremost citizen of the town, but eminent in the county and in the State.

General Dow married Phebe Emerson, by whom he had four children, two sons and two daughters, and died in Haverhill, in 1811.

Alden Sprague was born in Rochester, Mass., and came to Haverhill about 1796. He was married twice. A daughter by the first wife married James I. Swan, a lawyer of Bath. His second wife was Eunice Stoddard, a remark- able woman, and they had five children. E. C. Sprague, a prominent lawyer of Buffalo, N. Y., is a grandson of Alden Sprague, and was the author of the famous Sprague-Clark letter in the campaign of 1884.

Alden Sprague was a learned and acute lawyer, a very eloquent advocate, and enjoyed a large and lucrative practice. He was a favorite in society, and a man of wit and brains. The late Judge Rand's mother was a daughter of Alden Sprague. He was admitted to the bar in Cheshire county, and studied, probably, with his half brother, Peleg Sprague. Mr. Sprague was a tall and dignified man of gentle manners, manly in his bearing, and public spirited, taking a leading part in town affairs. He died in Barnet, Vt., in 1811.

GRAFTON COUNTY.

John Porter, born in Haverhill, was the son of Asa Porter and Mehite- bel (Crocker) Porter. Read law in Chester and practiced there, afterward moved to Haverhill in 1795. He practiced in Newbury, Vt. He married a Miss Webster, of Chester, and moved to Canada.

Moses Dow, Jr., son of Moses and Phebe (Emerson) Dow, studied, it is thought, with his father, and began the practice of the law in Haverhill in 1800. He was judge of Probate from 1808 till 1838, and was also post- master in Haverhill for a number of years. Mr. Dow was a man of little force of character.

George Woodward, born in Hanover, was a grandson of president Wheelock of Dartmouth college. He began the practice of law in Haverhill in 1805, married for his first wife a Miss Leverett, of Windsor, Vt., and for his second wife a daughter of Capt. Webster, of Plymouth. He was clerk of the court, a member of church, and died in Lowell.

John Nelson, born in Exeter, in 1778, graduated at Dartmouth college. Read law with Charles Marsh, of Woodstock, Vt., and Peter O. Thacher, of Boston. practiced in Haverhill, and died there. He had eleven children. As a lawyer he is said to have been nearly as good as Bell, but lacked his physical power. Was associated with Hon. Richard Fletcher in the famous Dow and Bell breach of promise case. Mr. Nelson was a lawyer of high stand- ing in ability and character. He married for his first wife Susannah, daugh- ter of Ebenezer Brewster, of Hanover, and for his second wife Lois Everett, daughter of Mr. Everett, of Windsor, Vt., who was a representative in con- gress for twenty years.

Henry Hutchinson was admitted to the bar of the Common Pleas at Sep- tember term 1807, from the office of Aaron Hutchinson, and began the practice of law in Haverhill in 1810.

Daniel Sloane, born in Pelham Mass., in 1780, worked his way through Dartmouth college, and graduated in 1806. He read law with George Woodward, of Haverhill, and with W. H. Woodward, of Hanover and began practice at Haverhill in 1811. He married a daughter of Capt. Thomas Johnson, of Newbury, Vt., and had two sons graduate at Dartmouth college. Mr. Sloane was a shrewd and astute lawyer and a man of prominence. He died in 1860.

Joseph Bell, born in Bradford, N. H., in 1787, was a son of Joseph and Mary (Houston) Bell, and was of Scotch-Irish parentage. He graduated at Dartmouth college in 1807, and taught in Haverhill academy in 1807-08. Read law with Hon. Samuel Bell, of Amherst, Hon. Samuel Dana, of Boston, Hon. Jeremiah Smith of Exeter, and began the practice of his profession in Haverhill in 1811, and continued there till 1842, when he moved to Boston, and became associated with the late Henry F. Durant. Whilst at Haverhill Mr. Bell was solicitor for Grafton county, represented the town a number of years in the General Court, and was a candidate for Congress in 1835. He was also cashier of the Grafton county bank, and afterward its president.

BENCH AND BAR.

Mr. Bell, while he resided in Boston, was a member of the Masschusetts legislature, both of the House and of the Senate. He was also president of the Senate for one term. Mr Bell married Catharine, daughter of Mills Olcott of Hanover. They had three children, one son and two daughters. In 1837 Mr. Bell received the honorary degree of LL. D., from Dartmouth college. In personal appearance he was a large, powerful, compactly built man. His posi- tion as a lawyer was in the front rank in the state, of his time. He had a large and lucrative practice, and was in those days a high priced lawyer. His practice extended into the neighboring counties. He was stronger as a lawyer than as an advocate. In speach he was loud and imperious, and often turned the sympathies of the jury away from him on this account. He was naturally aristocratic and overbearing. Had Mr. Bell spent the prime of his life in a larger center he would have gained more than a state reputation. He died at Saratoga in 1851.

Samuel Cortland began the practice of law in Haverhill in 1825, and con- tinued to do so till 1838. He was a man of excellent ability, and held the position of state senator at one time. His political ambition was not fully gratified, and he is said to have been a disappointed man. He was a person of fine character and excellent ability, but lacking some in force. He was personally attractive, and of kindly disposition.

Edmund Carleton, a son of Dr. Carleton, born in Haverhill, graduated at Dartmouth college, read law with Joseph Bell, was admitted at Haverhill in 1828, and began practice there. He married Miss Coffin, sister of C. C. Coffin (" Carleton " of the Boston Journal). He was a man of precise man- ners, a church member, and extremely anti-slavery in sentiment.

Hale Atkinson Johnson was born in Haverhill in 1801, a son of Capt. Michael and Sarah (Atkinson) Johnson. He graduated at Dartmouth col- lege in 1825, taught in Northumberland, Pa, read law with James McKeen, of New York, finished with Joseph Bell, was admitted to the bar in 1829, and practiced in Haverhill till 1831, when he died of consumption. He was a man of hopeful professional prospects.

Daniel Blasdell was born in Pittsfield in 1806, son of Hon. Elijah B. and Mary (Fogg) Blasdell. He fitted for college at Kimball Union academy and graduated at Dartmouth college in 1827. Read law with Joseph Bell, admitted in 1830, and began practice at Haverhill with John Nelson, moved to Lebanon and thence to Hanover, where he continued his profession, and was also treasurer of Dartmouth college for many years, was representative for several years, state senator and presidential elector in 1860. A man of courtly manners, exact in speech, close and patient lawyer, and Unitarian in religion. He died in 1879 (?).

Edward R. Olcott .- (See Hanover.)

Jonathan Bliss was born in Randolph, Vt., in 1799. He graduated from Dartmouth college in 1824, read law with Joseph Bell, William C. Thompson, and at Northampton, Mass. Began practice at Haverhill and at Plymouth

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GRAFTON COUNTY.

in 1828. In 1836 he moved to Gainesville, Ala. He married for his first wife Lucretia, daughter of Hon. William Leverett, of Windsor, Vt., and second, Mary, daughter of Dr. Samuel Kidder, of Charlestown, Mass., and third, Mrs. Maria Kidder, of Medford, Mass. He died in 1882 or 1883.

William H. Duncan .- (See Hanover.)

Samuel C. Webster was a lawyer in Haverhill in 1835. He remained in Haverhill only one year, where he died. - (See Plymouth.)

Nathan B. Felton, born in Pelham, Mass., in 1798, fitted for college in Chester, Vt., graduated at Middlebury college, Vt., in 1819, read law with Gen. Charles W. Field, of Newfane, Vt., began to practice law at Lebanon, afterward, 1834, moved to Haverhill and practiced law there till his death. He was clerk of the court for ten years, representative, and register of pro- bate, also served in town offices. He was a man of slight body, large head, of quaint humor, a learned lawyer, a safe counsellor, and a man of marked integrity.

David H. Collins .- Of Mr. Collins little can be learned. He came to Haverhill in 1838 or '39, from Deerfield, and was engaged in the register of deeds' office for a few years. He was in poor health, and soon left Haverhill for his home, where he died of consumption. He was a very worthy man, but not very social, and a little singular.

Jonas Darius Sleeper was born in Guilford, and received his education at New Hampton and at Brown University, Providence, R. I. He read law with Hon. Josiah Quincy, of Rumney, whose daughter he married. He was ad- mitted in 1842, commenced practice at Hill, was appointed clerk of the Grafton county court in 1848, which position he held till 1860, when he became cashier of the State Capitol bank of Concord. Afterward he was ap- pointed clerk of the Merrimack county court, and continued in office till his death. Mr. Sleeper was also, at one time, a state senator. He was a man of integrity, ability and fidelity, of social and genial companionship, and an excellent citizen, a friend to all, and all friends to him. He died in 1868.

John S. Bryant was born in Meredith in 1800, was a self-made man, came to Haverhill and began to practice law in 1846, and died there in 1873. He was full of energy, public-spirited, and a very agreeable man in society, and naturally a man well-endowed.

David Page, son of Samuel, was born in Haverhill, Mass., August 6, 1809, and removed with his parents to Benton, when about four years of age. Until twenty-one years of age, he aided his father and brothers in clearing and doing the work of the farm, and attended the district school during the winters. Then, being determined to obtain a better education, he worked his way through several terms at the Haverhill academy, prepared himself for teach- ing, and followed this vocation several winters. In 1839 he went to Groton as a clerk in the store of Moses Pike, and married Margaret Taylor, a native of Derry, N. H., and a teacher in that town, December 31, 1844. Soon after his marriage, he moved to Haverhill. Mr. Page was admitted to the

David Page

BENCH AND BAR.

bar in Haverhill, in 1845, and practiced several years. He afterwards pur- chased a store and stock of goods, and went into the mercantile business, which he continued until 1857. After this he practiced law, and did a large business in procuring pensions after the war. In his early life he was a mem- ber of the militia, of which he became a captain. He served as selectman in Benton, and was several years auditor of Haverhill. His wife died in March, 188r, and his death occurred July 1, 1881. Of his five children, two died in infancy, and Elvira, born in 1847, is now the wife of Alvin Burleigh, Esq., of Plymouth, N. H .; Martha A. became the wife of C. R. Whitney, of Keene, and is now deceased ; and Samuel T.

W. C. Thompson was a lawyer in Haverhill previous to 1855, in which year he went away. He was an elegant and accomplished man. He married Mary Orcutt, of Hanover.

George Willey Chapman, born in 1830, in New Chester (now Hollis), educated at Cleveland, Ohio, Northfield, and Hill academy, studied law in , Cleveland, Ohio, with Willey & Carey, with J. D. Sleeper, of Hill, and with Judge Nesmith and Pike, of Franklin, was admitted to the bar at Plymouth in 1849. He practiced at Hill till 1853, since then at Haverhill, and married Eleanor H. Towle, of Haverhill. Mr. Chapman has been a successful, prom- inent lawyer, of a large and lucrative practice, public spirited, agreeable in society, hospitable and abounding in story and anecdote. He is now presi- dent of Bradford Savings bank, Vt.

Charles Robert Morrison. (See Bath).

Hon. Nathaniel Waite Westgate was born in Plainfield, N. H., January 26, 1801, son of Earl and Elizabeth (Wait) Westgate. Until fifteen years of age his lot was that common to boys of country birth-attending district school. At this age, however, his school life was interrupted by a serious illness, that confined him for two years to the house, and left him with a lameness from which he has never recovered. When health was sufficiently restored he resumed the pursuit of an education, attending school at Kimball Union academy at Meri- den, where he took the prescribed course. Choosing the law as a profession he, at the age of twenty two, entered the office of Charles Flanders, Esq., as a stil- dent and was admitted to practice at Newport in the autumn of 1827. Imme- diately afterward he located at Enfield Center, opened an office, and for a period of nearly thirty yeasr continued to reside here, engaged in the prac- tice of his profession, before the courts of Grafton and Sullivan counties. Chosen to the office of register of probate in March, 1856, he assumed its duties in July, and took up his residence in Haverhill in the house where he still lives. From register he was appointed to the position of judge of probate, succeed- ing Judge Berry when he was elected governor in 1851, and retired from the office only when advancing age disqualfied him for its duties, in 1871. In politics, originally a Whig, the principles enunciated by the Republican party upon its formation met his approval, and he became an early and permanent adherent to its creed. During his residence in Enfield he filled with credit

GRAFTON COUNTY.

various offices of public trust, including those of superintendent of schools, town clerk and postmaster for several years. He was chosen representative from Haverhill in the legislature in 1861. His duties as register and judge of probate, have taken him at stated intervals to all parts of Grafton county, and in his long official career has given him a personal acquaintance with many of its inhabitants, wherein his hearty cordiality, unequivocal sincerity and sound judgment, have established universal respect and profound regard.

The care and sagacity which have marked his private business life and made it successful have made his counsel and advice highly valued, and often sought in business matters. Generosity, benevolence and philanthropy have characterized his response to calls for aid in all projects calculated to enhance the material, social, intellectual or religious welfare of the community in which he lives, as well as in many cases of private necessity. Quiet and un- assuming by nature, his official trusts have come as the result of public con- fidence in recognized ability and integrity, rather than of self-seeking, and his influence for good in the community has been by an example known, read and approved of his fellow-men. Now, from the good old age of eighty-five, he has reason for calm satisfaction and honest pride, in looking back over a lifetime of honorable public service, stainless private character, domestic felic- ity and financial success.

He married for his first wife Lydia J., daughter of Doctor Prentiss, of Spring field, who died five years after marriage. His present estimable helpmeet, Louise, daughter of Austin Tyler, of Claremont, became his wife November 14, 1842, and is the mother of his six children : Tyler, born at Enfield, De- cember 2, 1843, was educated at Kimball Union academy, graduating in the class of 1864, has served as register of probate four years, as clerk of the state Senate, as postmaster at Haverhill from 1881 to '85, and is now of the firm of Poor & Westgate, merchants at Haverhill. He married Lucretia M. Sawyer who is now deceased. Nathaniel W., Jr., born January 19, 1846, studied at Kimball Union and Haverhill academies, enlisted at the age of eighteen, served in the Civil war and died in the rebel prison at Danville, Va., January 7, 1865.

William Francis Westgate, son of Nathaniel W., educated at Haverhill, Kim- ball Union and New London academies, graduated from the Chandler scien- tific department, Dartmonth college, studied law with G. F. Putnam, Esq., admitted to practice in March, 1880, and has since practiced law and civil engi- neering at Haverhill. He has served as superintendent of schools, as repre- sentative in the legislature of 1882, and as register of probate since July, 1884. Jennie L., a daughter, and George H., of Haverhill, are also children of N .. W. Westgate.

George F. Putnam, born in Croydon, educated at Thetford academy and Norwich university, Vt., read law with N. B. Felton, of Haverhill, and Judge C. R. Munson, of Manchester, was admitted at Manchester in 1867. He began practice in Haverhill in 1867, afterward at Warren, and then again in

C AMolgale

BENCH AND BAR.

Haverhill. In 1882 he moved to Kansas City, Mo., where he now is in practice He married a daughter of Sylvanus Reding, of Haverhill. Mr. Putnam beld many public positions. He was representative from Haverhill and from Warren, solicitor of Grafton county, and a delegate to the St. Louis conven- tion that nominated Mr. Tilden for President, is an able and successful law- yer, public spirited, energetic, affable, and a model of physique and health.

Luther Colby Morse, born in Haverhill, in 1834, educated at Newbury and Dartmouth college, read law with Oliver A Lull and Nath. W. Westgate, of Haverhill, admitted at Haverhill in 1863, and began practice there. Reg- ister of probate for ten years from 1860. Says "put in a substitute during the war." He is now living somewhere in the west.

Samuel Taylor Page, son of David, was educated at the district school, the Haverhill and Kimball Union academies, and at Dartmouth college from which he graduated in 1871, working his way through the course, in part by teaching. He studied law at Manchester, was admitted to the bar at Am- herst, in May, 1874, and has always resided in Haverhill. He has served as school superintendent of this town eight years, and was register of probate for Grafton county in 1874 and '75 and from 1879 to 1885, and represented Haverhill in the General Court in 1877-78. He married Frances M. Eaton, of Manchester, in October, 1872, and has two children, Gracie M., born Jan- uary 12, 1874, and Donald T., born October 27, 1878. Mr. Page is now general business manager of the New Hampshire Democratic Press Company at Concord.

Samuel Berkley Page, born at Littleton in 1838, educated at Exeter, Mc- Indoe's Falls, Vt., and Union college, N. Y., read law with Woods and Bing- hams, and at the law school, Albany, N. Y., began practice at Wells River, Vt., afterward at Warren, Concord, and then at Woodsville, in Haverhill. He married Martha C. Lang, of Bath. Mr. Page was representative from War- ren for a number of years ; from Concord a member of constitutional con- vention in 1876. He is a lawyer of ability, and does a large business.

HILL .* +-Hon. Nathan Crosby, son of Asa and Rebecca (Holt) Crosby, of Sandwich, N. H., and brother of Prof. Alpheus Crosby, the eminent Greek scholar, and Dr. Dixi Crosby, the eminent medical practitioner and instructor, was born at that place February 12, 1798, and died at Lowell, Mass., Febru- ary 10, 1885. He was in the practice of law at Hill from about 1823 to 1826. He graduated from Dartmouth college in 1820. Among his distin- guished classmates were Hon. George W. Nesmith, Hon. N. G. Upham and Hon. George P. Marsh. He was engaged in the practice of law successively at Gilmanton, in partnership with his old preceptor Mr. Moody, whose daugh- ter he married; at Amesbury, Mass., and at Newburyport. Though he had met with good success at the bar, in 1829 he entered in the business of man-

* By George W. Chapman, Esq.

+ Hill, until July 1, 1868, was a part of Grafton county.

GRAFTON COUNTY.

ufacturing as agent of the Salisbury Company. After six years he became agent of the Massachusetts Temperance Union. In 1843 he resumed the practice of law at Lowell. He was employed in 1845 and 1846 in purchas- ing the New Hampshire lakes for reservoirs by the corporations in Lowell and Lawrence. In May of the latter year he became justice of the Lowell Police Court, held the office more than thirty-eight years, and until a few weeks before his death. He performed a great amount of literary work, lectured much on temperance, edited the Temperance Journal, published articles entitled, "The First Half Century of Dartmouth College," "History of the Crosby Family," "Reminiscences of Distinguished Men of Essex County," "Eulogy on Hon. Tappan Wentworth," "Memorial Address on Judge Samuel S. Wilde," and made a multitude of other contributions to current literature and history. Formerly he was a Whig in politics. He was a devoted and life-long member of the Congregational church. In his judi- cial term he did not announce his political creed. He was a Prohibitionist in doctrine, but perhaps not in politics. Nine children were of his first marriage. His second marriage occurred in 1870. Several children survived him.

George W. Phelps located here from about 1827 to 1843. (See Bristol.) Jonas D. Sleeper located here from about 1843 to 1848. (See Haverhill.) George W Chapman located here 1848 to 1853. (See Haverhill.)

HOLDERNESS AND ASHLAND .*- Hon. Samuel Livermore was a descendant of John Livermore, of Watertown, Mass. He was born in Waltham, Mass., May 14, 1732-two months and twenty days after the birth of Washington. He graduated at Princeton, N. J., in 1752, was at Falmouth (now Portland, Me.,) in 1754, and was a witness to the signatures appended to a treaty with the Penobscot Indians, which treaty was "done and concluded at Falmouth, Casco Bay, July 6, 1754." He came to Portsmouth, N. H., in 1757. Sep- tember 22, 1759, he married Jane, daughter of Rev. Arthur Browne, of Ports- mouth, who was the first church minister in New Hampshire, and who is cel- ebrated by Longfellow in his bright little poem of "Lady Wentworth." He was one of the grantees of the town of New Holderness (Holdernesst since 1816) in 1761. In the same year he was one of the wardens of Rev. Arthur Browne's church, in Portsmouth. In 1768 he was appointed the King's attor- ney-general for New Hampshire, which office he held till the Revolution. In the years 1768-'69-'70, he was a member of the House of Representatives from Londonderry. In 1774 he moved to New Holderness (now Holderness), where he settled upon a large farm upon the bank of the Pemigewasset river, opposite Plymouth village. Here he erected a flouring-mill, and for two years or more-about 1775-'76-he tended the mill with his own hands. While

*By Colonel Thomas P. Cheney.

{ Ashland was constituted from the territory of Holderness, July 1, 1868.

BENCH AND BAR.

there thus employed he received a letter from Governor John Wentworth, as follows :-

"To SAMUEL LIVERMORE, EsQ.,

Attorney General, Sir :-

I have frequent occasion to consult you, on many points, as Attorney General, and therefore desire you will come directly on receipt of this letter.

I am, Sir, Your humble servant, JOHN WENTWORTH.

"Portsmouth, 7th Jan'y, 1775, Sat. Morning, 10 o'clock.

Considerable discussion has been had as to the political attitude of Mr. Livermore at that time, but his absence from the seat of government, his employment, and the necessity for the governor to write this urgent letter to him, would indicate that he was not a very earnest loyalist.

June 12, 1776 he was appointed "Justice of the Peace for the colony" of New Hampshire. February 19, 1778, he was chosen attorney-general. In 1779 he was elected and served as representative for the towns of New Holderness (now Holderness) and Rumney. November 4, 1779, he was chosen, by the General Assembly, commissioner to support the claims of New Hampshire to the New Hampshire Grants west of the Connecticut river. He was chosen member of Congress in 1780-1782, and June 21, 1782, was chosen chief justice of the state (succeeding Hon. Meshech Weare), and so remained till 1790. He was a member of the Federal convention in 1788, and president of the same. In 1791 and 1793 was again member of Con- gress. He received the degree (honorary) of LL. D. from Dartmouth col- lege in 1792. He was chosen United States senator from New Hampshire upon the expiration of his last term in the United States Houses of Representa- tives. He made his journeys to and from Congress with his own horse and carriage, Major William Shepard, of Holderness, his servant, driving him and family on such occasions. He was a brother to Hon. Israel Livermore, who settled at Livermore's Falls, Me. Israel Livermore was the father of Hon. Hanibal Hamlin's mother.

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Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 10

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., Syracuse Journal Company, Printers Number of Pages: 1266

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., Syracuse Journal Company, Printers
Number of Pages: 1266