Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 47

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 47

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Thayer Smith, A M., M. D., their son, was born in New York city and be- came a resident of Hanover in 1864. He is a graduate of Yale college and the medical department of Dartmouth college, and of the University of the City of New York, a physician of wide and successful practice, and is as- sociate professor of anatomy and physiology in the medical 'department of Dartmouth college.

Prof. Edward R. Ruggles was born in Norwich, Vt., October 22, 1837, graduated from Dartmouth college in 1859, studied five years in French and German universities, and returned to Dartmouth in 1864 as instructor in modern languages. In 1867 he became professor of modern languages for Chandler Scientific Department, and succeeded Professor Woodman in charge of that department on the death of the latter, in which position he still remains. His wife is Charlotte, daughter of Hon. Daniel Blaisdell, a graduate of Dartmouth college, and for forty years its treasurer, also one of the leading lawyers of the county.

Prof. Elihu T. Quimby was born in Danville, N. H., July 17, 1826, gradu- ated from Dartmouth in 1851, and immediately became principal of New Ips- wich Appleton academy, from which, in 1864, he came to Dartmouth as pro- fessor of mathematics in the academical department, where he continued until 1878. In 1871 he became connected with the United States coast survey, and since 1878 has devoted his entire time to this work. In 1881-82 he was the representative from Hanover. His wife was Nancy A. Cutler, of Hart- ford, Vt. Mr. Quimby was engaged in the civil war two years, in connec- tion with the Christian commission, and wrote the Thompson & Quimby Collegiate algebra.

Prof. John Vose Hazen, son of Norman Hazen, was born in Royalston, Mass. His father died when he was a year and a half old, and his mother, Marthy (Vose) Hazen, removed to Atkinson, N. H., where her son fitted for college. He entered the Chandler Scientific Department of Dartmouth college and graduated in the class of 1875, and from the Thayer school of Civil Engineering in 1876. For one year he was engaged in civil engineer- ing, and one year in teaching, as principal of Atkinson academy. In Sep- tember, 1878, he returned to Hanover as tutor in the Chandler Scientific Department, and was elected to the professorship he now fills in 1881.

Stephen Chase, youngest son of Benjamin Pike Chase, was born at Ches- ter, N. H., and fitted for college at Pinkerton academy, in Derry, N. H. He entered Dartmouth college in 1829, and graduated from there in 1832. He studied for the ministry at Andover Theological seminary for one year, after which he became a teacher, and in 1838, was appointed a professor of math- ematics in Dartmouth college. In the same year he married Sarah T. Good- win, of South Berwick, Me., and located in Hanover. He held the profes- sorship until his death, January 7, 1851. His son Frederick graduated from Dartmouth college in 1860, married Mary F. Pomeroy, of Detroit, Mich., in 1871, and has four children. He is now judge of probate for Grafton

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county, attorney-at-law, and treasurer of Dartmouth college. Walter W., the youngest son of Stephen, graduated from Dartmouth college in 1865, and studied law in Washington, where he was admitted to the bar. He estab- lished a practice in New York city, but on account of failing health relin- quished it in 1873, and went to California, seeking health, where he died the following year. His widow and four children now reside in Hanover.

Edwin David Sanborn, LL. D.,* who lately died here, was long and favor- ably known in Hanover. The class which graduated at Dartmouth in 1832, though numbering but thirty-three, gave the college three professors : Stephen Chase, the brilliant mathematician, Daniel James Noyes, professor of theol- ogy, and later of political economy, and Edwin David Sanborn, who occu- pied the professor's chair from 1835 until 1880, with the exception of four years, when he was professor in Washington university, St. Louis, Mo.

Professor Sanborn was born in Gilmanton, N. H., May 14, 1808. His father, David E. Sanborn, taught winter school for many years, and was especially noted as a penman, his "copies" being in great demand. Inherit- ing from his father an extensive farm, to which he gradually made large addi- tions, he became a progressive, enterprising and successful farmer.

Professor Sanborn's mother, Hannah Hook, daughter of Capt. Dyer Hook, of Chichester, was a woman of great energy and sterling character. She became the mother of nine children, all but one of whom lived to grow up, and three sons came to occupy positions of prominence and extended influ- ence.

Dyer H. Sanborn, the eldest, was for many years a popular instructor in several seminaries and academies in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and the author of two grammars, well-known, and for many years extensively used.

John Sewall Sanborn graduated at Dartmouth in 1842, settled at Sher- brooke, P. Q., and soon gained distinction at the bar. He was a represent- ative in the Canadian parliament, and one of the original members of the Dominion parliament under the Act of Confederation. In 1873 he was called to the Court of Queen's Bench, which position he filled with conspicu- ous ability until his death in 1877.

Professor Sanborn's boyhood was spent in working on his father's farın, and attending district school a few weeks each winter, until at sixteen he en- tered the academy at Gilmanton. Up to this time he had never seen a Latin book, but mastered Adams' Latin Grammar in six weeks. Three years later, in 1828, he entered Dartmouth college, having meantime taught three terms and worked each summer on the farm. "During this time," he says, "I was burdensome to no one, as I earned as a laborer on the farm all that my par- ents expended upon me." In his college course he taught school each winter, and for nine months during his Senior year ; and, in spite of these interrup-

* Contributed by Prof. E. R. Ruggles, of Dartmouth college.

E. D. Santom.

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tions, graduated second in rank, with the Latin salutatory, Professor Noyes taking the first place. With a strong desire for knowledge, a student in the noblest sense, his chief aim not class rank, though not indifferent to it, he dis- played the same broad and generous scholarship by which he was later char- acterized. After graduation he was principal of the academy at Topsfield, Mass, and was called in 1833 to take charge of the academy at Gilmanton, which he himself had entered but nine years before. The very next year ' eight of his students came to the college.

Dartmouth now offered him a tutorship, which he declined, as he had de- cided upon the profession of law, having already entered his name in the office of Stephen C. Lyford, Esq., of Meredith Bridge, now Laconia. After a few months of close study, to use his own words, "finding the law as it was then practiced disagreeable to my taste, I resolved to go to Andover and study divinity." Professor Sanborn's reputation for classical scholarship seems to have preceded him, as he had hardly reached Andover when he was asked to give instruction in Phillips academy, and did so during the entire time he was connected with the seminary.

In the autumn of 1835, a tutorship at Dartmouth was again offered and accepted ; but a few weeks later Mr. Sanborn was elected professor of the Latin and Greek languages, taking the prose of both languages while his distinguished colleague, Professor Alpheus Crosby, taught the poetry. Very soon, however, Professor Crosby went abroad, and Professor Sanborn gave the entire instruction in Latin and Greek, until his return, in 1837, when the prefessorship was divided, Professor Crosby taking the Greek, and Professor Sanborn the Latin.

Magnificently endowed, physically as well as mentally, trained to hard work, and full of enthusiasm, he entered on his duties with an ambition to master his department of instruction. He read critically not only the authors taught in the class-room, but in a few years compassed the entire range of Latin literature, on which he gave his classes a large number of exceedingly inter- esting and instructive lectures. In spite of his marvelous memory, and his thorough and comprehensive knowledge of Latin, he never came before his class without looking over the lesson of the day, and thus by constantly refreshing his own interest, was able to awaken interest in others. For twenty-two years he filled the Latin chair with distinguished ability, until called, in 1859, to the university professorship of Latin and Classical Liter- ature in Washington university, St. Louis, Mo. In the same year, in recog- nition of his long and efficient service in education and literature, the Uni- versity of Vermont conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Laws.

Entering on his new duties in the full strength of a vigorous manhood, with large experience, thorough scholarship, and the prestige of brilliant suc- cess, he at once aroused a lively enthusiasm in the studies of his department. In March, 1863, the trustees of Dartmouth tendered Dr. Sanborn the Professorship of Rhetoric and Belles-Lettres, made vacant by the transfer of

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Professor Brown to the chair of Intellectual Philosophy and Political Econ- omy. He left his work in St. Louis with reluctance, constrained to do so by the urgency of the call, and the disastrous effects of the war in the social and financial interests of the State of Missouri. A great reader from his col- lege days, with a wide range of knowledge, embracing almost every subject of value, thoroughly grounded in all that was best in English letters, Pro- fessor Sanborn now entered a field calculated to stimulate him to highest intellectual activity, and in which he could use to advantage his vast stores of knowledge. Later on he said, "the teaching of English literature was a pleasure, and I made myself so familiar with the entire cause that I was never obliged to carry a text-book into the class-room."

His methods of instruction were varied, original and in the highest degree stimulating, so much so that President Smith once wrote : “ so deep an in- terest has been awakened in the Belles-Lettres studies, and exercises, that fears have been entertained that other departments might be overshadowed. For seventeen years Dr. Sanborn occupied the chair of English litera- ture, resigning in 1880, and it is not too much to say that during this period, no similar chair in any American college was filled with more distinguished ability. Dr. Sanborn was a graceful and vigorous writer, and everything from his pen was interesting as well as valuable. He prepared more than a thousand articles for newspapers, besides a large number for reviews and magazines, some of which attracted wide attention. Among the most marked of these were " European and American Universities," in the North American Review for 1855, and " Partisanship in History," in the New Englander in 1859.

In 1875 he published " a History of New Hampshire," which cost him a large amount of time and labor, and which displayes ample knowledge and careful research. He adapted the novel method of treating the matter by topics and not as a continuous narrative, a method which had decided advan- tages for those who seek special information.

In a critical notice, the late James T. Fields said : " The work is clear, coherent, and well arranged narrative, critical as well as historical, and written in an interesting and vigorous style."

When Fletcher Webster was about to prepare his father's private corre- spondence for publication, he invited Professor Sanborn to assist him, and a very busy but delightful winter was spent at Marshfield, in what to him was a labor of love. The introduction was mainly from his pen, and to his critical judgment the merits of the work are largely due. He also furnished a con- siderable part of the reminiscences of Daniel Webster, edited by Peter Harvey.

Endowed by nature with a fine presence, an agreeable and powerful voice, and thoroughly trained in all the details of the orator's art, his efforts in the pulpit, on the platform and before audiences of various, kinds were char- acterized by vigor and force, sometimes brilliant, and always worthy of the theme and the occasion. His services were always in demand, and he gave a large number of addresses, lectures and orations, on a variety of subjects

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before societies, conventions, and bodies of different kinds. The eulogies on President Harrison, President Taylor and Daniel Webster, are among the best pronounced on these distinguished statesmen. Among the many ad- dresses on educational subjects, two lectures before the American Institute of Instruction were among the best of the kind.

In 1850, Dr. Sanborn was a member of the State constitutional convention, and on the resolution to create a superintendent of pubic institution made a speech of great ability and power.

In 1876, when an orator was to be selected for New Hampshire day at the Centennial, in Philadelphia, the choice naturally fell on him, and the oration which he pronounced on that occasion was one of his most brilliant and masterly efforts.

In June, 1884, a large number of the sons of Dartmouth, and distinguished strangers, were assembled in Hanover, to lay the corner stone of the Wilson library, and here he addressed a public audience for the last time. His voice was still clear and resonant, his language eloquent, his thought lofty ; but age and disease had left their traces on his powerful frame, and when he ended there was hardly a dry eye among those his old pupils who revered and loved him. His life had been passed among books, the college library of which he had been many years the custodian had been a special object of his care, and the occasion seemed especially beautiful and fitting for leave- taking.

Professor Sanborn was licensed to preach by a Congregational council, in 1836, and though he never sought ordination, was a preacher of extraordi- nary earnestness and power, often speaking without notes, and always awak- ening the liveliest interest. He was, for many years, a deacon in the college church, and in every movement for the advancement of village and college, he took a prominent part.

For thirteen years he held most of the justice coutts in Hanover, was twice representative in the State legislature, and in 1869 was elected to the New Hampshire Senate. This position, however, he could not accept, as the trustees of the college had some time previously prohibited the college pro- fessors from holding any political office, except in the town,

December 11, 1837, he was married in Boscawen, to Mary Ann, daughter Euhoit Webster, a lady gentle, refined and attractive, whose whole life was a perpetual benediction to all those within the sphere of her influence. She died December 30, 1864, leaving three children,-Kate Sanborn, well-known as an authoress, with rare native endowments, and a knowledge of literature, which amply qualified her to have succeeded her father in the professor's chair, Mary Webster, wife of Paul Babcock, Esq., of New York, and Edward W., who graduated at Dartmouth, in 1878, and is now a successful lawyer in New York city.

In January, 1868, Professor Sanborn was married to Mrs. Sarah F. Clark, of Detroit, who survives him.

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Professor Sanborn died in New York city, where he had gone with the hope of improving his health, December 29, 1885, and lies buried within sound of the college bell, in the old cemetery, in Hanover.

Joseph Emerson, son of Joseph, who moved to Norwich, from Westfield, Mass., about 1795, was born in Norwich, Vt., October 3, 1807, and when twenty years of age became clerk for Roswell Shurtleft, who kept one of the three stores in Norwich. In 1834 he came to Hanover, was employed in selling out the stock of the Governor Lang store, and was also in the employ of Otis Freeman. In 1839 he began business for himself, where the Dart- mouth Bank now is, and six or seven years later he located in the building which S. W. Cobb now occupies as a store, where he continued in trade until 1853, when he sold out and retired from business. He was the agent of the United States and Canada Express for over thirty years, beginning when the company first organized. He married twice, first, Anna P., daughter of Rev. Dr. Shurtleff, who bore him one son, Roswell S., who owns and occu- pies a plantation of 1,800 acres in Louisiana. Mr. Emerson married for his second wife Alice Cameron, a native of Ryegate, Vt., in 1883.

Ira B. Allen was born in Chelsea, Vt., and about 1835 began driving stage for a Mr. Norton, from Chelsea to Hanover, which he continued for seven years. He purchased an interest in the line from Montpelier to Hanover, about 1844, and was identified with staging until the railroad superseded the coach. He located in Hanover in 1845, and has since extensively conducted the livery business, his brother Samuel having been his partner until 1850. Mr. Allen opened the street bearing his name, in Hanover, from School street to Main.

Elias Smith, now the oldest man residing in Hanover, was born in Beverly, Mass., November 8, 1796, and when sixteen or seventeen years of age be- came a sailor. During the war of 1812 he was captured and held a prisoner by the British for nineteen months. He came to Hanover about thirty years ago. He married Matilda Stiles, of Hillsboro, and has had born to him six sons and six daughters. Three of his sons, James Madison, who died in Sal- isbury prison, Stephen D., who lost his left leg in the service, and Alonzo A. served in the late war, in the 7th N. H. Vols.

Stephen Eastman moved to Canaan, from Danville, about 1788-89, when his son James was about eight or nine years of age. This son was left be- hind while his parents went ahead and built a log house. He started later on foot and was overtaken by a man on horseback, who took him on behind him, and thus he rode to his new home. This man was William Longfellow, who settled the farm where Harry Follansbee now lives. Stephen married Miriam Quimby, of Hampstead, and reared one son and two daughters. He died in his forty-ninth year, of injuries received in raising a barn. His son James became a house carpenter, cabinet maker, lumber manufacturer, and was also a farmer. He married Polly French, and reared eleven children, of whom Larnard L., James, Richard B. and Mary F., the wife of George

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Smith, of Plainfield, are living. Larnard L. and Stephen became Methodist ministers, the former now lives at Methuen, Mass., and the latter died in 1855 Richard B. resides on road 25, and owns the farm on which his grandfather settled. James, Jr., married Susan L. Williams, and has three children, Stephen, Martha J. (Mrs. C. A. Manning, M. D.), of Manchester, and James F. He has lived in Hanover for twenty-five years, on road II, taught school in his early life, but has been mostly engaged in farming, and has one of the best farms in town, located east of Moose mountain.

Micah C. Howe was born in Newbury, N. H., and came to Tunis district, in Hanover, in 1861. He served ten months in the late war, in Co. H, 16th N. H. Vols. He married Harriet C. Smith, September 1, 1859, and has three children, Angie F. (Mrs. George W. Lambert), of Lyme, Etta S. and Alberton.

Rev. Joseph B. Morse, son of John, of Amnesty, who settled in Haverhill about 1800, was born May 21, 1814, was educated at Dartmouth college, and married Maria Ripley, of Barre, Vt., in 1837. He taught district school before entering college, and also taught afterward, teaching eighteen years in Charleston, Mass., about seventeen years in the Harvard school, six years of which time he was without sight, unable to read a word, teaching entirely by the discipline acquired in college. He has for over fifty years been a Uni- versalist minister, was located as pastor over several churches in Vermont and New Hampshire, including five years in Orford. He has lived in Hanover since 1867.

Cornelius A. Field, a native of Berlin, Vt., came to this town in 1862. He was formerly engaged in trade at Montpelier, for a period of fifteen years. In 1864 he was appointed postmaster, an office which he filled until 1885. He has been agent of the telegraph company since 1864, secretary of Hanover Gaslight Company since its formation in 1872, and a member of the school board for two years.

Prof. John K. Lord was born in Cincinnati, O., fitted for college at Mont- pelier, Vt., and graduated from Dartmouth college in 1868. He taught in Appleton academy, New Ipswich, one year, and became tutor at Dart- mouth college in 1869, with which institution he has since been connected. He became associate professor of Latin in 1872, the position he now fills, and also filled the Evans professorship of rhetoric, two years.

Langdon Sherman, son of William, was a descendant of Rev. Beriah Sher- man, who was an early chaplain of Yale college, and was born at Waitsfield, Vt., in 1806. He married Pamelia P. Smith, and had born to him six chil- dren, three of whom are living, viz .: Lucy J., Celia and Emma, the wife of Wilton M. Lindsey, of Warren, Pa. Mr. Sherman died in 1865.

Frank A. Sherman was born in Knox, Me., October 4, 1847, attended school at Bucksport, Me., and graduated from Chandler's Scientific Depart- ment Dartmouth college, in 1870. He was appointed professor of mathe- matics in this department in 1871, a position he still holds.

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Henry Griswold Jesup, was born at Westport, Conn., January 23, 1826, attended school at East Granville, Mass., fitted for a college at Hopkins Grammer school, New Haven, Conn., graduated from Yale college in 1847, and from Union Theological seminary in 1853. He was pastor in Stanwich, Conn., from 1853 to 1862, resided for a time at Amherst, Mass., until elected to the professorship of Natural History at Dartmouth college in 1876, which position he now holds in the Chandler Scientific Department and in the Agri- cultural college.

Prof. C. H. Pettee was born in Manchester, N. H., fitted for college in the schools of his native city, graduated from the Manchester high school, in 1870, from Dartmouth college in 1874, and from the Thayer School of Civil Engineering in 1876. He was instructor of mathematics and civil engineer- ing in the College of Agriculture and in Thayer school, for one year. In 1877, he was appointed professor of mathematics, which position he now fills in the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.

Prof. John H. Wright was born in Persia, in 1852, while his father, Rev. Austin H. Wright, M. D., was a missionary in Oroomiah, Persia. He gradu- ated from Dartmouth college in 1873, and at once became professor of Greek and Latin in Ohio State University, where he remained until 1876. He spent the next two years in Germany, and in 1878 became associate professor of Greek in Dartmouth college.

Prof. Thomas R. Crosby, M. D., youngest son of Dr. Asa Crosby, was born at Gilmanton, N. H., October 22, 1816, and graduated from Dartmouth college in 1841, taking also his degree of M. D. He married Louisa Part- ridge, daughter of Col. Oliver Burton, U. S. A. He practiced in Meriden and Manchester, was chief surgeon in Columbian college hospital, Washing- ton. D. C., during the war, was professor in the medical college of that city, and afterward became professor in Dartmouth college, of animal and vege- table physiology in the agricultural department, and instructor of natural history in the academical and scientific department. During much of his professional life he was an invalid, but was indefatigable in habits of study, steadily advancing to posts of honor and reward, both as practitioner and teacher. He died in Hanover, March 1, 1872.

Rev. Gabriel Campbell, was born at Dalrymple Parish, Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1838, and in 1842 his father, Robert Campbell, moved to Ypsilanti, Mich., where he now lives, a real estate dealer and broker. Gabriel graduated from the State Normal school and State university of Michigan, and from the Chicago Theological seminary. He studied philosophy in Berlin, Germany, where he was made a member of the Philosophical society, of that city. He was connected with the Minnesota State university, at Minneapolis for thirteen years, was vice-president for some time, and declined the offer of presidency. He was afterwards elected to the Stone professorship at Bowdoin college and after two years to the professorship established by the same estate in Dart- mouth college, where he entered in the spring of 1883. He is the possessor

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of a badge of the Legion of Honor, presented for honorable service as captain of Co. E., 17th Michigan Inf. He married Louise T. McMahon, of Man- chester, Miclı., and has five children.

Prof. Rufus B. Richardson, a native of Westford, Mass., attended school at Lawrence academy, Groton, Mass., and graduated from Yale college in 1869. He was a tutor in Yale college four years, and professor of Greek at Indiana university two years. He was elected to the Lawrence professor- ship of Greek in Dartmouth college, in 1882, which position he now holds. He served one year in the Rebellion, enlisting in the 6th Mass. Vols.

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Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 47

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