Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 52

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 52

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).

Charles B. Smith was born in Belgrade, Me., December 19, 1814, became engaged in the manufacture of shovel-handels when a young man, and in company with Holman Johnson, carried on the business in Maine. In 1854 they removed to Union Village, Vt., where they remained ten years, and in 1864 Johnson & Smith purchased the saw-mill formerly owned by John L. Wood, at the mouth of the Lower Ammonoosuc, at Woodsville, and erected a shop for the manufacture of shovel-handels. This business Mr. Smith car- ried on until 1878, when in a December freshet the mills were undermined and washed away. While preparing to rebuild he was taken sick and died August 27, 1880. About two years before he died he gave to the Episcopal diocese of New Hamshire the lot of land, valued at $700.00, on which their church now stands. He was, however, not a communicant of that church, but a Free Baptist. He was appointed postmaster at Woodsville May 5, 1873, and held that position until his death. His widow and two sons, George F., a conductor on the B. & L. R. R., and Henry M., reside at Woodsville.

E. George Parker, the fifth generation of a family in which the offspring has been only one child, and that a son, was born in Rumney, N. H., in 1826, and remained there until five years of age, when his parents removed to New- bury, Vt. With the exception of ten years he remained in Newbury until 1873, when he purchased a dwelling in Woodsville, which he replaced with a commodious hotel, and named it the Parker House, conducting it until No- vember, 1884. He is a man of strong temperance convictions, and has con- ducted his business with unswerving adherence to principle, in this as well as in the various civil trusts he has been called to fill. He married Matilda P. Cook, of Lyme, in 1871, and has one son.

Benjamin Dow was born in Bath, N. H., and until eighteen years of age was engaged on his father's farm, and in attending district school. He went to Boston, Mass., and when twenty-five years of age engaged in business there, which he conducted about five years, employing several men. About 1860 he returned to Grafton county, purchased a farm, and engaged in the live stock business, buying, selling, and taking stock to Boston market, a business he still continues on an increased scale. He represented the town of Lyman, in 1874-75, and was chosen one of the county commissioners for Grafton county, in 1879, '80, '81 and '82.

Stephen D. Leighton was born in Sheffield, Vt., in May, 1806, and married

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Sarah Carbee, of Newbury, Vt., in 1828. He resided in Newbury until 1840, when he purchased the river farm in Bath, now owned by his son Andrew. He reared eleven children, eiglit of whom are now living. He was a Metho- dist, and died in Bath in 1870. His widow died at Woodsville, in 1885. His son, Albert H., is of the firm of A. H. Leighton & Co.

Luther Butler, son of Samuel and Clarissa (Buck) Butler, was born in Pel- ham, N. H., in 1803, and was brought up in his grandmother's family, in Bath. He went to Boston when twenty-one years of age, and learned the stone mason's trade. He helped build the Quincy market, in Boston, in 1824, built the Ammonoosuc bridge in 1829, was the builder of the stone- work on the Bath bridge, and the McIndoes Falls bridge on the Connecticut. He bought his farm, on road 5, in 1835, was chosen selectman several times, and served as justice of the peace. He married Abigail Chamberlain, of Bath, and reared six children, three of whom are living, namely, Mira Hib- bard, of Brooklyn, Ia .; George C. and Clara, who live on the homestead. Luther Butler died October 2, 1885, in Haverhill.

Isaac K. George was born in Sutton, N. H., and was made superintendent of the Grafton county farm, in 1873. He filled this position acceptably for twelve years, and retired in July, 1885.

Samuel Jackson was born in England, served three years in the Revolu- tion, settled in Coventry, N. H., before its organization, and was the first select- man of that town. He was a mechanic, and was one of the few men of his time in town with education to do town business. His son Robert, born in Peter- boro, N. H., went to Lunenburg, Vt., acquired a farm. and married Mary Ann, daughter of Robert Braidon. Their eldest child, Marcus B., was born in Lunenburg, Vt. December 4, 1809, and before he was a year old they moved to Coventry, into the house with his father, Samuel Jackson, who lived on what was called High street. Here he erected a grist-mill. He had born to him seven children, of whom the two youngest sons are now living. His children were as follows : Marcus B. was a mechanic; Dan Y. was a farmer ; William W. became a physician, and located in Ohio, where he died in 1849 ; Elizabeth W. married Samuel Bixby, of Warren, where she died; Fletcher was a graduate of Newbury seminary, became a teacher, which occupation he followed for several years, in Ohio, and died of cholera in 1849 ; Thomas B. fitted for college at Newbury, did not pursue the course, but located in Haverhill, which town he represented in the legislature, and where he now lives ; and John W. was also educated at Newbury, has lived in Haverhill since his youth, and for several years has dealt largely in mowing machines ard farm implements.

Isaac W. Hall was born in Francistown, N. H., and, his father having died when he was a small boy he went to live with his uncle, Eber ifall, in Orford, abo: 1808. He married Lois English, and afterwards moved to Landaff. His eldest son, Damon B, lives in Haverhill, and another son, John E., re- sides in Landaff. Two other sons and one daughter are living, but widely

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scattered. Isaac W. Hall died in 1877, aged seventy years, and his wife died the same year, aged seventy-five years.

George Woodward came to Haverhill, from Springfield, Vt., about Septem- ber 23, 1836, purchased the farm at Horse Meadow, where his son, George J., now lives, and moved there in April, 1837. Henry L., an older son, re- sides on road 23, and Mary J. George, the oldest child, lives at West New- bury, Vt. Mrs. Mary A. (Lake) Woodward, widow of George, is sixty-nine years of age, and still lives on the home farm.

Stephen H. Cummings was born in New Hampton, May 11, 1822, and when a year old, with his father, Joseph Cummings, moved to Wentworth He has since then resided in Grafton county. The greater part of his business life has been spent in Lisbon, where he served respectively as postmaster, town clerk, and school superintendent. In April, 1871, he became register of deeds for Grafton county, and moved to Haverhill, to perform the duties of the office which he held three years. He has been selectman of Haverhill five years, and served as justice of the peace thirty years. Mr. Cummings married twice, first, Maria T. Newcomb, of Orford, in 1846, who bore him four children, only one of whom, Mrs. Ada M. Worthen, of Brooklyn, N. Y., is living. He married for his second wife the widow of David Mitchell, of Temple, Me., December 8, 1870.

. Charles H. Day was born in Rochester, N. H., located in Bristol in 1863, and was deputy sheriff in 1874 and '75. and in 1877 was elected register of deeds for Grafton county, and moved to Haverhill, where he filled that office for four years. Since then he has been engaged in private business. He married Harriet Emmons, of Bristol, in 1867, and has three children.

William R. Clark, born in New Hampton, N. H., first came to Haverhill in 1849, but subsequently moved away, and returned in 1874, engaging in the business of carpenter and builder. He married Frances E., daughter of Josiah Colburn, of this town, and has one daughter, the wife of W. A. Fel- low, of Lyme.

David Weeks. born in 1745, moved to Bath, from Greenland, N. H., some time previous to the Revolution, his name being among the list of soldiers who went from Bath. He married Ruth Page, and had born to him two sons and two daughters. He was a carpenter, and died in 1827, aged eighty- two years. His son David was a farmer, spent his life in Bath, where he held some minor offices, and married Matilda Childs. Of his eleven children three of them now reside in Bath, namely, Mrs. M. C. Powers, Mrs. William Minot and Mrs. George Chamberlain. One son, Moses M., married Sally Minot, and resided in Bath until April, 1866, when he moved to his present home in Haverhill. He has two children, Hattie P., the wife of J. L. Bell, and Elbridge.

Lyman Buck and Lyman, Jr., came to Haverhill from Waterford, Vt., in 1841, and bought the Swan Hotel, on road 36, which they conducted for sev- eral years. Lyman Buck, Jr., married Lucia W. Kasson, of Newbury, Vt.,

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December 21, 1758, and reared five children. Besides carrying on his farm he was for several years a dealer in agricultural machinery. He died Febru- ary 5, 1883, nearly fifty-two years of age.

Peter Flanders, son of John, was born in Bradford, Vt., where he lived until 1854, when he moved to Piermont, and two years later came to Haver- hill, where he now lives. His son Charles F. graduated from Dartmouth college in 1871, and from Andover Theological seminary in 1874. He is now pastor of the Congregational church at Newport, N. H.

Darius K. Davis was born in Northfield, N. H., and came to East Haver- hill in 1856. He became a partner in the store with his brothers, Abel S. and C. B., and continued in trade with them and by himself until 1883, when he retired. During this time he owned stores at Warren, Tilton and Pike Sta- tion, and at Indianapolis, Ind. He served two years as selectman in Benton, married Susanna E. Howe, May ro, 1854, and has one daughter, Addie D., the wife of Dr. O. D. Eastman, of Woodsville.

Isaac Pike, founder of the whetstone business in Haverhill, was born in 1799, in "Cockermouth," now the towns of Hebron and Groton, and was the fifth child of Moses and Mary (Ball) Pike, in a family of thirteen children. The Pike family came to this country as early as 1635, and settled on a farm in Salisbury, Mass., which is still in possession of descendants of the name. An early member of the family was a graduate of Harvard college, and was the first minister of the Congregational church in Dover. Nicholas Pike, au- thor of the famous Pike arithmetic, very generally used in our schools fifty . years ago, was also of this family. The New Hampshire branch of the Pike family, consisting of several brothers, came to "Cockermouth" some time about 1785 from Dunstable, Mass, and Hon. Austin F. Pike, at present a senator in the Congress of the United States, is a grandchild of the youngest of these brothers.

Isaac Pike, the subject of this sketch, came to Haverhill about 1818. Soon after, when less than twenty years of age, he settled in the eastern part of the town, where he cleared a piece of land and built himself a house. This house is now owned by Royal Noyes. Mr. Pike was married twice, His first wife was Irena Dole, and they had two children. His second wife was Sally Morse Noyes, and their children were six, four sons and two daughters. He was engaged in farming, lumbering, and in the manufacture of scythe- stones, and also carried on the business of a merchant, and, to within a few years of his death, was one of the most active business men of Haverhill. Mr. Pike at one time lived at Haverhill Corner, and kept store in the build- ing afterward used for the same purpose by - Hook.

In early times the timber and lumber of the Upper Connecticut was run down the river in rafts. Mr. Pike run large quantities of logs and lumber from Haverhill to Hartford, Conn. He also transported his whetstones on his rafts, and in this way got them to market by cheap freight. An incident in connection with one of his trips down the river illustrates his frank and in-

Jeuno Phe

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dependent character. After selling his lumber in Hartford, he went to a clothing store to refit himself with a new suit of clothes. His appearance was not very assuring, as he had lost his hat, and his clothes were rather the worse for wear, and the clerk who was in charge of the store was not disposed to sell him a suit of clothes until he was satisfied that he had the money to pay for it. Mr. Pike drew out his money, and then allowed the clerk to show him a great many suits. After putting him to much trouble, he turned to the clerk and said: "You have seen my money, and I have seen your clothes ; good-day." The suit was bought at another store. He also handled large quantities of whetstones to Burlington, Vt., from which point they were shipped to New York.

Mr. Pike was a man of great energy and enterprise, and was esteemed a thoroughly honest and trustworthy man. On several occasions he became much involved financially, and his creditors were disposed to settle with him on a percentage of their claims, but he promptly refused their offer, and paid every dollar of his indebtedness. Prominent amongst the traits of his char- acter were his courage, perseverance, and industry. He was kindly in dis- position and generous in his impulses. Many were those whom he befriended in their distresses. He was also a public-spirited man, and helpful in all good enterprises. The ground on which the first church in East Haverhill was built was given by him, and he was a willing and constant supporter of its services. In personal appearance Mr. Pike was somewhat striking.

He was more than medium in size, with dark eyes and thick black hair, broad-shouldered, erect in form, and weighed over two hundred pounds. He died in 1860, of apoplexy, and is buried in the East Haverhill cemetery.

Alonzo Franklin Pike is the fourth child of Isaac and Sally Morse Noyes Pike, and was born in Haverhill in 1835. He is a self-made man, and early displayed the same business energy and courage of his father. Before he was of age, in 1857, he bought out his father's store, and carried on the business for himself. At the time of his father's death the whetstone business was in a very unsatisfactory condition, and the estate being much entangled, at the earnest solicitation of the mother and family, Mr. A. F. Pike consented to act as administrator of the property, and by careful and wise management he suc- ceeded in unravelling the entanglement, so that the estate payed nearly every claim in full which was brought against it. Although his plans had been formed to go to the city for the purpose of engaging in other business, he now abandoned his purpose, and entered into the business which his father had left At that time the business of whetstones and scythe-stones was compara- tively limited, but by great energy and industry and steadfastness it has now grown to be one of the most extensive plants in the state Mr. Pike has been an earnest and indefatigable worker in the pursuit of his buisness, and by close attention to his affairs, careful and prudent direction of his plans, by energy, integrity, and strict punctuality, he has steadily risen from a meagre beginning and in the course of the twenty-five years of his business life finds

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himself one of the most successful business men of Grafton county. He has a sound and trustworthy business judgment, and is president of the A. F. Pike Manufacturing Co., and one of its principal owners. He lives at Pike Station where he has a pleasant but unostentations home, looking to the east on one of the finest scenes in all this section of country, having for the foreground the beautiful valley through which winds the Oliverian, with the foot-hills of Ben- ton beyond, and back of these the grand outlines of Moosehillock.

Mr. Pike married Ellen M. Hutchins, and they had a family of six children, four of whom are living. They have a pleasant and happy home, and Mr. Pike owes much to his thoughtful and faithful wife for the large measure of success which has attended his business career. He takes a deep interest in all matters of public concern, and is a generous and public spirited citizen. He is one of the trustees of Haverhill academy. Mr. Pike is a constant at- tendant upon the services of the church at East Haverhill and is a liberal sup- porter of the gospel. In personal looks he somewhat resembles his father, dark complexioned, black eyes and hair, stocky in build, square shoulders, strong and firm mouth, full head, the whole man in his physique indicating en- ergy and force of character. Mr. Pike is a most kindly and genial man, mak- ing everybody welcome and at ease who comes within his home. He is still in the prime of life, just turned of fifty years of age.

Isaac Pike, born May 15, 1829, son of Isaac and Sally, is treasurer of the A. F. Pike Manufacturing Company, and has the general oversight of the manu- facturing at Pike Station. He is a man of strict honesty and of careful busi - ness habits. He has had five children, has lost two by death, one of whom being his only son, Bion W., aged 19 years. His children now living are Mr. John D. Hilliker, of Littleton, N. H., Mrs. George Wilson, of Bradford,. Vt., and an infant daughter.

Edwin B. Pike, youngest son of Isaac and Sally, born April 7, 1845, is vice-president of the A. F. Pike Manufacturing Company, and has the active management of the business outside the office. He is full of business push and enterprise, and has the very laudable ambition of making the business second to none in the world. He married Addie A. Miner, of Salem Mass., and their children are E. Bertram, born July 24, 1866, (the only living son of the three brothers,) Winifred A., born May 21, 1869, and Archie F., born September 24. 1873. The entire family are members of the First Congrega- tional church, Mr. Pike being an officer, and they endeavor to show by precept and example the benefits of living a smple, christian life.

John D. Pike, son of Isaac and Irena, was born February 14, 1822. His- living children are Mrs. George Hatch, Samuel P., a successful business man

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of Lowell, Mass., Mrs. George Perkins, Mrs. A. A. Knapp, Emma and Ephriam.

Drewry Pike, born November 23, 1811, died April 30, 1884, was a son of Moses and Mary, and brother of Isaac, whom he assisted many years in the stone business. He married Louise Burbank, and their living children are Mrs John Goodwin, of Manchester, and Mrs. Robert Arnold, Mrs. E. R. Mor- rill, Burns H., Charles J., and Oscar B., of this town.

Samuel Pike, born June 10, 1814, son of Moses and Mary, and brother Isaac, has living children as follows : Charles W., of Haverhill, who has been selectman of the town, also county jailor ; Andrew J., of Woodsville, and William E., of Haverhill.

Charles J. Pike is a director of the A. F. Pike Mfg. Co., son of Drewry and Louisa, nephew of Isaac and cousin of A. F. He is general superintendent of quarries for the company at Pike Station, and an honest and successful man. He married Ellen S. Talbert and his children are Frederick, born March 13, 1869; Harry H., born September 20, 1870, and Bertha M., born June 1, 1876.

Alonzo W. Putnam, son of David, was born in Hanover in January, 1828, and came with his parents to Haverhill, when eleven years of age. He always followed farming, but besides this he dealt largely in live stock, and built a saw-mill in Piermont, which Mrs. Putnam now owns. He also bought and pressed large quantities of hay. and for many years was a member of the firm of Knapp & Putnam, lumber manufacturers in Warren. He married Hannah Cole, of Lebanon, January 1, 1850. and reared four sons and four daughters, viz .: Parker A., of Tintah, Minn .; John and Hiram M., of Hav- erhill; Walter E., of Laramie, Wyo .; Susie H. (Mrs. William H. Prescott), Carrie (Mrs. Thomas Morris), and Mary, of Haverhill, and Nellie M. (Mrs. F. P. Winn), of Fairlee, Vt. Mr. Putnam died May 10, 1881, aged fifty- three years.

Levi B. Ham, a native of Gilmanton, N. H., came to Haverhill, in 1851, and engaged in the tinsmith business, which he continued until 1878, when he sold out to Mr. Facey. He has served as deputy sheriff over four years, was town representative in 1874-75, and was town clerk and treasurer from 1866 until 1874. He married twice, first, Martha A. Goodhue, of Epson, and second, Livona Gilman, of Bethlehem. He has one son and one daugh- ter, John F. and Hattie I.

James A. Currier, son of Chellis and grandson of Richard, was born in Enfield, December 27, 1819, and became a tanner, learning the trade of Capt. John Johnson. When twenty-one years of age he began business for himself, at East Enfield, where he continued about ten years. In 1852 he came to Haverhill, and bought the old tannery at Oliverian Village, of James and Jacob Bell, which he rebuilt, having as partner John V. Webster. They continued together until 1861, when F. P. Currier acquired the interest of J. V. Webster, which he held until the buildings were burned in 1871.

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James A. Currier was chairman of the selectmen during the first two years of the civil war, and furnished sixty-four soldiers to the service. Besides his business as a tanner he has been largely engaged in cattle buying and the lumber business. He married Fanny Perkins, of Lyme, in December, 1847, and has one son and one daughter, John Rix Currier, of this town, and Leuella, the wife of Eben Heath, of Danville, Vt.

Charles B. Griswold, son of Ahira and Frances (White) Griswold, was born in Lebanon, N. H., January 6, 1832. He was successively engaged in the mercantile business, railroading and farming until 1867, when, being chosen as register of deeds for Grafton county, he moved to Haverhill to perform the duties of this office, to which he was successively re-elected until 1871, when he was succeeded by S. H. Cummings. He then returned to Lebanon with his family, and from that time until 1874 was engaged in the cotton and lumber business, at Humboldt, Tenn. In September, 1874, he received the appointment of clerk of courts for Grafton county, and he again returned to Haverhill, where he now resides, having held that office for eleven years. He married Alzina M. Sawyer, of Malone, N. Y., June 16, 1858, and has one son, Charles S., who is a student at law with Bingham, Mitchells and Batch- ellor of Littleton.

The Southard family is of English origin, and the name was formerly spelled Southworth, but many of the American families spell it Southard and Souther. The family is one of the oldest in New England. Over two hundred and sixty years ago, one hundred and two passengers in the good ship "Mayflower" arrived in Cape Cod harbor, and landed at Plymouth, Mass. Among this number, and pre-eminent for her mental and personal qualities, was "Mistress" Alice Southworth, a widow with children. "Mistress" Alice afterward became the wife of Gov. William Bradford of colonial fame. Her children bearing the Southworth name were in all probability the ances- tors of the Southworths, Southards and Southers of the New England States. About the middle of the eighteenth century, April 11, 1750, there was born in Plainfield, Conn., one Thomas Southard, who, when a young man, came to Acworth, N. H., and afterwards purchased a farm in Hanover; but losing his hard-earned property on account of a defective title, he removed to Charles- town, where he died, in 1790, at the early age of forty, leaving his wife, Rachel, with the care of five small children, James, Moses and Aaron twins, Eliza, and Lucinda. Mrs. Southard was a woman of great energy and in- dustry, endowed with a brain fertile in resources, and, by her artistic and skill- ful work in weaving linen of various designs, was enabled to support her fatherless children. This worthy woman died in Haverhill, November 15, 1823, aged seventy-three years. Moses and Aaron, born in Acworth, N. H., in 1784, were educated at the common schools, and engaged in merchandis- ing in Drewsville, Walpole, N. H., at the time of the war of 1812. They con- tinued in business for six years and were financially successful. In 1822 they moved to Haverhill and purchased the Col. Asa Porter farm of about four or

Sam, & H, Southard

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five hundred acres. They divided the farm, Aaron reserving the homestead, and Moses erecting a house, and their lives were ever after passed there on one of the finest farms on the Connecticut river. These twin brothers were so similar in personal appearance that even people having intimate business relations with them could not distinguish one from the other. Moses mar- ried Nancy King of Acworth. They had five children three of whom died in youth ; Solon S., settled in Bristol, where two of his sons now reside ; Lyman M. married first, Jane Bachop, second, Hetty, daughter of Dudley Kimball, of Newbury, Vt. Moses Southard died April 16, 1852, aged sixty-eight years. Aaron married Jane Taylor Finley, daughter of Deacon Samuel Finley of Acworth, a descendant of the Scotch-Irish stock of Londondery, N. H. No- where in America have been found more honest virtues, or more sterling qual- ities than were in this notable settlement. Deacon Finley was one of the great minds of his section ; he transacted much public business ; he settled all cases of litigation in his town during his active life, and was prominent in church and state affairs. His daughter, Mrs. Southard, inherited much of the strong personality of her father, and was a woman of ability. She died December 13, 1875 aged eighty-five years. The children of Aaron and Jane Taylor (Finley) Southard were Samuel F .; Eliza, (married Henry H. Page, son of Gov. John Page); Ann Jane (married Nathaniel M. Page, also son of Gov. Page); Joseph, died aged nine years ; Kate (Mrs. John N. Morse).

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Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 52

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