Genealogical and family history of the state of New Hampshire : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Vol. I, Part 106

Author: Stearns, Ezra S; Whitcher, William F. (William Frederick), 1845-1918; Parker, Edward E. (Edward Everett), 1842-1923
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: New York : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 858

USA > New Hampshire > Genealogical and family history of the state of New Hampshire : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Vol. I > Part 106

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(IX) Charles Martin, only son of Jonathan (2) and Lucretia (Martin) Emerson, was born No- vember 25, 1846, in Newport, New Hampshire. He attended New London Academy in 1866 and 1867, and after leaving school in the latter year became a clerk in the general store of Gilman C. Whipple, in Lebanon, where he remained until August 30, 1873. Removing to Newport, he began business for himself, May 4, 1874. It is a remarkable feature of the lateness of the season that he rode from Lebanon to Newport on that day in a sleigh. He was very successful as a merchant, and his business rapidly grew, and on February 1, 1893, it was in- corporated under the name of Emerson Dry Goods Company. On February 24, 1880, he had bought an old store, and in the summer of that year he built the Emerson Block, which is now one of the landmarks of Newport. This was begun on June Ist, and was occupied by his business in November following. Mr. Emerson has been active in pro- moting the best interests of Newport, and has been called upon to serve in various public capacities. He was treasurer of the board which installed the water works of the town, and this board has the remarkable record of having money left in the treasury after the work had been completed. Jn the spring of 1887 Mr. Emerson built the original mills of the Peerless Manufacturing Company, which is now one of the leading industries of Newport. In the summer and fall of 1892 a mill was established at Barton, Vermont, which is the leading industry of that town. Mr. Emerson is president of the company, and he is ably assisted by F. W. Cutting, superintendent, and P. A. Johnson, treasurer, who is also cashier of the Newport

Citizens' Bank. In September, 1892, Mr. Emerson began to give his time exclusively to the manage- ment of these mills, which are now three in number and their growing business is sufficient testimonial to his industry and efficiency in this department. Mr. Emerson is also interested in banking, and has been for many years president of the Citizens' National Bank, of Newport, which was organized the latter part of 1885 and began business January 1, 1886. It's twentieth anniversary was fittingly celebrated by a banquet in January, 1906. At this time its condition was shown to be highly satisfac- tory to the stockholders, and an extra dividend of three per cent. in addition to the regular semi- annual dividend of the same amount, was declared. Of the original officers and directors only four are now living, and all are directly connected with the management of the institution. That its affairs have been conservatively managed is evidenced by its financial statement which shows a surplus of more than one-half the original capital, after pay- ing regular dividends during the twenty years of its existence.

Mr. Emerson is a member of the Baptist Church of Newport, of which he was for a number of years trustee, having resigned that responsiblity very recently, and he is prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity. He has served as high priest of the local chapter, and is the only thirty- second degree Mason in Newport. He is affiliated with Sullivan Commandery, Knights Templar, and is very popular with the order throughout the state. He is a Republican in politics, and was representative of the town at Concord, in 1905. He was married in Cambridge, Massachusetts, April 15, 1872, to Luella E., daughter of Quartus and Charlotte (Hillard) Fletcher, of Cornish (see Fletcher, VII). She was born February 7. 1849, and is the second child of her parents. She was educated in Newport and Cornish. Mr. and Mrs. Emerson have one daughter, Helen Josephine, born January 19, 1887, who completed the course of the Newport high school, and is now (1907) in her fourth year at the Boston University. Mrs. Char- lotte (Hillard) Fletcher has resided for the past twenty years with her daughter, Mrs. Emerson, and is now (1907) in her eighty-sixth year.

(III) Benjamin, son of Robert and Saralı Grant Emerson, was born January 8, 1678, and died in 1734. He married June 14, 1707, Sarah Pheltrich, a widow. There were eight children by this marriage.

(IV) Charles, son of above, was born May 10, 1718, in Haverhill, Massachusetts. He removed to New Hampshire, probably to Canterbury, as that town is given as the birthplace of his son Charles, the only one particularly mentioned of his six chil- dren. A conveyance of land to him from his brothers Robert and Benjamin is recorded in Con- cord, New Hampshire, the deed bearing date 1740. He married, in 1737, Susanna Silver, of Haverhill, Massachusetts.

(V) Charles (2), son of Charles and Susanna Silver Emerson, was born in Canterbury, New Hampshire, May 6, 1767, he removed to Sutton Junction, Quebec, date not given, and died April 1, 1856. He married Olive Barker. They had nine children.

(VI) John B., son of Charles and Olive Barker Emerson, was born in 1791, in Canterbury, and died at Sutton. Junction, Quebec, in August, 1867. He removed from Canterbury to Boscawen, New

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Hampshire, and married Polly Swan, of Sanborn- Their three children were : Harriet, Joseph Clough and Charlotte.

(VII) Joseph Clough Emerson was born in Boscawen, New Hampshire, February 4, 1819. He studied for the ministry, and was a member of the New Hampshire Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, from 1845 to 1861. October 17, 1861, he was appointed chaplain of the Seventh New Hamp- shire Regiment in the Civil war, was captured Oc- tober 1, 1864, by Confederates near Richmond, Vir- ginia, and released January 14, 1865. He was dis- charged from the army January 20, 1865. Rev. Joseph Clough Emerson was appointed by Bishop Baker, of New Hampshire, as missionary to Florida, and removed to Fernandina with his family October 15, 1865. ' His pioneer work of organizing churches among the colored people was difficult and arduous, but much of it remains until this day. He was active in the organizing of public schools of the town and county where he lived. He was drowned while crossing the St. Johns River, Florida, Febru- ary 3, 1877.

He married, in Methuen, Massachusetts, July 23, 1844, Cecelia Simpkins, of Brereton, England. They had three children: Arthur William, Fran- cena, and Harriet E. Emerson. Francena married David Bowdoin Plumer (see Plumer sketch).

( Second Family.)

The family of this name in New EMERSON England all seem to be of the same English stock, but not all of the same immigrant ancestor. The Emersons in Eng- land appear to have sprung from that Aimeric, archdeacon of Carlisle and Durham, 1196-1214, and high sheriff of Northumberland, 1214-1215, who was the nephew of Bishop Philip, of Poicton, . Prince Bishop of Durham 1195, and previously clericus et familiaris of Richard Coeur de Lion. However, be this as it may, the Emersons of America, as a family, have given a good account of themselves in all the varied walks of life's battles, in peace and war.

(I) Michael Emerson, the early ancestor of many Emersons in New Hampshire, moved into Haverhill, Massachusetts, in 1656, and in 1661 he had a lot of meadow assigned him. He was chosen in 1665 "to view and seal all leather" in town. This was the first time a sealer of leather had been chosen in Haverhill, and he was annually re-elected for many years, so it is probable that he was a shoe- maker. It is said that he settled near the present site of the depot, and that his farm lay on the east side of Little River. He married, April 1, 1657, Hannah Webster, and they had fifteen children, the oldest of whom was Hannah, born December 23, 1657, who married. December 3, 1677, Thomas Dustin, and by him had thirteen children. She was the heroine who was captured by the Indians and carried to the confluence of the Merrimac and Contoocook rivers, with Mary Neff and a young man named Samuel Lannerson, and they killed their captors and took their canoe and returned to Haver- hill. The site of this exploit is now marked by a handsome granite monument surmounted hy a statue to the memory of Hannah (Emerson)

Dustin.

(II) Jonathan, son of Michael and Hannah (Webster) Emerson, was one of the grantees of Chester, New Hampshire, and was admitted at the request of the governor. In 1690 he .was com- mander of one of the garrisons at Haverhill, Massa- chusetts, and in 1701 the Indians attacked his gar- rison and were repulsed by him. In 1705 he and

others had a privilege granted them of setting up a grist mill in the settlement.

(III) Samuel, son of Jonathan Emerson, was born in 1707, and died September 26, 1793. He settled in Chester. Jonathan purchased in 1722 the right of Samuel Marston, the house lot No. 52 on which Samuel settled, and in September, 1735, it was deeded to him, and the lot was called Jona- than Emerson's when the road was laid out in 1730. Samuel first appeared on Chester records in 1731, when he was chosen town clerk, and he was re-elected every year up to 1787. At the same meeting he was chosen one of the selectmen. He filled a place in Chester which no other man has filled or could fill. He was the first justice of the peace in the town. After he settled in Chester he did nearly all the surveying and wrote most of the deeds; he was surveyor to lay out the second part of the second division in 1736, and all subsequent divisions. It is said that he had so tenacious a memory and his organ of locality was so largely developed, that if any bound was lost he could tell nearly where it stood. He was a man of such in- tegrity and judgment, and the people had so much confidence in him, that nearly all minor contro- versies were without any legal formalities referred to him, and his decision was beyond review- or appeal. Samuel Emerson married, February 15, 1733, Sarah Ayer, of Haverhill, and they had fifteen children : Samuel, Jonathan, Samuel, 2nd, Sarah, Nathaniel, Abigail, Hannah, Lydia, Elizabeth, Han- nah 2nd, Moses, John, Nabby, Susanna and Anna. (IV) Colonel Nathaniel, fifth child and fourth son of Samuel and Sarah (Ayer) Emerson, was born May 2, 1741, and died April 30, 1824. He removed to Candia about 1761, and settled on the spot where John W. Cate now resides, where, like most men of his time, he was engaged in farming when not otherwise occupied. He was called to public stations perhaps more than any other indi- vidual who ever lived in Candia. He was an officer in the militia under King George III from 1763 to 1775, and was commissioned Captain of the Eighth Regiment by Governor Benning Wentworth. In 1777 he was lieutenant-colonel of Colonel Stickney's regiment, and fought in the memorable battle of Bennington in April 1777. In 1778 he served as lieutenant-colonel in Colonel Nichol's regiment in Rhode Island, when the American army was co- operating with the French fleet in an attempt to expel the British forces from that province. The attack upon the British army at that time was unsuccessful, and Colonel Emerson soon afterward returned to Candia. During the whole period of the war of the revolution he was a very efficient mem- ber of the committee of safety. In 1782 he served as a member of the convention which framed the first state constitution, and in 1785 and 1786 he was a member of the New Hampshire house of repre- sentatives. He was a member of the board of select- men several years. In 1786 he was chosen superin- tendent of the work of building the first meeting house, and was one of the first members of the Congregational Church in Candia. He was a sur- veyor of lands for many years and a justice of the peace twenty-five years. He married, November 15, 1764, Sarah Tilton, a woman who through life was remarkable for piety and all the social and domestic virtues. She died January, 1814. They had ten children : Jonathan. Anna, Samuel, Sarah, Na- thaniel, Richard, Elizabeth, Hannah, Lydia and Nabby (Abigail).

(V) Nabby, tenth child and sixth daughter of

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Colonel Nathaniel and Sarah (Tilton) Emerson, was born before 1800, and died 1867. She married John Lane, Esq., November 21, 1811. ( See Lane, VI).

The ancestors of the Emersons were

EMERSON devoted Puritans, and ready to en- dure all the privations and perils of a residence in the savage wilderness of New Eng- land rather than live in Britain and renounce their religion or bear the persecutions its practice entailed. Accordingly, the name Emerson carly appeared on the Manchester records. John Emerson came to America in the "Abigail," and settled in Ipswich in 1635: Joseph was there in 1638, and Thomas in 1639. After that time the name is of frequent oc- currence in the records, and many of its bearers were men of prominence. Strong religious con- victions and a high regard for learning have been marked characteristics of this race. As early as 1834 thirty Emersons had been graduated from Ilarvard College, and twenty from other New Eng- land Colleges. Many have been preachers of the gospel, and seventeen of the graduates mentioned were ministers. Many others have been teachers and professors in colleges, and one ranks among the most distinguished of American writers.

(1) William Emerson was long a resident of Wilmot, New Hampshire, where he was a successful farmer. Ilis children were: Harrison, Anthony. Nehemiah, Lasias and Moses.

(11) Harrison, son of Willard Emerson, was born in Wilmot in 1824, and died in 1902, aged seventy-eight. He was a miller, and had a mill on the Blackwater river at Andover. He married Mary Ann Hardy, who was born in Springfield, New Hampshire, February, 1834, and died in 1904, aged seventy years. Her parents were Nicholas and Emily Hardy. Six children were born of this mar- riage: Jonathan, Henry, Charles N., Albert, Caro- line and Allen. Jonathan enlisted in Company I, Sixth New Hampshire Volunteers, and served six months in the war of the rebellion. He was wounded and discharged on account of his wounds. Henry was a member of Company H, Fourth New Hamp- shire Volunteers, in which he served from the time of his enlistment till the close of the war. Caroline married Frank Bartlett, of Andover.

(11]) Charles Nelson, third son and child of Harrison and Mary Ann (Hardy) Emerson, was born in Andover, February' 10, 1850. He was win- cated in the common schools and at Andover Academy, and while not at school was employed en a farm. In 1872 he formed a partnership with William F. Melindy, under the firm name of Me- lindy & Emerson, and they carried on a general store at West Andover for five years. Mr. Emerson then formed a partnership with John F. Emery, and they engaged in the same business at Proctor's Mills, where, after running two years, the firm re- moved to Potter Place, where it continued in trade for about two years. Mr. Emerson was then ap- pointed deputy sheriff of Merrimack county under William Norton, and served four years. He then resigned and removed to Franklin, and became agent for the American Express Company at that place, and has ever since held that place, a term of twenty years. In the transaction of his private business, and in his dealings with the public as the representative of a great corporation, Mr. Emerson has maintained a high character for integrity, and fair dealing. In politics he is a staunch Democrat, and it has been his fortune to be a local leader of

his party. While a resident of Andover he served three years as a selectman, and after his removal to Franklin he occupied a similar position, being the last chairman of the board of selectmen before the town became a city. He was initiated in Kear- sarge Lodge, No. 81, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Andover, and is a member of Mount Horeb Commandery, and Edward A. Raymond Consistory.

He married. in Franklin, December 5, 1872, Ida .A. Clifford, of Andover, who was born in Dan- bury, 1856, daughter of Simon and Diana (Heath) Clifford, of Springfield, New Hampshire. They have one child, Clifford Fred, born June 10, 1892.

This worthy branch of the great EMERSON Emerson family, through defective records, has not been traced to an carlier ancestor than the one herein first men- tioned.

(1) William Emerson was born December 13, 1805, in Wilton, and died there February 6, 1890. aged eighty-four years. He learned the carpenter's trade of his father-in-law, Aaron Kimball Putnam, and worked at it for many years. Ile resided in Wilton throughout his life, with the exception of three years following 1837, when he lived in Jaffrey. He was a man of prominence and influence, and filled the offices of justice of the peace, collector of taxes, town treasurer and selectman, and served on important committees. lle was an carly member of the Congregational Church, to the support of which he was a liberal contributor. He married, April 22, 1832, Evelina Putnam. born May 31, 18II, and died July 23, 1903, daughter of Aaron K. and I'lly ( Shattuck ) Putnam, of Wilton. (See Putnam, VIl.) They had eight children : Sumner B., Charles A., Mary, Martha, Henry L., Willis K., Mary E. and Lenore C.

(Il) Henry L., fifth child and third son of Wil- liam and Evelina ( Putnam) Emerson was born in Wilton, February 6. 1845. He was educated in the public schools, and in 1865 enlisted for service in the Civil war. While at Gallops Island, Boston Harbor, awaiting transportation, he was taken ill with measles, and when he had recovered the sur- render of General Lee and his army had ended the war, and he was discharged. Returning to New Hampshire, he finished learning his trade with his father, with whom he was for a time a partner. Since 1867 he has been a contractor and builder. and has erected many structures in Wilton and vicinity, one of the most notable of which is the new public library builling at Wilton. He takes an interest in all matters relating to the public wel- fare, and served as representative to the general court in 1895. He is a member of Clinton Lodge, No. 52, Free and Accepted Masons, of Wilton, and of King Solomon Chapter, No. 17, Royal Arch Masons, of Milford.

He married, December 17, 1808, Abbie .A. Holt, born in Wilton, November 1, 1846, daughter of Mark and Elizabeth ( Rockword) Holt (sec Holt, VI!), and they have one child, William Henry. born March 24, 1871. who is now engaged in the cloth- ing business in Wilton. He married, May 20, 1806, Mabel 1 .. Clark, daughter of Captain Aaron A. Clark.

The first account of this family

EMERSON thus far discovered is of Fenner H. Emerson, who was born July 30. 1806, in Rhode Island, and was married, April 16,

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1828, to Clarinda Baker, daughter of Philip C. Baker. of Pembroke (see Baker, VI). When a young man Mr. Emerson went to Concord, and for many years he drove a team, hauling paper and other merchandise between Franklin and Concord. This continued until the railroad was completed to Franklin, when he removed to the latter town and was there employed by J. F. Daniel & Son until he grew too old to labor. His last years were passed with his son at Henniker, and he died there June 15, 1883, near the close of his seventy-seventh year. Itis wife was born August 3, 1808, in Bow, and survived him a little more than one year, dying October 23, 1884, at Henniker. She was a member of the Congregational Church, whose faith was ac- cepted by her husband. He was always a Democrat in politics. They were the parents of four children : William F., Mary A., George B. and Henry A. The eldest son died at the age of fourteen years. The daughter is the wife of William Ladd, residing in Con- cord. George B. is a citizen of Buffalo, New York.

(II) Henry Augustus, youngest child of Fenner H. and Clarinda (Baker) Emerson, was born May I, 1837, in Concord, New Hampshire, and remained at home until he was eleven years old. From that time he worked on a farm and in mills in and about Franklin and Fisherville, now Penacook. He was industrious and soon came to realize the value of education, and out of his savings was able to spend some time in academies at Franklin and Fisherville. By this means and by private study he became a well informed man. While actively en- gaged by the use of his hands in earning a livelihood, lie certainly had an abundance of hard labor and his disposition was not spoiled by the hardships he endured. He ever preserved a cheerful temper and has succeeded in getting much pleasure out of life, although his career has been a very busy one. In 1871 he purchased a one-third interest in a paper mill at West Henniker, and before 1886 became its agent and manager. He is now chief owner of a very successful paper manufacturing plant, and his wares are variably known and command a ready sale in the market. He makes much paper for the use of the state and also manufactures card papers and special goods. Mr. Emerson has ever been active in the development and progress of his home town; in ISSS he built the block known as the Emerson Block in the village of Henniker, and about the same time purchased and greatly improved his homestead property on Pleasant street. He has ever been ready to aid in improving the village of Henniker, and contributed twenty-five hundred dol- lors for the completion of its public library. He also gave five hundred dollars For the state road, and has been liberal in providing for concrete walks, light- ing of the streets, and other public improvements. He is a member of Crescent Lodge, No. 60, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of Henniker, trustee of the Tucker Free Library and of the Henniker Academy, and treasurer of the Henniker Cemetery Association. He is a regular attendant of the Con- gressional Church, and supports the Republican party in politics. He represented the town in 1876, 1878 and 1905, receiving in the latter year the largest vote ever given to a representative in the town.

Mr. Emerson married, January 1, 1864, Maria Louise Lydston, a native of Tyngsborongh, Massa- chusetts, daughter of Andrew and Louise (Tufts) Lydston.

The family of this name is limited in RANNO numbers, and seems not to have existed in New England long before the Revo- lution, unless under the name of Ranney.

(1) Reuben Ranno was born in Springfield, New Hampshire, and was a farmer in that town for a number of years. He afterward resided on a farm in Hancock, Vermont, about ten years, and in West Berwick a short time, and finally in Randolph, where he died. He married Mary Webster, who was born in Salisbury, New Hampshire, Their children were: Samuel, Reuben, Mary and Harriett, the lat- ter born March, 1810.

(Il) John. son of Reuben and Mary ( Webster) Ranno, was born in Springfield, New Hampshire, March, 1810. He settled on a farm in Hancock, Vermont, and resided there till 1896, when he re- moved to Manchester, New Hampshire, where he died. In politics he was a Whig and later a Re- publican. He married Sophronia Gould, who was born in Dunbarton, New Hampshire, about 1811. Three children were born of this marriage: Perne- cia A., who was born in Hancock, Vermont, Feb- ruary 22. 1834, married John Robertson and lives in Stillwater, Minnesota. Henry C., the subject of the next paragraph. Charles, who died from fever during the Civil war.

(HI) Henry Clinton, one of two sons of John and Sophronia ( Gould) Ranno, was born in Goffs- town, New Hampshire, August II, 1837, died De- cember 22, 1906. He obtained a common school edu- cation in that town. When a young lad he went along to Washington, Vermont, where he worked at farming. At sixteen years of age he went to Bran- don, Vermont, where he worked three years at the harness maker's trade. At the end of that time he returned to Washington, Vermont, where he worked at farming for fifteen years. In 1874 he removed to Manchester, New Hampshire, and bought out An- drew J. Dow, and started in business for himself. Later he moved a short distance up the street to the site of his present factory, in West Manchester, where he manufactured harness and saddlery under the firm name of the Ranno Saddlery Company. In politics he was a Republican, and took a more than ordinary active part in public affairs, filling the office of councilman two years. He was made a member of George Washington Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Chelsea, Vermont, and upon his removal to Manchester he demitted to Washington Lodge, No. 61. He is an Odd Fellow, a charter member of Uncanoonue Lodge, and a member of the Improved Order of Red Men. He married (first) in Chelsea. Vermont, Eveline Dinsmore. They had children, all born in Washington, Vermont: Fred W., born Jan- uary 3, 1861. Charles G., April 2, 1863. Nellie A., February 12, 1865. Frank G., July 11, 1868, died December, 1873. Willie, died young. Grace S., February 1. 1873, married Walter F. Bennett. Mr. Ranno married ( second ), Iza W. Merrill, who was born in Lovell, Maine, May 29, 1852, and died in Manchester, New Hampshire, 1896.

As the ancestors of this family re-

BUTLER sided in Canada it is impossible to ob- tain on this side of the boundary line any accurate information relative to its early his- tory. It made its way to New Hampshire by way of Vermont, and the subscriber, who is still on the sunny side of fifty. has acquired success in his va- rious enterprises.

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Genealogical and family history of the state of New Hampshire : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Vol. I, Part 106

Author: Stearns, Ezra S; Whitcher, William F. (William Frederick), 1845-1918; Parker, Edward E. (Edward Everett), 1842-1923 Publication date: 1908 Publisher: New York : Lewis Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 858

Author: Stearns, Ezra S; Whitcher, William F. (William Frederick), 1845-1918; Parker, Edward E. (Edward Everett), 1842-1923
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: New York : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 858