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 116
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expedition to Canada in 1776. On July 20, 1777. Mr. Fellows joined the northern Continental army under Stark, being in Captain Ebenezer Webster's company of Colonel Thomas Stickney's regiment, and partici- pated in the battles of Bennington and Stillwater. He enlisted February 3, 1778, in Captain Ezekiel Giles' company of Colonel Stephen Peabody's regi- inent, raised by New Hampshire for service in Rhode Island, and continued therein until discharged Janu- ary 4, 1779. He was a corporal in Captain Ebenezer Webster's company of Colonel Moses Nichols' regi- ment, and joined the Continental army at West Point in 1780, serving from July 5 to October 25 of that year. Three of Joseph Fellows' sons-Ezekiel, Joseph and Benjamin-rendered service from And- over during the Revolutionary war. Joseph Fellows died March 14, ISII, completing almost half a cen- tury of residence in Andover. There is an interest- ing tradition concerning Mr. Fellows' trips to mill in Penacook. His course was indicated only by blazed trees, and the journey toilsome, even with no burden. It was his custom, when wearied by the load, to add a block of wood or pole, so that throw- ing off the extra piece would so lighten the weight as to seem a rest. Mr. Fellows was married January 2, 1753, to Margaret Webster, a sister of Daniel Web- ster's father. His children were born as follows: Ezekiel. August 25, 1754; Joseph, October 18, 1756; Mary, May 3. 1758; Benjamin, October 7, 1760 ; Mar- garet, February 25, 1763; Abel, April 3. 1765 ; John, April 3, 1767; Ebenezer, 1769; and Stephen, May 15, 1773.
(V) Stephen, youngest of the children of Joseph and Margaret (Webster) Fellows, remained on the homestead and cared for his parents in their old age. He was an earnest, active and industrious citizen, and successful as a farmer. He added to the paternal homestead of eighty acres, and built the first brick house in the town, which is still in use as a farm residence. An active member of the Christian Bap- tist Church, he hewed with his own hands the tim- bers for its house of worship, which is still standing in East Andover. For his labors in this behalf he received title to some of the pews in the church, and his descendants have been recently called upon to consent to alterations in the pews. which they did. Like all of his family he gave unchanging allegiance to the Democratic party. He was married April 22. 1795. to Mary Emery, a daughter of Dr. Emery, of Fryeburg. Maine, and his wife, Fessenden. Mr. Fellows' first child, Betsey, married James Emery, and after his death Benjamin Finney. and lived in Andover and Franklin, dying in the former town. She was the mother of Dr. James Emery. a physician of eminence, who lived and died at Hud- son this state. Rev. Joseph Emery Fellows. the second, resided in Andover and Franklin, and went to Missouri shortly before the beginning of the Civil war. Because of his outspoken Union sentiments he was given one day to leave the state by hotheaded rebels, and saved his life only by fleeing to Illinois. He died at Buda, in that state. A sketch of John Fellows follows. Stephen, the fourth. was a preacher of the Christian Baptist Church at Fall River, Mas-
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sachusetts, where he died. William Fessenden, the youngest, resided on the paternal homestead until about 1854, when he removed to Sheffield, Illinois, where he was a farmer, and died, leaving a large family.
(VI) John, second son and third child of Stephen and Mary (Emery) Fellows, was born Jan- uary 12, 1808, on the farm settled by his grandfather, and continued to reside in his native town through life, becoming one of its most useful and prominent citizens. In 1843 he purchased six hundred acres of land in the western part of the town, on the north- erly side of Mount Kearsarge, and engaged in farm- ing on a large scale. A part of this land is still in possession of his son. In 1852 John Fellows moved to the village of Andover Centre, and resided there the remainder of his life. He was an active man of affairs and served the town in various capacities. An active politician, he was loyal to the Democratic party, and served twenty years as deputy sheriff. He was elected representative in the legislature in 1846 and 1848, and rendered valuable service, creditable both to himself and the town. He was liberal in religious views. and supported the Christian Baptist Church, of which his wife was a member. An in- dependent thinker, he could not be bound by man- made creeds, and despised anything in the nature of cant. An upright man, he was guided by the golden rule, and enjoyed the respect and esteem of his con- temporaries. He passed away November 24, i868, at his home in Andover.
Mr. Fellows was married to Polly Hilton, who was born in Nottingham, New Hampshire, a daugh- ter of Elijah Hilton, of that town (see Hilton. VII), The first child of John and Polly ( Hilton) Fellows, Joseph W., died at the age of six months. Joseph Warren, the second, is the subject of the following article. Susan Smith, the third. married Walter Scott Thompson, who died in 1864. She subse- quently married Herman E. Fay, whom she survives, and now resides in Boston, where her daughter, Mary Helen Thompson, is a teacher. Her son, Walter Scott Thompson. is connected with the West- ern New York & Pennsylvania Railroad. IIenry Dearborn Fellows, third child of John, died in 1874. at the age of thirty-two years. Mary Ann, the youngest, married Rufus G. Burleigh, and resides in Franklin.
(VII) Joseph Warren, eldest son of John and Polly (Hilton) Fellows, was born January 15. 1835. on the homestead of his maternal grandfather, Elijah Hilton, and died April 26, 1906, at his home in Man- chester, New Hampshire. He was eight years of age when his father went upon a large farm in Andover, and he was early introduced to the labors incident to New England agriculture. The habits of industry and persistent application which he learned in that carly and practical school no doubt con- tributed much toward his great success in life. While his muscles were being developed by the duties of a farmer's son, his mind was being cared for in the local district school and Andover Academy, where he prepared for college, and he entered Dartmouth in the fall of 1854. Following a custom almost uni- versal in that day, he engaged in teaching during the
winter months, thus securing material aid in the pursuit of knowledge. as well as an experience ever after valuable. His last employment in this capacity before graduating was in the Upton (Massachusetts) high school, where he received warm commendation from the late Governor George S. Boutwell,, then chairman of the educational bureau of Massachu- setts. Having completed the course at Dartmouth in 1858 he became principal of Andover Academy in the fall of the same year, and so continued during the school year. In 1859 he became master of the classical department of Brownwood Institute at La- Grange, Georgia, and was elected in the following year as principal of the Marietta Latin School, in that state. He expected to make this a permanent position, but the prospect of Civil war ruined his plans, along with those of many others, and he re- turned north without entering upon his duties at Marietta. Without any loss of time in repining, he entered the law department of Albany University in September, 1860, and was graduated in June. 1861. He was admitted to the bar in the New York court of appeals and planned to locate in New York city, but the wishes of his parents prevailed upon him to return to his native state, and in September, 1861, he entered the law office of Pike & Barnard. at Franklin, and remained until Jannary, when he re- moved to Manchester and joined Eastman & Cross, of that city. In August of this year he was admitted to the supreme court of New Hampshire, and im- mediately formed a partnership with Captain A. B. Shattuck, who was about to start for the front with the northern army. This gave promise of a lasting and valuable association. but the gallant Captain Shattuck fell mortally wounded at Fredericksburg, in December, 1862, and so Mr. Fellows' plans were again changed. On January 1, 1863, he began an in- dependent course which has ever since continued with conspicuous success. For over thirty years he occupied the same office, and his fidelity to the in- terests of his clients and prompt and energetic pur- suit of cases brought to him a large amount of busi- ness. In 1874 he was elected clerk of the Concord Railroad, and continued in that position sixteen years, becoming also counsel for the company, and was retained by that company and the Concord & Montreal Railroad until they were leased by the Bos- ton & Maine, and is now on the legal staff of the latter company. These facts testify to the ability, keenness, tact and integrity of Mr. Fellows, and he is held in high esteem by the profession and all who enjoy his acquaintance. In 1874 he was appointed judge of the police court of the city of Manchester. but the tempation of large private practice soon led him to resign the position, and he held it only one year. Judge Fellows ever took a keen interest in the progress of affairs, and was always ready to bear his share in the responsibilities of good citizenship. Independent in thought and fixed in his convictions, he did not fear to express them on occasion. Ile was for several years an active and influential member of the Democratic state central committee and chair- man of the city committee, and aided in many ways in the struggles for supremacy that have waged in the state. Devoted to the principles of his party as
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he understood them, while never disloyal to his party, he stood for his own convictions, regardless ci the consequences. In recent years he withdrew from active participation in the management of political matters.
Every interest of the community in which he lived was supported and aided by his wise counsels and in other ways. He was a charter member of the Unitarian Educational Society, and one of its trus- tees, and was instrumental in the purchase and main- tenance of Proctor Academy by that society, which ( formerly known as Andover Academy) has grown and prospered under the new management. Judge Fellows was prominently identified with the policies and interests of the Unitarian denomination of the State throughout his life, and was always an active supporter of its grove meetings at The Weirs during their quarter-century of continuance. He was trus- tee and clerk of the corporation which owns and maintains the Gale Home for Aged and Destitute Women in Manchester since its incorporation until his demise. He was the original mover in the es- tablishment of the Masonic Home located in Man- chester, was vice-president and chairman of the board of trustees which controls it from the begin- ning. In the Masonic order he won a national posi- tion and received all the honors in the gift of his brethren within the State. He passed through all the grades, including the order of knighthood, and was for several years an officer of the grand encamp- ment of Knights Templar of the United States. He was a member of the committee on jurisprudence of the national body for twelve years, and was its chair- man when he died. He had the thirty-third grade of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, and was an "active member" of the supreme council of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction and chairman of the committee on constitution and laws, having been ap- pointed to succeed the late Hon. Josiah H. Drum- mond, and thus held two of the most influential posi- tions connected with the order of Knights Templar and the Scottish Rite in the country. The fraternity is greatly indebted to Judge Fellows for his interest in and labors upon matters of its jurisprudence, and he was long chairman of the committees upon that subjeet in the several grand bodies of the state.
Judge Fellows was married June 8, 1865, at Fall River, Massachusetts, to Susan Frances. daughter of Henry E. and Susan D. (Farnum) Moore. She died August 11, 1874, and Mr. Fellows was married Octo- ber 8, 1878, at Manchester, to Mrs. Elizabeth Brown Davis, daughter of Erastus and Annis (Winship) Brown, and widow of Dr. Ebenezer Harriman Davis, of Manchester. Mrs. Fellows is the mother of May Winship; Annie Winship, died June. 1881: and Edith Harriman, wife of Frederick William Davis, ex-state senator, of Manchester. The living dangh- ters are loved and loving members of the delightful home circle which dwells in the Judge's beautiful home on Lowell street, Manchester.
This name is old and honorable in DELANY Treland where it has been borne for ages by men of prominence in both civil and ecclesiastical life, especially the latter. In
Cork stands a statue of Bishop Delany, known for his many good works there, and the present rector of the Catholic College in Dublin is a Delany; also Patrick Delany, of Tasmania, is a cousin of Thomas, inentioned below.
Thomas Delany, son of Bryan Delany, was a native of Ireland, and came to America in 1847. and settled soon after in Lowell, Massachusetts, where for thirty years he was the leading custom tailor in that city. He died in 1900. Mr. Delany, though not wealthy, was in easy circumstances, as is shown by the fact that each of his children received either a college or an academic training, while Father Frederick made additional studies in Paris, in Rome, and at the Catholic University in Washington, D. C. Thomas married Catherine Fox, daughter of James and Bridget Fox. natives of Ireland. She died De- eember 29, 1906. The children of this union were: Rose J., wife of Patrick Gilbride, a prominent dry goods merchant of Lowell. John B., whose sketch follows. Mary. F., wife of John A. O'Hearn, lives in Ashmont, Massachusetts. Sister Florence Louise, a nun of the order of Notre Dame, secretary of Trinity College, Washington, D. C. Thomas, Jr., died in 1903. Frederick J., a priest of the arch- diocese of Boston. Grace, a model teacher in the Lowell training school. Clotilda, a teacher in the Everett school, Boston.
Right Rev. John Bernard Delany, second bishop of Manchester, was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, August 9, 1864. His early education was obtained at the Greene grammar school and the high school at Lowell. For two years he attended Holy Cross College at Worcester. Massachusetts, and then went to Boston College, and was graduated from that in- stitution with the class of 1887. Immediately after- ward he left for Paris to study for the priesthood at the seminary of Saint Sulpice, which is perhaps the most famous seminary in the world. It is two hun- dred and fifty years old and numbers among its alumni two saints. May 23. 1891, John B. Delany was ordained to the priesthood in Paris by Cardinal Richard, archbishop of Paris, who is living at the present time. He celebrated his first mass at Saint Sulpice, and on the days immediately following he offered the Holy Sacrifice at different shrines in and about Paris, such as the Church of the Foreign Missions, the Church of Our Lady of Victory, and the basilica of the Sacred Heart. He then journeyed to Lourdes, the site of the famous apparition of the Blessed Virgin, to ask her maternal blessing on the life work he was about to begin.
On his way to America he visited England and Ireland. completing a series of tours which he had taken during his vacations from seminary work. These included trips through France, Italy, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Arriving in this country he passed a few days at his old home in Lowell, and then reported to his superior. Bishop Bradley, of Manchester. The young priest's first assignment was to a euracy at Saint Anne's, the pioneer parish of the episcopal eity. Here his admirable qualities of head and heart, and his zeal for every good work endeared him to both priest and people, who parted from him with keen regret when two years
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and a half later he was transferred to the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Portsmouth. The rector at Portsmouth then was the Very Rev. Eu- gene M. O'Callaghan, now of Concord, who as vicar- general of the diocese, was vicar-general after Bishop Bradley's death. As his assistant Father Delany re- mained at Portsmouth about five years. After a few months, at Hinsdale. during an European trip of the pastor. Father Delany.came in 1898 to Saint Joseph's Cathedral, Manchester. Receiving at once his ap- pointment as chancellor of the diocese, and secretary to Bishop Bradley, he entered upon the course of training which was specially to fit him for the high office he was afterwards to be called to. In addition to the exacting duties of these positions he, as a member of the episcopal household, preached in turn with the other priests, and assisted in hearing parish confessions.
On the opening of the Monastery of the Precious Blood in 1808, Father Delaney was made the Sisters' chaplain, saying at their chapel his morning Mass, hearing their confessions, giving retreats from time to time, and having general supervision of the af- fairs of their institute for the following six years. In 1902 he accompanied twelve of the Sisters to the city of Havana, where a new foundation of the order was established under his direction. In August. 1898, Bishop Bradley established The Guidon, and placed Father Delany in editorial charge. Afterward the magazine passed into the hands of a stock company composed of the priests of the diocese, but Father Delany remained its editor from the first. Nowhere was his patience. tact and perseverance more evident than in his building up of this magazine. Its publi- cation was begun in the face of difficulties which would have daunted one less strong. Catholic pa- pers and magazines already existed, it seemed in plenty ; priests were skeptical as to the wisdom of the undertaking: people looked critically on, and subscribers were few; but Bishop Bradley felt assured of the need, and Father Delany entered upon his task. Under his management The Guidon grew in six years from a small publication with few advertisers and a meagre circulation in New Hamp- shire alone to a large magazine which numbers its advertisers by the hundred and its readers by the thousand; which goes not only to distant places in our own country, but to not a few in distant lands ; which has taken rank with the first publications of its class, and received the approval of the highest dignitaries of the church. Before he left this com- try Cardinal Martinelli sent the editor his word of commendation for the work The Guidon is doing.
Father Delany had a high idea of the wisdom of journalism, and of Catholic journalism in particular, and he kept the pages of his magazine singularly free from anything that might savor of sensationalism or cheap literature. His own editorials were widely quoted. They dealt with nearly all the questions which agitated society from time to time: strikes, christian education, temperance. woman suffrage, di- vorce, matters of political and international signifi- cance and many others. He did not hesitate to point out to his own people their rights and duties as
worthy members of the Catholic Church, and equally worthy citizens of the United States. While he never wounded charity, yet he never hesitated to con- demin an abuse or demand the redress of a grievance. In dealing with the belief of others, he was always lenient and christian, and among the readers of The Guidon not the least appreciative have been many not of the Catholic faith, who found in its pages strength, consolation, and enlightenment.
But Father Delany was a journalist only by acci- dent ; he always had his highest pleasure in his dis- tinctly priestly work. In this work still other duties claimed a share of his attention. He was the dio- cesan director of the League of the Sacred Heart, branches of which have been established even in re- mote parts of the state: he was director of the So- ciety of the Holy Childhood; had charge of the non- Catholic missions in New Hampshire: was a mem- ber of the state conference of charities and correc- tions ; and was state chaplain of the Knights of Co- lumbus from their organization. His last appoint- ment from Bishop Bradley was as diocesan director of the Priests' Temperance League, an organization whose members pledge themselves to further the cause of temperance by every means within their power. With all this Father Delany found time to write many prose sketches and occasional poems of more than ordinary merit for The Guidon and other publications, and to deliver lectures and public ad- dresses on subjects ranging from art and travel to theology. He often accompanied Bishop Bradley to church functions both in and out of the diocese. and on other like occasions was the bishop's representa- tive. In 1903 he delivered the baccalaureate sermon at Boston College, the highest honor his Alma Mater could bestow.
Bishop Bradley died December 12, 1903, and the question of selecting his successor subsequently arose. Months before it ocurred the bishop, foreseeing his own death, wrote a letter expressive of his views in the matter of his successor. In this latter he named three priests, any of whom in his judgment would successfully govern the diocese. Of these Father Delany was one, and the bishop's commend- ation of the man was hearty and sincere. In his letter he said: "Father Delany enjoys my fullest confidence." No other priest in the state stood so near to Bishop Bradley; none knew so well his plans and hopes for the church, none could so read- ily take up the burden where he had laid it down. The Catholic clergy and laity of the diocese pre- ferred Father Delany as Bishop Bradley's successor because they knew him to be a man of high intelli- gence, broad culture, enlightened piety, discrimin- ating charity, and above all unerring in his duty. His name was presented at the Vatican and Father Delany was made bishop of Manchester, August 9. 1903. The appointment met with the hearty approval of the Catholics of the diocese. The bishop's policy was wise and his administration successful, Under his fostering care and skillful guidance the church and its institutions grew, and present conditions in both spiritual and temporal matters presage con- tinned and uninterrupted prosperity. John B. De-
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lany, Right Rev. Bishop of Manchester, died June II, 1906.
CENTER This name is used under various spell- ings in New Hampshire, and it seems to have been borne by intelligent an- cestors, locating in different parts of New England. The line herein traced does not seem to have any connection with the others mentioned in this article and the naine has been invariably spelled Center.
(I) John Center was a resident of Boston in the sixteenth century, and was twice married. He died about 1700, and his widow Ruth was married Febru- ary 9, 1707, to Joseph Wright of Woburn. The inscription upon her tomb-stone is as follows: "Here lyes Ye body of Mrs. Ruth Wright, wife of Mr. Joseph Wright. Formerly wife to Mr. John Center. Died February 18, 1716-17. Aged about 60."
(II) Jeremiah, son of John and Ruth Center, was born February 15, 1697, in Boston, and lived in Wo- burn, Massachusetts. His wife's name was Mary, and their children, born from 1718 to 1736, were: James, Mary, John, Bill and Cotton. The youngest of these was the father of Cotton Center, Jr., a prosperous merchant of Charlestown. Massachusetts.
(III) Bill, third son and fourth child of Jeremiah and Mary Center, was born May II, 1722, in Wo- burn, Massachusetts, and was a soldier of the Revo- lution. He was living in Woburn as late as 1782, and presumably continued there until his death. He was married March 22, 1763, to Hannah Evans, who was born August 4, 1744, daughter of Andrew and Mary (Richardson) Evans. Their children. born from 1765 to 1782. were: Bill, Jeremialı (died young), Enoch, Jonas, Bernard, Jeremiah, Mary and Hannah.
(IV) Jonas, fourth son and child of Bill and Hannah (Evans) Center, was born January 23, 1771, in Woburn, Massachusetts, and died in Wilton, New Hampshire, September 27, 1856, in his eighty- sixth year. Soon after attaining his majority he settled in Greenfield, New Hampshire, whence he removed to Wilton in 1830. He purchased a farm there, on which he resided during the remainder of his life engaged in agriculture. He was married in Woburn, June 16, 1794, to Sarah Tay, of that town, who was born October 9, 1775, daughter of Archelaus and Sarah (Cook) Tay. She survived him eleven years, and died at the home of her daugh- ter Maria (Mrs. E. P. Hutchinson) in Milford, October 27, 1867, aged ninety-two years. They were the parents of six sons and five daughters.
(V) Samuel Newell, son of Jonas and Sarah (Tay) Center, was born in Greenfield, September 27, 1814, and died in Wilton. He was a boy of sixteen when his parents removed to Wilton, and he lived there with them until he attained his ma- jority. He then went to Boston, where he was em- ployed in a store until 1840. He then went to Sum- ter county. Alabama, where he kept a store until 1843, when he returned to Wilton and occupied the store adjoining the hotel until it was burned, March 15, 1876. The same year he rebuilt the hotel and store, and in company with his son, Everett B., oc-
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