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 124
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At the close of the war he was invited to become the editor of a newspaper in Chicago, the Repub- lican, an invitation which he accepted. The paper soon failed, through no fault of Mr. Dana, and he returned to New York, and organized a company which purchased the Sun. at that time an old and moribund property. Under Mr. Dana's editorial management it entered upon a remarkably successful course. The first number of the paper under his editorial supervision appeared January 27, 1868, and was Democratic in politics. From that time it was an important factor in political journalism. He soon showed the purpose which ever afterward actuated him-of making his paper a sharp, aggres- sive instrument, independent of party limitations. and unbounded by party ties. At the same time he carried it on as a newspaper remarkable for the com- pleteness of its arrangements for the collection of news, and for the excellence with which that news was presented to the public. Neither money nor labor were spared to obtain the very best editorial talent to make the Sun a leading journal. Mr. Dana was a man of strong character, with pro- nounced opinions of his own, and succeeded in mak- ing a sufficient number of enemies to keep the Sun constantly before the public. Eccentricity in the management of the paper was often noticeable : stich, for instance, as its sudden change of base in the matter of the Beecher trial, and such. again, as its advocacy of General B. F. Butler for president of the United States during the campaign of 1884. In that campaign the Sun was pronounced in its oppos- ition to Grover Cleveland, the Democratic candidate. and effusive in its expressions of confidence in the success of General Butler, who received at that
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election from the combined greenback and anti- monopolist parties 133,835 out of 10,000,000 votes. The Sun supported Mr. Tilden for the presidency, and was bitter over the manner in which the elec- tion of 1876 terminated, always thereafter styling Rutherford B. Hayes. in its columns, the "Fraud President." In 1880, when General Winfield Scott Hancock was the candidate of the Democratic party for president, Mr. Dana did not give the candidate his support. a most important contribution to the literature of the campaign being the statement, in the columns of the Sun, that the Democratic can- didate was "a good man and weighs two hundred and fifty pounds."
Mr. Dana's independence and adhesion to what he considered a true course was demonstrated in his incisive and severe attack upon the administration of President Grant, whose friend he had shown him- self in the dark days of the Civil war. His action at this time led to a notable attempt on the part of the administration, in July. 1873, to take him from New York on a charge of libel, to be tried without a jury in a Washington police court. Application for a warrant for his removal was made in the United States district court in New York, but the warrant was refused. the proposed form of trial be- ing held unconstitutional.
Mr. Dana's "genius for journalism." and his un- tiring devotion to newspaper work did not keep him from literary work. He was employed by D. Apple- ton & Company as a reader for several years after he went on the staff of the Tribune. His first book was a volume of stories translated from the Ger- man, entitled "The Black Ant," published in 1848. In the year 1855 he planned and edited, with George Ripley, the "New American Encyclopedia," the ori- ginal edition of which was completed in 1863. In 1857 was first published by the Appletons, Mr. Dana's "Household Book of Poetry." a 'collection of the best minor poems of the English language, one. of the most pleasing compilations of the kind ever made. It passed through numerous editions, and continued to be popular. With General James H. Wilson he wrote a "Life of Ulysses S. Grant." which was published in 1868. In association with Rossiter Johnson. he also edited "Fifty Perfect Poems" (New York, 1883).
"Perhaps to a greater extent than in the case of any other conspicuous journalist. Mr. Dana's per- sonality was identified in the public mind with the newspaper which he edited. He recorded no theories of journalism other than those of connon sense and human interest. He was impatient of prolixity, cant, and the conventional standards of news im- portance." "He was a man of remarkable intellec- tual power, and extraordinary editorial gifts. His vigorous personality invariably dominated every in- terest or movement with which he was connected." "A man of notable personal appearance, Mr. Dana gained a high character as a public man, and was freely called upon in connection with important oc- casions. Retaining always his interest in intellectual employment, he kept himself surrounded, at his luxurious home on Long Island, with valuable works of art and choice books. devoting his leisure there to congenial pursuits. He was frequently mentioned for political honors, but he preferred the editorial career, in which he made himself eminent."
(V) Sylvester, fourth son and seventh child of Anderson and Susanna (Huntington) Dana, was born July 4. 1769. in Ashford, Connecticut, and was nine years old on the day following his father's
tragic death at Wilkes-Barre. Soon after the fam- ily returned to Connecticut he was placed in the home of Major Hyde, a farmer of Lebanon, Con- necticut, and a hard taskmaster, at least, as viewed in modern eyes. The boy was forced to rise before daylight in summer. and begin his day's labors, which never ended until sundown. Tiring of his hard life and being ambitious to do something for himself. he joined his brothers in reclaiming their birthright in Pennsylvania, being then not quite six- teen years of age. Their provisions became low before they could produce a new crop, and for six weeks they lived on boiled parsley and milk, until corn was sufficiently matured to eat. They persevered, and prospered, and, after six years, Sylvester sold out to his brothers and returned cast. in order to secure an education. It is evident that he had previously studied much by himself, for he fitted in one year for college and entered Yale in 1793. graduating in 1797 at the age of twenty-eight years. During his sophomore year he was admitted to the college church, and he was the classmate of men who suh- sequently became eminent, including Rev. Dr. Ly- man Beecher. Judge Henry Baldwin, of the United States supreme bench, Professor James Murdock, Hon. Horatio Seymour, and others. U'pon gradua- tion Mr. Dana took up the study of theology with Rev. Dr. Charles Backus, of Somers. Connecticut. and was licensed to preach June 3. 1798. During that year he preached in various places in Connecti- cut, and in the following year at Wilkes-Barre and Hanover, Pennsylvania. He was employed in the following winter by the Connecticut Missionary So- ciety to preach in the new settlements of Western New York. In the spring of 1800 he preached three months at Windsor. Vermont, and subsequently at Haverhill and Orford. New Hampshire. Both these places extended to him a unanimous call to become settled pastor, and he accepted that of Orford. being ordained May 20. INOT. For nearly twenty-one years he continued in this relation, usually preaching alternately at the east and west meeting houses. When the church became independent of the town a new society was organized, consisting of people of Orford and Fairlee, Vermont. Mr. Dana was set- tled over this parish February 10. 1823, and con- tinued until his resignation in 1833. For the next four years he was in charge of the church in Thorn- ton. New Hampshire, and retired on account of failing health, in 1837. During his pastorate at West Orford ninety-seven members were added to the church, and his labors at Thornton were fruitful in accessions. Upon his retirement le tok up his residence at Concord, where he passed way June o. 1849, being almost eighty years of age. After his retirement he made two visits to the Wyoming Val- ley, and preached occasionally, By the burning of his residence in Concord he lost li- library of five hundred volumes and all his manuscript sermons and a history of the Wyoming Valley, Is rrowly e- caping with his life. Am ng active opponents it human slavery, he acted politically with the Feder- alists, though not a politician in any way. He was married March 2. 1802, to Hannch K :ball. dangh- ter of Deacon I hn Kimball, of Concord. twee Kim- hall. VI). She was born June 21. 1777 and died November 16, 18 6. in Concord. Thir fr t child. Samuel, died in infancy. Anny Kimball, born De- cember, IN02, become the wife of Dr Rud Barrows. of Fryeburg. Maine, and died in Mir rota. Robert Parker died when three years old, John when one year old. and Lucia in childhood. Charles Backus,
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horn March 26, 1806, was an Episcopal clergyman, located twenty-six years at Alexandria, Virginia, and spent the balance of his life in Mississippi, the last eight years in Natchez, where he died in 1873. A son named Sylvester died in infancy, and the sec- ond Sylvester was born in 1816. He receives ex- tended mention below. Hannah, born February 1, 1819, married Rev. Samuel S. Tappan, a Congrega- tional clergyman of Conway, who died in Philadel- phia. Pennsylvania. She died April 19, 1855, in Providence. Rhode Island.
(VI) Sylvester (2), youngest son of Rev. Sylvester and Hannah (Kimball) Dana, was born October 19, 1816, in Orford, this state, and has long been among the most active and useful residents of the commonwealth. He attended the common school of his native town and spent a term at Haverhill .Academy. Nearly three years were passed in fitting for college at Phillips Andover Academy, and he entered Dartmouth College in 1835, graduating in 1839. He immediately took up the study of law with Pierce & Fowler, of Concord, one of whom afterward became president of the United States, and the other a noted judge. Mr. Dana was ad- mitted to the bar in October, 1842. and for the suc- ceeding twenty years was busily engaged in practice at Concord. In June, 1862, he was appointed judge of the police court of Concord, and continued to serve in that position until he was retired by the constitutional age limit, in October, 1886, a period of over twenty-four years. He was not, however, at this time incapacitated for business, and continued for many years to practice law. He is a well-in- formed and interesting man, with clear mind and sound judgment, now in his ninetieth year.
Judge~Dana is among the founders of the Re- publican party, to whose interest he has since been a devoted contributor. He attends the North Con- gregational Church of Concord. is a member of the New Hampshire Historical Society, of which he served as corresponding secretary, and of the local chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, of which he has been vice-president. These associa- tions indicate a line of study and interest in litera- ture, as well as the best interests of the community generally. He was married November 8, 1860, to Mary Jane Seavey, who was born April 29, 1837, in Chichester, this state, a daughter of Nathaniel and Mary Ann (Hinds) Scavey, of that town. Mr. and Mrs. Dana have lost six children, one reaching the age of- sixteen years and another twenty-three. the others dying in infancy. Of the two living, Charles Sylvester, born August 30, 186r. was long connected with the New York Sun and is now a resident of New York City. Alice Louise. December 30, 1879, resides with her parents in Concord.
(II) Daniel, sixth son and ninth child of Rich- ard and Ann (Bullard) Dana, was born in Cam- bridge March 20, 1663. He was chosen tythingman for the year 1700, served as surveyor the following year. and his death occurred October 10. 1749. He married Naomi Croswell, who was born in Charles- town, 1669, and died in February, 1751. Their chil- dren were: Thomas, Caleb, Richard, Maria, Hepziba, Timothy, Priscilla and Ebenezer.
(III) Richard, third son and child of Daniel and Naomi (Croswell) Dana. was born in Cam- bridge. June 26, 1699. He was the first of the name to enter Harvard College, from which he was grad- uated in 1718, and he became an eminent lawyer in Boston. He was an ardent patriot during the excit- ing period which preceded the American Revolution,
and mainly instrumental in preventing the enforce- ment of the odious "Stamp Act." For many years he resided in Charlestown, and he died in Boston in 1772. May 31, 1737. he married Lydia Trowbridge, daughter of Judge Edmund Trowbridge. Her death occurred at Newton, Massachusetts, April 7, 1776, at the age of sixty-five years. Their children were: Lydia, Edmund, Henry. Francis, Mary, Robert, Anne, Mary (second), and Lydia (second), who married Major John Hastings, of the Continental -army.
(IV) Hon. Francis, third son and fourth child of Richard and Lydia (Trowbridge) Dana, was born in Charlestown, June 13. 1743. He was graduated from Harvard in 1762; was made a Doctor of Laws by his alma mater in 1792, and became a lawyer of ability. In 1778-83-84-86-87 he was a delegate to the Continental congress. He was one of the early diplomatists of the United States, having served as secretary of the American legation in Paris under Minister John Adams, and was appointed the first minister to Russia. Upon his return to the United States he resumed his profession, and afterwards became chief justice of the Massachusetts supreme court. He was an extensive real estate owner in Cambridge, and died there April 25, 1811. August 5. 1773, he married Elizabeth Ellery, daughter of William Ellery, of Newport, Rhode Island, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. She died August 31, 1807. The children of this union were: Edmund Trowbridge. Francis, Edmund Trowbridge (second), Martha Remington (who married Washington Alston, the famous portrait painter), Richard Henry, Elizabeth Ellery and Sarah Ann. Edmund Trowbridge Dana (second) founded the Dana Library, Cambridge.
(V) Francis, second son and child of Hon. Francis and Elizabeth (Ellery) Dana, was born in Cambridge, May 14, 1777. After graduating from Harvard he turned his attention to mercantile pur- suits and for many years was a successful merchant in Hamburg, Germany. He died in Boston, Decem- ber 28, 1858. August 4. 1802, he married Sophia Willard, daughter of Joseph Willard, president of Harvard College. Her death occurred February 27, 1840, at the age of sixty-seven years. Their chil- dren were: Sophia Willard, became the wife of Rev. George Ripley; Mary, Elizabeth. Francis and Joseph Willard, who was graduated from Harvard in 1828.
(VI) Francis Dana, M. D., third child and eldest son of Francis and Sophia (Willard) Dana, was born in Cambridge, December 2, 1806. He took his medical degree at Harvard in 1831, and was for some time a student with the celebrated Dr. Jackson. He practiced medicine in Greenfield, Mas- sachusetts, for about three years, but returned to Boston, where a much broader field of operation was open to him, and he was a physician of marked ability in that city for many years, or until failing health compelled him to withdraw from professional life. He was subsequently for a few years an in- spector in the Boston Custom House, and from 1858 to 1871 was assistant librarian of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He died June 30, 1872. On June 25, 1825, he married Isabella Hazen White, who bore him four children: Francis. born September 28, 1835. died May II, 1843: George Hazen, the date of whose birth will be given pres- ently : William Ellery. born April 27, 1839, died June 7. 1846: and Isabella Hazen, born February 9, 1847.
(VII) Colonel George Hazen Dana, second son
George Hagen Dana
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and child of Dr. Francis and Isabella Hazen ( White ) Dana, was born in Boston. September 2, 1837. He was educated at the Lancaster (Massa- chusetts ) Academy, and at the well-known Chain- cey Hall School, Boston. When seventeen years old he went to Java on the ship "Flying Fish," and upon reaching that island he accepted a position in the large commission house of Paine, Stricker & Company. Two years later he engaged in the com- mission business on his own account at Singapore, and upon a visit to Boston he induced Francis D. Cobb to return with him to the far east as his part- ner. When the news reached him, in 1862, of the rebellion of the southern states, his patriotism caused him to return with all possible haste, and upon his arrival he enlisted in the Thirty-second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, as second lieuten- ant, and was subsequently made captain of his com- pany. For some time he served as an aide on the staff of Major-General N. J. T. Dana, commanding the department of the Mississippi West, and was mustered out with the rank of lieutenant-colonel at the close of the war. Once more sailing for the Orient he continued in the commission business at Singapore until 1870, when he returned permanently to the United States, and for the succeeding five years was engaged in the sheep raising business near Laramie City, Wyoming. For the past thirty years he has -resided in Newport, New Hampshire, de- voting his attention exclusively to the management of his property. For many years he has acted as a justice of the peace. He is a member of the Went- worth Club, Keene, and also of St. James Church, Burkhaven, Lake Sunapee.
On February 22, 1865, Colonel Dana married Frances Matson Burke, daughter of the late IIon. Edmund and Ann (Matson) Burke. the former of whom was born in Westminster, Vermont, January 23. 1800, and died in Newport, January 25, 1882. Ann Matson Burke was born in Stoddard, New Hampshire, June 20, 1823, and died in Newport, January 25, 1857. Mrs. Dana is a lineal descendant in the seventh generation of Richard Burke, of Sud- bury. Massachusetts, from whom the line of descent is through Richard, Jonathan, Captain Jesse, Elijah and IIon. Edmund Burke. The first Richard Burke is supposed to have been born about the year 1640, and died at Sudbury in 1693-94. On June 24. 1670, he was married in Sudbury to Mary Parmenter, born there June 10, 1644, daughter of John and Amy Parmenter, and granddaughter of Deacon John Parmenter, who was one of the first-settlers in that town. Hon. Edmund Burke was an able lawyer, and prominent politician of his day. In 1834 he es- tablished his residence in Newport, and immediately became a leading spirit in the Democratic party of New Hampshire. From 1839 to 1845 he was a mem- ber of congress; was commissioner of patents under President Polk: and for a time was associated with Thomas Ritchie in editing the Washington Union, which was at that period the chief organ of the na- tional Democratic organization. About the year 1850 Mr. Burke retired from political life and re- turned to his home in Newport, where he spent the remainder of his days. His wife, Ann (Matson) Burke, was the daughter of Francis and Susan (Gil- son) Matson, the former of whom was the only son of Hon. Aaron and Frances (Carpenter) Matson. Hon. Aaron Matson was at one time representative to congress from New Hampshire. Frances Mat- son, who married Colonel George H. Dana, was born in Washington, District of Columbia, October
7. 1847. There is a family tradition which asserts that Mirs. Dana is a lineal descendant of Peregrine White, who is distinguished in history as the first white child born in New England. Mr. and Mrs. Dana have one son, Francis, who is a lawyer of ability and is connected with the law firm of Messrs. Rawlins & Rawlins, of New York city.
SPALDING This name has been traced to the town of Spalding, in Lincoln- shire, England, a market town of about six thousand people, at this time. In the market place is a spa or spring of chalybeate wa- ter, and some have conjectured that this forms the foundation of the name. All the men of the name of Spalding, or nearly all, are and have been of strong physique. Another authority conjectures that the name is derived from "spal," an old Eng- lish word meaning "shoulder," and another old English word "ding" meaning "strike, and it is presumed the the early Spaldings were noted as "shoulder strikers." But be that as it may, the name has been borne in this country by many men of much worth, and it has been distinguished in military and civic life in all sections of the United States. It has been computed that eighteen of this name participated in the battle of Bunker Hill, where one had his horse shot under him. It has been noted in medicine, in the ministry, in law and in extensive business concerns. Down to 1872, there were fifty college graduates.
(I) Edward Spalding probably arrived on American shores between 1630 and 1633. He is found of record at Braintree, Massachusetts, where he was made a freeman May 13, 1640. On October I. 1645, his petition with those of nineteen others for a grant of ten thousand acres of land was granted by the general court. In 1652 lie was one of twenty to petition for the establishment of the town of Chelmsford, and this was granted on May Io following, and the settlement began immediately. He was one of the selectmen chosen at the first town meeting there in 1654, again in 1656 and in 1660-61. On the first division of lands, February 4, 166t, he was granted twenty-eight acres. In 1663 he was surveyor of highways and in 1665 one of a committee to lay out the meadow lands. In 1666 he was one of the surveyors of Newfield, of which he was one of the original proprietors, and after- wards he was one of the surveyors of North Chelmsford. He is of record in 1664 as possessing an orchard of apple-trees which was then much desired in the colony. His first wife Margaret died at Braintree, in August, 1640, and his daughter Grace died the following year. Ile died February 26, 1670, and his second wife Rachel prior to April 5 of the same year. His estate was appraised at one hundred twenty-six pounds nineteen shillings four pence above his debts, which amounted to about thirteen and one-half pounds. At the time of this appraisal his wife's wearing apparel was valued at two pounds ten shillings. Ilis children by the first wife were: John, Edward and Grace ; by the second wife: Benjamin, Joseph, Dinah and Andrew. (The last named, and descendants are mentioned at length in this article.)
(II) John (1), eldest son of Edward (1) and Margaret Spalding, was born about the year 1633. Ile came to Chelmsford with his father, probably in 1654, and died in that town October 3, 1721. He was made a freeman March 11, 1690, and there were conveyances of land to him on November 16,
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1655, in 1683, and on January 29, 1696. In Hill's Journal of the War Expenses, 1675-76, John Spald- ing is mentioned as a soldier under Captain Man- ning in King Philip's war. He married in Concord, May 18, 1648, Hannalı Hale, who died August 14, 1689. Their children were : John, concerning whom see forward, Eunice, Edward, Hannah, Samuel, Deborah, Joseph and Timothy.
(III) John (2) eldest son of John (1) and Hannah (Hale) Spalding, was born February 15, 1659, in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, whence he re- moved with his family to Plainfield, Connecticut. He married (first), September 20, 1681, Ann Bal- lard, of Andover, Massachusetts, and had children : Anna, Samuel, Jonathan, Deborah and Eleazar (twins), Dinah and William. He married (second), November 18, 1700, Mary Fletcher, a widow.
(IV) Jonathan, second son and third child of John (2) and Ann (Ballard) Spalding, was born August 7, 16 -. He resided in Plainfield, Connecti- cut, where his death occurred in 1761. He married, April 22, 1714, Judah Billins Mane, who died in 1736. They had children: Hannah, Uriah, Lois, Dinah, Philip, Abel, Jesse, Dyer and Lucy.
(V) Abel, third son and sixth child of Jonathan and Judah Billins (Mane) Spalding, was born in Plainfield, Connecticut, July 10, 1728. He removed to Cornish, New Hampshire, where he was still living in 1808. He served in the war of the revo- lution in the regiment of Colonel Chase, which was raised to reinforce the garrison at Ticonderoga, and was in service from June 27 to July 4, 1777. He was a lieutenant in the autumn of 1777 in the same regiment. He joined the Continental army under General Gates, and also served in other regi- ments. He married, November 23, 1749, Mary Anderson, born in Ireland, May 2, 1730, and they had children: Azra; Joseph, enlisted in the Con- tinental army for three years, May IO. 1782; Abel, Lucy and James.
(VI) Abel (2), third son and child of Abel (1) and Mary (Anderson) Spalding, was born in Cor- nish, New Hampshire, September 30, 1756. He served during the war of the revolution from June 22 to July 4, 1777, at Ticonderoga, in the regiment of Colonel Chase. He married Elizabeth Chase. daughter of Judge Samuel Chase, who was one of the first settlers in Cornish, and they had children : Lovell; Lebbens; Joshua; Samuel; Zebina ; Betsy, who married Amasa Stowell (see Stowell VI) ; and Nancy.
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