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 66

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 66

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).

(1) John Parker appears first in the history of Maine in the year 1733, when he went from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Purpoordock (Cape Eliza- beth, now South Portland), Maine, to superintend the construction of the first church (First Church of Christ, now North Congregational). It is al- most certain that he spent the remainder of his life at Cape Elizabeth, and that he and his wife, whose name is not known, and his family were buried in the old churchyard. His sons and their descendants for generations, strong, hardy, adven- turous men, were warriors, and many of them perished in great storms and went down to watery graves. John, the eldest son, was a sea captain who died at sea, leaving six children, among whom was a son Andrew, a sea captain, who met his death in the same way as his father did. Ebenezer, who is mentioned below. Jacob, who always lived at Cape Elizabeth, and died unmarried in 1823.

(II) Captain Ebenezer, second son of John Parker, of Purpoordock, was a sea captain. and for many years "adventured upon the ocean," but spent his later years in a quiet, reposeful sort of way on land. He and his family lived for many years in the "Old Milldam House," Cape Elizabeth, which was still standing in 1895. He also lived at one time on Standish Neck, in Standish. For some time before his death he was engaged in curing fish. He and his wife spent their last years with their daughter, Eliza (Parker) Miller, at Cape Elizabeth. He married Esther Higgins, who died December 27, 1807. He died in 1819. Both were buried at Cape Elizabeth. They had four children: Eliza, who married Peter Miller ; Eleazer, mentioned be- low; Esther, who married a Mr. Higgins; Hannah,

who married a Mr. Parker; Isaac, who died young.

(III) Eleazer Higgins, second child of Eben- ezer and Esther (Higgins) Parker, was born at Cape Elizabeth in 1770, and died at Standish Neck, Maine, from the effects of a bite of a wild cat, January, 1814, aged forty-four years. He was a cooper, and resided at Standish Neck. He married Elizabeth Rand, who died at North Gorham, Maine, April 4, 1858. Both were buried at North Gor- ham, Maine. They had seven children: Esther, when a child, was bitten by a wild cat, IS13, and died six weeks later; Lydia, married Josiah Moses; Isaac, born July 20, 1800, died September 26, 1879; he married Anna Flood; Susan, born 1804, mar- ried Ebenezer Hicks, and died September 4, 1873; Jeremiah is the subject of the next paragraph; Emily, married Silas Floyd ; Joseph W., born Sep- tember 12, 1813, married Mary P. Lombard.

(IV) Jeremiah, fifth child and second son of Eleazer and Elizabeth (Rand) Parker, was born at Standish Neck, September 20, 1807, and died in North Gorham, Maine, (formerly called Great Falls, Maine), November 12, 1890, aged eighty-three. He resided at North Gorham, and was a dealer in lumber, a manufacturer of clothing, and a grocer, having a store in the village for about forty years. He was state surveyor of lands, and was in the service of the government in the time of the Civil war. He was a member of the Universalist Church, and was one of those who paid the principal part of the expense of building the Universalist Church edifice at South Windham, Maine. He married (first) Sally Nason, who whom he had children : Irving W., who married Hannah Nutting; Walter Scott, drowned in boyhood; Mary Ann, who mar- ried Elias R. Howard, and died in April, 1907; Amanda, unmarried; Jane, who married Charles A. Whipple. He married ( second) Ellen A. Plum- mer, and they were the parents of children: Emma A., who married William Verrill; Dow N., who died young; Daniel P., who married Sarah M. Foster; Jeremiah, who married Lizzie Towle; Al- mon M., who married Martha Jordan; Nellie M., who died young; Howard, the subject of the next paragraph; Lizzie R., wife of Warren Churchill; Lydia M., who married Leslie Higgins; Nina G., wife of Charles Swett; Pitt F., who married Har- riet Briggs.

(V) Howard, fifth son and seventh child of Jeremiah and Ellen A. ( Plummer) Parker, was born in Gorham, Maine, April 17, 1863, and edu- cated in the public schools of his native town. At the age of nineteen he entered the machine shop of Foster & Brown, at Westbrook as an apprentice, and there learned the machinist's trade. Four years later he went to St. Johnsbury, Vermont, where he was employed by the Fairbanks Scale Company for eleven years. In 1897 he began the manu- facture of machinery at Bellows Falls, Vermont, under the name of the Bellows Falls Machine Company. This he carried one until 1900, when he organized the Improved Paper Machine Com- pany, of Nashua, manufacturers of paper mill nia- chinery, of which he is general manager. This company employs sixty-five men. Mr. Parker's in- ventive talent has developed improved paper-mak- ing machinery much in advance of that used before his inventions were made. He is a man of pleasing personality and great energy, and much of the success of the company, of which he is at the head, had been achieved through his efforts. He is prominent in fraternity and a member of Sabatis Lodge, No. 95. Free and Accepted Masons, of Berlin, New Hampshire; Abenaque Royal Arch

237

NEW IIAMPSIIIRE.

Chapter, and Bellows Falls Council, Bellows Falls, Vermont; St. George Commandery, Knights Templar, of Nashua; and Vermont Consistory, Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, of Burlington, Vermont, in which he has received the thirty-second degree. He is also a member of Caledonia Lodge, No. 6, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. of St. Jolinsbury, Vermont. He married, January 5, 1887, at Westbrook, Maine, Nellie M. Day, who was born May 23, 1867, daughter of Albert and Martha (Quimby) Day, of Westbrook. She is an active member of the Congregational Church, and of the Woman's Club of Nashua.

(1) Josiah Parker was born in Reading, Massa- chusetts, May 8. 1760, and died in Amherst, New Hampshire, September 28, 1845, aged eighty-five. He was a farmer. He married Abigail Peacock, of Amherst, who was born June 1, 1771, and died September 27, 1843, aged seventy-two. Their chil- dren were: Abigail, Josiah Merrill, Sarah, Hannah, Thomas B. and Lydia W.

(11) Thomas B., fifth child and second son of Josiah and Abigail (Peacock) Parker, was born in Amherst, New Hampshire, October 15, 1810, and died September 8, 1892, aged eighty-one years and eleven months. He was a farmer and cooper, and resided in the casterly part of Amherst. He pos- sessed much musical talent, having a remarkably rich, strong, and flexible voice and was for many years leader of the choir of the Baptist Church in Amherst. He was also exceptionally skillful in the use of tools, having been endowed by nature in this direction to a remarkable degree. He mar- ried Mary Hildreth, who was born August 20, 1816, and died August, 1882. Their children were : Henry M., Alfred, Martha E., Charles S. and Sarah.

(III) Charles S., third son and fourth child of Thomas B. and Mary (Hildreth) Parker, was born in Amherst, September 15, 1843. He was educated in the common schools, and for a time drove a mar- ket team between Amherst and Manchester. He learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he worked some time, and has been a carpenter and farmer. In 1893 he removed to Milford, where he is engaged in raising vegetables for market. He is also a partner with his son in the firm of C. S. Parker & Son, grocers, in Milford. While a resident of Amherst he filled the office of auditor twenty-two years, and was selectman five years. Mr. Parker is an industrious and moral man and a good citizen. Ile married, April 28, 1880, Harriet M. Grater, who was born July 5, 1845, daughter of James H. and Salinda (Hildreth) Grater, of Amherst. Her an- cestors came from Barcelona, in Spain. They had two children: Leon H., born October 14, 1883. and Minnie C., who died August 6, 1884. Mr. Parker died January 26, 1896.

SNOW (I) Nicholas Snow was the founder in America of this branch of the Snow family. He is supposed to have come from London and to have been the son of Nicholas Snow, a citizen and armorer of that place. He came to Plymouth, Massachusetts, in the "Ann," in 1623. and had a share in the division of land in 1624. His lot lay to the east of the "heighway from Plym- outh to the Eele River," and next door to Stephen Hopkins. In 1644 he and others were sent by the church to examine and buy of the natives, Eastham, then called Nauset. A year later he, with six com- panions, called "Gov. Prince's Associates," settled in Eastham, where they were of much aid in keeping

the surrounding Indians friendly. He was the usual stern Puritan pioneer, of fair education, and was of much note. He was freeman in 1633, town-clerk of Nauset from 1646 to 1662, deputy from 1648 to 1651, and selectman, 1663-1670. He died November 15, 1671, leaving twelve children. Nicholas married, in Plymouth, Constance Hopkins, daughter of Stephen Hopkins, and half-sister of Oceanus Hopkins, born on the "Mayflower." Constance came over in the "Mayflower" in 1620, with her father. Stephen was one of the four councilors of Miles Standish in the second and later exploring parties. He shared in the land division of Plymouth, and owned and oc- cupied a strip of land running on Main street from Leyden to Middle street, and six acres on "Wat- son's" or Mill Hill, called by the Indians "Can- tangheantiest," or "Planted Fields." Constance died 1676-77.

(II) Mark, eldest child of Nicholas and Con- stance (Hopkins) Snow, was born in Plymouth, May 9, 1628, and died in Eastham, 1695, leaving eight children. He had as good an education as the colony afforded, and succeeded his father as town clerk of Eastham and held the office 1663-1675. He also held the office of deputy three years, and was captain of a military company formed at Eastham. He inarried Jane Prince (or Prence), in 1660, who was born in Plymouth, 1637, and who died in Eastham, 1703. She was the daughter of Governor Thomas Prince and Mary Collier, daugh- ter of William of Duxbury, the distinguished leader of the settlement of Eastham. He was born in Eng- land, 1599, son of Thomas Prince, of Lechlade, Gloucestershire, and came to Plymouth in the "For- tune," in 1621.

His lot in Plymouth fronted on the north side of North street, below the Winslow house. In 1634 he was chosen governor of the colony, and in 1635 assistant. He was the principal of the six settlers of Eastham, in 1644, owning two hundred acres of the best land, extending from the bay to the Atlan- tic. his house standing about forty rods to the east of the road. In 1657 he was chosen governor for the third time, at a salary of fifty pounds, and by special grant allowed to remain in Eastham, instead of in Plymouth (where under the law the governor was bound to reside). In 1665 he returned to Plymouth. He was a strong Puritan. and took severe measures against the Quakers, which act was the only stain on a difficult but long and steady magistracy of eighteen years, for which he was ex- cellently qualified. His strong influence was exerted to establish grammar-schools and an educated and regular ministry. He founded the church at East- ham, which was the means of converting many na- tives. He died March 24, 1678, leaving eight children.

(III) Thomas, fifth child and second son of Mark and Jane ( Prince) Snow, was born at East- ham, August 6, 1608, and died probably at Harwich between 1732 and 1748. He evidently moved to Harwich before 1699. He left nine children. His second wife was Lydia (Sears) Hamblin, who died 1748. She married Thomas, September 30, 1706 (?), and was admitted to the Puritan Church July 7, 1707. She was the daughter of Paul Sears, who was born in Yarmouth, 1637-38, and died in Yarmouth, February 20, 1707-08, and of Deborah Willard (married 1658). Ile inherited most of the property of his father, Richard Sears (his mother, Dorothy Thacher, of Plymouth, married 1632), a member of the Plymouth colony court in 1662, and a man of great property. Richard died at Yarmouthlı, August 26, 1676.

238

NEW HAMPSHIRE.

(IV) Thomas (2), seventh child and third son of Thomas (1) Snow, and second child of his wife Lydia, was born in Harwich, January 15, 1709. He probably married Rachel Nickerson, at Harwich, February 19, 1730.

(V) Thomas (3), son of Thomas (2) and Rachel (Nickerson) Snow, believed to have been horn at Harwich about 1730, early took to the sea, and later became captain of a whaling vessel. Or one occasion, while personally in command of a boat in pursuit of a whale, the infuriated animal turned upon his captors and demolished the boat. While submerged by the spray and foam created by the movements of the animal, the captain, feeling his foot strike something solid, gave himself a push, and swimming came to the surface of the water close to the whale's head. He was always of the opinion that the solid object which his foot struck was the whale's lower jaw. He was very fond in his old age of telling this incident of his sea-life to his grandson Joseph, who repeated it many times to the subject of this sketch. Thomas acquired con- siderable property in his avoeation and retired from it during the impending troubles of the colonies with the mother country. In 1777 he moved his family of five (later of six) from Cape Cod to Falmouth, now Portland, Maine. with the intention of setting his three sons up in business. But Continental currency, into which he had turned all of his prop- erty, rapidly depreciated after the time of his sales so that a thousand dollars would barely buy a bushel of corn. This loss obliged him in 1778 to seek a home in the wilderness. He became the sec- ond settler in the northern part of Gorham, Maine, near White Rock. on lots 68 and 78, where a barn built by him, known as "The Old Snow Barn," still (1907) stands, about one mile east of Sebago Lake. This building was built of hewn timber and broad pumpkin pine boards, hauled from tide-water.

Thomas Snow died about 1825, leaving six chil- dren. He was probably thrice married, his first wife being Rebecca Snow, (January, 1752) ; his second, Hannah Lincoln (January 31, 1760) ; and his third, Jane Magne, who was born in 1735, and died March 5, 1837, at the age of one hundred and two.

(VI) Gideon, third child and second son of Thomas (3) Snow, came with his father to Gorham. He married Joanna Edwards, December 28, 1788, who was the mother of his only son; and upon her death in about 1792 married Susan Parsons, who was the mother of his two daughters. This second wife hecame insane. With his home thus broken up by misfortune, he placed his children with his father, Thomas Snow, and sought employment in the other states. He was never again heard from.

(VII) Joseph, son of Gideon and Joanna (Ed- wards) Snow, was born in Gorham, March 21, 1791, and was brought up by his grandfather Thomas. He enlisted in the War of 1812, and was sent to the defense of Portland, which the British ships were expected to attack. In June, 1815, being of age, he set out for himself and sought a home in the wilderness of northern New Hampshire, purchasing wild land in the eastern part of Eaton, Carroll county. Alone he went first to make his clearing, carrying on his back his provisions, which consisted principally of corn. On the last day he found himself with three pints of boiled corn, sixty rods of fence to build, and forty-eight miles to travel to reach his house in Gorham. Next spring he burned over his elearing and built thereon a log house. Subsequently this land came to be known, from a later occupant, as "the Bryant farm." Joseph Snow was the first of his name to settle in Eaton. In 1822 he exchanged this

clearing for a site on the Snow brook, where Snowville ( Eaton) now stands. Here, utilizing the water- power, he built first a grist-mill in 1825, then a saw mill in 1827, hauling the boards from Tamworth on the snow. Of such importance was his mill to the community growing about him, and such was his energy, that when it burned to the ground in 1830, it was rebuilt and in running order in the remark- ably short space of fourteen days. He also actively engaged in shoemaking, blacksmithing and farming for the support of his family of eleven children.

Physically he was a giant, not only large of stature but possessed of unusual strength and en- duranee. He often worked at his shoe bench at night in order to pay his men to work with him in his mill the following day .. As a boy he had no op- portunity for an education, but after coming. to Eaton, realizing the necessity in his business of a knowledge of figures, he hired a schoolmaster to come from a distance to teach him the "three essen- tials." His early hardships and enforced self-re- liance imparted to him strong traits of character that marked his whole life. He stood for all that was best in the community, never seeking office nor notoriety, butt by common consent was recognized as an example of industry and uprightness. He was a very earnest Christian Baptist, his home being the center of religious worship in his community. He was a Whig, and was for many years a justice of the peace and town liquor agent, then a position of trust. He died September 29, 1876, aged eighty- five.

He was married to Hannah Flood, of Gorham, Maine, in 1814, and had by her one son, Silas. His second wife was Sally Atkinson, born in Buxton, Maine, December II, 1798, and married, December 12, 1816. By her he had ten children: Hannah, Alvan, Apphia, Joseph, Sally, Susan, John, Mary A., Edwin and Jane M. Sally Atkinson was the daughter of John Atkinson and Olive Haley (died 1823). John Atkinson was born about 1767, of English descent, and died June or July, 1844. He exchanged his farm in Buxton for four hundred acres of wild land in Eaton, in IS13, in order to keep his son, who had been a privateer, from the war. His house on the "Atkinson farm" was a two- story frame building, with a rock chimney and oven, and three rooms downstairs. The lumber was hauled from Tamworth on the snow. Sally died October 10, 1876. aged seventy-seven.

(VIII) Edwin, youngest son of Joseph and Sally (Atkinson) Snow, was born in Snowville, Eaton, October 15, 1836, and was edueated in the town schools of Eaton and at North Parsonsfield Academy. He remained at home and took care of his parents in their declining years, succeeding to the ancestral estate. In 1856 he opened a general store at Snowville, in company with his brothers, whom he bought out in 1859. In 1856 they built a new and larger combination saw and grist-mill (still existing, 1907), and after 1890 he bought out his brothers' interest in this. From 1873 to 1878 he was a member of the firm of Snow & Brooks, and was extensively engaged in buying and selling cattle throughout Maine and eastern New Hampshire. After 1856 he was continuously engaged in lumber- ing, including the wholesale manufacture of shook, in connection with his saw-mill and store. From a small beginning he gradually added by purchase to his timber lands, until they reached their present extent. He cut according to modern scientific ideals, carefully selecting the large timber and leaving the undersized. He also kept an open market for lum- ber and farming produce. In his various occupa-

forpla Snow

Edwin Prand -

Lestina Snow

239

NEW HAMPSHIRE. .

tions his success was due to his large executive ability and sound judgment, and to his patient in- dustry. In 1865 he built the present homestead at Snowville, on the site of his father's home.

He was a stanch Democrat during his whole life, serving his party on state committee for many years. After 1867 he was continuously a justice of the peace, and frequently acted as legal adviser of his fellow-townsmen, being much trusted for his in- tegrity. He was a leader and promoter of all pub- lic improvements in his town, and brought about, the one after a hard fight, the other by his own exer- tions and sacrifices, the present highways from Eaton to Brownfield, Maine, and Conway, New Hampshire, respectively.

As moderator he presided over the town meet- ings for many years. He was selectman of Eaton from 1864 to 1866, from 1878 to 1882. from 1887 to 1880. and in 1000. holding the office of chairman in all but the first year. He served on the town board of education from 1895-97. He was town clerk in 1873, and town treasurer in 1877. and from 1893 to 1899, and postmaster of Snowville in 1894. He served the county of Carroll as commissioner from 1875-1876. as auditor from 1881-86, and again as commissioner 1888-1801. He was representative to the legislature in 1867, 1868. 18ST-82. 1883-84. and 1899-1900, serving on the railroad and judiciary committees. He served on the former during the contest over the general railroad law. He repre- sented his district in the state senate. 1891-92. In 1894 he was appointed a member of the state board of equalization. and served there until his death, when he was the oldest memher in point of service on the board. His judgment. good sense, knowl- edge of values, and public acquaintance made him a valuable man for the place. He was a member of the Christian Baptist Church. He was a charter memher and past grand in Trinity Lodge. No. 63. Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Snowville, and a member of Mt. Chocorua Encampment. No. 32, Silver Lake, of Madison. He was also a mem- ber of Carroll Lodge. No. 57. Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of Freedom. New Hampshire.

He married Helen M. Perkins. Octoher 14, 1857. at Snowville, and their children, born at Snowville, were: Nellie H. Snow, March 10. 1850: Isabella Snow. April 7. 1861: Leslie P. Snow. October 19, 1862, and Bertha C. Snow. September 4, 1877. Helen M. died February I. 1899. Nellie Snow married Andrew J. White, a contractor and builder of Big Rapids, Michigan: Isabella Snow married Dr. Leonard W. Atkinson, a physician. now of Frye- burg. Maine. (For ancestry of Helen M. Perkins and for her daughters' families, see forward). In 1902 Edwin Snow married Martha Jane Harmon, who survives him.

(IX) Leslie Perkins Snow, the subject of this sketch, received his preparatory education at Frye- burg and Bridgeton academies, graduating from the latter in the class of 1881. After a year spent in business at Snowville he entered Dartmouth College, 1882. graduating (degree of Bachelor of Arts) in the class of 1886. In college life he was a member of Theta Delta Chi. and in 1886 served as president of the New England Association of that fraternity. He continued the business with his father during his vacations and during the year of 1887. He pre- sided over the town meetings of his native town for a number of years, represented the town in the state legislature, 1887-88, and served as special pen- sion examiner for the United States government from 1887-1890, spending two years in Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado, and one year in Washing-

ton, D. C. From 1887 he was pursuing the study of law, and graduated from the Columbia Law School, (now the George Washington University), Washing- ton, D. C., in the class of 1890, taking the first prize for the best legal essay. Upon examination he was ad- mitted, in June, 1890, to the Maryland bar. He then returned to Snowville, and for another year took up the business of lumber manufacturing. He was admitted to the New Hampshire bar. August, 1891. He then opened a law office at Rochester, New Hampshire, but almost immediately became a member of the firm of Worcester. Gafney & Snow - (Joseph H. Worcester, Charles B. Gafney) the older members of which firm had already built up a large and successful practice at that płace. Upon the death of Judge Gafney, in 1898, the business was continued with Mr. Worcester under the old firm name. Since the decease of Mr. Worcester, in 1900, Mr. Snow has by himself con- ducted a successful practice.

Since 1881 his name has been associated with that of his father in the firm of E. Snow & Son, which has been continuously engaged in carrying on a general store, mill, and lumber manufactur- ing at Snowville. He was for several years a mem- her of the firm of W. N. Snow & Co., manufac- turers of carriages and sleighs at the same place. Except for these business enterprises he has de- voted himself exclusively to his profession.

He served on the school board for the city of Rochester from 1899 to 1904. He has served as warden of the Congregational Church at Rochester since 1903, and as trustee of the Gafney Home for the Aged (of which he has been one of the chief promoters) since its organization in 1901. He is also trustee for several large estates. He became a director of the Rochester National Bank in Janu- ary, 1899, and has been president of that institution since February 25. 1902. He has built in Rochester three houses, including his present residence on North Main street. He is a member of Trinity Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Snow- ville, New Hampshire: Humane Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Temple Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Orient Council, Royal and Select Masters : Palestine Commandery of Knights Templar, Rochester, New Hampshire; and of Bektash Temple, Mystic Shrine, Concord. New Hampshire.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 66

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