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 82

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 82

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(IV) Thomas, elder son and second child of John Wright and his second wife, Hannah Fletcher, was born at Chelmsford, Massachusetts, in 1707. He was the ninth of his father's children, as there had previously been seven others by the first mar- riage. He married Elizabeth Parker, and they had twelve children: Thomas, born in 1734; Abel, Will- iam, Oliver, Reuben, Elizabeth, Sarah, Ebenezer, Peter. who died at four; Hannah, Peter, mentioned below; and Jonas. Thomas (2), Abel and Oliver Wright moved to New Ipswich, Massachusetts. Reuben Wright, born in 1740, died in the army in 1759

(V) Peter, eighth son and eleventh child of Thomas and Elizabeth (Parker) Wright, was born at Westford, formerly a part of Chelmsford, Mass- achusetts. in 1752. He was a farmer all his life, and a commissary officer during the Revolution. Some time after 1790 he moved to Stoddard, New Hamp- shire. and his name first appears on the tax list of that town in 1800. On September 13, 1781, as re- corded by Rev. Matthew Scribner, Peter Wright married Abigail Read, of Westford, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Lieutenant Thomas and Susanna (Dutton) Read, and was born in 1757. They probably reared a goodly family of children, but the names are not recorded. Several of the Wrights and Reads moved to New Hampshire to- ward the close of the eighteenth century, settling in Nelson, Stoddard and Fitzwilliam.

(VI) Jonathan H., son of Peter and Abigail (Read) Wright, was born in Stoddard, New Hamp- shire, probably about 1800. He was a farmer in Cheshire county all his life, and attended the Univer- salist Church. He married his cousin Rhoda, daugh- ter of Benjamin Wright, and grandson of Peter Wright. They had four children, three of whom are living : Rhoda, wife of B. Brooks Akenton, who lives in Stratford, New Hampshire; Hiram H., whose sketch follows; and Jefferson Van Buren, who lives at Newport. Vermont. Jonathan H. Wright died at Stoddard.

(VII) Hiram Hartwell, elder son and second child of Jonathan H. and Rhoda (Wright) Wright, was born at Stoddard, New Hampshire, March 7, IS23. He was educated in the common schools, and was a farmer, drover and lumberman for years. He moved from Stoddard to Stratford in 1850, and was station agent on the Grand Trunk Railroad for ten years. He has served as selectman and moderator, and was a member of the legislature in 1883-84. He is a Democrat in politics. On June 21, 1854, Hiram H. Wright married Ellen M., daughter of David and Roxanna (Brown) Platt. of Stratford. There were three children: Jessie V., born November 27, 1855, married George WV. Bond, of Newtonville, Massachu- setts. Fremont Hartwell, born April 14, 1860. died September 28, 1906; he resided in Auburndale, Mass- achusetts. He married Jennie M. Waters, and their children are: Jessie Bond born August 17, 1888, in Tonawanda, New York; Ellen Byron, born Septem- ber II. 1890, in Strafford, New Hampshire: H. Hart- well, born December 9, 1892, in West Milan, New

Hampshire. Nettie J., born February 19, 1864, died at the age of eight years

(III) Ebenezer, third son and child of John (2) and Abigail (Warren) Wright, was born in 1693, and lived in that part of Chelmsford which is now Westford, Massachusetts He was married May 25, 1730, to Deliverance Stearns, and their children were : Abigail, Hannah, Ebenezer. Caleb, Joshua, Zaccheus, Joel, Silas, Amos, Lydia, Phineas and Olive. The youngest son became a well known clergyman of Bolton, Massachusetts.

(IV) Ebenezer (2), eldest son and third child of Ebenezer (I) and Deliverance (Stearns) Wright, was born January 29, 1734, in Westford. and resided in Hubbardston and Templeton, Massachusetts, dying in the latter town October 2, 18II. He was engaged in agriculture. He married Lucy Barrett, who was born April 17, 1732, and died February 23, 1804. Their children were: Joel, Ebenezer, David. Thomas, Lucy, Zaccheus and Moses.

(V) Thomas, fourth son and child of Ebenezer (2) and Lucy (Barrett) Wright, was born May 17, 1766, probably in Hubbardston. He settled in Fitz- william, New Hampshire, purchasing from his hrother Joel lot number fourteen, in range twelve. He continued to reside upon and till this until his death. June 18, 1796, at the age of thirty years. He was married February 7, 1792, to Jemima Knowlton, of Templeton, who was born February 28, 1771, a daughter of Ezekiel and Anna (Miles) Knowlton, of Templeton. After the death of her husband she married (second), Bartlett Bowker, of Fitzwilliam. To her first husband she bore two children, Lyman and Betsey.

(VI) Colonel Lyman Wright, elder child and only son of Thomas and Jemima (Knowlton) Wright. was born March 8, 1793, in Fitzwilliam, and died in Troy, New Hampshire, December 1, 1866. He learned the trade of tanner and currier in Tem- pleton, and settled in Troy in IS15, purchasing the Warren stand and Winch tanyard of David White and Joshua Harrington. He soon built a new tan- nery. Some years after he moved his building a little and put on an addition which was afterward burned. He carried on the tanning business for several years, selling out to Francis Foster. In 1836 he built a saw mill which stood near the site of the present Troy Blanket Mills, and also a dwelling house. He resided in what was the Warren tavern, and in I841 covered the frame with brick walls, and remodeled it. Colonel Wright was an active and enterprising man, and besides attending to his private affairs he filled a remarkably large number of civil offices, and for over thirty-five years was at all times the incumbent of one or more offices. He was moderator from 1822 to 1855. both years in- clusive, continuously with the exception of four years, his whole term of serving aggregating thirty- one years. He was representative in the New Hamp- shire legislature in the years 1832-33-55-56; select- man 1827-28-45-46; town treasurer 1824-27 : member of the school committee 1823; sexton, 1825; con- stable, 1859. He also had various military offices. He married. April 16, 1817. Betsey Bowker, born August 29, 1794, who died June 21, 1880. She was the daughter of Charles and Beulah (Stone) Bow- ker. of Fitzwilliam. Their children were: Harriet Mellen, Fattstina Miles, Melancia Bowker and Leonard, the subject of the next paragraph.

(VII) Leonard, youngest child and only son of Colonel Lyman and Betsey (Bowker) Wright, was born in Troy, June 28. 1832, and died in Keene, Au- gust II, 1897. He was educated in the public schools of Troy and Fitzwilliam, and at Ludlow (Vermont) Academy. He learned the tanner's trade of his

Lemand Wright.

Charles Wright-2nd

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father. whose business he bought out in 1853, and carried on until 1865, when he sold out and removed to Keene. There he bought an interest in the store of Gates & Randall, dealers in boots, shoes, hats, caps, and clothing, the firm becoming after his ad- mission, Randall & Wright. This store was in the building now known as Wright's block. Later he formed a co-partnership with Solon S. Wilkinson, the firm being Wright & Wilkinson, and dealing in boots, shoes, harness. trunks, etc. After six years Mr. Wilkinson withdrew from the firm, and took the harness department. Mr. Wright continued the bus- iness alone for some time. but afterward took his son, Frank H., into partnership. The firm of F. H. Wright & Company was one of the largest dealers in its line in Keene, carrying on both a wholesale and a retail business. Mr. Wright was town clerk of Troy in 1856, and councilman from ward five in Keene in 1883. He was averse to accepting public positions, and as a rule declined to be a candidate for any political office. He was for many years one of the leading Republicans of Keene. He was a successful business man, being enterprising and dili- gent in conducting his business, and was interested in the growth and prosperity of his place of resi- dence. He was an attendant of the Congregational Church, and was a liberal supporter of his church in Keene. He was a member of the Masonic fratern- ity, entering the Lodge Temple in Keene in 1872. and also being a member of Cheshire Royal Arch Chapter and Hugh de Payen Commandery of Knights Templar. He married, October 23, 1855, Mary Jane Bemis, born April 9, 1835, daughter of Calvin and Deborah (Brewer) Bemis, of Rindge. Mrs. Mary Jane (Bemis) Wright is great-grand- daughter in the maternal line of James Brewer, who was a soldier in the patriot army during the Revolu- tionary war, being one of the famous Boston tea party, and rendering subsequent service of dis- tinction. Mrs. Wright is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Ashuelot Chapter, be -. ing one of its earliest members. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard (Bemis) Wright had one child, Frank H. Wright.

Calvin, son of Jonathan Bemis, of Marlboro, was born in that town January 27, 1798, and died in Troy, August 9, 1872. He removed to Rindge in 1831, and had a farm near the Fitzwilliam line, on the road to that town, where he lived about twenty years. He also conducted an old time inn called the Bemis Tavern. He removed to Troy, where he spent the remainder of his life. He married, March 14, 1822, Deborah Brewer, daughter of Asa and Deb- orah (Sargent ) Brewer, of Fitzwilliam, now in- cluded in Troy. They were the parents of three children : Eliza, Maria, and Mary Jane. Eliza, born October 10, 1823, married, May. 8, 1845, Calvin Hast- ings : Maria, January 24, 1826. married, March 31, 1847, Charles Perry ; Mary Jane is mentioned above. (VIII) Frank H. Wright, only son of Leonard and Mary Jane (Bemis) Wright, was born October IO, 1858, in Keene, and was educated in the public schools of that city. He began his business career as a clerk with his father, and so continued for about five years. Thereafter, until 1888, a business was conducted under the style of Leonard Wright & Son. At the end of that time the business was con- ducted under the name of F. H. Wright & Company, with Frank H. as sole manager. and it has thus con- tinned to the present time. Mr. Wright is a mem- ber of the First Congregational Church, and is a Knight Templar Mason. He has served as coun- cilman for Ward 3 of Keene. Ile was married June 18, 1885, to Mary E. Dort, who was born January 27,

1860, daughter of Eli and Caroline (Cummings) Dort. Their children are: Bertha Carolyn, Willard Lyman, and Mildred Dort.

(Second Family.)

WRIGHT The Wright family of Keene had its American origin in Massachusetts, but a diligent research of the records has thus far failed to reveal with certainty the name of its emigrant ancestor.

(II) Nathaniel Wright was residing in Lancaster in the middle of the eighteenth century. The chris- tian name of his wife was Martha, and he was the father of eight children: Martha, James, Nathaniel, Thomas and Ephraim (twins), Joseph, Lucy and Anna.

(III) Lieutenant James, son of Nathaniel and Martha Wright, was born in Lancaster, March 22, 1749-50. In 1769 he settled in Keene, where he be- came a prosperous farmer and an extensive real estate owner. His descendants in the fifth genera- tion are still occupying land which originally be- longed to him. He lived to be sixty-one years old, and his death occurred at Keene in ISII. His first wife was Elizabeth Rugg, of Massachusetts, and for his second wife he married Mrs. Jemima P. Blake. His children were: James, born 1776, married Luicy Nims, of Keene, in 1803, and died in 1851; Betsey, born 1779, married Amos Towne, of Littleton, New Hampshire ; Martha, born 1784, married a MIr. Wilder; Polly, born 1788, remained single ; and Ephraim, the date of whose birth will be found in the succeeding paragraph.

(IV) Ephraim, youngest son and child of Licu- tenant James Wright, was born in Keene in 1792. He succeeded to the possession of the homestead farm, located on Beech Hill, some two miles from Keene Center, on the road to Hillsboro, and the original dwelling house, which was destroyed by fire-in 1817, was immediately replaced by the present residence. He was an able and useful citizen, taking an earnest interest in all matters relating to the general welfare of the community, and he died respected and esteemed by his fellow-townsmen. He married Sarah (or Sally) Allen, of Surrey, who bore him eight children : George K., born in 1817 ; Henry, Elizabeth J., Lucius, Bradley E., Joseph, Luther K. and Charles. George K. Wright, who resides upon the home farm, married Nancy E. Leonard.

(V) Charles, youngest son and child of Ephraim and Sarah (Allen) Wright, was born at the present homestead in Keene, October 25, 1835. Ile was educated in the public schools, and in early life assisted his father in carrying on the home farm. In company with his brother, George K. Wright, he was engaged in lumbering to some extent, and in 1867 they felled and cut into fourteen logs a mam- moth white pine tree which they hauled to Faulkner & Colony's saw-mill, receiving for them the sum of one hundred and eighty dollars. These logs contained nine thousand feet of lumber. The tree, which was one hundred and twenty-one feet high and measured eighteen and one-half feet in cir- cumferance four feet from the ground, was esti- mated by its ring to be about three hundred years old, and "considered the oldest inhabitant in town." ln 1870 Mr. Wright engaged in the retail meat business in Keene as a member of the firm of Jackson & Wright. Two years later he purchased his partner's interest, and shortly afterwards became a member of the firm of Nims, Wyman & Wright. The latter was succeeded by that of Nims & Wright, which transacted an extensive business for the ensuing ten years, at the expiration of which time the firm went out of existence. In 1882 he became 1 cal

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manager for Swift & Company, the well-known Chicago packers and dealers in dressed beef, and under the name of the Keene Beef Company he had directed the business in that city continuously up to the time of his decease, December 26, 1906. In his younger days he took an active interest in the train- ing of oxen, and when sixteen years old was awarded first premium at the Cheshire county fair for the best yoke of oxen trained by a boy. He also re- ceived the first prize for the best plowing in the same class. At the United States fair held in Boston he was awarded a diploma for a pair of oxen weigh- ing four thousand three hundred pounds. He was chosen by the governor and council to represent New Hampshire at the national convention of Live Stock Associations held at Chicago in 1902; was in the succeeding year a delegate to the National Live Stock Association meeting at Kansas City ; and in 1904 he was appointed by Governor Bateliel- der a delegate to the gathering of the same body at Portland, Oregon. At the last meeting he was chosen a member of the executive committee, and as one of the speakers he took for his subject "New Hampshire's Connection with Live Stock Industry," which he treated in an able and interesting manner. As a member of the common council for two years and of the board of aldermen for three years he labored diligently and effectively in behalf of sound municipal government and as representative to the state legislature from each of the two wards, two and three, of the latter in 1889-90, and the former 1901- and 1902; he has performed his duties with marked ability along the same lines. He was also a delegate to the constitutional convention held at Concord in 1902. Politically he acts as a Republican of the stalwart type. For eleven years he served as a trus- tee of the Elliott City Hospital. He was a trustee of the Keene Savings Bank, and 2 director of the Ashuelot National Bank. In his religious belief he was a Congregationalist. and served as chairman of the board of trustees of the Court Street Church, Keene. For his first wife Mr. Wright married, in 1869, Sarah Labaree, daughter of James and Har- riet (Grout) Labaree, of Charlestown, New Hamp- shire. She died in 1874, and he subsequently married her sister, Katharine Labaree, September, 1875.

The principal subjects of the follow- WRIGHT ing sketch are of Scotch birth, and as the name shows descended from a forbear who was so skilled in his calling that he was referred to as "the wright."

(1) Wylie Wright, son of William and Grace (Forrester) Wright, was born at Barrhead, six and one-half miles southwest of Glasgow, Scotland, and was educated in the public schools of his native town. In IS71 he came to the United States, and in the same year, settled in Rochester, New Hampshire, with his wife and two children, both born before the parents came to America. While in Scotland, Mr. Wright had been employed in the iron industry, near Glasgow. On settling in Rochester he took employ- ment in the Norway Plains Woolen Mills there, and by faithful and efficient service worked up to the position of foreman of the carding and spinning department, and held that position until 1893. Since that time he has filled different positions in the mills at Rochester. He is very fond of music, and holds a member's certificate in the Tonic Sol-Fa College of Music, London, England. In order that those who desire might have the benefit of his musical knowledge and training, he taught a free singing class for years in Rochester. He married, in Scot- land, in 1866, Jane B. McPherson, who was born in

1846, died 1884, daughter of Douglas and Wilhelmina D. McPherson, of Bathgate, Scotland. They have had three children born to them: William, the subject of the next section; Wilhelmina, who died young ; and Wilhelmina G., who was born in Roches- ter, June 30, 1880, and married Claude M. Calvert, and now resides in Waterbury, Connecticut. Wylie Wright married (second), Hannah Lowe, of Roches- ter. They have five children.

(II) William Wright, eldest child of Wylie and Jane B. (MePherson) Wright, was born in East Vale Cottage, Kelvinhaugh, Scotland, May 16, 1867, and educated in the public schools of Rochester, New Hampshire, from which he graduated in 1885. He then entered Dartmouth College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1891. The seven years following he was first assistant principal in the Rochester high school, and a portion of that time he devoted to the study of law, having for his pre- ceptor Elmer J. Smart, Esq. In December, 1897, he was admitted to the bar of New Hampshire, and has since practiced in the courts of the state. He is a bright, active, popular young man, a Republican in politics, and in 1905 was a candidate for mayor of Rochester on a reform ticket, and failed of an elec- tion by only eighty-six votes, while running in oppo- sition to one of the best known and staunchest busi- ness men of the place. He inherits a love of music, was a member of the Handel and Haydn Club while in college, and is first tenor in the choir of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, and is treasurer of the Rochester Oratorio Society. He married, January I, 1895, Adeline Estes, who was born in Rochester, April 23, 1867, daughter of Charles and Mercy (Varney ) Estes, of Rochester. They have one child, Wallace, born October 19, 1897.

SANDERS This name is of Scotch origin, but has been long established in New England and comes to New Hamp- shire by way of Rhode Island. It has been identified with the pioneer developement of western New Hampshire, and is worthily associated with the more recent history of the state.

(1) The first of whom we can find definite ac- count at present, was Tobias Sanders, an carly resi- dent of Taunton, Massachusetts, who soon removed to Westerly, Rhode Island. He received a grant of land in that town in 1661, and represented the town as Deputy to the General Court in 1669, 1671-2, 1680-1, 1683' and 1690. He died in 1695 and his wife died the same year. She was Mary Clarke, daughter of Joseph Clarke, Their children were: John, Edward, Stephen, Benjamin and Susanna.

(II) Benjamin, fourth son of Tobias and Mary (Clarke) Sanders, was born about 1680, and resided in Westerly, where he died 1733. His widow, Ann subsequently removed to Charlestown, Rhode Island, where she died in 1767, having survived him about thirty-four years. Their children were : Mary, Joshua, Daniel, Lucy, Tacy, Nathan and Ann.

(III) Daniel, second son and third child of Ben- jamin and Ann Sanders, was born November I, 1719, in Westerly, Rhode Island. No record has been preserved of his marriage, but his children are known to have included : Anne, Joshua, Nathan, Augustus and Daniel. He lived in Westerly, until after 1767. There are abundant evidences that the family lived at some time in the extreme southern portion of New Hampshire, or northern Massachusetts. The vital records of Salem, New Hampshire, show the birth of children there and there were connections of the family in Haverhill, Massachusetts.

(IV) Daniel (2), youngest child of Daniel (1)

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Sanders, was a pioneer resident of Grafton, New Hampshire, where he cleared up a farin in the wilder- ness and built a house. The vital records of the state give no mention of any point concerning him, not even his death being on record. The family tradi- tion claims that he was born in Grafton which, of course, is impossible, as there were no · settlements there carly enough to bring about that condition.

(V) Daniel (3), son of Daniel (2) Sanders, was born and lived and died in Grafton, New Hamp- shire.

(VI) Jason, son of Daniel (3) Sanders, was born June 9, 1808, in Grafton and continued to reside through life in that town. He cleared up new land and developed a farm and also operated a saw mill, was an industrious and successful man. He was an old line Democrat and adhered consistently to the principles of his party throughout life. He was mar- ried, December 12, 1830, in Grafton, to Betsy Stevens, native of Rumford ( formerly Peru), Maine. She was the daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Elliott) Stevens, the latter born in Concord, New Hampshire. Jason Sanders' birthplace is on Prescott Hill, in Grafton, and the house in which he was born was that in which his father and grandfather were born in which he lived a short time after his mar- riage. After the birth of his first child, he tore down the old house and built a new one. His wife, Betsey Stevens, was born September 14, 1809, and died September 23, 1888. Their children were : Sarah B., Polly A., George S., James S., Betsy A., Abby A., Oscar, Lucrecia, Jason, Emma and Wil- liam.

(VII) George Sullivan, eldest son and third child of Jason and Betsy W. (Stevens) Sanders, was born January 26, 1835, in Grafton, New Hampshire, and died November 19, 1879. He attended the common schools of his native town and in early youth aban- doned the school room for employment in the saw mill and on the farm. He learned the trade of car- penter, and was occupied part of the time with this calling, giving his attention also, to some extent to farming. He remained on the home farm for a time and subsequently purchased another, near the Spring- field line, on which he resided until his death. He was a consistent Democrat, but shunned any official station. He was married, July 18, 1869, to Prudence Sargent Parker, daughter of Amos and Ruth ( Sar- gent) Parker. She was born in New London, Os- tober 13, 1838, and died in Wilmot, December 25, 1893. When she was seven years of age her parents removed to the adjoining town of Wilmot, where she resided until her marriage. Four years after the death for her first husband she was married to James Smith, of Bradford, New Hampshire; soon after, they purchased the old Parker homestead, and re- sided there until her death. Very early in life she became a member of the Baptist Church. Her father Amos Parker, was born August 4, 1788, and died March 2, 1864. llis wife Ruth Sargent, was born April 30, 1797, daughter of Ebenezer and Prudence (Chase) Sargent of New London, New Hampshire, and sister of the late Judge J. Everett Sargent of Concord, New Hampshire, (Sce Sargent ) .

(VIII) Loren Addison, only child of George S. and Prudence S. (Parker) Sanders, was born July 5, 1874, in Grafton, where he began his education. Later removing to Wilmot, he attended the public schools there and at New London. In 1892, when eighteen years of age, he went to Concord, where he entered the employ of the Abbott-Downing Com- pany. The same ambition that caused him to leave his country home for a larger field of service led him after a year and six months residence to de-

cide upon the practice of medicine as a life work. In 1893, to prepare himself for his chosen profes- sion, he enrolled as a student in Tilton Seminary. Here he applied himself diligently to his studies, utilizing his spare time in earning money to defray school expenses. After graduating from this insti- tution he continued his studies in Bellevue Hos- pital Medical College, New York City, which about this time became merged with the medical depart- ment of New York University. This college, by reason of its excellent equipment and metropolitan location, afforded exceptional opportunities for hos- pital and dispensary work and student practice. The training here secured in surgery and dispensary work later proved invaluable. He graduated from the New York University and Bellevue Hospital Medical College May 16, 1899, and on July 15. fol- lowing, entered upon the practice of his profession at Concord, New Hampshire.

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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 82

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