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 97
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In 1847 he severed his connection with the mills of this city, and in company with Hon. Hiram Daniels, William Flanders and Joshua M. House went to Franklin and engaged in the manufacture of drillings in which enterprise they were quite successful. Mr. Johnson remained there until 1850, when he returned to Manchester, and for a num- ber of years devoted his energies to real estate transactions In 1859 he went to Newport, where he passed five years in trade, being the proprietor of a large store which did a flourishing business. While at Newport he became a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, but did not keep up his relations in this direction after his return to Manchester, which was in 1863. Shortly after his return from Newport he engaged "in the dry goods business, taking his son, William N. Johnson, into partner- ship with him, the firm remaining the same until 1870, when the disastrous Hanover street fire oc- curred. and the firm of Johnson & Son was among the number burned out. As soon as the ground could be cleared, Mr. Johnson set about the con- struction of a more substantial and in every way better building than the one which was destroyed by fire, and Johnson's brick block on Hanover street was the first to be completed after the con- flagration. Mr. Johnson did not re-enter the dry goods business, however, but disposed of his inter- est to his son, Franklin P., the firm then being Johnson Brothers
Immediately after his retirement from the firm Mr Johnson received a flattering offer to enter largely into business in both New York and Chi- cago, but after giving the matter serious consider- ation concluded to remain here. In company with the late Captain E. W. Harrington he was inter- ested in the ownership of real estate on Manchester street, which met the same fate as his Hanover street property, being consumed by the flames. Mr. Johnson was a remarkably successful business man and left a large property as the fruit of his labors. He made his money in the handling of real estate principally in Manchester, and seldom invested in other speculations. In company with Hon. Charles H. Bartlett he settled the affairs of the City Sav- ings Bank some years since, receiving his appoint- ment to the performance of duties in this direction from Judge Allen. of the supreme court of the state.
Mr. Johnson was an active member of the Uni- versalist church in Manchester, which his father materially assisted in founding, and together with his wife was among the oldest members of the or- ganization, being a charter member of the society. He was a man of fine judgment and was so re- garded by all who knew him.
Mr. Johnson married, May 5, 1842, Nancy Fran- ces Poore, born June 12, 1838, daughter of Noyes and Nancy Poore. (See Poore VI). Four sons of the marriage survive: I. William N., see for-
ward. 2. Franklin P., see forward. 3. George P., a graduate from Cornell University, 1872, now a highly successful business man of Boston. He was paymaster of the Fitchburg railroad, and is now a large stockholder in the Lithograph and Bank Note Company. He married and is the father of three daughters and a son. 4. John N., at- tended Dartmouth College and later Tufts College. He was station agent at Watertown, Massachu- setts, many years, and is now leading a retired life. He resides at Londonderry, New Hampshire. He married Nellie Plummer, of Manchester, New Hampshire, and their children are: Milton, at present farming; Herbert W., a practicing physi- cian, a specialist in eye and throat diseases, set- tled in Spokane, Washington.
(VII) William Noyes, eldest son of William Butler and Nancy F. (Poore) Johnson, was born February 26, 1843, in Manchester. He received his education in the public schoolls of the city and at Kimball Union Academy, entering the latter institu- tion after his parents' removal to Newport, in 1858, where he finished the three years' course. Upon the return of the family to Manchester in 1864, he joined his father and entered the dry goods business, which he continued until 1875, the business being conducted under the title of Jolinson & Son until 1870, when his father resigned, selling his interest to his son Franklin P., and the firm name was changed to John- son Bros. and continued thus until 1875. William N. Johnson then sold his interest in the business to his younger brother and removed to Nashna, New Hampshire, where he became associated with the Nashua Card and Glazed Paper Company in the capacity of paymaster and office manager. In 1880 he bought an interest in the Contoocook Valley Pa- per Company, of which he was treasurer for a period of six years. He then sold out and removed to Augusta, Georgia, where he bought a paper mill and operated it in partnership with a Mr. Hill. under the title of Hill & Johnson Manufacturing Company, for a period of two years. He then sold out to W. V. Gilman, of Nashua, New Hampshire, and re- moved to Manchester, New Hampshire.
One of his active nature and superior business talents could not long remain idle, and he was very shortly instrumental in the organization of the Elliott Manufacturing Company, an establishment which is conducting a very successful business in the production of knit goods at Manchester. During the thirteen years of its existence Mr. Johnson has acted as treasurer, and no small portion of credit is due to him for the success of the enterprise. Mr. Johnson is also actively interested in other indus- tries and leading interests of the city, being presi- dent of the Kimball Carriage Company since the first year after its organization. He is a director of the Merchants' National Bank, president of the Hillsboro County Savings Bank, a director of the New Hampshire Fire Insurance Company of Man- chester and the Capital Fire Insurance Company of Concord, and a stockholder and director in various manufacturing plants in Manchester. He is a mem- ber of the Derryfield Club of that city, and a regu- lar attendant of the First Congregational Church. In public affairs Mr. Johnson does not tie himself irrevocably to any political organization, and classes himself as a Democrat of independent tendencies. During Governor Cheney's term he was representa- tive to the general court from the third ward of Manchester.
Mr. Johnson married, April 24, 1873, Julia Maria, daughter of Colonel Thomas Pratt and Asenath Riddle (McPherson) Pierce, the latter a native of
William N. folivo
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Bedford. Mrs. Johnson was born October 2, 1844, died September, 1886, leaving a daughter, Mary Pierce. born April 18, IS78, now the wife of Richard M. Whitney, of Los Angeles, California, and their children were: Helen Martha, died December 7, 1903; William Noyes, died June 19, 1903. Mr. Johnson married (second), July 1I, 1888, Nellie L. Lund, born in Augusta, Georgia, a daughter of Henry C. and Roxana S. Lund. Henry C. Lund was born in Nashua, had charge of a factory in Augusta, Georgia, and died in 1877, aged fifty-two years. Roxana S. Lund, born March 30, IS26, in Vermont, died October 18, 1906, aged eighty years; she was the daughter of John S. Lund, born Sep- tember I, 1798, was a farmer and stock raiser, died April 24, 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Lund were the pa- rents of three children: Louis H., a resident of Augusta, Georgia; Hattie F. (Mrs. W. W. Hock), of De Bruce, Georgia ; Nellie L., (Mrs. W. N. John- son). A son and daughter were born to Mr. John- son by his second marriage, namely : William H. and Ruth May.
(VII) Franklin Poore Johnson, second son of William Butler and Nancy F. Johnson, was born February 17, 1849. in that part of Northfield which is now Franklin Falls, New Hampshire, his father being at that time engaged in manufacturing at Franklin Falls. Franklin P. attended the schools of New London and Newport, and Phillips Andover Academy of Massachusetts, where he continued for one year. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1870, and immediately thereafter engaged with his brother William N. in the dry goods business in Manchester, New Hampshire, under the firm name of Johnson Bros. This continued until 1875, when he purchased his brother's interest and the title was changed to Johnson & Company. After a very suc- cessful career this establishment was sold out to other parties in 1885, and since that time Mr. John- son has been chiefly occupied in caring for his real estate and other holdings. He is the owner of con- siderable improved property in the city of Man- chester, and is interested in several of the indus- tries of the city.
He is a member of the Second Congregational Society in Manchester, of which he has been a di- rector twelve years. He was formerly identified with the Masonic order. He was for some years a member of Amoskeag Grange. and is now a mem- ber of the Derryfield Club, being one of the five oldest members of the organization. He has al- ways been a Democrat in political principle, but the sound money issues have alienated him from the regular organization in late years. He has served as delegate to state and congressional conventions, but has never desired any political honors for him- self. Mr. Johnson is possessed of considerable mus- ical ability, and has spent much of his time in aid- ing and sustaining the New Hampshire Philhar- monic Society, in which he has been on the board of governors for most of the time during its existence, and is usually at the head of various committees which manage the events carried through by that organization.
Mr. Johnson married, October 5. 18;1, Evelyn, daughter of Charles and Eliza Jane (Barr) Cheney. Mrs. Johnson was born March 30, 1854, in Manches- ter. and died there June 22, 1878, leaving one daugh- ter. Bertha E., born January 28, 1873, for some years First Reader of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Manchester, still residing with her par- ents. She is a highly cultivated lady, having spent several years in study in Paris, and is especially proficient in music and the languages. Mr. John-
son married (second), November 23, 18SI, Evelyn French. born at Sandy Point, in the town of Stock- ton, Maine, daughter of Benjamin F. and Lis E. (Stowers) French, the latter a daughter of James Stowers, of Stockton. Benjamin F. French was many years a commander of vessels on the sea, coming of a family of sea captains, and visited all . the principal ports of the world. One son was born of the second marriage, Noyes Poore, born June 13, 1883, was educated in the public and high schools of Winchester and Worcester, Massachusetts, Acad- emy, and is now engaged in business in Manchester, New Hampshire. He married, November 30, 1904, Mable E. Shaw, born in Augusta, Maine, and they have one son, Franklin Noyes Poore, born May 21, 1906.
(VII) George Perry, third son and child of William Butler and Nancy F. (Poore) Johnson, was born November 7, 1851, in Manchester, and at- tended the public schools of his native city until 1869. Having finished his preparatory course, he entered Dartmouth College, where he remained until he had completed his sophomore year. The next two years were spent at Cornell College, and the two years succeeding that period were spent in traveling in Continental Europe. On returning to Manches- ter, he resided there until 1874, and during part of this period he was engrossing clerk of the house of representatives of New Hampshire, under the ad- ministration of Governor Weston. In 1875 he went to Boston, and became paymaster and treasurer of the old Fitchburg railroad, which position he held eight years. He then purchased the business of the Boston Bank Note Company, of which he has since been proprietor and manager, and has conducted a large and profitable business. Mr. Johnson resides in Cambridge, where for nine years he was a mem- ber of the school board. He is an Independent in politics, and in religious belief a Unitarian, giving faithful support to the church of his faith. He is a member of the Society of the Colonial Wars, of the Sons of the Revolution, the Pleasure and Oakley Country Clubs, and of the Colonial Club, and he and his family occupy a prominent position in the social life of the suburb which is their home. He was married in Cambridge, June 6, 1879, to Maria A. G. Ellis, who was born March 12, 1854, in Keene, New Hampshire, a daughter of Jonathan Russell Ellis, of that town. The last named removed from Keene to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he was a wholesale butter dealer, and where he resided until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have four chil- dren : Florence E., Nancy P., Helen S. and Howard A. The second daughter is now the wife of Stanley Parker, an architect and landscape gardener.
(Fourth Family,) The many families bearing this cog- JOHNSON nomen have produced many good citizens for New Hampshire, and the line herein traced comes through Vermont, from Massachusetts, to this state, including many pioneers and useful men and women. The northern section of this state owes much to pioneer settlers of the name, some of whom are included in this family.
(I) Captain John Johnson was a member of Rev. Rogers' company from Yorkshire, England, and set- tled for a time at New Haven, Connecticut, but was back at Rowley in 1650. His brother Robert settled at New Haven, where he left a numerous and "highly respectable posterity." John Johnson bought the house lot and rights of Richard Thorlay at Rowley, and remained there until his death, January 29, 1686. He was captain of the local militia company, and was a man of consequence in
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the community. He was married, December 6, 1655, to Hannah, widow of Constance Crosby, and their children were: Hannah, Elizabeth, John (died young), John and Samuel.
(II) Ensign Samuel, youngest child of Captain John and Hannah Johnson, was born July 9, 1671, in Rowley, where he resided through life and died September 8, 1750, aged seventy-nine years and ten, months. He was married, May 31, 1694, to Frances daughter of Captain Daniel Wilcon. Their children were: John, Samuel, Daniel, Hannah, Mary, Jona- than and Thomas.
(III) Samuel (2), second son of Samuel (I) and Frances (Wilcom) Johnson, was baptized June II, 1699, in Rowley, and lived near the Byfield line, being an attendant at the church in the latter town. He died December 27, 1773, and was buried in By- field. He was married, January 29, 1740, to Rachel Boynton, daughter of Ichabod and Elizabeth ( Hasel- tine) Boynton. They had children: Hannah, Wil- com, Rachel, Samuel, David and Moses.
(IV) David, second son of Samuel (2) and Rachel (Boynton) Johnson, was baptized March 10, 1751, in Rowley, and resided for a time in Andover, Massachusetts. He settled in Bradford, Vermont, about 1797, taking a deed December 22 of that year to sixty-two acres of land, which he purchased from William Darling for five hundred and sixty-eight dollars. No record of his marriage appears. His children were: David, Milton, Nabby, Hannah and Betsey. All of these, except the eldest, died young and were buried in the garden near the family resi- dence.
(V) David (2), son of David (I) Johnson, was one of the earliest settlers of Indian Stream, now Pittsburg, New Hampshire, whither he moved from Bradford with an ox-sled. He was a prominent factor in advancing it to its present state of pros- perity. He was a farmer by occupation, but devoted a great part of his time to the public affairs of the community, and at various times filled all the offices in the gift of the township. He also represented the town two terms in the legislature. . He was a Jacksonian Democrat and a member of the Baptist Church. His death occurred in 1879. He married Mary Washman, who died in 1869, and they were the parents of children : Albert M .: Thomas Franklin, see forward; Charles S .; and Lizzie, who died at the age of twenty-one.
(VI) Thomas Franklin Johnson, second son of David and Mary ( Washman) Johnson, was born in Pittsburg, New Hampshire, July 3, 1848. He was educated in the public schools and at the Colebrook Academy, which he was twice obliged to leave, by reason of severe illness, and was finally compelled to abandon his cherished idea of obtaining a col- legiate education. He went in 1872, to repair his shattered health, and was greatly benefited by this change of air and surroundings. He then took up the study of law in the office of the Hon. L. L. Ains- worth, and was admitted to the bar in 1875. During this period of study he was engaged in teaching, and for some time was principal of the public schools of Fayette, and later of Postville, Iowa. After his admission to the bar he formed a law partnership with S. S. Powers, of Postville, which continued for one year, and he then returned to New Hamp- shire in the spring of 1877. He opened an office in Colebrook, and was soon in possession of a lucrative practice. He was always ambitions and energetic in all his undertakings, and his clear, concise method of stating a case, his convincing manner of enforcing his arguments, and his general executive ability, could not fail to bring the natural results. He is con- sidered, with justice, one of the most able and bril-
liant lawyers of the state, and is called upon to ex- ecute deeds which involve great care and responsi- bility. He was but twenty-two years of age when he was elected to membership in the legislature, but was compelled to refuse this office because of the impaired state of his health. Although he has never been a seeker of public office, it has been fre- quently offered him, and was strongly urged to take a seat on the supreme bench. He has served as a member of the school board for many years, and was a member of the school board for many years, and was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1903. He was one of the organizers of the Guaranty Savings Bank, and was elected to the presidency in this institution upon the death of William R. Danth- field, and has held the office since that time. He is a member of the Evening Star Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is past master ; a member of the North Star Chapter No. 16, Royal Arch Masons. of Lancaster; and of Eastern Star Lodge, of Colbrook. He is an omnivorous reader, and, although he spends much of his time still read- ing the annals of his chosen profession, he is equally devoted to the best literature in all lines of thought. His libraries are very large, and show the most care- ful selection as well as excellent judgment. Mr. Johnson married, March 1, 1877, Abigail Lovering, of Colebrook, daughter of Alfred and Susan (Fletcher) Lovering, and cousin of Major I. W. Drew. They have had one child: Alice M., who married Clarence G. Gates.
JOHNSON This branch of the Johnson family, 011 account of defective records, is not yet traced back beyond the an- cestors who resided in Meredith
(I) Benjamin Johnson was born in Meredith, April 27, ISII, and died in Belmont, September, 1898, in the eighty-seventh year of his age. While he was yet young he went to live with Samuel Boynton, of Meredith, and worked on a farm, and also learned the wheelwright's trade. He followed the latter occupation, and for some time after 1853, also operated a small sawmill in Belmont. He married, in 1832, Betsey Webster, daughter of John Webster, of New Hampton. Their children were: Adelaide F., Benjamin A., George H., Frank K. and Charles C.
(II) Frank Kousuth, fourth child and third son of Benjamin and Betsey ( Webster) Johnson, was born in Belmont, June II, 1852. He married, April 1, 1876, Abbie A. Rowe, who was born in Kingston, March 31, 1853, daughter of Amos and Celina (Kenny) Rowe, of Kingston. Their children are: Clarence WV .. Frank M., Earle W., Charles A., Lena C. and Dorris.
(III) Earle Wayne, third son of Frank and Ab- bie A. (Rowe) Johnson, was born in Belmont, July 14, 1883. He was educated in the school of Belmont and New Hampton, which he attended until he was twenty years old. While a student at New Hamp- ton he served as a clerk in the postoffice. April I, 1905, he was appointed postmaster at Belmont, and is now (1907) filling that position. In political faith he is a Republican, and takes an active part in politics and all matters of public interest. He is a member of Lawrence Grange, No. 117, Patrons of Husbandry, Governor Badger Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of Belmont.
The name Abbot is derived through
ABBOTT the Syriac, abba, from the Hebrew, ab, meaning father. It has been ap- plied to the head of a religious order by various races from early times and finally became an Eng-
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lish surname. There has always been considerable controversy about the spelling of the patronymnic, whether with one or two t's. Many have held that the single letter indicates the ancient and correct form. Historical investigation would seem to decide otherwise. Of the two hundred and eleven Ab- botts, whose wills were filed in the courts in and about London during the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, one hundred and ninety-five have signed their names with two t's. Of fifty-one wills on record at New York, Yorkshire, thirty- four have the name with two t's. Major Lemuel Abijah Abbott, U. S. A., who has recently written the valuable work in two volumes on the Descend- ants of George Abbott, of Rowley, finds the same proportion among the signatures of the early Amer- ican Abbotts, though he frankly says that he per- sonally would prefer the single t., and always sup- posed that it was the original form. To come still nearer home, the pioneer Abbotts of Concord, this state, frequently used the double letter, as can be seen by their signatures (they never were obliged to make their marks) to the early Provincial papers.
The ancient English branch of the family lived in Yorkshire, and their arms were a shield ermine with a pale gules on which are three pears, or. Above the shield is a closed helmet, and the crest is a dove bearing an olive branch in its mouth. The Guilford branch in Surrey, which contains the most distinguished members of the family, have arms in which the three pears are prominent, but they are varied by the insignia of the bishop's office. The Guilford Abbotts present a remarkable record. Maurice Abbott was a cloth worker in town during the sixteenth century, and his wife was Alice March or Marsh. They were staunch Protestants, and peo- ple of undoubted respectability, but their own condi- tion gave little indication of the eminence to which three of their sons would attain. They were all contemporaries of Shakespeare, and their talents were of the kind brought out by "the spacious times of great Elizabeth." Robert Abbott, the eldest of the six sons, became Bishop of Salisbury; George, the second, (1562-1633) became Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, which gave him the rank of the first citizen of England; and Morris, the youngest, became a knight, governor of the East India Com- pany and Lord Mayor of London. Of English Abbotts in more recent times mention may be made of Charles Abbott, son of John Abbott, of Canter- bury, who was made Lord Chief Justice of England in 1818, and Baron Tenterden in 1827. Another Charles Abbot, son of Rev. John Abbot, of Colchester (name with one t), was speaker of the house of com- mons from 1802 to 1817, when he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Colchester. The Abbott fam- ily in this country has produced no people of world- wide fame, but according to Major Lemuel A. Ab- bott, previously quoted. the name has always stood for "quiet dignity, consideration, kindness of heart and great suavity of manner." Many of the family have been farmers, who lived for generations on their ancestral lands, a home-loving, law-abiding, peaceful folk; but there are many writers, clergy- men and college professors on the list. The writers number men like the brothers, Jacob and John S. C .; and the clergy such names as Dr. Lyman Ab- bott, son of Jacob. Mrs. Saralı (Abbot) Abbott. of Andover, Massachusetts, became the founder of Ab- bott Academy, February 26, 1829, the first school ex- clusively endowed for girls in the country. Sh was the great-great-granddaughter of George Ab- bott, whose line follows. Among other Americans who have the Abbott blood, but not the name, are
President Hayes, Abbott Lawrence, minister of the Court of St. James, and Bishop Lawrence, of Mas- sachusetts.
(I) George Abbot, the venerable ancestor of a numerous progeny. emigrated, as tradition reports, from Yorkshire, England, about 1640, was among the first settlers in Andover, Massachusetts, in 1643, and a proprietor of that town. He lived and died on the farm owned (1847) by John Abbot, the seventh in line of descent. His house was a gar- rison, and was used as such many years after his death. In 1647 he married Hannah Chandler, daughter of William and Annie Chandler (see Chandler). They were industrious, economical, so- her, pious and respected. With Christian fortitude and submission they endured their trials, privations and dangers, of which they had a large share. They brought up a large family well, and trained them in the way they should go, from which they did not depart. George Abbot died December 24, 1681, old style, aged sixty-six. His widow married (second) Rev. Francis Dane, minister of Andover, who died February, 1697, aged eighty-one. She died June II, 17II, aged eighty-two.
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