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. II, Part 70

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: 874

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. II > Part 70

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Returning to New Hampshire, he became one of the firm of Libbey, Varney & Company (A. S. Lib- bey, Augustus J. Varney and Alonzo Thompson), manufacturers of lumber and box shook. This firm continued unchanged . until about 1890. when Mr. Thompson retired. Upon the death of Mr. Libbey the business was purchased by his two sons, Fred. S. and Edward J. Libbey. Captain Lib-

bey was a man of sterling character, a good business man, a high-minded public-spirited citizen, thought- ful and forceful, and a leader in the community where he resided. He was a Republican in politics, and served his town with marked ability in inany official capacities, holding various town offices, and serving as member of the New Hampshire legisla- ture in 1871-72. He married, October 17, 1850. Abbie E. Pray, born at Macadavie, New Brunswick, July 29, 1829, daughter of Otis R. and Sarah (Oliver) Pray, of Macadavie, New Brunswick, by whom he had three children: Sarah Ellen, who mar- ried Charles E. Randall, of Wolfboro; Edward Judson, married to Bessie Drew; and Fred S., who is next mentioned.

(IX) Fred Sumner, youngest child of Captain Alvah S. and Abbie E. (Pray) Libbey, was born in Wolfboro, New Hampshire, October 17, 1865. He obtained his carlier education in the public schools. graduating from Wolfboro high school in 1883. In August of the same year he entered New Hamp- ton Literary Institution, from which he graduated in June, 1887, giving the honorary address to his lit- crary society, the Social Fraternity. In 1887 he matriculated at Bates College, from which he grad- uated in 1891, delivering the parting address to his class, of which he was president. After leaving college he became principal of the high school at Camden. Maine, which position he held four years until September. 1895, when the death of his father called him home to settle the estate. In October. 1896. he bought out the interest of A. J. Varney, for thirty years a partner of his father in the firm of Libbey, Varney & Company. In January, 1897, he and his brother, E. J. Libbey, bought the interest of the Libbey estate, and have since carried on a large and very prosperous business under the firm name of Libbey Brothers. Mr. Libbey inherits his father's politics, is a Republican, takes a lively interest in public affairs, and has filled the office of moderator. In religion he is a free Baptist. He married. Au- gust 27, 1892, Sara E. Deering, born at Richmond, Maine, October 4, 1868, daughter of Rev. Arthur Deering, of Pittsfield, New Hampshire. They have three children : Frederic Alvah, Elizabeth Louise and Kenneth Pray, born Nov. 15, 1900.

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(1\ ) Joshua, third son and child of Joseph and Rebecca Libbey, was born in Portsmouth. New Hampshire, about 1700. He was a mariner by oc- cupation. lle was a householder, but so far as known held no other estate. He married Elizabeth- and they had three children: Joshua, see forward ; Elizabeth, baptized June 13, 1731; and Love, bap- tized July 20. 1734; his wife outlived him.

(V) Joshua, only son and eldest child of Joshua and Elizabeth Libbey, was baptized in Portsmouth, September 28. 1729. Nothing further is known of hi except that he married and had two children : Hanson. baptized September 13. 1756. who probably died young : and Luke, baptized September 4. 1758. (\'1) Luke, son of Joshua Libbey, according to one record, was born in Portsmouth, August 22, 1750. The date of his baptism. as given above, is about two years later ; but that is not an improbable discrepancy. He spent his youth in Excter. New Hampshire. He served seven and a half years in the Revolution, and for fourteen months of that time was imprisoned in England. According to the Revolutionary rolls he was "inlisted" in the company .of Major James Norris in the Third New Hampshire Regiment. April 1, 1777. for three years. In 1780, he was enrolled from Exeter in the muster at Kings- ton. New Hampshire, by Josiah Bartlett, raised to recruit the three New Hampshire regiments in the Continental army. This service extended from June 27 to December 6, 1780, and in payment he re- ceived £737 with £335 as an allowance for blanket. This sum was paid. if it were paid at all, in the de- preciated Continental currency. That his prison cx- perience was not his only hardship is seen by the fact that he was discharged with others by Major Jason Wait at Camp Soldiers' Fortune on December 6, 1780 "for want of clothes." At the time of his marriage to Lucy Crocker, of Exeter, New Hamp- shire, he moved to Landaff, New Hampshire. In 1800 he went to Warren. New Hampshire, where he carried on a farm till old age. He died in the neigh- boring town of Piermont, January 8. 1844. He mar- ried (second) Mrs. Goodwin. His eight children, all born of the first marriage, were: George. born August 22. 1792, who married Sally Abbott; Na- thanigl P .. married Nancy Abbott; John W., mar- ried Betsey Merrill; Stephen, married Margaret Watson: Ezra Bartlett, mentioned below : Anna P., horn February 26. 1804, died January 21. 1816: Jon- athan M., born March 8, 1806. died December 7. 1815: Obadiah C., born December 15, 1807. died in Pelham.

(VII) Ezra Bartlett, fifth son and child of Luke and Lucy (Crocker) Libbey, was born in Warren, New Hampshire, October 24. 1801. and spent his whole life there, dying at the age of eighty-two. He was a farmer and shoemaker. In politics he was a Democrat, and he attended the Methodist Church. He married (first) Mary Gibbin Haman. There were three children: Walton, deceased: Nancy, who died young, and Jane L., died January, 1907, in Mere- dith, New Hampshire, aged ninety-six. She mar- ried Harvey Chamberlain, of Lynn, Massachusetts. Ile married (second) Mrs. Erva Kilburn (Sin- clair) Cummings, widow of Calvin Cummings, and daughter of Frank Sinclair. of Ludlow. Vermont. She was born in Chester, Vermont, June 22, 1811. There were six children by her first marriage, of whom three survive: Calvin W. Cummings : Carlos A. Cummings; and Frank C. Cummings. By her marriage with Ezra B. Libbey there were three children: Horatio K., whose sketch follows; Rus-

sell. deceased: and Albion W. born May 8, 1857. married Rachel Stewart, and lives in Tilton. New Hampshire. Three of their six children are living : Clara Erva. Leon Earl and Ethel Blanche.

(VIII) Horatio K., eldest child of Ezra Bartlett and Mrs. Erva Kilburn ( Sinclair) (Cummings) Libbey, was born in Warren, New Hampshire, on his father's fiftieth birthday. October 24. 1851. He was educated in the common schools of Warren and Manchester. New Hampshire. He did teaming be- tween these two places, and also did teaming and lumbering in Warren. He worked in the boiler room of Blood's Locomotive Works, in Manchester for two years. He worked on a railroad section for five years, and then went west to a stock farm. For two years he was employed on the stock farm owned by Samuel Colt at Farmington, Connecticut ; and for five years he was superintendent of the stock farm of S. S. Houghton at Orford. New Hampshire. He then bought a farm where he stayed five years. In 1893. he went to Wilton. New Hampshire. to take charge of the Hillsborough County Farm and House of Correction .- His wife was appointed matron at the same time. They resided there for twelve years and eight months. During this time the location of the county farm was changed from Wilton to Grassmere in Goffstown. Mr. Libbey had charge of the moving of the fixtures of the farm to Grass- mere and all of the three hundred and sixty-five inmates. He superintended the putting up of the new buildings, which cost $30,000, the finest of the kind in the state, put in all the water works, and laid out the roads. Ile retired from his position of superintendent on November 30, 1905. after a long and successful administration in which his executive ability had been made fully manifest. He then bought the Gilman Plummer place at Goffs- town, where he manages a farm of ninety acres, and also handles lumber and cattle, remodelled all the buildings and has a snug, fine house.

In politics Mr. Libbey is a Republican. He is a member of the Congregational Church. He has attained the thirty-second degree in Free Masonry, and was a member of the Grange. He is a mem- ber of Bible Lodge. No. 93, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Goffstown : Mt. Horeb Royal Arch Chapter. No. II; Adoniram Council, No. 3, Royal and Select Masters: Trinity Commandery, Knights Templar: Edward A. Raymond Consistory, S. P. R. S: Bektash Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

He was a selectman for three years at Orford. New Hampshire. He married. January 12. 1873, Rebecca Jane Huckins, daughter of Thomas P. and Lucretia ( Barry ) Huckins, of Warren, New Hampshire. She was born April 22. 1855. Two children were born of this marriage: Bessie Alice, at Warren, New Hampshire, January 8, 1877, who married William W. Porritt, of Goffstown; and Menta B., at Orford. New Hampshire, April 25. 1887. Mrs. Rebecca ( Huckins) Libbey was a member of the Congregational Church. She belonged to the Grange and was a member of the Eastern Star, of which she was chaplain. She died May 20, 1003. On De- cember 4, 1905, Mr. Libbey married Mrs. Stella M. Iloit, daughter of William Moore, of Bedford, New Hamp-hit She was educated in the common schools of Bedford. She is a member of the Con- gregational Church, and belongs to the Eastern Star. being a charter member of the Martha Wash- ington Chapter. After her marriage to Mr. Hoit they resided some thirty years in Goffstown, at Park-

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er's Station, where he was engaged in lumbering and farming; his death occurred there. She has one son, Ralph, who graduated at Exeter College, June, 1907, and entered Dartmouth College, Septem- ber, 1907.

(III) Deacon Benjamin, sixth son and child of John (2) and Agnes Libbey, was born in Scarbor- ough. June 4, 1682. and died in Berwick, Novem- ber 9. 1768, aged eighty-six. He was taken by his father to Portsmouth in 1690, and afterward went to Berwick and "lived and served his time" seven years with Colonel John Plaisted. He settled near what is now South Berwick Junction, on the "Witchtrot" road. and lived there the remainder of his life. He was for many years one of the principal inhabitants of the town; was frequently placed on the most im- portant town committees; often presided over the meetings of the town; and was selectman from 1719 to 1736. He was one of the original proprie- tors of Lebanon, and took a prominent part in the carly management of that township. September 16, 1725, he was chosen deacon of the Congregational Church, of which he and his wife had been mem- bers from October 7, 1716. and filled that position until June 25, 1761, a period of thirty-six years. There is a record of special thanks voted him for his services. He married, December 20, 1707, Sarah Stone, daughter of Daniel and Patience (Goodwin) Stone. of Kittery. The date of her death is un- known, but she was living as late as February, 1764. Their children were: Agnes, Joseph and Benjamin (twins), Sarah. Daniel, Mary, Jeremiah, Anna. Charles and Elisha. ( Mention of Charles and descendants forms part of this article.)

(IV) Joseph, eldest son and second child of Deacon Benjamin and Sarah (Stone) Libby, was born April 5. 1711. He married (first) Anna, whose surname is unknown. Married (second) the widow. Elizabeth Shorey. He was a farmer and lived on a part of his father's homestead. Adminis- tration on his estate was granted May 21, 1787 ; his death occurred probably very shortly before that time. His widow married, December 20, 1787, Daniel Furbish. The children by the first wife were: Benjamin, Sarah, Anna. Joseph, Margaret, Dorcas, Nathan, Elisha. Patience and Ichabod. By the second wife there was one child, Ann.

(V) Benjamin, eldest child of Joseph and Anna Libby, was born in Berwick, Maine, and baptized in August, 1735. He was a hardy man of an adven- turous spirit and preferred the danger of the sea and the profits of marine ventures to the less ex- citing vocations on terra firma, and so engaged in the coasting trade. Some years before the Revolu- tion he settled at Frenchman's Bay, on the coast of what is now Hancock County, Maine. It was said by his son Benjamin that he with a neighbor named Clark built the first wharf on that bay, and the first vessel that sailed from it. During the Revolution he was driven away by the British. He left his property and fled in an open boat some three hun- dred miles along the coast, and landed in safety at York Beach. He afterwards settled on a farm in Kittery. He married, March 13, 1760, Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Captain John Smith, of Berwick. She died at the residence of her son Ichabod, in Tuftonborough, New Hampshire, (where thought her husband also died) about 1824. Their children were: Hanson, Thankful, Anna, Betsey, Experience, Ichabod, Sarah, Margaret, Benjamin, Poliv and Harriet.

(\'I) Ichabod, sixth child and second son of Ben-

jamin and Elizabeth (Smith) Libby, was born prob- ably in Berwick, Maine, in January, 1770. He set- tled in Tuftonborough, New Hampshire, then a wilderness, and finally became a comfortable farmer. A few years before his death he removed to Wolf- borough and there died November 23, 1833. He in- herited many of the virtues of a worthy ancestry, and for years filled the office of deputy sheriff with credit to himself and satisfaction to the public. He married Polly Leavitt, who was born March 10. 1772, and died April 4, 1856, daughter of Josiah Leavitt, of Strafford. They had ten children : Josiah L., Belinda, John Smith. Dudley Leavitt, James S., George W., Mary and Sarah (twins), Ira Allen and William P.

(VHI) Josiah L., eldest son and child of Ichabod and Polly ( Leavitt) Libby, married, in 1816, Mary, daughter of Jonathan and Shuah (Stevens) Morri- son, of Tuftonborough, where he was a farmer until his death, June 7, 1833. His widow died October 30, 1870, aged seventy-four years. They had one child, Shuah M., who is next mentioned.

(VIII ) Shuah M., only child of Josiah L. and Mary (Morrison) Libby, was born in Tuftonbor- ough, December 18, 1819, and died in Wolfboro. January 29, 1906, aged eighty-six years. She mar- ried, April 18, 1843. Otis Evans, and had four chil- dren: Mary L .. born March 1, 1844. married, Feb- ruary 15. 1879. Levi T. Haley, of Wolfboro (see Haley, VIII). Emily S., deceased. Charles O. Emily S., born February 9, 1857, married. December 6, 1882, Franklin P. Hobbs (see Hobbs, IV).

(IV) Charles, ninth child and fifth son of Deacon Benjamin and Sarah (Stone) Libbey, was born in Berwick, Maine. December 29. 1721, and died September 8. 1772. He lived and died on his father's homestead, where he was engaged in farm- ing. He married, December 27. 1744, Abigail Hil- ton, who survived him. Their twelve children were : Hannah, Mary, Ebenezer. Charles, Mehitable, Abi- gail, Jeremiah, Benjamin, John (died young), James, Sarah and John.

(V) Captain Charles (2), fourth child and sec- ond son of Charles (1) and Abigail (Hilton) Lib- bey, was born in Berwick. December 16. 1749. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and the records state that Charles Libbey was a sergeant in Captain Thomas Hodsdon's company, in Colonel Thomas Poor's regiment ; engaged June 9, 1778, and dis- charged January 29, 1779, after serving eight months and seven days at North river, including seventeen days (three hundred and forty miles) travel home. This regiment was raised for eight months, and the roll was dated at Berwick. Maine. He was also in the same company and regiment, as shown by the pay rolls for June-September. 1778, dated West Point. The pay rolls for November and December, 1778, and February, 1779, dated King's Ferry, also show that he was then and there of the same com- pany and regiment. He received by will one-half of his father's homestead, and lived in the old house, but it is said in a law suit about some injustice done him, when he was an officer in the militia, he spent all his property, and had to relinquish the home- stead. He removed to Lebanon in 1791, and very soon after pined away and died. He married, July 16. 1772, Sarah Pray. She survived him and mar- ried (second). February 2, 1796, John Legro, of Lebanon. The children of Captain Charles and Sarah were: Abigail, Experience, John, Jeremiah, Joshua and Nathaniel.

(VI) Nathaniel. fourth son and youngest child

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of Captain Charles and Sarah ( Pray) Libbey, was born in Berwick, Maine. December 22, 1790, and died in Bethlehem, July 18, 1840. In his early days he followed the sea. After his marriage he bought the inills in Ossipee, New Hampshire, and resided there about twenty years. He removed from that place to Bethlehem, where he was engaged in lumbering many years, and finally settled on a farm. Ile served as selectman of Bethlehem many years, and also represented the town in the state legislature. Ile was a member of the Congregational Church. Ile married. November 24, 1813, Tirzah Lord, daughter of Nathan Lord, of Bethlehem. She survived her husband and died October 24, 1840. Their eleven children were: Mercy L., Charles, Sarah Ann, Elizabeth R., Daniel Lord, Jeremiah Colby, Hannah Maria, John Quincy Adams, George Washington, Nathaniel W., and Henry C., whose sketch follows. (VII ) Henry Clay, seventh son and youngest child of Nathaniel and Tirzah (Lord) Libbey, was born in Bethlehem, August 2, 1839. At the age of eleven months he was left fatherless, and when he was seven years old his mother died. With him the struggle for a living began early, and for six years after the death of his mother he worked at different places for his board. His education was confined to a limited attendance at the public schools at Whitefield. At the age of twenty he bought a saw mill, paying three hundred dollars down, and giving his note for twelve hundred. He was successful in this enterprise, and in I871, twelve years later. he bought the Alder Brook mill, formerly owned by his father, and managed it successfully for eighteen years, and then sold it and went to Lisbon, where he has since lived. In 1884 he organized the Granite State Glove Company, and became its president. This concern consolidated with the Saranac Glove Company, of Littleton, and Mr. Libbey has since been the president of the new organization. In 1884 he was one of the promoters and organizers of the Parker & Young Manufacturing Company, of which he was made president. This establishment was burned in 1891, and Mr. Libbey took a leading part in its reconstruction, and it is now one of the largest factories of its kind in the country. His connection with this industry continued until 1894, when he withdrew to devote his energies to the business of lumbering, which he has carried on extensively in Rimouski, province of Quebec. He was president and manager of the Lisbon Electric Light Company for a number of years. a stockholder and director in the Lisbon Savings Bank and Trust Company, was one of the organizers of that financial institution of Lisbon, and is now one of its directors. In politics he is a stanch Republican, but has never taken a very active part in political af- fairs. He was postmaster at Alder Brook for sev- oral years, and in 1894 represented Lisbon in the legislature. Ile was a member of White Mountain Lodge, No. 86, Free and Accepted Masons, and of the Sons of the American Revolution, of New Hampshire. Hle attends the Methodist Church.

He married, November 22, 1865, Ellen M. Thomas, who was born in Littleton, September 5, 1843, daughter of Henry and Evelyn (Farr) Thomas, of Littleton. Four children have been born to them: Blanche T., Herman T., deceased; Grace E. and Ethel M.

(VII) Dudley Leavitt, third son and fourth child of Ichabod and Polly (Leavitt) Libby, was born October 25, 1803. Reared to agriculture, he followed that calling in Tuftonboro and Wolfboro,

and is credited with the introduction of various modern improvements in the methods of tilling the soil. He commanded a cavalry company belonging to the state militia and was otherwise active outside of his legitimate calling. In his religious faith he was a Congregationalist. His death occurred in New York City, December 29. 1856. October 7, 1827, he married Sarah Ann Wiggin, daughter of Samuel and Nancy ( Chase) Wiggin, of Tuttonboro. She died March 23. 1889. Dudley L. and Sarah A. ( Wiggin) Libby were the parents of six children, namely: Anne Mary (died young), Sarah Eliza- beth (became the wife of Augustine D. Avery, of Wolfboro), Anne Mary, Helen Maria ( see succeed- ing paragraph), Arabella Amanda and Emily Caro- line.

(VIII) Helen Maria, fourth child of Dudley L. and Sarah Ann (Wiggin) Libby, was born in Tut- tonboro. April 3, 1835. On January 8. 1857, she be- came the wife of Joseph L. Avery, of Wolfboro, a brother of Augustine D. Avery, previously men- tioned (see Avery, VII.)

(II) Henry, second son of John Libby, was born in Scarborough, Maine, in the year 1647, and died October 21, 1732, aged eighty-five years. In 1686 he held the office of selectman in his native town. In 1690, when the Indian troubles broke out, he went with his father-in-law to Lynn, Massachusettts. Ile was one of the company which first attempted to resettle their possessions. Tradition says that they came from Lynn in a sloop, and built a garrison on Prout's Neck, which they successfully defended from attacks by a force of five hundred French and In- dians. Henry Libby and his sons were all present at the first town meeting. in 1720. With one John Boden he was chosen to go and show the old high- ways to the selectmen. In September, 1728, at the age of eighty-one, he became a member of the Con- gregational Church at Black Point, which had just been organized under the pastoral charge of the Rev. William Thompson. His house stood on a lot which in recent years has become a part of Black Point Cemetery. He married Honor Hinkson, a daughter of Peter Hinkson, whose plantation joined his father's. Peter Hinkson was from Hobberton or Ileberton, Devonshire, England, and came to Amer- ica in 1662 or soon after, and settled at Beach Point. Maine, where he was one of the principal inhabit- ants. Honor died August 24, 1724, aged sixty. The children of Henry and Honor were: Mary, Samuel. Sarah, James, Hannah, Elizabeth and John.

(III) Captain John, seventh and youngest child of llenry and Honor (Hinkson) Libby, was born probably soon after the year 1700. He went with his father from Lynn to Scarborough, and settled on a farm. He was a man of unusual energy and ability and filled repeatedly the most important posi- tions in the town. He was a land surveyor and suc- ceeded in a measure to the position his brother, Lieutenant Samuel Libby, had filled. He was a lieutenant in Captain George Berry's company in 1745, and after the death of his kinsman, Captain John Libby, became known as captain, and was so called until his death. He was on a fishing trip with two others, and the small boat in which they were riding was upset near the mouth of Nonesuch river, and although an expert swimmer he never rose. The two others escaped, and there were sus- picions of foul play at the time of his death. Ile married (first). June 15, 1728, Mary Goodwin, daughter of William and Deliverance (Taylor) Goodwin, of Berwick. She died a few years later

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and he married (second). August 24. 1738. Anna Fogg. His children by his first wife were: Henry, Hannah, Lucy, Edward, and by his second wife : Rhoda and Abner (twins), Olive, Stephen. Moses and Aaron (twins), Jesse, Philemon, Eunice, and Seth; and by Lydia (Skillings), widow of Mark Libhy: Nathan.

(IV) Philemon, twelfth child of Captain John Libby, was born in Scarborough, May 29, 1749; and died December 22, 1811. He received from his wife's grandfather, Deacon Samuel Small. a grand- son of Francis Small who purchased the five Ossipee townships, one hundred acres of land in what is now Livingston, and became one of the first settlers of that town. His house was at Livingston Corner, and for many years he was a licensed innholder. He married, May S, 1771, Martha Small, who after his death went with her son Abner to Limerick, where she died August 27. 1837. The children of this union were: Rufus. Philemon, Eunice (died young ), James, Abner. Martha, Eunice (died young) , Anna Small, Dorothy, and Eunice.

(V) Rufus, eldest child of Philemon and Martha (Small) Libby, was born in Scarborough, May 4. 1773. and died at the home of his daughter. Martha, in Limerick, December 5, 1858, aged seventy-five. After his marriage he settled in Limington, near the Limerick line, and there resided until 1836, when his son Philemon sold the homestead and bought the Dam farm in Newfield. He married, April 25. 1793. Dorcas Strout, daughter of Elisha and Eunice ( Freeman) Strout, of Gorham. She died in Decem- ber. 1849. Their children were: William. Phile- mon. Aphia, Rufus, Nathaniel. Martha, Ennice and Solomon.

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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. II, Part 70

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: 874

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: 874