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. III, Part 100

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: 876

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. III > Part 100

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Mr. Gerry married, May 30, 1880, Ida Belle Jones, a native of Loudon, New Hampshire, daugh- ter of James Jones. of New Market. One son has blessed this union, Arthur Peterson Gerry, born 1881. After completing the ordinary course of education he entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, from which he was graduated in 1905, and is now employed as a civil engineer in the state of New York.

WIESNER This name is probably derived from the German word wiese, signifying meadow, and the affix cr, man; the combined elements designating "one who lives on the meadow," and has probably been a surname five hundred years or more.

(I) Benjamin, son of Carl B. and Helen A. (Wendich) Wiesner, was born in Germany, Prus- sian Silesia, November 5, 1848, and died in Man- chester, New Hampshire, March 29, 1906, in the sixtieth year of his age. When a young man he left Germany and came to America, remaining for a time in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and removing to Manchester, New Hampshire, in 1870. He at once began work as a textile designer for the Amoskeag Mills and continued in that business until the close of his life. He was the first designer in Manchester and was famed for his skill in this line of work. He was given a medal by the Manchester Associa- tion for the best design displayed at one of their ex- hibitions some years ago. He died of heart failure while sitting at his desk. He was a quiet and aff- able man, of flawless integrity, and could always be depended upon whenever his pledge was given. He was a member of Barbarossa Lodge. Order of Harugari, Knights of Honor and the American Benefit Society. all of Manchester. He married, in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1867, Augusta C. Hoehn, born in Germany in 1850. who came to America with her parents, Ernest A. and Christina H. (Ber- ger) Hoehn, in 1852, in a sailing vessel. and set- tled at Lawrence, Massachusetts. They had five children: Charles B., now in Lewiston, Maine ; Mabel A .. the wife of Halsey W. Russell, of Man- chester ; Flora E., who married Carl Drescher, and resides at Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts ; Arthur E. and Ernest W., who is the subject of the next paragraph.

(II) Ernest William, third son and fifth child of Benjamin and Augusta C. (Hoehn) Wiesner, was born in Manchester, December 12, 1877. After finishing the grammar school course in the Man- chester public school he took a two years course in the Bryant and Stratton Business College, of Manchester, being graduated in 1893. He then started out to acquire the designer's art, and worked for terms of varying length in the mills at Leomin- ster, Massachusetts: Lewiston, Maine: Lawrence, and Milltown, Massachusetts; and finally returned to Manchester, where he has since been employed by the Amoskeag Corporation. He is a young man

of ability and integrity, and has distinguished him- self in his art. and also as a citizen. He was elected to the council in 1903, and re-elected in 1905, and served on important committees; was also elected alderman in 1906. He was made an Odd Fellow in1 1901, and is a past grand, and past district deputy of Ridgley Lodge, No. 74, also a member of the Cal- nimet Club. He married in Leominster. Massachu- setts. December 8. 1906, Annie L. Laverdiere of that town.

The name of Kennedy has existed KENNEDY both in Ireland and Scotland for centuries, but its origin connot be accurately ascertained. Its bearers in the Emerald Isle are still numerous in the interior counties. al- though many of them have established homes in America, and through their habits of industry and trugality have for the most part become prosperous. (1) The family now being considered was estab- lished on this side of the Atlantic Ocean by Wil- liam Kennedy, who was born in the town of Owning, county Kilkenny, Ireland, in the year 1800, and was a miller by trade. In 1854 he emigrated to the United States, accompanied by his family, and set- tled in Connecticut, locating first in Masonville. later in Baltic and still later in Wauregan, where his death occurred in 1876. He married Bridget Brennen, who was a native of Timflorum, and she died in 1878. She became the mother of ten chil- dren, namely: Mary Ann, Anastatia (wife of Ed- ward Brothers), Catherine (desceased), Hannah (wife of Matthew Forsyth). Thomas (died in in- fancy). Thomas (died at the age of fifty years), Patrick (died young), Patrick L., John (died at the age of seven years) and the latter's twin sister Margaret, who is the wife of Michael McGrath. The parents were Roman Catholics, and the children adhere to the ancestral faith, except Patrick L .. who is a Pantheist.

(Il) Patrick L., fourth son and eighth child of William and Bridget ( Brennen) Kennedy, was born in Owning, March 16, 1848, and came to America with his parents when six years old. He attended the public schools of Connecticut, and at an carly age began to contribute toward his own support by working in a cotton mill. Acquiring a knowledge of the textile industry he was employed in various mills until March I. 1865, when he enlisted as a private in Company F, Second Regiment Massachu- setts Volunteer Cavalry for service in the Civil war, which was then about to close, and he was honorably discharged at Readville in the following August. In 1867 he went to Franklin Falls, where for the succeeding four years he was employed as a loom-fixer at the Sawyer Woolen Mills, and at the expiration of that time he engaged in the con- fectionery business. This venture proved success- ful, thus enabling him to purchase the property occupied by his business, but after his store was destroyed by fire he determined to relinquish it. He accordingly erected a place of public entertain- ment, which he opened auspiciously as the Winni- pesaukee Hotel, but some twelve years later he decided to identify his name as well as his person- ality with his hostelry, and it has ever since been known as the Kennedy Hotel. An experience of nearly thirty years has enabled him to thoroughly comprehend the wants of the traveling public, and he is one of the most successful hotel men in that section of the state.

Politically Mr. Kennedy is a Democrat, but has

Respectfully Ernest Cv. Wiesner

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never sought nor held public office. In religious matters he believes in the unobstructed exercise of free thought and considers the Golden Rule an excellent basis for a firm and enduring religion. He is a charter member of George F. Sweat Post, No. 38, Grand Army of the Republic, and has held all of the important offices in that body.

Mr. Kennedy has been twice married. His first wife, whom he married in 1870, was Nancy G. Green, and she bore him three children, namely: John W., a graduate of the Franklin high school and also of Eastman's Business College. Poughkeepsie, New New York. Eva May, wife of John Lyons, of Man- chester. Grace Josephine. married James Kirwin. a member of the firm of Kirwin & Sheehan, drug- gists of that city. On June 3, 1885, he married for his second wife Martha J. McKeag, daughter of Alexander and Martha McKeag, natives of Canada. The children of this union are: Mertie B., born April 20. 1886. Susanna K., born August 29, 1887, died aged ten months. Gertrude E., horn October 4. 1888. Thomas P. H., born October 20, 1890. Hannah M., born November 21, 1892. George M., horn August 13. 1895. James J. B., born July 1, 1897. Bernice Lucile, born December 16, 1902, died May 16, 1907.

LACY Lacy is a name which is one of the most

prominent in Norman-English history, and the family has had many distin- guished members.

(I) Roger Lacy was a native of Blackburn, Eng- land, where he owned a large grocery store and was in business all his active life. He married a Miss Holden.

(11) Henry, son of Roger Lacy, was born in Blackburn, England. April 2, 1812, and died in Gil- ford, New Hampshire, July 20, 1885, aged seventy- three years. He was educated in the common schools of Blackburn. In 1846 he came to America, and worked in the mills of Manchester, New Hampshire, for a number of years, and then bought a small farm in Gilford, where he spent the rest of his life in tilling the scil. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and voted the Democratic ticket. He married, 1846, Almina Little Kimball, who was born at Holderness. Grafton county, New Hampshire, November 8, 1820, and died in Gilford. Four children were born of this union : Henry Smith, born October 24, 1848: Albert R., mentioned below: Sarah Jane, born April 23, 1852, married Alfred F. Parker, of Dracut, Massachusetts ; and John Freeman, July 13, 1854.

(III) Albert Roger, second son and child of Henry and Almina L. (Kimball) Lacy, was born in Gilford, August 15, 1850, and was educated in the common schools of his native town. He has been a farmer all his life, and now owns a small farm which he cultivates. Ile and his brother, John F., live together.

This name, which in its French form RIVERS is Riviere, De Riviere, or Des Rivieres. is that of a family which has been in Canada from the days of the voyageurs and cour- eurs de bois, and is descended from prominent French progenitors.

(I) Jean Rivers was born in Three Rivers. prov- ince of Quebec, Canada, in 1806, and died in Hook- sett, New Hampshire, April 4, 1904. at the age of ninety-eight years. He was a farmer by occupation. In I871 he came to the United States and settled

in Manchester, where he lived for over thirty years. Ile was a man of wonderful endurance in his old age, and did as much hard work in a day at eighty years of age as the ordinary man in the prime of life does. The autumn before his death he did as much work digging potatoes or chopping wood as the young men who worked with him. He married Marie Jetua, who was born at Three Rivers in 1823, and died in Manchester, July 9, 1901, aged seventy- eight. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom eleven grew up. Their names are : Jean, died young : Joseph, William P., IJerminie, Emma, Moe, Eversiest, Elvina, Treffle, Sylvanus, Fred, Marie, died young ; and Leona.

(II) William Prospere, third son and child of Jean and Marie (Jetua) Rivers, was born April 15, 1852, in Waterville, Maine, where his parents lived for about two years. When he was two years of age the parents removed with their children to Kinsey, province of Quebec, where William re- mained until he was fifteen years old. From this date he was variously employed at different places, working in Rhode Island, in Worcester, Massachu- setts, as an iron moulder, and in Derry, New Hamp- shire, on a dairy farm. At times he has worked as cook, teamster and sawyer at various lumber mills. Later he bought a portable saw mill and engaged in cutting lumber on a quite extensive scale, some- times operating two mills and employing a consid- erable number of hands the most of the year, and doing some farming during the season when lum- bering was suspended. In 1904 he sold out all his mill machinery and bought the old Halfway place on the Londonderry turnpike in Hooksett, which was a well known hostelry in the days of stage coaches, large fire places and tallow candles. Here he is now engaged principally in farming, but feeds the hungry and lodges the weary wayfarers if they require rest and refreshment. He married, at Harrington, New Hampshire, January 10, 1885, Grace E. Chesley, who was born in Barrington, New Hampshire, November 24, 1866. Mrs. Rivers is descended from the following line :

(1) James Chesley, born May 23, 1751, died February 26. 1836, aged cighty-five. He married Elizabeth Hill, who was born in 1759, and died Feb- ruary 6, 1838, aged seventy-nine.

(II) Joseph, son of James and Elizabeth (Hill ) Chesley, was born in Durham, August 26, 1779, and died in Barrington, June 19, 1856, aged seventy- seven. He was a farmer. He married November 28, 1822. Maria Weber Connely, who was born in Strafford. August 26, 1804, and died March 10, 18SS, aged eighty-three. They were the parents of twelve children, ten of whom, seven sons and three daugh- ters, grew up. Their names were: James W., Jo- seph W., Joshua R., Jonathan H., Joel M., Eliza- beth H., Jacob V. B., Jeremiah M., Nancy B., and John L. Elizabeth died at the age of twenty-four ; John died aged twenty: and of the others none died younger that sixty-six years of age.

(III) Joel M., fifth son of Joseph and Maria W. (Connely) Chesley, was born in Barrington, March 14, 1832, and now lives in that town. He is a farmer by occupation. He married Elva Ilena Hor- tense Richardson, of Compton, who was born June 5. 1848, daughter of William and Hannah Parsons ( Badger) Richardson, a descendant of Governor Joseph Badger, and they are the parents of two children : Eva M., who married Fred L. Tuttle, of Nottingham: and Grace E., the wife of William R. Rivers, of this sketch.

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GLEASON Many of the old English surnames have a fanciful origin. It is thought that Gleason may have been derived from "a singer of glees." The first American an- cestor was Thomas Gleason, who took the oath of fidelity at Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1652. He married Susanna -, and left several children. He died at Cambridge, Massachusetts, about 1684. His name was spelled Glezen. Owing to the lack of records it has been impossible to trace the re- mote ancestry of the following branch of the family.

(I) Dr. E. V. Gleason, son of E. V. Gleason, of Fairfield, Vermont, was born in Montpelier, Ver- mont. He was educated in that state, and after- wards taught school for a few years. He subse- quently studied medicine, and moved to Durham, province of Quebec, where he engaged in practice. He was a member of the Methodist Church. He married Elmira Harvey, daughter of Calvin Harvey, of Canada. They had two children: Jay Morton. whose sketch follows, and Myra, who died aged about forty-five years.

(II) Jay Morton, son of Dr. E. V. and Elmira (Harvey) Gleason, was born in Durham, province of Quebec, May 4. 1850. He was educated in the local schools of Canada, and came to Mont Ver- non, New Hampshire, in 1866. For fifteen years he worked in the box factory of Deacon William Conant, and later became a farmer and ice man. He is a Republican in politics, and has held many town offices. In 1906 he was town treasurer and tax collector. and was postmaster at Mount Ver- non during the Benjamin Harrison administration. He is a deacon of the Congregational Church, and a member of the board of education. June 8, 1874, he married Mary C. McIntyre, daughter of Elias and Elizabeth (Bruce) McIntyre, of Lyndeboro, They have two children: Ernest M., born June 5, 1875, who is teaching school at Kingston, Massa- chusetts; and Marion E., born October 22, 1887, who is attending normal school at . Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

STALBIRD This name first appears in New Hampshire late in the eighteenth century and there is no previous mention of it in any of the other colonial records. It is undoubtedly an English name of considerable antiquity, but there is no information to be gathered on this side of the ocean concerning its early his- tory in the mother country.

(I) Richard Stalbird, an Englishman, established his residence in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, some years subsequent to the Revolutionary war, and followed the shoemaker's trade. In 1798 he married Deborah Vickers, and immediately joined the little company of pioneers which Colonel Whipple had induced to take up wild land in the town of Jeffer- son. In 1706 Deborah Vickers, of Portsmouth. went to Jefferson in the capacity of cook for Colonel Whipple, and was the second white woman to settle there. A person of more than ordinary energy and a devout christian, she included among her simple effects the first Bible brought to the town, for which she had paid the equivalent of five dollars. laboring ten weeks at fifty cents per week for its possession. Tradition says that she was the first in the settlement to make maple sugar, and it is also asserted that during the first eighteen months of her residence there she did not see a single white woman. Colonel Whipple paid her more than a

years' wages in depreciated continental currency, which he knew to be almost worthless, and when she learned this fact she quietly waited the return of the colonel, with whom she remonstrated in such a forceful manner that he made amends by offering. in addition to the poor money given her, the choice of any of the unsold lots of fifty acres. She selected lot No. 10, range 6, and the deed given by Colonel Whip- ple December 10, 1797, states that "in consideration of one dollar duly and truly in hand paid before the delivery hereof, and the love I bear to the said Deborah Vickers." Having employed Benjamin Hicks to fell some trees and begin a clearing she went to Portsmouth, married Richard Stalbird, as previously stated, and in the spring of 1798 returned with her husband to Jefferson. Finding that the lower half of lot Io was too rocky. Mr. Stalbird exchanged it for the upper half, and proceeded to clear a farm. Mrs. Stalbird's strong mental facul- ties, superior energy and remarkable physical en- durance gave her much influence among the settlers in the north country, and her christian sympathy and kindly deeds won the friendship and confidence of the Indians. To her natural skill in nursing the sick she added a knowledge of Indian remedies obtained from her friends in the forest, and as "Granny Stalbird" she traveled through northern New Hampshire, an angel of mercy, braving many dangers in order to relieve suffering among the frontier families. Richard Stalbird died in Jefferson. (II) Nathaniel, son of Richard and Deborah (Vickers) Stalbird, was born in Jefferson, April 9. 1817. He resided there his entire life, which ter- minated April 26, 1854, and he was an industrious farmer. At one time he served as tax collector and was also a member of the board of selectmen. He married Mary Westall, who bore him five chil- dren. but two of whom are now living-Mary, widow of John King; and Levi.

(III) Levi, son of Nathaniel and Mary (West- all) Stalbird, was born in Jefferson, January 2, 1828. After concluding his attendance at the public schools he engaged in tilling the soil and became a pros- perous farmer. He was formerly a conspicuous figure in local public affairs, serving as a member of the board of selectmen for a period of ten years, as town treasurer nine years, and as highway agent for a number of terms. In his religious faith he is a Baptist, and for forty years has been a deacon of that church. Mr. Stalbird married Mary Stanley, daughter of Ira Stanley. of Jefferson. They have two children-Mary L., who is now the widow of Charles H. Cook; and Marie Etta, who is the wife of George Tuttle, of Boston.

Ardor of temperment and energy of BUCKLE will seems to be two elements of char- acter which distinguished the inem- bers of the Buckle family of England, and are con- spicuous in both the principal subjects of this article and the distinguished Henry Thomas Buckle who wrote that celebrated work known as the "History of Civilization in England." Both are probably de- scendants of the same ancestry.

(I) William Buckle was a native of Yorkshire, England, where he was engaged in mercantile pur- suits. He removed to Nova Scotia, where he re- sided the remainder of his life. He married Mary Cavanaugh, who was born in Ireland. and died at sea. They were the parents of seven children, one of whom is the subject of the following sketch.

(II) Rev. Edmond Edward, son of William and

& & Buckle

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Mary (Cavanaugh) Buckle, was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, June 17, 1845. After completing the curriculum in the schools of lower grade he matric- ulated in the College of Ottawa, now University of Ottawa, from which he was graduated in 1860. Afterward he went to England and France where he continued his ecclesiastical studies and was or- dained to the priesthood at Auton, France, 1871. He returned to Ottawa Canada, and in 1872 was made pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Con- ception, in Lowell, Massachusetts. Subsequently he was pastor at Nashua. Keene and Peterborough, New Hampshire and, in 1893 returned to his charge at Nashua, which has since been his field of labor. Father Buckle has ever shown exceptional ability as a manager of the secular and financial affairs of the churches where he has served, as well as a devotion to religious duties that has won him the lasting love of his parishoners. Through his efforts churches have been built at Greenfield, Wilton and Milford and since he has begun his second pastorate in Nashua a new church edifice and school building have been erected and the church debt, which had been considered a serious burden, have been largely paid off. His services to the church and the Catho- lic people have been such as to place him in the front rank of the Catholic clergy of the state.

HARTIGAN In speaking of the chiefs of Cind Dunghaile, which territory com- prises the present parish of Tom-

graney, county Clarere and Iniscaltra and Clonrush, county Galway, O'Hart says Tressach. the son of Art, had a brother named Artigan (meaning "little Art"), from which comes the name O'l-Artigan and Hartan.

(I) Patrick Hartigan was born in Limerick county, Ireland, and emigrated to America with his family about 1850 and settled in Milton, New Hamp- - shire, not long after reaching this country. He worked as trackman for the Boston & Maine rail- road for a number of years, and then moved to Rochester where he died in 1882. aged eighty-four years. He married in Ireland, Mary Keogh, who was born in Limerick county, and died in Rochester, 1878, aged sixty-four years. Patrick and his wife were industrious persons, and the parents of eight children. Their names are: Ellen, now the widow of John Mahoney of Rochester: Patrick (2), who is mentioned below : Mary: Hannah, the widow of John Bradford: John. who resides in Rochester : Bridget, who died single; and Thomas, who resides in Rochester.

(II) Patrick (2), second child and eldest son of Patrick (1) and Mary ( Keogh) Hartigan, was born in Limerick county, Ireland, in 1843. and came with his father's family to this country when about seven years old. He was educated in the common schools at Milton, and for some years following was a laborer. He was industrious and saved his earnings, and in IS7I was able to establish . himself in the grocery business in Rochester, where he success- fully continued until 1905, when he retired with a competency and now spends his time pleasantly at home or among his numerous acquaintances. In 1901 he built the Hartigan block, which is devoted to business purposes. In politics he is a 'staunch Democrat, and in 1889 was honored with an election to the general court where he faithfully represented his constituency. He and all his family are mem- bers of the Catholic Church ; and he is also a mem- ber of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, of which

he has been treasurer for some years : and of Lodge No. 86. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. of Dover. He married, February 6, 1875. Bridget Cragen, who was born in Limerick, Ireland, in No- vember, 1849, and came to America with her parents. To Patrick and Bridget Hartigan have been born children : Thomas, died young: Mary Frances, married David Lucy ; John, died young ; Luke, died young ; Ellen, single and resides with her parents : James, graduated from the Rochester high school and afterwards studied two years at the Holy Cross College at Worcester: Joseph. William and Frances, the three youngest children, all died young.

Mescall. or Meskill, is the name of

MESKILL an ancient Irish family whose pedi- gree with the pedigrees of other fam-

ilies is contained in the book of Hy-Maine, a book of genealogies compiled from the O'Kelleys, and now in the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin.

(I) Thomas Meskill was born in Ireland, in 1847, a son of Jeremiah Meskill, and came to Amer- ica at eighteen years of age. He settled at Salmon Falls, New Hampshire, in 1865, and worked as an iron moulder in a foundry until about the time of his death, September 1, 1887. He married Hannali Driman, who was born in Ireland, and came to America with her parents in 1841, being at that time four years of age. She was the daughter of David and Catherine (Callahan) Driman. Four children were born of this marriage; Jeremiah, born August, 1874, died October 16, 1900; David T., next men- tioned; and two who died. Mrs. Thomas Meskill died June 22. 1906.

(II) David T., youngest child of Thomas and Hannah (Driman) Meskill, was born in Salmon Falls, September 7, 1879, and educated in the schools at Salmon Falls and at Berwick Academy, South Berwick, Maine, graduating with the class of 1896. He was a clerk in David H. Caron's grocery store at Salmon Falls six years; manager of the late D. H. Finnegan's boot, shoe and furnishing store at Salmon Falls four years, and is now traveling sales- man for the Somersworth Foundry Company. He is one of the rising young men of Salmon Falls. and has been called to fill public positions of respon- sibility. He has been moderator twice, and is a member of the board of selectmen, of which he is chairman. In politics. he is a Democrat. He is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. of which order he is now state secretary ; the Knights of Columbus, the Improved Order of Red Men, of which he is a past sachem, and president of St. Mary's Catholic Total Abstinence and Benevolent Society of Salmon Falls.

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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. III, Part 100

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: 876

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: 876