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 21

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 21

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(VII) Horace Clark, son of Henry Tolles, born in Weathersfield. Windsor county, Vermont, May

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31, ISII, removed to Nashua, New Hampshire, when eighteen years of age. and there followed the occu- pation of farming. He held many public offices, namely, alderman, councilman, assessor and street commissioner, which latter he filled for a number of years, and during his incumbency of office dis- charged his duties with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. He married Sophia Ann Wright, December 10, 1835. of Westford, Massachusetts, born August 31, ISII, who bore him nine children: 1. Horace W., of Nashua, born August 26, 1838, died March 7, 1907. 2. Franklin N., born July 25, 1839. died November 20. 1902; he followed farming in Dunstable, Massachusetts. 3. Henry Joel, born August 24, 1841. of Dunstable, Massachusetts 4. Willard Clark, born May 8, 1843, of Nashua, New Hampshire. 5. Hannah Sophia, born February 6. 1845, died March 10, 1866. 6. James H., mentioned at length below. 7. Sarah A .. born November 30. 1848, died November 10, 1869. 8. Jason Elbridge, January 5. 1852, see forward. 9. Zenophon D., born March 23, 1858. of Nashua, New Hampshire. Horace Clark Tolles attended the Con- gregational Church. He died February 21, 1878, and his wife died April 13. 1888.

( VIII) General Jason Elbridge Tolles, son of Horace Clark and Sophia Ann ( Wright) Tolles, was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, January 5. 1852. He was educated in the public schools, and resided on the farm until nineteen years of age. Ile then came into the city proper and accepted a position as salesman in a clothing store, remaining for a period of five years. The eleven succeeding years he was engaged in business for himself, after which he associated with Howard & Company in the furniture business, which relation was continued for fifteen years. He then became the first treas- urer for the Citizens' Institution for Savings, in which capacity he is serving at the present time ( 1907). He is the secretary of the board of trade, and served as trustee in a number of estates, this fact testifying to his integrity and the esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens. He was mayor of Nashua for four years, 1807-98-99-1900; was senator from the twentieth district in 1903-04; represented ward eight in 1905: and was a member of the board of education for thirteen years. He was elected city treasurer of Nashua. January I. 1907. Ile is a Democrat in politics. He affiliates with the First Congregational Church; is a member of Rising Sun Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ; of Pennichuck Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows : the Guards Club; and is treasurer of the Odd Fellows' Building Asscciation.

General Tolles has been an efficient member of the New Hampshire National Guard for the long period of twenty-seven years. He enlisted as private in Company F. Second Regiment, New Hampshire Guards, October 16, 1877: was promoted to corporal, May 10, 1878; and to sergeant, August I. 1870. Ile was commissioned captain, May 3. 1881, and resigned May 16, 1883. He again joined his old regiment. the Second, and was appointed .

adjutant, with the rank of first-lieutenant, July 1, 1884. He was promoted to major, May 15. 1885: lieutenant-colonel, August 1, 1889; and colonel, August 31, 1894. He was commissioned brigadier- general, New Hampshire National Guard, Febru- ary 28, 1899, and was recommissioned February 28. 1904. July 13, 1900, was breveted major-general. During the Spanish-American war General Tolles was extremely anxious to lead his regiment into active service, but as the quota for New Hampshire was only one regiment of infantry, and as he at that time was the junior colonel of the two New Hamp- shire infantry regiments, the senior colonel claimed the prerogative, and went to the front. General (then Colonel) Tolles, loyal and faithful soldier as he was, acquiesced. During his long period of service with the military establishment of the state, Colonel Tolles has made for himself a splendid record. reflecting credit and honor on his name, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of both superiors and subordinates.

General Tolles married. August II, 1874. Sadic S. Chase, daughter of Daniel S. Chase, of Nashua, New Hampshire, and now of Kansas City, Kansas, and their children are: Louie Ethel, born Decem- ber 20. 1875, married E. Ray Shaw. June 9. 1904; and Alice May, born October 4. 1878. married John Prescott Kimball, September II. 1906.

(VHID) James Harkness, sixth child and fifth son of Ilorace C. and Sophia A. (Wright) Tolles, was born in Nashua. October 17. 1846, and was edu- cated in the common schools. He was employed in a country grocery store in Dunstable, Massachu- setts three years, and subsequently was a clerk in a dry goods store in Nashua three years. In 1872 he became a partner with John Cross in the firm of Cross & Tolles, and they were successfully engaged in the lumber and manufacturing business twenty- seven years. In May. 1890, Mr. Cross withdrew and since that time Mr. Tolles has carried on the business alone under the firm name of J. H. Tolles Company. He conducts a large planing mill and box factory. and is also connected with various financial institutions and organizations of public utility. He is a director of the Indian Head Na- tional Bank, the Nashua Light. Heat and Power Company, the Pennichuck Water Works Company, the Nashua Building and Loan Association, and trustee of the Citizens' Institution for Savings. He is also connected with other enterprises and organ- izations similar to those above mentioned, and has for years filled many important offices of trust. In political faith he is a Democrat, and as such was elected to the mayoralty in 1886-87-88. He has the peculiar distinction of being the only person ever clected to this office a third term in Nashua. He is a member of the board of education, and has filled that office efficiently for years. He is a past grand of Pennichuck Lodge, No. 44, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Nashua, and is now (1007) grand treasurer of the Grand Commandery of the United Order of the Golden Cross of New Hampshire ; and has been for more than twenty-five

N.H.

Jason & rolly

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years. and his membership is with Merrimack River Commandery, No. 33. Ile is also a director of the First Congregational Church Society. He was mar- ried in Nashua, July 8, 1872, to Mary E. Cross, who was born in Hudson, March 8, 1848, daughter of John and Sarah Ann (Sargent) Cross, of Hudson. They have one child, Marion E., born August I, 1875. She married James L. Bickford, and resides in Nashua.

GIFFIN The Giffin family was established in

New Hampshire nearly one hundred and. fifty years ago, and its founder. like the majority of Granite State settlers of that period, left the old country solely for the purpose of reaping the benefits of civil and religious liberty.

(I) Robert Giffin emigrated from the north of Ireland in 1768, and settled in Londonderry, New Hampshire. The maiden name of his wife was Agnes Taggett.

(II) Patrick, son of Robert and Agnes (Tag- gett) Giffin, was born in Bedford, New Hampshire. September 3. 1768.

(III) David, son of Patrick Giffin, was born in Marlow, this state, May 30, 1798.

(IV) Henry, son of David Giffin, was born in Sutton, Vermont, October 29, 1832. When a young man he engaged in teaming, and for five or six years was employed by Samuel Archer, of Chester, Vermont, in hauling ship keels. He then went to Foxboro. Massachusetts, where he was an operative in a straw-hat manufactory for about two years, at the expiration of which time he purchased a farm in Marlow, New Hampshire, and for the ensuing six years was engaged in agricultural pursuits. Farm life, however, seems to have been uncongenial to him, as he eventually resumed his former occupa- tion, that of teaming, and he continued to follow it for a number of years, or until 1872. when he es- tablished himself in the retail coal trade in Keene. From that time forward until his death, which oc- curred April 27, 1904, he transacted a profitable business, and enjoyed the respect and esteem of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. He mar- ried Harriet Tinker, daughter of Elijah and Esther (Lewis) Tinker, formerly of Lempster and latterly of Nashua, New Hampshire, where they died. Mrs. Harriet (Tinker) Giffin resides in Keene.

(V) George Henry, only child of Henry and Harriet (Tinker) Giffin, was born in Marlow, August 28, 1862. died suddenly of neuralgia of the heart. December 18. 1906. His studies in the public schools were supplemented by a commercial course at the Packard Business College, New York City, and after its completion he became associated with his father in the coal business: He continued in partnership with the elder Giffin until the latter's deccase. when he became sole proprietor of the business and at the time of his death was in the full tide of success, having a large and constantly in- creasing trade. Mr. Giffin had an ideal wood plant, said to be one of the best in New England, and was the largest dealer in wood and coal in southwestern

New Hampshire, his operations including the neigh- boring territory in his own state and the states of Vermont and Massachusetts. He was interested in local civic affairs, served tipon Keene council, and in politics supported the Republican party. In ad- dition to holding membership in the First Congre- gational Church he was earnestly interested in out- side religious work, and was the building committee treasurer of the Young Men's Christian Association, which beneficiary institution he was largely instru- mental in founding.

April 19, 1894, Mr. Giffin married Ella M. Shel- don, daughter of Albert and Frances (Pond) Shel- don. Their children are: Paul S., born May 24, 1898; and John H., born January 31, 1902.

This is among the conspicuous BRAINARD names in the history of Connecti- cut, and it has furnished several pioneers in the settlement of northern New Hamp- shire. The family patronymic receives various spellings in the New England records (including Brainerd, Braynard, Braynerd, etc.), and is still widely used in the first of these three, as well as that at the head of this article.

(I) Deacon Daniel Brainard was brought from England by the Wyllys family when he was eight years old and brought up in Hartford, Connecticut, remaining with the people who brought him until of legal age. He was among the proprietors and ori- ginal settlers of Haddam. in that colony, about 1662, and became one of the prosperous and most influential members of that settlement. He was a deacon of the church, also served as justice of the peace and became a large landholder. In a letter received from his mother in England, soon after his settlement at Haddam, the name is spelled Brainwood, but it had been universally called Brainard by people on this side of the water, and he made no effort to change it. Deacon Brainard was twice married. His first wife was Hannah, daugh- ter of Gerrard Spencer, of Lynn. Massachusetts, later of Haddam. Tradition says his second wife's maiden name was identical with that of his first. When he married her she was a widow, bearing the name of Hannah Saxton. The first wife was the mother of his children, namely: Daniel, Hannalı, James, Joshua, William, Caleb, Elijah and Hezekiah.

(II) Elijah, seventh child and sixth son of Deacon Daniel and Hannah (Spencer) Brainard, ,was born 1677 in Haddam and made his abiding place there through life. He was married Septem- ber 28. 1699, to Mary Bushnell. of Norwich, Con- necticut, who died September II. 1735, and he was married (second), September 6, 1738, to Margaret (surname not preserved). His children, born of the first wife, were: Mary, Abigail, Joseph, Elijah. Thankful, Rachel, Jabez, Esther and Phineas.

(III) Jabez, third son and seventh child of Elijah and Mary (Bushnell) Brainard, was born February 19. 1715. in Haddam, and lived in that part of the town now known as Fast Haddam. He was married there October 15. 1739. to Hannah

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Clark, probably of Chatham. She survived him and died October 5, 1806, aged ninety-three years. Their children were: Abigail, Jabez. Hannah, Anne, John (died young), Daniel, John and Caleb.

(IV) Daniel, sixth child and third son of Jabez and Hannah ( Clark) Brainard, was born January 9. 1752, in East Haddam, and was among the pioneer settlers of Rumney, New Hampshire, com- ing thither when a young man. He first appears in the records on the occasion of his marriage. Jan- uary 22. 1777. to Rebecca Blodgett, both of Rumney. The vital records also give the births of a part of his children, namely: Rebecca, Dorothy, Sarah, Lydia, Hannah and "Kata."

(V) Barzilla, undoubtedly a son of Daniel and Rebecca (Blodgett ) Brainard. was a native of Rum- ney, but the only record of this fact appears in the record of his marriage, with no date. He was probably born about 1790, and was married (first), January 22, ISII, to Sally Dunning, of Canaan. New Hampshire, who died leaving a daughter, Almira, born October 27, 1812. No record appears of Bar- zilla's second marriage. but the wife's name appears as Mehetable, and they had children born from 1814 to 1826, namely : Asahel, John MI .. Persis, Sally, Nelson and Phebe. He was married (third). De- cember 27. 1824. to Lucy Beecher, both of Stewarts- town, the latter a native of Southington. Connecti- cut. From this it appears that Mr. Brainard settled in Stewartstown before 1824. The children of the last marriage were: Madeline. Ira Y., Jeremiah F. and Dolly A.

(VI) Ira Y., ninth child and fourth son of Barzilla and Lucy (Beecher) Brainard, was born July 5, 1828, in Stewartstown. New Hampshire. He grew up on a farm, and at twenty-one years of age went to Canaan, Vermont, where he continued to follow agriculture. In 1862 he removed to Pitts- burg. New Hampshire, where he remained until 1809. He then removed to North Weare, where he now resides. He married, July 4. 1851, at Stewarts- town, Mary Hilliard, who was born in 1832, daugh- ter of James and Susan (Bailey) Hilliard, of Stewartstown. Eight children were born to them: Charles, deceased ; Minnetta, deceased; Etta, de- ceased : Charles 1., who is mentioned below : Carrie. who resides in Lancaster : Jennie ; Frank. deceased ; and an infant.

(VII) Charles Ira, fourth child of Ira Y. and Mary ( Hilliard ) Brainard, was born in Canaan, Vermont. November 2, 1850, and was taken by his parents to Pittsburg. New Hampshire. in 1862. He was a farmer boy and when he grew up he had a farm of his own which he cultivated with success until 1899, when he removed to Stewartstown and with J W. Baldwin formed the firm of Brainard & Baldwin, dealers in general merchandise, in which business he is at the present time. In politics he is a Democrat, and wherever he has resided has been a party leader and a popular man. He was a mem- ber of the school board, road agent. collector and selectman of Pittsburg, and is town clerk of Stewartstown, which office he has now ( 1907) held

four years. He married, April 5. 1888, Emma Gene Blodgett, who was born in Canaan, Vermont, June 8. 1866. daughter of Edward C. and Lucy (Fellows) Blodgett, of Canaan, Vermont, and Pittsburg, New Hampshire. They have three children : Stella, born December 31, 1888; Alpha. July 23, 1890; Grace, July 15, 1892.

The name of Hayden is said to be HAYDEN derived from the town of Heydon, in Norfolk, England. The original meaning was "high down, or plain on the hill." The town lies about fourteen miles north of Nor- wich, the shire town of Norfolk county. Heydon Hall, in 1829, was the seat of William Earle Lytton Bulwer, the elder brother of the novelist. The English family of Heydon is ancient but not numer- ons. The family first comes into notice during the reign of Henry III. Thomas de Heydon, resident of Heydon, was "a justice itinerant in Norfolk in 1221," and from him the different lines can be traced. There are various coats of arms belonging to branches of the family, but the earliest and most constant emblem appears to be the engraved cross, which would indicate that some of Thomas de Heydon's ancestors had been in the crusades.

(I) John Hayden. emigrant ancestor of a numerous family, was early in America. He was found living in Dorchester, Massachusetts, as early as 1634. in which year he was admitted a freeman. The second entry in the record of births was that of his son Jonathan. He died previous to July 26, 1684, the day on which his will was proved. and was survived many years by his wife, Susanna, who was living in 1695. Their children were: John, Joseph, Samuel, Jonathan, Hannah, Ebenezer and Nehemiah.

(11) John (2), eldest child of John (1) and Susan or Susanna Hayden, was born in 1635. in Dor- chester, and settled in Braintree. At the time of the settlement as pastor of Rev. Samuel Niles, John (2) Hayden was a member of the Middle Precinct Church. He was married April 6. 1660, by Governor Endicott, to Hannah Ames, who was born May 13, 1641, a daughter of William Ames, of Braintree. She died of smallpox, July 3, 1689. and was survived nearly twenty-nine years by her hus- band, who died May 20, 1718. His will is on file in Suffolk county. Their children were: Hannah, Sarah. Elizabeth, Joseph, Josiah, Lydia, John and Abigail.

(11I) Josiah, second son and fifth child of John (2) and Hannah (Ames) Hayden, was born January 19, 1669, in Braintree, and settled in Sud- bury, where he was undoubtedly engaged in agricul- ture. He was married March 6, 1691, to Elizabeth Goodnow, of Sudbury. She was born November 6. 1672. a daughter of John and Mary (Axdell) Good- now. of Sudbury. In the record of his marriage he is called "of Braintree," so that his settlement in Sudbury must have succeeded that event. His youngest son was appointed executor of his will in connection with the widow. The children were :

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Josiah, Uriah, John, Elizabeth, Abigail, Edmund, Phineas, Nathanial and Ruth.

(IV) Josiah (2), eldest son of Josiah (1) and Elizabeth (Goodnow) Hayden, was born before 1700, in Braintree, and was an infant when his par- ents moved to Sudbury. He passed his life in the last named town, where he was an honored citizen. No record of his marriage has been discovered. but the christian name of his wife is known to have been Sarah. Their children, born from 1722 to 1739, were: Sarah, Thomas, Elizabeth, Josiah, Sam- uel, Daniel and Bezeleel. The fourth son settled in Hollis, New Hampshire, and the fifth in Marl- boro, Massachusetts

(V) Thomas, eldest son and second child of Josialı (2) and Sarah Hayden, was born March I, 1725. in Sudbury, and resided there through life. He was married November 27, 1755, to Mary Ball, daughter of Daniel and Sybel Ball. of Southboro and Framingham. In 1770, Mary (Bell) Hayden was a legatee in the will of her mother, Sybel Ball. Thomas Hayden's children, born from 1756 to 1765 in Sudbury, were: Mary, Sally, David, Josiah and Bezeleel.

(VI) Josiah (3), second son and fifth child of Thomas and Mary (Ball) Hayden, was born January 13, 1763. in Sudbury. At the age of about five years he was committed to the care of his uncle, Samitel Hayden,' of Hollis, New Hampshire, and there he subsequently lived. In 1760 Samuel Hay- den purchased of John Taylor land in Hollis, which became his home and on which Josiah (3) was reared. The latter was a farmer and passed his life in Hollis, where he died. He was married April 19, 1797, to Mary Patch. (See Patch). They were the parents of nine children: Mary, Samuel, Josiah, Sarah. Daniel, Lydia, Thomas W., Willard and Susan.

(VII) Samuel, first son of Josiah and Mary (Patch) Hayden, was born March 13, 1800, in Hollis, New Hampshire, where he was an active and useful citizen. He was a farmer by occupation and captain in the state militia, and an active member of the church. Henry Gilman Little in his "Hollis, Seventy Years Ago," says of him: "At the age of thirty-five he was one of the best specimens of man- hood, both morally and physically, that Hollis ever produced. He was one of the last tithing-men, this office being abolished in 1850." He used to be prominent at the old country fairs. Captain Hay- den lived in the old-fashioned house once occupied by his father, and now descended to his son. As illustrating the qualities of the two families. it may be mentioned that the Baileys were neighbors of the Haydens of Marlborough, Massachusetts, and when the latter family moved to Hollis, the Baileys fol- lowed and took an adjoining farm. Five genera- tions have lived side by side, and there has been no quarrel between the two families. Captain Samuel Hayden married Harriet Needham, daughter of Stearns and Hannah ( Bailey) Needham, of And- over, Massachusetts. They had six children: Sam- uel F., who lives in Hollis. Emily, who married

Eben J. Rideout, and lived in Brookline, New Hamp- shire. Daniel W., mentioned below. John W. David N. Lizzie H., who married John L. Woods, of Hollis. The third son, John W., enlisted in Company HI, Seventh New Hampshire Volunteers, and died in the service February S, 1862. Captain Samuel Hayden died March 23, 1880, at Hollis. His widow died in Hollis, January 9, 1869.

(VIII) Daniel Webster, son of Captain Samuel and Harriet (Needham) Hayden, was born at Hollis, New Hampshire. June 1, 1840. He was edu- cated in the public schools. He studied civil en- gineering, and did surveying till the Civil war broke out, when he enlisted in Company H, Seventh New Hampshire Volunteers, October 21, 1861. He served under Captain Ames, and was in the Florida expedition, and at the Siege of Charleston, South Carolina. He was wounded in the mouth at the assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina, July 18, 1863. He was wounded in the head at the battle of Olustee, February 20, 1864. At this time he was reported dead: but he was helped off the field by a negro and a wounded Union soldier, and recovered. He was discharged April 28, 1864, on account of wounds. He was made corporal, October 21, 1861, and was promoted to sergeant, February 3, 1864. After the war Mr. Hayden was unable to continue his surveying on account of his wounds, and he en- gaged in farming for a while. Then, in company with his brother, David N., he built a saw mill. which they have managed successfully ever since. When the brothers removed the mill-dam on Bailey brook, which they replaced by the present stone dam, they found the hemlock timbers as perfect as when first placed there, seventy-five years before. The two brothers have a home farm of one hundred and ten acres, and other land which in all amounts to seven hundred acres. In politics Mr. Hayden is a Republican. He has served as selectman three years, has been chief of police, and represented the town in the legislature of 1901. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and has held all the local offices.

Daniel W. Hayden married, April 19, 1866, Ann E. Talbot, who was born in Brookline, December 22, 1844, daughter of Samuel and Eliza G. (Hodg- man) Talbot. of Brookline. They had two children : Willard B., born September 9, 1871, died April 17, 1887: Bertha M .. born February 4, 1879, who lives at home. Miss Hayden is a member of the school board, and is active in the Woman's Club, and has written various books. one of which is "Hollis To- day." Mrs. Hayden was president of the Woman's Relief Corps one year.

This is one of the early English HOLCOMBE families planted in Massachusetts and is numerously represented to- day throughout the United States. It has contributed its share in the settlement and development of New England and of New Hampshire. Many are physi- cians, and some of them became famous. William F. Holcombe studied abroad, and was the first eye specialist in the United States.

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(I) Thomas Holcombe, the founder of the family in America, came with the Dorchester party in 1630, and was made a freeman at Dorchester in May, 1634. The next year he sold his house and lands to Richard Jones and removed with the Rev. John Warren to Windsor, Connecticut. In 1639 he settled in the northern part of that town in the dis- trict now known as Poquonock. In the same year he represented Windsor and Hartford in the con- stitutional convention. He died September 7, 1657. He was a possessor of considerable property. He was a member of the Dorchester church and of Windsor church, and was much respected. The christian name of his wife was Elizabeth, and they had four sons and six daughters, three of whom died young. All the others married into good fami- lies and themselves had large families of children. After his death the widow married (second), in 1658, James - -. Two of liis children were born in Dorchester, and the others in Windsor, namely : Elizabeth, Mary, Abigail, Joshua, Samuel, Benager, Deborah (died young), Nathaniel, Deborah and Jonathan.

(11) Nathaniel, third son and seventh child of Thomas and Elizabeth Holcombe, was born Novem- ber 4, 1648, in Windsor, and resided in Simsbury, and for a time in Springfield, Massachusetts. After the burning of Simsbury in 1667, and the return of the settlers in 1670, he removed thither and repre- sented that town in 1703-04-05-06, in 1720 and 1722. By occupation he was a farmer. He was granted land at Soundbrook, now Granby Center, and was prominent in all the movements of the town, besides being for many years a deacon of the church. He was married February 27, 1670, to Mary Bliss, of Springfield, daughter of Nathaniel and Katherine (Chapen) Bliss, of that town. Their children were: Nathaniel, Mary, Jonathan, John, Esther, Katherine, Sarah and Benjamin.

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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 21

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