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 53
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CURTIS The name of Curtis is one that is frequently met with in the early an- nals of our country, and it is most probable that the particular branch with which this narrative is concerned is descended from the pioneer settlers of the New England states. The history of the carlier members of this family cannot be traced
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with any degree of certainty, as the records of the colonies at that time were frequently destroyed during the hostilities with the Indians, and by various other causes.
(I) The earliest to be found on this line in the vital records of New Hampshire is James Cur- tis, who was born August 28, 1748 (recorded in Strafford), and married Sarah Barlow. No account of her birth or date of their marriage appears. Their children, born in Strafford, were: Abigail, Stephen, Joseph, Eunice, Nathan, Hannah and Thomas.
(II) Thomas, youngest child of James and Sarah (Barlow) Curtis, was born July 7, 1793, and was married in 1816, to Sally Patch, of New Castle. She lived but a short time, as his marriage is re- corded November 19, 1819, to Catherine G. Perry. He evidently resided in New Castle, New Hamp- shire, as the births of all his children are recorded there: They were: Benjamin B., Elison, Thomas I., Isabella M., Catherine M .. Moses R., Howard M., Levi Woodbury and Hamilton.
(III) Elison Oliver, second son and child of Thomas and Catherine G. (Perry) Curtis, was born November 14, 1822, in New Castle, New Hamp- shire, and became a well known business man, en- gaged in the manufacture of shoes, and highly re- speeted in the community in which he lived. The greater part of his life was spent in Farmington, Strafford county, New Hampshire. He married Matilda Ann White, and had the following chil- dren: James Clinton, see forward; Melinda M., who married Etliridge, deceased ; Lucy Ella; and Harriet Z., who married WVal- lace ; she died July 13, 1907.
(IV) James Clinton, eldest child and only son of Elison and
Oliver Matilda Ann (White) Curtis, was born in Newcastle, Rocking- ham county, New Hampshire, September 8, 1848, died in Farmington, Strafford county, same state, November 30, 1892. He was educated at New Hampton, New Hampshire, and was well and favorably known in commercial circles. During his business career, his time was generally occupied as a bookkeeper, as he had a preference for occu- pation of this kind. Hle and his wife were members of the Protestant Church, and his political affilia- tions were with the Democratic party. He married Lizzie Ellen Leighton, born in Farmington, New Hampshire, September, 1852, a descendant of a family which had resided in Farmington for many generations. She is the daughter of Samuel J. and Mary Elizabeth (Sherburne) Leighton; grand- daughter of Richard and Rachel (Kimball) Leigli- ton ; great-granddaughter of George Leighton; and great-great-granddaughter of Samuel Leighton. Either the Jones or Pinkham family is descended from the Indians, but the exact line of descent has been lost. Among the children of James Clinton and Lizzie Ellen ( Leighton) Curtis, is a daughter named Wilma, of whom see forward.
(V) Wilma Curtis, daughter of James Clinton and Lizzie Ellen (Leighton) Curtis, was born in Farmington, Strafford county, New Hampshire. February 15, ISSI. She enjoyed the advantages of an excellent education, and supplemented this by systematic and conscientious home study, which has enabled her to take a foremost position in the ranks of the teachers of her native state. She is a young woman of much energy and force of char- acter, united with a natural amount of executive ability, and she has been most undoubtedly success-
ful in her particular field of labor. While resolute and firm in her attitude toward her pupils, these traits are united with an amount of kindness which has endeared her to the hearts of all who have been fortunate enough to have the benefit of her tuition. She is a member of the Congregational Church, in whose works she takes a great interest, and she has the respect and affection of all who know her.
(Second Family.)
This is an ancient surname, and has CURTIS been long known in the United States. It may have been derived from the French Courtois, a surname taken from a district in France. It may also have been derived from "Courteous," referring to the polite address of the person on whom the name was bestowed. Names from both sources are in use in this country. (I) The first of this family of whom we have continuous record was Samuel Curtis, a tobacconist of Newburyport, Massachusetts. He was married by Rev. Jolin Andrews, October 8, 1795, to Sally Coffin, and died in Newburyport, June 4, 1804. His children were: Stephen, Samuel and Sally. Sally Coffin was born April 17, 1775, in Newburyport, a daughter of Abel and Nanny Coffin. She was mar- ried (second). September 16, 1805, to Ebenezer Chase. He was born July 1, 1775, in Newburyport, son of James and Abigail Chase. With his wife and step-children, Ebenezer Chase removed to Concord, New Hampshire, early in the nineteenth century.
(11) Stephen, eldest child of Samuel and Sally (Coffin) Curtis, was born July 21, 1796, and was but a child when he accompanied his mother and stepfather to Concord. He learned the cooper's trade and followed that occupation for many years in New Hampshire. In 1843 he purchased a farm in East Concord, on which his descendants now re- side. and died there in 1884, at the age of eighty- eight years. He became a member of the East Concord Congregational Church about 1842. He was a Democrat in politics, and was an intelligent and well informed man, and felt an active interest in the progress of the schools. He acted for several years as prudential school committee. He married Sally Chase, who was born about 1800, a daughter of James (2) Chase. The latter was a son of James (1) Chase and Abigail Chase, a brother of Ebenezer before mentioned, and was born February 2, 1771, in Newburyport. The children of Stephen and Sally (Chase) Curtis are accounted for as follows: John, the eldest, died on the farm in East Concord. Adeline was the wife of David T. Green, and died in Weare; Samuel resides in North Georgetown, Massachusetts. Edmond S. is living in East Concord, as is also George H. William Webster died in infancy. Moses P. resides in Fort Reno, Oklahoma. Mary L. is the wife of Willard Frost, of Concord, and Caroline B. of John C. Hutchins, of the same place.
(III) Edmond Sylvester Curtis was born in Pembroke. July 6, 1820, and educated in the com- mon schools. He learned the carpenter's trade, but after following carpentry for a time he bought a farm of one hundred acres in East Concord, which he carried on as long as he was active, finally re- tiring to live with his son, William. He is a member of the East Concord Congregational Church. In political belief he is a Democrat, and as such has held many ward offices. He married Esther G. Clark, daughter of Daniel G. and Lydia
n
Jeph S. matthews
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Clark, of Concord They are the parents of three children: Jennie, married Charles Cook, of Con- cord; William P .. mentioned below; John B. a ranchman in Wyoming.
(IV) William Pecker, elder of the two sons and second child of Edmund S. and Esther G. (Clark) Curtis, was born in Concord, January 22, 1857. He learned carpentry, and worked at that most of the time until recently. He inherited a farm of four hundred acres four miles from the city of Concord, where he is now engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, and keeps cows and supplies city customers with milk. He also deals in lumber and wood. He is a Democrat, and a supporter of the East Concord Congregational Church. Mr. Curtis married, January, 1876, Clara W. Wiggin, born November 10, 1861, daughter of Samuel and Ellen Wiggin, of Pembroke. She died July 24, 1896; and he married ( second). 1901, Caroline Redford, born April 18, 1880, daughter of Cassius and Mary Redford of Concord. Four children were born of the first wife: Everett, of Concord; Philip, married Emily Stanley, of Pittsfield, who died in 1895; Ethel, and Ruth.
MATTHEWS With the aid of a French flect and a French army, the thirteen colonies won their independence
from England. Many soldiers who came to these shores to fight, remained to become citizens of the great republic. Of these was the founder of this Matthews family.
(I) What his occupation in peace was or from what port of la belle France he came, we do not know. His surname was Matthieu, or Matthews, as the later generation spelled it. After serving through the revolution he is said to have served some years in the American army, being stationed in Vermont, in the vicinity of Burlington, near which he settled after he left the army. He seems to have been married before coming to America, his wife and eleven children coming to this country after the war. The first wife died, and Mr. Mat- thews won for his second wife a Miss Benedict, in Connecticut, by whom he had two children. He died in the vicinity of Burlington, well advanced in years.
(H) Jeremiah Matthews, thirteenth and young- est child of the immigrant ancestor, was left mother- less at the age of three years, and was given by his father to Linus Atwater, tavernkeeper, at Wil- liston, Vermont. with whom he lived till he was twenty-eight years old. He then became a partner with his brother William in a retail hat and fur store in Burlington. Two or three years later he withdrew from the hat business and en- gaged in farming for the remainder of his life, living in Essex and Underhill, Vermont. He died at the age of sixty-six. in January, 1860. At the age of twenty-eight he married Nancy Farnum, by whom he had nine children: Albert Atwater, Mary, Rachel, George Benedict. Byron Dexter. Jane E., Lyman. Ellen M., and Martha.
(III) George Benedict, son of Jeremiah and Nancy (Farnum) Matthews, was born at Willis- ton, Vermont, two miles from Burlington College, November 24. 1820. Hle acquired his education in the common schools and at Bell Institute in Undet- hill. Leaving school at twenty. he worked two years at farming, and then went to Worcester. Massachusetts, and the two following years drove a wagon through the country, as was done in those
days. supplying stationery and notions to country merchants at wholesale. He clerked in a book store in Worcester, and later engaged in the book and stationery business for himself. Disposing of this business he went to Minnesota and preempted government land near what is now Greenleaf, in Meeker county. In 1859 he received what he con- ceived to be an advantageous offer from Joseph Sweet, of Franklin, New Hampshire, which he accepted, and in December of that year he settled near Webster Place, where he has since lived. Ile now has several valuable lots of land in that vicinity, among them being a parcel of land on which Ebenezer Webster, the father of the Great Daniel. built a tavern when the future statesman was only three years old. Mr. Matthews is a prosperous farmer, and has lived on his present farm forty-six years. In politics he is a Deme - crat, with a strong inclination to be independent. He was selectman in 1879, 1880, and 1885, and was a member of the legislature in 1883. He has held other offices, among them that of justice of the peace. He is a member of the Episcopal Church at Tilton, and of Lodge No. 709, Knights of Honor. of Franklin. He married in 1854, at Jericho, Ver- mont. Emily Howard, born in Shelburn, Vermont, November 22. 1831, daughter of Ezckial and Nancy ( Burbank) Howard. They have one child, Joseph Swett.
(IV) Joseph Swett, only child of George B. and Emily ( Howard ) Matthews, was born in Franklin. December 21, 1861. He graduated from the Franklin high school in 1879, and from Dart- mouth College with the class of 1884. He studied law in the office of Judge Reuben E. Walker, of Concord, was admitted to the bar in 1891, and has since been in practice at Concord. He was associ- ated in business with William H. Sawyer from 1898 to 1905 when the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Matthews is a lawyer of ability, and endowed with a large share of executive and financial ability. He was elected alderman from ward four Concord, on the Republican ticket. in 1902. and again in 1904, and was a member of the house of representatives from the same ward. at the session of 1907, when he served as chairman of the committee on ways and means. He is a trustee of Merrimack County Savings Bank, treas- tirer of the trustees of the Protestant Episcopal Church in New Hampshire, a member of St. Paul's Church, and of the Wonolancet Club. He married, Dec. 10. 1890. Clara Helen Webster, daughter of John F. and Mary Cutting Webster, of Concord ( see Webster VIII). They have two children : Emily Webster, born August 27, 1892, and Jane Webster, May 23. 1896.
The name of Crossman is tintistal
CROSSMAN in this country, appearing but once among the early emigrants. There seems to have been two distinctive branches in Eng- land. One family lived at Crosse, in Cornwall, who traced their descent from John Croseman. of the time of Henry VIII. Their arms were a sable field with chevren. or. between three goats' heads erased, argent. Another family of Crossman, living in Somersetshire. had arms: Argent, a cross ermine between four escallops, sable. Crest, a demi-lion ermine, holding an escallop sable. The scallop shells indicate that their ancestors had made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The ermine cross would seem > have some connection with the patronymic.
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Ezra Crossman was born at Plymouth, Vermont, in 1835. He has lived in that town most of his life. In 1855 he married Martha Spear, born in Plymouth, Vermont, and they had five children: Ida j .. Myron E., Frank S., Mary and Edgar O., whose sketch follows. Mrs. Crossman died at Ludlow, Ver- mont in 1866.
Dr. Edgar Orrin, youngest of the five children of Ezra and Martha (Spear) Crossman, was born December 15, 1864. at Ludlow, Vermont. He was educated in the schools of Plymouth, Vermont, at Plymouth Union academy, New Hampshire State College, and the medical school of the University of Vermont, graduating from the latter institution in IS;7. Upon the completion of his studies he was ap- pointed assistant surgeon to the Chateaugay Iron & Ore Company, in the Adirondack. New York, where he continued one year. Dr. Crossman then came to New Hampshire, practicing one year at Bath, and since then in Lisbon, where he permanently estab- lished himself. Dr. Crossman was on the medical staff of the Clifton Springs Sanitorium for three vears, and afterward had charge of the Markelton Sanitorium at Markelton, Pennsylvania, for four year-, keeping his residence in Lisbon all the time. Dr. Crossman was appointed collector of internal revenue for the District of New Hampshire in May, 1904, and is holding that office at the present time. Dr. Crossman belongs to the Grafton County Medi- cal Society, the New Hampshire State Medical So- ciety, and the American Medical Association. He is a member of Kane Lodge, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons; Franklin Chapter, Lisbon; of St. Gerard Commandery, Knights Templar, Littleton ; and of Bektash Temple Shriners, at Concord, New Hampshire. He belongs to Concordia Lodge, In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, of Lisbon. He is a strong Republican, is a member of the state committee, and represented Lisbon in the legisla- ture in 1903. Ile has been a member of the school board of Lisbon, and was the first president of the White Mountain Board of Trade. He is a member of the board of health at Lisbon; trustee of the New Hampshire State Hospital at Concord, and was formerly medical referee of Grafton county.
On -June 1, 1888, Dr. Edgar Orrin Crossman mar- ried Florence A. Gibson, daughter of John and So- phronia ( Mason) Gibson, who was born at Guelph, Canada. They have one child, Edgar G., born April I, 1895. Both Dr. and Mrs. Crossman are members of the Congregational Church in Lisbon.
Too much prominence is often given to the of- ficial and social positions held by public men. The life work of Dr. Crossman is founded upon the "Good Physician," something that permeates every effort and thought of the man, and not dependence upon the favor of an often fickle political clientage. Such success to a young man in his profession sel- dom if ever came to one before, as the subject of this sketch brought home to New Hampshire after con- ducting the sanitoriums in New York and Pennsyl- vania. As a law-maker the ruling spirit was not smothered in politics. The bettering of some con- ditions that poor humanity has fallen to is noted particularly in the enactment of the law providing for the state care of the insane heretofore supported at the New Ilampshire county farms, Nearly four hundred persons were removed to state institutions, thereby providing better surroundings for these un- fortunates. This was due largely to Dr. Crossman's effort -. Dr. Crossman's experiences among the rug- ged conditions of his carly Vermont life especially
fitted him to sympathize with the -ick and weak. Ilis own advancement is due to unaided efforts from boyhood to school, college and the practice of medi- cine, with the wide range of professional life indi- cated above makes the record of a man hardly ar- rived at middle age.
GREEN This name became deservedly famous in the military annals of the American Revolution, and has since that time won equal distinction in the records of the progress of the peaceful pursuits of the citizens of the Republic. It has appeared as the designation of the head of the greatest telegraphic system in the world, and of many men who have been leaders in the professions and industries of this country.
(I) Thomas Green, the American ancestor of the line under consideration, was born in Leicestershire, England, in 1606. He came to America with his wife Elizabeth in 1636, and lived in Ipswich or Rox- bury, Massachusetts, until 1649, when he removed to Malden and purchased a farm in that part of the town which is now Melrose. His second wife was Frances ( Wheeler) Cook, a widow. (Mention of their son Samuel and descendants appears in this article).
(11) Lieutenant Harry, son of Thomas and Eliza- beth Green, was born in 1638. He resided in Mal- den, and represented that town in the general court in 1689-94, and 1703-04. He married Esther Hasp in 1671.
(III) Deacon Joseph, son of Lieutenant Henry and Esther ( Hasp) Green, was born in Malden, October 16, 1678. He married Hannah Green in 1700. (IV) Josiah, son of Deacon Joseph and Hannah (Green) Green, was born in Malden, September 25, 1709. He married Esther Thomson, of Woburn.
(V) Stephen, son of Josiah and Esther (Thom- son) Green, was born August 19, 1738. He was married in 1759 to Deborah Oakes.
(VI) Nehemiah, son of Stephen and Deborah (Oakes) Green, was born January 6, 1769. His wife was Martha (Newhall) Green, of Lynn.
(VII) Stephen, son of Nehemiah and Martha (Newhall) Green, was born July 25, 1796, and died in Elliott, Maine, November 2, 1877, aged eighty-one years. He resided in Elliott, Maine, and Newcastle, New Hampshire and was engaged in the manufac- ture of shoes. He married, February 10, 1820, Mary B. Leighton, daughter of John and Johanna Leigh- ton. Mrs. Green died July 19, 1849. Their children were: Frank B., Charles Bishop, John L., Martha A., Octavia and George.
(VIII) Charles Bishop, second son of Stephen and Mary (Leighton) Green, was born at Newcastle, New Hampshire, January 21, 1828, and died in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, September 9. 1888, aged sixty years. He learned the trade of carpenter, and during the greater part of his life followed this occupation in the city of Portsmouth, New Hamp- shire. In his later years he ceased to be an artisan, thereafter devoting his attention to the cultivation of the soil, an occupation from which he derived considerable pleasure. He was the owner of a small parcel of land within the city of Portsmouth, which he cultivated to such a degree of perfection as to attract attention. lle was a member of the Christian Church. He was a man of quiet, unassuming man- ner, and by his exemplary life won the respect of his fellow citizens Ile married, in Portsmouth, October 9. 1856, Susan Olive Locke, born in Ports- month, November 25, 1837, daughter of Hamilton C.
lehas Elfruen.
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and Mary (Rand) Locke, whose marriage occurred January 2, 1825, Hamilton C. Locke, son of Jere- miah and Susan ( Rand) Locke, was born in Bar- rington, New Hampshire, December 28, 1798, died in Portsmouth, June 14. 1860, aged sixty-two. His wife, Mary ( Rand) Locke, was a resident of Rye, New Hampshire. The children of Charles B. and Susan O. ( Locke) Green were: Charles Edwin, whose sketch follows, and a child who died in in- fancy.
(1X) Charles Edward, only surviving child of Charles B. and Susan O. (Locke) Green, was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, July 20, 1857. He was educated in the common schools. At fifteen years of age he began life as a messenger in the navy pay office at Portsmouth. and after three years service there became a clerk in an insurance office, continuing thus employed for a period of four years. The following three years he was employed in a drug store in Haverhill, Massachusetts, and then became a bookkeeper for Davis & Crafts, shoe man- ufacturers in Haverhill, becoming a partner in the concern in 1886. The business was then removed to Northwood, New Hampshire; in 1889 Mr. Davis retired, and the remaining partners formed the new firm of Crafts & Green. In 1891 the business was removed to Manchester, New Hampshire. in which city they conducted a thriving business until 1900, when the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Green then formed the firm of C. E. Green & Company, he hay- ing personal charge of the business, and from then until the present time (1907) has conducted a pros- perous business in the manufacture of shoes for women and misses. giving employment to about two hundred and fifty hands, thus making it one of the leading industries of that thriving city. Mr. Green's long experience and executive ability have been prominent factors in the growth and development of the business, and has been the means of placing the firm among the successful shoe manufacturers of the state. Mr. Green is a man of sterling char- acter, upright and honorable in all his transactions, and of domestic tastes, his leisure time being spent in his home. He is a member of the First Church of Christ (Scientist), and the Derryfield Club, of Manchester.
Mr. Green married. November 24. 1887. Sarah V. Knowlton, born in Northwood, New Hampshire, February 8, 1860, daughter of George W. and Mary A. (Virgin) Knowlton, of Northwood.
(Il) Samuel. son of Thomas and Frances (Whee- ler) Green, was born in Malden, Massachusetts, where he was made a freeman in 1690. He married, 1666, Mary, only child of Richard Cook, of Malden. who lived until November 24. 1715. He married (second). Susanna - He died October 31. 1724, His children were: Samuel, Thomas, John, William, Martha, Elizabeth, Isaac, besides Mary, David and Jonathan.
(III) Thomas (2), son of Samuel and Mary (Cook) Green, was born in Reading in 1660. He lived in that part of Malden that was annexed to Reading in 1729, now known as the village of Green- wood. He married, in 1698, Hannah. daughter of John and Hannah (Green) Vinton, of Woburn. He died in 1725, and his widow married John Pool, of Reading. His children were : Hannah, Thomas, Joshua and Jonathan.
(IV) Thomas (3), son of Thomas (2) and Han- nah (Vinton) Green, was born about 1702, and suc- ceeded to the paternal acres. He also owned land in Reading. Malden. Stoneham. and elsewhere. He
died in 1750, aged fifty-one. He married. about 1726 or 1727, Mary, daughter of Deacon Daniel Green, of Stoncham, by whom he had Mary, Thomas. Daniel, Hannah, Sarah, Amos, Nathan (died young), Sarah, and Nathan.
(V) Captain Thomas (4), eldest son and second child of Thomas (3) and Mary (Green) Green, was born in 1731. and died in 1810, aged seventy-nine. He was a miller and was called Captain Green. He married, in 1754, Lydia, daughter of Jeremiah and Sarah Swain. His children were: Lydia, Mary, Thomas. Jeremiah, Hannah and Judith.
(VI) Thomas (5), son of Captain Thomas (4) and Lydia (Swain) Green. was born in Reading in 1759. There he married in 1781, Mehitabel Pratt. and had children born to him in the early part of the nineteenth century he removed to Albany. in Oxford county, of the district (now state) of Maine. After residing here a short time he removed to Shel- burne, New Hampshire, and located on a large tract of land on the east side of the Androscoggin river. It was a wilderness, but by industry and hard labor he made a productive farm and a comfortable home, and at the time of his death he could have bought half of the town. He died March, 1835. His wife was Mehitabel Pratt; they had five children : Thomas, Edward, George, Jonas and Eunice.
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