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 73
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at the age of nineteen secured the position of as- sistant civil engineer of the Concord railroad. This was in 1846, and immediately after receiving his appointment he took charge of the laying of the second track of the road. Three years later the faithful performance of his duties caused his pro- motion to the position of chief engineer, which he held for many years. For some time, in addition to the performance of the duties of his office as engineer, he also filled the position of road master and master of transportation of the Concord, and Manchester & Lawrence railroads. While chief engineer of the Concord & Portsmouth railroad, he liad charge of the construction of a large part of the line. In 1861-62 he superintended the construc- tion of the Manchester and Candia railroad and the Hooksett Branch railroad. In 1869 he superintended the building of the Suncook Valley railroad, and later made the surveys of the Manchester & Keene railroad. During the time he was employed on these public works he was frequently engaged in private matters of importance, both as a practical and as an advisory engineer. and in cases where contro- versy had arisen. Scon after being appointed chief engineer of the Concord railroad he moved to Con- cord to live, on account of his principal business, but in 1856 returned to Manchester, where he con- tinned to reside as long as he lived. Besides rail- road work he was engaged in other works of a pub- lic nature, prominent among which was the construc- tion of the Concord water works which supply Con- cord with water from Penacook lake.
Mr. Weston was a Democrat. His thoughtful preparation and thorough way of doing business made him a successful man. His party in Manches- ter recognized in him a strong man whose business methods and well deserved popularity would make an acceptable candidate for office and a successful officer if elected. In 1862 he was persuaded to accept the Democratic nomination for mayor of Manchester, which up to that time had always been a Whig or Republican city, and in it the year be- fore the Republican candidate had been elected by nearly four hundred and fifty majority. Mr. Wes- ton ran ahead of his ticket, but was defeated by a majority of about two hundred and fifty votes. In 1863 he was again induced to become the nominee for the mayoralty, and although the same intensely partisan campaign was made by his opponents, and party spirit ran higher than before, he failed of elec- tion by only eighteen votes. He was again his par- ty's candidate in 1867, and although the relative strength of the two parties was about the same as before, he was elected over Joseph B. Clark, the then mayor, by a majority of two hundred and sev- enty-two, and by a larger vote than had ever been received by any previous candidate except that of Mayor Abbott, in 1855. In 1869 he was again the candidate of the Democrats, and although the Re- publicans had carried the city for General Grant for president at the election a few weeks before by about six hundred majority, the ward returns at the municipal election gave Mayor Weston a ma- jority of seven votes over his Republican opponent. Isaac WV. Smith, and it took a carefully revised of- ficial count to determine the result which was event- ually declared to be in favor of Mr. Smith by twen- ty-three majority. In 1870 Mr. Weston defeated Mayor Smith, and in 1871 was again elected. In 1874 he was a third time elected to the mayoralty by an overwhelming majority. During Mayor Wes- ton's tenure of office great improvements were made
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in the city. An improved system of sewerage was established and partly completed; a general plan for street and sidewalk grades was arranged; the public commons were commenced and carried on as far as public interests permitted ; and a general plan for systematic ornamentation of the parks and pub- lic grounds was inaugurated. Of the necessity and manner of obtaining a plentiful supply of pure water for the city of Manchester. Mr. Weston had a comprehensive knowledge which but few if any of his fellow citizens had. To his theories as a practical engineer, he added a full practical knowl- edge of the situation gained from his own surveys. After obtaining the necessary legislation, though opposed by many citizens, he prepared and carried through the municipal legislature the necessary ordinances which enabled the enterprise to take shape, and the plan was placed in the hands of a board of commissioners. Mr. Weston's clear un- derstanding of the needs of the city in regard to water and his intelligent handling of his plan result- ed in the present water works system, which has been of inestimable benefit to the city. Mayor Weston was the first city officer to recommend the erection in Manchester of a monument to the sol- diers and sailors of the Civil war, and it was through his influence that the present design was adopted. the proposition brought to full fruition and the noble shaft which commemorates the deeds of the heroes of that great struggle was placed where it is a constant reminder to the living of the virtues of the noble dicad.
Mayor Weston's exceptional success as the lead- er of his party in Manchester, and his wise and beneficent administration of the city's affairs at- tracted to him the attention of the leaders of the Democracy in the state, and he began to be spoken of as an exceptionally desirable candidate for gov- ernor : and at the state convention in January, 1871, he was made the nominee of his party for that position. In the contest which followed he met the well organized and determined opposition of the Republican party. which, however, he would have overcome had it not been for the introduction into the political field of a third candidate. This pre- vented the election by the people by one hundred and thirteen votes, although Mr. Weston had a large plii- rality. The election went to the legislature which was Democratic, and he was elected by that body in June following and inaugurated on the 14th of that month. "The governor's administration was char- acterized by economy and the . most conscientious observance of official honor and integrity. Even the most zealous partisan never questioned his faithful discharge of duty, and his official term closed with the highest respect of the whole people." In 1872 the Republican party nominated as their guberna- torial candidate Ezekiel A. Straw, agent of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, a man of much ability, great resources and unparalleled influence throughout the state. Mr. Straw received the full support of his party, and was the favorite of the manufacturing interests which he was supposed to favor as against other branches of business in the country, and his election was a matter of no sur- prise to either party. The following year the same candidates were nominated and Governor Straw was again elected. In 1874 Mr. Weston was again the standard bearer of his party, and received a handsome plurality of votes, and was elected by the legislature in June following. This election followed his fourth election as mayor of Manchester, which
office he resigned before taking his seat as gover- nor. Partisan feeling ran high during Governor Weston's second administration. but he retained the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens and his personal character and official honor were never called in question." In every instance where Mr. Weston was the candidate of his party, it was when his opponent started in the race with a majority, and with numerous party advantages. He fought his campaigns against numbers and against prestige. He contested .the ground with opponents who were no mean adversaries, and his successes were alike honorable to him and the party to which he be- longed."
Governor Weston's success in both business and political life led to his receiving appointments to many places of honor and trust, and to many re- quests to take responsible positions in many local business enterprises. In 1871 he was appointed a member of the New Hampshire centennial com- mission, of which body he was chairman. and as such he worked with great zeal and efficiency to promote the success of New Hampshire's exhibit. He was also placed by Congress on the centennial board of finance. He was chairman of the board of water commissioners from its beginning; on the establishment of the state board of health he was selected one of its members, and retained the posi- tion up to the time of his death. He was treasurer of the Elliot Hospital Corporation, chairman of the trustees of the cemetery fund, treasurer of the Sun- cook Valley railroad, one of the directors and clerk of the Manchester Horse railroad corporation, president of the Locke Cattle Company, but his main business was bank management. In 1877 he was chosen president of the City National Bank, which in October, 1880, was changed to the Mer- chants' National Bank, and continued at the head of that institution during his life. On the organiza- tion of the Guaranty Savings Bank, he was made its treasurer. These two banks have been successful, and are second to none in financial reputation. He was one of the organizers of the New Hampshire Fire Insurance Company, and had always been its president and a member of the directorate except a few of the earlier years of its existence, when he was the vice-president. He was actively concerned in the management of this company, and devoted much of his time to its affairs. In August, 1880, the supreme court appointed him chairman of the board of trustees for the bondholders of the Man- chester & Keene railroad, and he filled that place till his death.
Governor Weston's life was one that any young man might select as an example to imitate. Born on a farm of parents in only moderate circum- stances, he began early to make his own way in the world, and by unceasing industry and the use of that excellent common sense with which nature plentifully endowed him, he grew stronger and more capable with the passing of the years, succeeded in everything he undertook, gained the reputation of being a man who knew no such word as fail in busi- ness, was called to positions of responsibility and trust because of his unsullied integrity and power to succeed, went into politics against his own desires, won where others of his party had failed, and finally was called to fill the highest office within the gift of the people of his state, and in the discharge of the duties of that office added lustre to his already resplendent reputation.
In recognition of his public services Dartmouth
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College conferred on him in 1871 the honorary de- gree of Master of Arts. He was a member of the Amoskeag Veterans. He was an honored member of the Masonic fraternity. The divisions of that body to which he belonged are: Washington Lodge, No. 61; Mt. Horeb Royal Arch Chapter. No. II ; Adoniram Council, No. 3, Royal and Select Masters ; Trinity Commandery, Knights Templar, of which he was treasurer for thirty-one years. His religious associations were with the Franklin Street Congre- gational Church, of which society he was many years an active member and treasurer. His entire life ex- cept seven years in Concord, 1849 to 1856, was spent in his native town.
James A. Weston married, in Concord. February 23, 1854, Anna S. Gilmore, who was born in Con- cord, December 14. 1833, and died in Manchester, August 20, 1802, daughter of Mitchel Gilmore, of Concord. Five children were born of this union : Herman, October 1, 1858. died April 14, 1863. Grace Helen. July 1, 1866, married Frederick H. Eames, and resides at Somerville, Massachusetts. James Henry and Edwin Bell are mentioned below : Anna Mabel, April 26, 1876, died March 26, 1904. Charles Albert. November 1, 1878, is manager of the New England Telegraph and Telephone Company, and resides at Concord.
(VIII) James Henry, second child and eldest son of Governor James A. and Anna S. (Gilmore) Weston, was born in Manchester, July 17, 1868. He graduated from the Manchester high school in 1887, and entered Dartmouth College the same year, and remained there two years. In March, 1889, he en- tered the service of the New Hampshire Trust Company, of Manchester, where he was employed until the financial depression of 1893. He then be- came a bookkeeper in the Merchants' National Bank, where in addition to the performance of his routine duties, he learned practical banking. On the death of his father in 1805 he became joint executor of the estate, with his brother. In the latter part of 1003 he took a position as clerk with the New Hampshire Fire Insurance Company, which he filled until December. 1905, when he was chosen cashier of the First National Bank of Derry, which was organized December 11, 1905. The bank build- ing was fitted up and furnished under his direction. Mr. Weston's genial disposition and careful train- ing have made him a very popular and efficient bank officer, and both banks have proved themselves sub- stantial and successful financial institutions with a constantly increasing business. In politics he is a Democrat, but has never sought or held office. He is a member of Washington Lodge, No. 61 Free and Ac- cepted Masons: Mt. Horeb Royal Arch Chapter. No. II: Mt. Nebo Council. Royal and Select Mas- ters: Trinity Commandery. Knights Templar, of which he is treasurer, succeeding his father in 1895; and Edward A. Raymond Consistory, thirty-second degree, Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret.
He married. in Manchester, April 16, 1902, Alice Carey Hathaway, who was born in Morrisville. Vermont, April IS, 1873, daughter of Fernando Cortez and Hattie (Woodbury) Hathaway,
(IX) Edwin Bell, third child and second son of Governor James A. and Anna S. (Gilmore) \Ves- ton, was born in Manchester, March 15, 1871. For three years he attended the Manchester high school, then Phillips Andover Academy, graduating in 1880; and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1893. re- ceiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He matri- culated at Boston University Law School in 1894,
took a three years' course and graduated as Bach- elor of Law with the class of 1897. Soon afterward he was admitted to the Suffolk County ( Massachu- setts ) bar, and opened an office in Boston, where he practiced three years, and then removed to Man- chester, New Hampshire, where he remained till 1003, when he removed to Derry, where he has since devoted himself to professional business, and has a good law practice, chiefly in Rockingham county. He is a member of Washington Lodge, No. 61, Free and Accepted Masons : Alt. Horeb Royal Arch Chapter, No. 11; Adoniram Council, No. 3. Royal and Select Masters; Trinity Commandery, Knights Templar; and also Derry Grange, Patrons of Hus- bandry, of Derry. Mr. Weston married. August S, 1907, Lena A. Ellison. of Randolph, Vermont.
(II) Thomas, youngest child of John and Sarah (Fitch ) Weston, was born in Reading, November 20, 1670, and lived in Reading. His wife, whose forename was Elizabeth, died June 26. 1715. Their children were: Ebenezer, Elizabeth, and Josiah.
(III) Ebenezer. eldest child of John and Eliza- beth Weston, was born January 28, 1702. In 1752 he removed to the then backwoods and settled in Souhegan West, where the remainder of his life was spent. He married, November 29, 1726, Mehit- able, daughter of Isaac Sutherick, who was born in October, 1706. Their children were: Mehitable, Elizabeth, Ebenezer, Ann, Daniel, Hepsibah, Sarah, Judith, Thomas, Isaac, Tabitha, and Sutherick. ( Mention of the last named and descendants is a feature of this article).
(IV) Isaac, eleventh child and fourth son of Ebenezer and Mehitable (Sutherick) Weston, was born in Reading, May II. 1746, and with his father and brothers moved to Souhegan West, where he was a farmer. He married Hannah Cole, who died Tune 1, 1831. aged eighty. Their children were: John, Hannah, Betsey, Susannah, Isaac. Luther (died young), and Luther. Hannah married Daniel L. Herrick (see Herrick, VI).
(V) Isaac (2), fifth child and second son of Isaac (1) and Hannah (Cole) Weston, was born November 27, 1784. and died January 23, 1869, aged eighty-five. He was a farmer, and resided in Pond Parish near the great Pond. He married, August 20. 1812, MIehitable Batchelder, who was born Au- gust 25. 1788, daughter of Ebenezer and Elizabeth Thompson (Shirwin) Bacheller, of Amherst. He died April 18, 1871. aged eighty-three. Their chil- dren were: Isaac Plumer. Luther, and Mehitable J.
(V1) Isaac Plumer, eldest child of Isaac and Mehitable ( Batchelder ) Weston, was born in Am- herst. December 20, 1812. and died January 23, 1879. He resided on the ancestral acres left him by his father. He married Mary J. Howard, who was born in Amherst, November 25. 1808, daughter of Josiah and Mary (Stanley) Howard. of Amherst. She died April 15. 1801. Their children were: Caroline F .. Martin P .. Luther, Emeline. Helen M., Arabella, George W., Marietta, and Georgianna A., who married George S. Eaton, of Amherst (see Eaton, II).
(IV) Deacon Sutherick. youngest son of Ebe- nezer and Mehitable ( Sutherick ) Weston, was born November 19. 1751, and was about a year old when his parents moved to Amherst. He was one of the patriots of the revolution, and suffered many hard- ships in the course of that struggle. He went from Amherst to Bunker Hill, and was among those who crossed the neck and shared in the close of the bat- tle. At the battle of the Cedars, in Canada, he was
Dom. Wes Ton,
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taken prisoner by the Indians and nearly starved. When he appeared much reduced he was given an opportunity to run for his life, for the amusement of the savages, and not from promptings of mercy. Being a very muscular man he plunged at once into a swamp, and succeeded in escaping pursuit. He was finally discovered and rescued by a scout from his regiment, in a wretched state of starvation and laceration from his experience in the wilderness. Tradition also says that he was once regularly ex- changed for British prisoners. After the war he engaged in farming, and moved from Amherst to Antrim in 1786. In 1807 he and his son built a large house on his farm, which is still standing. He was appointed a deacon of the Presbyterian Church in 1800, and was ever an upright and able man, faithful to every obligation. He died in An- trim, May II, 1831, over seventy-nine years of age. He was married January 20, 1779, in Amherst. to Mary DeLancy, and they were the parents of : Mary L., Sutheric, Rebecca, Leonard, Sophia and Lancy.
(\') Captain Sutheric (2), eldest son of Suth- eric (1) and Mary (DeLancy) Weston, was born March &, 1783, in Amherst, and lived some years after attaining man's estate with his father. He subsequently occupied and tilled two different farms in Antrim, and moved to Nashua in 1836, dying in that town May 30, 1850. Ile held a captain's com- mission in the cavalry militia in 1819, and was familiarly called by the title. In 1808 he was mar- ried to Sally S. MeCauley, who died in Holyoke. Massachusetts, in 1854. Their children were : Esther M., Sarah, David (died young). Mary D., Sutheric J., David M., Rebecca J., Harriet N., Eliza A., Leonard and Sarah Jane.
(VI) David McCauley, sixth child and third son of Sutheric (2) and Sally S. ( McCauley ) W'es- ton. was born May 29, 1818, in Antrim.
WESTON The Weston family was among the early settlers of the New England colonies, and both those who came from England as well as those who came from Scotland, were stanch adherents of the Presbyterian faith. They were brave and enterprising. and were prominent in the various generations. Sutheric Weston was an elder in the Presbyterian Church of Antrim in 1800, and is mentioned in the history of the town as a "faithful, able, and good man."
(V1) David McCauley Weston, grandson of Sutheric Weston, mentioned above, was born in Antrim, New Hampshire, May. 29. 1818. He in- herited the excellent characteristics of perseverance. energy and integrity, which were so distinctive of his ancestors. He was reared in a Christian home, and although not devoting much of his personal at- tention to religious matters until later in life. he was grateful "that he had never fallen into skep- ticism." He was unusually gifted with mental and moral qualities, and these, combined with rare executive ability, enabled him to take a commanding position in every station of life he was called upon to fill. From early childhood he displayed re- markable aptitude as a mechanic, and became ex- ceedingly skilled in making a practical use of his attainments in this direction. He made mechanical art his chosen profession. and held valuable patents in this country and Great Britain. Among them was a machine for drying sugar. which was patented in 1866, which was almost universally adopted in this country, and extensively used in Great Britain, iv-3
France, Germany, and other sugar producing coll- tries. This invention has never, up to the present time, been superseded by any other. The same principle which was applied to it was also developed in his "laundry machine," "salt machine." and "cream separator." lle has added considerably to the wealth of the world, and many are now reaping the results of his labor and genius. His charities were many and unostentatious, and always wisely directed. Among them, the one in which he took the deepest personal interest, and to which he de- voted a great part of his time and attention, was the "Northfield Seminary." With the laying of the corner-stone of "East Hall" his interest was aroused toward this undertaking and it never wavered until his last and most munificent gift toward a perma- nent fund for its support. He built and furnished "Weston Jlall," which stands among the school buildings at East Northfield, and is a fitting monu- ment to his memory. A still more fitting tribute is the living memorials in the hearts and minds of those who go forth from this institution to fill places of responsibility in the world and bear witness to the glorious gospel of the Son of God. In earlier life Mr. Weston had spent much time in travel, and introduced his inventions personally in various coun- tries. He spent considerable time in the Sandwich Islands. After his return he became greatly inter- ested in the religious movements of which D. L. Moody was the head, and became an interested worker in the evangelistic work of the Tabernacle. A new world seemed to have opened before him, and from day to day he grew more and more into the stature of a perfect man in Christ Jesus. From that time he sought the society of Christian people. and in the sanctuary, Sabbath school and meeting found the rest and recreation which his soul craved. He was devoted to the teachings of Moody. and at- tached to him personally by a sincere and lasting affection. He contributed liberally of his time and money to home and foreign missions, churches, schools, ministers and students. He supported a missionary in Boston and another in northern New England, and his last act was the generous gift to the Northfield schools. His death occurred, April 27, 1800, and many were the tributes of respect paid to his memory, among them being: Resolutions adopted by the American Tool and Machine Com- pany, Boston, May 8. 1800; resolutions adopted by the trustees of Northfield Seminary at their annual meeting, held June 9, 1800; resolutions adopted by the teachers and students of Northfield Seminary, East Northfield. May 8, 1890: a letter from H. E. Sawyer, of Mount Hermon School, May 8, 1890: resolutions adopted by the faculty and students of Mount Hermon School; resolutions adopted by the Evangelistic Association of New England. Boston, Massachusetts, May 21, 1890; resolutions adopted hy the executive committee of the City Missionary Society, Boston, May 12, 1890; letter from D. L. Moody, April 28. 1800; letter from Mrs. D. L. Moody, October 2, 1890; letter from Rev. A. T. Pierson, D. D., July 22, 1890; and many other testi- monials of respect and affection. Of Mr. Weston it may well be said that a noble life is ended, a nobler life begun. He served his generation well, and entered into that rest and reward which await- all those who are found faithful.
YOUNG
Is an English cognomen first bestowed on its bearer to distinguish him from someone older having the same
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christian name, the name becoming a fixture in the next and succeeding generations without reference to its original signification. The Youngs both in England and in America are from different for- bears-but how many is not known. The family written of in this article have been so far as known almost without exception tillers of the soil, hardy, industrions, energetic, worthy. and upright men, whose lives were spent in contributing something of value to the world's great stock. Many of them have been church members, and all had the respect and confidence of their neighbors. Five succeeding generations of this branch of the Young family have lived on the same farm, situated about two miles west of Province Pond, in Effingham. The house built by the early settler still stands. The frame, heavy and strong, is covered with wide pine boards hewed smooth with an adze and fas- tened perpendicularly to the frame with hand forged nails. On both the nails and the boards the blows of the artisan's tools are still visible.
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