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. IV, Part 22

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: 878

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. IV > Part 22

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(II) John, second son and third child of Thomas and Sarah Wheeler, was born February 18. 1655, in Concord, and there resided and died September 27, 1713. He was married, December 27, 1678, to Sarah Stearns, who was born January 14, 1662, daughter of Isaac and Sarah (Beers) Stearns, of Lexington. Their children were: Josepli, Eben- ezer, Thankful, John, Sarah, Abigail, Thomas, Jona- than and Nathan.

(IH) Jonathan, fifth son and eighth child of John and Sarah ( Stearns) Wheeler, was born April 19, 1696, in Concord, and lived there until after his children were born. About 1745 he removed to Sutton, Massachusetts, where "After long weakness he died July 10, 1779, aged about 84." His wife's name was Sarah and their children were residents of Sutton, namely : Rebecca, Sarah, Nathaniel, Han- nah, Olive, Jane, Milicent, Jonathan and Abel.

(IV) Nathaniel, eldest son and third child of Jonathan and Sarah Wheeler, was born February 5, 1724, in Concord, and removed in youth to Sutton. He lived in that town ten or more years after his marriage, and probably died there in 1756. He was married in Sutton, December 29, 1748, to Han- nah Marsh, who was born October 9, 1729, in Sutton, daughter of John and Abigail Marslı, of Bellingham, Massachusetts. Their children were : Sarah, John, Nathaniel and Seth. The widow of Nathaniel (1) Wheeler married, June 26, 1759, Simeon Chamberlain, of Sutton, by whom she had three children : Simeon, John and Abigail. She died January 8, 1791.

(V) Nathaniel (2), second son and third child of Nathaniel (1) and Hannah (Marsh) Wheeler, was born April 10, 1754, in Sutton, Massachusetts, and was twenty-two years of age when with his younger brother he left the family home in Sutton

and made his way into the wilderness regions of Sullivan county. Thy settled in Croydon a little more than ten years after the town was chartered and less than ten years after the first settlement under the charter had been made. By reason of his long connection with the church in Croydon Nathaniel was known as Deacon Wheeler. He married, in 1774, Mehitabel Haven, daughter of James Haven, Jr., of Framingham, Massachusetts. She was born October 23, 1756, and died March I, 1831. They had nine children. He died July 2, 1840, at the age of eighty-seven years. flis name is mentioned in the Croydon records as a soldier of the Revolution, and the church records show that he was chiefly instrumental in building the once flourishing church at Northville, in the town of Newport, of which he was a worthy member and deacon for many years. He was decided in his religious views, and of his time and means gave liberally to the support of the church and the work of the gospel. The children were: Hannah, Mchit- able, Nathaniel, John, Simeon, Abigail, James, Sarah and Anna.

(V) Deacon Seth, youngest son of Nathaniel Wheeler, of Sutton, and brother of Deacon Na- thaniel Wheeler, of Croydon, came with his brother to the town in 1775 and settled on what in later years became known as the M. C. Bartlett farm. lfe afterward located at Dryden, New York, and died there.

(VI) Colonel Nathaniel (3), son of Deacon Nathaniel (2) and Mehitabel (Haven) Wheeler, was born May 10, 1781, and died July 13, 1864. He married Huldah Whipple, daughter of Aaron Whipple, and granddaughter of Moses Whipple, the latter of whom was born in Grafton, Massachusetts, and came to Croydon in 1766, with his three sons- Thomas, Aaron and Moses, and one daughter, Jerusha. He was one of the first three settlers in Croydon. Huldah (Whipple) Wheeler died in 1833, leaving seven children, and after her death Colonel Wheeler married Lucy F. Freeman, of Lebanon, New Hampshire, whom he survived only a short time. There were no children of his second mar- riage. Colonel Wheeler's farming operations were extensive and his lands and stock always were well cared for and in good condition. For many years he kept one of the largest and best dairies in the town, which was noted for the number and quality of its dairying interests. He took an active part in military and political affairs, and in the war of 1812 was the first man in the town to volunteer as a private, although at that time he held a com- mission. In the state militia he was subjected to successive promotion until he had in 1817 obtained the colonelcy of the Thirty-first New Hampshire Regiment. He first clected selectman of Croydon in 1815 and served in that office eight years. and in 1816 he represented his town in the general assembly. For more than fifty years he was a Free and Accepted Mason. He had lived at Lebanon, New Ilampshire, several years after retiring from active pursuits and died in that town. Colonel Wlecler's seven children were: Griswold W., Anna, William P., Edmund, Morrill, John and Lucy P.

(VII) Griswold Whipple, eldest son of Colonel Nathaniel and Huldah ( Whipple) Wheeler, was born in Croydon, New Hampshire, February 22, 1808, and died June 7, 1865. He was educated at Kimball Union Academy, studied medicine with Dr. Willard P. Gibson, of Newport, New Hampshire, and graduated from the medical department of Dart- month University with the degree of M. D. After

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spending about one year at Hopkinton, New Hamp- shire, and a year at Covington, Kentucky, he settled at Perryville, the county seat of Perry county, Missouri, and for the next twenty-five years was the leading man of his profession in all that region. While attending to his professional duties lie found time to master the German and French languages, and gave much attention to the natural sciences, especially chemistry, geology and botany, to which he was passionately devoted. His clear and logical mind and love of study and observation, combined with his great industry, gave him a high standing as a professional and scientific man. His attachment to country life was so strong that no inducement could prevail upon him to remove to the city, and he declined a professorship in the St. Louis Medical College. Dr. Wheeler never married. A large share of his time and of his earnings was devoted to deeds of benevolence.

( VII) William Plummer, son of Colonel Na- thaniel and Huldah (Whipple) Wheeler, was born in Croydon, New Hampshire, July 31, 1812, and died May 10, 1876. He lived at home on the Wheeler farm in the south part of the town until he was about thirteen years old, and then went to live with his uncle, James Wheeler, in Newport. He re- mained there until about 1836, and after the death of his uncle was for a time engaged in business as a harness maker. He pursued his studies in the academy at Newport and afterward attended Kim- ball Union Academy, remaining there about three years, then took up the study of law, first at Keene, New Hampshire, later at Harvard Law School, and still later in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1842 he was admitted to practice in the courts of New Hampshire, and soon afterward opened an office for general practice in Keene. He was a member of the Cheshire county bar until the time of his death. He was solicitor for Cheshire county ten years, and in 1851 was appointed justice of the court of common pleas, which he declined, and afterward was several times offered a seat on the bench of the supreme court, which honor he as often declined, preferring the general practice of the courts. In 1855 and again in 1857 he was a candidate for congress in the third district of New Hampshire. He was a trustee of the State Reform School and also of the State Agricultural College. In the latter institution he took a deep interest, and it was largely through his efforts that that institution was located at Hanover and made a department of Dartmouth University. At the time of his death Mr. Wheeler was president of the Keene Savings Bank, and was prominent among those who organized the Protes- tant Episcopal Church of Keene. He received the degree of A. M. from Dartmouth in 1842, and the honorary degree of LL. D. from Harvard University in 1850. He married, November 19, 1849, Saralı D. Moulton, of Randolph. Vermont, born March 4. 1825. Their children were Alice and William Wheeler.

(VII) Edmund, third son of Colonel Nathaniel (3) and Huldah (Whipple) Wheeler, was born in Croydon, New Hampshire, August 28, 1814, and died in Newport, New Hampshire, August 21, 1897. His education was acquired at Kimball Union Academy, and in 1833, after leaving school, he went from Croydon to Newport, where he entered the employ of his brother William who was a harness maker and dealer in saddlery. After six years of this association William sold his interest in the business to his brother and turned his attention to the profession of law; and Edmund from 1839

to 1866 carried on the business alone, and in partnership association with Granville Pollard, until 1866, and then retired to devote his attention to literary pursuits. In 1867 he published the "Croydon Centennial," a work of nearly two hundred pages including a short history of the town of Croydon, its settlers and its centennial celebration. In 1878 he issued his "History of Newport," a six hundred page volume in which is reviewed the history of that town from the time of its settlement in 1766 to the year of publication, with an appendix of valu- able genealogical records. In 1870 and 1871 Mr. Wheeler was contributor to the Granite State Journal and Aurora of the Valley, and in 1872 a regular contributor to the columns of the Boston Advertiser. In this connection it is interesting to note that in 1878 a large number of citizens of Croydon, his native town, entered Mr. Wheeler's residence in Newport, and with speeches and other ceremonies appropriate to tlie occasion, presented him with an elegant gold-headed cane as a token of respect and an appreciation of his services as the historian of that town.

For many years Mr. Wheeler was' a conspicuous figure in the political history of Sullivan county, and incidentally of the state of New Hampshire. At one time he was an adjutant in the state militia, and for two years a member of the staff of Gov- ernor Williams. He took an active interest in the movement to maintain the old state militia system, which was abandoned just before the outbreak of the Civil war. He was a member of the state legis- lature in 1851 and again in 1852. During the session of the year last mentioned he was chairman of the committee on incorporations and a member of several important special committees, and also took an active part in the discussion of all leading measures before the house. In 1863-64 he was a candidate for the office of county treasurer, and in 1878 a candidate for a seat in the state senate. Locally he was a director of the Sugar River Bank and of the First National Bank of Newport, an earnest friend of education and a firm advocate of the union of the Newport village schools under a single head. He was a member of the board of the Union School District several years after its organization in 1874, and later on was president of the Newport board of education, and for years a member of its school board. The formation of the district suggested by him the new town hall of 1872; he also originated from material removed in erecting "Wheeler's Block" in 1858-59, a better- ment of the village sidewalks, and' suggested the naming of the village streets in 1875 by a com- mittee of which he was a member, and the improve- ment made in the original cemetery of the town by James Buell. Many of the leading incidents in the literary, political and social life of Newport. though carried into effect largely by others, found their inception in him. He gave largely to the intro- duction of the telegraph and railroad to the town, and to industrial and other enterprises intended for its welfare. He was one of the board of trustees of the Newport Savings Bank.

Mr. Wheeler married (first), September 21, 1851, Susan Chittenden Rossiter, of Claremont, New Hampshire, born May 2, 1819, died March 2, 1856, daughter of Sherman and Olive ( Baldwin) Rossiter, of Claremont (see Rossiter). Married (second), June 25, 1863, Augusta L. Sawyer (see Sawyer), born August 31, 1839, died March 25, 1886, daugh- ter of Joseph Sawyer, Jr., of Newport, New Hamp- shire. By his first marriage Mr. Wheeler had one

Im Ploterles.

Edmund Wheeler.

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son, George Baldwin, born Newport, February 4, 1854, a practical printer and newspaper man, now one of the publishers of the New Hampshire Argus and Spectator. By his second marriage Mr. Wheeler had two daughters, Grace, born November 10, 1867, died December 28, 1870, and Anna L., March 8, 1872, died August 5, 1872.

is an ancient occupative surname

WHEELER corresponding to wheelwright, and designated the person who made wheels. Its use as a surname probably dates from the fifteenth century, perhaps earlier.

(I) Whitcher Wheeler was born about 1774, probably in Goffstown, where he was a farmer. He married Lydia Cheney, and they had nine children : Joseph, Sallie, Lydia, Dolly, Susan, Jane, Lavinia, Betsey and George W., whose sketch follows.

(II) George Washington Wheeler was born in Goffstown, where he acquired the schooling then and there furnished in the common schools. When a young man he went to Bow where he resided for the remainder of his life, and pursued the voca- tions of carpenter and farmer. When twenty-eight years old he built the Methodist Church at Bow Bogg, which is still standing. He married Betsey Morgan, a native of Bow, and they had twelve chil- dren : John, Daniel, Allen, Jesse, Cyrus C., Eli, Susan M., Rufus H., Oliver, Wesley L .. Ann and Asenath. The first four were born in Dunbarton, the next three in Goffstown, and the others in Bow. (III) Cyrus Colby, fifth son and child of George W. and Betsey (Morgan) Wheeler, was born July . 6, 1839, in Dunbarton, and educated in the public schools of Bow. When a young man he joined his brothers, Rufus H. and Oliver, who had preceded him, and engaged in the general mer- chandise business in Shelly, Michigan. In 1849 he gave up that employment and returned to Bow and bought a farm of seventy acres which he still resides upon, and is engaged in raising various kinds of fruit for market. He is a Republican in politics, and has served three years since 1898 as selectman, one year as chairman. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married Myra Julette, and they have one child, Florence, born February 24, 1874. She married Samuel Sar- gent and lives in Bow (see Sargent, IX).

(III) Wesley Luther, tenth child and seventh son of George W. and Betsey (Morgan) Wheeler, was born in Bow, December 3, 1849. He attended school in Bow, and at Pembroke Academy. His whole life has been spent in Bow, residing on a farm of three hundred acres near Bow Centre, where he was engaged until 1905, then moving to Bow Mills, where he has since lived, directing the cultivation of his farm from there. Besides at- tending to his agricultural tasks he has done team- ing and at different times has worked about saw mills. Since his removal to Bow Mills his sister Susan M. has resided with him. Mr. Wheeler is a man of sterling character and progressive ideas, a good farmer and reputable citizen. He is a mem- ber of Bow Grange, No. 189, and of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

This family name is not among WHEELER those of the grantees of New Ips- wich, 1749, nor on the ministers' rate for the year 1763, yet in 1774 the list of taxpay- crs shows the names of John Wheeler. Jonas Wheeler, Jonas Wheeler, Jr., and Seth Wheeler.

(I) Samuel Wheeler was a private on the pay

roll of Captain Stephen Parker's company, in Colonel Moses Nichol's regiment, and General Stark's brigade of New Hampshire militia, which company marched from New Ipswich (and joined the Continental army under General Gates at Still- water) July 19, 1777. This company was actively engaged throughout the day at the battle of Ben- nington, August 17, of the same year.

(II) George W., son of Samuel Whceler, was born in New Ipswich, April 8, 1812, and died Janu- ary 30, 1891, aged seventy-nine years. He was a farmer, and devoted considerable attention to dairy- ing, supplying a milk route for fifty years. He was also engaged in the manufacture of potash. He married, December 4, 1834. Elvira Blanchard, who was born in New Ipswich, July 21, 1814, and died there January 3, 1876, aged sixty-two years, daughter of Levi and Hannah ( Blanchard) Blanchard. Two children were born of this union: Clara E., who married George T. Raymond, now a resident of Florida ; and George S., whose sketch follows.

(III) George Samuel, only son of George W. and Elvira (Blanchard) Wheeler, was born in New Ipswich, April 30, 1840. His education was ob- tained in the common schools of the locality and New Ipswich Appleton Academy. On the death of his father he became the possessor of the old homestead where he makes a specialty of raising poultry and bees, and is also engaged in the milk business. He has made farming profitable, and in addition to his New Hampshire farm has an orange grove in southern Florida where he spends his winters.

Several families of this name settled WHEELER in New Ipswich, some before the Revolution, and others at later periods. Those who first made their homes here were probably of the same family stock.

(I) Richard (2), son of Richard (I) Wheeler, was born about 1792 in New Ipswich, and died 1882, aged ninety years. He was a thrifty tiller of the soil, a member of the Congregational Church, and a man of influence in his neighborhood. He mar- ried Rebecca Wilson, died 1882, daughter of Supply and Susannah ( Cutter) Wilson, of New Ipswich. Her father was born in Woburn, Massachusetts, in 1750, and in 1769 settled in New Ipswich, where in 1777 he married the widow of John Cutter. Seven children were born of this union; sons were: Jo- seph A., Augustus C., Charles and George H.

(II) Charles, son of Richard (2) and Rebecca (Wilson) Wheeler, was born in New Ipswich. Oc- tober 27, 1832. He grew up on his father's farm, and resided there until he was twenty-five years of age. He then commenced to operate a saw and grist mill on the branch of the Souhegan river, which he has ever since continuously carried on. Since 18- his two sons, Charles and Edward, have been associated with him in the business. He also cultivates a farm. Mr. Wheeler is a man of plea- sant address, has always been highly respected in the community in which he has spent his entire life, and has been honored with various official po- sitions. For twenty-four years he has been a mem- ber of the Congregational Church, and ten years of that time he has been one of its deacons. He was first elected selectman in 1866 and between that time and the present (1907) has filled that office seventeen years. He was elected to the legislature in 18SI and in 1901.

He married, August 20, 1862, Nellie E. Shepperd, who was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, daugh-

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ter of Hiram, Jr., and Elizabeth Shepherd. Two children were born of this union: Charles S. and Edward R.

The Gove family was very early in New

GOVE Hampshire, being located at Hampton, and was subsequently numerously rep- resented in the town of Weare. It was first planted in Massachusetts, and has supplied many useful citizens of this and other states, the descendants of those residing in New Hampshire. being widely scattered throughout the country by this time. Its associations are honorable and its record worthy of emulation. It is an ancient name, being found in the state papers in London as early as 1541, and is common in some parts of England at the present time.

(I) The American founder of the family, John Gove, was born, 1601, in England, and was an early resident of Charlestown, Massachusetts, arriving there some time before April 28, 1646. His wife Sarah was also born in 1601, and accompanied him. He was a dealer and worker in brass, as appears by his will and schedule of personal property. He must have died in middle life, as his wife subse- quently married John Mansfield and removed to Lynn, Massachusetts. where he died. She died in Hampton, New Hampshire, March 4, 1681, aged eighty years. Her children were: John, Edward and Mary.

(II) Edward, second son of John and Mary Gove, was born in England in 1630, and came with his parents to Massachusetts. He resided in Salis- bury, Massachusetts, as early as 1657, and pur- chased a right of commonage there. He sold his land and settled in Hampton, New Hampshire, in 1665. and was a prominent citizen of that town. In 1683 he was a member of the assembly which was dissolved by Governor Cramfield. The disso- lution of the assembly created much resentment among the the people of New Hampshire, and Gove headed a movement to overthrow the government. This he surrendered without bloodshed, and with ten others, including his son John, was tried for treason and convicted. He received a sentence of death, and his estate was seized as forfeit to the crown, the others being pardoned. Gove was sent to England, and was kept a prisoner for three years in the Tower of London, after which he was par- doned and his estate restored to him in 1686. He was the progenitor of a numerous family. He was married, about 1660, to Hannah, daughter of Wil- liam and Johanna (Bartlett) Titcomb, of Newbury, Massachusetts, formerly of North Banks. England. He resided in Salisbury, Massachusetts, as early as 1657, when he bought a right of commonage there. He sold land there in 1665, and moved to Hampton, New Hampshire. In March, 1665, while still liv- ing in Salisbury, he bought of Eliakim Wardwell a dwelling house and about thirty acres of land in Hampton, "with one share in the Cowe Comons," also a grant of fourscore acres of land at the New Plantation, with the privileges thereto belonging. He died, May 21, 1691. His children were: John. William, Hannah, Mary, Abial, Penuel, Abigail, Eb- enezer, Edward, Jeremiah, Rachel, Ann and Sarah. (Ebenezer and descendants receive extended men- tion in this article).

(III) John (2), eldest child of Edward and Hannah (Titcomb) Gove, was born September 19. 1661, in Salisbury, Massachusetts, and died in Hampton about 1737. He was a joiner by trade, and was among the petitioners for a church and school to be established at Hampton Falls, soon af-

ter the settlement of that parish. He was among those convicted of treason on account of the Gove Rebellion, and subsequently pardoned and restored to citizenship, in April, 1686. He settled in Sea- brook. The Christian name of his wife was Sarah, and their children were: Mary, John, Hannah, Jonathan and Sarah.

(IV) John (3), eldest son of John (2) and Sarah Gove. was born May 29, 1689, in Hampton Falls, and died March 23, 1759. He was married, March 24, 1720, to Ruth, second daughter of Ed- mund and Abigail (Green) Johnson. She was born February 24, 1695, and died in 1737, in Hampton Falls. Their children were: Edward, Daniel, Oba- diah, Ruth, Jonathan, David and Patience. Ed- ward and Daniel settled in Seabrook. Obadiah in Kingston, and Jonathan and David are supposed to have settled in Enfield, New Hampshire. (Oba- diah and David and descendants receive notice in this article).

(V) Daniel, second son and child of John (3) and Ruth (Johnson) Gove, was born May 8, 1722, in Hampton, and lived in that part of the town now Seabrook. He died there August 23, 1761, aged thirty-nine years. He married Rebecca Hunt, and their children were: Stephen, Daniel. Johnson (died young), David, Johnson and Edmond.

(VI) Daniel (2). second son and child of Dan- iel (I) and Rebecca (Hunt) Gove, was born March 3, 1749, in Hampton. He came to Weare in 1773 and began to clear lands for the preparation of a farm. He spent two summers here, and in the spring of the third year removed to Weare, where he lived the remainder of his life. He died in 1786. His house was built on the hill east of the Friends meeting house, on lot 32. He married Miriam Cartland. Their children were: Moses, Levi, Ly- dia, Eunice, Daniel Peletiah, Joseph, Enoch and Mi- riam.

(VII) Daniel (3), third son and fifth child of Daniel (2) and Miriam (Cartland) Gove, was born April 12. 1783, in Weare, and passed his life in that town. He lived for some time at Clinton Grove, and afterwards on lot 72 in range 2. He was a tanner and shoemaker by occupation. He died April 25, 1869. He married Elizabeth Paige, daugh- ter of Eliphalet and Rachel (Chase) Paige of Weare. She was born in 1788, and died 1874. Their children were: Eliza, Paige E., Richard and Alvalı.

(VIII) Paige Enoch, eldest son and second child of Daniel (3) and Elizabeth (Paige) Gove, was born February 22, 1818, in Weare, where he passed his life. He was an attendant at the common schools of his town, afterwards attended the Friends' School at Providence, Rhode Island, from which he was graduated and he early began the trade of shoemaker from his father. For some years he worked at this in Weare, then went to Lynn, Massachusetts, where he was employed in a shoeshop, continuing for several years. He re- turned to Weare and engaged in farming, and also continued work at his trade for intervals, and so continued until his death, which occurred August 24. 1893, in Manchester. He was an earnest Re- publican, and held several minor town offices. He married (first) Clarissa Twiss, (second), Mary P. Peaslee. and (third), Harriet Moody. His first wife was the mother of two daughters : Angeline E., who became the wife of Augustus W. Collins. of Weare, and Abbie E., who died young. The children of the second wife were: Edwin, (died young). Clara V .. became the wife of Charles Pike, of Lowell, Massachusetts ; died November 21,

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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. IV, Part 22

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: 878

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: 878