History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 148

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1200

USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 148
USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 148

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Uncle Ike Robie, a brother of Samuel Robie, came to the town in its early days. He was never married, was a tanner by trade, and had a small tannery on the shores of Station Pond, on land now owned by Levi F. Hill. He died about 1823.

SANBORN .- Reuben Sanborn, of Sandown, came

to town prior to 1790; married Sarah Worthen, a native of Chester. They were the parents of ten children, viz. : Nabby, who married Moses Elkins, Jr., and moved to Norwich, Vt. One of their sons, James F. Elkins, was the first superintendent of the Boston, Concord and Montreal Railroad. David W. followed a seafaring life several years; then engaged in mercantile business in New York City; afterwards moved to Newfane, Vt., married, and one of his sons, Myron Sanborn, was a high bailiff in Montreal at the time of his death. Dolly married Ezekiel Johnson, of Enfield, and after- wards moved to Vermont. Sally married Joseph Wright, of Thetford, Vt. Thomas S. married, moved to Canada, and was drowned there many years ago. Reuben, Jr., educated at Harvard College and at Old Andover, Mass., was a Presby- terian clergyman; lived and died in Painted Post, N. Y .; he married Mary A. Wood, daughter of Rev. Joseph Wood, Windsor, N. Y. Betsy mar- ried George Harlow, of Cornish, lived many years, and died in Grantham, raising a large family. Polly married William Quimby, and both died in Norwich, Vt., where they had lived and reared a large family. Richard, commonly known as Colonel Sanborn, born in 1797, lived here contin- ually, and died in 1875. He married Alice S. Collins, who survived him seven years, a daughter of Enos Collins. There were born to them Thomas Henry, who died at five years of age; Richard F., who married Minerva Collins; she died in this town. Afterwards, said Richard F. married Helen Hateh, of Grafton, and now resides in Ashland, N. H.

Henry T., now living in town, and representing said town in the New Hampshire Legislature, 1885. He has always lived in town, except two years in Haverhill, Mass., and served in the Union army of the " great Rebellion" three years, till the close of the war. He married Mary J. Sanborn, of Painted Post, N. Y.

Reuben C., married Martha A., daughter of Rev. Timothy Cole. After her death he mar- ried Marion C. Cole, of Whitefield, who now re- sides at Lake village ; said Reuben died in 1879.

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SPRINGFIELD.

He was in trade in Haverhill, Mass., nine years, and clerk in the Cole Manufacturing Company, Lake Village, N. H., twenty years, just prior to his death.

Abna J. married, first, Martha A. Kelsey, of New York ; second, Esther J. Knowles, of Epsom, N. H. ; third, Martha Evans, of Derry, N. H. He is now living with his third wife in Manchester, N. H.

Lydia A. married Albert H. Davis, descendant of Thomas Davis, one of the first settlers. They are now living in Lake village, N. H.

Robert married Esther, daughter of Enos Collins ; moved to Sharon, Vt., some fifty years ago. Only one child survives him, -Hon. Nathaniel C. San- born, photographer, of Lowell, Mass. 'Two chil- dren were buried in infancy, in Springfield; and David W. served during the War of the Rebellion, and died in Sharon, Vt James served in a Mass- achusetts regiment, died in Lowell, Mass., and buried at Warner, N. H., the residence of his wife. Sarah Alice married Geo. F. Heath, of Sharon, Vt., descendant of Ezekiel Heath, of Springfield, N. H. ; she died several years ago.

Jonathan Sanborn, of Kingston, married Betty. Smith in 1786. They lived and died where Jona- than Sanborn now lives. Their children were Susanna Liza, Israel, Joseph, Jonathan, Reuben, Abram, Marsa, Smith, George W. and Jasper. Israel Sanborn married -- Goss, and had six children,-Stephen Colcord; Betsy; Lydia J., who married Jeremiah Philbrick ; Keziah, who married Chas. D. Sargent, now living in New London ; Rhoda, now the wife of Lorenzo Dow, and Jonathan, living on the old homestead, who married Emily Powell. After her death he married Sarah Stocker. Reuben Sanborn died in town. Marsa married, and moved from town. Smith Sanborn and Ma- hala, his wife, lived and died where Jonathan San- born now resides. They had four children, one being the wife of Wm. D. Colby. Jasper built the buildings, and lived opposite where Jonathan Sanborn lives.

Joseph Sanborn, brother of Jonathan, married Abigail Smith in 1797 ; lived where Henry Pat-

ten now lives. They had eight children, and one of them, Chase Sanborn, lived and died on the homestead. His son, John S., now lives in Maine, and his daughter Nancy is the wife of W. H. H. Cowles, ex-sheriff of Sullivan County.

Abraham Sanborn was also among the first set- tlers, having eight children, only one of whom is now living in town, Fifield Sanborn, sixty-three years of age. The others were Hiram, Lavina, Alvin, Emily, Caleb, Clarissa and Ira.

Joseph Webster, or better known as Gov. Web- ster, was a very celebrated potash and pearl-ash maker in his day. Raised a large family of chil- dren, but has no descendants in town now.

SAWYER .-- Stephen and John Sawyer came here from Plaistow, N. H. They were brothers to Mrs. Ebenezer Noyes, and first settled on the Sam. Col- by place. Sawyer Hill took its name from them. Not any descendants here.

DAVIS. - Thomas Davis was born in Kingston, in 1767 ; married Sally Johnson and settled in the north part of town about 1800. They had four sons and two daughters. Their son Moses lived in town, and died when sixty-five years old, leav- ing three sons and a daughter, who is still living here, being the wife of James T. Colby.

MUZZEY .- John and Hannah Muzzey lived where Mrs. Abigail Johnson now lives. He was a blacksmith, having ten children. Hannah mar- ried Mardin Gross, now living in New London. Their son Sylvanus is the only descendant living in town.

PILLSBURY -Moses Pillsbury, born in 1771, married Hepsibah Greenough, September 26, 1794. Their children were Patty, Ezra, Greeno, Elizabeth, Jefferson, Lewis, Charles, Phebe, Moses and Betsy. Patty married James Boyce. Ezra married Ann Philbrick ; they have only one descendant living, J. B. S. Pillsbury, here in town. Greeno Pillsbury married Polly Stevens ; only one descendant, Lev- itt S., who now lives in town. Jefferson married, first, Eliza Colby ; after her death married Eastman, and lives in Enfield. Lewis married and died in Enfield. Charles married Lovina Clifford and had five children ; only one remains in town,

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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Francis B. Pillsbury, who married Naomi Sargent. Phebe married Joseph Burpee and lives in Grant- ham. Moses married - Green and lives in Grantham.

BEAN .- Daniel and Betty Bean, we find, were the parents of eleven children. One son, Moses, lived and died in town, and of his descendants here are Mrs. C. H. Melendy and Mrs. Wm. M. Powers.

HARDY .- Nicholas Hardy and wife, who were among the pioneers had five children,-Benjamin, Biley, John, Susan and Samuel. . Biley married a Miss Judkins and had six children ; no descend- ant in town except Mrs. J. C. Severance. John lived and died in town, having three children living now in town,-Mrs. Moses Bean, Nicholas G. Hardy and John F. Hardy.

STEVENS. - Two brothers, John and Samuel Ste- vens, settled on Philbrick Hill. Samuel lived and died where Joseph Colcord now lives. His chil- dren were named Polly, Hannah, Mehitable, Sam- uel, Betsy, Rhoda and Smith. Polly married Samuel Hoyt, of this town and had two children, -- Alvin who married Diantha Gilman ; and Amy, who was deaf and dumb. Mehitable married John Brown, of Grantham. Samuel, Jr., married Anna Johnson, March 30, 1825 ; they had two children. He died in town in 1830, after which she married - Fisher and moved to Grantham, where she is living at the age of ninety years. Betsy married John Nichols. They lived and died in town. Rhoda married Joseph Richardson. He died in town and she is now living with her son Willard, in Lowell, Mass. Smith Stevens married Maria Colby, having several children, none now living in town. John Stevens, born in Kingston in 1774, and Anna Judkins, born in Deerfield in 1777, were married in 1795. They had eight children,-Dolly, Sally, Polly, Peter, Almina, Prentis, Daniel Noyes and Eliza. None of their descendants are now in town. Prentis Stevens married Hannah Gross, of this town.

Reuben Stevens came from Plaistow and settled in this town. He has carried a bushel of corn to be ground to Salisbury, twenty miles and back, in a

day. He had seven children,-Jonathan, Reuben, Jr., James, Enoch, Sarah, Polly and Bathsheba. James died young, and Enoch was the youngest of the family and married Elizabeth, daughter of Jeremiah Quimby, and had a large family, -- Samuel, Reuben, Jeremiah, Mehitable, Hannah, Jacob, Sally, Margaret Smith, Enoch S. and Eliza.

Samuel married, first, Elizabeth Webster, of Kingston ; second, S. Silloway. They had four children,-Henry W., now lives in Grafton ; Sarah Jane, died aged twenty-seven years; Mary E., married John Gilman, who died at Washing- ton, D. C., of wounds. She still lives in town. Horace W. Stevens married, first, Juline Pres- cott, of Grafton ; second, Caroline Gove, of Wil- mot ; they now live in town. Samuel died in 1883; Reuben died in 1866.

Jeremiah married, first, Nancy Quimby ; second, Mrs. Phebe Jeffers Sanders,-still living at the age of eighty-five. Mehitable married, first, Jepthah Russell ; second, Asa F. Pillsbury; now living in town.

Hannah died. Jacob left four children,- Frances, Enoch, Mrs. Westley Bailey and Mrs. Russell Kidder ; now live in town.

Sally married Barnard C. Stevens.

Margaret S. married Jonathan C. Currier.

Enoch S. died when thirteen years old.

Eliza married Sargent Heath ; they have seven children now living.

From the records of April 1, 1885, we find the selectmen assess taxes on twenty four thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven acres of land, and the total valuation of the town, as by them ap- praised, is one hundred and fifty-four thousand six hundred and forty-two dollars.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

DANIEL NOYES ADAMS.

There is probably no name in American history fraught with more of interest to the student of our

Daniel N. Adams

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SPRINGFIELD.

institutions, progress and political annals than that of Adams.

We have not been able to obtain indisputable data connecting Mr. D. N. Adams with the illus- trious family of Quincy, Mass., bearing that cognomen, which has furnished us two chief rulers ; but all the facts we have been able to obtain point to that conclusion.

John Adams, grandfather of Daniel N., was a native of Rowley, Mass., and was one of the pioneer settlers of the town of New London, N. H., whither he came about 1780, having pur- chased a tract of land a mile square. He was one of the sturdy yeomanry of the land, and possessed, in an eminent degree, those sterling qualities of body and mind so necessary to those who spent their lives battling with the privations of the wilderness, to pave the way to the development and superior civilization which was to follow.

Solomon Adams, the father of Daniel N., was also a native of Rowley, Mass., and came to New London with his father. He was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, and, after the close of the War, was captain of a company of State militia. His wife was Mary Sargent.

Daniel Noyes Adams was born in New London, N. H., September 12, 1803. His boyhood was .spent on the farm. When about eighteen years of age he went to Massachusetts, where he remained about a year ; returning to his native town, he clerked in a store a short time, when, determining to embark in mercantile pursuits for himself, he came to Springfield, N. H. (1825), and, in com- pany with Emory Woodman, began merchandiz- ing near where his pre:ent store stands. From that time to the present he has been constantly engaged in that channel of trade, though not to the exclusion of other interests. After two years Mr. Woodman sold his interest to Dr. Joseph Nichols. This partnership continued seven or eight years, when Dr. Nichols retired, and a year or two later Levi Richardson became a partner with Mr. Adams, and so continued six or seven years. Since that time Mr. Adams has been alone. In addition to store-keeping, Mr. Adams

has also been interested in hotel-keeping and farming. In 1841 he purchased a farm and tavern in Springfield; the latter he conducted many years, until the railroad was built to West Andover and the tide of travel turned; later on he sold the farm. He at one time owned an interest in the grist-mill at Springfield, and has done more or less lumber business. Mr. Adams' business life has been crowned with success. He has been untiring in his energy, systematic in his methods and honorable in his dealings, and, while he has won a well-deserved competence, he has also won that greater boon, -- the sincere respect and esteem of those among whom his life has been spent. The respect in which he is held by his fellow-townsmen is amply evidenced by the fact that he has been so often chosen to the various positions of office and trust within their gift. He was elected selectman very soon after his settle- ment in Springfield, and has held that office a great many years since. Also that of town clerk, and, in fact, every office in the town repeatedly. He was representative to the State Legislature in 1841, '42 and '48, and again in 1876. He was county road commissioner in 1847 and '48, and was State senator in 1850 and '51. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention for the revision of the laws of New Hampshire, 1876.

In political creed he has always been a staunch Democrat, and has been a member of the Baptist Church of New London since his sixteenth year.

In his younger days he was much interested in militia matters, and was captain of a militia com- pany raised and organized in Springfield, and is now the only officer of the company surviving.

He married (1832) Eliza, daughter of Job Williams, of Sunapee. They had three children, as follows:

Susan Augusta, born 1833, graduated at Kim- ball Union Academy, Meriden, N. H., spent several years teaching in the High School in Haverhill, Mass., and in academies at Frances- town, N. H., and Whitehall, N. Y. She married a minister named Lucian Adams, and settled for a time at Petersham, Mass. They then went as

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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

missionaries to Syria, where she died, very much lamented by all who knew her, leaving no issue.

Daniel Hamilton, born 1836, now in company with his father in the store.

Emily Eliza, born 1840, was for a time a teacher in Colby Institute, New London, where she graduated. She married Daniel P. Quimby, and died, leaving no issue.

Mrs. Adams died in 1851.

Mr. Adams married, as his second wife, Calista A., daughter of Joseph and Rhoda S. Richardson, of Springfield (1852). To this marriage there were two children.

Helen Frances, born 1855, married Waldo S. Chase (1875), and died, leaving one child,- Daniel Adams Chase.

Jennie Josephine, born 1858, married Rev. | Lorin Webster, rector of St. Mark's Church, Ash- land, N. H .; they have one son. She was a graduate of the institution, Westfield, Mass.

Mrs. Adams died October, 1860.

Mr. Adams' third and present wife was Mrs. Sophronia Webster (nee Pierce), daughter of June and Sally Pierce, of Claremont. Her first husband was Lorin A. Webster, of Concord, N. H., whom she married 1852. She has one son living, Rev. Lorin Webster, who, as before stated, married Mr. Adams' daughter, Jennie Josephine.

Mr. Adams and Mrs. Webster were married November 26, 1865. By this marriage there is no issue. Mr. Adams has always taken much interest in the matter of education. Having in his own youth been deprived of the advantages of schooling, he determined to afford his children the facilities denied him, and so gave each of his children a liberal education.

Mr. Adams is certainly entitled to much credit for the energy he has displayed and the obstacles he has overcome. The story of his business life has been briefly told, but he has not devoted his life solely to business matters. He studied at home, at night and during leisure moments, and acquired, without the aid of schools a fair educa- tion. He has been, all his life, a great reader, and thus kept himself abrcast of the times and

thoroughly posted on the topics of the day; and, in his declining years, derives much pleasure from his books and papers.

SAMUEL QUIMBY.

Capt. John Quimby came to the town of Spring- field, N. H., at an early date, being among the pioneer residents of that town. He was the father of Gen. John Quimby, who was by trade a carpen- ter and builder, a farmer to some extent, and a man of considerable influence and importance in town. He was twice married,-first, to Mary Bean, of New Grantham. Their children were Samuel, Hannah (died young), Horace, Eri and Lucinda S. Gen. Quimby's second marriage was to Mehi- table March ; they had two children, Mary and Augusta Ann, both now living (1885) in Illinois.

Samuel Quimby was born on what is known as the " Hill Place," near Springfield cemetery, and about a mile from the village. His boyhood and up to the time of his majority was passed on the farm, in the mean time learning the carpenter's trade with his father. When about twenty-one years of age he went to Boston and helped build the dry dock at Charlestown navy-yard. After nine years spent there he went to Norfolk, Va., where for two years he worked at carpentering in the navy-yard at that place. He then returned to his native town, purchased a farm adjacent to the old homestead, and there the remaining years of his life were spent, farming being his chief voca- tion. He, like his ancestors, was much interested in military matters, and served in the State militia. He held repeatedly all the offices of his town,-rep- resented his town in the State Legislature at differ- ent times, was deputy sheriff several years, and in all these positions discharged the duties devolving upon him with the strictest fidelity. He was a man imbued with high principles of honor, far above petty intrigue or subterfuge. His opinions were clearly expressed, and with no doubtful meaning, when occasion required. The e-teem in which he was held by his fellow-townsmen is most amply evidenced by the various and contin-

Samuel Limaby

Levens Howard

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SPRINGFIELD.

ued public trusts which they so repeatedly placed in his hands. In politics he was a Republican.

He married, January 15, 1835, Mary A., daughter of Paul and Sally (Story) Perley, of Springfield. Paul Perley was a native of Box- ford, Mass., but came with his parents when a child to Dunbarton, N. H., where his youth and boyhood were spent. Soon after his marriage with Miss Story he came to Springfield, where he resided till his decease. The Storys are a family whose name occupies a conspicuous place in the annals of New England, and always in honorable connection.

There were three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Quimby,-Amanda M., born January 10, 1837; married Charles MeDaniel, of Springfield (for further mention, see McDaniel's biography in this volume). Daniel P., born Aug. 10, 1839 ; mar- ricd, first, Emily E., daughter of Hon. Daniel N. Adams, of Springfield (see his biography); by this marriage there is no issue. Mrs. Quimby died December 13, 1875. Mr. Quimby married, sec- ond, Etta Huntoon; they have one son, Harvey W., born May 28, 1882. Daniel P. Quimby was elected register of deeds for Sullivan County, March, 1867, which office he held four years. He was also engaged in mercantile business four years under the firm-name of Rawson & Quimby. He was express messenger on the Concord and Clare- mont Railroad ten years, and is now local express agent at Newport, N H., for United States and Canada Express Company, and is chairman of the Board of Selectmen of Newport. Warren S., born Dec. 3, 1846, married Ellen E., daughter of John W. Kenniston, of Andover, N. H. They have two sons, Vivian S. and John W. He is a merchant and resides in Andover.

Samuel Quimby died January 7, 1872.

REV. LEWIS HOWARD.

The name of Howard is another form of Har- vard or Hereward, and is identified with the most brilliant achievements in various departments of knightly and honorable service in England, and

is one of the proudest families in that fair land. We extract the following early trans-atlantic his- tory of the family from Burke's " Heraldic Reg- ister," an English work, valuable for its learning, research and accuracy, and standard authority in family history :

" Howard, Duke of Norfolk. - The illustrious House of Norfolk derives in the male line from William Howard, a learned and reverend judge, of the reign of Edward I., and with him the authentic pedigree commences.

" Dugdale sought in vain amid the mists of remote ages for a clue to the family's earlier origin. The alliance of the judge's descendant, Sir Robert Howard, Knight, with Margaret, elder daughter of Thomas de Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, was the source whence flowed to after generations ' all the blood of all the Howards.' Margaret de Mowbray was great-granddaughter and heiress of Thomas Plantagenet, surnamed Brotherton, eldest son of King Edward I., by Margaret, his second wife, daughter of Philip the Hardy of France. This great alliance may be regarded as the foundation-stone on which was erected the subsequent grandeur of the House of Norfolk; but the brilliant halo which encircles the coronet of the Howards, owes its splendor to the heroic achievements of the successive chiefs on whom its honors devolved. John Howard, Duke of Norfolk, fell at Bosworth manfully adher- ing to Richard III .; his son, the Earl of Surrey, was the hero of Flodden, and the latter's grand- son is ever memorable as the first poet of his age.

" The gentle Surrey loved his lyre ; Who has not heard of Surrey's fame ? His was the hero's soul of fire, And his the bard's immortal name.'

" In more recent times the hereditary gallantry of the race continued to shine conspicuously forth, and to a Howard was reserved the honor of over- throwing the mighty power of Spain, and crush- ing the ' Invincible Armada.'

" In point of mere antiquity there are several nobles who far exceed the Howards. But what family pervades all our national annals with such

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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

frequent mention, and often involved in circum- stances of such intense interest ? As heroes, poets, philosophers, courtiers, patrons of literature, state victims to tyranny, and feudal chiefs, they have been constantly before us for four centuries. ' In the drama of life,' says an eloquent writer, 'they have exhibited every variety of character, good and bad; and a tale of their vices, as well as their virtues, is full of instruction and would excite anxious sympathy or indignant censure No story of romance or tragie drama can exhibit more incidents to enhance attention or move the heart, than would a comprehensive account of this house, written with eloquence and pathos.' On their escutcheon is the motto, 'Sola Virtus Invicta.'"

John Howard, the first American ancestor of the Howards in Plymouth County, Mass., came from England and settled in Duxbury prior to 1643. He came to West Bridgewater in 1651, and was one of its proprietors and original settlers. He took the oath of fidelity here, 1657, was one of the first military officers of Bridgewater, and died in 1700. His descendants still own and live on the place where he first settled ; he always wrote his name Hayward, and so did his descendants till after 1700, and the early town records are con- formable to this spelling ; but for the last century or more it has invariably been written Howard. He kept the first " ordinary," or public-house in the town, and was a man of great strength of character, possessing much influence in the colony. None of the early settlers of Bridgewater has left more tangible results of his existence, nor more descendants ; and if he were permitted to visit the scenes among which his mature life was passed, he would find nothing in the conduct, character or worth of those who have borne his name for more than two centuries, that the grand old Puritan would severely criticise, and much in which he could take just pride.

Rev. Lewis Howard, a descendant of the Puri- tan, John Howard, and the subject of this writing, was born in West Bridgewater, Mass., December 4, 1802. He is the son of Abiel Howard (born

March 28, 1771) and Kezia (Bartlett) Howard (born August 4, 1775). They were married March 12, 1795. Their children were Ianthe, Lewis, Rachel, Susan, Abiel, Nathan, Emma and Cyrus. All but the first two were born in Gran- tham, N. H.

Abiel Howard moved from West Bridgewater to Grantham, N. H., with his wife and two ehil- dren, Ianthe and Lewis, in the winter of 1804. He bought a farm of fifty acres, mostly wooded, with a small, cheap house and a temporary sort of barn, and here, where he first pitched his abode, he resided until his death. The history of pioneer life in New Hampshire has been too frequently written and graphically portrayed to need rep- etition here ; it was a struggle for existence, and Abiel Howard's experience was no exception to the general rule ; but by hard work and frugality he was enabled to rear his family and supply then with the necessities of life. Lewis, being the old- est boy, was very naturally trained in the labors of the farm, and when quite young was able to render efficient aid in the struggle for life which was characteristic of those times. The father, Abiel, was noted for his industry and earnest toil, and was referred to as the standard for honesty in the community. "As honest as Unele Abiel" was an oft-repeated reference in that section ; and it is said that no happier or purer married life ever existed than that of Abiel and Kezia Howard. Abiel died April 7, 1852; Kezia, July 19, 1857.

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History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 148

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis Number of Pages: 1200

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1200