History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 72

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 72
USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 72

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).

1 Now owned by Mrs. Prentiss Foster,

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long life of purity, benevolence and charity, and was called to his fathers April 18, 1848.

JOSIAH BELLOWS, the tenth and youngest of the old family, and a stanch old Roman, was born in 1767, and died in 1846. In his youth- ful days, it is said, he scattered some wild oats, but after he married he toned down into an influential, reliable, good citizen. His vocation was a farmer. He represented the town in the State Legislature in 1809-10 and in 1819, and held many town offices. In his intercourse with the world he was taciturn, and in conver- sation monosyllabic almost to abruptness, which gave strangers a wrong impression of the real man, for he was a kind neighbor and public- spirited citizen. His older son, known as

JOSIAH BELLOWS (3D), was cast in a differ- ent mould from his father, and of more pliable metal. He was loquacious, urbane and yield- ing; he never meddled with the business of other people, yet no man has lived in town in later years that had a greater silent influence. He was engaged in mercantile pursuits more than thirty years: was chosen Representative in 1823, '24, '25 ; captain of militia in 1814; postmaster from 1826 till 1840, when all the mail matter lodged in the town was contained in a box three by two feet, and when the num- ber of inhabitants was larger than at the present time. He also held many offices of honor and trust, both in town and county. He died January 13, 1842. Only one son is now left to represent him, Josiah G., who is now a prac- ticing lawyer in town and esteemed citizen.

HENRY WHITNEY BELLOWS, a great-grand- son of the founder, through Joseph and John, was born in Boston, Mass., June 14, 1814. He graduated at Harvard College in 1832 and com- pleted his divinity studies in 1837. On Janu- ary 2, 1838, he was ordained pastor of " All Saints' Church," in New York City, and held the place till his death, which occurred in Jan- uary, 1882. He was the only Bellows who ever gained a national reputation, and this was accomplished through the United States Sani-

tary Commission as president during the Rebel- lion. He was widely known as a preacher, lec- turer and writer in his own denomination (Uni- tarian) and by others. In 1868-69 he wrote and published two octavo volumes of European travels, entitled "The Old World in its New Face," which will compare most favorably with any work of the kind extant. He contributed largely to the higher publications of the day and was known as a brilliant pulpit orator.

HENRY ADAMS BELLOWS was born Octo- ber 25, 1803, and was the great-grandson also of Colonel Benjamin-through two Josephs. He commenced life poor. He, while a lad, attended an academy at Windsor, Vt., which in those days afforded no better educational advantages than those now had at our common schools. After remaining there a few months he entered the law-office of William C. Bradley, in West- minster, Vt., and on completing his law studies was admitted to the bar in Newfane, Vt., in 1826. The same year he was admitted to the bar in New Hampshire and commenced practice in Walpole. In 1828 he removed to Littleton, N. H., where he practiced his profession twenty- two years, when he removed to Concord, this State. He had now gained a high reputation as a lawyer throughout the State, and on the resignation of Judge Perley, September 23, 1859, he was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, and held the position till October 1, 1869, at which time he received the appointment of chief justice. His de- cisions and rulings in court were always sound, clear and logical. He was no politician, but was elected representative to the General Court three times-once from Littleton, in 1839, and twice from Concord, in 1856-57. He died very suddenly at his home in Concord, with but little premonition, March 11, 1873, of disease of the heart, just before his term of office would have expired by limitation. Without superior educational advantages, he rose to a high point of honor and trust. For his hon- esty of purpose he was esteemed ; for being

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just he was honored ; and for his urbanity he was beloved.

DAVID BUFFUM was the seventh son of Joseph Buffum, of Walpole, and was born April 15, 1803. He came to Walpole in 1820 and was a clerk three years for his brother Wil- liam, who was a merchant here, and then formed a partnership with him in trade.

From that time for about fifty years he was in business, sometimes with partners and at other times alone. In his position during this long period he became thoroughly acquainted with all the townspeople, and, in a measure, ex- ercised over them a controlling influence. His multifarious business relations admirably fitted him to form good judgments and give good ad- vice, which was largely sought for by many.

He was elected to the State Legislature in 1849 and 1850, and, also, was a member of the convention called to revise the State Constitu- tion, in 1876. He is now an octogenarian, with few business cares, enjoying his otium cum dig- nitate.

GEORGE CARLISLE was the son of John Carlisle, a shoemaker, and a great-grandson of David Carlisle, one of the early settlers. George began life a poor boy, but by his hon- esty and industry he won the esteem of Stone & Bellows, merchants here, who entrusted him with a large invoice of goods of, in, then, the Far West, Cincinnati, where he established himself in due course of time as a merchant. Exercis- ing good judgment he purchased land from time to time with surplus money in the environs of the Queen City, which soon rose in value mani- fold, and made him at the time of his death, which occurred in 1863, a very rich man. He is represented to have been a highly honorable business man, public-spirited and generous to his Walpole kindred.

THOMAS COLLINS DREW, in some respects was one of the most remarkable men who ever lived in town. He was born in the town of Chester, this State, in 1762. In boyhood an inmate of the almshouse in Portsmouth, adopted

by one McNeal, of Londonderry, he ran away and joined the Continental forces, and after the war closed returned to McNeal. Mr. McNeal had no use for him, and sold his indenture to William T. Ramsey, a settler of this town, for a pair of old stags. He came home with Ram- sey, and at his majority or soon after married, when his wife taught him to read and write. He now put on the harness and made a bold push for a livelihood, either by hook or by crook, and as years rolled on he grew in popularity with his townsmen, and was promoted colonel of the Twentieth Regiment of New Hampshire militia, and soon was elected, over those to "the manor born," to the State Legislature in 1802, and was re-elected in 1804, '05, '07, '08 and '09. He was then elected State Councillor two years. He had a great influence in town-meet- ings, being a fluent speaker. During those years he kept a public-house at the place which perpetuates his name,-Drewsville. In his old age he undertook to tend his bar on both sides at a time, which greatly bewildered him at times. None of his posterity are now living.

THOMAS GREEN FESSENDEN, the oldest of the old parson's family, was born April 12, 1771, graduated in Dartmouth in 1796, studied law in the office of Stephen R. Bradley, in Westminster, Vt., and died in Boston, No- vember 11, 1837. He early commenced a lit- erary career, which he pursued through life, writing books and numerous pamphlets. He wrote and published a book in England satiriz- ing the medical faculty there. It had an im- mense sale in London, and was subsequently published in this country in three editions. It was entitled "Dr. Caustic." The work is a strange compound of erudition, doggerel verse and nonsense. In 1822 he commenced the publication of the New England Farmer, when he did not know enough about farming to hoe a hill of potatoes, and continued it fifteen years. For versatility of genius, ready wit, biting sar- casm and as a popular journalist, no native townsman has been his equal.

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JOHN GRAVES, JR., seems to have been a man of some local influence during the " border troubles " in the last century, as he was elected to represent the town at Windsor, Vt., at that period. Josiah G., his grandson, through Ster- ling, his father, studied medicine and removed to Nashua, this State, more than forty years since, and there became widely known as a skill- ful physician, and accumulated a handsome for- tune. He was born July 13, 1811, and is still living.

SAMUEL GRANT, familiarly known as Major, was born at Watertown, Mass., in 1770, and came to this town soon after his majority, by trade a saddle-maker. He married the daughter of General Bellows, and at Bellows' death, in 1802, came in possession of a large farm in the southeast part of the town-her patrimony. This place was known as the "Seven Barns." Here, for many years, he extensively carried on sheep husbandry, owning at times a thousand sheep. By his strong will and conventional position in town, he secured a strong hold on his townsmen, and was elected to the General Court four times, viz. : in 1797, 1799, 1817 and 1838, besides holding many offices of trust. He is repre- sented to have been punctilious, exacting and unyielding in his intercourse with his neighbors. He died April 12, 1844.

AARON HODSKINS, JR., was born in town August 17, 1769. He was a farmer by occu- pation, but intellectually a strong man. He was generally known as "'Squire," and for many years, when in active life, was a potent factor in the civic affairs of the town. He was religiously a Universalist, and was the head and front of that society in town. His son, Asahel B., also belonged to the same denomination, was active in the cause, and also had some influence in local politics.

ABRAHAM HOLLAND, who was the third phy- sician that settled in town, was born in Barre, Mass., in 1751, graduated at Dartmouth and studied medicine, and on completing his studies came to this town and commenced prac-

tice about 1780. Three of his granddaughters, through his son Nathaniel, were married to Harrison P. and Hudson E. Bridge, who were Walpole boys, and who as men were citizens of St. Louis, Mo., where they accumulated very large fortunes.

FOSTER HOOPER, an orphan at an early age, was the son of Salmon Hooper, and the grand- son of Levi, one of the early settlers, was born April 2, 1805. He studied medicine, and in 1826 went to Fall River, Mass., where for more than a generation he enjoyed an extensive practice and was held in high estimation by all the medical fraternity. There were no public enterprises on foot in that city for more than forty years but Dr. Hooper had a controlling voice in them. He was chosen often to fill the civic offices of the place. His career, at his death, which occurred in 1870 from disease of the heart, left a more favorable lasting impres- sion than if he had been a member of Congress, which position was almost within his grasp at one time.

JONAS HOSMER was a staid old church dea- con and farmer. He came to town from Acton, Mass., in 1783,and remained here during life. He had eight children, seven of whom lived to ma- turity and all were highly respectable people. Five of the number were boys, and never were there five boys born in town in one family who could boast of a cleaner record from vice than those of Jonas Hosmer. Two of them, Eli and Elbridge, were widely known and esteemed school teachers; Edwin followed farming, and Alfred and Hiram became practicing physicians. The latter became eminent in his profession in Watertown, Mass., and in other walks of life was a prominent citizen. He was the father of Harriet Grant Hosmer, the world-renowned sculptress, who was born in 1830. On her mother's side she is the great-granddaughter of General Benjamin Bellows.

AARON PRENTISS HOWLAND was the son of Charles Howland, a mechanic who lived in the " Valley," this town. He (Aaron) was born in

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1801, and died July 9, 1867. He learned" the trade of a carpenter, and soon after his majority became a master-builder, which business he fol- lowed for many years with varied success. In 1853-54 he represented the town in the Legis- lature, and aftewards became interested in poli- tics, and as a local wire-puller he never had an equal in town. He was first a Whig, then a Republican in sentiment, and, lastly, an un- flinching partisan. His word was law to his henchmen, and for years he figured as the cham- pion of opposition to the Democracy over the check-list at March meeting times, when there was always a " tempest in a tea-pot," and where he found that there were diamonds that cut dia- monds. He was United States district assistant assessor during and after the War of the Rebellion. During the last years of his life he exercised a potent influence in town and church affairs. Who living in town thirty years ago did not know the stirring, ubiquitous, money-making Aaron Prentiss Howland ?

GEORGE HUNTINGTON, of whom mention has been made in connection with Otis Bard- well, was born in 1801, and died 1876. Early in life he kept the tavern in the village, and by his urbanity and enterprising qualities he won the esteem of his townsmen, who honored him with a seat in the State Legislature in 1835, '36, '37, and soon after was appointed sheriff of the county. He held several town offices, was a railroad and bank director for several years. In middle life he was one of the most comely, well- dressed and popular men in town, and was re- ported rich, as he paid the highest individual tax in town. In his business transactions, first impressions always served him ; he never used figures much ; but later in life impressions did not serve him, and his business went wrong, till at length a collapse came and he died com- paratively poor.

DR. FRANCIS KITTREDGE came to this town more than one hundred years ago, to set a broken bone of one of the Bellows family, from Tewksbury Mass., there being no competent

surgeon to be found nearer. He remained till the fracture was healed, and during the time was induced by Colonel Bellows to remove here. He was termed a natural bone-setter. He had sixteen children, and ten of his descendants be- came doctors. Jesseniah, one of his sons, became famous by compounding an unguent for okl sores. It required but little study in those old days to become an M.D. There were many that knew little or nothing of surgery and all that was deemed necessary for common practice was to know how much blood to take from a patient in a fever, how much jalap to deal out for sick headache, and how much piera to give in mulligrub. There was but one of the ten above noticed who received a classical edu- cation, and none of them rose to be eminent in their profession, but through their combined social standing they had some influence. Jes- seniah (2d) was well versed in Free-Masonry, and had a commanding influence with the craft, it is said.

.JACOB NEWMAN KNAPP, who died in this town July 27, 1868, in his ninety-fifth year, exercised a silent influence in town for more than fifty years, and more especially in the Unitarian Church.

His son, Frederick Newman, rendered effi- cient service in the Sanitary Commission during the Rebellion.

HOPE LATHORP, was born in Tolland, Conn. about 1798, and learned the trade of planter. He came to Drewsville in 1819, where he followed that business a few years. He was appointed deputy sheriff soon after he came to Drewsville, and at the same time kept a public-house there. He was one of the direc- tors of the Connecticut River Rank, at Charles- town, N. H. and was its president when he died in 1878. For a number of years he was post- master at Drewsville and merchant at the same period. He was not a progressive man, his par- amount thoughts and energies being centred on the accumulation of money. At the time of his death his accumulations were large for the

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country, which were left to his two daughters. His wealth and shrewdness gave him some local influence, but beyond his own town he was but little known.

BOLIVAR LOVELL is the son of Aldis Lovell, who was a lawyer of some local repute in town at one time. Bolivar was born at Drewsville, August 30, 1826, and obtained only a common-school education at that place. At his majority he went forth into the world and found employment in Providence, R. I., as a clerk there for three years, when he returned to his native home and commenced the study of law in his father's office then at Alstead, about 1845. In 1847 he was appointed deputy sher- iff and while acting in that capacity he was still pursuing his law studies in the office of Lovell Wait, of Alstead. In 1855 he was appointed Sheriff for Cheshire County, which office he held for ten years. In 1862 he was appointed United States assessor of internal revenue for the Third New Hampshire District and held the office eight years. In 1869 he was admitted to the bar, and has since prac- ticed his profession, first in Alstead and now in this town. In 1873-74 he was elected .a member of the Governor's Council. He is considered a safe reliable business man, and an honest lawyer. He is now (1885) still prac- ticing his profession at Drewsville, financially enjoying life's blessings.

DR. EBENEZER MORSE was born in Dublin, this State, in 1785, graduated at Dartmouth in 1810, studied medicine and came to this town in 1813, a fully-fledged physician, when he put out his shingle on the northwest corner of the house now occupied by Frederick A. Wier. At the beginning of his practice he had Drs. John- son, Holland, Sparhawk and the Kittredges to contend with. Slowly he worked his way along, till, in the course of forty years, he had crossed the thresholds of three-fourths of the habitations of the people in town professionally and formed their favorable acquaintance, which gave his voice a listening ear in town affairs. 29

He was too conservative to be a leader and too proud to follow. He hated innovation, and the frivolities of fashion he despised. He clung to the past,-the old school-books and the old way of cooking were the best. He was a fine prose-writer, and the town is indebted to his pen for much of its early history. He courted the muses sometimes, but they did not return his advances with grace, he having no scruples about feet or length of line. He was once elected to the General Court and three times selectman, besides holding some other minor offices. An entire change came over him in the last years of his professional practice, which was this,-instead of dosing with blue pills, jalap and using the lancet, he thought bread pills, pure air, clean sheets and a good nurse were more efficacious in restoring health than any other means. He died December 30, 1863.

THOMAS AND ISAAC REDINGTON were re- spected and influential merchant-citizens in town in the earlier part of this century. They were in trade some twenty-five years. Isaac repre- sented the town in the State Legislature in 1813-14 and 1816. They both had families, but none of the blood remains in town to-day.

JONATHAN ROYCE first came to Marlow, but soon removed to Walpole, from Connecticut, at the time of the exodus from that State into the valley of the Connecticut, between 1775 and 1780, bringing his entire worldly effects on a hand-sled in the winter. He settled in the " Valley." The town records, for many years, disclose the fact, by the frequent occurrence of his name therein, that he was a man of good ability and that his services were much in de- mand. For many years he was justice of the peace. He at one time, it was said, owned more poor land than any other man in town.

THOMAS SPARHAWK .- In the year 1769 a man came to this town, thirty-two years old, from Cambridge, Mass., who was a graduate of Harvard, with the class of 1755, where he pur- chased himself a homestead, and remained through life as a very popular, high-minded,

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well-educated, church-going citizen of the town, -that man was Thomas Sparhawk. He had not been long in town before his abilities were recognized and his influence felt. He was the first merchant in town, the settlers before that period having to go to Northfield, Mass., and make necessary purchases of one Aaron Burt, a wholesale and retail dealer there, of whom mention has been made. Mr. Sparhawk was the first man to represent the town at Exeter, in 1775, and was for many years judge of Pro- bate for the county of Cheshire, and also clerk of the court. He yearly held important offices in town, till the infirmities of age impaired his usefulness. He died October 31, 1803, and left his son Thomas to walk in his illustrious footsteps. Thomas, Jr., was born 1761 and died 1848. He was an active, influential towns- man, almost yearly holding some important office during his active life, and was honored by a seat in the State Legislature in the years 1795, 1796, 1798, 1801 and 1803, and was also a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1783. It is said that the conduct exhibited by his church brethren at the time the old building was removed so grieved him that he became alienated from church-going thereafter. He lived and died a man of strict piety and good works.

DR. GEORGE SPARHAWK, a graduate of Harvard, in the class of 1777, came to this town between 1780 and 1790, and commenced prac- tice as a physician, but not being successful, and having some means, he purchased a large tract of land where George B. Williams now lives, and gave his attention to farming. From year to year he made additions to his landed estate, till he was the largest land-owner in town. Through his education and wealth com- bined, he had some influence ; otherwise not, for he had ever an itching palm for all the land adjoining his. He died in 1847, aged ninety years.

ROGER VOSE was born in Milton, Mass., in 1763, graduated with the class of 1790, and

came to this town a lawyer in 1793, where he remained in practice during his active life. He held many important offices in town for many years. He had no qualities that distinguished. him at the bar from other lawyers, but is chiefly remembered as being the only member of Con- gress that Walpole ever had, and for being one of the coterie of wits heretofore mentioned. He was at one time an associate judge of the courts in this State, and also judge of Probate for the county of Cheshire.

His son, Frederick, was born in town Novem- ber 2, 1801, and graduated at Harvard College in 1822. After studying the profession of law he commenced its practice in this town, and continued it through life. In 1847-48 he was a member of the State Senate, and in 1833 was a member of the House. He also held many important offices of trust and honor in the town, county and State, being for many years judge of Probate, bank commissioner, etc. As a lawyer he had a general reputation, being considered one of the soundest and best-read lawyers in the State. He was not a brilliant man, and he never attempted to argue a case of importance before a jury on account of having a constitutional timidity, which he never could overcome. In his habits he was peculiar, seldom appearing at social gatherings, and when in mixed company was always taciturn, but with a friend alone he was one of the most genial companions. In his intercourse with people he was considerate, always avoiding offense, which marked him as a true gentleman ; was public-spirited and be- nevolent, never letting his left hand know what his right hand was doing. Many funny sayings might be told of his, bearing the stamp of sly wit, which he inherited from his father. He died in New York in November, 1871, aged seventy years. His death was greatly lamented by his townsmen and all others who personally knew him.

COLONEL CHRISTOPHER WEBBER was one of the earliest settlers in town, and during the Revolutionary struggle was one of its active,

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leading men. He represented the town at Exeter in 1776 and 1777, and for more than twenty years was one of the most efficient towns- men. He was captain of a company that went to Saratoga, under General Bellows. His de- scendants living in town, being of the fifth generation, knew but very little of him.

ALEXANDER WATKINS was from Pomfret, Conn., and came to town about 1777 and set- tled as a tavern-keeper on the place now owned by Benjamin E. Webster.

By his constant intercourse with the town's people, he acquired some influence. He had a family of eight children, seven of whom were boys. Two of the boys, Alfred and Hiram, studied medicine and located in Troy, N. Y., where they enjoyed an extensive practice. Al- fred was at one time mayor of the city. Hiram, the only one of the old family, is now living in town, a hale old octogenarian, having been born in 1801. The other five boys settled in town, and Alexander's descendants are now, and have been for years, the most numerous of any people in town. Most of this family have been industrious, good citizens, and have been local- ly influential.

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History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 72

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