History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 206

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1520

USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 206
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 206

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The money Dr. Howe received for his army service,

some three or four thousand dollars, became value- less by the great depreciation of the Continental cur- rency.

Paul Stevens and his wife remained in New Chester for a few years, and there four of his children-Dolly William, Mark and Sarah-were born. Purchasing a better farm, he removed to New Hampton, which was the birth-place of his two daughters,-Fanny and Nancy. Four or five years passed, and Mr. Stevens moved to Gilford, near Gilmanton, and purchased one hundred and fifty acres of rough, unbroken land, which, after many years of hard, unremitting labor, was transformed into a well-cultivated farm. He passed the remainder of his life in Gilford, dying in August, 1846, aged seventy-one years. The rest of his children-Fifield, Peter F., Ebenezer, Moses, John, Paul, James S. and two who died in infancy- were born in Gilford.

Paul Stevens was an intelligent, unassuming, quiet man, of deeply religious principles, much respected in the communities where he resided. Mrs. Stevens was a noble, fine-looking woman, of great strength of char- acter and religious feeling, and taught her children Christianity by example, as well as by word. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens were among the first adherents of the new belief of the Free-Will Baptist Church, of which they were members. She survived her husband several years and died in Gilford.

Colonel Ebenezer Stevens, son of Paul and Sally (Howe) Stevens, was born May 9, 1810, and when but seven years old was compelled to commence the battle of life. He first went to live with a farmer whose home was back of the Belknap Mountains, in what was called "The Cellar." In a year he changed his abode, but until he was fourteen his occupation was " tilling the soil." He then learned blacksmith- ing of his brother William, and worked with him for some time. Earning some money, he attended school and boarded with Dr. Crosby and wife. The Chris- tian kindness and sympathy of this worthy couple won the young man's heart, and enabled them to use a strong and beneficial influence upon him, which is appreciated even yet, and causes him to hold their memory in reverential honor. Before he was seven- teen he purchased an old shop in Gilford village, on credit, and, borrowing fifty dollars as a capital, he established himself as a blacksmith. Early in the morning and late at night the fire glowed on his hearth, and the sound of his hammer was heard. He was prospered, as the diligent and industrious always are. The first year he cleared three hundred and twenty-five dollars. Having proved his ability to support himself, and being well established in busi- ness, Mr. Stevens married, January 15, 1831, Therina daughter of John S. and Leah (Prescott) Osgood, and granddaughter of Colonel Prescott, of Gilmanton. They had three children,-Cyrus A., Celestia A. (mar- ried Edward Stowell, resides in North Adams, and has two children) and Ebenezer (who died when four

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years of age). Mrs. Stevens dicd January 17, 1845, aged thirty-three years.

In 1837, Mr. Stevens removed to Meredith village and carried on blacksmithing until 1845, doing a large business. About 1850 he engaged in merchan- dising with Joseph W. Lang. This partnership con- tinned pleasantly and profitably for six years, and after this Mr. Stevens was in trade alone and with various partners for twenty years.

He married, April 22, 1846, Cassandra, daughter of John B. and Alice (Ladd) Swasey, of Meredith, and had one child-Alice S. (married Henry W. Lincoln, of Norton, Mass .; they have three children). [Mrs. Stevens is a descendant of two early New Hampshire families of repute, her father being third in descent from Ebenezer Swasey, of Exeter, whose son Benja- min, born at Exeter October 16, 1752, married Jane Bond, February 15, 1777, and moved to Meredith, where John B. was born April 3, 1782. He settled in Meredith village, became a prominent business man, having a large mercantile trade, and extensively owning real estate. He erected large mills on the water privilege owned previously by Daniel Avery, and in numerous ways served the town as postmaster, etc., and was a pillar of society. He died March 11, 1828. His wife, Alice Ladd, was a descendant in the sixth degree from Daniel Ladd (see biography of Seneca Ladd), the line being Daniel (1), Samuel (2), John (3), Timothy (4), Eliphalet (5) (born February 19, 1755, married Mary Park, of Windham, May 13, 1778), Alice (6). Mrs. Alice (Ladd) Swasey died February 6, 1875, aged ninety-six years. She had lived in Meredith over sixty-five years, and in houses located on the same site. She was a lady of intellect, and her love of reading and appreciation of good literature continued through life. Her memory was very retentive, and, her mental faculties being unim- paired, she wrote a poem when she was ninety years old, which had all the freshness of one written by one not half her age. She ever possessed a great love of the beautiful in art, literature and nature. Mrs. Stevens inherits many of the characteristics of her mother, and is a most intelligent and interesting lady, whom it is a pleasure to meet.]

From about the age of seventeen Mr. Stevens took an interest in militia matters, and was rapidly promoted through the various grades to that of colonel, and held the offices of brigade and division inspector for many years. In 1845 he was elected selectman and served three years, and conducted several important lawsnits for the town to a successful issue. Since then he has been largely identified with town and public matters. He has held the commission of justice of the peace for over forty years. He was representative in 1854 and 1855. An old Whig, he became an active Republican, and was Presidential elector for Lincoln in 1860. IIe was selectman of Meredith during the Rebellion, and was energetic in the discharge of the onerous duties which devolved upon him in that capacity. He as-

sisted in the disbursement of thousands of dollars; was offered the colonelcy of the Twelfth Regiment, which, through his efforts and others, was raised in five days; he prepared the list of soldiers sent by Meredith, published elsewhere in this history, and during the war period received the nomination of his (the minority) party, and carried its full vote for the important positions of State Senator, councilor, etc. Before 1850 he began to do probate business ; this has grown largely, and a great portion of his time since has been occupied in settling estates, attending to guardianships to which he has been appointed, and he has done more of this class of business, probably, than any other person in the county. Being careful, prudent and kind-hearted, he is peculiarly fitted for the guardianship of the poor and unfortunate.

He has been prominently connected with the Free- Will Baptist Church since 1840; has been trustee of New Hampton Seminary, where, for seventeen years consecutively, he was marshal on anniversary occa- sions.

He was one of the incorporators, and has served as president and treasurer, of the Meredith Mechanic Association ; one of the incorporators and trustees of the Meredith Village Savings-Bank ; one of the di- rectors of the Belknap County Bank, Laconia, and is also trustee of Laconia Savings-Bank.

We can in no better manner sum up the character of Colonel Stevens than to repeat the words used by the historian of Kingston in describing his great- grandfather, Major Ebenezer : "He sustained many important functions, and discharged every duty with ability and faithfulness." Of untiring energy and persistent perseverance, he is a "self-made " man in the highest sense of the word.

JOSEPH ELA.

Joseph Ela, son of John Whitcher (Whittier) Ela and his wife, Mehitable Dame, was born in Lee, N. H., July 20, 1797.

The Ela family has been, for many years, a reputable one in England. The name of the first American progenitor of this line is, doubtless, Daniel Ela, with whom the town of Haverhill, Mass., voted to ex- change certain lands on October 19, 1658. From this time the name occurs frequently in Haverhill, Daniel being often elected to offices of trust. He was chosen moderator in 1699 and town attorney in 1700. He was an inn.keeper in 1677 and possessed quite a prop- erty for those times.

Israel Ela, probably his son, was made freeman of Haverhill in 1677, and his descendants for many years occupied the lands granted to Daniel. He married Abigail Bosworth, and died March 29, 1700. He had two sons and three daughters. John Ela, second son of Israel, born in Haverhill June 15, 1683, married Rachel Page, had five children and died in 1742, aged fifty-nine. Their oldest child,

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HISTORY OF BELKNAP COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Jacob, born February 1, 1711-12, was twice married. By his second wife, Mrs. Ednah (Little) Gale, he had eight children, the oldest being John. (His sixth child, Lydia, married Daniel Appleton, and num- bered among her descendants the celebrated family of that name in New York City.)

John Ela was born in Haverhill, Mass., January 6, 1740-11. He was a farmer and noted for his great size. He weighed four hundred pounds. All his children were by his first wife, Ruth Whittier. He. died at the age of forty-six years. The oldest were twins, Nathaniel W. and John Whittier, born February 5, 1766. Nathaniel became a citizen of Dover, where, for over fifty years, he conducted a most popular hotel and made a large range of ac- quaintance. He was a very genial person, a hatter by trade, which he carried on for some years. John W. became a farmer in Durham, Lee and Barn- stead, N. H., married Mehitable Dame, of Dur- ham, January 7, 1793, and had three children,- Ednah, Joseph, John. He died June 15, 1801, when Joseph was but four years old. Receiving the care of a faithful mother until he was nearly fifteen years old, Joseph went to Dover to learn the hatter's trade of his Uncle Nathaniel. The confinement proved in- jurious to the young man, and he had two attacks of fever, in which he nearly lost his life; but he finished his trade, and, when of age, in company with another young man, he established himself as a hatter in Nor- way Plains (Rochester). His health again failing, he changed his business and became a merchant's clerk for two years, in which he was so popular as to make many friends and attract the attention of lead- ing merchants.

The long and unusually active business connection of Mr. Ela with Meredith and its vicinity, and his residence in this town, date from July 2, 1822, when he came to take charge of the Meredith store of Joseph Smith, of Dover, the great merchant of the lake. For four years Mr. Ela gave his unintermitting and untiring attention to the onerous duties of this position, until, the sedentary life again impairing his health, he found he must change his business to one giving more exer- cise in the open air. For six months he was a teamster. Receiving the appointment of deputy-sheriff, in 1828, for the county of Strafford, and shortly after being deputized to act in Grafton County, he soon found his hands full of legal business. Everything in those days was sold on credit, and none were refused. When the merchants were tired of waiting for their pay, which came in all kinds of barter, money being almost an unknown quantity, the debtor was sued and the officers of the law were set at work. An execution against the body of any debtor who owed thirteen dollars could be taken out, if no property could be found, and the unfortunate man sent to the county jail at Dover. Many of these trips were taken by Mr. Ela, who was active, vigor- ous and resolute in discharging his official duties,

tempering them, however, with as much mercy as his position would allow. For over thirty years he continued in this official capacity in Strafford and Grafton until the organization of Belknap County, then in Belknap, Carroll and Grafton ; and probably no other officer in any of these counties ever trans- acted as much business, served as many writs or rode so many miles as Mr. Ela. For twenty years he was the " crier" of the courts of Strafford County, and served in the same office in Belknap County as long as he was in active service, which continued until 1858 or 1859. His long continuance in office is the strongest evidence possible of his capabilities, his hon- esty, his devotion to duty, and, also, of his popularity as a man.

In 1846, Mr. Ela was employed by the Lake Com- pany to purchase the right of flowage on Lake Win- nipesaukee, and, in doing this, was compelled to buy many pieces of land beyond the flowage line. In set -. tling with the company Mr. Ela received this land, and in this manner acquired much land along Plym- outh Street, in Meredith village, as well as else- where. The possession of this real estate led him in- to building houses upon it, and he has built and owned fifty-two different houses in the village.

In 1858 he suggested the importance of forming a corporation to buy and control the water-power at Meredith village, and from his suggestion and active interest the Mechanics' Association was organized. (See history.)

Mr. Ela was also one of the incorporators and first trustees of the Meredith Village Savings-Bank, and has been, during all the years of his residence here, connected with, and an earnest supporter of, all things tending to improve, benefit or advance the better in- terests of Meredith. He married, in 1832, Sally Mil- ler Moulton, daughter of Jonathan Moulton, a prom- inent manufacturer of his day in Meredith. She died May 21, 1878, in her sixty-fifth year. This worthy couple had five children who attained ma- turity,-Laura E. (married, first, Daniel S. Bedee, whose surviving daughter, Nellie, is now the widow of James W. Horn, and, second, Alvin Peavey) ; John W., educated at Cambridge Law School, be- came a lawyer in Plymouth, went out in the Civil War of 1861 as captain of a company in Fifteenth New Hampshire Volunteers, honorably discharged at expiration of term of service, he established himself as a lawyer in Chicago, Ill., where he now enjoys a fine practice; Charles H., deceased ; Ednah, married George E. Gilman, now lives in Detroit and has three children ; Luella C., died aged seventeen years.

Mr. Ela has ever been a pronounced Democrat of the Jefferson and Jackson school, believing their doctrines to be the only guide to a successful contin- uance of the republic, and he has strongly battled for the success of those principles. He was appointed . postmaster in 1822 and held the office three years. He has been selectman six or eight terms, town agent

Simeon O Sean

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and special agent in numbers of cases, represented Meredith in the State Legislature of 1871-72, and has been frequently requested to accept his party nomi- nation for Senator and other offices, which were de- clined. At the time of the construction of the Boston, Concord and Montreal Railroad he took several large contracts, which were faithfully performed. His sight was destroyed by cataract in 1872.

For over sixty years has Mr. Ela been one of the leading men of this town, and to-day, with clear mind, he can look back over the whole of that time and tell the course, progress and development of any movement which has occurred, and analyze clearly the reason of its growth or failure.

Successful in business, happy in his family relations, blest with the kind care of loving descendants and with a large circle of friends who honor and esteem him for his many good qualities, Mr. Ela is a vener- ated member of society, one of the few remaining pensioners of the War of 1812.

SIMEON D. PEASE.

The Pease family was among the early settlers of Meredith and is well worthy of record in this place. By reference to the ecclesiastical history of this town, we see the great influence its members had in the religious matters and progress of this section, and, in all ways, they have been connected with the well- doing and honorable element of its citizens.

Joseph Pease was born March 10, 1774, and was one of the good, old-fashioned men of the last cen- tury. He was kind-hearted, full of activity and blunt earnestness, and delighted in nothing better than in a run after the foxes, of which he was a noted hunter. The children had cause to love him for his kindness. Before mounting his horse to ride from his house to the village he would fill his capacious pockets with apples to throw to them. Often, when shaking hands with a poor man, he would leave a silver dollar. Quaint, impulsive, humorous and ec- centric withal, fixed in his Democratic faith, he was a thoroughly good man and took great pride in his well-tilled and remunerative farm. His brother Sim- eon was a deacon for many years in the Free-Will Baptist Church and possessed a deeply religions na- ture. They were of a family of eleven children of Benjamin and Anna (Sanborn) Pease, who established their home on Oak Hill among the first settlers, and, by hard work, economy and steady battling with obstacles little understood in these days, carved out a home and secured a competency for their children. Benjamin was born August 2, 1743, and died Febrn- ary 26, 1802, leaving the record of a life usefully spent. Joseph married, April 11, 1796, Hannah Fol- som. They had ten children.

Simeon D. Pease, son of Joseph and Hannah (Fol- som) Pease, was born at Oak Hill, Meredith, July 7, 1812, and died January 21, 1885. He married Betsey,

daughter of Nathaniel and Patience (Page) Batch- elder. Their children are (1) Arzelia Jane, mar- ried Edwin Cox, express agent in Meredith village; they have one child, named Clarence. (2) Laura E. (3) Mary R., married Howard Prescott, and lives in Chicago, Ill. (4) Hannah A., married Frank Cummings; resides in Holderness ; they have one child, Hannah I. (5) Frank B., married Clara Hoyt, and is a member of the mercantile house of Pease & Towle, in Meredith village ; they have one child, Betsey Bertha. (6) Simeon Loring, married Ellen Hanson, and is a farmer on the old homestead. Simeon, as before mentioned, was born in the early part of the nineteenth century, and, en- vironed by the narrowing circumstances of that per- iod, his education was necessarily limited to the com- mon schools of his native town. Devoting himself to agriculture, he threw himself with all the energy of his nature into the cultivation and improvement of the ancestral acres, succeeding his father in their care and became known as one of the best farmers of the town. Industrious and frugal, he added to his inherited property. He was a life-long Democrat and believed, with Jefferson, that " a strict adherence to the Constitution was the one thing needful to the perpetuity of the Union, and that any departure from its spirit and teachings would result in harm to our country," and during all the years of his man- hood he battled strongly for his principles.

Mr. Pease was an industrious, social man, possessed of sound judgment and good common sense, which were appreciated by his townsmen, who often asked and heeded his counsel in affairs requiring firmness and deliberation. He was often chosen to positions of public trust, served as selectman, and was several times elected representative to the General Court, and many times selected to do other business of pri- vate as well as public character. He enjoyed the esteem of the community for his many sterling qualities.

Mrs. Pease, who survives her husband, is a descend- ant of the Rev. Stephen Batchelder, a prominent minister, who was born in England in 1561, and emigrated to America in 1632, and settled first in Lynn, Mass., and afterwards, 1638, removed to Hamp- ton and exerted a great influence for many years. He returned to England, where he died, having lived nearly a century. Abraham Batchelder was born August 13, 1750, and married Nabby -, who was born in 1752 and died July 11, 1802. Their son Nathaniel was born in Northwood, N. H., May 16, 1786, and married Patience Page. Their daughter, Mrs. Pease, inherits many of the strong traits of her ancestors.

JAMES GILMAN.

One hundred years ago Exeter was, as it is to-day, the abode of many families of ancient and honorable descent. They were people of means, education and

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their patriotism was undoubted. Through all the colonial period they were a notable and influential race, and there have been men among their descend- ants, in every generation, who have done honor to their country. The Gilmans came to New Hampshire soon after its first settlement, and, in 1679, Hon. John Gilman was one of the councilors named in President Cutts' commission. Captain Nicholas Gil- man was an officer of skill in the Indian wars of Queen Anne's reign. Hon. Peter Gilman was the first to bear the title of brigadier-general in New Hampshire. Colonel Daniel Gilman was a grantee of the town of Gilmanton.

The American ancestor of the Meredith branch of the family was Moses, who came from Hingham, Eng- land, and settled at Exeter. The line to the present generation is Moses (1), James (2), Timothy (3), James (4), David (5), James (6).

James Gilman (6), son of David and Sally (Clark) Gilman, and grandson of James and Deborah (Good- hue) Gilman, was born in Meredith December 31, 1813. His grandfather, James (4), was born in New Market, N. H., May 30, 1750 (O. S.). He was a tiller of the soil, and resided in his native town, working industriously, until he was forty years of age, when, with his wife and six children,-James, Samuel, Uriah, Deborah, David and Josiah,-he came to Meredith, in 1790, when it was comparatively a young town, and settled on the lot where his grandson, James (6), now lives. At the time of the Revolution he served a few months at Portsmouth. He was a Democrat, one of the old-fashioned men of fixed principles, good judg- ment and few words, and those words were held as law by his children, who respected and loved him. He was a hard-working, diligent farmer, brave and patient in accomplishing whatever his hands found to do, and for forty-eight years he lived and labored on the farm in Meredith. He died September 12, 1838, when nearly four-score years and ten, having served his day and generation well. His wife was of the Goodhue family, and a member of the Baptist Church. She died July 4, 1815. David (5), fourth son of James (4), was born in New Market, May 9, 1785. He married, October 22, 1812, Sally, daughter of Moses Clark, of Sanbornton. They had three children,-James (6), Martha and David. July 1, 1817, less than five years after his marriage, David Gilman died, and his father, although past the prime of life, gave a home to his grandchildren and their mother. David Gilman was a Democrat in politics. He, with his wife, were active members of the Baptist Church.

James Gilman (6) was the oldest of the three chil- dren, and early in life he made a brave and honest struggle with the difficulties of his lot. He became a farmer on the old homestead, receiving his education at the common schools of the town, and now resides in the same house that his grandfather built in 1790. In 1836 he was surveyor of highways, and out of

twenty-eight names on the list there is now but one person besides himself living. The same year, Feb- ruary 24th, he married Susan, daughter of William and Eunice (Roberts) Mead, who was born August 20, 1810.

[Mrs. Gilman is a descendant from two old and respected families in Meredith. Her grandfather, William Mead, was one of the first settlers of the town, and was chosen moderator of the first town meeting. He was a man of good judgment, and one whose counsel was of great value to the pioneers. He had a large family,-seven girls and four boys. His son William married Eunice (born in 1789), daughter of Lieutenant Roberts, whose name often appears on committees to serve for wise and grave purposes. William Mead (2) was always a farmer and lived where his grandson, Joseph, now resides, on Meredith Neck. He was an upright, honest man, and took great pride in his farm and stock, and by his care and labor acquired property and the reputa- tion of being an excellent farmer. He married twice, and had an old-fashioned New England family of fifteen children,-Eunice, Joseph, William and John, Joshua, Benjamin, Daniel, Polly, Abigail, Susan and her twin, Stephen, Smith, Stephen and Sarah.]

The children of James (6) and Susan (Mead) Gil- man were as follows : (1) Granville B., born April 16, 1837; married Carrie Fletcher; resides in San Fran- cisco, Cal. (2) Martha Jane, born September 16, 1839. (3) James Marshall, born June 9, 1842; mar- ried Mattie Smith; they reside in California and have six children,-Marshall F., Herbert M., Carrie A. James G., Arthur F. and one other. (4) Mary Susan, born December 7, 1843. (5) David Frank, born May 15, 1846. (6) Sarah Frances, born Sep- tember 6, 1849; died April 13, 1850. (7) Ellen (Lill), born March 29, 1851; married Fred. S. Pres- cott; they have three children,-Leo F., Harry S. and Frank G. (8) Fanny M., who died aged two years and nine months.

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 206

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1520

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1520