History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 53

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 53
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 53

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Among those that New Hampshire has just reason to claim as worthy sons of the last half- century is John Webster Marshall. He was born in Salisbury, N. H., February 9, 1835, and was the son of John Webster and Judith (Jackman) Marshall. At the early age of seven years he was left motherless, and the lad began his years of accountability with little to cheer or elevate him. Poverty hung around his father's house, and the surroundings were illy calculated to bring content. Before John was thir- teen years old he had had two stepmothers, and the boy had never known maternal care or love since his own mother was carried to the grave. In the fall of the year, when he was scarcely thirteen, he obtained his father's consent to earn his own living, and with barely clothes enough to serve as a covering, and not even underclothing, he went out into the world. Com- ing to Bradford, he secured a place with his uncle, Benjamin Marshall, to work for his board and attend school. He was more than an ordinary boy, quiet and retiring in his manner, kind in disposition and possessed of a strong will. He early showed a fond- ness for machinery and an aptness for tools. He gave diligent attention to his studies, developed a taste for mathematics and made rapid progress. He labored in the summer for his uncle and other farmers of the neighborhood to acquire a respectable wardrobe, and after two years thus passed he en- tered the employ of G. W. Wadleigh, of Fisherville, as clerk in his store. After a year of hard work in the store and on the farm, John went to Manchester, and for another year was engaged in the gun-shop of a Mr. Fogg. His natural inclination for mechanics was fostered by this avocation, and it decided his life-work. Determined to become a machinist, he secured a situation in the Manchester Locomotive- Works, where he was employed for about six years. Here life was pleasant, his occupation was congenial, and in the intervals of labor, and during the long winter evenings, he continued his studies of mathe- matics and drawing, never wasting his time in frivolity or idleness. He had even then marked out for himself a career of steady and persistent prog- ress, and knew that to accomplish it he must be an unceasing laborer and student. In view of this, his thoughts were turned to Boston as the place where a widening sphere of opportunity would be revealed to him, and removing to that city, he worked a year for the Boston Locomotive-Works, and after another year in the employ of a Mr. Osborne, in a locomotive

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repair shop, he engaged as a machinist in the Atlan- tic Works, at $1.50 a day. The same devotion to his studies he had shown in Manchester was continued in Boston. The allurements of the great city had no charm for him ; his evenings were consecrated to im- provement. He became proficient in mechanical drawing and engineering. He was ready for a higher position, and it came unsought, and as a most pleas- ant surprise. One day the machinists of the shop were asked to vote for one of their number to become the superintendent of the drafting department. Mr. Marshall cast his vote for one he deemed qualified, and little dreamed that he would be the chosen one.

This was a fortunate financial change, the salary being twelve hundred dollars a year. Exercising the same diligence and studiousness which had so sig- nally changed his life, he thoroughly qualified him- self for the post of mechanical engineer, to which position he was advanced in about two years' time, with a salary of two thousand five hundred dollars. His patience and assidnity, his modest and unassuming ways and the painstaking accuracy and promptitude with which everything which came in the line of his duty was done, early won the approval and es- teem of his employers. This was strengthened with passing time, and, as a further proof of their confi- dence, he was appointed superintending engineer, and sent to Europe to study the construction of iron vessels, and he passed three months in the leading shipyards of England, Scotland, Belgium and France, adding much to his store of information. Nine months after his return to Boston, the famous firm Peter Wright & Co., Philadelphia, who had learned of his abilities, engaged him to superintend the con- struction of the vessels which should constitute the Red Star Line, at a salary of three thousand dollars and expenses. He remained in England two years and ten months, his wife visiting him in the mean time, and during this time the three pioneer vessels of the line-" Vaderland," "Nederland" and " Swit- zerland "-were constructed at Jarrow-on-Tyne. The vessels demonstrated that Mr. Marshall thoroughly understood the principles underlying an intelligent knowledge of his work, and he took the final step in the ladder he had started to mount by being made superintendent of the two lines of steamships owned by his employers,-the Red Star and American. Thus had diligence and application, coupled with energy and improvement of opportunities, and unfail- ing cheerfulness under all circumstances, brought the unknown youth of poverty to a high position in the great world of business, and to competency and honors, with strong and influential friends.

In 1878 he again went to England to personally superintend the building of the "Belgenland " and "Rhyneland," of the Red Star line, at Barrow-in- Furness. This occupied him about one year. The continued application and overwork for so many years had worn upon a delicate physical organism,

and only an indomitable will kept him up. Return- ing on the "Rhyneland " to America, he tendered his resignation as superintendent, which was not accepted, and this was repeated three times in the course of a few months. The firm valued his ser- vices too highly to dispense with them, and he was in their employ until his death, which occurred Janu- ary 6, 1882, in Boston, after an illness of two years and a half. Up to the last the plans and specifica- tions of the vessels under construction were sub- mitted to him for approval, and it is noticeable that he had just concluded the examination of the last set of papers of the last vessel he had designed when he was seized by the hemorrhage which preceded his death.

Mr. Marshall married, February 11, 1864, Martha J., daughter of Benjamin E. aud Olive (Chandler) Wadleigh, of Bradford, a descendant of two early and honorable New Hampshire families. She was a schoolmate of his in his early school-days at Brad- ford. Both were proficient in the same studies, both worked the hard examples, both "spelled down " the school; but the nature of each was so retiring that they never formed a personal acquaintance until twelve years after, when their congeniality of taste soon drew them together. She was especially adapted to be his companion, entering heartily into his labors and aspirations, and was a true adviser and friend. Their children are Elmer Wadleigh and John Edgar, who, it is to be hoped, have inherited a share of their father's ability.

Mr. Marshall was one of the most unostentations of men. In forming acquaintances he was reserved and reticent; but he was genial and social to those who won his confidence. He lived a regular and exem- plary life, never drinking liquor or using tobacco, and devoted the time so many waste to useful investiga- tions in science. He was not a church member, but a truly religious man, who lived a remarkably pure life. A lover of nature and an admirer of its works, he "looked through nature up to nature's God," and based his life and actions on the golden rule. His integrity and honesty were as clear as the noonday sun, and though millions of dollars passed through his hands, his disposition of them was made in all cases to the best interests of his employers. He was charitable; but, in accordance with the Scriptural admonition, he "let not his left hand know what his right hand did," and this was in harmony with his entire character. Modest and unselfish, he was in this respect a marked contrast to many "self-made " mnen. He was ever thoughtful of others, their wel- fare and comfort, and in the closing hours of his life occupied himself with instructions to his wife concerning the happiness of those depending upon him.

May many who read these pages find an instructive ·lesson in this story of a life, and be encouraged to new aspirations and endeavors to attain a higher and more

Herren Blanchard

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useful station than fate or cireumstanee has given them.

HIRAM BLANCHARD.

From the "History of Aeworth " we find that George Blanehard, who was born on English soil, emigrated to Andover, Mass., and among his goodly descendants was Nathaniel, who had three sons,- Joseph, Aaron and Lemuel. Aaron was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, settled in Aeworth, N. H., but afterwards removed to Barnard, Vt. Lemuel also took part in the struggles of the colo- nists and was at the burning of New London. Joseph was born in Shutesbury, Mass., in 1755, and came to Acworth in the early years of its settlement (1790), married Relief, daughter of Aaron Osgood, a descendant of John Osgood, of Andover, Mass. David, his second son, born in 1788, married Betsey, daughter of John and Lydia (Melvin) Gregg, of Acworth. The Greggs were among the pioneers of Londonderry, N. H., and possessed the strong and resolute spirit of those enterprising men, the influence of whose characters has left a strong im- press upon the town and community in which they made their home. To David and Betsey (Gregg) Blanchard were born seven ehildren, of whom Hiram was the oldest.

Hiramı Blanchard belongs to that class of New Englanders who, while unostentatious and unpre- tending, are yet the true benefactors of the commun- ity in which they live, in that they add to the ma- terial prosperity of their respective localities and leave behind them tangible results of their life's work. He had his birth in the quiet, rural town of Acworth, N. H., October 21, 1816, attended the pub- lie schools in Acworth and Hancock Academy, and thoroughly assimilated the instruction to his intellec- tual betterment. He at the same time improved his physical health by laboring on his father's farm. This was his life till he became of age, when he went, first to Boston, then to Bellows Falls and other places ; but after the passing of a few months he located in merchandising at Bradford Corner, as a partner of Hon. John W. Morse and M. E. Baxter, under the firm-title of Baxter, Blanchard & Co. This was in 1842, and from that time to his death, November 19, 1872, he was one of the most energetic of the busi- ness men of the town and a component factor of its usefulness. He continued in trade at Bradford Cor- ner for about ten years, with various partners, and established a reputation for sterling integrity and honesty of purpose that his whole after-life but con- firmed. He afterwards formed a partnership with Mr. Morse, at Mill village, under style of Morse & Blanchard, and until 1870, when, on account of fail- ing health, Mr. Blanchard was forced to retire, they continued in trade, each week and each month but rendering stronger the bonds of friendship uniting the two men. Their business interests were large

and diversified, and while Mr. Morse attended to the "outside" part, Mr. Blanchard was the merchant who daily was at his post in the store, and it is not too much to say that the unfailing courtesy which gave a pleasant greeting and a kind word to every one added much to the popularity of the firm and to its success.

Mr. Blanchard married, October 18, 1843, Polly E., daughter of Hon. Jonathan and Polly (Fisher) Gove, of Aeworth. (For Gove ancestry, see biography of Hon. John W. Morse.) For nearly thirty years of passing time were their joys and sorrows cheered by mutual sympathy, and, while Mrs. Blanchard was a true helpmeet to him, his unfailing tenderness made the home eircle a more than ordinarily happy one. He prized his home dearly; after the wearisome duties of the day were over, here he found a rest for his fatigue and a solaee for the diseomforts incident to every life. The same qualities which made him the successful merchant and husband and father, caused him to have the respeet and esteem of the en- tire community. He was remarkably winning in his manners, speedily seeuring the interest of a stranger, which was usually increased and consolidated into friendship by further acquaintance, and, throughout his long and active business career, never dared sus- pieion to breathe one word against his integrity, nor did a single aetion of his cause him to be lowered from the high position he occupied in the minds of the better element of the people among whom he had made his home. He was always unassuming, never giving himself full eredit for the abilities he possessed, and never boasted of his achievements nor what he could accomplish. A man not given to idle talk, he had great command over his feelings, which were naturally impetuous. He was firm in his friend- ships, generous to the unfortunate and suffering, but his good deeds were never found out from him; he left others to reveal them if they ever came to the light ; only his wife would know of his benefactions, and she cordially shared them with him. He pre- ferred the quiet, domestie enjoyments of home to the turmoil of public strife, and consequently never sought politieal or official distinction, although sup- porting, with all his strength, the Democratic prinei- ples of the " Father of the Constitution," and of wide influence in the community. He served as post- master at one time, and was representative to the State Legislature in 1866-67, the only publie positions he could be induced to accept. Of an earnest and positive character, whatever he undertook he would accomplish, and this, with his scrupulous fidelity to any trust confided to him, caused him to be almost recklessly unsparing of himself. Hence he was led to a really unjustifiable excess of labor, which weak- ened a system never vigorous, and brought on con- sumption, that, after long months of suffering, ended his useful life. He had one son, George H., born in 1848, who resides in Lowell.

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Mrs. Blanchard survives her husband and has the esteem and friendship of a large circle for her ster- ling worth.

By the reading of this memorial sketch many striv- ing youth may see what may be accomplished by dili- gence, good habits and an honest, manly life. Better than columns of stone and monuments of marble are the records of such a life.

GEORGE HART.

George Hart, the grandson of Nicholas Lawrence (a native of Weston, Vt., who was a very prominent man, and one of the veteran heroes of the Revolu- tionary War), and son of George and - (Lawrence) Hart, was born at Landgrove, Vt., May 23, 1811. As so many New Englanders had done before him, early in life he was obliged to earn his bread, get his edu- cation and wrestle with the world. The condition of his parents was humble. The incessant toil required in a new and sterile land had but served to provide the barest necessities of life, and from his earliest years he struggled with adverse circumstances. His boy-heart yearned to know something of the great world of books in which so many found enjoyment ; but he had no money, nor could his parents meet this demand; so he went into the woods, gathered dry trees, stumps, brush, etc., and burning them, he se- cured the ashes to exchange for the much-desired school-books. Bnt the rains descended, and the prospective capital was lost, as George thought, when his mother came to his relief, dried the ashes in the oven, and his first school-books were purchased. He improved his time in labor and study, and, with the assistance of his brother, while yet a young man, had the satisfaction of seeing his parents in a home which the two boys had provided. Thinking to find a larger field of labor, and one more remunerative, in a man- ufacturing place, he left his native town and went to Lowell, Mass., where he took a contract for the heavy stone-work required in one of the mills, and thus found employment for a time. He then went to Tewksbury and became the foreman on a farm, and resided in Dracut for a short period. But Mr. Hart's ambition for a better position and advantages for adding to his stock of learning soon carried him to Boston, where he engaged in one of the tide-mills for manufacturing lead pipe. Here he continued diligent in business and saving his earnings, when a desirable opportunity offered, and he invested his little capital, and went into partnership with Messrs. Crosby & Cannon in the trucking business. He remained in Boston for more than three years, when he removed to Mt. Ta- bor, Vt., purchased a farm and devoted himself to agriculture for the next five years, and became a good citizen of the town, interesting himself in its public affairs, serving as town clerk, selectman and also held a commission as justice of the peace. He then removed to Boston, resumed his old business,

was financially successful, and having sold out his entire interest, he came to Bradford about 1850, and was a resident here until his death, in the last night of the year 1879.

Mr. Hart married, April 5, 1835, Louisa, daughter of Cyrus and Martha (Millet), Bailey, native of Salem, N. H. Mrs. Hart has been a resident of Bradford since her third year, and is a Christian lady of intelligence and refinement. Their children were Louisa A., born at Mt. Tabor, Vt., January 11, 1838, married Arthur T. Morse, of Newbury, N. H., and has two children, George H. and Arthur A .; Almendo, born at Mt. Tabor November 7, 1840, died in infancy ; George A., born at Mt. Tabor December 17, 1841, died in Boston, aged eleven months ; George Herman, born at Bostou April 17, 1844, died aged two years and four months ; Edwin A., born at Boston July 12, 1849 (he married Eugenia C. Delaplaine, and has an adopted daughter, Bertha, now living at Minneapolis, Minn.); William S., born at Bradford September 25, . 1851, now living in Florida, is engaged in bee cul- ture, in connection with orange-growing, in which lie is successful.

About 1860, Mr. Hart left his Bradford matters in charge of his wife and a trusty man, and went to Enniskillen, Canada, and engaged in boring for oil and dealing in oil lands qnite extensively, and this enterprise resulted profitably, as also other business transactions.

We have written thus far concerning Mr. Hart as a business man, and we will now speak of him in the words of a friend, who knew him as friend, citizen and neighbor, of one who saw him in his home, which he had made so beautiful by his own care and artistic taste.

He was a man of grand presence, reserved in his manners, of few words, carrying on conversation for the purpose of gaining or imparting knowledge, but never condescending to trivial details, but when the occasion demanded, his influence, means and friend- ship were offered freely; kind, sympathetic and be- nevolent, but always choosing the objects of his charity ; unostentatious and unassuming, yet bold and fearless in the cause of the oppressed ; a strict partisan, but never intrusive or arrogant ; impatient of shams, but a firm friend of all philanthropic under- takings; of a strong and positive will, as is often the case with self-made men; refined, cultured and with a taste for the beautiful in nature, of which he was a great lover, as was evidenced by the adornment and cultivation of his home-place, much of which was the labor of his own hands ; a strong temperance man and a zealous worker in the cause, ready with his advice and financial aid ; au Abolitionist at the time when to openly avow those sentiments almost amounted to social ostracism. When Garrison was mobbed in the city of Boston, Mr. Hart was one of the foremost to stand forward and offer his strong arm in his defense; also, at one time, when a lady

Davil Durell

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lectured in the church at Bradford in the interest of the anti-slavery movement, and, at the close, asked for some one to take up a collection, and waited for a response, not a person in the whole congregation re- sponded until Mr. Hart, with his dignified and cour- teous mien, arose, and complied with the request. IIe was a keen observer of human nature and had a won- derful power in reading character. He had a strong sense of justice and was no respecter of persons. In polities he was a Republican, and his being twice elected selectmen in a town largely Democratic shows the esteem in which he was held. He was thought- ful and tender of his wife and family, even to the very last, when pain and suffering had claimed him for their own.

Mr. Hart was not a professor of Christianity, but his wife was a member of the Baptist Church, and he contributed liberally for the support of the cause she loved. But he was a believer in God, read the Bible carefully and had been heard to remark that "all nature gave evidence that there was a God." A few days previous to his death, on bidding farewell to a friend, he said,-" Good-bye, I hope we shall meet in a better world, if there is one, and I believe there is."

All in all, Mr. Hart was an honest, upright, con- scieutious and moral man, and the world was better for his having lived in it.

DAVID DURRELL.

The Durrells are of English descent, and the head of the family is a knight, who lived in a manor- house, whose erection dates back to the fourteenth century. (See biography of Thomas Durrell.) Among the men of note in America bearing the name may be mentioned Judge Daniel M. Durrell, of Dover, N. H., and the yet more famous Judge Durrell, of Louisiana, who are nearly related to the branch that settled in Bradford.

Nicholas Durrell was born in those days, just sub- sequently to the Revolution, when the depreciation of Continental currency had caused a stringency of times and a shrinkage of values of which we now have not the faintest conception.

The young lad was reared in the midst of the diffi- culties incident to a pioneer life. He came to Brad- ford with his young wife, Polly Batchelder, of North- wood, on horseback, over the rough roads, in which rocks, logs and swamps caused slow and tiresome progress, and with brave hearts they set themselves to make a home out of the wild piece of land on which they settled. Not idle were they, but coura- geously and industriously they devoted themselves to the task before them, and, as the result of their labors, there was developed a splendid farm-the finest in many miles. He was a model farmer, with an eye for a good animal, and took pleasure and pride in his flocks and herds, his fields and his buildings, and many remember the time when "no one raised

so good produce, no one drove so fine horses, no one owned such broad lands as Nicholas Durrell."

The old homestead is near Bradford Centre; it has now (1885) passed into other hands, and his descend- ants are scattered ; but " Nicholas, his wife and others of his race now sleep in the small iron-picketed grave-yard on the opposite side of the road, and no male of the name resides in the town."

Nicholas Durrell was an old-time Whig, a man of fine appearance, of social ways and courteous bearing, esteemed by his acquaintances, loved by his family, a happy, honest, successful agriculturist, and, although unable to write his name, left the impress of his strong character, which cannot be effaced. He was a prominent member of the First Congregational Church, for which he did and gave mnuch. He died in September, 1844, at Saratoga, N. Y., aged sixty- five. His wife survived him many years, dying at the advanced age of ninety-two. Their children were Samuel, David, Levi (now living in Surry, N. H.) and Mary (Mrs. Levi O. Colby).

David Durrell, son of Nicholas and Polly (Batchel- der) Durrell, was born July 20, 1807, on the home- stead of his father in Bradford, and was a life-long resident of the town. He had a good common-school education, his quick mental powers making such rapid advancement that when only sixteen years old he was qualified to teach school, and for ten consecu- tive years he taught winter terms with flattering results and great popularity. Inheriting in an intensified degree his father's love of agriculture and fine stock, he remained on the home place until he was of age, and purchased the farm, which became his home, for six hundred dollars; married Elvira French, who died, leaving one daughter, Lavinia (Mrs. George Baker). He married, November 15, 1836, Polly P. Colby, daughter of Samuel and Sally Patch. They had three children,-Lizzie S. (Mrs. Walter S. Leach, of Methuen, Mass., whose only child, Lizzie Etta, married William W. Spalding, resides in Lawrence, Mass., and has two children : Helen D. and John W.), Mary Elvira (deceased) and Helen F. G. (Mrs. J. J. Crippen, now residing in Salina, Kan., having three children : Henry D., J. J., Jr., and Helen E.).

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 53

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