USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Newfields > History of Newfields, New Hampshire, 1638-1911 > Part 38
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REV. JAMES PIKE.
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found in some pulpit in or about Washington, rendering gratui- tous and most acceptable service."
In 1860 he was appointed presiding elder of the Concord district.
He accepted November 1, 1862, the unsolicited appointment as colonel of the sixteenth New Hampshire Regiment, and served in the Department of the Gulf under Maj. Gen. N. P. Banks. The regiment was actively engaged in the defence of New Orleans, the capture and occupation of Fort Burton, and the memorable siege and conquest of Port Hudson. He was mustered out with his regiment at the expiration of service August 20, 1863.
Subsequent to his army service he held few pastorates, but was presiding elder twelve years, serving upon each of the three districts of the New Hampshire Conference. During this time he preached in every Methodist pulpit in the state and in many churches of other denominations.
He was elected by the Conference a delegate to the General Conferences of 1860, 1864, 1868 and 1872. He was persuaded to accept the nomination of his party for governor of the state in 1871. There was no election by the people and in the legis- lature he was defeated by two votes.
In 1873 Wesleyan University conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
He was appointed by the bishops the New Hampshire dele- gate to the Ecumenical Council of Methodist bodies, meeting at Cincinnati in 1876, and also to the centennial celebration of American Methodism at Baltimore in 1884. In 1886 his health becoming seriously impaired he retired from active public service, and spent his later years at his home1 in Newfields.
A few hours before his death, July 26, 1895, with impressive gesture and solemn emphasis he pronounced the apostolic bene- diction, and that act, at once invocation and farewell, closed a useful and honored life.
Rev. Winthrop Fifield, M.D., was the son of Capt. Win- throp and Mehitable (Pettengill) Fifield, and born in Franklin, January 3, 1806; studied medicine with Dr. Jesse Morrill and practiced three years in Pittsfield; and later, theology with Rev. Jonathan Curtis of Pittsfield, and was licensed to preach by the Derryfield Association September 20, 1836. He was
1 The old Brodhead home which he purchased in 1868.
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ordained at Epsom, May 10, 1837, and was pastor there, 1837- 46; East Concord, 1847-50; and Newfields, 1852-62, dying there May 9, 1862. He was a man of excellent Christian spirit and thoroughly consecrated to his work.
He married (1) Sophia Garland of Franklin, October 7, 1833, who died at Pittsfield, November 19, 1836, and (2) Sarah Ann Olivia, dau. of Col. Jonathan and Sarah (Harvey) Piper of North- field, at Epping, January 17, 1842.
Rev. Joseph Bartlett, son of Samuel Colcord Bartlett, was born in Salisbury January 26, 1816; graduated at Dartmouth College, 1835; was teacher, Phillips Andover Academy, 1837-38; tutor, Dartmouth College, 1838-41; graduated at Andover Theological Seminary, 1843; licensed to preach by the Hopkinton Association October 10, 1843; acting pastor, Waterville, Me., 1846-47; ordained an evangelist, Buxton, Me., October 7, 1847, and acting pastor, 1847-67; acting pastor, Newfields, December 1868-77. Retiring from the ministry he was in North Spring- field, Mo., 1877-78, and at Gorham, Me., 1878, till his death August 12, 1882. He was scholarly and greatly endeared himself to his people in Newfields. He married Margaret, daughter of Capt. Robert and Mary (Marble) Motley of Gor- ham, Me., October 26, 1847. She died at Westbrook, Me.
Rev. James Hill Fitts, twenty years pastor of the Congrega- tional church, and the industrious and persevering gatherer of the material included in this volume, deserves an extended notice. He was the son of John and Abigail (Lane) Fitts, and a descendant of Robert Fitts the American ancestor of the family who settled in Salisbury, Mass., in 1635, and was born in Candia, March 3, 1829; received his education in the public schools of his native town, Pembroke Academy, Normal Institute of Merrimack, and also Lancaster, Mass .; was teacher several years in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts and in Ashby Academy; and studied theology at Bangor Theological Semi- nary, 1855-58 and later took special studies at Andover. He was ordained an evangelist at Candia, November 2, 1859, and had pastorates at Boxboro, Mass., 1858-62; West Boylston, Mass., 1862-70; Topsfield, Mass., 1871-80; and Newfields, 1880-1900. He served the Christian Commission, 1863-64, and on school boards for twenty years. He was a member of the New Hampshire legislature in 1895, and through his influence the name of the town was changed to the original Newfields.
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He was a trustee of the Newfields Library, and a member of the New Hampshire Historical and New England Historic-Geneal- ogical Societies, also for thirteen years scribe of the Pascataqua Association of Congregational Ministers.
He loved the work of the ministry, esteemed it a great privi- lege to deliver to the people the gospel messages of salvation, and according to his own words, made it his highest ambition to be a good preacher of the Word. Though not unmindful of manifest successes, he did not delay to count them up, but was content to render his most efficient service and leave results in the care of the Heavenly Master he sought so well to serve!
He was also a great lover of science and history, and his researches were thorough and extensive. His leisure hours were largely given to them.
He married January 1, 1862, Mary Celina, daughter of Coffin Moore and Dolly (Pillsbury) French, of Candia, who survived him.
He died suddenly of heart disease November 22, 1900, greatly lamented not only by his own people, but the entire community, and a host of friends widely scattered. His funeral occurred November 27, and was largely attended by the teachers and children of the public schools, townsmen, parishoners and the clergy and friends from other towns. A brief service was held at the home, and the more formal and impressive one in the church where he had so long and faithfully taught the people. A service was also held in the church in Candia, and his body was laid away in the Hill Cemetery of his native town to await the morning of the resurrection!
His publications were: (1) Nineteen Annual School Reports; (2) Genealogy of the Fitts Family, 1869; (3) Commemorative Services of the Semi-Centennial Anniversary of the S. S., West Boylston, 1870; (4) Manual of Congregational Church, West Boylston, 1870; (5) A Sketch of South Newmarket, [Newfields] 1882-in County History; (6) Historical Address at the Reded- ication of the Brick Meeting-House, West Boylston, 1890; (7) Lane Genealogies, 3 vols., 1891, 1897, 1900-associated with Rev. Jacob Chapman, in Vol. I.
Hon. John Montgomery Broadhead, M.D., second son of Rev. John and Mary (Dodge) Brodhead, was born at Canaan, N. H., November 11, 1803. When he was six years of age the family settled in what is now Newfields, where his boyhood
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was spent. Receiving his preparatory education at the New- market Wesleyan Academy, he studied medicine, took his degree of M.D. at Dartmouth Medical College in 1826, and began practice of his profession at Deerfield, N. H. He married Mary Josephine Waterman, only daughter of Rev. Thomas Waterman, formerly of London, England. Finding he was not robust enough physically to endure the hardship incident to his profession in this climate, in 1830 he removed to Wash- ington, D. C., and was several years in the treasury department as clerk, chief clerk and acting second comptroller. He was appointed in 1853 second comptroller and served in this capacity four years. He also held responsible positions in the city government, serving as councilman, alderman and commissioner under the Emancipation Act, April 16, 1862. He was a strong unionist when most of his associates were disloyal. In 1863 he was again appointed second comptroller, whose duties by reason of the Civil War had become very exacting and impor- tant. "He had the final adjustment and settlement of all accounts and claims arising in the army and navy, the pension and Indian offices. In a single year these claims amounted to $1,300,000,000. A digest of some 1,500 of his decisions was made and became authority with the department."
He filled this office with signal ability till 1876, when he tendered his resignation to President Grant and retired from public service.
From early childhood a lover of good books and a tireless reader, possessing a singularly retentive memory, his mind was stored with valuable knowledge that was at instant command. Of a calm, sunny, amiable disposition and a ready wit he was a delightful companion, a man of pure character and unimpeach- able integrity.
He died at Newfields February 22, 1880, and his wife Feb- ruary 13, 1900. Both Doctor and Mrs. Brodhead were buried with their three sons in the Congressional cemetery, Wash- ington, D. C.
Amos Paul was the third son of Nathaniel Paul, a millwright who came early in 1800 from Eliot, Me., where his ancestors had lived since the middle of the seventeenth century, and settled in what is now Newfields, where he married Mary, daughter of Dr. John and Elizabeth (Shute) Marsters. He was born April 29, 1810. He remained at home attending school till
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
1827, when owing to the death of his father he was thrown upon his own resources, and apprenticed himself to James Derby of Exeter, where he stayed for five years, learning the cabinet maker's trade. He then returned to Newfields and went into the foundry of Drake, Paul & Co., as a pattern maker.
At the end of two years with three associates he purchased the foundry, and was chosen its president. The first year being somewhat unsatisfactory, Mr. Paul suggested that the entire management of the company should be given into his hands for one year, which was done, with the result that the foundry was well established and dividends soon began to be paid. It was burned; but was immediately rebuilt which was due to Mr. Paul's energy and strong will, for none of the insurance was ever paid.
In 1846 The Swamscot Machine Company was incorporated by Mr. Paul, the management of the two companies being in his hands. By 1865 the Machine Company had absorbed and purchased the foundry, and constant additions were made to the plant which was located near the river. Two hundred and fifty to three hundred men were employed and the village had the stir and bustle of a prosperous place. Mills which were fast being put up in that part of the country caused an ever-increas- ing demand for machinery, which gave The Swamscot Machine Company all the business they could do. They manufactured various kinds of machinery as well as boilers, engines and wrought- iron pipe, and from this kind of pipe small fortunes were made, this company being one of the last in New England to manu- facture it.
Mr. Paul was for nearly fifty years, president, agent, treas- urer and the controlling power of the company, which stood in the front ranks of the early New England manufacturies. In addition to these duties he was for twenty-six years a director in the Boston & Maine Railroad to which he gave more or less time. An early Abolitionist, and later a staunch Republican, Mr. Paul was a presidential elector in 1868. He also served his town as representative, and he had its interests ever at heart. It was largely due to his encouragement and help that the Universalist church was built, and he was always one of its liberal supporters.
Mr. Paul lived in the village on a farm which with his garden
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was his chief recreation. He was very hospitable and every one was warmly welcomed at his house.
Mr. Paul died at his home January 31, 1896.
His first wife, whom he married December, 1836, was Mary A., daughter of Moses Randlet of Epping, N. H. Their three children were Mary, Amos and Charles R., all of whom are deceased. Mrs. Paul died May, 1860.
His second wife was Harriet A, daughter of Thomas Randlet, of Newburyport, who died April 13, 1894, leaving two children Isabel and Harriet.
Green Clark Fowler was born in Newfields February 27, 1823, son of John Cutts and Mary W. (Nutter) Fowler. He came of an old, highly honored and honorable English ancestry, and represented the eighth generation of the Fowler family in this country. He acquired his early education in the schools of Newfields. In 1849 he entered the employ of the Concord & Portsmouth Railroad, and by his industry, energy and manifest capability worked his way up to the position of assistant road master, residing meanwhile in Raymond.
Mr. Fowler married September 25, 1859, Sarah M. Hall, who was born in Lee, September 25, 1825, and died August 25, 1877. She was a descendant of the Hall family so prominent in early Newfields affairs. He married (2) Ellen A. Locke of Newfields November 1, 1882.
On account of physical disabilities Mr. Fowler retired from active business in 1873. Soon after his second marriage he returned to his native town, spending the remainder of his days in comfortable leisure.
His second wife died in May, 1893, and he, December 1, 1902, leaving one son, James E., who was born in Raymond June 17, 1861, and married in Philadelphia December 31, 1895, Elizabeth C. Zingraf, a native of Germany, and has since resided in New- fields.
William Robinson Hobbs was the third child of Robinson and Lavinia (Hale) Hobbs, and was born in Norway, Me., June 3, 1823. His mother was the daughter of Major Elijah Hale, a descendant of Hatevil Hale, brother of Deacon John Hale of Dover. His father was the third son of Amos Hobbs, who had seen considerable service in the continental army, and at the close of the Revolutionary War, emigrated from Hop- kinton, Mass., to Maine. He stopped in Falmouth for a
WILLIAM R. HOBBS.
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time, but soon removed to Gray. In 1786 he, with four others, began the settlement of the town of Norway. The first year he cleared some land and built a house and the next spring he and his young wife moved into it. She was the daughter of Ezekiel Cushing who settled in Falmouth, now Portland, early in the eighteenth century and held many offices under the colonial government.
The early life of the subject of this sketch was that of the ordinary New England boy of his day. In the summer he worked on his father's farm and in the winter attended the district school. Later he attended the private school of Rev. Samuel Cobb who was famous as an instructor in that part of Maine seventy years ago.
After completing his course Mr. Hobbs taught school for a few years and was a very successful teacher, but as he intended to engage in business he removed to Andover, Mass., in 1845, and entered the employ of Davis & Furber with whom he learned the machinist's trade. He remained in Andover several years. In 1851 Mr. Hobbs went to Durham, N. H., and opened a machine shop of his own. His business was the manufacture of steel spindles for cotton and woolen mills. He was successful from the first and for more than thirty years was engaged in making spindles for many of the New England mills.
After twenty years of business in Durham, in 1872 he removed to this town where he continued the manufacture of spindles until failing health compelled him to retire from business.
He married December 16, 1852, Dolly Collins Hale of Athens, Me. She was the daughter of Andrew Hale, a lineal descendant of Deacon John Hale of Dover, and Dolly Collins, a lineal descend- ant of Quaker John Collins of Salisbury, Mass. They resided in Durham until Mr. Hobbs removed his business to this town. Two daughters were born to them in Durham-Edna Adelaide who married George S. Paul and lives in this town, and Bertha Janette who married John E. Young and lived in Exeter, N. H., where she died August 24, 1906.
Mr. Hobbs died April 28, 1894, and his wife January 1, 1907. Mr. Hobbs was a life-long Republican. He represented the town in the legislature in 1879. His marked characteristics were his business judgment and industry which made him one of the substantial citizens of the town, his ingrained integrity and dignity which made him respected by all who knew him,
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and his kindness and sociability which made him a good citizen and neighbor. He also possessed that indefinable substance which gives weight to a man's simplest utterance, and makes him the wise counselor and valued friend.
Mr. and Mrs. Hobbs were life-long Universalists and generous supporters of their church, but their interests were not limited to their church. They were always ready to help any cause calculated to promote the public welfare. They were great readers and enjoyed traveling. Their home was to them the happiest of all places.
Charles E. Smith, youngest son of Daniel R. and Deborah (Wiggin) Smith, was born January 5, 1831, in Newfields on the Piscassic farm which had been the home of several generations of his ancestors, and there he spent his boyhood. Later he became interested and active in local politics, and held many of the minor town offices. He was tax collector, 1859, and representative, 1868. For several years he was proprietor of the "Shute House," Newfields village, and later of the "Kimball House," Dover. He served as state senator from the Dover District, 1879-80. Returning to Newfields a few years later, he conducted the "Elm House" for a time, then retired to his farm in Piscassic where he passed the remaining years of his life.
Mr. Smith was a regular attendant, and frequently speaker, at meetings of the Rockingham County Republican Club and other political gatherings. He attended as delegate sixteen Republican county conventions, and presided over more than one. He was a member of the school board for ten years, and was for many years moderator of Newfields, a position for which he was unusually well qualified, and died in office.
He was an enthusiastic member of the Grange subordinate and Pomona, and had a wide acquaintance and many friends.
He married December, 1865, A. Augusta, daughter of Jonathan and Sally (Neal) Burley, and died at his home April 30, 1909. His wife died March 31, 1903, leaving no children.
Dr. Albert H. Varney, son of Calvin and Eliza (Nowell) Varney, was born in North Berwick, Me., March 27, 1836. His parents on both sides were descendants from reputable English families. His mother, Eliza Nowell, was a daughter of Mark Nowell, Esq., whose ancestors came to this country
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DR. ALBERT H. VARNEY.
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early in the sixteenth century, settling in York County, Maine, where many of his descendants are now living.
Doctor Varney was educated at the Phillips School in Boston, and Berwick Academy in South Berwick, Me. He studied medicine with the skilled and then celebrated Dr. Moses Sweat of Parsonsfield, Me., and was graduated from the Medical Department of Harvard University, and later took a post- graduate course at the Baltimore (Md.) Medical College. He began the practice of medicine in Chicago, Ill., where he remained one year, and in January, 1860, came to New Hampshire and settled in South Newmarket, the present Newfields, and has resided here all his professional life. He soon acquired an extensive and lucrative practice in this and surrounding towns, and established a reputation as one of the leading physicians in Rockingham County, for several years having an office in Exeter where he had a lucrative business among its leading citizens. When the Cottage Hospital was founded he was among its earliest supporters, and from its opening has served on its staff of physicians. Although largely occupied with his professional duties he has yet found time for extensive reading, and has taken an active part in all things pertaining to the interest of the town. Broad and progressive, he has always been identified with the Republican party in politics, and has been chosen at various times to discharge the duties of important public trusts which he has faithfully done. He has filled the position of notary public twenty years, justice of the peace and quorum thirty-five years, town clerk for twenty consecutive years, member of the board of selectmen three years, chairman of the board of health ten years, superintending school committee seven years, and represented the town in the legislature of 1871. He was an industrious legislator, serving as chairman of the special committee on the bill to regulate the sale of medicines and poisons. He was commissioned October 2, 1867, assistant surgeon of the second regiment of New Hampshire militia and served three years.
From his character one would expect to find Doctor Varney in accord with the feeling of universal brotherhood, and we find him not only a member of the Rising Sun Lodge, No. 47, A.F. and A.M., but also a member of Fraternity Lodge, No. 56, I.O.O.F., in which he was a charter member, and has occupied the highest position.
27
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Doctor Varney is a good representative of his profession, and one of the active, successful men of Newfields. In Jan- uary, 1857, he was married to Miss Olive J. Fernald, daughter of Hercules Nelson Fernald and Melinda Bracket Chadbourne whose ancestors came from England in the sixteenth century and settled in Berwick, Me. They have three children-Isa- bella J., born July 19, 1858, wife of the late Daniel C. Wiggin, one of Newfields' staunch citizens; Ida Alice, born August 1, 1864, wife of James Stuart Ward of Wytheville, Va .; and Edith Charles, born August 31, 1870, a prominent physician of Lynn, Mass.
H. Jenness Paul was born in South Newmarket, now New- fields, September 23, 1839, the youngest of ten children of Samuel and Martha (Tarlton) Paul. His father was born in Eliot, Me., September 7, 1789, and died in South Newmarket September 3, 1878. His mother was born in Newmarket April 18, 1796, and died February 19, 1883. His paternal grand- parents were Amos and Sally (Dixon) Paul who were born and died in Eliot, dates unknown. His maternal grandparents were Samuel Tarlton, born in Newmarket December 11, 1769, and died in the same house in which he was born July 10, 1855, and Jerusha Hopkins born in Brewster, Mass., July 16, 1774, and died July 3, 1854. She was a lineal descendant of Stephen Hopkins of the Mayflower.
The subject of this sketch April 2, 1855, entered the employ of the Swamscot Machine Company as an apprentice, and at the expiration of his term of service attended the Putnam Free School of Newburyport, Mass., for a year. He enlisted in Company A, Eleventh New Hampshire Volunteers August 13 and left for the seat of war September 11, 1862. He re-enlisted October 15, 1862, in the band of the Second Brigade, Second Division Ninth Artillery Company and was mustered out June 4, 1865, returning home June 11.
He married September 23, 1865, Mattie B. Smith, born May 12, 1845, and died January 29, 1900. She was the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Burley) Smith of Beech Hill, Exeter, N. H. Two children were born of this marriage, a son born July 6, 1869, who died in infancy, and Edith, born September 6, 1871, who married September 1, 1892, Charles S. Strout, born in Winterport, Me., November 16, 1859, son of Rev. Silas and Nancy (Moore) Strout. Three children have been born to
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GEORGE E. HILTON.
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them-a son who died in infancy, Edwin M., born July 30,1895, and died August 7, 1907, and Elizabeth P., born November 25, 1899, and died December 2, 1904.
Mr. Strout was a teacher in the Biddeford (Me.) schools for sixteen years and is now a florist in the same city.
The subject of this sketch was elected March, 1872, a member of the board of selectmen and in March, 1873, was chosen repre- sentative to the legislature. He was chosen March, 1884, town clerk and resigned after a service of twenty-three years. He was appointed postmaster March 28, 1899, and resigned January 15, 1907. He is a member of the G. A. R. and the local lodge of Odd Fellows, and a Republican in politics.
George Edward Hilton, son of John and Sally Hilton, was born in Lynn, Mass., June 13, 1841. He is a worthy descend- ant of a noble ancestry, the ninth generation from Edward Hil- ton, the first settler of Newfields and vicinity, and inherits many of the excellent traits of preceding generations. He was edu- cated in the public schools of Lynn, graduating from its High School.
Mr. Hilton is a veteran of the Civil War having served in 1862-63 as second lieutenant in Company I, Eighth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers.
From 1866-84 he was a successful business man in Chicago. He received the highest Masonic honors and was prominent in political life. In 1884 he returned to Lynn and resides in the house in which he was born. He continues his interest in Masonic affairs and is also deeply interested in military organi- zations, and a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston. He has a fine physique, a cultivated mind, is affable in manner, and a lover of the beautiful in nature and art. He takes much pride and pleasure in the possession of the homestead of the first Edward Hilton, which portion of the original grant has not passed from the Hilton name in nearly three hundred years. During the warmer months he spends much of his time in Newfields, beautifying and decorating the ancestral home which he has made an interesting museum.
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