History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 108

Author: Hazlett, Charles A
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold
Number of Pages: 1390

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He married Miss Emma Shirley Goodsoe, a daughter of Augustus O. Goodsoe, who was a resident of Kittery, Maine, served formerly as a carpenter in the United States Navy. Mr. and Mrs. Rundlett have three children, namely: Dorothy F., Harold G., and Elizabeth. The family have a comfortable residence at No. 91 Wibird Street. They attend the Baptist Church.

WILLIAM H. SLEEPER, attorney at law, of Exeter, N. H., was born in Exeter, N. H., January 27, 1886, a son of Otis H. and Emma C. (Hobbs) Sleeper. The father and mother of our subject are natives respectively of South Weare, N. H., and Deerfield, N. H. They now reside in Exeter, where Otis H. Sleeper is engaged in business as a jeweler. Their children are: Almon L., a student at Norwich University, at Northfield, Vt .; Perley B., also a student at that institution; and Otis H., Jr., who is employed in Exeter, N. H.

William H. Sleeper was graduated from the Exeter High School and later from Phillips Exeter Academy. He then attended Boston University, being a member of the class of 1910, and afterwards continued the study of law in the office of Attorney-general Eastman. He was admitted to the bar in Massachusetts in August, 1910, and to the bar of New Hampshire in June, 1911. In the following year he opened his office in Exeter, where he has already made a good beginning in his profession.

Mr. Sleeper was married in October, 1912, to Miss Florence C. Clark, a native of Wells, Me., and daughter of Charles C. and Sarah Clark, her father being a farmer and contractor. Mr. and Mrs. Sleeper are the parents of a daughter, Emma C., and a son, Charles C.

Mr. Sleeper is a Republican in politics. He has performed useful service in public office, having been a member of the school board four years. He is now treasurer of Robinson Female Seminary. His society affiliations are with Star in the East Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; the Royal Arcanum and the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.

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HOWARD L. GORDON, who is engaged in the real estate and insurance business at Salem, N. H., is a successful business man and is held in high esteem by his many acquaintances throughout this sec- tion of Rockingham County. He was born in Salem, August 3, 1872, and comes of an old and respected family of the community.

Jansach Gordon, great-grandfather of the subject of this record, was born in 1775, and died in 1852. He was a blacksmith in Salem. He married Mary Sanders, and they reared the following children: Mary, Charles, Oliver, Abigal, John, and Earl C.

Earl C. Gordon, the next in line of descent to Howard L. Gordon, was born in Salem, N. H., in 1804. During his younger days he was a butcher, but later returned home and followed farming and blacksmith- ing. He was a man of pronounced views on the temperance question, being strongly opposed to the liquor traffic. He married Lydia Keys, and their issue was as follows: Lewis, who died in infancy; Abbie F., who became the wife of E. S. Woodbury ; Bert G .; George C .; and Milly, who married J. E. Sloan.

George C. Gordon was born in Salem, N. H., May 27, 1835, and after ending his schooling, engaged in the grocery business, continuing from 1864 to 1868. He then started in the insurance business, which he has continued off and on ever since. In January, 1880, he was ap- pointed inspector of customs at Boston, and efficiently discharged the duties of that office until he resigned in 1911. During the years 1865, 1867, and 1868, he served on the board of selectmen; in 1876 and 1877 he represented his district in the state legislature. Mr. Gordon married Hannah M. Woodbury, daughter of Benjamin Woodbury, and the fol- lowing children were born to them: Minerva G., wife of Charles W. Chase; George G., who was born May 22, 1861, and died in 1908; Ed- ward L., born November 20, 1864, is in the engraving business at Salem Center ; and Howard L. The mother of this family died February 13, 1910.

Howard L. Gordon received his educational training in the public schools and in Pinkerton Academy. He then engaged in. the manufac- ture of heels for a time, after which he started in the real estate and insurance business with his father, who returned in 1911. The business has grown steadily and is on a firm footing. In 1903 and 1904 he repre- sented his town in the state legislature, serving his constituents with marked ability. Mr. Gordon was united in marriage with Miss Laura L. Smith, and they have two children: Earl Gordon, born December 10, 1895; and Dorothy, born April 22, 1898.

LEONARD D. HUNT. The printing business at Exeter is well represented, and one of the leading establishments is that known as the Leonard D. Hunt Print Shop, which was established by Mr. Hunt in 1900. and is now a partnership concern engaged in printing shoe box labels for shoe manufacturers and in general job printing. From a comparatively small beginning, the business has been expanded into one of large importance. Mr. Hunt was born at Bradford, Mass., March 16, 1873, and is a son of Ira and Carrie (Flanders) Hunt. The father, Ira Hunt, was born at Kingston, N. H., and is now retired and a resi- dent of Exeter, N. H. He has been twice married, first to Carrie Flan- ders, who died in 1880, and second to Georgia Fendersen, a native of

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Maine, who died in 1901. Three children were born to his first union : Harry, Leonard D., and Lizzie, Leonard D. being the only survivor.

Leonard D. Hunt attended the public schools of Haverhill, and from the high school went into a printing office, where he remained for two years and then became manager of the printing plant of G. H. Fellows at Brentwood, continuing there for eleven years. He came to Exeter in 1900, establishing his present business, which he conducted alone until 1908, in which year he admitted Wilbur A. Littlefield to partnership. This association remained in force for five years. In 1912 John M. Rowe, of Epping, N. H., became Mr. Hunt's partner, and so continues. They make a specialty of the work connected with the shoe industry, averaging three million shoe box labels monthly. During its fourteen years of existence the business has been wonderfully developed, and as its growth demanded, extensive alterations and additions have been made to the plant, which occupies three floors of their own building on Main Street. Twelve presses of modern make are a part of the equip- ment, as also are bronzing machines and other aids to the printer's craft, and the highest grade of printing is the result.

Mr. Hunt was married in 1899 to Miss Edna Hamilton, who was born at Hartford, Conn., and died in 1910. She was a daughter of William H. and Edna (Dow) Hamilton. Two children survive: Mary C., and Edward H. In 1912 Mr. Hunt married Miss Winnie Daniels, a native of Ashland, N. H., and a daughter of Charles H. and Mina (Whitten) Daniels. Mrs. Hunt was reared in the Congregational church, but Mr. Hunt and his children are members of the Episcopal church. In political affiliation Mr. Hunt is a Republican. He stands high in fraternal organizations, being past high priest of St. Alban Chapter, Royal Arch Masons ; past master of Olivet Council; a member of De Witt Clinton Commandery, and of the Eastern Star, of which he is past patron. He belongs also to the Royal Arcanum, and the National Grange, and is an officer in the Grand Council, R. & S. M., of New Hamp- shire. On account of the thoroughness of detail in plant equipment and the high grade of the work done, Mr. Hunt is considered one of the most capable and reliable printers in the state.

JOHN JACOB BROWN, a well-known and respected citizen of Hampton Falls, was born in this town, April 24, 1833, a son of Joseph C. and Hannah D. (Berry) Brown. His paternal grandfather was Jacob Brown, who had four children, namely: Thomas, of whom we have no special record; Nathan W., who was a merchant in Newburyport, mar- ried Sarah Chase, by whom he had four sons, and died in 1836; Joseph C., grandfather of the subject of this sketch, and John B., who married Sarah M. Leavitt and died in 1858, being at that time president of the Weare Bank.

Joseph C. Brown, father of our subject, also born in Hampton Falls, was a farmer by occupation. He met an accidental death in 1838 by having a rock fall on him. He married his cousin, Hannah Berry, of Chichester, and they had two sons and one daughter, namely: John Jacob ; James D., who married Sarah Robinson, and Sarah A., who mar- ried John Shaw, of Pittsfield.

John Jacob Brown, in his youth, attended the public schools, and afterwards Rockingham Academy, and Lewis W. Clark's Academy. In

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1861, in company with his brother, James D., he engaged in buying produce and wool for the Boston market, which occupation he carried on for fifty years. He was also a shoe freighter and carried on his large farm, besides operating a saw and shingle mill. For forty years he served as clerk of the Christian Church. In 1858 Mr. Brown married Mary G. Robinson, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah (Dearborn) Robin- son, of Exeter and North Hampton. They were the parents of children as follows: Arthur; Alice, who married D. H. Elkins; Annie, at home; Winnifred, at home; Edward, born August 2, 1866, who married Marion Cram and has two children, Elizabeth G. and Dorothy B .; Percy G .; Mabel, who married William Hunter; Grace D., who married Joseph W. Trombla ; and Maude E., who married James W. Clark.

JULIUS W. SYRENIUS, D. O., osteopathic physician, whose office and residence are located at 84 Pleasant Street, Portsmouth, N. H., was born in Helsingfors, Finland, May 14, 1865, the third son of six children born to Victor E. and Valborg (nee Johansdotter) Syrenius. His father was a son of Rev. Adam Syrenius, minister of the Lutheran Church in Letala, Abo, Finland, and master painter by occupation. He was educated in the public schools of his native land, and graduated in medicine at the University of Helsingfors, Finland. Subsequently he served three years in the Finnish army, two years as interne in the army hospital and one year as physical instructor in the army. He began the practice of his profession in Stockholm, Sweden, where he remained until 1893. In that year he came to the United States, first locating in Boston, Mass., where he remained until March, 19II. He then came to Portsmouth, N. H., where he has since been engaged in the success- ful practice of his profession. He was married in Stockholm, Sweden, 1892, to Miss Anna L. Anderson. He is a graduate of the Columbia College of Osteopathy, Chicago, Illinois, and a member of St. John's Lodge, No. I, A. F. & A. M., and Portsmouth Athletic Club. Since coming to this city he has made many warm friends and is esteemed both in his profession and as a citizen. In politics he is a Republican.

JOHN R. RONALD, proprietor of the Exeter Custom Laundry, conducts a business which he has seen profitably expand since he estab- lished it in September, 1909. He is one of the recognized business men of the city. His birth took place at St. John, New Brunswick, May 24, 1864, and he is a son of John Reid and Elizabeth (Brown) Ronald.

John Reid Ronald was born in Scotland, but it is probable that he went to New Brunswick in early manhood, for he married there and spent the rest of his life at Glassville. He owned and cultivated land and at the same time was bookkeeper for a business firm with which he was connected continuously for twenty-seven years. He was twice married, first to Elizabeth Brown, and after her death to Marjorie King. To the first marriage three sons were born; John R., Andrew, and Alexander. To his second marriage two children were born, Robert and Catherine, and they, with their mother, still live in New Brunswick.

John R. Ronald had a small amount of school training at West Glass- ville, N. B., before he went to Scotland, in his thirteenth year, where he remained five years, and during that time went to the same school which his father had attended. At the age of eighteen years he rejoined

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his father in New Brunswick, and for two years assisted on the home farm, and then started out for himself, chosing emigration to the United States as a beginning. He spent the next six years in the lumber regions near Marinette, Wis., during five years of this period being in the employ of one firm. For two years he was foreman for the Ingalls, White Rapids and Northern Railroad Logging Company, and for one year was foreman for the Holmes & Son Logging Company. The life of a lumberman is a hard one, and after this long time in the woods Mr. Ronald decided to learn a trade that would subject him to less ex- posure, making choice of shoemaking, which he followed for fifteen years. He came then to Exeter, where business conditions seemed to warrant the establishing of a first-class laundry, and the soundness of his judgment has been proved by his success.

Mr. Ronald was married May 23, 1900, to Miss Agnes Miller, who was born at Exeter, and is a daughter of Alexander and Mary (Johnston) Miller. The mother of Mrs. Ronald was born in the north of Ireland and is now deceased. The father afterward married her sister, Eleanor Johnston, who survives. His two daughters were born to the first union ; Agnes, and Jane, the latter of whom is the wife of Fred Vorck. Alexander Miller, who still survives, was born in Scotland, and when he came first to Exeter worked for such well-known business men as the Gilman brothers, the Merrils, and the Hurds, for twenty years was janitor for all of the buildings of Phillips Exeter Academy, and also was fireman and engineer for the Exeter Machine Works. Mr. and Mrs. Ronald have two children: Alexander Miller, and Mary Catherine. The family attends the Phillips Congregational Church at Exeter. In politics Mr. Ronald votes with the Republican party. He belongs to the Masonic lodge at Exeter, and to the Order of United Workmen at Lynn, Mass.

GEORGE D. COTTON resides on the old homestead which has been in the family name for more than a century, located in North Hampton, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. In association with his son, Fred Cotton, he follows general farming and dairying, and deals extensively in cattle. He was born in North Hampton, November 21, 1845, and is a son of Jonathan and Mary (Sleeper) Cotton.

Jonathan Cotton was born in North Hampton and always followed farming. He was a strict adherent of Democratic principles in politics. His wife, Mary Sleeper in maiden life, was born in Rye, New Hampshire. and their marriage was blessed with the following children: Sarah, wife of Orin Foye; Alvina, wife of Leavit Dalton; George D., and Morris, who makes his home with his brother.

George D. Cotton received a limited education in the common schools, and from earliest boyhood has been engaged in farm work. He has always been a trader in cattle and it is safe to say there is no beter judge of a herd in this region. He handles Jerseys, Holsteins and native breeds. and has met with more than ordinary success. He has taken an earnest interest in public affairs, and always is found in support of those projects tending toward the improvement of the community. He is a Democrat, and served numerous terms as road supervisor.

Mr. Cotton was united in marriage with Miss Addie Bunker of Rye, who was one of the following children born to Lemuel and Sarah (Towle)

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

Bunker: Mary; Julia, wife of Edward Balch; Sarah; and Addie. But one child is the issue of this union, Fred Cotton, who married Theodosia Garland of Rye. Religiously, the family attends the Christian Church. Mr. Cotton is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Hampton.

JOSIAH BARTLETT EASTMAN, a well known and substantial citizen of the town of Hampstead, N. H., was born in this town, April II, 1865, a son of Dr. Josiah Calef and Mary Helen ( Harris) Eastman. His father, born in Louden, N. H., April 22, 1811, was a son of Dr. Joseph and Miriam (Calef) Eastman ; grandson of Timothy and Abigail (Gale) Eastman, and of Joseph and Miriam ( Bartlett) Calef ; and a great grandson of Colonel Gale of East Kingston, and of Hon. Josiah Bartlett, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was president, 1790-'91, and first governor of New Hampshire, 1792-93. Joseph Eastman was graduated from Dartmouth Medical College in 1806, and died at Meredith, N. H., at the age of thirty-three years.

Josiah C. Eastman, father of the subject of this sketch, obtained a pre- liminary education at the Kingston and the Atkinson (N. H.) and the Saco ( Me.) Academies, after which he taught in district schools. He commenced the study of medicine in 1833 with Drs. L. S. Bartlett and T. Bassett, of Kingston, N. H .; attended three courses of lectures at Dartmouth Medical College and was graduated M. D. therefrom in 1837.

Dr. Eastman practiced medicine for a time at Newmarket, N. H., and about 1839 located at Hampstead, where he was subsequently engaged in active practice, when not in the military service. In August, 1861, he was appointed by Governor Berry surgeon of the Fourth Reginient, New Hamp- shire Volunteer Infantry, with rank of major. He was in service with the regiment at Washington, Annapolis, Port Royal, Hilton Head, St. Augustine, and Jacksonville, until 1863, when he resigned his commission on account of illness in his family, and returned to Hampstead. Soon after this he was offered the colonelcy, which he declined. When a youth he was chosen by Hon. Levi Woodbury for a cadetship at West Point Military Academy, but the opposition of his widowed mother prevented its acceptance.

In 1845 Dr. Eastman was county treasurer of Rockingham County, de- clining renomination in 1847. He represented Hampstead in the legislature in 1847-'50, and was state senator in 1853-'54. In politics he was a Democrat. At the time of his death, which took place November 27, 1897, Dr. Eastman was one of the oldest members of the New Hampshire Medical Society, of which he was president in 1860. He was a member of the Rockingham Medical Society and president of the same; also a member of the American Medical Association, and was one of the three representatives from New Hampshire to the international Medical Congress held at Philadelphia in 1876. Dr. Eastman was twice nominated for councilor for his district, and was a delegate to the national convention which nominated General McClellan and Hon. Horatio Seymour for the presidency. In 1849, while a member of the legislature, Dr. Eastman introduced the bill entitled, "An Act Providing for the Establishment of Public Libraries," which became a law under the signature of Governor Dinsmore, and New Hampshire was the first state in the Union to empower towns and cities to maintain free public libraries by taxation, as a result of the passage of that bill. Dr. Eastman was largely instrumental in the building of the Nashua & Rochester Railroad, and served as a director after its completion.

1.6. Eastman

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Dr. Eastman was first married, May 3, 1841, to Miss Ann A., daughter of Captain Leonard (a pensioner of 1812) and Elizabeth Gregg ( Warner) Wilson. Their children were: Mary Bartlett, who married Lavosier Hill, of New York City; and Ella. Dr. Eastman married secondly, February 5, 1860, Miss Mary Helen, 'daughter of Dr. Jerome and Mary (Tewksbury) Harris, of Amesbury, Mass. She survived her husband about three years and a half, passing away May 23, 1891. The children of this second union were Josiah Bartlett, whose name appears at the head of this sketch; and Susie Ann, who married Prof. Geo. S. Palmer of Derry, N. H., and had a son, Mahlon Eastman, who died Aug. 9, 1910.

Josiah Bartlett Eastman acquired a good practical education in the public schools and high school of Hampstead. After completing his studies he took up farming as an occupation and later operated a saw-mill, meeting with success in both lines of industry. He served the town as selectman in 1897-8, but otherwise, aside from casting his vote, has not been particularly active in politics. He, however, takes a good citizen's interest in everything calcu- lated to promote the advancement and prosperity of the town. He belongs to St. Marks Lodge, A. F. & A. M. of Derry; also to the Chapter, R. A. M., at Derry ; to Sons of Veterans, Custer Camp, No. 9, in which he has held all the important offices ; the Junior Order American Mechanics, in which also he has held all the offices, and to Pomona Grange, P. of H. As a citizen he is widely known and highly esteemed.

WILLIAM HENRY McDEVITT, who is associated with W. B. Farmer in the Applecrest fruit farm in Hampton Falls, being general manager, was born in this town January 7, 1871, a son of Henry and Miranda (Janvrin) McDevitt. His paternal grandfather was Hugh McDevitt, who was born in St. Johns, N. B., where he was extensively engaged in the cattle business and as a dealer in meat. He died in 1878.

Henry McDevitt was born in St. Johns, N. B., May 20, 1843. He came to Hampton Falls, N. H., when a boy and was educated in the old Academy. He served three and a half years in the Civil War, being a member of the Third New Hampshire Regiment and was dis- charged February 22, 1867, having been wounded in the left arm. Returning to Hampton Falls, he worked in a shoe shop, until he went to Lynn, Mass., where he engaged in the shoe business for himself. He served formerly as deputy sheriff and is now a member of the G. A. R. His wife Miranda, who died in January, 1905, was a daughter of Jefferson and Mary Janvrin. They had only one child, William Henry, the subject of this sketch.

William Henry McDevitt was educated in the public schools and at Holderness Academy at Plymouth, N. H. He then accepted a position as clerk in a hotel at Rye, N. H., later becoming clerk in a hotel at Boston. He then became clerk in a clothing store in Boston and was thus occupied for three years. In 1901 he started a grocery store at Hampton Falls, which he conducted until he was burned out in 1909, after which, in the following year, he became associated with Mr. Farmer in the Applecrest farm, which in the near future will be the largest fruit farm in New England; they have set out about 10,000 apple trees, besides making other great improvements. Mr. McDevitt is a member of the Episcopal church. He also belongs to Star in the East Lodge, A. F. and A. M. at Exeter; and Olivet Council at Exeter.

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In 1902, he married Miss Mabel L. Wadleigh, daughter of Charles and Annie Wadleigh. They are the parents of one daughter, Helen M., who was born December 4, 1905.

JOHN NEWICK, superintendent of the Eldredge Brewing Com- pany, Portsmouth, N. H., and who has also performed good service in public office, was born in Sussex, England, December 9, 1841, a son of John and Mary (Sinden) Newick. His parents dying when he was but a boy, he was practically reared by an uncle and an aunt, but at the early age of ten years was obliged to seek employment. Being of an ambitious disposition, in 1870, he came to the United States, landing in the city of New York. Thence he went to Syracuse, N. Y., where he found employment in a brewery and learned his present business. In February, 1882, he located in Portsmouth, of which city he has since been a resident. In the Eldredge Brewery he has twenty-five employes under his direction. He understands the brewing business in all its branches and has shown himself to be a thoroughly capable superin- tendent. During the years 1907, '08 and 'og Mr. Newick served on the city council, and in 1910-'II he was a member of the board of public works. He has also been in the legislature, having been elected repre- sentative in 1904. He married Miss Elizabeth Legg, and he and his wife have been the parents of nine children, of whom six now survive. A son, Ira A., is now associated with his father in the Eldredge Brew- ery. Since coming to this city Mr. Newick has made many warm friends and has a large general acquaintance. His years of public service testify to the fact of his wide personal popularity. He resides at No. 138 Bartlett street.

WILFRED E. NASON, an employee of William Jenkins & Co., dealers in hay, grain, feed and flour, at Exeter, also owner of a dry goods store in this town, was born in Eliot, Me., November 7, 1872: His parents were William F. and Elizabeth L. (Lake) Nason, the father a native of Eliot, Me., and the mother of New Hampshire. Wil- liam F. Nason was a boatman, connected with the old packet or gondola service on the Piscataqua river. He died in April, 1895, being sur- vived by his wife until February, 1912. They were worthy people and Methodists in religion. Their children were: George; Edith, wife of John H. Dame; Loretta, wife of Harry Crosby, and Wilfred E.

Wilfred E. Nason was educated in the common schools, which he at- tended until he was fifteen years old. He then learned the trade of brick mason, which he followed from 1889 to 1897. In the year last mentioned he came to Exeter and entered the mill of William Jenkins & Co. For six years he acted as teamster, but was subsequently pro- moted and for the last eight years has had charge of the plant. The dry goods store, which he started in January, 1912, is managed by his wife, and is doing a good business.

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History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 108

Author: Hazlett, Charles A Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold Number of Pages: 1390

Author: Hazlett, Charles A
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold
Number of Pages: 1390