History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 122

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

USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens > Part 122

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

HERBERT L. TAYLOR, M. D., one of the prominent members of the medical profession in Portsmouth, N. H., was born in this city, June 19, 1877, being one of a family of three children born to Charles William and Dina (Meads) Taylor. He was educated in the public schools of Ports- mouth, including the high school, and studied pharmacy, becoming a regis- tered pharmacist in N. H., Massachusetts and Maine in 1898; he attended one year of lectures at Tufts College Medical School and three years at the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Pa., where he was graduated in 1902. Immediately after he became connected with the Jewish hospital of that city, where he remained for about two years as resident physician and surgeon. Then going to New York he became assistant house surgeon at the New York Lying-in Charity Hospital, remaining there for about one year. In 1905 he came back to Portsmouth and took up the practice of his profession here, where he has since remained. He has been very suc- cessful and is highly thought of, both as physician and surgeon. At pres- ent he is serving on the staff of the Portsmouth Hospital, and is one of the prominent surgeons of the state. He is a member of the Portsmouth Medi- cal Association, the Rockingham County Medical Association and the Ameri- can Medical Association. His society affiliations are with the Masonic order and the Warwick Club. He has served as city physician and was chairman of the Board of Health of Portsmouth. Dr. Taylor married Miss Mabel A. Grundy, in Boston, June 29, 1907, and they are the parents of a daughter, Constance Jeanette, whose birth took place May 26, 1912. In politics he is a republican.

JOHN S. CARLL, who conducts his business under the name and style of Carll and Company, is engaged in teaming of all kinds and deals in lime, cement, sand and gravel for builders. He also has a blacksmith and gen- eral repair shop. He is a self-made man in every sense of the word, and owes his success in business to his energy and thrift, combined with careful management. He was born in South Waterboro, Maine, May 7, 1875, and is a son of John Sayward and Susan A. ( Roberts) Carll, both now deceased.

John Sayward Carll was born in Waterboro, Maine, as was also his wife, and followed farming during his active career, but the last years of his life were spent in retirement in Portsmouth, N. H. His family con- sisted of the following children: Ada F., wife of Dr. Walter J. Downs ; Walter H. and Warren R., twins; Edward E., Samuel J., Eugene H. and John S.

John S. Carll attended public schools in his native town. He followed farming with his father until he came to Portsmouth in 1901. Here he started teaming, and as his success became assured he added the other features of his business. He started with but two horses and a wagon, and now he employs an average of twelve men.

In 1896 Mr. Carll was married to Addie E. Townsend, who also was born in South Waterboro, Maine, and is a daughter of John L. and Melissa (Wakefield) Townsend. Her father was born in Lyman, Maine, and her mother in Hollis, Maine. He was a farmer and was a soldier in the Union Army during the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Townsend had six children, as follows: Louis A., Mabel F., LeRoy E., Addie E., Willie H. and Clarence WV. To the subject of this record and his wife were born two daughters, Mildred T. and Ina L., both of whom attend Portsmouth High School. Mr. Carll is a republican in politics but is not unswerving in his allegiance to

ALMANDER CHURCHILL

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that party. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and is now serving his third term as captain of the Uniform Rank, K. P. He also is a member of the Royal Arcanum, the New England order of Protection and the Junior Order United American Mechanics. Religiously he and his family attend the Baptist Church.

JOHN S. CORSON, a well known and prosperous business man of Hampstead, N. H., where he is now engaged in the insurance business, was born in Somersworth, N. H., January 20, 1856. His parents were Avender and Laura A. (Wheeler) Corson, and he is a grandson on the paternal side of Nathaniel Corson, who resided in Lebanon, Me.

Avender Corson, father of John S., was born in Lebanon, Me., Feb- ruary 13, 1830. He was a farmer and shoemaker by trade, and for a num- ber of years was foreman in a factory at Lawrence, Mass. He served in the Civil war from 1863 to 1865. His religious affiliations were with the Baptist church. By his wife Laura, who was a daughter of Thomas R. and Abigail T. (Little) Wheeler, he had five children, namely: Ella V., who married Albert Little; John S., subject of this sketch; Flora A., who mar- ried James W. Sanborn; Abbie M., who married H. W. Tabor, and Fred W. The father died in 1892.

John S. Corson accompanied his parents when they moved to Lawrence, Mass., where he remained until 1865. In 1870 he came to Hampstead, where, as above stated, he is now engaged in the insurance business. He has taken an active part in public affairs, serving as tax collector from 1886 to 1890, in the latter year being elected town clerk, which position he still holds, in addition to that of selectman, having been chairman of the board for six consecutive years. For the last twenty years he has been a trustee of the public library. He served four years in the New Hampshire Legis- lature, 1909-1913. He belongs to St. Marks Lodge, A. F. & A. M. at Derry, of which he was master for two years; to the Knights of Pythias and Junior Order of American Mechanics, and the Grange. In 1875 Mr. Corson mar- ried Mary E. Clark, daughter of John H. and Clara A. (Kent). Clark. Their children are: Edwin L., born December 7, 1875, and Harold E., born July 23, 1877.

ALMANDER CHURCHILL, a well known citizen and real estate owner of Exeter, N. H., was for many years one of the prominent merchants of the city. He was born in New Market, N. H., July 14, 1834, a son of Nathaniel Churchill by his wife, Sophia-in maidenhood Sophia K. King. The paternal grandparents of our subject were Joseph and Sally (Tash) Churchill.

Nathaniel Churchill was one of the old time merchants of Exeter, start- ing business here in 1844, previous to which time he was in partnership with his brother Daniel, one conducting a store at New Market and the other at Durham. He died in 1897 and was buried at Exeter. In politics he was a democrat and his religious affiliations were the Baptist church. His wife, who was a daughter of Thomas and Kezia King, was also a member of that church. They were married in New Market, which was his native town. Their children were: Addison; Rosina; Almander; Nathaniel, Jr .; Jasper Hazen ( Ist), who died young; Sylvester E. ( Ist), who died young; Sophia (Ist). who also died young; Jasper Hazen (2d); Sophia Helen, and Sylvester E. (2d). Of the above mentioned family the subject of this sketch is the only one now living.

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

After leaving the common schools Almander Churchill attended Durham Academy and was also graduated from the Exeter high school in the class of 1852. He then went to Lowell, Mass., where he took a commercial course at a business college, at the same time studying languages out of school hours with the intention of going to college. He subsequently, however, entered business life, at first as clerk for his father, being thus occupied for about a year. Leaving here, he again went to Lowell, where he obtained a position as clerk, and was later clerk at a wholesale dry goods house in Boston. He then went to New York as salesman for Bradley & Smith. After one year with them as clerk, he became a member of the concern, being thus con- nected with them from 1864 to 1870. He then sold out on account of ill health and returned to Exeter, doing little for a year except to lead an active outdoor life in order to recover his health. Having achieved this object he began business in Exeter, in 1871, as a merchant and was thus engaged until 1890, when he retired from mercantile life, after a successful career. He is now engaged chiefly in looking after his own real estate, and is widely recog- nized as one of the substantial citizens of the town. Mr. Churchill is a demo- crat in politics and takes an interest in public affairs, casting his vote as a good citizen, but has never sought office. He belongs to the Masonic order, and was made a Master Mason in Sagamore lodge in New York City.

He was first married July 26, 1855, to Miss Clara French Taylor, who died March 29, 1856, leaving a daughter, Clara Sophia. He married secondly, July 2, 1857, Miss Catherine C. Packard, who died after many years of happy married life December 19, 1897. She was the mother of six children : Carrie H., who married Arthur S. French, but is now deceased; Frank A. : Fred S .; James L. ( Ist), who died young; Kitty B., also deceased, and James L. (2d). On July 6, 1899, Mr. Churchill contracted a third marriage, to Mrs. Louise F. Churchill, widow of Addison Churchill, a brother of the subject of this sketch. Ten years later she also passed away, dying October 6, 1909. Though advanced in years Mr. Churchill is still hale and hearty and is spending the evening of life in the enjoyment of an ample competence. His surviving children are all worthy and useful and, for the most part, pros- perous members of the communities in which they respectively reside, at whose homes he is ever a welcome guest.

CHARLES EDWARD HODGDON is an enterprising citizen of Ports- mouth who takes a prominent part in civic affairs, and as an ice dealer car- ries on a large and prosperous business. He was born October 27, 1848, his birthplace being the farm he now owns and occupies.

Mr. Hodgdon comes of a race of sturdy and prosperous farmers.

Nicholas Hodgdon, his first ancestor to settle in this country, came from Scotland and was granted land March 9, 1636, in Hingham, Mass., after- ward living in Newton, Mass. In 1656 he moved to Kittery, Maine, and was granted land from the town, October 15, 1656. He married, in 1639, Esther Wines; they had several children. One son, Jeremiah, born in Hingham 1643. married in 1666 Anne Thwaits and settled in Portsmouth, afterwards in New Castle, N. H. They had four children. One son, John, born in Portsmouth, N. H., was a blacksmith; married Mary Hoyt of Newington, N. H., and settled in Newington. In 1713 he signed a petition for the set- tling of a minister in Newington. They had two children, Jeremiah and John, Jr. John Hodgdon, Jr., was born in Newington in 1708; married, January 30, 1729, Mary Decker, who was born in 1711. They lived in

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Newington, where his will was written, November 2, 1782, and probated July 17, 1793. Of this union was born Benjamin Hodgdon, Sr., the next in line of descent. This gentleman added to his agricultural labors the work of carpentry. He spent his life in Newington. He signed the Revolutionary Test and served in the continental army from that town. He married a Miss Rosamond Coleman of that place. Their son Ephraim, grandfather of Charles E. Hodgdon, was of a more adventurous spirit than his prede- cessors, and moved from place to place, though always following agricul- ture as a means of earning a livelihood. He spent the latter part of his life in Portsmouth. His wife was a Newington girl, named Abigail Thomas.

Benjamin Hodgdon, son of Ephraim, was born in Newington, but passed much of his boyhood in Portsmouth. After his marriage he purchased a farm, April, 1836, on the west side of Woodbury Avenue, a place at that time well adapted to agricultural purposes, but now included within the city limits. There he passed his life, and died in his ninetieth year. His wife, Hannah Frye, a native of Portsmouth, daughter of Isaac Frye, at- tained the age of seventy-six years. Her mother's maiden name was Rebecca Foster. Isaac Frye and Rebecca Foster were members of the old families of Frye and Foster, of Salem, Mass., where they were married and afterwards moved to Portsmouth. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Hodgdon reared four chil- dren-Lizzie H., Lydia F., Henry C. and Charles Edward. Henry C. en- listed in 1862 in Company K, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Vol- unteer Infantry, and died in the service when only eighteen years of age, at Fort Wood, Bedloes Island, New York Harbor.

Charles Edward Hodgdon, the subject of this sketch, was educated in Portsmouth, where for some time he was a student at the Woodbury school. In early boyhood, at the age of eleven years, he left school in April, returning to school in December each year for four years, and took an active part in farm work, and his practical knowledge of agriculture grew with his growth. He succeeded his father as owner of the homestead, and has for years been engaged in general farming, displaying much enterprise and in- genuity in his methods of raising crops. As a dairyman also he has been very successful and had formerly a fine herd of registered Jerseys. At the age of nineteen he started in the ice business, beginning in a small way ; his trade increased from year to year, so that he now has houses with a capacity of twenty-five hundred or more tons. The ice is of a fine quality, coming from a pond fed by springs, which is drained in the summer season, the ground being cultivated to keep the bed of the pond free from weeds and grass.

January 4, 1876, Mr. Hodgdon was married to Martha Jane Locke, a native of Rye, N. H., who died in 1879; and on November 30, 1882, he was married to Lillie L. Robertson, who was born in Northfield, N. H., daugh- ter of Lewis and Lizzie (Carter) Robertson. (See E. S. Stearn's Gene- alogical Family History of N. H., page 486.) By his second marriage he has three children-Cora E., Mildred, and Winifred. Cora E. Hodgdon married, July 14, 1904, Albert F. Witham. They have four children: Ed- ward Forest, born 1905; Pearl Eloise, born Sept. 15, 1906; John Hodgdon. born May 26, 1908, and Maurice Howard, born March 28, 1910.

In politics Mr. Hodgdon is a republican, taking an active interest in the welfare of his native city. He was elected alderman in 1895, and reelected in 1896. In 1896 he was elected a member of the school board, which office he has held continuously to the present time. In 1909 he was elected as a

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

member of the board of assessors, in which office he has also served accept- ably up to the present time. He belongs to various social and fraternal organizations, including Osgood Lodge, No. 48, I. O. O. F., of which he has been a trustee for twenty-eight years; Strawberry Bank Encampment, No. 5; Canton Senter, No. 12, P. M., and Union Rebekah Lodge, No. 3, of which his wife also is a member. He is also a member of St. John's Lodge, No. I, A. F. & A. M., and is a 32d degree member of N. H. Consistory. He and his wife are members of Strawberry Bank Grange, P. of H., and Seventh Degree National Grange. He attends the Baptist church, of which his family are all members. He has been a warden for several years and treasurer for seven years. His residence is at No. 1400 Woodbury Avenue.

ARTHUR C. HALL, treasurer and general manager of John Carter & Company, Inc., wholesale paper jobbers of Boston, Mass., is a resident of Salem Depot, N. H., where his family has been a prominent one for a num- ber of generations. He was born in Salem, February 28, 1863, and is a son of Prescott Coburn and Mary Ann (Macurdy) Hall, and a grandson of Alvah and Nancy (Coburn ) Hall.

Arthur Coburn Hall was educated in the public schools of Boston, and completed a course of study in Bryant and Stratton's Commercial College. He then engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes with his brother, their business being an extensive one founded and built up by his father, Prescott C. Hall, a business man par excellence whose activity was a large factor in the prosperity enjoyed by Salem. Arthur C. Hall had charge of the financial affairs of the concern from 1882 until 1886. At the end of that time he started in the wholesale paper business with John Carter and Com- pany of Boston as assistant treasurer and general manager. At the death of Mr. Carter in 1907 Mr. Hall became treasurer and general manager, offices he has filled with marked efficiency. He also is the owner of one of the finest farms in Salem. For three years he served as a member of the water board of Salem.

June 14, 1893, Arthur C. Hall was united in marriage with Lucretia Esther Ward, who was born in Boston, October 30, 1865, and is a daughter of Sylvester L. and Mary Ann (Conant) Ward. They have had two chil- dren: Marion, born August 20, 1894; and Ralph Macurdy, who died young. Fraternally, Mr. Hall is a member of the local grange, Patrons of Husband- ry, of which he was treasurer five years, and for four years was governor of the Pilgrim Fathers.

EDMUND H. WENTWORTH, a well known and respected resident of Exeter, N. H., was born in this town, September 4, 1869, a son of George Albert and Emily Johnson ( Hatch) Wentworth. His paternal grandpar- ents were Edmund and Eliza .(Lang) Wentworth, and his maternal grand- parents, Daniel G. and Mary R. (Hall) Hatch. The father of our subject, George A. Wentworth, was a graduate of Harvard College, Class of 1858, and for thirty-three years or more was professor of mathematics in Phillips Exeter Academy. During the last twelve years of his life, which terminated May 24, 1906, he was engaged in banking and in the authorship of mathe- matical text books, which were published by the well known firm of Ginn & Co. of Boston, famous as the publishers of high grade educational works. A republican in politics, he served the town of Exeter in some minor offices. He and his wife, who died May 1, 1895, were attendants of the First Con-

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gregational church. They had three children: Ellen Lang, George, and Edmund H.

Edmund H. Wentworth began his education in the common schools of Exeter, and subsequently attended Phillips Exeter Academy for three years as a member of the class of 1890. He then took a business course in Bos- ton, subsequent to which he was in the employ of the Boston & Maine Rail- road, remaining thus occupied from 1890 to 1907. Since then he has been secretary to his brother, George Wentworth, who publishes mathematical text books and resides in Brookline, Mass.

Edmund H. Wentworth was married October 10, 1894, to Miss Bessie E. Stover, a native of Exeter, N. H., and daughter of the late Nathan E. and Eveline R. (Strout) Stover. Her parents were both born in Maine, the father being an iron moulder and for a number of years an employe of the Navy Yard at Portsmouth. They were Methodists in religion. Their fam- ily consisted of three children: Albertina (wife of James Bell), Fred H., and Bessie E. Mr. and Mrs. Wentworth are the parents of two children- George Spencer and Albert E. Mr. Wentworth is a republican in politics, although on occasions exercising the right of private judgment in casting his vote. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Royal Arcanum. The family attend the First Congregational church, of which Mr. and Mrs. Wentworth are members.

CHARLES W. HAM, of Portsmouth, N. H., is proprietor of Ham's Restaurant and Café on High Street, an establishment which needs no intro- duction to the people of this city nor its visitors. The excellence of its serv- ice, the quality of food served, the absolute freshness of its vegetables (these coming direct from Mr. Ham's own truck garden) have given to it a fore- most place among the eating places of this section of New England.

Mr. Ham was born in Portsmouth, N. H., January 22, 1864, and is a son of George H. and Josephine (Gray) Ham, both of whom were born and lived their lives in Portsmouth. The father was a mason by trade and was a good home-loving man, devoted to his family. The children of this family were Charles W., Addie S., deceased wife of Charles E. Willey; and Eliza- beth, wife of Frank Parsons.

Charles W. Ham attended the common schools until he was fourteen years old. He made his start learning the restaurant business when sixteen and his career since has been interwoven with that of the hotel and restaurant business. May 23, 1914, marked his twenty-second year in his cafe on High Street. A man of ability and foresight, he early realized that in his business quality and good service, combined with careful management, were the at- tributes essential to success. His success has been merited.

Mr. Ham was in 1888 joined in marriage with Cecelia Salmon of Ports- mouth, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Carey) Salmon. Her father fol- lowed the trade of boiler maker. She was one of seven children: Thomas, deceased ; James, deceased ; Mary, wife of E. S. Vail; Cecelia ( Mrs. Ham) ; Margaret, widow of J. H. Kirvan; Esther, wife of C. S. Pike; and Kitty, wife of Frank Tilton. Mr. and Mrs. Ham have the following children : Wesley, who married Gladys Bruett; Harold, who married Helen L. Shan- non : Cecelia ; George and Charles. Mr. Ham is a member of the B. P. O. E., the Knights of Pythias, and the Portsmouth Athletic Club. Religiously, the family is Catholic.

Mr. Ham resides on his country estate of five acres, which is located on 61

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Middle Road, Portsmouth, N. H. This farm has been in the Ham family over 200 years. Mr. Ham's residence, one of the finest in Portsmouth, is an old Colonial homestead, but Mr. Ham completely remodeled it and it is now one of the finest and most comfortable in the city. Mr. Ham devotes considerable of his time to the farm. He, however, does not slight his cafe, but directs the management of the cafe.

ALFRED N. DOW, formerly a well known and respected citizen of Sea- brook, Rockingham County, N. H., was born in this town, October 25, 1841, a son of Newell and Nancy ( Walton) Dow. In his youth he acquired a practical education in the public schools and subsequently learned the trade of shoemaker, which he followed for a time but was principally engaged in deep sea fishing. May 14, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Third Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers, and served until June 23, 1862, when he was honorably discharged at James Island, South Carolina. He then returned home and again took up his residence in Seabrook, being engaged in his usual avocations for a number of years. His death occurred August 13, 1909. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Senior Order of American Mechanics, and belonged religiously to the Advent church. He was also a member of John A. Logan Post, No. 21, G. A. R. Officer of the day for 20 years. In the year 1911 the order of the Sons of Veterans was instituted in the town of Seabrook, and in his honor it was named the Alfred N. Dow Council, No. 21. This order has since been presented with a large flag and also a large portrait of Mr. Dow, by his wife, in appre- ciation of the honor paid to Mr. Dow.

November 1, 1862, he married Miss Ellen F. Butler, daughter of Michael and Mary (Fretson) Butler. Of this union was born one daughter, Annie Newell, on September 12, 1863, who died May 1, 1864. Mrs. A. N. Dow survives her husband and is one of the well known and highly esteemed resi- dents of Seabrook.

DANIEL SANBORN, who for many years was one of the prosperous merchants of Exeter, N. H., but is now deceased, was born in Epping, N. H., January 30, 1831. His parents, Jeremiah and Mehitable (Wiggin) Sanborn, were born natives of this state, the father being a life-long resident of Epping, where he served for years as justice of the peace. They had a large family of fourteen children, whose names respectively were Jacob, Harriett, Sally, Jay, Daniel, Laura, Harrison, Jennie, Mary Augusta, Martha, Lizzie, James, Warren and Albert.

Daniel Sanborn acquired his education in the district schools. While still a boy his father died and he remained with his mother assisting her to work the farm until he had reached early manhood. He then entered into the butcher business, which he followed thereafter for several years in that locality, and subsequently in Exeter, coming to this city about 1866. Later he gave up that business and entered into the clothing business in Exeter, estab- lishing the Daniel Sanborn Company, of which he was proprietor until his death on April 15, 1913. In politics he was a republican and was once representative to the legislature from this district, though not an active politician.

Mr. Sanborn was married February 21, 1860, to Martha Hilton, a native of New Market, N. H., and daughter of Josiah and Martha (Haley) Hilton, her father being a native of New Market and her mother of Exeter. They

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were farming people, progressive and prosperous and esteemed by their neighbors. Their children were Martha, George and Emma, who is the widow of Zebulon Sanborn. Mr. and Mrs. Sanborn are the parents of four children, namely: Laura, wife of Charles Rowe; Fannie and Frank, who are twins; and Fred, who is a mail clerk and is the executor of his father's estate. Fannie is the wife of Frank Sanborn, of Concord, N. H. The family attend the Baptist church. They are up-to-date prosperous people, of sterling character, and have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances in and around Exeter.

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History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 122

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