History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 125

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

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In 1893, John B. Pahls was united in marriage with Angeline Brunklaus, a native of Germany, and they have three children: Cecelia, Bernard and Francis. Mr. Pahls is independent in politics, but takes a deep interest in all that concerns the city and its welfare. He and his family are devout Catholics. Fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.

ELMER A. SANBORN, chairman of the board of selectmen of the town of Chester, was born in Chester in 1869, on the farm he now owns and occupies, a son of Amos and Dorothy M. (Lyford) Sanborn. The father, now deceased, was a life long resident of this county and was engaged chiefly in farming, also doing some cooperage work. His wife was born in Fre- mont, N. H. They had three children: S. Vina, wife of Frank Rowe, of Fremont; Elmer A., subject of this sketch, and Ella J., who is the wife of James Towle of Fremont. Amos Sanborn was a son of Ebenezer Sanborn, a ·native of Fremont.

Elmer A. Sanborn was reared and educated in Chester and since leaving school has made farming, dairying and lumbering his chief occupations. At different times he has traveled considerably and has seen a good deal of this country. He has long taken an interest in politics, and is now serving in his fourth year as a member of the board of selectmen, as above stated, being chairman of the board for the present year. He was married in 1900 to Miss Mary Annette Morse, who was born and reared in Chester, a daughter of Augustus P. Morse, also a resident of this town. Mrs. Sanborn, who grad- uated from Pinkerton Academy, was a teacher for five years in the Chester schools. She and her husband have three children: Bernard M., Edith A., and Arthur E. Mrs. Sanborn is a member of the Congregational church.

FRANK B. PERKINS, M. D., a successful physician of Derry, N. H., was born in Grafton, N. H., April 25, 1856, a son of Orrin H. and Hannah (Currier) Perkins. His parents were both natives of Merrimack County, this state, where the father followed farming until his death in 1912. He had been preceded to the grave by his wife. They were worthy people, favor- able types of the New England stock.

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Frank B. Perkins was reared on the farm and acquired his elementary education in the schools of his native county. Having resolved on entering the medical profession, he found it necessary to teach school at intervals in order to obtain the funds requisite to secure a medical education, and to bet- ter prepare himself, he became a student at Colby Academy, New London, N. H. He began the study of medicine in 1874 with Dr. J. P. Elkins of Wilmot, N. H. In 1875 he attended a course of lectures at Dartmouth Med- ical College, taking a second course at the same institution in 1876. He was graduated in June, 1877, and in the following year began the practice of his profession at Grantham, Sullivan county, N. H., where he remained four years. He then located in Londonderry, from which place in 1894 he came to Derry, where he has since remained. He has built up a large practice and has made many friends here, being now recognized as one of the prominent and substantial citizens of the town. He is a member of the New Hampshire State Medical Society, and has served as a member of the council of that body. Fraternally he is connected with King Solomon's Lodge, No. 14, A. F. & A. M., of New London; Rockingham Lodge, No. 27, K. P., of Derry, and the Improved Order of Red Men of Manchester, N. H. He has served as surgeon of the uniformed rank of the First Regiment, N. H. Knights of Pythias, as medical examiner of Deerfield Lodge, No. 13, A. O. U. W., of Derry Depot; also as assistant surgeon of the First Regiment N. H. N. G., with the rank of captain. Dr. Perkins married Miss Emma J. Flanders, of Danbury, N. H., and has one son, Harry M. The family move in the best society of Derry, the doctor being well known and highly esteemed through- out the county.

JUSTIN E. DRAKE, a general farmer owning eighty acres of land in the town of North Hampton, was born on his present farm, July 8, 1865. His parents, Joshua P. and Sarah L. (Leavitt) Drake, were both natives of this town, the father being a farmer. He was a son of Samuel Drake. In politics he was a republican, and he and his wife belonged to the Orthodox church. Both are now deceased and are buried in this town. They had four children: Elmer E .; Justin E .: Annie, wife of George H. Joy of Ports- mouth, and Hattie, residing in Marlboro, Mass.

Justin E. Drake was educated in the common schools and subsequently took up farming as his occupation, at first assisting his father. When twenty- five years of age he inherited his present farm from his father and has since been its proprietor. He is a republican in politics and has served with credit as road commissioner. In 1893 Mr. Drake married Miss Ethlyn Tobey, who was born in Kittery, Me., daughter of Hiram and Esther (Sayward) Tobey, her father being a boat builder by occupation and a veteran of the Civil war. Her parents attended the Free Will Baptist church. They had four children, as follows: Esther, Joshua F., Marion T., and Dorothy M. The family attend the Congregational church and Mrs. Drake and her two daughters are members of the Grange.

CHARLES E. LEACH, proprietor of a flourishing bakery in Ports- mouth, N. H., was born in the ward he now lives in, January 19, 1858, a son of Charles E. and Elizabeth ( Merrill) Leach. His father and mother were natives respectively of Eliot, Me., and Portsmouth, N. H., and when young went to the same school to which our subject's grandchildren now go. The father was a carpenter and joiner by trade. Both are now deceased Their

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children were: Effie, the widow of Frank Field of Cambridge, Mass .. and Charles E., whose name appears at the head of this sketch.

Charles E. Leach acquired his education in the common schools. On completing his studies he began to learn the trade of baker at his present loca- tion, subsequently buying out the business, which he is now conducting very successfully, having a good market for his product in Portsmouth. The ovens in the bakery he owns are over 125 years old. The buildings are different, but there has been a bakery at this stand for 125 years. Mr. Leach employs five hands and uses one wagon to deliver his goods. An independent in pol- itics. he has served as alderman and as a member of the council.

Mr. Leach married Carrie W. Sowerby, a daughter of James and Jose- phine (Gowen) Sowerby, her father being a master baker under whom our subject learned his trade. Mr. and Mrs. Leach have three children: Bertha, who is the wife of Harley Giles and has two children, both daughters-Edith and Arline; Marian, who married Reginald Goldsmith of Portsmouth, a ma- chinist at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, and has a son, Kennard; and James S., who is associated with his father in the bakery, as also is Mr. Giles, Mr. Leach's son-in-law. The family attend the Christian Baptist Church.

JOSEPH W. DINSMOOR, who is engaged in the automobile business at Derry, Rockingham Co., N. H., was born in Windham, N. H., in 1862, a son of Joseph and Cordelia (Bean) Dinsmoor. The father of our subject was born in Windham in 1833 and was engaged in farming all his life. His father and two previous generations were also born there, the immigrant ancestors of the Dinsmoors settling in that town, which was then known as Londonderry. In the town of Windham there stands a tablet erected to his memory, on the birthplace of Gov. Samuel Dinsmoor, who was a brother of the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch.

J. W. Dinsmoor, of the present generation, was reared and educated in the common schools of Windham and, after his school days were over, took up farm work and also engaged in the fruit business, in which he was occu- pied for some twenty years, buying and selling many thousands of barrels of apples, mostly in New Hampshire and Maine. A year ago ( 1913) he sold out his place and came to Derry, where he engaged in the automobile busi- ness, handling the King and Chevrolet machines. He has made a good start in the business, and is now occupying a capacious building on Crystal Avenue, which he erected in 1914. A man of good business ability, energetic and far- sighted, he is bound to achieve success in his new field of effort. That he has the confidence of his fellow citizens is shown by the fact that he served for eight years on the board of selectmen while a resident of Windham. Mr. Dinsmoor was married in 1890 to Miss Mabel N. Bean, a daughter of J. W. Bean of Derry, N. H.

WILLIAM A. HODGDON, of Portsmouth, N. H., architect, contractor and builder, was born in this city December 9, 1849, son of Alexander H. and Sarah (Walker) Hodgdon. He is of English ancestry and is a descend- ant of one of the early settlers of Rockingham county. His grandfather, Benjamin Hodgdon, who was a farmer and resided many years in Newing- ton, subsequently came to Portsmouth, where Alexander H. Hodgdon was born. Farming was also Alexander's chief occupation. About a year after the birth of his son, William A., in this city he removed to Greenland, Rock- ingham County, where he purchased a farm and spent the rest of his life.

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William A. Hodgdon was educated in the district school and at Green- land Academy. At the age of 17 years he began to learn the carpenter's trade under the instruction of Moses Yeaton. Having served an apprenticeship of three years and a half, he obtained a position as foreman in New York City. While so employed he studied architecture. Under the strain of work and study his health gave way, whereupon he resigned his position and returned to Portsmouth. A year later he engaged in business as a contractor and builder, also dealing in builders' supplies, and has since prosperously con- tinued in this occupation, being now one of the leading men in his line in the city. He is a member of the Mechanics Fire Association and is a trustee of the Public Library. In 1909 he was elected a county commissioner on the republican ticket, and served the board as clerk since, being still a member.

He is a member of St. Andrew's Lodge, No. 56, A. F. & A. M .; Wash- ington Chapter No. 3, R. A. M .; Clinton Commandery, K. T., and of Pisca- taqua Lodge, No. 6, I. O. O. F. He is warden of the Middle Street Baptist church. Mr. Hodgdon was married in 1875 to Miss Carrie Yeaton, of Ports- mouth, daughter of Moses Yeaton, his first employer. She died in 1888, leaving a daughter named Ethel. In 1894 he entered into a second marriage, by which he was united to Mrs. Clara (Williams) Randall.

JOHN LEARY, an active business man and successful merchant of Portsmouth, deals in grocery provisions and meats. He is one of that vast host whose energy and ambitions led from native land to foreign shore where greater opportunity for success prevailed. Mr. Leary was born in Ireland. January 24, 1871, and is a son of James and Margaret (McCarthy) Leary. His father died in Ireland, where the mother still resides. They are of the Catholic religion. There are two children in the family, John and Hannah, the latter being the wife of Frank Reardon of Portsmouth.

John Leary attended the common schools in his native land until he was fourteen years old, when he began an apprenticeship in the grocery business, as was the custom there. His service lasted three years, and he continued six months longer with the same concern. At the age of seventeen he came to the United States and immediately located in Portsmouth, New Hamp- shire. where he entered the employ of the Portsmouth Machine Company. At the end of four and a half years he left that company and started his present business. His start, in the year of 1895, was in a small way as his capital was limited, but as his patronage increased under good management and service, his store, its stock and equipment grew likewise. He employs three clerks and has two wagons busy in making deliveries. Mr. Leary has always been interested in the development of the city and upon occasion has been called into public service. He is a democrat in politics and served four years in the city council. He was clerk of the third ward for two years.

In 1898, Mr. Leary was united in marriage with Miss Nellie Stack, who was born in Ireland and came to the United States when young. Her father was James Stack, and neither of her parents ever came to this country. Seven children have blessed this union, four of whom are living, namely : Mary E., Eleanor, John and James. The family attends the Catholic church. Mr. Leary is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks; the Ancient Order of Hibernians; the Forresters and the Royal Arcanum.

BENJAMIN C. WOODBURY, JR., M. D., whose office and residence is at No. 43 Middle street, Portsmouth, N. H., is a capable physician of the

JOHN LEARY

GEORGE H. WILLEY

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homeopathic school. He was born in Patten, Me., August 13, 1882, a son of Dr. Benjamin C., Sr., and Matilda A. (Knowles) Woodbury. He ac- quired his literary education in Patten Academy and afterward attended the Boston University School of Medicine, where he was graduated in 1906. Immediately thereafter he located in Winthrop, Me., where he began the practice of his profession, removing later, however, to Lewiston, Me., and thence, on March I, 1908, to Portsmouth, where he succeeded the late Dr. Frank L. Benedict. He has been successful in his profession and as a citizen is highly esteemed. He is a member of the Maine and of the New Hamp- shire Homeopathic Medical Societies, also of the American Institute of Homeopathy, the International Hahnemannian Society and of the Society of Homeopathicians. During 1913 Dr. Woodbury was elected by the faculty of Boston University School of Medicine as lecturer on the principles of homeopathy. He served during 1914 as secretary of the United States Ex- amining Surgeons of Rockingham County, N. H. He is a member of the Country Club of Portsmouth. The Woodbury family, to which he belongs, is one of the old historical families of New England.

GEORGE HAMLIN WILLEY, a prosperous and substantial business citizen of New Market, New Hampshire, is proprietor of the Hotel Willey which enjoys an enviable reputation with the traveling public throughout this section of the state. He was born on a farm in Middleton, N. H., February 3, 1863, and is a son of Jonas Durgin and Abbie (Horn) Willey. He is descended from Benjamin Willey of Revolutionary fame. The father of the subject of this sketch is now deceased and the mother still is a resident of Middleton.

George Hamlin Willey attended public schools until he was seventeen, then went to Farmington where for two years he worked in a shoe factory. He served two and a half years as mail agent between North Conway and Boston under appointment of President Cleveland. Afterward he worked first as brakeman and later as conductor on the Boston and Maine Railroad. He continued for seven years and then in November, 1894, came to New Market where for eight years he operated a local express. In 1902 he bought the hotel, now widely known as the Hotel Willey. He also is proprietor of the largest wholesale liquor store in New Market, patronized largely by towns throughout the state and the recipient of a large local family trade. Mr. Willey has been prominently identified with local affairs and has a large fol- lowing of personal friends. He is a democrat in politics and for the last six years has been chairman of the water board. In 1892 Mr. Willey was elected to the legislature from his native town of Middleton, N. H., by a very flattering vote and served for two years. He was also elected from New Market, by a large majority in June, 1912, to the Constitutional Conven- tion. He is president of the New Hampshire State Association of Licensees.

November 29, 1894, Mr. Willey was married to Miss Eva E. Nute, a daughter of Jeremy O. and Martha ( Phelps) Nute of Farmington. Her father was prominent in public affairs and at one time was a railroad com- missioner and also was president of the Senate. This union resulted in the birth of one son, George Nute Willey.

WILLIS F. KIERNAN, who has been engaged in business as a con- tractor and builder in Portsmouth for the last fourteen years, was born in this city, in October, 1857, a son of Francis and Armina (Raitt) Kiernan.

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Both his parents are now deceased. The father, Francis Kiernan, was a native of New York and was a contractor and builder. His wife was born in Eliot, Me. They were the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the only one that grew to maturity.

Willis F. Kiernan acquired his education in the grammar schools of Portsmouth. After his school days were over he obtained employment in a greenhouse where he worked for one year. He then went to work for his father, remaining with him for a year and a half, during which time he acquired a fair knowledge of the business. Subsequent to this he was em- ployed by the Boston & Albany Railroad for fifteen years as carpenter. Then returning to Portsmouth, he started his present business as contractor and builder. He has been quite successful and now gives employment steadily to five men. A republican in politics, he served one year as a member of the city council, while his fraternal affiliations are with the Odd Fellows and Elks.

Mr. Kiernan was married in 1882 to Fannie R. Appleton, who was born on Seavy's Island, Me., a daughter of Edwin S. and Frances R. (Brown) Appleton. Her father, a Mexican war veteran, was a native of Portsmouth, her mother of Vermont. They had three children: Anna, now deceased; Fannie R., now Mrs. Kiernan, and Roswell. Mr. and Mrs. Kiernan attend the Baptist church. They are good, substantial people, esteemed by their neighbors, and favorable representatives of the population of this city.

HOMER A. WHITE, funeral director and embalmer, of Derry, N. H., successor to Thomas Martin, was born in Marlboro, Cheshire county, N. H., July 27, 1864, a son of Asa M. and Mary (Knight) White. He was reared and educated in Keene, N. H., where he attended and was graduated from the high school. He then began industrial life with the firm of Woodbury & Howard, funeral directors, of Keene, N. H., remaining with them for three years. Subsequent to this he engaged with the Stephen Merritt Com- pany of New York, in the same line of business, and continued in their em- ploy for seven years. He was then with the W. T. Lockhart Company of Boston between six and seven years, afterwards spending five years with W. A. Frink of Somerville, Mass., and two years with F. S. Goward of Brock- ton, Mass. He then came to Derry and, as above noted, succeeded to the business of C. H. Martin as funeral director and embalmer. An up-to-date business man, he is one of the leading representatives of his profession in this section, being a graduate of the Barnes School of Anatomy of Chicago, Ill. His entire life since leaving school has been devoted to this line of work, in which he is is thoroughly proficient. He is a Knight Templar Mason and belongs also to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Religi- ously he is affiliated with the Methodist Church. Mr. White was married in 1887 to Miss Olive Hamilton of New Orleans. He and his wife are the parents of two children now living, namely: Maud, who married Arthur H. Roberts and resides in Trenton, N. J., and Homer A. Jr., who is assist- ing his father in the undertaking business.

GEORGE WILLIAM WHENAL,* owner and proprietor of a farm of eighty acres, situated on Maple Avenue in the town of Greenland, Rocking- ham County, N. H., was born in Scotland, March 5, 1865, a son of William and Agnes (Dickey) Whenal. The father, William Whenal, was also born in Scotland and was a farmer by occupation. By his first wife Agnes, the

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mother of our subject, he had two children-Sarah and George W. He mar- ried secondly Jane Brown, a native of Scotland, and of this marriage there were seven children born, namely: Robert; Agnes, wife of George Durbin; Sarah, wife of Frank Cochran; Lydia, wife of Howard Lane; Lewis, Thomas and John. Mr. Whenal's first wife was a native of New York City.

George W. Whenal was about six years old when he came to the United States. He acquired his education in the common schools and has since been engaged chiefly in farming, meeting with good success. He is an industrious enterprising citizen and has served the town as road agent.

Mr. Whenal was married, May 24, 1887, to Grace M. Stewart, who was born in Haverhill, Mass., a daughter of Charles H. and Adeline ( Marden) Stewart. Her father, who was engaged in the leather business in Haverhill, is now retired. He was twice married, Mrs. Whenal being the only child by the first union. Her mother, who was a native of Greenland, N. H., died in 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Whenal are the parents of two children, namely: Flos- sie, who is the wife of Herbert Dame, station agent at Dover Point, and has one child, Herbert, Jr., and Ruth, who resides at home with her parents. The family attend the Methodist church. Mr. Whenal is a republican in politics.

JACOB F. DOW, who is employed as shoe freighter for Dodge Bros., of Seabrook, and also carries on a farm and operates a grocery store in this town, was born in Seabrook, N. H., February 9, 1856. His parents were Albert M. and Keziah (Collins) Dow. The father, a native of Seabrook, was in early life a shoemaker and later a shoe freighter. He was also at times engaged in deep sea fishing. He and his wife had four children: Charles E., George C., Hulda (who married Jacob S. Fowler), and Jacob F., the subject of this sketch.

Jacob F. Dow was educated in the schools of Seabrook. He then worked at shoemaking for some time, but for the last twenty-six years has been shoe freighter for Dodge Bros. He served the town as road agent for eight years and was representative to the general court in 1910. For years he has been a member of the Democratic Committee, the Home Mutual, and the Lafayette Club. In 1914 he was a delegate to the state convention. August 28, 1875, Mr. Dow married Miss Abbie V. Eaton, daughter of Caleb and Louisa Eaton. Their children are: George L. and Albert M., the latter born November 3, 1880.

CHARLES BARTLETT, a prosperous druggist and business man of Derry, N. H., holding the office of town treasurer, was born in Derry April 9, 1859, a son of Greenleaf Cilley and Charlotte J. ( Kelly) Bartlett. His father, who was a native of Nottingham, this county, was engaged in the practice of law in Derry for nearly half a century. Our subject was educated in the schools of Derry and at Pinkerton Academy, and engaged in business in Derry village in 1876. He has had a successful career and has been treas- urer of the town for many years. Besides being proprietor of a well equipped drug store, he is vice president of the Chester & Derry Electric Railway, a director of the Derry National Bank, and trustee of the Derry Savings Bank, in all of which positions he has shown good business ability and foresight. He is also a director of the Central Congregational Church. His fraternal affiliations are with the Rockingham Lodge, K. of P. A republican in pol- itics, he has taken an active interest in public affairs, and his aid and advice

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have on a number of occasions been potent factors in advancing the welfare and accelerating the progress of the village and town. Mr. Bartlett may well be classed as among the more useful and prominent citizens of Rock- ingham County.

JOHN L. SMITH, a representative citizen of Rockingham County, resid- ing in North Hampton, owns and cultivates a fine farm of one hundred acres. He was born in North Hampton, N. H., on June 15, 1835, and is a son of Christopher and Eliza (Hobbs) Smith. Christopher Smith was also born in North Hampton, and in addition to farming followed the trade of a stone mason. He and his wife were parents of four children: Morris H., John L. and Joshua P. (twins), and David C.

John L. Smith, after a preliminary course in the grade schools, attended Normal School one year. He then entered upon farm work, which has been his principal occupation, although he has also done considerable contract work. He was married November 14, 1860, to Rebecca P. Marston of North Hampton, a daughter of Levi and Sarah ( Philbrook) Marston, the father a native of North Hampton, and the mother of Hampton. Mrs. Smith was one of three children, having a brother, John D., and a sister, Mary A. Mr. and Mrs. Smith became the parents of children as follows: George G., deceased; Mary E., wife of Oliver S. Hobbs, by whom she has a son, Ray- mond O .. a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy; and David C., who also is deceased. Mrs. Smith passed from this life August 22, 1905, her death being a sad and irreparable loss to her husband and children. Mr. Smith is a republican in politics and for ten years served as police supervisor. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Canton Encampment at Portsmouth, and in religious faith a Congregationalist.

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History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 125

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