History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 132

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

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BERTRAM T. JANVRIN, residing in Hampton Falls, who is extensively engaged in the lumber business, was born in this town, July 20, 1869, a son of Edwin Janvrin. He is a descendant of John Janvrin of the Isle of Jersey

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in the English Channel, who flourished in the latter part of the seventeenth century. This early ancestor of our subject married Elizabeth Le Cousteur. Their son John came to Portsmouth, N. H., in 1696 as captain of his own ship, "Four Friends." He married, September 12, 1706, Elizabeth Knight, who was born July 8, 1689, a daughter of John and Bridget ( Stoper ) Knight. She joined the First Church in Portsmouth, October 2, 1709; died February 10, 1759. Their children were: John (2d in the American line of descent), born at Portsmouth, N. H., July 8, 1707; George, baptized in 1713, who mar- ried Abigail ( Pickerin) Patterson, who died in 1789, aged seventy-seven years ; and Mary, who joined the church at Newington, November 5, 1738, and married Thomas Pickrin, May 9, 1743.

John (2d), above mentioned, graduated from Harvard College in 1728; joined the church in Newington, Nov. 5, 1738; married, October 9, 1751, Elizabeth, daughter of Captain Moses Stickney. She was admitted to the church at Newington, June 19, 1727. Their children were : John, born, 1754, died Nov. 2, 1837 ; James, born in Seabrook, January 22, 1758, married Mary, daughter of Dr. Joshua and Ann (Sett) Chase, died in Hampton Falls, Nov. 6, 1822; William, born 1760, died Feb. 3, 1839; George, born March 6, 1762, died Sept. 21, 1841, and Elizabeth, who married a Mr. Judkin of East King- ston.

The children of James, above mentioned, who married Mary Chase, were : Mendom, born June 5, 1786; Mary, born Dec. 12, 1787, died Sept. 5, 1871 ; Dorothy, born Jan. 27, 1790, died Oct. 28, 1817; Nancy, born Oct. 6, 1792, died March 20, 1857; and David, born May 20, 1795, died March 31, 1873.

Edwin Janvrin, father of the subject of this sketch, was born February 21, 1836, and died November 22, 1913. He was one of Hampton Falls' rep- resentative business men. In early life he was a shoemaker, but later engaged in the cattle and butchering business, shipping beef to Boston. He then en- gaged in the lumber business, both wholesale and retail, which he conducted on a large scale up to the time of his death. He served as representative from his town in 1883. He first married Nellie C. Smith, April 30, 1865, of which union there were two sons, Fred and Frank. The mother died in 1866 and Mr. Janvrin subsequently married Mrs. Sally Ann (Thompson) Titcomb, daugh- ter of Levi and Climena B. (Rundlett) Thompson. Of this latter union the following children were born: Charles Edwin, February 22, 1868, who is now assistant librarian of the University of Illinois; Bertram Thompson, July 20, 1869; Mary Lucy, June 25, 1874, who married, June 10, 1903, A. E. Wakeman; John Alfred, September 26, 1876, and Edwin Levi, October 19. 1879, who married June 10, 1902, Lillian S. daughter of John and Einma (Tuttle) Hamilton.

Bertram T. Janvrin was educated in the public schools, at Putnam High School, Newburyport, Mass., and at a commercial school in Boston. He then became associated with his father in the wholesale and retail lumber busi- ness, and continued with him until the latter's death, at which time he became sole proprietor. He is doing an extensive business, having three mills in Maine, and in June of the present year he shipped one million feet of lumber. He is also a director in the Portsmouth Trust and Guarantee Company. His society affiliations are with the Masons and the Grange, in the former order belonging to the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Council. He has served the town of Hampton Falls as selectman and as representative, holding the latter office in 1911 and 1912.

September 28, 1892, he married Miss Mary E. Brown, daughter of

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Charles T. Brown. They have three children, namely: Everett B., born June 19, 1894; Louis B., born June 5, 1899, and Richard M., born January 30, 190I.

JOHN P. P. KELLY,* whose death on January 10th, 1894, deprived the city of Exeter of one of its prominent merchants and most reliable citizens, was born in Northwood, N. H., January 3, 1820, a son of John and Betsy (Tilton) Kelly, the former of whom was an attorney of Exeter. The family of which our subject was a member included Mrs. William F. Davis, Susan, wife of Capt. Charles Emory, and Charlotte M.

John P. P. Kelly, after completing his grammar school studies, attended Phillips Exeter Academy for a short time. He then became clerk in the general store of George Gardner, in Exeter. Subsequently Mr. Gardner sold out to his son John, who formed a partnership with Mr. Kelly, this associa- tion lasting a number of years until the death of the younger Gardner. Mr. Kelly then became partner with a Mr. Hilliard and the new firm had a long and prosperous career, dealing in groceries, meats, hardware, farm implements, and all the usual articles carried in a first class general store. Mr. Kelly was a Mason of high degree, but his spare time, aside from that devoted to his business, was mainly spent at home, as he was a man of quiet domestic tastes. He took little interest in politics, but was always ready to lend his aid and influence to any worthy cause, whether for the moral or material betterment of the community. He was a member of Phillips Church and active in its good work.

He was married, January 10, 1861, to Miss Harriett N. Safford, of Con- cord, N. H., a daughter of William B. and Dolly N. (Bott) Safford. Mr. and Mrs. Safford were members of the Unitarian church in this city, of which the former was a native, while Mrs. Safford came from Salem, Mass. Mr. Safford was engaged in mercantile business in Rockingham County for a num- ber of years and was a well known and respected citizen. Their family in- cluded the following children: Margaret E., Harriet N., Priscilla B., Sarah F., William A., Georgianna, Ella B., Clara H., Mary L., Henry Kirk, Ida F., and Charles E. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly were the parents of one daughter, Ellen R., who married William W. Gale, of Exeter, who now resides in Worcester, Mass., where Mr. Gale holds a position as a private tutor. He was formerly a teacher in a boys' school at Washington, D. C., and was also engaged in similar educational work in St. Louis for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Gale have a daughter, Eleanor E., who will graduate this year (1914) from Bryn Mawr College.

ELBERT A. LANDMAN, M. D., is a prominent physician and surgeon of Plaistow, New Hampshire, where he also has various business interests. He was born in Londonderry, Vermont, November 24, 1867, and is a son of John and Martha (Aiken) Landman, and is a grandson of Luke Land- man, who was one of the first settlers of Jamaica, Vermont.

John Landman, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Brattle- boro, Vermont, in 1837. He was a farmer by occupation, and was a man of literary attainments. He achieved considerable distinction as a poet and wrote for numerous publications. He married Martha Aiken, a daughter of James Aiken, and they became parents of five children: Elbert A .: Emma, who married Edward Young; Fred; Carrie, deceased; and Nina.

Doctor Landman attended the public schools and later Leland and Grey

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ELBERT A. LANDMAN, M. D.

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Seminary. He then entered Dartmouth College, and was graduated from the medical department with the Class of 1899, receiving the degree of M. D. He then went to Danville, New Hampshire, where he established his first practice. He continued there four years and in 1904 came to Plaistow. Here his skill as a practitioner won him a large well paying practice. He is a member of the State Medical Society, and in 1910 was president of the Rock- ingham County Medical Society. He is president of the Plaistow Electric Light and Power Company an enterprise he organized and put on a firm pay- ing basis. He is medical examiner of numerous life insurance companies.

In 1900, Doctor Landman was joined in marriage with Miss Pearl Bar- nard, a daughter of George W. Barnard, of Winhall, Vermont, and they became parents of four children : Kelsie H., born Sept. 15, 1901 ; Vivian 1., born April 24, 1903; Clara Lucile, born June 13, 1904; and Lois E., born in 1909, and died February 1I, 1914. Fraternally the Doctor is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and the Junior Order United American Mechanics.

WILLIAM J. FRASER, of Portsmouth, N. H., formerly engaged in business here.as a mason, but now retired, was born at Port Mouton, Nova Scotia, February 2, 1836. He is of Scotch extraction, his father being a sea- faring man. The parents came to Portsmouth with two children in July, 1851. They had one child born in Portsmouth.

William J. Fraser was the eldest of his parents' three children. In April, 1850, he shipped on board a fishing vessel commanded by John Fisher and owned by Noble Brothers of Portsmouth. He sailed for the firm three sum- mers, going to school in the winter. After being engaged in this kind of work for three years, he gave it up and applied himself to learn the mason's trade under Luther A. Hurd, in due time becoming an expert workman. Later, in 1860, he entered into partnership with Otis Green, with whom, under the firm name of Fraser & Green, he carried on a profitable business for ten years. After separating from Mr. Green he conducted the business alone until 1897, when he retired. Industrious and enterprising, and possessing an ex- cellent reputation for good work, Mr. Fraser could seldom be found without orders ahead. In addition to masonry he executed stucco and other orna- mental work with taste and despatch, employing from ten to fifteen men.

Mr. Fraser first married Miss Mary F. Pratt, by whom he had one son, Clarence WV., who for thirteen years was treasurer of the Piscataqua Sav- ings Bank. For his second wife Mr. Fraser married Miss Martha J. Otis, daughter of Harrison G. Otis of Portsmouth. He and his wife attend the Methodist Episcopal church of Portsmouth. In politics Mr. Fraser is a democrat and served on the board of assessors and in the city council for a number of years respectively. He is an Odd Fellow, belonging to Osgood Lodge, No. 48. Strawberry Bank Encampment, and Canton Senter, and is a member of the Mechanic Association. He has a comfortable residence at No. II Howard Street, where he is passing the evening of life in comfort and ease.

GEORGE A. TRAFTON is a well known citizen of Portsmouth, N. H., where his entire life thus far has been spent. His establishment at 118 Mar- ket Street was started by his father as early as 1850, and for a period of thirty- five years he has been owner and proprietor. Autogenous welding of cast iron grapples, general blacksmithing and horse shoeing, and shop work. are the lines along which the activity of his shop is centered. A reputation long sustained brings a large volume of business and three men are kept employed.

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George A. Trafton was born on Market Street, Portsmouth, December 3, 1856, and is a son of Alfred S. and Francis A. (Seward) Trafton, the father a native of York, Maine, and the mother of Maine. Both were buried in Portsmouth. They had four sons and three daughters, George A. being the second in order of birth.

George A. Trafton attended the public schools and at an early age learned the trade of a blacksmith with his father. He has followed this line of busi- ness for a period of forty years. He was elected to the city council under the old charter, and has always been much interested in the improvement and de- velopment of the city. He was first married in 1881 to Mabel F. Watkins, who died leaving the following children-Lizzie, Thomas, Florence, and Charles W. His second marriage was with Mary M. Staples, by whom he has two sons, Edwin F. and Arthur G. Mr. Trafton belongs to the Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Rebekahs and the Masonic orders, being a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Commandery, Council and the Mystic Shrine. Religiously the family is Universalist.

ENOCH BUCKLEY,* of Exeter, N. H., who for the last seven years has been care taker for the Isabella J. Gale property, was born in England, January 30, 1853, and came to America at the age of thirteen years. His father, Phillip Buckley, was twice married; first to Martha Bottomby, who died in England, leaving four children-James, Thomas, Seth and Enoch. Mr. Buckley later married his second wife, Rachel Shancross, who accom- panied him to this country in 1867, the family landing at Portland, Me., on April 9th. They came directly to Exeter, where the father, a cotton spinner by trade, found employment in the plant of the Exeter Manufacturing Com- pany. He and his second wife both died in this city and are here buried. Born of his second marriage were two daughters: Elizabeth. wife of Frank Durbin, and Sarah Jane, wife of Fred Ham.

Enoch Buckley went to school only in his native England, but improved his education by night study after coming to this country. He went to work in the cotton factory as soon as he arrived here and was thus employed for twenty-five years. He then worked nine years in a shoe factory, after which he accepted his present position. Mr. Buckley was married in 1878 to Miss Annie McNulty, who was born in Ireland and came to America when twelve years old. Her parents were Hugh and Sarah (Clark) Mc- Nulty. The father, a laborer by occupation, died in Ireland and his widow subsequently married a man named Jones, who was killed in a sawmill the day after their marriage. The doubly-bereaved mother of Mrs. Buckley afterward became the wife of Joseph Perkins. Her children were all by her first husband, namely: Annie, Kate. John, James, and Edward. Mr. and Mrs. Buckley have a daughter, Ida May, who is secretary in the Robinson Female Seminary. The family attend the Episcopal church, and in politics . Mr. Buckley is a republican.

JAMES J. SCULLY,* sexton for the Immaculate Conception Church of Portsmouth since 1891, and the owner of considerable real estate in this city, was born in Cork, Ireland, October 26, 1864, son of John and Kate (Sulli- van) Scully. Both his parents died in their native land. where the father was a contractor by occupation. They had four children: Bridget. wife of Jeremiah Donahue ; Michael; James J., and Mary.

James J. Scully came to the United States in 1888, locating first in New

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York. From there he went to Boston, where he resided for a year, after- wards coming to Portsmouth to take his present position, the duties of which he has performed efficiently and to the general satisfaction of the church authorities and the congregation. He was married in 1889 to Miss Dora O'Neil, who was born in Ireland, a daughter of John and Mary (Sullivan) O'Neil. Mrs. Scully has two sisters; Mattie, wife of John Monahan, and Bridget, wife of John Noble. To Mr. and Mrs. Scully have been born five children, namely: John, Mary, James, Paul and Edward.

Mr. Scully is a democrat in politics, although reserving the right to vote independently on occasion. He belongs to the Ancient Order of Hibernians and he and his family attend the Catholic church. Since coming to America he has prospered and is now widely recognized as a substantial and reliable citizen.

HARLAN MELVILLE BISBEE, principal of Robinson Seminary, Exeter, N. H., was born at West Sumner, Me., January 1, 1875. His father, Charles M. Bisbee, a son of Daniel and Philinda (Teague) Bisbee, is a phy- sician, now engaged in practice at Rumford Falls, Me. Dr. Charles M. Bisbee was born in Canton, Me., and first married Ella Remember Tucker, of Peru, that state, of which union there were two children, Harlan Melville and Ches- ter Garfield, the latter being now engaged in the insurance business in Wayne. Maine. Mrs. Ella R. Bisbee died in 1892 and Dr. Bisbee subsequently mar- ried Ella C. Abbott, also of Sumner, Me. Of this second marriage there have been no children.

Harlan M. Bisbee began his education in the common schools of Sumner and continued it at Hebron Academy, Hebron, Me., where he was graduated in the class of 1894. He then entered Bowdoin College, from which he re- ceived his degree of A. B., graduating in the class of 1898. Deciding to enter the educational field, he secured a position as teacher in the high school at Rumford Falls, where he remained one year. That he had shown ability may be inferred from the fact that he received a call to become principal of the high school at Brewer, Me., which position he held for five years, performing its duties with marked efficiency. He then went to Harvard University to obtain his master's degree, which he received in June, 1905. In the fall of that year he came to Exeter to assume the duties of his present position as principal of Robinson Seminary. In the nine years that have since elapsed he has given much additional evidence of his ability as an educator. having brought this noted institution up to the highest degree of efficiency it has yet attained. The Seminary has 316 pupils registered for the present year ( 1914), and its successful management, together with the high degree of scholarship attained by its graduates, have rendered it one of the most popular institutions of its kind in this part of New England, much of the credit for which belongs to Mr. Bisbee.

By speaking at Teachers' Institutes throughout the State for several years he has become conversant with the newer ideas in educational pedagogy and psychology and has introduced many of them into the work of the Seminary.

Mr. Bisbee was married in 1900 to Miss Maude Arlie Wells, who was born in Lynn, Mass., a daughter of Enos and Annette ( Morse) Wells, her father being a prosperous shoe merchant of Lynn. Mrs. Bisbee is one of a family of four children, one son and three daughters, the other members of her parents' family being: Arvesta, who is the wife of George Mann, of Ione. Cal .; Fred Enos, who resides in Syracuse, N. Y .. and Etta, who is the wife of

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George Poole of Lynn. Mr. and Mrs. Bisbee have one child, Harlan Mel- ville, Jr., who was born January II, 1913. Mr. Bisbee and wife are members of the First Congregational Church of Exeter. He is a republican in politics. His society affiliations include membership in the Blue Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Exeter, the Chapter, R. A. M., at Rumford, Me., and the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He has served as president of the New Hampshire State Teachers' Association, of the Rockingham County Teachers' Association, and of the Bowdoin Club of Boston. He is also a member of the National Edu- cational Association, of the New England Association of Colleges and Pre- paratory Schools, of the American Institute of Instruction, of the Classical Association of New England and of the Educational Council of New Hamp- shire.

J. MERTON BUSWELL,* one of the owners and proprietors of the New Method Laundry Company, has been a resident of Portsmouth, N. H., only since January, 1912, but in this short time has become firmly established in the good will of the people. The business in which he is interested gives em- ployment to twelve people and is liberally patronized.

Mr. Buswell was born in Salisbury, Mass., April 9, 1884, and is a son of George W. and Anna (Cilley) Buswell. who still reside in Massachusetts, the father being a farmer and lumberman There are but two children in the family, Elsie and J. Merton.

After leaving the grade schools, J. Merton Buswell took a commercial course in Newburyport High School. His first work was as hoisting engineer, which he followed three years. He learned the plumbing trade and followed it for six years. He holds Massachusetts license both as engineer and plumber. Since coming to Portsmouth he has been identified with the laundry business. He is a republican in politics. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Junior Order United American Mechanics and the Patrons of Husbandry. His family attends the Methodist Episcopal Church.

JED S. BACKMAN, interior decorator and painter, residing on the Lake- side farm at Derry, situated on the banks of Beaver Lake, Rockingham County, N. H., was born in Nova Scotia, September 29, 1852. He resided in his native land until twelve years of age, at which time he went to Boston, Mass., and thence, after a short residence, to Detroit, where he found em- ployment in the Michigan Car Company's Works, and subsequently in the carriage works. He then went to Chicago, where he was at the time of the Great Fire in October, 1871. After the fire he returned east, settling in New Haven, where he found employment as carriage painter, being thus occupied for five years. From there he went to Brooklyn, N. Y., where he remained for seventeen years, engaged in decorating and painting. He then went to Boston, where he continued work at his trade. He was with the Boston & Bangor Company several years and then engaged in business in Malden. Mass .. a suburb of Boston. In 19IT, on account of the poor health of his son, he came to Derry and took up his residence on his present farm, which he is carrying on very successfully.

Mr. Backman was married in Bridgeport, Conn., to Miss Louise C. O'Con- ner, a representative of an old family, connected with the Boughton and Wil- liams families of New York state. Mr. and Mrs. Backman have been the parents of eight children, as follows: Charles C., a resident of Malden, Mass. ; Frank Eugene, of Malden; Grace May, wife of H. E. Fowler, superintendent

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of schools at Shelton, Conn .; Nina Lowell, a graduate of the New Haven Normal School and a teacher; and Dorothy Irene, a student at Pinkerton Academy, Derry ; Edward S., who died December 21, 1913, at Billings, Mont., and two others, Frederick and De Witt, who died in infancy. Edward S. Backman, the son who is dead, was page of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for eight years, during five years of that time being the Speaker's page. Later he was a member of the city council of Malden. While living in Brooklyn, N. Y., Mr. Jed S. Backman took an active interest in politics. He is a member of Union Avenue Baptist Church. at Brooklyn, N. Y.

SAMUEL DODGE,* journalist and fire insurance man, of Portsmouth, N. H., was born in this city, August 9, 1844, son of Samuel J. and Mary E. (Laighton) Dodge. The father of our subject was a navy agent grocer and custom house clerk and at various times held political office, being actively interested in town affairs. He was a native of Portsmouth. as was also his wife. They had five children, all sons, of whom the subject of this sketch is now the only survivor. The parents were affiliated with the Universalist church.

Samuel Dodge was educated in the grammar and high schools of Ports- mouth. He has been connected with newspaper work for the last forty-five years as correspondent for various papers, principally in Boston and Wash- ington ; also to some extent for local journals. He has lately given up some of this work, however, and is partially retired. He is a republican in politics and is affiliated fraternally with the Knights of Honor, the Golden Cross and the Pilgrim Fathers.

Mr. Dodge was married in 1880 to Florence A. Bowles, who was born in Portsmouth, N. H., a daughter of James W. and Susan W. ( Rowe) Bowles, also of this city. Her parents were Episcopalians in religious belief and were connected with the church of that denomination. Her father was superin- tendent of painters at the Navy Yard. They had two children, both daugh- ters. Mr. and Mrs. Dodge attend the Universalist church. They are people of local prominence and have many friends in Portsmouth and the vicinity.

EVERETT E. GRIFFIN, who is prominently engaged in the real estate and insurance business at Derry, N. H., has long been known in this vicinity, where he was formerly identified with the hardware trade. He was born in Lawrence, Mass., and was educated in the schools of Derry and in Pinkerton Academy. Early in life he was for six or seven years with the Pillsbury Hardware Company, and in 1900 he went to Waterloo, Mass., and started a hardware firm under the name of F. S. Pillsbury & Company. In 1902 he disposed of his interest to his partner, Mr. Pillsbury, and located at Danvers, Mass .. where he worked in the hardware store of Mr. Ross for one year. He then went to Seattle, Washington, and assumed charge of the hardware de- partment store. In the spring of 1904 he returned east and engaged in the hardware business in Derry until 1911. when he sold out to the Bell Hardware Company. Since that time he has been engaged in the real estate and insur- ance business with gratifying results.

In 1908 Everett E. Griffin was married to Miss Blanche C. Proctor, a daughter of A. J. Proctor of Derry. She was reared in Derry, and was edu- cated in the local schools, in the Boston High School and at Bowdoin College. She is a woman of accomplishment and refinement and has many friends. Mr. Griffin is a member of Echo Lodge, I. O. O. F., and of the Patrons of

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History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 132

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