History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 135

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

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Frederick W. Reynolds was reared and educated in the town of Derry, attending the common schools and Pinkerton Academy. He has made farm- ing his life business, and, inheriting the steady and industrious qualities of his ancestors, has achieved a comfortable degree of prosperity. He is a public spirited citizen, taking an interest in everything calculated to promote the development of the town in which he resides, and his aid and influence can always be counted on in behalf of any worthy cause.

HARRY W. TILESTON is superintendent of The Derry Shoe Company of Derry, N. H., the largest manufacturing concern along this line in Rock- ingham county. The product of this plant has an extensive sale throughout the United States, and a well established reputation. The magnitude of this company's operations is shown by the fact that the factory has a floor space of 131,000 square feet. eleven hundred persons are employed and the output totals eleven thousand pairs of shoes per day.

Mr. Tileston was born and reared in Dorchester, Mass., and in Boston. When eighteen years of age he entered the employ of the M. C. Dizer Com- pany, shoe manufacturers, and remained with that firm four years. He then engaged in the manufacture of shoes at Boston, and later moved to Randolph. Mass., where he was similarly engaged for six years. In 1901. he entered the employ of A. G. Walton & Co., at Lynn and Chelsea, and from there came to Derry and began his connection with the Derry Shoe Company. He knows the business thoroughly from every angle and is regarded as a man whose services are well nigh invaluable. In October, 1913, Mr. Tileston was mar- ried to Miss Grace Knapp of Tilton, N. H. Fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.

HON. TRUE L. NORRIS. a member of Governor Smith's council from the First District, was born in Manchester, N. H. He was educated in the public schools of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and fitted for Harvard College, but the call of his country echoed the voice of duty, and he forsook

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a college course to enter the army and saw service with the Fifth Massachu- setts Volunteers. At the conclusion of his military service the youthful soldier took up the law as a student in the office of his father, Col. A. F. L. Norris, in Boston, and was admitted to the bar on the day that he attained his majority. Several years of practice followed, until the allurements of a newspaper career drew him away from the law to follow a more zealous mistress, journalism. With the zest of a born journalist. Colonel Norris entered upon his work. For several years he was stationed at Concord, where he represented the New York Herald, the Boston Globe, and the Manchester Union. His corre- spondence for these papers during the years of his service ranks among the most brilliant of newspaper productions. The years covered by Colonel Norris at Concord were exciting in politics and crowded with important events. In holding up a daily mirror to this panorama, Colonel Norris displayed a ver- satility, a piquant originality, and a correctness and minuteness of description that called attention to his work as among the best of its kind.

In 1887 Col. Charles A. Sinclair bought the Daily Evening Times, and Weekly States and Union, and Mr. Norris at once assumed the position of editor and manager of both papers, thereupon transferring his residence to Portsmouth. As an editor he sustained the reputation he had made as a cor- respondent ; and as a manager he has developed business qualities equal to his journalistic skill. As a result of this rare combination Colonel Norris has the satisfaction of presiding over a bright paper that in point of circulation and influence is second to none.

HARRY P. MOWE,* one of the proprietors of the Arcade Bowling Alleys, is a well known citizen of Portsmouth, N. H., where he has resided many years. He was born in Rye, New Hampshire, July 25, 1868, and is a son of John S. and Flora A. ( Rendel) Mowe.

John S. Mowe was a waresman in his early years, selling groceries from a wagon, but during the last ten years of his life was engaged as shipper in the Jones Brewery in Portsmouth. He is survived by Mrs. Mowe, who lives in Portsmouth. There are two children in the family: Arlie, wife of William Lessor; and Harry P.

Harry P. Mowe attended the public schools until he was fifteen years old, when he entered the business world. He was variously engaged for many years, for a period of seventeen years being employed in shoe factories. He started a billiard hall in the Franklin Block, where he continued with much success for ten years. He then moved to his present location and established regulation bowling alleys. In addition to the alleys, The Arcade conducts a pool room with five tables. They have a well patronized business as a result of their thoroughly modern equipment and the manner in which they care for their patrons. Mr. Mowe is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.

FRED S. WEBSTER, proprietor of an up-to-date livery stable in Wind- ham, Rockingham County, N. H., who is also representative to the legisla- ture from this town, was born in Methuen, Mass., July 12, 1876, a son of Charles O. and Dencie L. Webster. He was reared and educated in his native place. in the High School and Cannon Commercial College and about fifteen years ago came to Canobie Lake, Windham, having previously been engaged in the hardware business for a time in Lawrence, Mass. After coming here he engaged in the livery business, and has also dealt more or less in real estate,

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being successful in both lines of industry. He was appointed postmaster at Canobie Lake April 15, 1910, and is still serving. He has also served effi- ciently on the board of health, and as selectman, holding the latter office for three years. He was elected representative from the town of Windham in 1913 and is still serving with credit in that position. In politics he is a re- publican. Mr. Webster is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Salem, this county, and also belongs to the Odd Fellows' Lodge at Methuen, Mass. Since coming here he has taken an active and beneficial interest in public affairs and proved himself a useful and enterprising citizen. He was married in 1899 to Miss Lura Dow, a granddaughter of Abel Dow of Windham. He and his wife are the parents of three children : Mabel, who is attending Pink- erton Academy, being now in her second year; George K. and Fred S., Jr.

B. F. WILSON,* a prosperous resident of Derry, N. H., who at the age of seventy-four years is still actively engaged in the lumber business, was born in Chester, Rockingham County, N. H., in 1840, a son of Benjamin Wilson. The father, a native of Pelham, this county, was a farmer and lum- berman.

The subject of this sketch was reared in Chester and resided there until thirty-seven years of age. Early in life he engaged in the lumber and saw- mill business, having a portable mill which he moved from one tract of tim- ber to another, manufacturing his lumber on the spot. In connection with this industry he also operated a farm. His mill is now located at Chester, N. H., and he is still personally operating it. He is one of the older residents of this community whose ancestors date back to the time of the Pilgrims.

Mr. Wilson was married forty-seven years ago to Miss Abbie A. Rowe, of Nottingham, N. H. He and his wife have been the parents of five chil- dren, namely : Fannie M., wife of William H. Benson ; Rosa B., who resides in Derry; Hattie M., wife of John Moncrieff, proprietor of the Hotel Brad- ford; Ira F., of Derry, and Arthur L., who also resides in Derry. All the members of Mr. Wilson's family are worthy and useful members of the com- munity in which they reside and show the value of good training and sound heredity. Mr. Wilson is still hale and hearty and capable of doing a good day's work.

JOHN CARROLL CHASE, president and treasurer of The Benjamin Chase Company, of Derry, N. H., manufacturers of various specialties in wood, chief among which are loom reed ribs and harness shafts, labels and stakes for nurserymen and florists, was born in Chester, Rockingham County, N. H., July 26, 1849. His parents were Charles and Caroline ( Chase ) Chase, the mother being a daughter of Benjamin Chase, author of the History of Chester, N. H.

John H. Chase spent his boyhood days on the farm. beginning his educa- tion in the district schools. Later he graduated from Pinkerton Academy, Derry, N. H., and then continued his education in the Massachusetts Insti- tute of Technology. He began the real work of life as a teacher in the schools of the Bay State. Deciding to adopt civil engineering as his profession, he made his start with Joseph B. Sawyer of Manchester. N. H. During the construction of the Manchester Water Works system he was assistant engi- neer for about four years. Subsequent to this he was engaged professionally upon the Boston Water Works and the Elevated Railway Systems of New York City. Under the Civil Service regulations he entered the New York

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custom house, but after two years, in 1881, he resigned the assistant cashier- ship in the naval office to accept the position of superintendent and engineer of the Clarendon Water Works Company of Wilmington, N. C., where he re- mained until 1897, during that time acting as city surveyor of Wilmington for several years, consulting engineer for the Atlantic Coast Line and doing a general engineering business. He was also a member of the state board of health of North Carolina from 1893 to 1897. While in the Old North State he became a member of the Royal Arch Chapter of Masons, of which he was High Priest; with the Commandery of Knights Templar of the same order, of which he was Eminent Commander and Deputy Grand Commander; and with the Royal Arcanum, being Regent in the same. He is also a past mas- ter of Mt. Nebo Council Royal and Select Masters of Derry.

In 1897 Mr. Chase returned to his native state and settled in Derry, be- coming associated with his uncle, Mr. Benjamin Chase, in a manufacturing business founded by the uncle in 1867 and with which he is now connected. On the incorporation of the business in 1907 he became treasurer and gen- eral manager of the concern and on the death of Mr. Benjamin Chase in 1912 succeeded him as president. He is a member and secretary of the board of trustees of Pinkerton Academy; a trustee and treasurer of the Taylor Library of Derry; a member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and vice president from N. H. American Society of Civil Engineers, American Public Health Association, Boston Society of Civil Engineers, the New Hampshire Historical Society, the New England Water Works As- sociation and other kindred associations. He is a trustee and president of the Nutfield Savings Bank of Derry. He is also a member of the Technology and Boston City Clubs of Boston. Since November, 1872, he has been a member of Hillsborough Lodge, No. 2, I. O. O. F., of Manchester, N. H.

Mr. Chase married Miss Mary L. Durgin, of West Newbury, Mass., by whom he has two daughters, Carolyn Louise and Alice Durgin, both of whom are graduates of Pinkerton Academy and Wellesley College. The first- named is the wife of Dr. Raffaele Lorini of Coronado, Calif., and the last named the wife of Prof. Samuel C. Prescott of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and director of the Boston Bio-Chemical Laboratory.

ARTHUR H. SAWYER, proprietor of the largest dry goods store at Exeter, has been in the mercantile business in this city for the past sixteen years and is well and favorably known as a business man all over Rocking- ham County. He was born at Worcester, Mass., in June, 1873, and is a son of Romaine A. and Nellie (Goodwin) Sawyer. The father was born in Ver- mont and was a machinist during active life; the mother was a native of Massachusetts. Both are now deceased. They had two children: Arthur H. and Bessie, who is the wife of Clyde Hunt, a butter manufacturer of Stock- bridge, Vt. The paternal grandfather was Samuel Sawyer, who was well known in early days in Vermont.

Arthur H. Sawyer was educated in the public schools of Vermont and was graduated from the high school in the class of 1889. He began mercan- tile life in a general store at Barry, Mass., and was employed as clerk for ten years-a long enough experience to justify him embarking in business for himself, which he subsequently did, coming to Exeter in 1897. He first purchased the store of William H. C. Follansbee, then located at No. 168 Water Street, but under his enterprising methods the business was so ex- panded that new quarters became necessary and in February, 1914, he re-

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moved to his present commodious place at No. 59 Water Street, in the new Masonic block. Here he carries a large and carefully selected stock of dry goods and ladies' furnishings and has no reason to complain of lack of pat- ronage, being kept busy himself and requiring three young ladies as clerks to attend to customers. His policy has always been to supply the demands of trade with the very best quality of goods obtainable and to treat customers not only honestly but with every mark of courtesy and he has found that this admirable policy has been appreciated.

In 1896 Mr. Sawyer was married to Miss Alice Follansby, who was born at Tilton, N. H., a daughter of Charles H. and Mary ( Mazuvoa ) Follansby. The mother of Mrs. Sawyer is deceased. The father is a banker of Barry, Mass., and Mrs. Sawyer is an only child. Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer have one son, Charles Follansby, who is a student in the Exeter High school. The family attends the Unitarian church, in which Mr. Sawyer was reared and at present he is a church trustee. Nominally he is a republican in political affiliation but is not party bound, using his own judgment in casting his vote. His membership in the Masonic fraternity covers many years and he belongs to Blue lodge and Chapter at Exeter, the Commandery at Portsmouth and the Mystic Shrine at Concord.

ARTHUR GREENOUGH,* head of the Arthur Greenough Company, of Derry, N. H., manufacturers of lumber, box stock, etc., which concern he established here about thirteen years ago, was born in Chester, Rockingham county, N. H., December 20, 1856, a son of William and Harriett ( Parker ) Greenough. The father of our subject was born in Chester, Pa., where his active years were spent in conducting a general store. . He was the son of Smith Greenough, who was a farmer and died at the age of thirty-one years. The latter also was a native of Chester.

Mrs. Harriett Parker Greenough was a daughter of Nathaniel Parker, who was the first deacon of the Derry village Congregational church, and brother of the Rev, Edward Parker, pastor for many years of the Congrega- tional church of East Derry, the Parkers being one of the old settled families in this section.

Mr. and Mrs. William Greenough reared a family of five sons and one daughter, namely : William S., Lucy Parker. Augustus O., Charles N., George A. and Arthur. William S. Greenough raised a company for service in the Civil war and went to the front with it, doing good service as a soldier. During his latter years he was engaged in business in Boston, Mass. He died at Wakefield, Mass., in 1913. Lucy P. Greenough died in 1901, Augustus O. Greenough is engaged in farming at Southboro, Mass. Charles N. Green- ough is a retired lumberman residing in Derry, N. H. George A. Greenough is paymaster at the Amoskeag Mills, Manchester, N. H.

Arthur Greenough resided in Chester, N. H., until he was seventeen years old. He then went to California, where he was engaged in the cattle business and farming for five years. At the end of that time he returned to Wake- field, Mass., and engaged in the grocery business, in which occupation he con- tinued for twenty-two years. In 1902 he came to Derry and built his pres- ent large lumber plant. which he has since operated very successfully. He also operates a portable saw-mill in the woods, buying tracts of timber and turning it into lumber on the ground where the trees are felled. He owns a considerable amount of real estate in Derry, including business blocks and residences which he built. A public spirited citizen, he has served on the board of selectmen (two years) and was chairman of the board.

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Mr. Greenough was married in 1897 to Miss Julia L. Hopkins, a daughter of Sumner E. Hopkins, of Wakefield, Mass., a farmer. Mr. Greenough is a cousin of Chief Justice Parsons, of the Supreme Court of New Hampshire, the latter's mother being a Parker. He affiliates with the Central Congrega- tional church of Derry village.

G. K. BARTLETT,* a lawyer and banker doing business in Boston, Mass., is one of the leading citizens of Derry, Rockingham County, N. H. He was born in Derry, N. H., a son of J. C. Bartlett. He was educated in the schools of Derry and at Pinkerton Academy, where he graduated in the class of 1873. He then began the study of law in the office of his father, who has practiced in Derry for a number of years, and in 1878, was admitted to the bar. He first located for the practice of law in New Market, this county, remaining there one year, at the end of which time, on account of his father's illness, he retired for a while. Later he again took up his profes- sion, being associated with Samuel W. Emery of Portsmouth. He still re- tains an interest in the firm of Bartlett, Bartlett & Grinnell. He is a mem- ber of the state bar associations of both New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Mr. Bartlett has also important business interests aside from the law. being a director in several corporations, both in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. He is also president of the Derry Electric Railway, and the Chester & Derry Electric Railway ; vice president of the Derry National Bank; a trustee of Pinkerton Academy; director of H. P. Hood & Sons, and president and director of the Boston Insulated Wire & Cable Company. In the Masonic order he has advanced to the 32d degree. Mr. Bartlett was married in 1902 to Miss Clara R. Hood, a daughter of H. P. Hood. Mrs. Bartlett died in IQUI, leaving an adopted daughter, Katherine Bartlett.

JAMES A. MCCARTHY,* a member of the Cottle & McCarthy Heat- ing & Plumbing Company, located on Chestnut Street, Portsmouth, N. H., was born in Boston, Mass., December 7, 1865. His parents were Warner D. and Ellen ( Pickett) McCarthy. The father was born in England, while his parents were abroad on a business trip, but he was reared and educated in America, and was afterwards engaged in business as a boot and shoe manu- facturer. His wife, the mother of our subject, was a native of Virginia. Both are now deceased and are buried in Cambridge. Mass. They had three children: Mary, wife of John F. Kelley; Elenore, wife of C. Frank Belk- nap, and James A. The parents were Catholics in religion.

James A. McCarthy was educated in the grammar and high schools of Cambridge, Mass. For two years after graduating from the high school he traveled in various parts of the United States, chiefly for pleasure. He then began to learn the heating and ventilating business with the firm of LeBosquet Bros., of Boston, Mass., who were pioneers in this business. After remain- ing with them for fifteen years as a journeyman on the road and superin- tendent, he came to Portsmouth, as foreman for W. E. Paul, with whom he remained for ten years. For eight years subsequently he had charge of the heating department of the Portsmouth Heating and Plumbing Company, after which, on October 1, 1913, he started his present business, being asso- ciated therein with Mr. Cottle. Although a newly established firm, they are already doing a good business, and their prospects are bright for a success- ful future.

Mr. McCarthy is a republican in politics and takes an active interest in

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local affairs. He has served the city as a member of the council, and was clerk of his ward for three years. He is past grand in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, esteemed leading knight in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and a member of the Royal Arcanum. In October, 1889, he was married to Julia F. Sullivan, a native of Cambridge, Mass. They have four children, namely : Ralph G., a graduate of the Portsmouth High School, who spent three and a half years at Harvard and is now engaged in learning the manufacture of boots and shoes; James A., Jr., a graduate of the high school, who is engaged in the forestry business in New York; Agnes M., a student at the Portsmouth Training School, and H. Francis. The family are members of the Catholic church.

JAMES P. COMEAU, proprietor of the popular summer resort at Beaver Lake, Rockingham County, N. H., with which he has been connected since 1904, was born in Nova Scotia, March 17, 1878, a son of Wallace and Annie Comeau. In his earlier youth he followed a sea-faring life,. at the age of fourteen making a trip to the West Indies, on the three-masted schooner, "Bess." Later he made three trips to Europe on Cunard freighters, two on the Corinthia and one on the Sylvania, and subsequently spent three months on the fishing sloop, "Fair Play," which was engaged in fishing on the Grand Banks, off Newfoundland. At last, tiring of the sea, he went to Haverhill, Mass., where he worked in a shoe factory for awhile. About 1902 he came to Derry, finding employment in the Bradford Hotel. After remaining there for two years he took charge ofthe Beaver Lakes resort, with which he has since been connected, with the exception of two winters spent at the Royal Poncianna Hotel, Palm Beach, Fla. Mr. Comeau is chiefly concerned with the active management of the Beaver Lake resort and since becoming con- nected with it has made many valuable improvements. When he first came here there were only four cottages, while at the present time there are about seventy-five. These improvements and the consequent financial gain have been chiefly accomplished by strenuous hustling, accompanied by constant and judicious advertising, in all of which Mr. Comeau is an adept. A fine bathing beach has been constructed and many other attractions added. The outlet has been screened and the lake has been stocked with lake trout, which will give fishing advantages to sportsmen, an additional attraction. This work was completed in the fall of 1914, October 22. . On Nov. 10, 1914, Mr. Comeau opened a fine lunch and dining room in the Broadway Theatre Build- ing, Derry. As a good citizen, Mr. Comeau takes a keen interest in good government and for that reason takes an active part in politics. He is a charter member of Derry Aerie of Eagles.

Mr. Comeau was married June 1Q, 1911, to Miss Julia A. Sullivan, of Manchester, N. H., and has one son, James Frederick. He and his family are members of the Catholic church. As a wide-awake, up-to-date, hustling business man, Mr. Comeau has established a record in this vicinity that is hard to beat.

FRED L. LEACH,* owner and proprietor of the Portsmouth Heating and Plumbing Company, was born in this city November 17, 1872. His parents were Leonard and Fannie M. (Sawyer) Leach, the father being now a resident of Portsmouth. The mother of our subject died in 1879. They had but two children : Mabel, wife of Frank A. Moulton and Fred L.

Fred L. Leach was educated in the grammar and high schools of this city,

JAMES P. COMEAU

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graduating from the latter in 1890. He began industrial life as clerk and bookkeeper in his present line of work and was employed successively by sev- eral different firms until the present company was organized in 1904. It was established as a corporation and still remains so, although the other original members, C. H. Paul and Geo. D. Richardson, are no longer connected with it. Mr. Leach is doing a prosperous business and is widely known as a pro- gressive and substantial citizen. He is a republican in politics and a mem- ber of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Royal Arcanum.

He was married in 1895 to Grace A. Lord, who was born in Portsmouth, a daughter of Norman W. and Mary (Townsend) Lord, the former of whom was a liquor dealer of this city. Both parents of Mrs. Leach are deceased. They had but two children, their other child being a son, Norman. Mr. and Mrs. Leach are the parents of a daughter, Ethel M. The family attend the Episcopal chuch.

JAMES E. CHICKERING,* contracting mason and manufacturer of concrete blocks, having a shop at No. 225 Union street, Portsmouth. N. H., was born in this city, December 12, 1873, a son of John and Margaret ( Flynn) Chickering. The father of our subject, John W. Chickering, was a native of Kittery, Me., and by occupation a laboring man, being janitor of the main office of the Navy Yard for a number of years. His wife Margaret was born in England and came to this country when a child. She is now deceased.

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History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 135

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