History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 87

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 87

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Mr. Urch married Miss Ida A. Rogers, of Eliot, Me., daughter of Charles W. and Mary A. Rogers. He cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. U. S. Grant, and afterward became affiliated with the Demo- cratic party. However, he has always kept in mind the idea that the highest good of the people should ever be the governing motive of all suffrage. In Portsmouth he served as alderman for three terms, was chairman of the City Democratic Committee ten years and chairman of the Democratic Committee of the ward in which he resides thirteen years. He was elected representative to the State Legislature in 1882, and during his term of service was a member of the committees on Fisheries and Game and secretary of the committee on Banking. In 1884 he was again sent to the legislature and once more served as sec- · retary of the committee on Banking. He took an active part in the pro- ceedings of the house and generally made his influence felt. He takes a warm interest in educational matters and served on the Portsmouth Board of Education eight years. He is a charter member of Storer Post, No. I, G. A. R .; has passed all the chairs in New Hampshire Lodge, No. 17, I. O. O. F., and Strawberry Bank Encampment, No. 5; is a mem- ber of Canton Centre, No. 12, of which he was the first commander : and he is a member and has served as president of the New Hampshire Mechanics' Association. In the Patriarchs Militant he has served as inspector-general, with the rank of major on the staff of General Far- rington, since the organization of the New Hampshire branch of the order. For twelve years he was an officer in the New Hampshire Na- tional Guard, and, as a member of the Head Guards of Manchester he was successively lieutenant and captain of Company C. He was after- ward made lieutenant of the Heavy Artillery of Portsmouth, and served seven or eight years as inspector-general, with rank of major, on the staff of Brigadier-General Clough. Major Urch was elected to the New Hampshire State Senate in 1900. 'He was Chairman of the Committee of Incorporations and was a member of some five other important com- mittees. He is at present in apparent full control of the bridge com- pany known as The Proprietors of New Castle Bridges, and he has brought it from an abandoned corporation to what it now is, maintain- ing what is said to be the finest mile of toll roadway and bridge in New England.

CHARLES H. BRACKETT, owner and proprietor of Cold Spring Farm, in Greenland village, has in all 125 acres of good land, fifty acres comprising the homestead on which he lives, and seventy-five acres in another tract. He was born in this town November I. 1865, a son of

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William H. L. Brackett, by his wife, Henrietta, whose maiden name was Henrietta A. de Rochemont. The father of our subject was a native of Greenland, N. H., and a farmer and mill-wright by occupation. He is now deceased. His wife, who was born in Newington, this county, is still living and resides with her son, Charles, in Greenland. They had five children, as follows: Mary E., wife of Frank M. Hoyt, of Mel- rose, Mass .; Charles H., of Greenland; George W., also of Greenland, a painter and steam-fitter ; Abbie B., widow of the late Arthur J. Durell; and Henrietta T., wife of Howard Rundlett.

Charles H. Brackett was educated in the common schools and at Brackett Academy, where he graduated in 1892. He then took up farm- ing, which occupation he has since followed in his native town. He does general farming and dairying, keeping Jersey and Guernsey cattle, running two wagons, and finding a ready market for his milk -- of which he produces about 500 quarts daily-at Portsmouth. He takes an active part in public affairs, having served as a moderator of the town of Greenland for the last twenty years, and is now serving as one of the assessors. He is a Republican.

Mr. Brackett was married in 1886 to Miss Fannie M. Lamprey, of North Hampton, a daughter of Edwin M. and Mary E. (Brown) Lam- prey, who were farming people of that town, their other children being Mary H., and Jennie R., wife of the late William R. Haines. Mr. and Mrs. Brackett have been the parents of six children, namely: Edwin L., who married Louise N. Horton, and resides in Greenland, but carries on farming and dairying at New Castle ; Charles H., Jr., who is assisting his father on the home farm; William H. L., who is a recent graduate from the New Hampshire State College; Ralph de Rochemont, a student at the above mentioned college; Esther M., a student at Mt. Holyoke, and Constance, who is attending the Portsmouth high school. The fam- ily attend the Methodist church in Greenland. Mr. Brackett's society affiliations include membership in St. John's Lodge, A. F. & A. M. ; Win- nicut Lodge at Greenland, of which he is past master; and Greenland Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. He is master of the local Grange and has served as deputy in the New Hampshire State Grange for three years. A progressive, enterprising and prosperous citizen, he and his family are among the representative people of the town and have a wide circle of friends.

HENRY A. SHUTE was born in Exeter, November 17, 1856. He is a son of Geo. S. Shute, a native of Exeter, and Joanna Simplins of England. His grandfather was Henry Shute and his grandmother Eliza Rowe Smith.

Henry A. Shute completed the course of instruction in Phillips Ex- eter Academy in 1875. Harvard University in 1879, and on his return to Exeter entered the office of Judge William W. Stickney as a student. He was admitted to the bar in August, 1882, and began the practice of law in Exeter ; was appointed Judge of Exeter Police Court in March, 1883, and remained in that office until August, 1913. He was married in October, 1885, to Amelia F. Weeks of Exeter, who died in January, 1895, leaving two children, Richard Everett, born October 17, 1887, and Nathalie, born April 18, 1894. Mr. Shute was married on the 12th day of August, 1897, to Ella Kent of Davenport, Iowa.

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

Richard E. Shute entered his father's office in September, 1907, was admitted to the bar in December, 1910, and in January, 1913, formed with his father a co-partnership for the general practice of law under the firm name of "Shute and Shute," and having offices in the Kelley & Gardner Building in Exeter.

Henry A. Shute has been a contributor to various magazines and has written and published the following books: "The Real Diary of a Real Boy," 1902; "Sequil or Things Whitch Aint Finished in the Ferst," 1903 ; "Real Boys," 1904; "Letters to Beany and Love Letters of Plupy," 1905; "A Few Neighbors," 1906; "The Country Band," 1907: "The Profane and Unreliable History of Exeter," 1908; "Plupy," 1909; "Farm- ing It," 1911 ; "A Country Lawyer," 1912; "The Misadventures of Three Good, But Not Very Good Boys," 1914.

He has always been a Republican in politics, is a member of no clubs or societies and has never held office, except as above.

REV. JESSE GIBSON MACMURPHY, clergyman and banker, and one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Derry, N. H., was born in this town April 8, 1845. Beginning his education in the district school, he then attended Pinkerton Academy, after which he fitted to enter the second year class of the Chandler Department of Dartmouth College, which he did in the fall of 1865, being graduated B. S. in 1868. In 1875 he received the degree of M. S. from the same college.

In 1870 he entered the Episcopal Theological School at Nashotah, Wis., and was graduated B. D. in 1873. The same year he was ordained deacon in Milwaukee, Wis., by Bishop Armitage, and advanced to the priesthood in 1874 by Bishop Whitehouse. He began his pastoral service in 1873, being placed in charge of St. Peter's Mission at Sheboygan Falls, Wis., where he remained one year. In 1874 he went to Racine, Wis., as rector of Immanuel Church, remaining until 1877, when he went to Baltimore, Md., and was chap- lain of St. Paul's School for Boys. In 1878 he returned to Racine, Wis., as rector of Holy Innocents Church and priest in charge of St. Stephen's Church, which offices he filled until 1881. He then went to San Francisco, where he was associate rector of St. John's Church for three years.

Returning to Racine, he again took charge of missions there and was chaplain of a girls' school until 1893, when he came to Derry, N. H. Here he has been officially connected with the Church of the Transfiguration since it was organized in 1899.

While his ministerial labors have been almost continuous for more than forty years, he has engaged at times in various other activities. Before going to college he had taught a winter school, and during his three years in col- lege he taught each winter. While at Nashotah, Wis., he tutored some of the preparatory classes. At Racine College he was master of the grammar school for three years. He was teacher in St. Paul's School for Boys, in Baltimore, one year. From 1881 to 1884 he was teacher in Trinity School, San Fran- cisco.

Rev. Mr. MacMurphy has published numerous original translations in metrical verse from the German, French, Italian, Spanish and Latin. He has spent much time in genealogical research and furnished many articles for standard works. In local historical compilation he has assisted various authors and publishers, making maps from town ranges, homesteads and settle- ments, his articles appearing in newspapers, magazines and books in a form

REV. JESSE G. MACMURPHY

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suitable for future reference. Formerly he was a member of the Wisconsin Academy of Arts, Sciences and Letters, and delivered a lecture before that body in 1875. Until recently he was a member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, and is now a member of the New Hampshire Historical Society. For over forty years he has been a member of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament. He is now affiliated with the following societies : Society for the Promotion of Christianity, American Peace Society, Pomona Grange, P. of H., and the Masonic order, with which he is connected as fol- lows : Past Worshipful master of St. Mark's Lodge, No. 44, A. F. & A. M., Derry, N. H. ; Past High Priest of Bell Chapter, R. A. M., No. 25, Derry, N. H .; Past T. I. M. of Mt. Nebo Council, R. & S. M., Derry, N. H .; also member of Trinity Commandery, K. T., of Manchester, N. H .; member of Ransford Chapter, O. E. S., and Bethany White Shrine of Jerusalem lately instituted in Derry; Lodge of Perfection at Nashua; Princes of Jerusalem; Rose Croix; New Hampshire Consistory (32d degree), of Nashua, N. H .; and Becktash Temple, Concord, N. H.

In business relations Mr. MacMurphy is chiefly interested in caring for ancestral estates, some of which have come down in the same family for five or more generations. He is a director and vice president of the First National Bank of Derry; also treasurer of the Nutfield Savings Bank of Derry.

Mr. MacMurphy was married, April 23, 1870, to Miss Mary Lucy James, of Deerfield, N. H. Mrs. MacMurphy is a graduate of the Normal School of Salem, Mass. Previous to her marriage she was a teacher in Albany, N. Y., and also in Exeter, N. H. Subsequent to her marriage she was for twenty years teacher of a girl's school in Racine, Wis. For fifteen years she taught in the Robert A. Waller High School at Chicago, Ill. Some years ago she retired from educational work and is now leading a domestic life in her pleasant home in Derry. Mr. and Mrs. MacMurphy are the parents of three children, namely: Sarah Russell, born in Fond du Lac, Wis., was teacher of music in several colleges, and is now the wife of Charles B. Chase of Derry ; Alexander James, born in Racine, Wis., who is now deceased; and Jerome Chase, a graduate of the University of West Virginia, married Miss Mabel L. Pullin of Newton, Mass., and is now a resident of River Forest, Ill. They have two children, Miriam S. and Lawrence G.

HON. HARRY K. TORREY, judge of the police court for the Dis- trict of Portsmouth, was born in Newburyport, Mass., August 16, 1880, a son of John and Addie M. (Anderson) Torrey. He is a descendant of Revolutionary ancestors, his great-great-grandfather having sailed on November 26, 1776, on the privateer "Dalton" from this port, and later served under John Paul Jones. When he was three months old his par- ents moved to Newfields, this county, where he later attended the pub- lic schools. He then became a student at Phillips Exeter Academy, where he was honor man in studies, and was also prominent in athletic sports, being a member of two winning track teams over Andover. After graduating from the Academy he attended Harvard College one year and later entered Dartmouth. Then, after one year at Hanover, he went to Porto Rico to teach school, but became an inspector and inter- preter for the San Juan Light and Transit Company. He was in Porto Rico during the election riots which took place after the war with Spain.

Coming to Portsmouth, Mr. Torrey entered the law office of Page and Bartlett, and being admitted to the bar in 1907, has since practiced

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his profession in this city. He was elected to the legislature in 1909 and served on the committee on Judiciary during that term, in company with Hon. Samuel D. Felker, the present governor. In 1910 he had charge of the local census, and during 191I was secretary to Governor Robert P. Bass, with whom he had formed an intimate acquaintance while working for the direct primary, equal taxation and other platform measures. In 1912 he was secretary of the Portsmouth Roosevelt Club. The new district court, over which he now presides, has jurisdiction over Portsmouth, Newington, Greenfield, Rye and New Castle. Mr. Torrey had the endorsement of many leading men of each party in the state for the position.

Judge Torrey is a member of St. Andrews Lodge, No. 56, A. F. & A. M .; Washington Chapter, No. 3; Davenport Council, No. 5; Damon Lodge, No. 9, K. of P .; Strawberry Bank Grange, Portsmouth Country Club, Warwick Club, Portsmouth Board of Trade, the New Hampshire Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the American In- stitute of Criminal Law and Criminology.

He was married October 9, 1912, to Edith E. Badger, daughter of Mayor Daniel W. Badger.

DANIEL J. BAKIE, senior member of the firm of Bakie Bros., mer- chants of Kingston, N. H., was born in South Boston, Mass., June 15, 1851, a son of James and Elizabeth (Alexander) Bakie. Mr. Bakie can trace his ancestry back for 800 years to Magnus Baikie, who was a native of Denmark. At a later date members of the family in the direct line of descent migrated to Scotland, where later generations dropped the first "i" in the family name, spelling it "Bakie," which form it has since retained.

James Bakie, the father of Daniel J., was born at Wick, Scotland, as was also his wife, Elizabeth. They came to America about 1840, settling first in South Boston, whence they later removed to Kingston, N. H. Here James Bakie became a prominent citizen, serving as a selectman, and at one time being elected representative to the legis- lature. Both he and his wife are now deceased. They had a family of five sons and one daughter.

Daniel J. Bakie began attending school in South Boston at the age of five years. He was six years old when his parents and the rest of the family moved to Kingston, and he resumed his schooling, attending first the public schools, and later Penacook and Phillips Academies, the lat- ter at Andover. He was graduated from the Bridgewater Normal school in 1873, after which he began teaching school in Kingston and later at East Kingston. He was principal successively of schools in South Hampton, N. H., and Amesbury, Mass., and then became principal of Kingston Academy, which position he held for two years. In 1874 he gave up teaching to become a merchant, buying the store conducted by C. F. Cressy in Kingston, and five years later bought his present store from L. D. Peaslee and has operated it successfully since that time, dealing in general merchandising. About 1880 he was appointed post- master of Kingston, and, with the exception of four years during the Cleveland administration, held that office continuously until recently, when he was succeeded by the Democratic appointee. As may be sur- mised, he is a member of the Republican party. He has held the fol-

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lowing offices: Library trustee, member of the Board of Education, and member of the legislature for 1901.

Mr. Bakie was married March 4, 1884, to Nella J. Sanborn, a daugh- ter of Capt. William F. Sanborn of Kingston. He and his wife have been the parents of one child, Howard, who died in infancy. They are affiliated religiously with the Congregational Church, and are prom- inent members of the best society in Kingston.

ERNEST L. GUPTILL, attorney of Portsmouth and solicitor for Rockingham County, N. H., who took his present office April 1, 1911, is one of the most popular and able members of the county bar, as well as a citizen held in high esteem. He was born in Berwick, Me., March 9, 1867, a son of Albert J. and Adelaide J. (Roberts) Guptill. His early education was gained in Berwick Academy, and when only eighteen years old he began the study of law in the office of William B. Pierce in Somersworth. In October, 1888, he was admitted to the practice of law in Maine and in the following year became a member of the New Hamp- shire bar. In the fall of 1888 he came to this city and began practice. He early took a deep interest in politics, as a member of the Republican party, and was for years one of Frank Jones' most trusted lieutenants. In 1890 he was elected city solicitor, and again in 1891, '92, '93, '94 and in 1903-04. In 1893 he represented Ward 2 in the legislature, being a member of the committee of Revision of statutes, and also serving on the committee that arranged for New Hampshire's representation at the World's Fair held at Chicago. A notable feature of the last named commission was that every member voted not to attend the Fair at the State's expense. In 1912 Mr. Guptill was a member of the Congres- sional committee. Mr. Guptill belongs to Damon Lodge, No. 9, K. of P. ; Alpha Council, R. A .; the Mechanics' Fire Society, and Portsmouth Lodge, No. 96, B. P. O. Elks, of which he is past exalted ruler.

HON. LOUIS G. HOYT, who has been judge of the Probate Court of Rockingham County, N. H., since 1902, when he succeeded Judge Thomas Leavitt in this office, was born in Exeter, N. H., February 23, 1856. His parents, Gilman B. and Mary Anna (Jewell) Hoyt, were both natives of this state, the father being a tailor by occupation. He was also Register of Deeds of Rockingham County several years and was postmaster of Exeter under President Cleveland's second term.

Louis G. Hoyt was the only child of his parents. Beginning his edu- cation in the common schools, he subsequently attended Phillips Exeter Academy, and later became a student at Dartmouth College, where he was graduated in 1877. He then entered the field of journalism, start- ing the New Hampshire Democrat, 'at Exeter, N. H., which he con- ducted for about two years. He then began the study of law in the office of the late William W. Stickney at Exeter, and in 1878 was ad- mitted to the bar. He began the practice of his profession at Kingston, N. H., where he still resides. In 1889 he opened a law office in Boston for Ex-Governor Rollins & Son, and had charge of it there for two years, until they removed to Boston from Concord to assume charge of it themselves. He then returned to Kingston and resumed the prac- tice of law there. In 1892 he was elected county solicitor and served in that office until 1900. In 1902, as already stated, he was appointed to

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his present position as judge of probate, in which he is serving with marked efficiency. In politics he is a Republican. He is a trustee of Sanborn Seminary, also of Brown's Seminary at East Kingston. Al- ways an earnest student of his profession, Judge Hoyt has gained a high reputation as a lawyer. As a result of his experience, he published in 1901 a valuable work, "Hoyt's Probate Practice," which has been received with much favor by his legal brethren. A Republican in poli- tics and a public-spirited citizen, he takes a keen interest in local affairs and his aid and influence can always be counted upon in behalf of any worthy cause. He is a Free Mason, belonging to Gideon Lodge at Kingston.

Judge Hoyt married Mary S. Towle, a native of Kingston, N. H., and daughter of Alfred and Susan (Gale) Towle. He and his wife attend the Universalist Church. Widely known and highly esteemed, they stand high among the representative people of Rockingham County.

WILLIAM S. GOODRICH is proprietor of a brick plant at Epping, New Hampshire, which takes rank second to none in the New Eng- land States. Equipped with all that is latest and most approved in ma- chinery, with every natural facility and the most capable management, it has been highly successful and maintains an output of nine millions of brick annually. Mr. Goodrich has had wide experience in this field of endeavor ; in fact, from early boyhood it has been practically his only business. He was born in Hudson, Mass., December 9, 1862, and is a son of Albert and Susan D. (Sanborn) Goodrich. The Goodrich fam- ily (the name originally was 'spelled Goodridge) came to this country from England in colonial days and became established at Sterling and Fitchburg, Mass.

Albert Goodrich, father of William S., was born at Fitchburg, Mass., and was a prominent manufacturer of bricks. He had the distinction of making the brick that went into the first waterworks at Boston. His death occurred in his seventy-fourth year. His wife, Susan D. Good- rich, was a daughter of Moses Sanborn, who was prominent in New England. She lived to the age of eighty-three years. They were par- ents of eleven children, of whom but seven survived.

William S. Goodrich was the youngest of his family, and when five years old began attending the public schools, continuing until he was sixteen. He then attended private school one year and at the age of seventeen began learning the brick-making industry in his father's plant at Lancaster, Mass. For his first two years' service he received his board only, and the third year was given a dollar and a half per day. When twenty years old, he took the contract to make brick for his father, the contract calling for one million brick per year. He con- tinued for three years and then in 1887 came to New Hampshire. He operated a brick plant at Brentwood for five years, with an output of one and a half million brick per year. He then came to Epping, where for five years he operated a plant with an output of from one to one and a half million per year. He next took over the Bannigan plant, the first steam plant in this vicinity, with a capacity of from five to six million bricks. After three years he sold out to the New England Brick Company, in the year 1901, and was then made superintendent of the plant. He continued in that capacity for five and one-half years, having

JOHN ANDREW PICKERING

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charge of seven different plants, with about 250 men and sixty horses under his management. The annual output was twenty-six millions, and thirteen thousand cords of wood were yearly consumed in burning the brick. In April, 1907, he started his present brick yard, and in just five weeks and four days had his plant in operation. The first year the capacity was three million brick, and this was gradually increased to its present output of nine millions. He has thoroughly modern machinery, including steam shovels and cable hoists. It requires but one minute and ten seconds from the time the clay leaves the bank to be made into bricks, and in ten minutes the brick are in the racks. The machine turns out one hundred and eight bricks per minute. The entire property includes seventy acres, on which are located the factory itself, the clay banks, spurs of track and the yards. He had two sons in association with him, Ruel E., who has charge of the accounting, financing and shipping, and Ralph S., who is master mechanic.

May 20, 1884, William S. Goodrich was united in marriage with Edith M. Benson, a daughter of Edward Benson, who was a veteran of the Civil War and a resident of Clinton, Mass. She also comes of an English family which early was transplanted to this country, being established at Sterling and Rutland, Mass. On her mother's side there were ten great-great uncles, who fought in the Revolutionary War, two of whom lost their lives in battle. Mrs. Goodrich is a prominent mem- ber of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Good- rich became the parents of the following children : Ralph S. and Ruel E., twins, born January 30, 1885; Maude E., born February 20, 1891 : Chester A., born January 27, 1893; Hazel F., born December 18, 1894; William S., Jr., who was born February 3, 1897, and died December 21. 1900; Marion Irene, born December 15, 1898; and Edith Gertrude, born April 16, 1903. Ruel E. Goodrich married Miss Mary L. Sleeper. Maude E. Goodrich became the wife of Clyde B. Morgan, and they have a daugh- ter, Norma Benson Morgan. Mr. Goodrich is a firm believer in the merits of education, and has seen that his children have had good mental training. His daughter, Miss Hazel, is now in attendance at the Boston College of Music. Religiously, the family is Universalist. Mr. Good- rich is a Republican in politics and although his business duties have been most exacting, he consented to serve on the board of selectmen, and is now filling his third consecutive term. Fraternally, he is a Mason, being treasurer of the lodge; is a member and Past Worthy Patron of the Eastern Star; also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he is a past grand officer. For four years Mrs. Good- rich was Regent of the D. A. R. and Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star.

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History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 87

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