History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 88

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

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JOHN ANDREW PICKERING, in former days a well known and respected citizen of the town of Newington, Rockingham County, N. H., was born in this town February 7, 1819, and died February 5, 1891, at the age of seventy-two years lacking two days. He was a son of Joseph and Mary (Fabyan) Pickering. After acquiring his education in the schools of his native town he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed nearly all his life, for a number of years being engaged in real estate business and in build- ing at Cambridgeport, Mass. Being a very hard worker, his health finally failed and on the advice of his doctor he gave up building operations and re-

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turned to the old family homestead in Newington, or, rather to a farm which was a part of the same. To this property he added until at the time of his death he owned about sixty acres in Newington and fifty in the town of Portsmouth. He was a Democrat in politics, but in no sense a politician. He was, however, always interested in town affairs and served efficiently in local offices, including that of representative to the general assembly one term.

He was married at Cambridge, Mass., May 29, 1844, by Rev. Dr. Stearns, to Sarah Elizabeth Mathes, who was born in Durham, N. H., November I, 1818, a daughter of Benjamin and Comfort Mathes. She died May 23, 1895. Their children were: Eldora A., Alfaretta A., Elizabeth F., Sarah E., John A. K., Amanda, Alma A. ( wife of George H. Henderson of Dover, N. H. ). and John Edward. Of this large family there are but four now living, three daughters and a son. The sisters were all teachers, as was also their mother before her marriage. The brother also has been master of schools in different places. Of the daughters of John Andrew Pickering, Amanda was for fifteen years a teacher in the Lewis school at Roxbury, Mass. She is the wife of James Burnett-Pickering, who is no relation of hers, but assumed the Pick- ering name on their marriage, which took place January 14, 1911. He is a native of Boston, Mass., but lost his parents when a child. He was educated in the Boston public schools and for the greater part of his life has been engaged in farming. For the last ten years he has been a resident of Newing- ton. While Mr. and Mrs. Pickering reside on the farm, it is to them chiefly a place of residence, as they are engaged in the real estate business in Ports- mouth and Dover, owning a considerable amount of property there.

Another daughter of the subject of this sketch, Eldora, was assistant prin- cipal of the Dillaway school at Roxbury, Mass., for about twenty years. The family attend the Congregational church. The son, John Edward Pickering, of Portsmouth, was married on November 20, 1905, to Agnes R. Holbrook of that city. His three children, Roberta H., John R., and Eleanor, are the only grandchildren of John Andrew Pickering.

JOSEPH OLIVER HOBBS, who is engaged in the real estate business in Portsmouth, N. H., and also in farming, being the owner of a fine farm at North Hampton, was born in Boston, Mass., June 4, 1855, a son of Joseph Stacy and Mary Dearborn (Andrews) Hobbs. Mr. Hobbs acquired his literary education in the public schools of Boston, and afterwards attended the Massachusetts Agricultural Col- lege. About 1879 he became a resident of New Hampshire, settling in North Hampton, this county, where he engaged in farming and was thus occupied for several years. He then entered into the real estate business in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, in which he has been very successful. He is a director and vice president of the Granite State Fire Insurance Company of Portsmouth and holds the same offices in the Portsmouth Fire Association. He is also a director of the First National Bank and trustee of the Piscataqua Savings Bank, of Ports- mouth ; a director of Hampton Beach Improvement Company ; secretary and trustee of the Centennial Hall Association ; and a trustee of Hamp- ton Academy. He is a member of Derryfield Club, of Manchester, N. H .; of the Portsmouth Athletic Club; of the Abenaque Golf Club of Rye, N. H .; of the Country Club of Portsmouth ; and of Rocking- ham Lodge, Odd Fellows of Hampton, N. H., and the Canton Lodge of Odd Fellows, of Portsmouth. In politics he is a Republican and

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served formerly as a member of Governor Ramsdell's council. On his finely cultivated farm at North Hampton he carries on agriculture and dairying and also raises a large amount of fine stock.

On December 19, 1883, Mr. Hobbs married Miss Annie Dora French, a daughter of John F. and Lemira F. French. She died after some years of happy married life, and Mr. Hobbs married for his second wife, Feb- ruary 28, 1908, Annie Winifred Hoyt, a daughter of Wesley and Agnes Hoyt of North Hampton, N. H. She is also now deceased. Mr. Hobbs' children are Joseph Harold Hobbs, John F. W. Hobbs, Leon Pickering Hobbs, Paul Wesley Hobbs and Lemira May Hobbs. Mr. Hobbs has one sister living, Miss Carrie W. Hobbs of North Hampton, N. H.

FRANK E. LEAVITT, one of the most active and able of the younger generation of business men of Portsmouth, N. H., is manager of the Portsmouth branch of the wholesale grocery house of Silas Peirce and Company, Boston, Mass., the oldest wholesale grocery house in the United States and one of the largest in New England. He was born in Hampton, N. H., January 22, 1873, and is a son of Moses and Rebecca (Godfrey) Leavitt.

Moses Leavitt, whose death occurred in 1901, was engaged in farm- ing and conducted a summer hotel. He was born in Hampton, as was also his wife, who still resides there. The children of this family in- cluded: Irvin E .; Carrie, deceased wife of Myron Wesley Cole, also deceased ; Amos T .; Frank E. ; Charles W .; and William E.

Frank E. Leavitt, after completing a common school course, and graduating from Hampton Academy, in 1887, entered the New Hamp- shire State College, where he acquitted himself with credit during his three years of study. Leaving college he clerked for one year in a retail grocery in Boston. The succeeding ten years were spent in Cali- fornia, five years of the time he being manager of a retail grocery; the remainder of the time was spent in fruit growing. Upon returning East he became identified with Silas Peirce & Co., his experience in the business world well qualifying him for the important position he fills. Mr. Leavitt has always found time to devote to matters of public interest and welfare and at the present he is serving as one of the police commissioners.

In 1891 the subject of this record was joined in marriage with Miss Sarah L. Gillelan, who was born in Newark, N. J., one of the four chil- dren of Samuel M. and Carrie W. (Westbrook) Gillelan, the others being Frank S. Gillelan, Edith A. and Grace. Mr. and Mrs. Leavitt have four children: Russell H., Leslie W., Louise, and Lawrence G. The family attend the North Congregational Church. Mr. Leavitt is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; is a Knight Templar Mason; and is past grand regent of the New Hampshire Grand Council of the Royal Arcanum, also supreme representative in 1914 and 1915 to the supreme council of the order.

GEORGE W. AND CHARLES A. LANE, of the G. W. & C. A. Lane Company, manufacturers of machines for grain elevators, also grinding machines, are sons of William and Sally (Mason) Lane, who were both natives of Rockingham County, N. H. Their paternal grand- father was John Lane, whose wife, before marriage, was a Miss Cram. 45

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William Lane, the father, was a carpenter and farmer and in politics a Democrat. He and his wife were members of the Baptist Church and were people highly regarded by their neighbors. They had a daugh- ter, Annie, who is the wife of J. H. Bartlett. She, with her brothers, George and Charles, constituted their family of children.

George W. Lane was educated in the common schools, at Pembroke Academy, and at a private school. Completing his studies at the age of sixteen years, he for several years thereafter followed various lines of work of a mechanical kind, until 1871, at which time he became associated with his brother in their present business. At first they started in a small way and so kept on for several years, but about 1874 the business began to increase and has since steadily continued to improve until now they are the proprietors of a very prosperous concern. They have a fully equipped machine shop and employ about fifteen men. They have also done a considerable amount of carpenter work in this vicinity, being for years associated with their father in this line.

George W. Lane married Annie L. Adams, who was born in Exeter, N. H., a daughter of Aaron and Martha ( Wiggin) Adams. She died in 1899 and is buried in Exeter. Mr. Lane formerly served the town as police commissioner. In politics he is a Democrat and he attends the Baptist church.

Charles A. Lane attended the same educational institutions as his brother George. Afterwards he worked on the farm with his father and continued with him until 1871, when he formed his present business con- nection with his brother. He married Abbie Myria Brown, a native of Loudon, N. H., and daughter of Deacon John S. R. and Acher (Mills) Brown. He, like his brother, is a Democrat and a Baptist in religion. He has three children: Carl, who is a stenographer residing in Boston; Bessie, the wife of Ralph S. Perkins of Exeter, and Harold M., who is residing at home with his parents. The Lane family exhibits a high type of citizenship, its members possessing in large measure those qualities of honesty, industry and perseverance which have made New England men and women famous the world over.

HON. WOODBURY LANGDON, eldest child of Woodbury and Frances (Cutler) Langdon, was born in Portsmouth, N. H., October 22, 1836. He comes from an old and noted New England family, being a descendant in the sixth generation of Woodbury Langdon, who was a brother of Gov. John Langdon, fuller mention of whom may be found elsewhere in this volume. Many members of the family since its early settlement in this country have been men of mark and substance, and it may be said in general that all have reflected credit on its name. Espe- cially is thus true with respect to mercantile affairs, in which the sub- ject of this sketch follows ancestral traditions.

After receiving a good education he entered the employ of Froth- ingham & Company of Boston, a well known dry goods commission house, and so rapidly made his way in the confidence of his employers that in 1863 he went to New York City to take charge. of the branch house of the firm. He continued to reside in New York until 1911 ; when he returned to Portsmouth, N. H. In 1868 he became a partner in the firm of Frothingham & Company, and upon the death of the senior partner in 1870 the style of Joy, Langdon & Company, which still con-

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tinues, was adopted. As the head of this New York house, Mr. Lang- don represents one of the largest dry goods commission businesses in the United States. He is also an officer of notable financial institutions. He is a director of two of the great banks of New York-the Central Na- tional Bank and the National Bank of Commerce; president and director of the Cannelton Coal Company ; director of the New York Life Insur- ance Company, the German American Fire Insurance Company and the German Alliance Insurance Company ; trustee of the Greenwich Savings Bank, the New York Security and Trust Company and the Title Guaran- tee and Trust Company. For many years a prominent member of the New York Chamber of Commerce, since 1888 he has been a member of its executive committee, and was for three years its vice president.

In association with the late C. B. Potter, the late William Steinway, John H. Starin and August Belmont, Mr. Langdon was appointed by the mayor in 1890 a member of the board of rapid transit commission- ers of the city and county of New York, and on November 19, 1896, was appointed by Mayor Strong to succeed Seth Low on the new board of rapid transit commissioners, organized under the laws of 1894. Munici- pal construction of a rapid transit system for the metropolis having been decided on by popular vote at the election of November 6, 1894, the new board thus created was charged with the responsibility of selecting the route, arranging the conditions and details, and awarding the con- tract. The great underground railway system now in operation, with further ramifications in progress, is the outcome of the board's delib- erations.

In addition to his service to the city of New York as a rapid transit commissioner, Mr. Langdon has been one of the most conspicuous and effective advocates of non-partisan municipal government. Following the exposure of corruption in city affairs through the investigation of the Lexow committee, he was one of the signers of the original call for the meeting at Madison Square Garden, September 6, 1894. This call was to consider "the wisdom and practicability of taking advantage of the present state of public feeling to organize a citizens' movement for the government of the city of New York entirely outside of party and solely in the interests of efficiency, economy, and the public health, com- fort and safety." Mr. Langdon was one of the historic committee of seventy appointed by the meeting, which nominated Col. William L. Strong for mayor and directed the famous and successful reform cam- paign of 1894. In national politics he is an advocate of the principles of the Republican party. He is a leading member of the Union League Club of New York, has served upon its most important committees, and has been its vice president by annual re-election since 1889. One of the principal founders of the Merchants' Club of New York City, he was its president in 1888-89, two years in this office being the constitutional limit. He is now a member of its board of directors. Of the New Eng- land Society of New York, of which he is also a director, he has been a member since 1865. He is likewise a member of the Lawyers', City Riding and New York Athletic Clubs, the American Geographical So- ciety, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Mr. Langdon was first married March 1, 1894, to Edith Eustis Pugh. She died in January, 1895, and he married for his second wife, in Septem- ber, 1896, Elizabeth Langdon Elwyn, a descendant of Gov. John Lang-

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don of New Hampshire. Her line of descent is as follows: I. Tobias Langdon. II. Captain Tobias Langdon. III. John Langdon. IV. Hon. John Langdon, United States senator, president pro tempore of the United States Senate, governor of New Hampshire, etc. V. Elizabeth Langdon, only child of Hon. John Langdon, married Thomas Elwyn, of Centerbury, England. VI. Alfred William Elwyn, married Mary Middleton Mease. VII. Alfred Langdon Elwyn, married Helen Maria, daughter of Rev. Heman Dyer. VIII. Elizabeth Langdon Elwyn; mar- ried Woodbury Langdon.

Mr. Langdon is now spending his declining years in the old Governor Langdon house, Portsmouth. This fine old residence, dating back to the beginning of the Revolutionary period, is kept in excellent condition by him, and possesses a rare historical interest that is national in its scope. In it the citizens of Portsmouth take no little pride, and few visiting strangers go away without taking the time to gaze upon this stately and venerable structure, whose age exceeds that of the Nation itself.

COL. RUFUS N. ELWELL, a well known business man of Exeter, engaged in general insurance as agent for various companies, and also in the lumber business, was born in Detroit, Me., August 24, 1862, a son of George H. and Hannah (Prentiss) Elwell. His parents were natives of Troy, Me., where the father was a farmer and lumberman. He was a son of Jacob Elwell, also a native of Maine. The father died in January, 1899. His widow resides in Newton, N. H. A Republican in politics, he performed the duties of a good citizen and was a man who stood high in the good opinion of his neighbors.

After attending the common schools the subject of this sketch com- pleted his literary education in the Maine Central Institute at Pitts- field, earning the money for expenses by school teaching. He began his industrial life in connection with the lumber business, later taking up insurance, in both of which lines he has since continued. For some time also he was engaged in business as a box manufacturer in Exeter and also in Newton. He is a member of the Wadleigh & Elwell Lumber Company, operating in Maine, where they own several good tracts of timber land. As an insurance man he is state agent for the New England Casualty Company, also for the New York Plate Glass Company, be- sides three fire insurance companies. He is a director in the Exeter Co-operative Bank, being also chairman of the security committee of the same. In politics a Republican, he served for eight years as a mem- ber of the legislature, for two years being speaker of the House. Since coming to Exeter in 1890 he has served two terms as collector of customs at Portsmouth-from 1898 to 1905-and was on the staff of Governor Tuttle, whence he derives his title of colonel. His society affiliations are with the Odd Fellows, Red Men, Royal Arcanum, Sons of Veterans, the New Hampshire Veteran Association and the New England His- torical Society.

Col. Elwell was first married in May, 1885, to Etta Ordway, of West Newbury, Mass., a daughter of Charles W. and Caroline (Adams) Ord- way. She died in July, 1886, leaving a son, George W. The latter, who was graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy and later from Dart- mouth College and the Harvard Law School, is now an attorney in Bos-

Edward A. Mayer

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ton. Col. Elwell married secondly Mary E. Boswell, who was born in Salem, Mass., daughter of William W. and Lucy A. (Peabody) Boswell. Her father was the son of Rev. James Boswell, and was born in Con- necticut ; her mother was a native of Massachusetts. Of this second marriage there has been one son, Clinton W. He was graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy, attended Dartmouth College two years, and was later graduated from the Harvard School of Business Administration. He is now associated with his father in the insurance business. Col. Elwell and family attend the Baptist church. They are progressive up to date people, possessing in large measure the best qualities of their New England ancestors and occupying a high place in the estimation of their neighbors and fellow citizens.

HON. WILLIAM EDWARD MARVIN, a member of the law firm of Frink, Marvin & Batchelder, of Portsmouth, N. H., was born in this city July 1, 1872, the second child of William and Eliza Salter (Anderson) Marvin. He received his early education in the schools of Portsmouth, from which he went to Harvard University, where he graduated with the class of 1893, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Returning to his native city, he read law in the office of J. S. H. Frink, Esquire, and was admitted to the bar in March, 1894. Early in 1894 Mr. Frink, Charles E. Barchelder and William E. Marvin became partners in busi- ness under the firm name of Frink, Batchelder & Marvin, attorneys. Mr. Batchelder died in September, 1894, and the firm of Frink & Marvin was then formed. Subsequently Charles H. Batchelder was accepted as partner and the firm of Frink, Marvin & Batchelder was thus formed, which has continued until the present time. This is one of the strong firms of Rockingham County and handles a large amount of legal busi- ness. Mr. Marvin has made his mark as a lawyer, as a business man and as a public officer. Between 1885 and 1900 he lived in New Castle, N. H., where he was elected a member of the board of selectmen four consecu- tive years. He was also a member of the school board. In 1900 he moved to Portsmouth, and in March, 1905, was elected mayor, and re- elected in December of the same year. He is a member of the Powwow Club of Harvard College, and of Wentworth Lodge, No. 22, Knights of Pythias of New Castle. He attends the Unitarian church.

He is a trustee of the Portsmouth Savings Bank and a member of the investment committee, a director of the National Mechanics & Trad- ers Bank, and president of the Portsmouth Harbor, Land & Hotel Com- pany. He is a member of the Portsmouth Athletic Club, Portsmouth Country Club, Piscataqua Yacht Club, Warwick Club, the Federal Fire Society, and the Portsmouth Board of Trade and Merchants Exchange, of the last of which he was president for two years.

Mr. Marvin married, June 24, 1896, Susan Roby Bent, who was born in Wayland, Mass., July 27, 1872, daughter of Ralph and Isabelle Damon (Bond) Bent. They have seven children-William B., Sarah, Elizabeth, Robert, Isabelle, Edward and Mary.

HON. EDWARD D. MAYER, police judge of Exeter, N. H., in which office he has served for the past eighteen months, was born in Kingston, N. Y., September 30, 1878, a son of John M. and Fredericka ( Messinger ) Mayer. His parents were natives of Germany who came to America when children.

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They were married at Kingston, where both now reside, the father being a wagon manufacturer by occupation. The latter when only ten years old began industrial life in a brick yard, working five years without pay, the first recom- pense he received being a lot and lumber enough to build a blacksmith shop. This he received when he was eighteen years old, and it was his first start in life. He subsequently built up a good business and has since enjoyed unin- terrupted prosperity. He and his wife were the parents of a large family of ten children, all of whom they reared and educated. They were as follows: Theodore ; John; Mary, wife of John Hildedrand, a ship builder at Kingston; Jennie, wife of John Metzler, a contractor and builder in New York City ; Matilda, wife of Prof. Adolph Schablin, a professor of the German language; Theresa, the widow of Robert Griffith, a grain dealer; Amelia, wife of Doug- las Halstead, a hardware merchant in New York; Edith and Alice, residing at home with their parents, and Edward D., the subject of this sketch. The two oldest sons, Theodore and John, are manufacturers of New York City.

Edward D. Mayer attended grammar and high school at Kingston and subsequently became a student at Muhlenberg College, at Allentown, Pa., being graduated therefrom in the class of 1900. He studied law under Judge G. D. B. Hasbroack, then judge of the Court of Claims and now judge of the Supreme Court of Third Judicial Department of New York State. Having subsequently attended a New York law school, he was admitted to the bar in 1904, and began the practice of his profession in New York City, where he remained two years, after which he came to Exeter. Here he has made an excellent record and is recognized as a man of more than ordinary ability, either at the bar or on the bench. He is a member of Star in the East Lodge, No. 59, A. F. & A. M., which he is serving as junior deacon, and belongs also to the Odd Fellows, the Royal Arcanum, and the American Foresters.

Judge Mayer was married in 1904 to Miss Amelia Van Vliet, a native of Matteawan, N. Y., and daughter of Theodore and Caroline ( Allen) Van Vliet, both deceased. Mrs. Mayer's parents were born in Dutchess County, N. Y .; her father was treasurer of the Matteawan Manufacturing Company at the time of his death in November, 1913, an office he had held for forty years. They have two children-Amelia, who is now Mrs. Mayer, and Charles T. Mr. and Mrs. Mayer are the parents of a son, Loyd Van Vliet Mayer. They attend the Congregational church and are popular members of Exeter society. A man of broad mind and sound business sense, Judge Mayer stands high as a citizen and his opinion is often sought when any project is afoot for the improvement of local conditions, whether material or moral.

REV. ALFRED GOODING, pastor of the South Parish Unitarian Church at Portsmouth, N. H., was born in Brookline, Mass., May 10, 1856, a son of Josiah and Anna W. Gooding. Mr. Gooding was grad- uated A. B. from Harvard College in 1877, and S. T. B. from the Harv- ard Divinity School in 1881. He has resided in Portsmouth since Octo- ber, 1884, at which time he came here to assume the duties of his pres- ent charge. He has identified himself usefully with some important public interests, having served as a member of the Board of Instruction, trustee of the Public Library, and president of the Portsmouth Athe- naeum. He was married, June 1, 1887, to Miss Mabel Sise, a daughter of John and Lucy M. Sise, of Portsmouth. Their children are Frederic. who resides in Boston, Mass., and Eleanor, who lives at home with her parents.

JOHN W. KELLEY

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JOHN E. KENT, proprietor of a livery at New Market, and also engaged in the grain and feed business, is a prosperous business man and has a wide acquaintance throughout this vicinity. He was born in Durham, N. H., May 8, 1861, and is a son of Eben and Anna N. (Nute) Kent. His mother is deceased but Eben Kent still resides on the old home farm at Durham.

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History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 88

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