History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 91

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

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

Otis S. Brown received a good educational training in the public schools and Hampton Academy. He remained on the home farm with his father until he took up his residence in Little Boars Head. He is a man of high stand- ing and has hosts of friends throughout this section. He married Emma F. Johnson of Hampton, a daughter of Joseph and Lydia (Towle) Johnson. Her father was a farmer of Hampton. The children of the Johnson family included: Lydia, wife of Warren I. Emory; Emma F. (Mrs. Brown) ; and J. Austin Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have a daughter, Bertha E., widow of Benjamin F. Appleton. Otis S. Brown is a Democrat in politics. He and his wife attend the Baptist Church.

JAMES L. PARKER, county treasurer of Rockingham County, and one of Portsmouth's best known and most popular citizens, was born in the state of Massachusetts, May 10, 1845. His parents were Jonas L. and Mary (Huntress) Parker, the father being also a native of Massachusetts. Both parents are now deceased.

The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of this city, to which he came in 1847, when only two years old. After graduat- ing from the high school he obtained a clerical position in the hardware store of John H. Bailey, subsequently becoming a partner in the firm, being connected with the concern in that capacity from 1870 to 1876. He later became identified with the Navy Yard at Portsmouth. From 1878 to 1884 he served as city messenger. He was then bookkeeper for six years for Charles E. Laighton & Son. From 1896 to 1903 inclu- sive he was city tax collector, and he was elected county treasurer for his first term in 1911, being re-elected in 1913. He is still serving in his second term. As a public official he has given general satisfaction and is no less esteemed as a citizen. He is identified with the Odd Fellows, Osgood Lodge, No. 48; St. Andrew's Lodge, No. 56. A. F. & A. M .: Washington Royal Arch Chapter, No. 3; Davenport Council, No. 5; R. & S. M .; and De Witt Clinton Commandery, K. T. He has been secretary of the Washington Chapter since 1889 and still holds that position, and has been recorder of DeWitt Clinton Commandery since 1879.

Mr. Parker was married April 27, 1871, to Ella A. Norris, a daughter of Joseph and Mary E. (Chapman) Norris. He and his wife are the parents of four children, namely : Mary L., born in 1872, who is the wife of Joseph F. Stoker, of Boston, Mass .; Joseph N., born August 26, 1873, who resides in Portsmouth, N. H. ; Harold, born December 27, 1884, who married Eva O. Greenwood, of New Haven, Conn., and Florence, a twin sister of Harold, whose nativity is given above. Harold was grad- uated from Portsmouth High School, from Dartmouth College and from Thayer School of Civil Engineering. He is now connected with the United Fruit Co. Joseph N. married Mrs. Nellie Newick, the widow of George Newick, her maiden name having been Nellie Trefethen. Mr. Parker and his family are members of the Congregational church. Their home residence is at No. 564 Middle Street, Portsmouth.

JOHN G. SWEETSER, who is carrying on a prosperous business at No. 126-128 . Market street, Portsmouth, N. H., as plumber, dealer in heating apparatus, ranges and kitchen furnishings, was born in Ports- mouth, N. H., February 12, 1875. His father, John P. Sweetser, a na-

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tive of this city, carried on the same line of business here for thirty- five years. He was a son of Washington and Matilda (Lane) Sweetser of New Hampshire, Washington Sweetser being a harness maker and trunk dealer. John P. Sweetser married first Myra Hayes, of Ports- mouth, Mass., and by her had four children-Ralph H., Katharine, Myra (now deceased), and John G., the subject of this sketch. She died in 1882 and he married for his second wife Ida C. Caswell, a daughter of John W. Caswell. Born of this second union were two children-Geral- dine, now deceased, and Harold C.

John G. Sweetser was educated in the public schools of Portsmouth, graduating from the high school in 1892. He began industrial life as an employe of the Maryland Iron and Steel Company, remaining with them one year. Then returning to Portsmouth, he attended Tilton Seminary for awhile, after which he worked for two years in his father's store. He then began an apprenticeship to the plumber's trade, which, having learned, he followed until 1908, during that time spending one year in Tennessee on contract. He then worked for his father two years at plumbing and heating, subsequent to which he went to Ste. Marie. Ontario, Canada, where he remained one year, having charge of the plumbing and heating department of the More & Brown hardware firm. Coming back to Portsmouth in the fall of 1907. he worked for his father until the spring of 1908, at which time he purchased the business, which was one of the oldest in Portsmouth, having been founded as far back as 1824. He established himself in his present location April 1, 1911, and is doing an excellent business, giving employment to about ten men. He has served the city two terms as inspector of plumbing. He belongs to the Portsmouth Athletic Club, the Portsmouth Country Club. St. John's Lodge. A. F. & A. M., and to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.

Mr. Sweetser married Mabel Jones, a native of Portsmouth and daughter of George N. and Clara (Clifford) Jones, whose father has been engineer on the Portsmouth fire department for a number of years. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Jones are: Fred N .. Reginald, Mrs. Anna L. Fay. Emma, Ethel, Coleman, and Mabel ( Mrs. Sweet- ser). Born to Mr. and Mrs. Sweetser have been two children-Robert Coolidge and John Clifford. The family attends the North Congrega- tional church. Their residence is at No. 99 Broad street.

WARREN M. THYNG, one of the representative men of the town of Brentwood, the owner of a good farm, who has also taken a prominent part in local affairs, was born in this town, March 5. 1863, a son of Samuel and Julia M. (Robinson) Thyng. His immigrant ancestors canie to this country from England at an early day, settling first in Exeter. N. H., from which place they came to Brentwood. The father of our subject, Samuel Thyng, was born November 1, 1821, and died Novem- ber 30, 1887, at the age of sixty-six years. The mother was also born in Brentwood. January 14. 1823 and died April 28, 1896, at the age of seventy-three. They had six children, of whom Warren M. was the fifth in order of birth.

Warren M. Thyng at the age of seven years began attending the district school, walking there and back, a distance of a mile and a half each way. He continued his attendance until he was seventeen, at which

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time he was placed under the care of a private tutor, a Mr. Taylor. He remained at home and worked on his father's farm until he was nineteen years old, when he secured a position in a steam mill at $1.50 per day, and was thus occupied for two years. He then became turnkey at the county jail at Exeter and was there four years. Being then needed at home, on account of his father's death, he returned and took charge of the farm, on which he has since resided. The house in which he lives, and in which his father and grandfather lived before him, was built over 200 years ago, and is still in a good state of preservation. The old well, 30 feet deep, has been known locally for the last 200 years as "The Old Oaken Bucket." From the house, which stands on a considerable elevation, a fine view of the surrounding country and the distant mountains can be seen.

A Republican in politics, Mr. Thyng has served as road agent for ten years ; he has also been selectman three years, chairman one ; a mem- ber of the school board, 3 years, chairman one, and delegate to county conventions. In 1913 he was nominated on the Republican ticket as representative, but was defeated by the Democrats and Progressives uniting.

On May 30, 1887, Mr. Thyng was married to Euleta M. Page, daughter of Simon and Elizabeth Page, of Raymond, N. H., her father being a prominent farmer of that place, of which he and his wife were natives. Both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Thyng have three children : Ralph S., now twenty-two years old, who is single and resides in Brentwood; Chester W., twenty years old, and Paul H., sixteen. The family attend the Baptist church, Mrs. Thyng being a member of the Ladies' Baptist Union and secretary and treasurer for six years.

GOODWIN E. PHILBRICK, one of Portsmouth's leading busi- ness men, is owner and proprietor of the drug store at No. 67 Congress Street. He has been prominently identified with the affairs of the city and is a man of wide acquaintance. He was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, May 16, 1861, and is a son of Silas and Maria L. (Goodwin) Philbrick.

Silas Philbrick was a marble cutter by trade and for years was en- gaged in the marble and granite business in Portsmouth, where both he and his wife died. They had the following children: Julia, wife of John E. Roberts; George P .; Frank J .; Newell S .; Otis F .; Goodwin E .; and Alfida, wife of Charles L. Simpson.

After attending the public schools some years, Goodwin E. Philbrick in 1875 entered the drug establishment of David Kimball & Co., at 36 Market Street, Portsmouth. There he mastered the business, and after passing the state board examination, continued with the firm as a reg- istered pharmacist. This business was established in 1816 and has con- tinued uninterruptedly to the present time. In 1894 F. J. Philbrick became owner of the store. In 1896 Goodwin E. Philbrick succeeded his brother and moved the store to the present location, at 67 Congress Street. The store is a model in neatness, arrangement and stock car- ried, and well merits the extensive patronage it receives.

Mr. Philbrick was united in marriage to Miss Georgie L. Avers, a daughter of Samuel H. and Louise (Mendum) Ayers, her father being a well known dry goods merchant. She was born in Portsmouth, and

JOSEPH CILLEY BURLEY

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died in the same city, August 2, 1910, being survived by a daughter, Mildred Ayers Philbrick. The family attend the Universalist Church. The subject of this record served one term in the common council of Portsmouth. He was for a time president of the Portsmouth Athletic Club, was for two years president of the New Hampshire Pharmaceuti- cal Association and in 1913 represented the latter body as delegate to the national convention held in Cincinnati, Ohio. He also is affiliated with the Royal Arcanum and the New England Order of Protection.

ZELIG LONDON, a well known business man of Exeter, proprietor of a dry goods store here, and also of a cloak store in Portsmouth, was born in Russia in March, 1859, his parents, Jacob B. and Sarah Lon- don, being natives of that country, where the father died after a long business career as a tailor. The children of the family were M. H., Zelig. Abraham, Israel and Ida.

Zelig London learned the trade of tailor in his native land and fol- lowed it for some years there in association with his father. After the latter's death he came to America, being then about twenty years of age, his mother coming here later. They located first in Boston, com- ing to Exeter in 1881. Here Mr. London has built up a good business in the dry goods line, owning in addition a cloak store in Portsmouth, as above noted. He was married in this country to Miss Fannie Million- thaler, a daughter of Lewis and Bessie Millionthaler, whose other chil- dren were Lewis, Moses and Sarah. Mr. and Mrs. London are the par- ents of four children : Bessie, wife of A. Salden, manager of the "White Store" in Portsmouth, owned by the subject of this sketch; Jacob B., a student in the Exeter high school; David, who is associated with his father in the Exeter store, and Esther Ruth, who is also attending school. In politics Mr. London is an independent voter. He belongs to the Blue Lodge of the Masonic order at Exeter, and also to the lodge of Odd Fellows here.

JOSEPH CILLEY BURLEY, in former years one of the most distin- guished citizens of Rockingham County, was born in Epping, N. H., January 13, 1830, coming of an old family that has been settled in Rockingham County for a number of generations. The fine old homestead at North Epping. on which he resided, and which comprises 300 acres, has been owned in the family for 150 years, and has been occupied by each generation since the time of the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch.

Joseph C. Burley acquired a good education and became prominent in both business and public life. Devoting special attention to finance, he became a director and president of the National Bank at New Market, a director in the Savings Bank at Epping, and a director of the Nashua & Rochester branch of the Boston & Maine Railroad, of which he was one of the pro- moters, assisting also in its construction. In 1871 he entered into partnership · with the Hon. Samuel Plumer Dow in the lumber business and continued in it until the death of Mr. Dow, after which he was associated in the same business with Col. W. N. Dow of Exeter. He cast his last vote with the Democratic party in 1856, and then joined the Republicans, thereafter being one of the most ardent supporters of the Republican party in this section. As a member of the legislature he worked hard for the interests of his con- stituents, and his name was associated with the passage of a number of im-

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

portant bills calculated to benefit the people of the state, throughout which he was recognized generally as a far-seeing, broad-minded politician, of un- impeachable integrity and strong patriotism. In addition to his service in the legislature, he was county commissioner ten years, and also served as selectman, showing marked efficiency and public spirit. His death, which occurred October 4, 1890, removed from Rockingham County one of her most useful and highly esteemed citizens.

Mr. Burley was married, December 17, 1855, to Sarah E. Haley; who was born in Epping, June 25, 1833, and who survived her husband many years, dying February 11, 1912. They were the parents of five children, whose record in part is as follows: Nannie B. married H. W. Burleigh of Franklin, N. H., and has had four children, namely: Nathaniel G., now 26 years old; Arthur C., 24; Thomas G., who died at the age of 14; and Joseph, now 14 years old. Harry Benjamin Burley, the second child, now 47 years of age, married Louise Wells of Buffalo, N. Y., and they have three sons: Joseph C., Robert M. and Harry B., Jr .; they reside in Brook- line, Mass., where he is president of the Boston Insulating Wire Company. Alice Burley married, November 16, 1897, Dr. W. G. Curtis of Milton, Mass., and has a daughter, Elizabeth B., now 13 years of age. Jennie C., who is unmarried, resides on the old Burley homestead at North Epping. Thomas Benjamin Burley graduated from Harvard University and also from Harvard Medical College, and now resides in Worcester, Mass., where he is engaged in practice as a nerve and brain specialist; he is unmarried. The daughters were educated in the schools of Epping, finishing their literary studies at Dean and at Boston. All belong to the Daughters of the American Revolution, Mrs. Curtis being also a member of the Musical Art Club of Boston. Their more than ample means enables them to freely indulge their tastes for music, literature and art, and whatever tends to refine the character and improve the mind.

GEORGE B. CHADWICK, a member of the firm of Chadwick and Trefethen, machinists, steamfitters and electrical contractors, Ports- mouth, N. H., was born at Boxford, Mass., October 1, 1858. His par- ents were George W. and Sophonia (Day) Chadwick, the former of whom was a farmer. He was educated in the public and district schools of his native town, and in 1880 began industrial life as an apprentice to the trade of machinist and steamfitter with Davis & Furber. In 1885 he became an employe of the Portsmouth Machine Company, in 1888 becoming master mechanic, and he continued with that firm for five years. He next engaged in his present business, in 1890, having succeeded J. F. Shillaber. The present firm of Chadwick & Trefethen was formed in 1906 and has met with marked success ever since. In addition to their work as contractors along the lines above mentioned, they deal in steam and water pipe fittings, engineers', plumbers' and electrical supplies and sporting goods. The business is the oldest and most extensive of its kind in Portsmouth, the plant located at 32 Bow, Street having been established more than forty years ago. The con- cern gives employment to about twenty persons. Mr. Chadwick is affiliated with the Odd Fellows, also St. Andrew's Lodge of Masons.

He married Miss Abbie W. Hickey, a daughter of John Hickey, of Newburyport, Mass. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and they reside at No. 53 Rogers Street. In politics he is independent.

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FRED A. DAY, who is engaged in general farming and dairying on a farm of 140 acres, situated in the town of Portsmouth, Rocking- ham County, N. H., was born in Kennebunk, Me., August 18, 1867. His father, Hobbs Perkins Day, and his mother, Mrs. Georgia (Fiske) Day, were both natives of Kennebunk, the father being a ship carpenter by occupation. Both are now deceased. They were progressive, indus- trious people, well liked by their neighbors, and were members of the Unitarian Church. The subject of this sketch was their only child.

Fred A. Day attended school in Kennebunk until fifteen years of age. He then began industrial life as a worker in shoe factories, and remained thus employed for twenty-five years. He was twenty years old when he came to Rockingham County and for twenty-two years he worked in a shoe shop in Portsmouth. He then rented a farm ad- joining his present one and operated it for five years, after which he bought his present farm from Hanson Seavey. He keeps about twenty- five head of cattle and employs two hands all of the time. His milk and other products find a ready market and he is doing a prosperous business. He is a Republican in politics and takes a good citizen's in- terest in the growth and development of his adopted town.

Mr. Day was married November 7, 1887, to Miss Mary Cousens, a native of Kennebunk, and daughter of William and Ruth (Clough) Cousens, her parents being Maine people, and her father a ship car- penter by trade. They attended the Baptist Church. Their family consisted of two children-Charles and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Day are the parents of seven children, Georgie, Marion, Ralph, Florence, Helen, Ruth and Edith. The family attend the Baptist Church and Mr. Day belongs to the Odd Fellows' Lodge at Portsmouth.

DONALD C. MCLACHLAN, M. D., who has been successfully en- gaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in the town of Green- land, Rockingham County, N. H., for the past nine years, was born in Lochabar, province of Quebec, Canada, on May 5, 1878. His parents, Malcolm and Sarah (Campbell) Mclachlan, both died in Canada, where the father was engaged in farming. Their children were Robert N., Chris- tiana, John P., Donald C., Mary, and Jemima.

Donald C. McLachlan began his education in the common schools of Lochabar and was subsequently graduated from the high school at Van Klekhill, Ontario, as a member of the class of 1898. He then en- tered McGill University at Montreal, where he was graduated in med- icine in 1904. After nine months' experience in the Montreal Maternity Hospital, he came to Greenland, N. H., in April, 1905, where he has since built up a good practice. His genial manners and professional ability have made him a popular member of the medical fraternity in this county and he enjoys the public confidence in a high degree. He belongs to the Portsmouth Medical Society, as well as to the County and State Medical Associations, and is a man who keeps abreast of his profession in all its branches.

Dr. McLachlan was married in 1909 to Caroline D. Hatch, who was born in Greenland, N. H., a daughter of Hon. John and Alice C. (Ben- ton) Hatch. He and his wife are the parents of one child, a son, Malcolm. The family attend the Episcopal Church, and the Doctor is a member of the Masonic order, in which he has taken three degrees.

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ELBRIDGE A. GOODWIN, senior member of the firm of Good- win Bros., composed of Elbridge A. and George M. Goodwin, dealers in groceries, grain, etc., at Exeter, N. H., was born in Acton, Me., December 20, 1858, a son of Ivory and Laura (Young) Goodwin. The father, who was a son of Aaron Goodwin, was in early life a farmer, but later was engaged in the real estate and lumber busi- ness. Both parents are now deceased and are buried in Exeter. They were members of the Baptist Church. They had a family of five chil- dren : Ivory S .; Laura Belle; Emily, who is the wife of Fred T. Merrell; Elbridge A., and George M.

Elbridge A. Goodwin acquired his education in the common schools and at the academy at Lebanon, Me. He began industrial life as clerk in the grocery business. The present business was established by his father, who later sold it to his son-in-law, Mr. Merrell. In 1884 it was purchased by the Goodwin brothers, who have since conducted it with prosperous results.

Elbridge A. Goodwin was married in 1881 to Evangeline K. Moore, a native of Michigan and daughter of Thomas and Gertrude Moore, who had two other children, Fred W. and Albert E. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin have a daughter, Laura, who is a teacher in the Exeter public schools. Mr. Goodwin's society affiliations are with the Odd Fellows, the Red Men, Royal Arcanum and Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a Democrat in politics and he and his wife attend the Baptist Church. They are among the thriving and substantial people of the town.

CHARLES A. HAZLETT. The ancestors of the family of Hazlett of this article came from England.

(I) Matthew Hazlett was born in Boston, Mass., March 22, 1743. He removed to Portsmouth, N. H., before the Revolution, and was a signer of the "Association Test" in 1776, and prominent in the affairs of the town. His unique advertisement was the first one in New Hamp- shire illustrated with a special newspaper cut, and appeared in the New Hampshire Gazette, July 17, 1767. He married in Portsmouth, December 10, 1774, Ann Frost. Among their ten children was William.

(II) William, fourth child of Matthew and Ann (Frost) Hazlett, was born in Portsmouth, September 16, 1780. He married Elizabeth Ham, and they were the parents of eleven children; among them William.

(III) William (2), fourth child of William (1) and Elizabeth (Ham) Hazlett, was born in Ossipee, N. H., November 18, 1808, and died in Portsmouth, February 15, 1864. He was a cabin joiner in the employ of George Raynes, shipbuilder, and worked on many famous clipper- ships, and also on the "Kearsarge" and "Ossipee," the famous war ves- sels built in the Portsmouth navy yard during the Civil War. His fourth son, William C., served on the U. S. Steamer "Ossipee" and died in 1864 from the effects of exposure while in the blockade service off Mobile, Alabama. William Hazlett married, January 8, 1834, Han- nah S. Davis, of Effingham, N.H., who was born March 9, 1812, and died June 10, 1897, seventh child of William and Sarah (Bryant) Davis. They had eight children, among them Charles Albert.

(IV) Charles Albert, seventh child of William (2) and Hannah

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S. (Davis) Hazlett, was born in Portsmouth, July 21, 1847. His edu- cation was obtained in the city schools, and he has the first Haven medal awarded at the High School, which he won in 1863. This large octagon medal was the nucleus of what is now the largest collection of medals and coins in the state, and its possession led to large collections of stamps, autographs and rare books of Portsmouth imprint. Mr. Hazlett entered the counting-room of ex-Governor Ichabod Goodwin in 1863, and served as a confidential clerk for nine years, while his employer was extensively engaged in foreign shipping and domestic railroad manage- ment. In 1872 he was employed as bookkeeper and teller in the First National Bank of Portsmouth, and in January, 1884, was elected cashier, succeeding E. P. Kimball, who had served thirteen years following Samuel Lord, whose term of service was forty-seven years, the bank having then had but two cashiers and three presidents since its organiza- tion as a state bank in 1824. He is president of the Piscataqua Sav- ings Bank, and executor and trustee of several large estates. He was a promoter of the Portsmouth Improvement Association, and at its organization, in 1903, was chosen president. He has served in several city offices, and was one of the park commissioners the year the land was secured for the playgrounds. For forty-one years he has been agent of the New Hampshire Fire Insurance Company, of Manchester, New Hampshire.

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History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 91

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