History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 95

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

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

was born in Newmarket, New Hampshire, October 16, 1840, and is a son of Orlando and Harriet (Walker) Langley.

Orlando Langley, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Lee, New Hampshire, in 1797, and died in 1855. His wife, Harriet Walker Langley was born May 2, 1802, and lived to be more than ninety years old, dying on September 17, 1892. They became parents of twelve children.

Of the children born to his parents, Orlando S. Langley was eleventh in order of birth. When old enough he entered the schools of his home community, attending about three months each winter, the remainder of the time being devoted to work on the home farm. Thus he con- tinued until he was fifteen, when he attended school at Newmarket for two years. He then worked out for different ones until he had sufficient means with which to buy a yoke of oxen. With this start Mr. Langley freighted between Lee and Newmarket for eight years. Industrious and saving he accumulated sufficient means to buy a 67 acre farm near Hedding, which he operated for three years. Then dis- posing of it, he acted as manager of a farm for his grandfather one year. He next came to Epping and bought a farm of seventy acres, which he managed and lived upon for two years. He purchased another farm two miles from Epping, which he tilled for fifteen years. Dispos- ing of this property to advantage he then purchased his present farm of 175 acres located two miles from Exeter on the Newmarket road, which his son now farms. Mr. Langley has always been a man of public spirit, but never consented to mingle in politics or accept office, other than that of selectman, in which capacity he served three years. He was drafted for service in the Union Army during the Civil War, but owing to the fact that his mother was a widow and he was the only child left at home to care for her, he could not see his way clear to follow his inclination and go to the front, paying $300 for a substitute.

January 10, 1866, Mr. Langley was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Burnham of Epping, a daughter of Uriah and Susanna Burn- ham, and they became parents of four children: Harriet B., deceased was the wife of Fred Cobb of Auburn, Maine; Albert S. married Alice Norris and they have two sons, Norris and Richard; Nellie G. is the wife of Charles W. Woods and has four children: Gertrude L., Ben- jamin M., Harold R., and Hollis L .; and Samuel W. Langley of Exe- ter, New Hampshire, married Ella Armstrong and they have a daugh- ter, Helen M.

Mr. Langley is an active member of the Patrons of Husbandry and has filled all the offices in the local grange. He is a democrat in politics. Mrs. Langley is prominent in club and social work, and has many friends throughout this vicinity, which she has always called home. She is active in the Ladies' Relief Corps, of which she has been chairman and filled all other offices except that of secretary. Religiously they are members of the Universalist Church.

JOHN ELVIN TUCK, owner of a farm in the town of Brentwood, three miles south of the village of Epping, was born in Brentwood, N. H., September 8, 1886, a son of John S. and Flora M. (Peasley) Tuck. The father was born on the same farm, November 20, 1847, and passed away from this life May 16, 1905. The mother of our subject is still living,

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being now a resident of Brentwood. The Tuck family is of English origin, its earliest progenitors in this country settling first in Exeter. The farm of 130 acres now owned by the subject of this sketch has been in the family since the time of the great great grandfather, John Tuck. There is no record of Revolutionary service, but the great grandfather in direct line, also named John, had a brilliant record in the War of 1812-15.

John Elvin Tuck was the youngest of his parents' three children, all of whom are now living. He was educated in the public schools and graduated from the Sanborn Academy at Kingston at the age of twenty years. During the summer time and in the vacation he worked on his father's farm, first earning wages in 1902, when for two months' work he received $25 and his board. Beginning at the age of twenty-one, he worked two years and a half in the James store at Crawley Falls, Brent- wood. On the death of his father he returned home to take charge of the home farm, which three years ago was deeded to him.

He was married February 4, 1909 to Harriet E., daughter of Fred- erick E. and Mary (Swain) Osgood of Brentwood. Mrs. Tuck and her husband were classmates in school and graduated at the same time. They attend the Baptist church. Mr. Tuck is a Republican, and although he has never had political ambitions, he has on several occasions served his town in public office. He was supervisor two years and selectman for three years. He is a member of the Grange, which he has served both as overseer and steward. He and his wife are popular members of the community in which they reside.

JOHN H. WRIGHT, manager of the Rev. Alfred Elwyn farm of 750 acres in the town of Portsmouth, and also the owner of a farm of nine acres in the same town, was born in Clementsport, Nova Scotia, June 15, 1856, a son of John A. and Eleanor (Fitzgerald) Wright. His parents, both natives of Nova Scotia, came to the United States many years ago, settling in Portsmouth, where the father followed his trade of wheelwright. Both are now deceased. They were members of the Baptist church, John A. Wright being deacon of a church of that de- nomination in his native land. Their children were David, Fannie, Dora, who married William Eldridge, Jennie, who married Enoch Berry, Edward, Joshua, Israel, Walker, and John H.

John H. Wright attended the common schools until about fourteen years of age at which time he went to work at farming, an occupation which he has always since followed. He was seventeen years of age when he came to Portsmouth. In 1889 he became manager of the Mark H. Wentworth farm, holding that position for eleven years. He was then offered and accepted his present position as manager of the Rev. Alfred Elwyn farm, including 750 acres, 200 acres of which are under cultivation. He has now been fourteen years on this place and has made a good record for efficiency. The estate is in first class condition.

Mr. Wright was married on January 5, 1883, to Belle C. Saunders, who was born in Digby, Nova Scotia, and came here when eighteen years old. Her parents were Capt. Charles and Eveline Saunders, both natives of Nova Scotia, the father being a sea captain. Both died in their native land, neither coming to this country. Their children were: Belle C., who married John H. Wright; Bessie, wife of John A ..

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

Williams and Ulina, wife of Benjamin Woodfin, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Wright have had three children, Effie B., Charles Shannon, and John Brandon. Effie B. is a stenographer in the office of Kelly & Hatch, attorneys of Portsmouth. Charles Shannon Wright took the degree of B. A. at New Hampshire College, and subsequently graduated from Cornell with the degree of M. A. He now holds a position as assistant to the manager of the Campbell Soup Factory, supervising the raising of tomatoes on the Campbell farm. He married Annie Taylor, and they have a daughter, Barbara Saunders Wright. Mr. Wright is a Democrat in politics. He belongs to the New Hampshire Grange, also to the Red Men and the Mutual Relief Association of New Hampshire. He and his family attend Middle Street Baptist Church. Mr. Wright has his own farm of nine acres rented out, he being too busy with his duties on the Elwyn estate to give it his personal attention. He is a thoroughly practical agriculturist and general farmer and as a citizen is up-to-date and public spirited, taking an interest in everything cal- culated to promote the moral or material welfare of the community.

GEORGE ROWE, a prosperous farmer and lumberman of the town of Epping, residing about two miles north of Eppings village, was born at Nottingham, N. H., October 23, 1837. His parents were Ichabod and Abbie (Foss) Rowe, and their family consisted of three children, John P., George and Horace E. The immigrant ancestor of the Rowe family came to this country from England. Among Mr. Rowe's an- cestors was Governor Bradstreet, first secretary of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, who was also assistant governor of the colony for seven- teen years. On the maternal side Thomas Wiggin, who settled in Massachusetts at an early date, subsequently removed to Exeter. Gov- ernor Thomas Wiggin married a daughter of Governor Barefoot. Mem- bers of the Wiggin family also took a prominent part in the Revolu- tionary War.

George Rowe attended the country schools near his home until he was nineteen years of age, during the latter part of this time, however, at intervals only, as when fifteen, he began to learn the trade of shoe- maker, at which he worked for some time, receiving six dollars a week. Later he started to learn the carpenter's trade, but soon gave it up. He then accepted a position selling tinware for Charles Hubbard of Man- chester, N. H., and was thus occupied for several years. Still later he went into the hay business, also dealing in potatoes and lumber, and he has since built up a large and growing business along these lines, his two sons now attending to the active part of the work. He owns three fine farms, aggregating 276 acres.

Mr. Rowe was married January 26, 1865 to Sarah A. Smith, a daughter of George S. and Sarah A. D. (Emerson) Smith of Deerfield, N. H. Mrs. Rowe's early ancestors in this country were from Ireland. Her father died December 7, 1862, aged forty-five years and ten months. The mother survived her husband many years, passing away November 9, 1894, at the age of seventy-six years and ten months. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Rowe was a son of Jonathan Emerson, who served as a soldier in the War of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Rowe have three children, as follows: Sadie A., who married John Q. Pike, who is teller in a bank at Dover, N. H. (They have a daughter, Eliza, T., who married Wil-

CAPT. JOSIAH N. JONES

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liam Goss, assistant cashier of the bank) ; John E., single, who resides with his parents and assists in the management of the home farm; and Harry L., who married Mary F. Heath, of Hamptead, and has a daughter, Elizabeth R. All three children were educated in the public schools and academy at Epping, and Mrs. Pike, before her mar- riage was a teacher. The family attend the Congregational church. Mr. Rowe is a Democrat in politics, and, although not caring for public office, has served efficiently on the town school board.

FRANK W. SWALLOW, of Exeter, N. H., owner and proprietor of a flourishing post card business, was born in Exeter-in 1864, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Franklin G. Swallow. His father was a map publisher, and did an extensive business in Boston, Mass.

Frank W. Swallow was educated in the grammar schools of Exeter, N. H., and the High School of Melrose, Mass. He began his industrial life as a salesman in the china and crockery business, traveling for one Boston house for a period of fifteen years. He then engaged in the real estate business. When in association with H. F. Dunn he opened four streets in the west end of Exeter-Washington, Cottage, Mckinley and Hobart streets-and was joint owner of this property with Mr. Dunn for about ten years. He then became interested in the post card business, and throughout many New' England towns was the first to in- troduce local view post cards. Meeting with success, he later began the manufacture of post cards and with a business steadily growing, makes large numbers of local views from hundreds of New England towns besides filling mail orders from several other states. He belongs to the Blue Lodge and Chapter of the Masonic order at Exeter, and in politics is a Republican.

Mr. Swallow was married in 1891 to Jennie E. Johnson, a native of northern Vermont, and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Dexter Johnson.

CAPT. JOSIAH N. JONES, a veteran of the Civil War, for years a well known and respected citizen of Portsmouth. N. H., but now residing at Lawrence, Mass., was born in Wakefield, N. H., April 6, 1835. His parents were John and Rhoda ( Witham) Jones. The father, a native of Lebanon, Me., was a farmer and a soldier of the War of 1812; the mother was from Milton, N. H. They had eight children-Reuben, Mary and Martha (twins), Hiram, John R., Josiah N., Mahala and Matilda-only three of whom are now living.

Josiah N. Jones was educated in the district schools of Carroll county, which he attended only during the winter months, as he had to work on the farm during the summer, his father having died when Josiah was but eight years old. Leaving school at the age of sixteen, he went to Boston, where he learned the trade of machinist and blacksmith-learned it very thoroughly, as his subsequent record proved. He then went west and worked at his trade for some time in Chicago. Having a strong desire to see the country, he continued his pilgrimage to the Mississippi river and beyond, finally reach- ing the Far West, where he spent some years, hunting buffalo in Kansas as early as 1858, and traveling from the Rocky Mountains to the Rio Grande.

He returned home at a time of great political excitement, owing to the approaching struggle between the Northern and Southern States. A year before the breaking out of the war he joined the Massachusetts Volunteer

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

Militia, and was therefore in readiness to go out on the first call for 75,000 troops. On April 15, 1861, he enlisted in the Sixth Regiment of Massa- chusetts Volunteer Infantry and went out with his regiment. After serving out a term of three months and seventeen days, he re-enlisted in the Sixth New Hampshire Regiment, becoming first lieutenant of Company D. On August 4, 1862, he was promoted to the captaincy of Company F and served until the close of the war, enduring much hardship. He was mustered out in December, 1864, having made an honorable record for valiant and faith- ful service. He was commander of his regiment for four months during his service, and was also in command of the Thirty-second Maine Regiment for about a month. After the war Captain Jones returned to the West, where he again spent a number of years, residing seven years in Rockford, Ill.

He was married, August 7, 1860, to Miss Mary E. Rhoads, who was born in York county, Me., a daughter of Aaron and Ruth (Roberts) Rhoads, residents of that county, where her father followed farming. There were four children in the Rhoads family-Lydia A., Asa S., Sarah J. and Mary E.

Captain Jones's principal work throughout his life has been the making of machinists' tools, and as an expert in that line he is known far and wide. In 1890 he received a bronze medal for tools made by him, from the Massa- chusetts Charitable Mechanics' Association at Boston, Mass. He has taken out several patents on tool work, and has designed new tools and improved old ones, such as thread-cutting tools, diamond-nosed tools, offset thread and cutoff tools, etc., they being used by machinists in working on lathes, planers, shapers, etc. Captain Jones spent over fifty years at this work, and for fifteen years made practically all the special machinist's tools used in the machine shop of the Portsmouth Navy Yard. He is very expert on hardening and temper- ing steel, and, although now retired, still keeps up his old interest and enthu- siasm in this line of work.

Captain Jones is a Republican in politics but occasionally disregards party lines in casting his vote, as he sees fitting reason. While a resident of Water- boro, Me., he served as selectman, and also as postmaster at Waterboro Center. In 1909 he was a member of the legislature for this district. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and to Post No. I, G. A. R. He is a man devoid of sec- tional feeling, however, being an American in the broad sense of the term, a champion of equal rights to all men. He has delivered speeches on political or other topics all over New England, usually to large and appreciative au- diences. He and his wife are affiliated with the Unitarian church.

In the fall of 1914 Captain Jones sold his property in Portsmouth and moved to Lawrence, Mass., and in so doing deprived Portsmouth of one of her most valued citizens. At a farewell reception given to him by the mem- bers of his Grand Army Post and Woman's Relief Corps in Portsmouth, he was presented with a beautiful gold ring as a token of the regard and esteem in which he was held, and his wife with a brooch. He and his estimable wife left many friends in Portsmouth, as few people were better known or more highly esteemed here.

FRANK S. GLIDDEN, a well known and popular citizen of Epping, where he is conducting a prosperous livery business, was born at North- wood, N. H., July 4, 1865, a son of Jeremiah Davis, a Civil War veteran. His parents died when he was about three years old and he was adopted by William H. and Mary E. (Hall) Glidden, taking the name of his foster father, who was a prominent farmer of Brentwood. He was

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educated in the district schools, which he attended until about fourteen years of age, and was then obliged to give up his studies and go to work on the farm, receiving his board and clothes. At the age of fif- teen he secured a position driving a team in Brentwood, for which he received fifteen dollars a month and his board. After being thus occu- pied for one year, he went to Haverhill, Mass., where for a year and a half he was engaged in driving an express wagon. He then returned to farming and was thus occupied until he was twenty-one, working for others, after which he leased a farm for one year. He then went to Manchester and was in the milk business there for five years, at the end of which time he returned to Brentwood, where he purchased a farm, operating it for five years. Subsequent to this he was overseer at the county farm for two years, and later for awhile had charge of a summer stable at Hedding Camp Ground. About this time he began to see brighter prospects for himself in the livery business, and on De- cember 27th, 1908, he came to Epping and started his present business on Depot Square. His career since that time has been one of pros- perity and he is now one of the substantial citizens of the town. His stable is well equipped with fine horses and carriages, as well as an automobile for the traveling public.

Mr. Glidden married Miss Anna G. Miles of Brentwood, and they have four children, Edna R., Mildred E., Addie E. and Bessie I. Edna R., now twenty-four years old, was educated in the schools of Brent- wood and Dover. She married Leon Sylvester, and they have a son, Wesley M. Mildred E. was educated in Brentwood and at the Sanborn Seminary at Kingston. Addie and Bessie are now attending the high school at Epping.

Mr. Glidden has served the town as highway agent for several years. He is a past grand in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has held all the chairs. In politics he is a Republican and he is affi- liated with the Baptist church. He is the owner of a fine residence in Epping.

WILLIAM B. DRYDEN, proprietor with Alec Archibald of the old March farm of 250 acres, near Portsmouth, N. H., was born in Dundee, Scotland, in 1890, a son of James and Mary (Birse) Dryden. In his youth he assisted his father, who was a farmer and dairyman, but at the age of eighteen years he came to America, settling first in Newington, Rockingham County, N. H., where he worked at farming. From there he removed to the town of Greenland, and in May, 1913, associated himself with Mr. Archibald in the purchase of the March farm from William A. Bragdon, the latter having bought it from the March heirs. Here he successfully engaged in general farming and dairying, espe- cially dairying. Mr. Dryden is the only member of his parents' family to come to America, except his brother David. He is a man of great activity and athletic build and it is claimed by the people that he is the middle weight champion wrestler of New England. He is a member of the Grange and also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, including the Rebeccas.

Mr. Dryden married Miss Mary Henderson, of Scotland, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Peggie) Henderson, her parents still resid- ing in Scotland, where her father is engaged in the lumber business. Mr.

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and Mrs. Dryden are people of sterling character and have made many friends since settling in this locality.

HERBERT R. HAINES, a prominent business man of New Mar- ket, New Hampshire, is engaged in the grain and feed business. He was born in New Market, July 26, 1866, and is a son of Charles P. and Cornelia (Eastman) Haines. Charles P. Haines was born in Massa- chusetts, March 7, 1834, and died March 24, 1907. His wife Cornelia E. Haines was born Oct. 7, 1839, and died January 6, 1899.

Herbert R. Haines attended the public schools of New Market. When twenty years old he engaged in the grain business with his father and that has continued to be his vocation ever since. Some three years before his father's death, he bought the latter's interest and has since carried on the business alone.

Mr. Haines was married December 30, 1890, to Miss Teresa Ingra- ham, and in April, 1898, was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife by death. September 14, 1900, he formed a second marital union with Cecelia Buckley of Haverhill, Mass., and they have two bright and interesting sons : Wilbur N., born February 26, 1902 ; and Ralph Herbert, born February 21, 1904. The family home is on the main road to Epping, one and a half miles from New Market.

VALENTINE M. COLEMAN, for many years one of the foremost citizens of Newington, Rockingham County, N. H., was born in this town, November 12, 1837, and died at his home there, December 1, 19II, after a well spent life of seventy-four years. He was reared in his native town and in his younger days taught school for awhile, but later engaged in farming, which occupation he followed thereafter to the end of his life. He was a man of high character, faithful to all the duties of life, a good husband and father, and greatly esteemed by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, being one of the best known and best liked men in this part of the county. A Democrat in politics, he repre- sented Newington in the New Hampshire legislature, serving efficiently in that position. For some time he was a member of the Piscataqua Grange.

Mr. Coleman married Miss Corinne Hoyt, who was born in Ports- mouth, N. H., June 28, 1839, a daughter of James and Lydia (Smith) Hoyt. Her father, a native of Newington, was in early years a well known and successful school teacher. He was a son of William Hoyt, in his day a well known and respected citizen of Newington, the Hoyt family being one of the old and prominent families of this town. Mrs. Coleman was reared in Newington and attended Portsmouth High School, subsequently finishing her literary education in an academy at New London, N. H. Afterwards, before her marriage, she taught school for a time. She and her husband were the parents of five children, of whom three are now living, namely: James H., a resident of Newing- ton ; Lydia S., wife of Calvin Lear, residing in Portsmouth, and Florence H., of Newington, who is a graduate of Smith College. The two de- ceased are Dorothy and Nathaniel. Mrs. Coleman is the owner of a good farm in Newington and is a lady widely known throughout this locality and . as highly esteemed. Of cultivated and literary tastes, she takes an interest in everything calculated to enlarge the mind and refine the

EDWARD S. COWLES, M. D.

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character and is a warmly interested member of the Shakespeare Club of Newington.

JAMES W. COLEMAN, a well known and prosperous farmer and stock raiser of the town of Newington, of which he has been a life long resident, was born here October 22, 1839, a son of Nathaniel P. and Dorothy (Mathes) Coleman. The Colemans are one of the pioneer families of this town, of which the grandfather of our subject, James Coleman, was also a resident. Nathaniel P., the father of James W., was born in Newington and here passed his life, dying in 1876. He was a well known and popular citizen and served three years in the state legislature. His wife Dorothy died in 1886.

James W. Coleman acquired his literary education in the public schools of this town. When a young man he worked for a time at ship building in Newburyport, Mass., and Portsmouth, N. H. ; but farm- ing, of which he early acquired a practical knowledge, has been his real life work, and in it he has prospered. He owns a good farm of 150 acres, which he devotes to general farming. Since reaching manhood he has taken an active interest in local affairs. For a number of years he served as tax collector of the town, was selectman several years, and in 1883 represented Newington in the New Hampshire legislature. serv- ing efficiently in all these positions. An honest and capable business man, a good neighbor and a public spirited citizen, he is widely known and universally popular.

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History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 95

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