History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 96

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

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Mr. Coleman was married January 14, 1866, to Mary E. Nutter, who was born in Newington, N. H., a daughter of Charles W. and Antoinette E. F. A. (DeWitt) Nutter. Mrs. Coleman's father was born in Ports- mouth, N. H., her mother being a native of South America. Her pa- ternal grandfather, James Nutter, died in Newington, in which town he had resided during the latter years of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman have been the parents of three children, namely: Martha M .; Mary, who is the widow of Charles A. Dame, late of Newington ; and Charles W., who is a resident of Newington. The family are prominent mem- bers of the best society of this town.

EDWARD S. COWLES, M. D., proprietor of Dr. Cowles' Psycho- therapeutic Sanitarium, Portsmouth, N. H., was born in the state of Virginia, Sept. 22, 1889, a son of John and Harriet (Spencer ) Cowles. The father, John Cowles, was a large land owner in Virginia. He and his wife Harriet were the parents of nine children.

Edward S. Cowles received his education in the public schools of Virginia ; the Hampton (Va. ) High Schools ; the College of William and Mary, Wil- liamsburg, Va .; the University College of Medicine, Va .; and the Harvard Medical School, where he made a specialty of nervous and mental diseases. Dr. Cowles is a member of the Phi Kappa Alpha literary fraternity, and of the Phi Beta Pi medical fraternity with a Harvard Chapter. In 1914 Dr. Cowles organized the Portsmouth Peace Society in Portsmouth, N. H., with such speakers as Dr. Edwin D. Mead and Lucia Ames Mead of the World Peace Movement, William Thayer of Concord, N. H., and the Hon. Frank B. Sanborn, of Concord, Mass.

Dr. Cowles' Psychotherapeutic Sanitarium was established in Portsmouth in 1912 for the treatment of nervous and mental disorders. ( Psychotherapy

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

comes from psycho-the mind, and therapy-treatment, meaning scientific mental treatment.) The institution consists of several buildings, delightfully situated. One building is devoted to the treatment of neurasthenia, psychas- thenia, hysteria, nervous prostration, insomnia, chronic fatigue, faulty sex habits, worry, headache, fear, self-consciousness, stammering, certain kinds of eye and ear troubles, etc. Also to those cases of heart, stomach, and bowel disorder which are due to a disturbance of the nervous system. Another building is devoted to the treatment of mental diseases, and there is a third building devoted to the treatment of alcoholic and drug cases. The craving for the drug, whether morphine or alcohol, can be eliminated in a three days' treatment, but Dr. Cowles advises that the patient have mental treat- ment to strengthen his will-power and give character and strength to his emotions, personality and nervous system.

Dr. Cowles, though conversant with all the psychotherapeutic methods in vogue, has evolved a method of his own which has given him the most grati- fying results. A careful examination of each patient is made and the treat- ment adapted to his individual peculiarities, every side of his nature-physical, mental, social and spiritual-being closely studied in order that the largest measure of help may be given.

In each case, whatever the form of the disease, the patient is assured of receiving the best possible medical care, with the advantage of baths, proper foods, medicines, and graduated exercises; work or rest, as the individual case may require. Trained nurses are employed, and the atmosphere of the Sanitarium is distinctly that of a home, its life and activities being natural, alive, and wholesome, establishing in the mind of the patient the idea of his own normality, and making impossible the formation of artificial habits of liv- ing. In addition to nurses there are expert medical assistants, with eminent Boston specialists as consultants.

HON. JOHN HATCH, whose death on March 15, 1904, deprived the . city of Portsmouth of one of its most honored and beloved citizens, was born in Portsmouth, N. H., January 1, 1849, came of a prominent family in this section whose ancestry extends back for a number of gen- erations in this country. He was educated in the public schools of his native city and at St. Paul's School, Concord, and was for some time connected with the latter institution in an administrative capacity. He afterward studied law with his father, Albert R. Hatch, and established himself in practice at Portsmouth, taking up a residence at the old family homestead in Greenland, where he lived for thirty-one years. From this town he was sent, in 1879, to the legislature, and again, also, in 1881. During both these sessions Mr. Hatch was a prominent member of the house. He served upon its most important committees, and though a member of the minority party, was a forceful factor in legislation. In 1885 he sat in the State senate as a member from the New Market dis- trict, and added to his credit the record of faithful service in that body. He was a member of the constitutional convention in 1889, and served his town as a member of the school board and town treasurer for a number of years. In August, 1893, he was appointed a member of the bank commission, succeeding William A. Heard, and entered upon his new duties with earnestness and vigor, serving on that commission until March 15, 1904, the time of his death.

Mr. Hatch was one of the most active laymen of the Episcopal

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church in New Hampshire, and became a familiar figure at diocesan and other church conventions, numbering also among his other services to the church several years of membership on the standing committee of the diocese.

Mr. Hatch married Alice Carolina Benton, who survives him, mak- ing her home in Greenland. Their union was blessed with seven chil- dren, namely: John K., who is assistant treasurer of the Strafford Sav- ings Bank of Dover; Margaret H., who married Charles H. Batcheler, an attorney of Portsmouth; Caroline B., who became the wife of Dr. D. C. Mclachlan, of Greenland, N. H .; Mary A., now Mrs. John E. Gardner, of Chicago; Samuel F., a resident of Boston, Mass .; Alice, wife of Theodore Parker, of Brookfield, Mass., and Albert R., an attor- ney, of Portsmouth.

ALBERT R. HATCH, a member of the law firm of Kelley & Hatch, Portsmouth, N. H., was born in Greenland, N. H., August 10, 1882, a son of John and Alice C. (Benton) Hatch. He was graduated from Dartmouth College with the class of 1904 and from Harvard Law School with the class of 1907, being admitted to the bar in the same year. Since then Mr. Hatch has gained a high reputation as an able attorney and is now among the leaders of his profession in Portsmouth. The firm of Kelley & Hatch was organized July 1, 1908 and handles a large amount of important law business. Mr. Hatch takes pride in the fact that it occupies the same quarters in the Exchange Building, Ports- mouth, where his father and grandfather carried on a successful law business for many years. Mr. Hatch is a Republican in politics and is fraternally connected with the order of Elks. He was married, January IO, 1906, to Rosaline F. Littlefield, a daughter of Abner Littlefield, of Greenland. They have two children: Harris, born February 12, 1907 ; and Francis M., born March 3, 1909. The family are members of St. John's Episcopal church and have a pleasant residence at Greenland, N. H.

CHARLES F. FOLSOM, who is now living retired at No. 81 High Street, Exeter, N. H., was born in Exeter, N. H., December 3, 1832, a son of James and Judith ( Morrow) Folsom. He was born in a house which formerly stood on the spot where his fine residence now stands. The parents of our subject were natives respectively of Exeter and Pittsfield, N. H., the father being a carpenter by trade. They were members of the Congregational church. Both are now deceased and are buried in Exeter. They had a large family numbering twelve chil- dren. all of whom are now deceased but two-Mrs. Martha A. Head and Charles F. The father, James Folsom, was a veteran of the War of 1812.

Charles F. Folsom was educated in the common schools of Exeter and at Phillips Exeter Academy. He then went to Boston, where he was clerk in a grocery store for five years. Returning at the end of that period to Exeter, he found employment here as a carriage painter and also for a time worked in a brass foundry. He then went to what was then South Newmarket, now Newfields, where for a while he was engaged in different lines of industry. Subsequently returning to Exeter he went into the oyster business here and continued in it from 1860 to 1913,

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

a period of fifty-three years, keeping the well-known oyster house known to the students from all over the United States who attended Phillips Exeter Academy. Few men could show a record for more steady work, as in the last fourteen years he never lost even half a day from his place of business.

He was married in 1855 to Miss Mary Ellen McNancy, who was born in Ireland, a daughter of James and Ann (McBride) McNancy. Her father dying when she was a young woman, she soon after accompanied her mother to America. There were seven children in the McNancy family, all of whom are now supposed to be dead. Mr. and Mrs. Fol- som became parents of a daughter, Emma Frances. Mrs. Folsom passed from this life in 1898. The family attend the First Congregational church. Mr. Folsom is a Republican in politics.

JOHN J. TILTON, one of the representative business men of Rock- ingham County, is the leading clothing merchant of Epping, and has a wide acquaintance throughout this section. He has been a man of un- tiring energy and public spirit, and has very frequently been called into public service, always giving the same conscientious attention to public business that he did to his own affairs.

Mr. Tilton was born in Epping, New Hampshire, February 15, 1867, and is a son of William H. and Alfarata A. ( Boody) Tilton, both of whom were natives of Epping. The family is an old one in this country.

John J. Tilton, the only child born to his parents, first attended the public schools of Epping, this training being supplemented by a course in Phillips Academy at Exeter, from which he was graduated with the Class of 1886. Returning to Epping, he was variously employed as teacher, clerking and working in the shoe factory. In 1897 he accepted a position in the ticket office of the Boston and Maine Railroad at Epping and continued without interruption until 1907. In February of the latter year he purchased the store of G. H. McCauley, which he has conducted since in a highly successful manner. It is the only large clothing store in Epping, and he handles a complete line of clothing and furnishings, hats, boots and shoes. In addition, Mr. Tilton conducts a large insur- ance business.

October 12, 1905, John J. Tilton and Stella M. Stokes were joined in marriage. She was a daughter of John W. Stokes of Gorham, Maine. They had but one child, a daughter, who died in infancy. On July 31, 1908, Mr. Tilton was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, her death being a distinct shock to him and her many friends who had known her so long and well. Mr. Tilton is a Republican in politics and has been active in the councils of the party. He frequently has been a delegate to Republican state conventions. For nine years he served as a member of the school board; was town clerk a number of years, also a selectman; and when the police court was established, was appointed the first associate justice of that tribunal. Fraternally he is Past Master and for eight years has been treasurer of Sullivan Lodge, No. 19, F. and A. M. He also is a member of 'the Commandery, the Shrine, and the Odd Fellows, which he has served as District Deputy. He is Past Patron of Queen Esther Chapter, Eastern Star, and Past Grand Patron of the State Chapter.

SAMUEL LANGDON, owner and proprietor for many years of a good fifty-acre farm on the Lafayette road, Portsmouth, N. H., was

Eng by E i Willama & Bro N.Y.

John Porter Weeks

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born in Portsmouth, August 17, 1838, and died October 31, 1913. His parents, Samuel and Hannah (Langdon) Langdon, were both natives of New Hampshire. Their children were John, Joseph, Harriett Ann (wife of Mark L. Jenkins), and Samuel, whose name appears at the head of this sketch.

The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools, at a private school in Portsmouth, and at Pembroke Academy. He was brought up on his father's farm, which subsequently came to him by inheritance and on which he lived continuously from the time of his marriage until his death, operating it with good financial results. The estate is now the property of his widow and son, Samuel S. Mr. Langdon was a man of good business ability and took an active part in public affairs. At one time he was a member of the city council, also served on the school committee, and was a justice of the peace.

He was married November 21, 1877, to Florence E. Marston, who was born in Portsmouth, N. H., a daughter of Joseph and Thankful (Langdon) Marston, who were New Hampshire people, the father being a stone mason. There were seven children in the Marston family, namely : John L., Annie F., wife of Addison Carroll; Sarah A., wife of George H. Pickering, Albert S., Marcellus H., Florence E., who became the wife of the subject of this sketch, and Charles L. W. Mr. and Mrs. Langdon were the parents of three children, namely: Ida, wife of Joseph Miner ; Samuel S., residing at home with his mother, and Frank J., engaged in the milk business at Portsmouth. The family attend the North church.

EUGENE B. EASTMAN, M. D., of Portsmouth, N. H., is a native of Canada, born August 26, 1877, a son of Ira G. and Caroline (Arm- strong) Eastman. Although he was born in Canada, his parents were citizens of the United States, his mother being on a visit to Canada at the time of his birth. He began his education in the public schools, sub- sequently attended Tufts College, and was graduated later-in June, 1902-from McGill University, Montreal, Canada. After taking a post- graduate course he went to Europe, where he visited some of the famous hospitals. Then, after traveling a short time in the States, he located in the same year-1902-in Portsmouth, where he has since practiced his profession very successfully, having an office at No. 32 Congress street. He is a member of the county and state medical associations, and, a close student, keeps in touch with the advances made in medical and surgical science. Fraternally Dr. Eastman belongs to the Masons, having advanced as far as the commandery ; also to the Elks and For- esters. He married Miss Annie Hill, a daughter of Daniel Hill of the state of Maine, and the family are members of the Congregational church. They reside at No. 303 Pleasant Street.

JOHN PORTER WEEKS, an extensive farmer of Greenland, Rocking- ham County, N. H., was born on the parental homestead in this town, Jan- uary 24, 1844, a son of Deacon William and Louisa ( Porter ) Weeks.

Leonard Weeks, the earliest known ancestor of our subject on the pater- nal side, came to New Hampshire from England, and settled about 1620 in what is now Greenland, Rockingham County. His son Joshua was the great- great-grandfather of John Porter Weeks, the subject of this sketch. Joshua

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

Weeks' son William was the father of Major William Weeks, who served in the Continental Army during the Revolution. He is said to have been one of Washington's staff officers. He was paymaster in 1776 and later.

Deacon William, son of Major William Weeks, and the father of John Porter, was a native of Hopkinton, N. H. On May 26, 1835, he married Louisa, daughter of the Rev. Huntington Porter, of Rye. They had five children, namely : Ann L., Ellen M., Sarah P., George W., and John Porter. Ann L. died on July 8, 1889. Ellen M. lives at the old homestead. Sarah P. died on February 10, 1895. George W. met with a tragic death, being killed at the Bay Side Railroad crossing on January 7, 1893. He left a widow, Mrs. Sarah L. Robinson Weeks, and one son, William.

John Porter Weeks was the youngest of the family. He resided with his parents until September 16, 1861, when he enlisted in Company K, Fifth New Hampshire Volunteers. He was mustered into service at Concord, N. H., on October 12, 1861, going thence to Virginia, where he remained in camp at Alexandria during the winter of 1861-62. Although the youngest member of the company, he was promoted to corporal the same year. While in the army he was taken sick, first with measles, and then with lung fever, which obliged him to go to the camp hospital and Fortress Monroe, where he later rejoined his regiment. Mr. Weeks was then taken ill with typhoid fever, which confined him for three weeks in the hospital at David's Island, N. Y. After a furlough he was discharged on account of disability. He served as corporal but was discharged as sergeant. He and his brother, George W., then took charge of the home farm, and in 1878 erected a fine house and barn, all new buildings on the west side of the road. Mr. Weeks owns three hundred acres of land, carrying on general farming and dairy business. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party, having been chairman of the Republican Club for twenty-five years. He is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and takes a great interest in it.

Mr. Weeks has been twice married: first on April 26, 1870, to Ellen, daughter of Hon. Charles Hatch, a member of one of the prominent families in this section. She died June 16, 1874. On September 14, 1876, he married Laura A., daughter of Nathan R. Foss. She was born in Strafford, N. H., December 30, 1851, and died May 30, 1910. They were the parents of three children: Mabel P., born July II, 1878; Carrie F., born March 28, 1881, and Alice H., born November 12, 1882. Mr. Weeks attends the Con- gregational church, where he has served as deacon since the death of his father. Their children are in the seventh generation from Leonard, the immigrant ancestor of the family, and they are now living on a part of the land owned by him more than three centuries ago.

FRED P. KNOX, one of the well to do citizens of the town of Epping, who has been station agent at Epping for the past thirty-four years, was born in Epsom, N. H., June 9, 1855, a son of Henry and Caroline (Wells) Knox. His ancestors on the paternal side were origi- nally from Scotland, the family including among its members General Henry Knox, who gained fame in the War of 1812-15. Henry Knox, father of Fred P., was a man of local prominence, serving his town as moderator, selectman and representative in the legislature. His wife Caroline was of English ancestry. They were the parents of three chil- dren : Cyrus H., a prominent railroad man located at Fitchburg, Mass .; Eleanor D., who died in infancy, and Fred P., the subject of this sketch.

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Fred P. Knox began his education in the Epsom public schools, and subsequently continued it in the Northwood Academy and in Pembroke Academy, one year. He began industrial life in a sawmill when about sixteen years of age, receiving $1.35 per day, but after holding this posi- tion awhile he gave it up to work under his father, who was station agent at Epsom, becoming assistant station agent. He soon learned the business and in 1874 was appointed station agent. In December, 1879, he became station agent at Raymond, in July, 1880, being transferred to Epping, since which time he has been station agent here, having now been in the service of the Boston & Maine Railroad over forty consecu- tive years.

Mr. Knox is a Democrat and for many years has been more or less active in politics. He served for years formerly as a member of the local school board, and also, at times, as town clerk and selectman, and was representative in the legislature in 1890-1891, being a member of the Committees on Labor and Agriculture.

He was married, June 20, 1888, to Carrie B. Chamberlain, of Lowell, Vermont, and he and his wife are the parents of six children-Harley W., Walter S., Eleanor S., Dorothy E., Marjorie C. and Kathryn O. The three last mentioned are single and are living with their parents. Harley W., who is a railroad engineer, resides in Epping. He married Lois Ellison and has a daughter, Evelyn. Walter S., who is baggage master at Epping under his father, married Etta Guinea and has a daughter, Doris. Eleanor S., is the wife of Charles E. Hutchins, a machinist of Pittsfield, Mass. She has two children, Raymond C. and Katharine.

Mr. Knox and family belong to the Congregational church. He is a member of Sullivan Lodge, No. 19, A. F. & A. M., in which he has held all the chairs, while Mrs. Knox belongs to the Eastern Star and the King's Daughters. They have one of the finest homes in the town of Epping. A progressive and public spirited citizen, he and his family are among the best known residents of Epping and are highly esteemed by their fellow townsmen.

HAROLD M. SMITH, Attorney at Law, of Portsmouth, N. H., was born in Barrington, N. H., September 1, 1887, the son of Walter H. and Flora E. (Hoyt) Smith. The father, a native of New Hampshire, is a lumber dealer well known throughout the state. The subject of this sketch attended the public schools and was later graduated from a private academy at Northwood, N. H., in the class of 1905. In 1909 he was grad- uated from Bowdoin College, with the degree of A. B., continuing his studies at Harvard Law School and completing his work in 1912. He was admitted to the bar in June, 1912, and first practiced his profession with L. P. Snow of Rochester, N. H., locating in Portsmouth in the present year, 1914. Although one of the more recent additions to the bar of this county, he has already given evidence of legal ability and has bright prospects of a successful future. Mr. Smith belongs to three prominent college societies-the Delta Upsilon, the' Theta-Nu-Epsilon and the Phi-Delta-Phi. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity and attends the Congregational church.

In August, 1911, Mr. Smith married Miss Agnes Maxwell Greene, of Portland, Maine. They have one daughter, Nathalie C. Their resi- dence is at No. 283 Middle street, while Mr. Smith's office is located in the Congress Block.

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

FORREST W. PIKE, M. D., who has been engaged in medical and surgical practice in Portsmouth since 1903, having an office and resi- dence at No. 16 Pleasant Street, was born in Massachusetts, April 24, 1864, a son of John B. and Mary J. (Wiley) Pike. He was educated in the public schools, including the high school, and later entered the medical department of the University of Vermont, from which he was graduated M. D. in 1890. After taking a post graduate course in the New York Post Graduate School he began the practice of his profes- sion in Massachusetts, thence, in 1895 removing to Greenland, N. H., and afterwards to Portsmouth, as above narrated. He belongs to the Portsmouth Medical Society and the Massachusetts Medical Associa- tion, and fraternally is affiliated with the Masons, Redmen and Odd Fel- lows. In politics he is independent, preferring to vote for honest and capable men rather than be bound by strict party lines. He has been successful in his profession and enjoys a wide personal popularity.

REV. EDWARD J. WALSH, Permanent Rector, pastor of the church of "The Immaculate Conception," Portsmouth, N. H., was born in Rhode Island, May 22, 1854, one of the nine children of John and Eliza- beth (McGraw) Walsh. He was graduated from the Jesuit College, Montreal, Canada, in 1876, and in the following year from Grand Semi- nary at Montreal, Canada. Ordained to the priesthood in 1880 by Arch- bishop Fabre he was first stationed at St. Dominic's parish, Portland, Me., subsequently became assistant priest at Waterville, Me., and was then assigned to Lewiston, Me., where he was assistant priest until becoming pastor of the Catholic church at Graham, N. H. Then, after a period of service at Salmon Falls, N. H., he came to his present charge in Portsmouth, in August, 1907. Since coming here he has reduced the outstanding indebtedness of the parish some $25,000. He has some five hundred families under his care and there are about five hundred pupils in the parochial school, where twelve Sisters of Mercy are employed as teachers. All the ordinary branches of a good English education are taught, as in the graded schools. and in addition instruction is given in music. Both parish and school are in a thriving condition. Father Walsh is assisted by Rev. Father Frank A. Mulvanity. He is a hard worker for the good of his church and people, and is beloved by his parishioners, and widely respected by the citizens of Portsmouth gen- erally, without regard to religious affiliations. He, takes an active inter- est in local affairs, as a good citizen ought, and is ever ready to further any worthy cause.

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History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 96

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