History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 137

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1714

USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 137
USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 137

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

At his majority, not feeling content to cultivate lands as rocky as the farm upon which he had been reared, he lived for a time in the State of New York and other localities, traveled through the then West, and was strongly inclined to a pioneer life in some one of the northern tiers of Western States, but finally concluded, about the year 1840, to purchase the farm in Londonderry, and upon which he lived till his

death. Mr. Clark was a man of great industry and marked vitality, a man of sound judgment, intelli- gent, with strong will, and pronounced opinions. His knowledge of men was almost intuitive. This led him easily to detect the motives which governed the conduct of men with which he had to do. He was no doubt sometimes in error, and perhaps judged severely, but his open frankness, integrity, genial and social natore, and kindheartedness, won for him the confidence of his fellow-townsmen, and a large circle of acquaintances in the county and State.

Ile was often chosen to offices of trust in his own town, and several times represented it in the State Legislature. Ile was also for two years, 1859 and 1860, councilor, under the administration of Gov- ernor Goodwin, and did effective service for the State at the breaking out of the Rebellion. In politics he was a Republican from the start.

Mr. Clark married the only daughter of the late Deacon James Perkins, of Londonderry. She was a woman of rare excellence of character, always striv- ing to make their home happy by constant manifes- tations of affection and kindness. She died greatly lamented, July, 1881.

Two sons and two daughters survive them,-Joseph R. Clark, of Derry ; Marianna, wife of Prof. W. II. Seaman, of Washington, D. C .; William, who resides on the homestead in Londonderry ; and Sarah Eliza- beth.

HON. GEORGE W. PATTERSON.

Hon. George W. Patterson was born at London- derry, N. H., Nov. 11, 1799, and died at Westfield. N. Y., Oct. 15, 1879. He was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Wallace) Patterson, and the grandson of Peter and Grisel ( Wilson) Patterson, of Londonderry, to which place Peter emigrated in 1737 from Bush Mills, County Antrim, Ireland. Peter was the great- grandson of John Patterson, who came from Argyle- shire, Scotland, to Bush Mills about 1612, with a colony of Scotch emigrants. He and his family were at the siege of Derry, where one of his sons died from starvation.

The homestead at Bush Mills of this John passed from father to son for six generations. Of his descend- ants in the third and fourth generations, many of them came to America with the Scotch-Irish emigra- tions.

Governor Patterson's Patterson ancestry were far- mers, and most of them linen-weavers and dealers holding prominent local positions. They were Scotch- Irish Presbyterians, strong in body and mind, able to defend themselves and their opinions.

Mr. Patterson, of our sketch, was a ready speaker and writer, with a wonderful memory of facts and dates, brimful of anecdotes, ever cheerful, hoping and looking for the right to succeed. He was of commanding presence (his weight being from two hundred to two hundred and twenty-five pounds), a

Fre. W. Hutterson

533

LONDONDERRY.

particularly good presiding officer, which position he held two years as speaker of the Assembly, and two years as president of the Senate of New York. llis services were always in demand as a speaker at po- litical campaign meetings.

Among the legislative measures originated by him was the free banking law of New York, the original bill of which he drew, and which passed.

The main provisions of the free banking laws of the United States, giving the people a secured cur- rency under governmental supervision, were taken from the New York law.

HIe closed his congressional term in his eightieth year, the year of his death. In politics he was a Whig and a Republican. In business he was suc- cessful.

Thurlow Weed, his political and personal friend for over half a century, the eminent journalist and politician of New York, in an article in the N. Y. Tribune, writes, ". . . All the elements and qualities which elevate and adorn human life were harmoni- ously blended in the character of George W. Patter- son. His life was not only entirely blameless, but emi- neutly useful. To those who knew him as I did no form of eulogium will be deemed inappropriate. As a citizen, as the head of a family, and as a public ser- vant, he was a model man. In the discharge of legis- lative duties he was conscientious and patriotic. He was always in his seat, and no bad, defective, equiv- ocal, or suspicious bill ever evaded or escaped his vigilant and watchful eye. He had troops of friends, and, so far as I know or believe, was without an enemy. In private life be was exceptionally fault- less. Without making a proclamation of temperance, he was always a cold-water drinker.

Ilis wife was Hannah W., daughter of John Dickey, Esq., merchant, of the West Parish, Londonderry. The last of his school education was had at the Pinkerton Academy, Derry, the first printed cata- logue of which institution showing his own aud future wife's names.

He was a school-teacher at Pelham, N. H., in 1817, and in 1818 engaged in the manufacture of fanning- mills, in which business he was largely interested for twenty-six years, mostly at his shops on his farm, near Moscow, in the town of Leicester, Livingston Co., N. Y.

He resided there till 1841, when he removed to Westfield, N. Y., to take the agency of the Chautau- qua land-office as successor of Governor Seward, who succeeded the agent of the Holland Land Company at the Chautauqua office.

When the lands became reduced by sales Mr. Pat- terson bought the residue of lands and securities of the company, and continued the sales at the West- field office till his death, when the title to the unsold lands passed to his only son. Mr. Patterson's only male descendant's son and grandson bear his name.

Governor Patterson commenced holding public

office soon after his residence began at Leicester in 1824, and from that time till his death it was the ex- ception that he was not in public service. At no time did he ever ask for an appointment or nomina- tion, these positions coming unsolicited. When jus- tices of the peace became elective he was chosen to that office, which he retained by successive elections till he removed to Westfield, the majorities in his town being generally on the side opposed to him in politics.

A summary of the offices held by Mr. Patterson is as follows :

He was commissioner of highways, school commis- sioner, justice of the peace, brigade paymaster, and supervisor of Leicester; was a member of the State Assembly eight years, the last two of which, 1839 and 1840, he was Speaker of the House; removed to West- field, N. Y., in 1841, to take charge of the Chautau- qua land-office; was appointed hasin commissioner at Albany by Governor Seward, harbor commis- sioner at New York by Governor Clark, and quar- antine commissioner for the port of New York by Governor Morgan; was a delegate to the National Republican Convention that nominated John C. Fre- mont for President, and to the National Republican Convention that renominated Abraham Lincoln for a second Presidential term; has been supervisor of Westfield three years ; president of Westfield Acad- emy and president of the Board of Education of West- field many years; represented the county of Chantau- qua in the State Constitutional Convention in 1846; was elected Lieutenant-Governor of the State of New York in 1848; and in 1876 was elected to the forty- fifth Congress as a Republican, receiving 16,910 votes agaiust 10,601 votes for James Freland, Democrat. He was a director in the Buffalo and State Line Rail- road from its organization, June, 1849, till its consol- idation, May, 1867, and from that date till June, 1868, a director in the Buffalo and Erie Railroad, now a part of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Rail- road.

ROBERT CLARK MACK.

Robert Clark Mack was born in Londonderry, N. H., where he now resides, Dec. 31, 1818.

He is the son of Robert and Ann Clark Mack, of Londonderry, grandson of Andrew and Elizabeth (Clark) Mack, also of Londonderry, and great-grand- son of John and Isabella (Brown) Mack, who came from the north of Ireland in 1732, and settled on the farm now owned by Col. W. S. Pillsbury. Their house stood directly opposite the dwelling of Mr. Aaron P. Hardy, and a few feet easterly of Mr. Hardy's store. A fine old elm still keeps "watch and ward" over the well from which the ancestral Macks drew the crystal fluid. R. C. Maek is a descendant through both the paternal and maternal lines of Rob- crt Clark, an early settler of the English Range, in

584

HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

old Londonderry. Ile would have been a blacksmith had he followed the calling of his Mack ancestors, as that was the family trade as far back as their history can be traced ; but that royal line of labor becoming extinct in the family when his father, the late Robert Mack, Esq., left the forge for the farm, about 1838, he chose the occupation of a farmer, which he has followed thus far in life. For hisearly education he is indebted to the common school, a term at Brackett Academy, in Greenland, N. H., and a term or two at the academy in Pembroke, N. H. This gave him sufficient educa- tion to instruct in the district schools.

In the winter of 1839-40 he taught a term in Bed- ford, N. Il., and subsequently one in Londonderry, two in Chatham, Mass., one at Danvers, Mass., and two terms in Beverly, Mass. Ile has never overesti- mated his capacities for public office, and preferring the home fireside and his literary labors to the noise and clamor of political life, has given his fellow-towns- men no opportunity to encourage developments in that direction. Shortly after the establishment of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, he made daily observations of the weather for the institution, sending monthly reports for several years. Upon the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he made the draft-enrollment of Londonderry, Derry, Windham, and Salem, N. H., under appointment from the pro- vost-marshal of the First New Hampshire District. In 1870 he was appointed consul at Londonderry, Ire- land, by Gen. Grant, but was compelled to refuse the position on account of the declining health of his father, then rapidly approaching the end of his long life. The same year he compiled a volume of one hundred and twenty-four pages upon the Londonderry celebration, entitled "Exercises on the One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Settlement of Old Nutfield." His tastes have led him into local history, but the laborers in this field are so few that they often enjoy a reputation beyond their attainments. Yet his is worthily given. Mr. Mack is a member of the New Hampshire Historical Society, and also of a like so- ciety in Oneida County, N. Y. March 6, 1856, he married Jane Duncan Patterson, daughter of Capt. Thomas and Hannah (Duncan) Patterson, of London- derry, N. H. In this connection it may be added that Mr. Mack has prepared a comprehensive history of the Patterson and Wallace families, which is now nearly ready for the press.

JONATHAN SAVORY.

The following ancestral history of Col. Jonathan Savory is furnished by Robert C. Mack, of London- derry : "Jonathan7 (Savory), Grizzell6 (Savory), Mar- garet5 (Holmes), Peter4 Patterson, John3 Patterson, Robert2 Patterson, John1 Patterson, of Scotland. Col. Jonathan Savory's father was named Thomas, and his grandfather was named Jonathan, long an elder in the Presbyterian Church in the West Parish in

Londonderry." Jonathan Savory, whose portrait ap- pears on another page, was born in Londonderry, May 7, 1812. He received a common-school educa- tion, and also took a course of instruction at the academy of Derry. He spent his youth on the farm, and became manager of his father's affairs at the age of fourteen, owing to his father becoming an invalid. When he was about twenty years of age his mother died. In 1833 he commenced teaching school, and taught twelve sessions in his native town. IIe walked a distance of five miles and taught school at the meagre salary of one dollar per day. On the 21st of March, 1836, he married Abigail, daughter of Naph- tali and Abigail (Scribner) Coffin. She was born on the 4th of January, 1814. They began housekeep- ing at his father's old homestead, which is still in possession of Mrs. Savory.

lle entered militia service early in life, and went through every grade of promotion from private to colonel, which commission he held when he resigned at the age of twenty-four. Col. Savory was a successful man in life. He began life poor and amassed a compe- tence ; at the same time he commanded the respect, es- teem, and confidence of all who knew him. He was se- lectman of his town three terms, represented his town in Legislature twice, and held various other town offi- ces and positions of trust. He connected himself with the First Presbyterian Church about or previous to 1832. He was a trustee of Derry Bank, and was a rep- resentative farmer of the town. He was remarkable for candor and truthfulness; it is said his word was never doubted. He was strong in his convictions, in his attachments and friendships. He was reticent rather than voluble, yet quite sociable and agreeable. In personal appearance he was imposing and com- manding. He died Feb. 2, 1881, leaving a devoted wife and large circle of warm and sincere friends to mourn his loss.

AARON P. HARDY.

Aaron P. Hardy was born Oet. 9, 1815, in London- derry, N. 11. His father was Daniel Hardy, born in Bradford, Mass., and his mother Sarah (Conner) Hardy, born in Pembroke, N. H., and daughter of Joseph Conner, a merchant, trader, and farmer of that town. Daniel IIardy moved to Londonderry in 1802, and kept tavern several years. Aaron had but limited common-school education ; his parents were poor, and he was early taught to earn a living. When only eleven years old he was hired out, first season at three dollars per month for six months, and second season at four dollars and a half a month. He con- tinued with his father until about eightcen years old, when he went to make shoes with Joshua Austin, working six months without compensation for a knowledge of the trade. He then returned to his father's. The tools necessary to start shoemaking I cost about ten dollars, while young Hardy had but

Jonathan Hurry.

Aaron P Hardy

Financial center

535

LONDONDERRY.

one dollar and a half; but, not discouraged, he went to Haverhill, and the men for whom he had made work advanced him stock to make up, and also a few tools, such as they happened to have on hand. He also chanced to think of an unused set of tools in a neighbor's house, and succeeded in buying on credit about three dollars' worth. With this outfit he went to work with a friend, McGregor, making shoes. By working fourteen hours per day he could make three pairs. 1Tis father had given him his time, and he boarded with his father, paying bis board. The first ten-dollar bill he ever owned went, six for a stove and four for a pipe; his employers had voluntarily ad- vanced his wages one cent a pair. Upon settlement one year from the time he commenced work he found himself the possessor of fifty dollars net, and he says he was richer then than he has ever been since. This money he loaned to a neighbor at six per cent. interest, and, except when he has invested in real estate, has ever since had money at interest. He worked for this shoe-firm ten years, had an ap- prentice, and, with increased pay, was soon able to earn from one and a half to two dollars per day. When about twenty-one he had about four hundred dollars. There was a small farm of thirty-five acres to be sold, buildings out of repair, etc., and it was offered to Mr. Hardy for six hundred dollars. To secure a home for his parents he bought it, and during dull seasons would repair the house. He soon pur- chased another adjoining lot of fourteen acres wood- land, and in about two years had it all paid for. He continued at work shoemaking, and putting his money at interest. A neighbor having his barn blown down by a storm, offered his farm, five acres, for sale for five hundred dollars. Mr. Hardy bought it, fitted it up, and exchanged it for a fifty-acre farm, paying seven hundred and fifty dollars' difference,-two hundred and fifty dollars cash and five hundred dollars on credit.

The next spring, May 5, 1842, he married Adelia W. Brickett, daughter of Jonathan and Lydia (Kent) Brickett, and commenced housekeeping. The year for which Mr. Hardy had contracted expired in Oc- tober. Mr. Hardy had two men employed, and had left most of his funds in the hands of George T. Whit- tier. In September they failed, settling for twenty- five cents on the dollar. Times were dull, price dropped from twenty cents to twelve cents, and Mrs. Hardy to help her husband along braided hats at seven cents apiece, and earned fifty dollars in ten months. In the spring of 1843 he had only a side of buff leather to show for his winter's work. IIe then made a proposal, which was accepted, to take charge of the poor farm at the following salary : first year one hundred and seventy-five dollars for himself and wife, second year one hundred and ninety dollars, third year two hundred dollars, fourth year two hun- dred and twenty-five dollars, fifth year two hundred and fifty dollars, sixth and seventh years three hun- dred dollars per annum. He then moved back to

farm one year, then selling his farm commenced mak- ing shoes again, renting a house of Esquire John N. Anderson. Soon after this his father was taken lame and unable to do his work, and Mr. Hardy removed there so as to take care of his parents and carry on farm ; lived there six years, then purchased the Watts place, sixty acres, where he now resides. The build- ings had all been destroyed by fire. In three years' time he had erected the buildings, with some unim- portant exceptions, that now stand there, and moved to the place September, 1850. His father and mother came with him; the former only lived about six months longer, the latter about seven years. He has pursued the avocation of farmer ever since, and for some ten years past has been in trade, first as Hardy & Pillsbury, then as A. P. Hardy & Son. He has also been engaged in lumbering almost every winter, and has also dealt in real estate. In politics he is a Republican. In religion both he and wife are Pres- byterians. He owns about eight hundred acres of land in Londonderry, several houses, and half of two stores at Derry Depot. They have four children,- George II., born May 24, 1851; Hattie E., now book- keeper in Pillsbury shoe manufacturing establish- ment at Derry Depot, born Jan. 17, 1854; John P., born Sept. 13, 1855; and Frank A., born Nov. 10, 1865.

FRANCIS MANTER.

Francis Manter, son of George Manter, was born in Londonderry, Dec. 2, 1797. His father, George Manter, was born Oct. 16, 1767, in the old town ot Plymouth, Mass., where he grew up to manhood, and then removed to Sonth Londonderry, N. H., settled on a small farm of about sixty acres, and married Mary Senter, born July 17, 1765, daughter of Samuel Senter. After a few years he removed to North Lon- donderry, and settled the place now occupied by Francis. His children were Francis (whose portrait appears on another page), Samuel, Alden (deceased), David (deceased), Mary (deceased), and Parnell (de- ceased). Mr. Manter was a farmer and mill-owner, and was quite a successful man for his day. Mrs. Manter died Feb. 22, 1860, and eight days later was followed by her husband, he dying March 1, 1860. Francis received only a common-school education, was reared to hard work on farm and in the mill, and at twenty-one years of age the management of the farm devolved upon him. He married, Feb. 3, 1820, Harriet Crowningshield, of Salem, Mass. Their children were George (born Aug. 22, 1824), who be- came a physician and enlisted in the army as assistant surgeon during the war of the Rebellion. He served through the war, and died July 7, 1870, leaving three children,-George F., now a dentist, and also post- master at Cape Cod ; Corey, now a merchant in Provi- dence, R. I .; and Olivia, Harriet, born Oct. 28, 1829. She married James M. Platts, and resides in sight of the old home. They have four children

586

HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

living,-Clarence, born June 26, 1856; IIarriet, born Nov. 6, 1858; Mary, born Jan. 9, 1867; Florence, born Oct. 8, 1870. Mary F., born May 6, 1837. She married George Platts. Their children are Ida, George, Frederick, Nathaniel, and Floyd. Mrs. Manter died July 4, 1858, and he married for his second wife Elizabeth A. Smith. There were no children by this marriage.

When Francis Manter was sixteen years of age lie was drafted for the war of 1812. They were sent to Portsmouth, where they remained only fifty-five days, when they were discharged, and Mr. Manter returned home. Upon the death of their father the two broth- ers, Francis and Samuel, divided the farm, but have continued joint owners and operators of both the saw-

Samuel Manter, younger brother of Francis, was born March 29, 1799. Like his elder brother he re- ceived only such educational advantages as the schools of his native town afforded, and was early taught the truth of the motto " Labor Omnia Vincet." On March 27, 1823, he married Isabella Reid, daughter of David Reid, of Londonderry. She was born Jan. 14, 1798, and died Aug. 23, 1874. Their children were Mary Ann, born Jan. 6, 1824; Samuel, born Nov. 21, 1825; Isabella, David, James (triplets), born July 19, 1828 ; Clarissa, born Aug. 8,1841. Of these, David died in in- fancy, and Jamesdied March 16, 1856. Mary Ann mar- ried William P. Emerson, of Londonderry, a carpen- ter and millwright. They have six surviving children, -William, John, Mary Ann, Sarah, Clarissa, and Ida.

Mr. Manter has been a very successful man as a farmer. He is now, at eighty-three years of age, spry, hale, and active, quick of perception and understand- ing, and in possession of all his faculties, his sense of hearing being as acute as it ever was in his younger days. lle enjoys the esteem and respect of his ae- quaintances, and while he has never labored to accu- mulate vast wealth has an ample sufficiency of this world's goods to surround himself in his old age with all the comforts he may desire.

Chas. Edward Young, son of Israel and Esther (Stevens) Young, was born in Manchester, N. H., Nov. 25, 1821. Ilis grandfather, James Young, was also a resident of Manchester. Israel was reared a farmer, which business he followed through life. Ile married Esther Stevens in 1819; was a public-spirited citizen, an enterprising, honest man, and after hav- ing spent most of his life in the town of Manches- ter, removed, a few years prior to his death, to Lon- donderry, where he died May 13, 1848. Mrs. Young survived him several years, and died at the age of sixty-eight. Charles E. was reared a poor boy, and received very limited educational advantages, being hired out to work on farm during most of his boy- and grist mills to the present time. Previous to 1844, ' hood years. At the age of eighteen he learned shoe- Francis engaged in shoe manufacturing, in which he was very successful both alone and in company with his sons-in-law. He has also been eminently successful as a farmer and in lumbering. Ile owns much real estate in the city of Manchester, and ereeted a block of ten tenements at a cost of ten thousand dollars on Pearl Street in that city. Mr. Manter started in life with the small inheritance of about five thousand dollars, and by his energy, economy, and industry, coupled with a shrewd, cautious financial ability, has stic- ceeded in amassing wealth. He has the reputation of being one of the wealthiest men in Londonderry. In politics he is a Republican. He has never sought office, though he has represented his town in the Legislature, and has held a commission as justice of the peace fifty years. SAMUEL MANTER.

. CHAS. EDWARD YOUNG.

making, and worked at that trade until two or three years after his marriage, when he turned his atten- tion exclusively to farming. Ile married April 13, 1848, Sarah D., daughter of David and Sarah Davis Gilcreast. She was born in Londonderry, N. H., Sept. 5, 1816. They commenced housekeeping by hiring one room in the old Gilereast family home, where they remained about two years, when Mr. Young purchased the Deacon Fisher farm of sixty acres, and removed thither. Ile made this place his home for a period of seventeen years, then purchased, in conjunction with his brother, the Anderson farm, to which place he removed. After about seven years he and his brother divided the farm. He then bought the Dickey farm, to which he removed, and which has since been his home. Ile has always been a firm Democrat in politics, and, belonging thus to the weaker politieal party, has been by that means vir- tually barred from holding office, though his fellow- townsmen have shown their estimation and apprecia- tion of him as a citizen by urging him to become a candidate for seleetman, and giving him a very com- plimentary vote (ahead of the strength of his party).

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 137

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis Number of Pages: 1714

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1714