History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 175

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 175
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 175

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He married Betsey S., danghter of Simon Chase, a prominent merchant in Rochester, Sept. 19, 1839. She was born in Milton Aug. 4. 1814. Of this union two sons have been born,-Charles A. C., born in Rochester, Aug. 18, 1844, and George W., born July 6, 1854, and died Jan. 6, 1856.

DR. JAMES FARRINGTON.

James Farrington, M.D., son of Elijah and Lois L. Farrington, was born in Conway, N. H., June 10, 1822. His paternal great-grandfather was Stephen Farrington, who was born at Andover, Mass., about 1706-10, settled at Concord, N. H., where he followed the occupation of a farmer. He married Apphia Bradley, and had children,-Stephen, John, Jeremiah, Samuel, and four daughters, names not known, all born at Concord, N. H. Stephen Farrington died at the residence of his son Samuel, at Hopkinton, N. H., in 1791, being upwards of eighty years of age.

Jeremiah Farrington, third son of Stephen, was a native of Concord, N. H., removed to Conway at an early day, and was there engaged as a farmer on the Saco River. He married Molly Swan, and had chil- dren,-Hannah, Polly, Stephen (a farmer), Elijah (born September, 1784), James (M.D.), Nancy, and Jeremiah (a farmer). He was a member of the Con- gregational Church, and died at a ripe old age, some eighty-four years.

Elijah Farrington was born at Conway, N. H., in 1784, and died June 3, 1863. He married March 5, 1814. Mrs. Farrington was born Dee. 25, 1793. Of this union two sons and one daughter were born,- Albert E., who is now (1882) an enterprising farmer in Union ; Mary H. (deceased), wife of Capt. Samuel Haselton, of Conway, N. H .; and James, M.D., the immediate subject of this sketch

Elijah Farrington was an industrious, thrifty farmer in Conway, N. H. He was prudent and economical, and a man respected by all. He held some of the minor offices of his native town with credit to him- self and satisfaction to his constituents. His wife

(Mrs. Lois L. Farrington ) is now (June, 1882) residing with her youngest son and child, Dr. James Farring- ton, of Rochester, N. H. She is nearly eighty-nine years of age, yet she retains her faculties to a won- derful degree. She can reeall the scenes of the past as though they were but as yesterday, and tell of the times and ways of the long ago with credit to herself and to the amusement and benefit of those who listen. For nearly sixty years she has been a worthy member of the Congregational Church, and now in her ver- dant old age (in years, not in spirits) she reviews the past with no apprehension of the future.

James Farrington, M.D., was reared on the farm and early learned the cardinal principles, industry and economy, so necessary in every sueeessful life. He attended the common schools of his native town till he was sixteen years of age, when he went to Fryeburg Academy, at Fryeburg, Me., where he fitted for col- lege. During all the years while he was getting his academical and medical education he was obliged to teach winters in order to get the funds necessary to pursue his studies. He was a good and faithful boy while at home on the farm, a diligent student at school, and a successful teacher. In 1841 he com- menced the study of medieine with Dr. Ira Towle, of Fryeburg, Me., and remained with him till 1846. During the year 1844 he attended one course of lee- tures at Dartmouth College. He graduated from the Medical Department of the University of New York City in the spring of 1847, and in March of the same year graduated from Dr. Whittaker's medical school. In May, 1847, he began the practice of medicine in Rochester, N. H., and was associated with his uncle, James Farrington, M.D., one of the most distin- guished and successful practitioners in New Hamp- shire at that time, a member of Congress, and an up- right and influential citizen. Upon the death of his uncle, in 1859, he sueeeeded to the entire practice, and has continued till the present (1882). His ride extends into all the adjoining towns, and he is often called as a consulting physician. He is a member of the Strafford District Medieal Society and the New Hampshire Medieal Society, and has contributed essays on various subjects of interest to the profession. In polities he is a Democrat. IIe has always been interested in the cause of temperance, and has used his influence in that direction. He has held some of the more important offices of his town, and in 1863 was chosen to represent Rochester in the State Legis- lature. For many years he has been a director of the First National Bank, Rochester, and the Norway Plains Savings-Bank. Rochester. He was elected high priest of Temple Chapter, in Rochester, at its organization, and has held the same position ever sinee, except one year. He is also a member of St. Paul Commandery, Knights Templar, of Dover, N. H. He married Harriet L., daughter of Simon Chase (see biography of Charles K. Chase, Rochester, N. H.), Feb. 27, 1851. They have two daughters, viz .:

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HISTORY OF . STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

(1) Nellie F., born Nov. 18, 1854, married Dec. 25, 1879, George MeDuffee, son of John McDuffee (see McDuffee history) ; (2) Josephine C., born Sept. 13, 1859, married Dec. 25, 1879, Arthur V. Sanborn, a furniture dealer in Rochester. They have one son, James F., born Sept. 1, 1880.

DR. ISAAC W. LOUGEE.

none is held in greater respect than he of whom we write, Dr. Isaac Williams Lougee, son of John F. Lougee ; was born at Gilmanton, N. H., Ang. 1, 1818. His father was a native of Exeter, N. H., settled at Gilmanton, N. H., where he followed the occupation of a farmer. He had children,-Joseph S., who died at twenty-five; Isaac W .; William S., who died at twenty-nine; and Elizabeth M., wife of L. S. Nute, of Alton, N. H.

John F. Lougee died in Rochester, Jan. 16, 1880, aged ninety-three years and nine months. His father was Joseph, who was born at Exeter, N. H. Joseph was a son of John, of Exeter, and John was a son of John Lougee, who came to this country from the island of Jersey in 1713, at the age of eighteen years, and settled in that part of Exeter now Newmarket. He married a Gilman, of Exeter, and had several sons and daughters. All of the name now iu this country are descendants of him.

Samuel Lougee, son of Joseph, died young of typhus fever ; the remaining members of the family, parents and children, ten in all, lived to the average age of eighty-three years and three months, one still alive.

Dr. William Smith, maternal grandfather of Dr. Lougee, was born in Kingston, N. H., and settled in Gilmanton in 1767, being the first physician in the town, and had an extensive practice for many years in that and adjoining towns. He died at the age of ninety-three years and six months. He was a man of sterling principles, and did much in promoting the educational, moral, and religious interests of the town in its early history. His family consisted of two sons and seven daughters; one died young ; the remainder of the family lived to the average age of more than eighty-four years. They were all members of the Congregational Church.

Dr. Lougee received a common school education, at- tended select schools taught by Rev. Charles G. Safford and Hon. George G. Fogg, and Gilmanton Academy. He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Otis French, of Gilmanton, and attended medical lectures at Hanover and Woodstock, Vt. He graduated from the Medical Department of Dartmouth College in the class of 1845, and in November of the same year began the practice of medicine at New Durham, N. H. In 1847 he located at Alton, where he continued for twenty-one years. In 1868 he came to Rochester, N. H., and bought out Dr. James Farrington. Subse-

quently they formed a copartnership, and were in practice together some ten years, since which time Dr. Lougee has continued in practice at Rochester. Hle is a member of the Strafford District Medical Society, of which he has been president, besides holding various minor offices. He is also a member of the State Med- ical Society, in which he has held responsible positions. In 1862 he was appointed by Governor Berry examin- ing surgeon for Belknap County.

Among the many prominent business men and pro- He is a Republican iu politics. Very early in life fessional gentlemen whose names appear in this work, | he espoused the cause of freedom, and was always bitterly opposed to the extension of slavery. For more than forty years he has been a zealous advocate of all questions of moral reform, and his abundant opportunities have not been misimproved.

He was postmaster at Alton during the administra- tions of Presidents Taylor and Fillmore. In 1866 and 1867 he represented Alton in the State Legislature, during which time he had the satisfaction of voting for the fourteenth amendment of the United States Constitution. In 1877 and 1878 he represented Roch- ester in the Legislature, serving the last year as chair- man of the committee on asylums for the insane.

He is a member of the Congregational Church, and takes an active interest in the cause of temperance. He has been twice married, -first to Julia A., daughter of Thomas Ross, of Gilmanton. Of this union one daughter, Mary A., was born. She is now (1882) a young lady and resides with her father. Mrs. Lougee died Aug. 8, 1865, and he married for his second wife Ellen, daughter of Hazen Wheeler, of Barnstead, N. H., Oct. 25, 1866. Their children are William W. and Arthur J.

JOHN D. STURTEVANT.

John D. Sturtevant was born in the town of Centre Harbor, Belknap Co., N. H. (old county name Straf- ford), July 4, 1816. His ancestry was of German ex- traction, and among the early settlers at Plymouth, Mass. His grandfather and five sons settled at Centre Harbor, N. H., from whom have descended all those who bear the name in and around Centre Harbor and many elsewhere. By occupation all were farmers. The children's names were Hosea, John, Benjamin, Joseph, and Perez, all of whom, except Perez, died at Centre Harbor with an average age of over eighty-five years.

Perez Sturtevant was born before the Revolution- ary war, in about 1765-67, married Dorothy, daughter of Rev. Josiah Kimball, of Sandwich, N. H., where she was born about the year 1785, and died about 1847-48. Their children were Starrett, Josiah, Heze- kiah Field, Isaac, John D., Albert P., Rosetta, and Mary, all horn at Centre Harbor, except Mary, and all married and had children. Rosetta married C. A. Giles, Mary married Moody Clarke.

Perez Sturtevant was a small farmer at Centre Harbor, N. If. Subsequently, in about 1824, he moved to Danville, Vt., where he remained some fiftecu

I. W. Longer U.S.

John D. Strutwant,

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ROCHESTER.

years, thence after the death of his wife he went to a place opposite Sterling, Ill., on Rock River, whither four of his sons had emigrated, viz., Starrett, Josiah, Isaac, and Hezekiah Field. He died at Sterling, being over eighty-five years of age.

John D. Sturtevant, the immediate subject of this sketch, attended the common school winters, working on the farm summers. At the age of sixteen he left home and went to Peacham, and employed with Noah Martin as an apprentice to learn the trade of cloth- dressing, as compensation for which he received four dollars a month for nine months, the remaining three months he attended school, boarding himself. The next year he received five dollars a month for nine months, going to school as before.

At the end of that time his employer, Mr. Martin, commenced to manufacture cloth, and employed John D. at a dollar a day, at which he remained for two years. Thence to Bath, N. H., and entered a woolen factory, owned by a Village Falls manufacturing com- pany, and operated by - Witherell, agent. It was one of the largest factories then in the State running, having two sets of woolen machinery. There he re- mained three years at one dollar and twenty-five cents per day.

From there, in 1837, he went to Lowell, Mass., and employed with the Middlesex Manufacturing Com- pany at one dollar and twenty-five cents per day. After six months he was made foreman of a room at two dollars a day, engaging for a year, but at the end of six months hard times coming on, stopping the mill, he voluntarily released his employers from the other six months. He then went to Glover, Vt., where he owned an interest in a clothing establish- ment. At the same time he leased a woolen mill at a dollar a day, at Peacham, Vt., which he was to have so long as he might wish. He bought wool cheap and ran it six months, when he sold out, clearing five hundred dollars, and all before he was twenty-one years old.

owning one-third of the capital stock, and has ever since been its agent. It only contained one building, which might be considered good, being fifty by one hundred, four stories, and it was burned in 1866. They were rebuilt the same year ; also built two large four-story buildings fifty by one hundred, and one of fifty by one hundred and four, besides many other buildings, such as engine-rooms, store-houses, dwel- lings, etc. He employs about these mills about five hundred workmen, the running expenses being over five hundred dollars daily, their annual sales amount- ing to over eight hundred thousand dollars, princi- pally in woolen blankets from one dollar and a half to twenty dollars per pair.

These mills have twenty-nine sets of machinery. Besides this he has an interest in the Waumbeck Company Mills at Milton, N. H. ; in size one hundred and eight by fifty-four, four stories, and ten sets of machinery, superintended by B. G. Adams. Also owns an interest in Winthrop Mills Company, at Win- throp, Me., containing woolen-mill forty by one hun- dred and fifty, four stories, twelve sets of machinery, and a cotton-mill forty-eight by one hundred, four stories; also at Norwich, Conn., under the title of Clinton Mills Company; also woolen-mill at Nor- wich, one hundred by fifty, four stories high, and contains ten sets of machinery ; also another fifty by one hundred and twenty, four stories, twelve sets of machinery. At East Lyme, Conn., a woolen-mill eighty by fifty, four stories, and containing six sets of machinery. At Sandy Hook, Conn., a woolen-mill eighty by forty, four stories, and containing four sets of machinery.

Mr. Sturtevant is a director in all the foregoing mills, and president of the Waumbeck Company Mills, at Milton, of Winthrop Mill Company, at Win- throp, Norwich Woolen Mill, at Norwich, Niantic, at East Lyme, and Clinton, at Norwich. Mr. Sturtevant has ever been and is one of the most stirring and re- liable men in the locality : for instance, for two years, 1879-80, he made his own sales in Boston, amounting to five hundred thousand dollars, and only lost one hundred and twenty-five dollars bad debts.

In the spring of 1838 he first visited New York City, and while there made arrangements to go to Petersburg, Va., to take charge of putting in ma- chinery in a new woolen-mill, and took charge of the He was married, Oct. 16, 184I, to Adeline Bradley, daughter of Joshua and Dorcas (Jones) Bradley. She was born Dec. 30, 1819. Their children are Ed- 'win A., who died at the age of twenty ; Frances A., wife of Amasa Clarke, of Boston ; Ellen B., wife of Edward Steese, of Boston. These latter have two children,-Edwin S. and Gertrude. In addition to his interest in woolen-mills, which is large, his unencum- bered interest in real estate in New York City is equal in value about one million dollars. The towns in which his mills are located have all been greatly benefited by his enterprise. From the start his mills have never stopped on account of hard times, and he has never allowed a note to go to protest ; help al- ways paid once a month. During the forty years of mill for six months, when he returned to Lowell, Mass., but finding business exceedingly dull was obliged to accept one dollar and twenty-five cents per day for labor, being employed in the Whitney Blanket Mills, where, at the expiration of six months, he was made superintendent, at a salary of one thousand dollars for two years, when the company sold out, he being the purchaser of one of the mills, when he im- mediately began business for himself as a woolen manufacturer. Some four years or so after, in April, 1846, be bought a one-half interest in the Gonic Manufacturing Company in Rochester, with N. D. Wetmore, and the first year cleared twenty thousand dollars. They then dissolved partnership, and Mr. Sturtevant organized the Norway Plains Company, I his experience in the woolen manufacture more than

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HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

seven-eighths of the woolen-mills in the United States have failed. Honesty, industry, and prompt business habits is the road to success. All his real estate operations in New York were made through .his brother, A. P. Sturtevant, who was in real estate and building, and proved highly profitable to both. All his other brothers now living are wealthy farmers on Rock River, Il1.

EBENEZER G. WALLACE.

Ebenezer G. Wallace was born in Berwick, Me., Jan. 5, 1823. His father's side was of Scotch de- seent, and his mother's side of English descent. His father, Linzey Wallace, came to Berwick from Littleton, N. H., when about twenty-one years of age, a Methodist preacher, and married Abigail Gowell, who was Ebenezer's mother. She died when he was about three years old, so young that he has no recollection of her. His mother was heir to part of a large farm, and his parents made it their homestead. The farm. though large, was rather unproductive, making a great deal of hard work, and affording rather a poor living. His father was the magistrate for that section of country. There being no lawyer nearer than four miles, he wrote all the deeds and wills, and also married a great many couples ; for these he received some compensa- tion. As a preacher he was a local preacher, and was almost a slave to the surrounding country, hav- ing calls to attend most all the funerals for many miles around, not only in Berwick but in the adjoin- ing towns, and in some cases going many miles to the funeral, and all without any pay. There is only one case remembered when he ever received anything, then a man gave him fifty cents, urging it upon him for preaching at his child's funeral.

When about seventeen years of age the subject of this sketch went to learn a trade at tanning and cur- rying with Oliver Hill, who lived and carried on business in Berwick, about two miles from his home. One thing here in the boy goes to show the founda- tion for the future thrift of the man as developed through life. The labor to be performed through his apprenticeship was hard, the hours of labor long, one-half the year, through the long days, working till after sunset, the other half of the year working till nine o'clock at night. AAbove this task he worked extra hours, and worked holidays for pay, working every 4th of July during his apprenticeship, and ac- enmulated and saved during the time over a hundred dollars. His pay for services during this time was , pany soon changed their minds about working and only forty dollars per year besides his board. After getting through his apprenticeship and honorably discharged, he had a desire for a better education, having up to this time only had the advantages of common schools, but the district was very populous in children and the schools quite long. He and his brother Edwin went three years to school to Phillips'

Exeter Academy, and as they had nobody able to help them, supported themselves tanning calf-skins, and other small stock in Capt. Fernald's tannery, a privilege granted by Capt. Fernald more as a favor to them than for the mere nominal rent which he re- ceived. They did the work on the stock mornings and evenings and days that the school did not keep and in vacations. Having to use nearly all their hours out of school to carry on their business made it pretty hard work in their class, but with all the load they had to carry they never went to recitation with a poor lesson ; in fact, they were two of the few in their class who took the advanced position when the class had to be divided by Dr. Soule on account of a great difference of scholarship, Dr. Soule calling the part of the class left behind his " steer team." The stock in their business was bought with money, small loans obtained of a friend, and some stock bonght on credit. They had through their boyhood days main- tained a credit and good faith in payments much above boys in general. They had the confidence of those who knew them. When they commenced going to school at Exeter their intention was to go to college, but finding it so hard to meet the expenses, and also having a liking for business, they abandoned the idea of going to college.

After closing up at Exeter, Ebenezer G. went to Rochester, N. H., where he now lives, and there ob- tained a small chance to do some tanning in a tannery owned and occupied by Horne & Hall, taking a part of his time on his own stock, the rest of the time working for them by the day, and for James Badge, who owned another tannery in Rochester. In the fall and winter of 1848 and 1849 he, with another man named Boston, took a job finishing leather for John N. Furber, who had a small tannery in the ad- joining town of Farmington. While working on this job, about the 1st of January, 1849, news began to come of the discovery of gold in California, and after reading the first report he said, " If this news is con- firmed 1 am going to California." Every paper con- firmed the report, and he got ready as soon as he could, and in the fore part of February joined the Bay State Company, a joint stock company being got up in Bos- ton, requiring a contribution of three hundred dollars and a recommendation of good character. The com- pany consisted of upwards of one hundred and forty members. The company was formed with the idea to all live together, work in common, and divide equally. They took out a meeting-house and a preacher, Rev. Mr. Ilatch (Methodist). The com-

living in common, and broke up into small squads of about a dozen in a company before half-way there. Atter reaching California the company scattered over the mining sections of California in all directions, working in the original squads or dividing and sub- dividing, according to likes and dislikes. While in California he worked in the mines, generally in com-

Eh. Wallace

EdwinWallace

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ROCHESTER.

pany with one other man. He was tolerably success- ful in mining for that kind of business, none making, during those years, large amounts in the mines. He kept informed in regard to the success of the mem- bers of the Bay State Company. When he left Cali- ifornia about fifteen of the company had died. Some had done worse,-had become drunken sots,-not over half of those living had saved anything, and only one other member of the Bay State Company had saved as much as he had who had followed the pursuit of mining.

A few of the company had taken other business in the cities, and had made more than any had at mining. He arrived home from California in February, 1852, having been gone three years from the time of joining the company in Boston in February, 1849.

In May, 1853, he married Sarah E. Greenfield, of Rochester, N. H., and they went to Concord, N. H., and lived most one year, till he and his brother pur- chased the tannery of Warren & Richards, in Roch- ester, when they returned to Rochester and have lived there ever since. They have now living two sons, Albert and Sumner, and three daughters, Carrie Helen, Annie, and Emma Josie, having lost one son, Henry Ernest, the youngest, who died at about seventeen years of age. They give their chil- dren the best educational advantages. The two sons graduated at Dartmouth College. Their oldest daugh- ter has just graduated at Lasell Seminary, Auburn- dale, Mass. Annie is in this school, and will graduate in 1883 ; and Emma Josie will probably take the same course when old enough. The subject of this sketch has very little ambition for political honors. He served two years, 1867 and 18GS, in the Legislature, being both years on the Railroad Committee, and the second year chairman of Committee on Retrenchment and Reform. Ile had shown himself, during the first year, so urgent an economist that the Speaker, Gen. Griffin, when he made up the committees the second year, said to him, "I am going to put you on the Railroad Committee, and am going to make you chairman of the Committee on Retrenchment and Reform, but hope you will not tear everything to pieces."

He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1876.

EDWIN WALLACE.

Edwin Wallace was born, in 1823, in the town of Berwick, Me. Linsy Wallace, his father, came to Berwick as a Methodist preacher from Littleton, N. H. The father's side can be traced back three generations. The third generation back-the first that came over from the old country-first lived in Colrain, Mass., and afterwards moved from there to Franconia, N. H. Linsy Wallace's father went from Franconia to Littleton and settled, having several sons, of whom Linsy was the oldest. He remained

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History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 175

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