History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 57

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 57
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 57


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).


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THOMAS FOLSOM.


The Epping Folsoms come from that branch of the family so long resident in Exeter. Joshua Folsom, born in Exeter, 1719, in early life a shipwright, mar- ried Abigail Mead; had two children born in Exeter, -Abigail, born 1744, and Thomas, born 1746. In 1746 he removed to Epping, became a large land- owner, built the first grist-mill at West Epping, and constructed many other mills all along the conntry to Sandwich, where he also built one. He was an active and very stirring man. He was a member of the Society of Friends, and from 1772 until his death a prominent preacher. He as such visited nearly all the Yearly Meetings in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and it is said did more to establish his faith in Sandwich and form a society there than all others. He died in Epping, Dec. 20, 1793. His


children born in Epping were Bettie, born 1748; Joshua, born 1750; John, 1753; Mary, 1755, married a Fry, of Kittery, Me .; Benjamin ; Samuel; and Abi- gail, 1763, married Daniel B. Alley, and settled in Henniker, N. H.


Benjamin Folsom, born Jan. 6, 1757, had bnt three months' "schooling" in his life, but through reading and native ability became well read; remained on the old home of his father all his days ; was a farmer and mill-owner, but never labored hard, as he was a life- time sufferer from asthma. He was once elected rep- resentative from Epping, but refused to serve. He never meddled with politics, was a quiet, peaceful citizen, and notwithstanding his asthma attained the old age of ninety-three years, dying Aug. 26, 1850.


He married, Sept. 14, 1782, Abigail, daughter of John Peaslee, of Newton, N. H., a lineal descendant of the distinguished Joseph Peaslee, the emigrant, who died in Haverhill, Mass., March, 1762 or '63. Their children were John, born Oct. 3, 1784; Mead, born July 10, 1785; Sarah, born July 2, 1787, married Israel Norris, of Epping; Abigail M., born Jan. 27, 1797, married first, a Jones, of Gilmanton, second, Timothy Hanson, of Farmington (see biography) ; Hannah F., born Sept. 4, 1799, married David Saw- yer, of Newbury, Mass .; Thomas, born Feb. 13, 1802.


Thomas Folsom had the education given by the common schools of the first of the century, supple- mented by six months attendance at the Friends' school in Providence, R. I. His uncle Thomas, from whom he was named, gave him a farm of two hun- dred and twenty acres of land, and he at once began practical life. He married, May 1, 1823, Sophia, daughter of Ephraim and Mary (Page) Morrill, of Berwick, Me. (For early history of Morrill family see biography of Charles E. Morrill, East Kingston.) After a number of years passed in farming and trad- ing, about 1842, Mr. Folsom purchased the mill priv- ilege at West Epping, then much out of repair, and constructed botb grist- and saw-mills, still, however, attending to his farming. He was compelled after- wards to enlarge his facilities in both directions, and for many years of active life he attended to both. Hle still owns the grist-mill, but the business in both mills has been for some time in the hands of his sons.


The children born to him and his worthy wife are Maria, born April 22, 1824, married Eben Merrill, of Amesbury, and died childless. George, born May 27, 1825, resides in California ; has four children,-Mary A., George F., Edwin, and Charles A. Alvira M., horn April 30, 1827, died young. Charles N., born July 1, 1829, died young. Abby P., born Feb. 11, 1831, died unmarried when about twenty. Mary E., born May 23, 1833, married Levi W. Hoag, and has six children-George E., Clement H., David F., Al- bert B., Mahlon, and Walter. Thomas Charles, born March 26, 1836, married Mary Bickford, and has five children,-Mable A., George F., Edwin S., Charles A., Mary E. He is a farmer and lumber manufacturer.


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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.


David E., born May 15, 1838, now owns a large sheep ranch in Montana, where he resides; is a civil engi- neer, employed much of the time in surveying lands by United States government. He married Lucy T., daughter of Benjamin II. Jones, in January, 1878. Their children, George B. (died young) and David M.


Thomas Folsom has been much in public affairs. He has been an unswerving Democrat, has held all the important town offices, has been selectman thir- teen years, auditor of accounts fifteen years, and was member of the Constitutional Convention of 1867. Plain and unostentatious, with a direct honesty of speech characteristic of the society of which he is a birthright member, probably no man in his native town stand higher than he in the regards of its best citizens.


JOHN LEWIS FOLSOM.


John Lewis Folsom was born on the old Folsom homestead, which he now owns, and where he has always resided, June 25, 1817. IIe is descended from Joshua Folsom, who came from Exeter and settled in West Epping in an early day. For a more com- plete history of Joshua Folsom, see biography of Thomas Folsom, Epping. Joshua had children, one of whom was Benjamin, born on the 6th day of the First month, 1757; married Abigail Peaslee. She was born Twelfth month 3, 1760. They had chil- dren, of whom John Folsom was one, born Tentli month 3, 1783; married Mehitable Morrill, who was born Fifth month 18, 1790. Of this union the following children were born, viz .: Ann E., Mary P., John L., the subject of our sketch, Benjamin M., all born in Epping, N. H., and all married. John Fol- som was a farmer and miller by occupation, and a Democrat in politics. Ile was a member of the So- ciety of Friends, as his ancestors were, and as his descendants have been. He died First month 26, 1846. His wife still survives him, and is now (1882) in her ninety-second year. She has been a recorded speaker in the Society of Friends for a great many years. She still retains her faculties to a wonderful degree, is hale and hearty, and her name is cherished by her many friends.


gistrate of his town. On the 29th day of the Ninth month, 1842, he married Mary Ann, daughter of Moses Beede, of Fremont, N. H. She was born Sec- ond month 28, 1816. Their children are,-(1) Charles E., born First month 24, 1845. (2) Abby B., born First month 20, 1848; she died Twelfth month 28, 1851. (3) Evelyn A., born Eighth month 23, 1852.


Mr. Folsom is an enterprising and intelligent far- mer, and one of the best citizens in Epping. Like his fathers, he is a member of the Society of Friends. His son was educated at the Manchester Business College at Manchester, N. H. He is a Democrat in politics, and as such, though young, has been select- man four years and town treasurer several years.


D. L. HARVEY.


Jonathan Harvey, a resident of Newburyport, Mass., about 1734, married Susanna George, of South Hamp- ton, N. H., and removed to Nottingham, N. H. He was a soldier in the French war, and was in engage- ment at Ticonderoga, N. Y. His fourth son, Jona- than, married Susan Hedlock, of South Hampton, settled in Nottingham, was a farmer in moderate cir- cumstances, rearcd a family of seventeen children, and died in 1845. His oldest son, James, born in 1780, married Lois Folsom Ladd, of Epping, in 1809, and became a resident of that town, dying there Jan. 26, 1855. He had three children who attained maturity, of whom Dudley Ladd Harvey was oldest. He was born Aug. 25, 1811, in Epping, N. II. He passed his early life with his father, a cooper and small farmer. He had limited common-school advantages for educa- tion. Has from early childhood led a life of hard and incessant labor, the first money earned by him being earned by coopering. This trade he followed for some time, but abandoned it for lumbering, farming, nur- sery-growing, etc. He began the world poor, but the results of a life of honest toil, with industry, economy, and business ability havegiven him a solid and worthy financial standing, showing him the owner in fee simple of more than three hundred broad acres of good farm- ing land. Ile was engaged in lumbering from the age of twenty to that of forty. Was commissioned captain in New Hampshire State Militia in 1836, and served as such for four years. He was appointed justice of the peace in 1846, and has served four years as select- man of Epping, being chairman three years. He was for six years a director of the Rockingham Fire In- surance Company of Epping, and trustee of Epping Savings-Bank.


John Lewis Folsom received a common-school edu- cation, supplemented with about six months at the Friends' Academy at Providence, R. I. He has always been a farmer, and to-day owns some six hundred and fifty acres besides having given his only son one hun- dred. All of this large tract lies within three miles of West Epping. His buildings are among the best in the county. He has not confined himself to farm- Mr. Harvey married April 8, 1835, Mary Swain, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah (Dearborn) Swain, of Epping. Their children were Mary A. and Jona- than Swain. The latter died Oct. 8, 1876, aged twenty- five years. ing alone, but has owned and run a saw- and grist- mill. At the present time and for a few years past, he has been engaged in the lumber and coal business. In politics he is a Democrat. He bas been chairman of the selectmen of his town for several years, town Mr. Harvey has all the requisites of a model farmer, and ranks with the leading successful agricul- treasurer many years, and Representative to the State Legislature in 1857 and 1858. He has also been ma- | turists of this section. He has kept his eyes and ears


·


John Lewis Folsom


D. L. Harvey


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EPPING.


open to all sources of information in his favorite field, and has become well and favorably known to a very large circle by his thirty years' contributions to the Boston Cultivator, Germantown Telegraph, and other agricultural journals. He is an unassuming, useful, and respected citizen.


J. C. BURLEY.


The Burley family is of old-time Saxon origin, and the name has more than twenty-five different spell- ings, " Burley" and "Burleigh" being most general. Gyles Bredley was living in Ipswich, Mass., in 1648, and was a commoner there in 1664. He was a planter and a man of means for those days. Felt's History of Ipswich says he left a widow (Elizabeth) and children,-Andrew, James, Giles, and John,-who, J. C. Burley was born on the homestead so long in the family, in Epping, N. H., Jan. 13, 1830. He re- ceived a thorough common-school education in his native town, inherited the landed estates of his an- cestors, but was not content with the quiet monotony of a farmer's life, and in 1854 commenced his active business career as station agent of the Boston and Maine Railroad, at Newmarket, N. H. Dec. 17, 1855, he married Sarah E., daughter of Samuel Haley, of Epping. however, probably died before his father. ITis will, made July 18, 1668, disposes of real estate and per- sonal property, giving legacies of fifteen pounds each to his children, "to be paid in corne and · cattle equally alike." James, above mentioned, born in Ipswich, Feb. 10, 1659, married (1) Rebecca Stacy, (2) Elizabeth --; removed to Exeter, N. Il., where he became a resident, dying there in 1721, aged sixty- two years. Thomas,1 third son of James, born April 5, 1697, had a son Thomas,2 born July 2, 1723 ; died From 1855 to the present Mr. Burley has been an exceedingly active and successful business man. Probably no man of his years in the town has ever done more than he, or been connected with more diversified fields of enterprise. On the death of his father he returned to North Epping to superintend the management of the home-farmi and care for his mother through her declining years, and here, in a typical New England home, he has since resided. He has been chosen to fill the prominent and respon- sible town offices, and in 1878 was elected county commissioner, which position he still occupies. Ile has been chairman of the board since 1881. He was chosen a director of Newmarket Bank, under the State law, and with that and its successor, the New- market National Bank, he has been connected for a quarter of a century. He has been president of the latter since 1879. He has also been president of Epping Savings-Bank since its organization. In 1871 he engaged in partnership with Hon. Samuel Plumer Dow in lumbering operations, which were continued, and successfully, until Mr. Dow's death, in 1874. Mr. Burley was also an active promoter of the Rochester and Nashua Railroad, and assisted in rector. June 1, 1805. He married Sarah, daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Gordon) Haley, purchased lands and set- tled in Epping, N. H., where his great-grandson, J. C. Burley, now resides. [The father of this Mrs. Burley was born in 1692, and attained the remarkable age of ninety-six, dying in 1790. In 1695, when he was but three years old, his father, Sergt. Haley, was killed by Indians near Saco Fort.] This worthy couple had eight children, the youngest of whom was Thomas.8 He was born Ang. 14, 1766, became a wealthy and influential farmer, married (1) July 21, 1798, Nancy, daughter of Capt. Benjamin Hoit; (2) May 18, 1818, Mary, widow of Ezekiel Brown, and daughter of Gordon and Mary (Prescott) Lawrence. He was a very strong man, of vigorous health and great powers of endurance, and was well esteemed by the community. Capt. Benjamin Burley, son of Thomas8 and Nancy (IIoit) Burley, was born April 10, 1803, married Nov. 7, 1826, Elizabeth Ann, daughter of Greenleaf and Jane (Nealey) Cilley, of Nottingham, N. Il. She was a woman possessed of uncommon force of character, brilliant, energetic, kind-hearted, and greatly beloved sister of Hon. Joseph Cilley, of Nottingham, and llon. Jonathan its organization, and was chosen and is still a di- Cilley, member of Congress from Maine, and was born July 11, 1804, and died Oct. 3, 1876.


Capt. Burley was a leading farmer of Epping, was of medium size, light complexion, fine and curly brown hair, with a mild blue eye which looked squarely at you. He was a man of more than ordinary executive ability, conducted his business matters successfully, was intrusted with many offices


and positions, both in town and State, and discharg- ing them conscientiously, always had the approval of his constituents. He did not have a long life, dying June 26, 1861. Universalist in religious belief, the same broad charity which underlies that faith was the corner-stone of his life. "Ile believed in your goodness until you proved your own unworthiness, and even then his great heart threw out love to wel- come back the erring. A friend once, a friend forever. A man intuitively given the guardianship of orphans, and ever the poor widow's friend. He could not see grief without extending sympathy and consolation to the afflicted." He was a diligent, noble, pure-hearted man, and when he passed away the whole community felt the loss. He had two children,-Joseph C. and Nannie Jane (born Nov. 21, 1832; died Oct. 3, 1855).


Mr. Burley is probably the largest farmer of Ep- ping; is largely engaged in lumbering, his present partner being Col. Winthrop W. Dow, of Exeter. Republican in politics, is a stanch supporter of the Union. Universalist in religious belief, believes in showing his faith by his works ; and in all the varions departments of his extended business he has shown


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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.


rare executive abilities, and far-reaching sagacity. This is amply proven by the results; and his great success has been the natural result of his quick com- prehension of a subject, his careful deliberation and conservative examination, and the steady tenacity with which he adheres to his course when he has marked it out. He has health to enjoy life, and a winning magnetism that, in a quiet way, makes him many friends. In private life he is characterized by modest and unassuming ways, great attachment to home and the home eircle. His sister, Nannie, be- fore mentioned, was a lovely character of refined tastes, and the same strong affectionate nature. She was educated at New Ilampton, and between her and her brother existed one of the strongest attachments. Sociable and amiable, she was pleasing in her ways, had a large circle of friends. Mrs. Burley has been a congenial companion to her husband. Her willing hands, wise counsels, and ready and warm sympathy have largely aided in ereeting the structure of pros- perity. Their children are in the eighth generation of the American family, and are Nannie, born Oct. 5, 1857, married Harry W. Burleigh, of Franklin; Harry Benjamin, born May 26, 1867 ; Aliee, Sept. 23, 1870; Jennie Cilley, Sept. 10, 1872; and Benjamin Thomas, Nov. 26, 1874. To sum up, Mr. Burley is a broad and liberal gentleman, faithful to every trust, generous and active in encouraging everything to benefit humanity or improve the condition of his town or county, and enjoys the friendship of a large circle of the better element of society.


JOHN HENRY PIKE.


John Henry Pike, son of William and Elizabeth Folsom (Hilton) Pike, was born in New Market, N. Il., July 7, 1829. (For Pike family, see history of South Newmarket.) Quiek and ready to learn, he took front rank in the district and private schools, i trade in which he has engaged. He was for fifteen which were his only educational advantages. When very young his, father died, leaving his wife and four children in limited circumstances. Mrs. Pike kept her children with her and moved to Newmarket vil- lage to reside, but the illness of her sister, Mrs. Eli- phalet Dearborn, of Epping, ealled her for a season to attend to the management of Mr. Dearborn's house- hold. This temporary visit became a stay of years, which was only concluded by the deeease of Mrs. Dearborn. Mrs. Pike was descended from Edward Hilton, grantee of Dover (see history of Dover), and was a woman of strong intellect, good judgment, and practical common sense. She was a successful teacher, and is now (March, 1882) living in good health and elear intellect at the advanced age of eighty-four, honored, loved, and respected by all who know her. Mr. Pike, theu a young lad, accompanied her, and worked on the farm under Mr. Dearborn's supervision. He was a man of good judgment and ideas, liberal, kind-hearted, frank and outspoken, and the impress


of his teaching and example in many ways was not lost upon the young lad earnestly longing to battle with the active world of business. When sixteen Mr. Pike worked one season as a farm hand for Nathan G. Prescott, father of ex-Governor Preseott; then re- turning to Mr. Dearborn's, he was ill for two years. Ife then engaged as clerk for his brother-in-law, J. H. Prescott, a merchant trading in what was known as " the Plummer store." Here his need was met, and he soon manifested the qualities which have made him so successful a business man, and finding it so congenial to him soon purchased an interest, and entered into copartnership with Mr. Prescott, under firm-name of " J. H. Prescott & Co." They continued in trade at the Plumer store for two or three years, and then erected a store and dwelling at " Boar's Head," whither they transferred their business, and, in connection with Robert Pike, started the little village existing at that point.


Mr. Pike, after a partnership of five years at that place, bought Mr. Preseott's interest, and continued alone until abont 1853, when he sold out and removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., and engaged in trade as a merchant of hardware, paints, oils, etc. IIis business was lucra- tive, but his health failed, and after only nine months' residence there, by medical advice, he returned to the pure air of Epping, and purchased the Prescott place, where D. L. Harvey now resides. Here he worked as a farmer for two years, building up largely his health and strength. Ile then removed to " Boar's Head," and again began merchandising, which he continued "off' and on" till 1860. He also com- menced to operate in wood and lumber, buying wood lots, getting off the timber, and then selling the land, and was one of the first, if not the very first, to fol- low this as a business in the town. This business he still continues, and extensively, and he has amassed property rapidly in this as in all other branches of years intimately connected with and in partnership with the late Hon. Samuel Plumer Dow, and in all their multifarious and complicated affairs there was never an unpleasant word or an inharmonious inter- view. He has also been connected in business with J. C. Burley, W. N. Dow, and others, and their busi- ness relations have but strengthened the tiesof friend- ship. In 1862, Mr. Pike entered into trade at Epping Corners, but that business was given to his son, John Q. Pike, who is now in trade.


Mr. Pike has also dealt largely in real estate, bought and sold stocks, mortgages, etc., and has been and is the most successful business man in Epping. Yet in all his extensive and varied interests he has never been sued nor has he ever sued any one. Quiet and un- ostentatious, he has shrank from politieal honors and preferment, neither earing for nor seeking office, but has been town elerk three terms, chairman board of selectmen three terms, and town treasurer. Although often solicited to accept higher positions, he has


Amman Point Natt & Boston


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steadily refused to leave his private business. In politics he has ever been an unswerving Democrat.


Mr. Pike married Oct. 9, 1850, Eliza J., daughter of William and Deborah (Davis) Thompson. She was born in Middleton, N. H. Their children are William H., of Brooklyn, N. Y .; John Q., a merchant of Epping ; Charles Edward, a druggist in Brooklyn, N. Y. ; and Albert Hilton, a student in his third year at Phillips' Exeter Academy.


In connection with others, Mr. Pike started the Ep- ping Savings-Bank. He has been chairman of its in- vesting committee, and by his personal attention and business foresight he has made it a financial success, cansing it to pay a dividend of five per cent. when other banks were paying but four.


The qualities which enabled Mr. Pike to rise from the poor circumstances of his boyhood to the po- sition of wealth and standing as a business man which he now occupies (the largest tax-payer of his town) have been a keen, quick perception, an intui- tive knowledge of cause and effect, a steady deter- mination to do exactly as he agreed, keeping his word in business matters involving pecuniary loss, even though not legally obliged to do so. A case in point : In one of his early timber operations he ver- bally agreed to sell one hundred cords of bark at seven dollars per cord to certain parties. Within a few months the price advanced to fourteen dollars per cord. Notwithstanding this rise Mr. Pike deliv- ered the bark at the price first named, thus volun- tarily assuming the loss of seven hundred dollars. He is essentially a self-made man, and his life, al. though his health has always been delicate, has been one of steady and active devotion to business. His great success has been the natural result of his ability to readily examine and comprehend any subject pre- sented to him, power to decide promptly, and courage to act with vigor and persistence in accordance with his convictions. In carrying out his designs for per- sonal advancement he has been public-spirited, as is shown by his disposition of the George Lawrence place, where he now resides, where he has sold off building-lots, built houses, improved and beautified it, so that the appropriate name of Pleasant .Street has been given to it.


II. B. BURNIIAM, M.D.


Hosea Ballou Burnham, son of Miles and Salome (Hall), daughter of David Hall, was born in Chester, now Auburn, N. H., Oct. 15, 1829. Miles Burnham was born in Northwood in 1793. (His father's name was Jacob. He was son of Paul Burnham, of Dur- ham, N. H., who was born in Essex, Mass.) He passed his early life in Boston, was a carpenter by trade, and became a merchant and hotel-keeper in Chester. He had six children, of whom Dr. Burn- ham was third. He was a steadfast adherent to the principles of political economy enunciated by Thomas


Jefferson and others of that school. His death oc- curred Sept. 30, 1850; that of his wife Sept. 29, 1881. Jacob, the earliest of the name we can now trace, was a farmer in Northwood and Nottingham, one of the sturdy yeomanry of those early days, and with his vigorous constitution lived to the advanced age of ninety-two years, dying in 1836.


The Burnham family is of English ancestry, and the American starting-point is Essex, Mass. Dr. Burnham received his education at the common schools of Chester until he was thirteen, then at- tended Gilmanton Academy, New Hampshire Con- ference Seminary, at Sanborntown Bridge (now Til- ton ), N. H., and Wesleyan University, at Middletown, Conn. Hle began the study of medicine with the late William D. Buck, M.D., a physician of high repute in Manchester, N. H. IIe attended medical lectures at Berkshire Medical Institution, Pittsfield, Mass., Harvard Medical College, Boston, and Vermont Medi- cal College, Woodstock, Vt., from which latter school he was graduated in 1853. During his student life he taught in the public schools of the city of Manchester.




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