History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 70

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 70
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 70

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profession there one year. Ile then (September, 1847) returned to Exeter, where he has made his home ever since.

Mr. Gordon opened a law-office in Exeter, but find- ing an unpromising financial outlook, he relinquished his practice and devoted himself to more profitable business pursuits. He has often been called upon to fill important positions of office and trust, and has ever been alive to the best interests of his constitu- ents, discharging his duties conscientiously and ably. In 1849 he was chosen secretary and treasurer of the "Rockingham Farmers' Mutual Insurance Com- He afterwards came to Exeter, N. H., where, in 1663, pany," and was re-elected annually for eight years. He represented Exeter in the Legislatures of 1849-50, and his district in the State Senate in 1869. In 1870 he was re-elected senator, and was chosen president of the Senate. His name was brought as a candidate before the Republican Congressional Convention held at Dover, Dec. 17, 1870. On the first ballot he received 76 out of 244 votes, the largest number cast for any candidate, received 85 on the next ballot, but after the third ballot withdrew in favor of Mr. Small, who was nominated and elected.

True to his principles, Mr. Gordon has been the uncompromising foe of slavery, and in the dark and trying days of 1861 was the boldest person in Exeter in support of the Union, placing every dollar he owned in government securities, thus showing his taith by his works. The result of this confidence was a very satisfactory financial increase.

cause of Christ. His time and his money have been freely given in aid of all good enterprises. His numerous benefactions show him to be thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the Master, and he has worthily filled the office of deacon in the Second Congregational Society of Exeter for about twelve years. He has also taken great interest in Sabbath- school work, and was for ten years superintendent of the school connected with his church.

Mr. Gordon's kindness to struggling and deserving students will long be remembered. From his interest in education he was chosen, Dec. 15, 1866, one of the seven members composing the first "board of trustees" of Robinson Female Seminary, then just organized. This position he held until expiration of term in 1870. In 1872 he gave one thousand dollars to Phillips' Exeter Academy for a scholarship for de- serving indigent students, and in 1874 gave one thou- sand dollars more for the same purpose. In 1881 he gave one thousand dollars, to be applied in the same manner, to Dartmouth College.

In 1865, Mr. Gordon made a trip to California in the interests of a silver-mining company of Boston,

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Mr. Gordon married, first, Dec. 26, 1853, Alcina Eveline, daughter of Moses Sanborn, of Kingston, N. IF. Their children were Moses Sanborn, John Thomas (died young), Nathaniel, Frances Eveline, and Mary Alcina Elizabeth. Mrs. Gordon died April 14, 1864; and June 4, 1868, he married George Anne, daughter of John Lowe, Jr., of Exeter.

Systematic and conservative in business, Mr. Gor- don has been financially prospered ; but believing that " it is not all of life to live," his gains are not the ob- ject of his worship, and in many and widely varying directions the kindness of his benefactions will be a blessing and a happiness to many generations yet to come.

JEWETT CONNER.

Among the many old homesteads in Exeter is the homestead farm owned and occupied by Jewett Con- ner, which has been handed down from father to son unencumbered by debt for nearly two hundred years, he being the fifth in descent from Jeremiah Conner, who it appears was a large landholder both in Exeter and Gilmanton, N. H., and was one of the selectmen of Exeter several years in the early part of the last cen- tnry. His children were Jonathan, Philip, Samuel, Benjamin, Hannah, and Ann. The daughters were married, and took the names of Hannah Rawlins and Ann Lyford. Jonathan had the homestead. His chil- dren were Jonathan, Jeremiah, John, Mehetable, and Anne. The daughters were married and took the names of Mehetable Thing and Anne Giddings. Jonathan had the homestead. He married Mary Jewett, of Exeter. Their children were Jesse, Dan- iel, Nathaniel, Jedediah, Mary, and Eunice. Mary married Ezekiel Barstow, of Exeter. Eunice never married. Jedediah had the homestead. He was twice married,-first to Elizabeth Jenkins. Their children were Elizabeth W., Daniel, Susan F., and Jewett. His second wife was Abigail Gilman. They had one daughter, Mary, who died in infancy. Of these, Elizabeth W. married the Hon. Parker Shel- dron, of Gardiner, Me., and died Oct. 5, 1824. Daniel never married, and died Sept. 24, 1835. Susan F. married the Rev. Joel Terry, a Baptist clergyman of Kane, Ill., and died Oct. 15, 1841. Jewett had the homestead. He married Nov. 15, 1838, Lydia, daughter of Josiah R. and Betsey Norris, of Exeter. Their children are William N., Fannie E., Ellen A., and Mary E. Of these William N. married, Septem- ber, 1866, Emma W. Hart, of Boston, Mass., who died Sept. 12, 1877, leaving one child, Arthur J., born March 26, 1868. Fannie E. married Jan. 17, 1877, Harrison G. Burley, of Newmarket, N. H. Ellen A. married Nov. 26, 1870, Orin F. Hart, of Chelsea, Mass. Mary E. married Dec. 26, 1881, Free- man Sanborn, of Newmarket, N. H. Mr. Conner is a modest, unassuming man, calm and deliberate, who acts from conviction and npon principle. He is one of the representative men of Exeter in more respects

than one. As a descendant of an old and honorable family, as an agriculturist, as an honest, earnest, progressive man, he has been honored by his fellow- citizens and others with various positions of office and trust, having been repeatedly elected one of the selectmen and to other town offices; has been twice elected a member of the State Legislature; in 1863 was appointed. by the Secretary of the Treasury as- sistant assessor under the United States revenue Jaw, and acted in that capacity seven years; in 1879 was appointed by the Supreme Court a member of the State Board of Equalization for the term of two years, and reappointed in 1881; the duties of all which have been honestly and conscientiously discharged. His children have all married and are away from the old homestead, yet Mr. and Mrs. Conner are sur- rounded by many other blessings that tend to make their declining years comfortable and happy.

SOLOMON J. PERKINS.

Solomon J., son of Stephen and Lydia (Smith) Perkins, was born in Lee, N. H., Aug. 18, 1804. IFis grandfather, Lieut. Perkins, was a distinguished soldier in the Revolutionary war, and lived in Water- ville, Me. He had three sons,-John, Joseph, and Stephen. Stephen Perkins was probably born at Waterville, but when young he was apprenticed to a farmer in Exeter. He married when of age, and began the mercantile business in Rochester, N. H. He unfortunately lost his property, after which he moved to Exeter about 1815 and engaged in farming.

His children attaining maturity were John (de- ceased), Stephen (deceased), Solomon J., Benjamin R., Joseph W., Sarah A. (Mrs. John F. Merrill), and Adeline A. (Mrs. George Merrill). He was an at- tendant of the Congregational Church. In politics he was a Whig. Ile died in 1832, aged sixty-five years. His wife died Sept. 7, 1864.

Solomon J. Perkins, coming from Rochester to Exeter when about ten years of age, worked in the " Pickpocket" wrap-yarn factory for about three years, then went to the Rockingham Mills for a few years; from there went to Dover and worked in the Upper Mills, and then in the mills at the landing, being in Dover altogether about ten years. Thence he went to Pittsfield, N. H., where he had charge of the weaving and dressing departments in the mills for about two years. He married Armine Goodwin, of South Berwick, Me., Nov. 26, 1831. In connection with his brother, Benjamin R., he bought the Rock- ingham Mills, where they manufactured batting and coarse wrap-yarn. Leaving his brother in charge of the mills, he engaged with Capt. N. Gilman to snper- intend his mill at "Pickpocket," and stayed there two years. In 1836 he bought the John S. Gordon place on Gordon Hill, comprising eight acres of land, moved there in the fall, and in 1837 opened a tavern and kept it for several years. He has ever since

Jewett Corner

Solomony Parking

B, Ro, Parking

werk Gurlish

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EXETER.

made this place his home, and after a married life of over fifty years he and his esteemed wife have the satisfaction of knowing that they are held in high esteem by a large circle of relatives and friends.

This worthy couple have descendants as follows: seven children-Rev. George G. (pastor of Congrega- tional Church, Avoca, Iowa), Solomon S. (a farmer, living near his father), Moses A. (United States mail agent), Augusta (Mrs. H. E. Parsons), Albert M. (died from wounds received while leading his company at Gettysburg), Robert Hamilton (a popular teacher in Portsmouth Grammar School), and Jennie S. (a teacher in Harvard Grammar School, Boston, Mass.) -- and seventeen grandchildren. Mr. Perkins has ever been an industrious and valuable citizen of Exeter. He has never sought official station, but has held the office of selectman of Exeter for several terms. In polities he has always been a stanch Re- publican. Both he and his wife have been members of the Second Congregational Church of Exeter for many years.

Mrs. Perkins was a daughter of Moses and Sally (Lord) Goodwin. Moses Goodwin was a farmer and a builder of gondolas. He always resided in South Berwick and York, Me., dying in South Berwick in 1837. His wife died in 1861.

B. R. PERKINS.

Benjamin Rollins Perkins, son of Stephen Perkins, was born at Rochester, N. H., Jan. 17, 1807. When he was about five years old his father moved to Ex- eter, locating near Mr. Perkins' present residence, on what is now " Perkins' Hill," then known as "Gor- don's Hill," to enable his family to work in the " Pick- pocket" mill. This mill was one of the very first in this part of the State. The stern battle with poverty and adverse circumstances came on Mr. Perkins early in life, and we find him in childhood spreading hay, ete., for nine pence a day. From this humble begin- ning at the lowest round of the ladder has he steadily ascended until he to-day ranks among Exeter's repre- sentative farmers, and is in a position of independent prosperity. We find him in varions employments, earning a little at each, until 1821, when he began work in a shoe-shop in Exeter, where he labored for two years, becoming much attached to his employers. He was then offered the (to him) enormous salary of six dollars per month to work in the Rockingham factory, and this drew him thitherward, where he worked one year. In 1824 he went with a brother to work in a factory in Dover, and from five dollars rapidly gained in position and wages until he closed his connection with the mill in 1827, when he was receiving one dollar a day.

Feeling the lack of education he returned to Exeter, and as long as the stock of money he had laid by lasted attended common school and academy. He then went to Dover Landing, and worked in a mill

for about two years at one dollar and twenty-five cents per day. By this time he had saved fifty dollars. This he spent in traveling while vainly endeavoring to obtain employment in strange places. In 1829 he purchased on credit the stock of the store, then closed, at "Pickpocket" mills, amounting to about one thousand dollars, and was a successful merchant. In 1831 he with Mr. Flagg hired and conducted the Rockingham mills for three years, he removing his merchandise thither. In 1834, Mr. Perkins bought the mill, paying five thousand dollars, and carried on the business five years, when he sold a half-interest to his brother Solomon, this copartnership continuing until 1841, when they sold the mill, and Benjamin removed to the beautiful farm where he has since re- sided. Mr. Perkins has been a Whig and a Republi- can in polities. He was at one time much interested in militia matters, and was promoted step by step from clerk to colonel.

Mr. Perkins married (1) Mary Jane Dolloff, of Ex- eter, in 1831. She died in 1868. Their children were Lydia F., deceased; Benjamin J., married Sarah Giles, and has five children; William H., deceased ; Jacob S .; and Irene E. (2) Elmira J. Kimball, of Haverhill, Mass.

Mr. Perkins is in possession of a comfortable prop- erty, the result of his industry and economy, and may be considered one of the representative farmers in his portion of the town.

JACOB CARLISLE.

To no man is the community more indebted than to the one who, by diligence, attention to business, and years of labor, has risen by his own inherent force from poverty to competency, and is acknowledged a " self-made" man. Perhaps no one is more entitled to this appellation in Exeter than Jacob Carlisle. Certainly no man has done more, during his more than forty years' residence in that place, to help the advancement of improvement there, and a brief sketch of his career may be perused with benefit.

Jacob Carlisle, son of James Carlisle and Sally Dushong, his wife, was a native of Waterborough, Me. James Carlisle was an esteemed citizen, a farmer, and for many years served with acceptability as justice of the peace. He and one Swett were the first two set- tlers of Waterborough, and his family experienced all the vicissitudes of life in the woods. He died when Jacob-who was third in a family of four children- was a lad of thirteen. For a year thereafter Jacob was an inmate of the family of Mr. Swett. He then went to the home-place; originally two hundred and fifty acres (but two-thirds had been sold for four hundred and four dollars), and commenced his nearly half a century of business life by taking his mother's : "thirds," the care of the family, and assuming a debt . { of one hundred and eighty dollars. He stayed here till he was eighteen, repaired the house (largely out

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

of repair), erected a barn thirty-six by forty, paid the indebtedness, and had one hundred and fifty dollars at interest. This was a great achievement for a youth no older than he, and was the talk of the country- side. Young Carlisle had a vigorous and active tem- perament, and labored more days and hours than many men would do. When but sixteen be went into the woods, taking two men with him, whom he hired at two shillings per day, cash (a wonderful thing in those times of almost universal barter), and made a kiln, and burned three thousand six hundred bushels of charcoal, personally attending to the labor for sixteen consecutive days and nights without once going out of the woods. This narration gives the key to the success of Mr. Carlisle's whole business life.

After leaving the farm he went to Lowell, Mass., and engaged for one season as boatman on the Essex Canal. The next year he engaged with the same man for another season, but the boat not being ready, he went to Exeter, N. H., to work on a railroad until needed. This was in May, 1840. He did not return to Lowell, for he soon formed a partnership with Hosler Shedd, a stone-mason. From this time to the present Mr. Carlisle has been a resident of Exeter. From time to time, as his earnings accumulated, he invested in real estate, and has since dealt quite largely in it. This copartnership did not last but a few months, and Mr. Carlisle continued the business alone for many years, employing at times as many as twenty men, winning a high reputation for honesty of work and promptness of execution. He afterwards began to move buildings, was very successful, and even yet is called upon to perform a difficult job. To employ the teams used in this business during the winter season, he commenced buying wood lots and clearing them of their lumber and firewood. He soon was extensively, for those days, engaged in this busi- ness, being the leading operator in this line. It never made any difference to him whether he was bound by a written contract or verbal agreement, his word was kept and his agreement met, even at pecuniary loss. A characteristic instance occurred in his wood eon- tracts with the Boston and Maine Railroad. About 1860 he verbally agreed to deliver a thousand cords of wood at a defined price. Wood advanced a dollar on a cord, but Mr. Carlisle carried out his agreement, and by so doing lost the increase, one thousand dol- lars, in price. The next year, on same contract, the price increased five hundred dollars on the whole amount, and it was again filled. This keeping his word at a great loss gave him the confidence of the company, and for several years he could deliver wood when none else could, and has taken contracts for two thousand five hundred cords in one year.

This firm soon changed to Steele & Carlisle, and on completion of the Carlisle business block, built by Mr. Carlisle, in 1875, removed to the store now occu- pied by its successors, J. Carlisle & Son. In 1869 or 1870, Mr. Carlisle engaged in the foundry business with his brother James, and when, on the burning of the building ten months after this, the foundry was rebuilt by the "Exeter Building Company," Jacob took the business, and continued it until 1881, when he disposed of it to Lorenzo Ely.

Mr. Carlisle has personally superintended his busi- ness, and is regarded as a sagacious and reliable prac- tical man, whose advice is sought often and carefully considered by many shrewd and successful men. He is frank and outspoken, and goes toward his mark in a straightforward, practical way, successful generally in his projects, and always keeping his money moving where it benefits the community as well as himself. He has never invested in bank stocks or government bonds, and is probably much higher taxed than many of greater wealth. He was from the organization of the party a Republican, has been collector three years, selectman two years, and member of the State Legis- lature from Exeter for two years.

In 1843 he married Mary O., daughter of William and Olivia (Steele) Colcord, of Exeter. They have eight children now living,-James W. (of firm of J. Carlisle & Son), Josephine (Mrs. Woodbury Berry), George E., Cora (Mrs. Dudley Burpee), Walter S., Eva, Etta, and Jacob.

The career of Mr. Carlisle presents a valuable les- son to the poor but ambitious boy, starting as he did with nothing but willing hands, a stout heart, and a determination to succeed, and by industry, foresight, and integrity accumulating a handsome property and an independent position among men.

JOSEPH T. PORTER.

Joseph Thyng Porter, son of Dudley and Lydia (Swasey) Thyng, was born in Exeter, N. H., Feb. 14, 1815. His father was a blacksmith, working many years at that trade, and dying at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. Young Joseph was educated at Phillips' Exeter Academy, and was a fellow-student of Benjamin F. Butler. IIe commenced the active business of life as clerk in the hardware-store of John Gardner & Son, where, by attention to business and diligence, he remained seven years. About this time (1838), by an act of Legislature, he added the name of Porter to that of Thyng. He then went to George- town, Ky., to enter the employ of Hatch & Miller as clerk in their mercantile establishment in that place. After discharging these duties with faithfulness for about two years he returned to Exeter, and in March, 1841, engaged in business for himself as grocer. His brother Samuel became associated in 1842, and the business was conducted under firm-name of Porter &

For about ten years he carried on the grocery busi- ness in Exeter. He began the manufacture of tin- ware and dealing in stoves about 1865 (in the build- ing on Water Street since occupied by Porter & Thyng), with one Skillings, as Carlisle & Skillings. Thyng until the death of Mr. Porter, Jan. 10, 1881,

J. J. Portu

John F. Moses

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and continued in the same building where started until 1879, ranking among the oldest business houses of Exeter.

Mr. Porter was a careful, shrewd, conservative man of business, energetic withal, and with a strong hon- esty and honor that always forbade his stooping to a mean action. For nearly half a century he walked daily the streets of his native village and mingled with its people in social and business relations, and never did malice or suspicion whisper aught against his integrity. He was truly an honest man, and the vacuum caused by his loss cannot be filled by another. Possessing rare intelligence, capacity for and knowl- edge of business, he was for many years intrusted with various official positions, and in each position his judgment was accepted. As selectman of his town during the dark days of the great Rebellion, he dis- charged the duties of that very difficult position to the satisfaction of his townsmen, and was elected again and again. He was town clerk seven years, and represented Exeter in the State Legislature two years, and was faithful in the discharge of those duties.

In public and private life he was modest and unas- suming in his manners, courteous and gentlemanly in his demeanor, and attached to his friends. He was firm and unflinching in the discharge of duty, ener- getic and indignant against all appearance of chica- nery or fraud. Honest himself, he could not endure deception in others.

Mr. Porter married (I) in 1843, Abby P., daughter of Josiah Fogg, of Exeter. She died in 1861, leaving one daughter, Ella (Mrs. Hazen Churchill), whose only son bears his grandsire's name, "Joseph Porter ;" (2) Dec. 26, 1861, Anna M., daughter of James J. and Nancy P. Wiggin, of an okl and honored New Hampshire family.

Never possessed of a strong physical nature, Mr. Porter yet carried a pleasant philosophy of life through many months of illness, and when he died his family lost a kind and tender husband, a loving and indulgent father, and the community one of its worthy citizens.

His widow and daughter reside in the village of Exeter, and, like the lamented husband and father, enjoy a warm place in the hearts of a large circle of friends.

JOHN F. MOSES.

John F. Moses was born in Exeter, N. H., Sept. 10, 1792. He was second son of Theodore Moses, whose residence in Exeter dates back to 1776. As a young man he is known to have been industrious, early en- gaging in the manufacture of hats, which he continued many years. The war of 1812 found him just stepping into manhood; his name was enrolled as a volunteer, and for a short time he performed military service in Portsmouth. Dec. 27, 1815, he was united in marriage to Mary S. Pearson, a woman of rare worth, who died

Aug. 10, 1844. By this marriage there were eight children, of whom two sons and three daughters sur- vived their father. ITis second wife was Abby C. Boyd, a faithful helpmeet for him in his declining years. She ontlived him but a few months, leaving one daughter and two sons. The home of this family was a centre of happiness, where the sceptre of rale was love and not fear, and where God was remembered and his word revered. As a citizen, Mr. Moses early won, and ever held, a high place in the estimation of the community. He took a lively interest in every- thing that promoted the welfare of the people,-in education, in morals, in good government, in the care of criminals, and in religious culture. He was broad " in his sympathies, and his influence extended beyond his own town or county. For three successive years, 1849-5I, he represented Exeter in the State Legis- lature. Engaged for many years in the wool business he was quite successful, and was well known and highly respected in business circles as a man of ster- ling integrity.

But it is as a representative Christian that Deacon Moses principally appears in this historical work. He was early identified with the First Baptist Church of Exeter, and for more than sixty-seven years was a faithful and a consistent member. During sixty-two years he served the church as a deacon, and his dea- conate was after the pattern presented by Paul. For nearly fifty years he was superintendent of the Sun- day-school, a work in which he took special delight. His love for children was always manifest. Previous to the formation of a school in his own church-as early as 1818-he assisted in forming one on a union plan, and gave to it years of patient toil. Deacon Moses was a man of deep research and intelligent reason. lle was a genuine Christian, the result of close study of the Scriptures and clear convictions of their truth and belief in their teachings. He could give a reason for the hope that was in him. He was a believer of the Pauline stamp, and hence possessed that firmness and solidity of character which made him a pillar of strength in the church. He could be relied on every day in the year .. He was a man of prayer. That was a true remark made at his funeral, " The easiest thing in the world for Deacon Moses to do was to get down on his knees and pray," and his prayers were unusually appropriate wherever offered.

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History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 70

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