USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Salem > History of Salem, N.H. > Part 35
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434
HISTORY OF SALEM.
and went to Washington, D. C., to learn the hotel business. En- gaged himself as steward at the St. James Hotel and held that position for two years, when he leased a restaurant in the then new Masonic Temple and did a thriving business until the sum- mer of 1873. At that time he leased the St. James Hotel, refitted and refurnished it throughout and opened it on the European plan on the 2d of November, the same year, and has been the proprietor ever since. In 1890 Mr. Woodbury conceived the idea of putting a first-class line of steamboats on the Potomac River and through his efforts and those of his bosom friend, Mr. John Callahan, who was a steamboat constructor and transpor- tation man, accomplished what Mr. Woodbury is very proud of, having now six big staunch steamboats and doing a fine business between Washington, Old Point Comfort, Norfolk and Newport News, Va.
Mr. Woodbury is president of the company. In 1895 he pur- chased the old homestead where he was born, repaired the build- ing and built a cottage by the lake where he spends his summers. He has taken a great interest in improving his land, building stone fences, etc., and in connection with Mr. Edward F. Searles and Mr. C. H. Tenney, in macadamizing the Turnpike from the Massachusetts line to Windham line, N. H. He has recently re- paired the First Baptist Church in Salem in memory of his father and mother, who were some of the first who established the church. His father, Israel Woodbury, was a well-known and respected citizen of Salem, a mason by trade and later a con- tractor and builder, having built the first block on Essex Street, Lawrence, known as Merchants' Row, for Mr. David Gleason of Methuen, Mass. He died in 1879, aged 73 years. His widow, Eliza, survived him until 1901, when she passed away at the age of ninety, known far and near as one of the sweetest and dearest of souls, loved and respected by all.
Mr. Levi Woodbury is the eldest of five children, having two sisters and two brothers. His eldest sister, Mary, married Mr. Lewis Saunders of Salem and died in 1862; his brother, Charles O. Woodbury, who lives in Washington and is connected with the St. James Hotel, has two children, a son and daughter; his brother, Milton G., is with him in Washington, as is also his
435
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.
sister, Mrs. A. C. Foster. Mr. Woodbury is a Master Mason, still holding true to his old lodge the St. Mark, No. 44, of Derry, New Hampshire, a Knights Templar, a Shriner, and also belongs to the Scottish Rite. Mr. Woodbury has been a director in the Central National Bank of Washington for twenty years, is a charter member of the Board of Trade, and has always taken a keen interest in the improvements of the national capital.
GEORGE C. GORDON, son of Earl C., was born May 27, 1835, in Salem, where he has held his residence ever since, with the exception of the past ten years of temporary residence in Boston. He enlisted in Company K of the Fifteenth Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers, in September, 1862, and remained in the service until the close of the war. He was a member of the board of selectmen for the three years following, '65-'68, and representative in 1876-77. In 1880 he was appointed inspector of customs at the port of Boston, a position which he still holds.
LESTER WALLACE HALL, the youngest son of Prescott C. and Mary A. (McCurdy) Hall, was born in Boston, Mass., September 7, 1874. He attended the public schools in Boston, graduating from the English High School. He was graduated from Boston University with the degree of bachelor of laws in 1897, and subsequently admitted to the Suffolk bar and also to the New Hampshire bar. His law practice began in the office of Senator W. W. Towle of Boston. Since that time he has been in practice in Boston and Salem. In politics he is a Democrat, being a member of the State Democratic Committee. He is also a member of Spicket Lodge, No. 85, of Freemasons.
HOWARD LEE GORDON, son of George C. and Hannah M. (Woodbury) Gordon, was born in Salem, August 3, 1872. He is a life-long resident of the town, having been engaged in the in- surance and real estate business. He is one of the charter mem- bers of the Board of Trade. In 1903-04 he represented the town in the State Legislature. He married Laura L. Smith of Salem, December 6, 1893, to whom two children, Earl and Doro- thy, have been born. Mr. Gordon's office is in the Rockingham Hotel building, of which he is one of the owners.
GEORGE WOODBURY was born February 1, 1819, of Asa and Sarah (Thom) Woodbury. He received his education at
436
HISTORY OF SALEM.
South Newmarket Academy. Most of his life was passed in the hotel business and farming. He married Mary K. Emerson, Oc- tober 7, 1841. Their only child, Charles S., lived only about a year. In 1891 they celebrated their golden wedding. Both were loyal workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church, he being one of its founders. She died October 11, 1897, leaving him alone for nearly eight years. His death came May 31, 1905, in his eighty-seventh year.
DANIEL TAYLOR, son of Joseph and Hannah (Currier) Taylor, was born in the north part of the town on February 11, 1815. His life was spent largely in the lumber business and farming. For a time he made a specialty of getting out ship timber, sawing the logs at Hale's mill, so called, near the Atkin- son-Salem line. On October 7, 1841, he married Ruth M. Duston, a descendant of Hannah Duston of Indian fame. They had two sons, Joseph Hiram and Levi W., the former of whom is not now living. Mr. Taylor was a good business man, possessed of ex- cellent judgment and exhibiting to a marked degree the sterling traits of character of his ancestors. During his lifetime his in- dustry and frugality enabled him to accumulate a considerable property. He died April 20, 1901, at the advanced age of eighty-six years.
JOHN REDDINGTON WHEELER, son of Benjamin and Dorcas (Rowell) Wheeler, was born in Goffstown, January 17, 1812, but came to Salem in his infancy. Early in life he learned the shoemaker's trade, in which he attained the proficiency which gave him his later success as a manufacturer. This business he followed for more than forty years. In 1864 he took his son, Benj. R., as a partner in the business. They built the first brick factory which stood on the present site of the T. M. Russ estab- lishment. Here they did a large business, having previously be- come well established in the wooden shop on the same site.
Mr. Wheeler married on July 4, 1836, Susan Dix of Reading, Mass. Three children, all now living in Salem, were born to them, Mrs. Lizzie D. Langley, Benj. R., and Mrs. Susan E. Free- man. His home life exemplified the same high principles that dominated his public works. He was a leader in the First M. E. Church, and also a member of Spicket Lodge of Masons.
0
RESIDENCE OF LEVI WOODBURY. (M 472)
437
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.
In political and civil matters he had strong opinions, always adhering rigidly to right and justice. He served the town in many capacities, as selectman, postmaster, representative, and in many other town offices. His interest was strong in the old militia, in which he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. The disbanding of the troops was the only obstacle to his further advancement. He retained his mental and physical vigor to the last, quitting his toils August 24, 1896, aged eighty-four years.
OLIVER GORDON WOODBURY, son of Nathaniel and Abi- gail (Gordon) Woodbury, was born in Salem, December 26, 1820. He worked his way through Atkinson Academy, and then through West Newton Academy, showing the great pluck which he pos- sessed. He then taught school, being later very successful as one of the teachers in Newton High School, and afterwards in a seminary. One of the greatest interests of his life was the advo- cation of temperance. He was the means of inaugurating much of the temperance agitation of the middle of the last century. On June 2, 1846, he married Mary Augusta Kingsbury of Need- ham, Mass., of whom his eleven children, five daughters and six sons, were born.
After twenty-five years of teaching, Mr. Woodbury entered the Universalist ministry, preaching for a like period of time. Among his stations were Barnstable, Mass., Hartland, Vt., and Westmoreland and Chesterfield, N. H. During this time he was also superintendent of schools in Hartland and Chesterfield. He has also held that position in his native town. He died in Salem, December 14, 1897, nearly seventy-seven years old.
EDWIN G. CATE, son of William H. and Mary M. (Smith) Cate, was born in Meriden, N. H., February 28, 1860. He was reared in that town, attended the public schools, and was after- ward sent to New Hampton Institute to finish his education. On June 10, 1890, he was married to Miss Ivanette Shaw. They remained at Meriden until 1902, when they came to Salem and bought the farm known as the Thomas Duston place, in North Salem. Mr. Cate is by trade a carwright, having been employed for some years by the Boston & Maine Railroad. This he has abandoned, however, finding the care of his farm more conducive to health than was his former work. He was last March elected a member of the selectmen, which office he now holds.
438
HISTORY OF SALEM.
JOHN WOODBURY was born on the old family homestead known as the Capt. Richard Woodbury place, November 25, 1835, of Richard and Betsey (Emerson) Woodbury. Most of his life was spent here in the farming occupation. On May 20, 1865, he married Hannah J. Kimball. Their two sons, Charles T. and Chester T., are graduates of Dartmouth College, the former in the class of 1895 and the latter in 1907. Charles is now principal of the high school in Fitchburg. Mr. Woodbury was a firm adherent to truth and justice, ever ready to support the cause of right irrespective of party. He died January 8, 1898.
ISAAC THOM was born in December, 1813, at the old home- stead at Thom's Corner. He was the son of Joseph and Eliza- beth (Cross) Thom. In his occupation as a farmer he was uni- formly successful, combining good judgment with untiring in- dustry. He married, March 30, 1842, Lois A. Whittier, who lived five years longer than he, dying in 1897. He had been a charter member of the First M. E. Society, and later when the Pleasant Street organization was instituted he was one of the founders. He was overseer of the poor at the time the new buildings at the town farm were erected, also tax collector the same year, 1857. His only lodge affiliation was with the Good Templars when they existed here. Mr. Thom died April 14, 1892, at the age of seventy-eight years.
FRANK DALE DAVIS was born in Boston, Mass., May 21, 1859, of Thomas P. and Sarah F. (Atwood) Davis. After grad- uation from the old Brimmer school he entered the employ of the Nashua Iron and Steel Co., at their Boston office. In 1882, owing to failing health, he was advised to quit the work of the office and seek a country location. In August of that year he purchased of Loren E. Bailey the farm where he now resides. He was in the employ of P. C. Hall & Son, shoe manufacturers, from 1884 until they sold to Crain, Hall & Co., still continuing in his former position. Subsequently he was employed by J. E. Farrar & Co., and E. Roswell, both shoe firms, then for three years with Alfred E. Goodwin, the contractor, four and one-half years in the grocery store of J. C. Carey, and for the past nine years in the sole leather department of F. P. Woodbury & Co.'s shoe factory.
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JAMES AYER RESIDENCE. (M 243)
LOOKING TOWARD POINT A. (M 233)
-
439
.
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.
In 1881 he married Miss Luella E. Welch of Lowell. They have two daughters: Sarah Josephen, who was graduated from Methuen High School in 1902 and married, in 1906, Prof. John William Crowell, class of 1901, Dartmouth College; Marion Pauline, also a graduate of Methuen High School in the class of 1907.
Mr. Davis is a Republican, and has held many offices in town. When the Australian ballot was first introduced he was elected moderator and served for eight years. In 1906 he again received the nomination, by both parties, and was elected. He has been selectman, member of the school board and school district clerk both before and after the adoption of the town district system. He was formerly a Congregationalist, but owing to the distance of the church from his home, he united in 1892 with the First Baptist Church at Salem Depot, of which he has been one of the most active members. He has held the offices of chorister, church clerk and superintendent of Sunday school. He is a member of Granite Colony, U. O. P. F., and of Canobie Lodge, N. E. O. P.
VLADIMIR NICHOLAS SIKORSKY, the son of a Russian nobleman, was born at Kieff, June 14, 1867. Here he grad- uated from the gymnasium (corresponding to our high school) in 1889, and in January, 1890, entered the Imperial University at Moscow, from the medical college of which he was graduated October 18, 1895, with the degree of M. D. For the next two years he took a special course in France and Germany, coming to this country about ten years ago. Here he was married in Manchester, N. H., November 20, 1897, to Maria Kuezeh-Igna- tieff of Russia. They have two daughters, Lucy Nina, born Jan- uary 13, 1899, and Jeanette Vera, born February 9, 1901. They have resided in Salem six years.
Dr. Sikorsky is a member of the New Hampshire Medical Society, American Medical Association, Gynæcological Society of Boston, and associate physician and surgeon at Elliot Hospital at Manchester. He is medical examiner for three insurance com- panies, the New York Mutual, Connecticut Mutual and John Hancock. He is a member of Salem Grange, Granite Colony, U. O. P. F., and also a thirty-second degree Mason, Knight Tem-
440
HISTORY OF SALEM.
plar of St. George's Commandery, and Noble of the Mystic Shrine of North America, at Concord, N. H.
PRESCOTT COBURN HALL was born in Salem, March 16, 1834, of Alvah and Nancy (Coburn) Hall. He was educated in the Salem schools and Tilton Seminary. At the age of eighteen he entered upon his business career as a clerk in a store in Hav- erhill. After some five years he returned to Salem in 1856 and began in a small way the manufacture of shoes at the Depot. His unusual success induced him to remain in the business, which he constantly enlarged until 1888, when he sold out. At the time of his retirement he owned four large factories, one each in Salem, Natick, Lynn, and Topsfield, employing about 1,500 hands. His business at the Depot did much to build up this village, and many of the residences here were built by him, either directly or indirectly.
In 1859 Mr. Hall married Mary Ann McCurdy, daughter of Daniel McCurdy of Dunbarton, N. H. Of their union four sons were born, Clarence P., Arthur C., Clifton S., and Lester Wal- lace. In 1863 he built the residence at the corner of Main and Pleasant streets, where the family have since resided. He died June 9, 1906.
FRED C. BUXTON, son of Joseph and Rhoda Ann (Kimball) Buxton, was born in Salem, June 12, 1859. His education was received at Atkinson Academy and Pinkerton Academy in Derry. He has been prominent in affairs of the town, though not always seeking office. When only twenty-seven years of age he was elected selectman. He is now serving his third term as post- master, having held the position more than sixteen years. For the same length of time he has been agent for the American Express Company, and was treasurer of the Salem Water Com- pany from its organization. For many years he has been estab- lished at the Depot in the newspaper, periodical and stationery trade. Mr. Buxton is prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of the Masons, Odd Fellows, Pilgrim Fathers, and Grange. He married Etta S. Tilton, November 27, 1887. They have one son, Harold T., born February 22, 1896.
MATTHEW H. TAYLOR, one of the substantial residents of Salem, was born in Derry, N. H., November 29, 1829. He is the
KIMBALL FOUR GENERATIONS. Charles Allen. Charles Franklin, Charles Lester. Charles. 1
441
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.
son of Matthew and Louisa (Paul) Taylor, both natives of Derry. He is a direct descendant of Matthew Taylor, who, with his wife, Janet, came from Londonderry, Ireland, and settled in London- derry (now that part of Derry, N. H., known as Derry Dock) in 1722. From Matthew the descent comes through William, Adam, Matthew to Matthew H. His father, Matthew, a mason by trade, married in 1828. In 1846 they moved to Salem, N. H., where he died in August, 1877. His mother, Louisa Paul, daughter of Matthew and Mary (Morrison) Paul, lived in Salem until 1891, when she went to Haverhill, Mass., where she died in November, 1901, at the advanced age of ninety-five years and five months. She was a descendant of the Paul and Morrison families.
Matthew H. Taylor has resided in Salem since 1846. As he has always been in active business life under the harsh discipline of experience, his education has been one of progress. When about twenty-five years of age he started in a mercantile business at North Salem. He continued in this for several years; then, in company with Richard Taylor and Charles Austin, forming the firm of Taylor, Austin & Co., engaged in the manufacture of flannels at North Salem. After a short time Richard Taylor withdrew and the business continued under the name of Austin & Taylor. Affairs were conducted very successfully for seven years, when the mill was totally destroyed by fire. Mr. Taylor bought Mr. Austin's interest and rebuilt the mill, when it was again totally destroyed by fire in October, 1878. For a number of years Mr. Taylor was engaged in the wood and lumber busi- ness. In September, 1884, he started a grocery and provision store with three of his sons, in Lawrence, Mass., under the name of Taylor & Co.
Mr. Taylor has filled many positions of public trust and re- sponsibility. He has served four years as selectman, during two of which he was chairman of the board. He represented the town in the State Legislature of 1867-68 and of 1878-79. In 1871 and 1872 he served as state senator from the second district, and was town moderator for fifteen years. He was a member of the school board for eleven years, and for four years chairman of the board. In politics he is a Republican. Since 1854 he has been identified with the Masonic order at Haverhill, Mass.
442
HISTORY OF SALEM.
Mr. Taylor married Ellen, daughter of John Taylor, a woolen manufacturer of Salem. She was born in Lynnfield, Mass., Jan- uary 20, 1832. They have had twelve children, all born in Salem on the old homestead-Ellen Louisa, born September 7, 1854, married, October 4, 1877, Levi W. Taylor of Salem, one daughter, Mabel, resides in Methuen, Mass .; John Harvey, born July 20, 1856, married, December 23, 1880, Emma J. Adams of Derry, resides in Lawrence, Mass., overseer for Lawrence Gas Co .; Thomas Matthew, born September 6, 1857, married, Feb- uary 9, 1892, Josephine L. Beeley of Lawrence, one daughter, Vivian, resides in Lawrence, Mass., meat and provision dealer ; Mary Ann, born August 27, 1859, married, November 30, 1887, John S. Crosby of Methuen, resides in North Andover, carpen- ter; Charles Martin, born November 29, 1860, married, Feb- ruary 5, 1890, Sarah J. Blood of Derry, children, Marion F., Hazel, Charles M., Jr. Marion died at the age of four years ; re- sides in Lawrence, Mass., engaged in the wholesale and retail grocery business; George Webster, born January 6, 1863, mar- ried, April 11, 1889, Laura M. Eaton of Seabrook, resided in North Salem, engaged in the grocery business, died December 31, 1898; Henry Paul, born October 29, 1864, married, August 8, 1900, Jennie A. Palmer of Derry, resides in North Salem, en- gaged in the grocery business and everything usually found in a first-class country store; Cora Frances, born September 16, 1866, resides in Methuen, teacher in Boston; Laura Etta, born Feb- ruary 3, 1869, married, October 22, 1902, George E. Hussey of Andover, resides in Andover, Mass., assistant superintendent of public works, died April 22, 1907; Eva Belle, born January 3, 1872, married, March 10, 1894, Harry B. Hamilton of Boston, children, Mildred H., Leon B., resides in Lawrence, Mass .; Effie Gertrude, born January 29, 1875, married, July 5, 1905, Edgar Gilbert of Methuen, have one daughter, Maud; Fred Lee, born April 4, 1878, resides in Methuen, is manager for his brother, C. M. Taylor, in his Broadway grocery store.
CHARLES KIMBALL; the four generations were all born in Salem, on the old homestead farm on Pleasant Street; Charles, April 18, 1822; Charles F., March 15, 1853; Charles A., July 17, 1876, and Charles L., August 6, 1902. They have been success-
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.
ful farmers, keeping well abreast of the times. In affairs of the town they have always manifested a keen interest. Charles was identified with the militia, being an officer. Charles F. and Charles A. were both educated at Tilton Seminary. They have been in the grain business since 1901. Two years ago they erected the large grain elevator and storehouse near the Depot, where the business has been largely increased.
Charles F. was a member of the school board for several years, collector of taxes, and a member of the committee to purchase the Salem water works. He is a member of the Methodist Church.
Charles A. and his grandfather have both served the town as selectmen, the former being a member of the present board.
THOMAS DUSTON was born in Salem, August 1, 1841. He was a descendant of Thomas and Hannah (Emerson) Duston, prominent in the Indian troubles in Haverhill, his father being Obadiah, and his mother Ann (Whitaker) Duston. He was educated at Atkinson Academy and retained throughout his life a fondness for books and general reading. He was engaged in the manufacture of stockings, mittens and gloves, as well as fine yarn, operating in his mill near his home in North Salem. He was also interested in farming and lumber, and for a time in the undertaking business. In 1866, on January 25, he married Agusta M. Griffin, who still resides in Hampstead where she has been for about a year. Mr. Duston was a Democrat, serving as selectman, tax collector and representative. He served as postmaster at North Salem from his appointment in 1893 until his death. As a member of Masonic and Grange lodges he was very enthusiastic, having served as chaplain and treasurer in the latter organization. He was president of the Squamscot Savings Bank at Exeter. His death occurred September 1, 1894.
JAMES EWINS, son of James and Mary (Bean) Ewins, was born in Salem, N. H., on November 25, 1860. His attention was early in life turned to the business of the store, as his grand- father and father preceded him in the grocery business in which he is now established. With the single exception of the five years from 1878 to '83, during which time N. G. Abbott con- ducted this store, it has been in the family since his grandfather,
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HISTORY OF SALEM.
who was here fifty-three years. In 1887, on March 9, he married Mary F. Bodwell, by whom his daughter, Dorothy, was born. Mrs. Ewins died in 1890. In 1894 he married Ida E. Willey of Lawrence. He has been town clerk since 1893, with the ex- ception of one year, and was in the Legislature in 1897-98. He is a member of Spicket Lodge of Masons.
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ELIPHALET COBURN RESIDENCE. (M 574)
LEVI W. TAYLOR.
Table I, Town Records:
Births.
Date of Birth.
Given Name of Child.
Father's Name.
Mother's Maiden Name.
Oct. 9,1891 Abbott, Arthur H.
Daniel A.
Hattie F. Austin
Dec. 26, 1864
Daniel A.
Nathan G.
Martha Ellen (Ayer)
Aug. 30, 1899
Gladys B.
Daniel A.
Hattie F. Austin
Mar. 7, 1862
James N.
Samuel K.
Lucretia
Feb. 13, 1829 Adams, Amos
Edmund
Elisabeth
July 10, 1824
Benjamin
Dec. 26, 1854
.. Charles Willard
Tristram C. Prudence B. (Foster)
Oct. 23, 1874
Clarence F.
66
Edmund
Elisabeth
July 25, 1858
Edwin Augustus
Tristram C. Prudence B. (Foster)
Jan. 15, 1815 60
Eliza
Edmund
Elisabeth
Oct. 19, 1862
Frank E.
Tristram C. Prudence B. (Foster)
Feb. 24, 1809
Hannah T.
Edmund
Elisabeth
Dec. 19, 1810
John K.
July 8,1817
Margaret
..
Oct.
5,1832
Tristram Currier
Barzilla
Susan Currier
Aug. 12, 1899
Willard James F.
John
Mariah
Jan. 26, 1860
(Twins) F.
Tristram C. Prudence B. (Foster)
Feb. 20, 1891
Charles A.
Alice E. Merrill
Jan. 25, 1872
Alburtus, George
C. M.
Lucy
Aug. 12, 1799
Anna
David
Jemima
Nov. 6, 1769
David
John
Anna
Dec. 27, 1801
60
Eva Louise
Charles
Eva L. Kempton
Aug. 28, 1809
Harriet Kimball
David
Jemima
May 5,1806
Hiram
John
Rachel
Dec. 6,1780
John
Anna
Dec. 5,1803
66
T. Gilman
David
Jemima
Oct. 28, 1771
Lydia
John
Anna
May 2,1801
=
Rachel
Mar. 17, 1751
Mary
David
Susanna
Mar. 6, 1804
Boys
Jemima
Oct. 17, 1782
Ruth
John
Anna
June 15,? 1807
Samuel B.
Rachel
April 22, 1778
Sarah
Anna
May 16, 1807
Rachel
Dec. 20, 1773
Susanna
Anna
Jan. 26, 1900
Walter Norris
Fred W.
Ida B. Norris
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