USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > History of Strafford County, New Hampshire and representative citizens > Part 50
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himself with the luscious fruit. Mrs. Wallingford did not long watch his slumber, but sped carefully but swiftly homeward, being anxious only to place as great a distance between herself and the sleeping beast as possible in the shortest space of time.
A somewhat amusing story used to be related by a lady, who was one of Milton's early settlers, in which her husband was mistaken for a bear, and somewhat disturbed the equilibrium of a young man "who would a-wooing go." It appears that the husband of this lady was a very industrious man, as indeed most of the early settlers were, and was always up betimes in the morn- ing and busy with his daily labors.
The young man alluded to had been visiting his sweetheart in the neigh- borhood one evening, and no doubt the happy hours had fled much more rap- idly than he took note of, so that the head of the family had already left his bed and was busy killing weeds in his cornfield before the over-zealous lover had mounted his good horse for his homeward ride.
As he approached the good farmer's cornfield he heard a rustling of the cornstalks. Curbing his hungry steed and standing crect in the stirrups of his saddle, he discovered what he felt sure was a big, black bear gathering his breakfast of sweet, juicy corn. A capital idea at once seized his brain: "I will call the farmer and we will catch that bear." Thus thinking and happy in the thought, he carefully wended his way to the farmhouse door. Gently tapping on the wide panel his call was answered by the appearance of the farmer's good wife, much to the young man's surprise. However, recover- ing his composure, he said: "Madam, there is a big, black bear in your corn- field and I have called to get your husband to help me capture him." The good housewife put on a winning smile and replied: "Oh, that animal is already captured : that is my husband killing weeds." They young man blushed to the top of his ears. Mentally he wished there was someone near to kick him for being such a fool, but bidding her good morning he mounted his horse and rode away, happy in the thought that he had escaped a fierce fight with a big bear.
The bears that came down hungry from Middleton mountains were always fond of pig pork. They were shrewd fellows and knew just where to go when they wanted an early breakfast. Caleb Wakeman was one of the most thrifty and prudent of the nineteenth century Milton farmers. He got wise to the habits and tricks of those bears. He had a pen of fine pigs; he built a high fence of logs around that pen, and felt sure it was bear-proof. Notwithstand- ing this precaution he was aroused from a sound slumber one night by a tremendous squealing in his pig-pen. Hastily donning his out-door garments he rushed to the garrison of his porcine friends. He found conditions some-
DAM ON THE COCHECO RIVER, DOVER, N. H.
CITY HALL, DOVER, N. H.
U. S. POST OFFICE, DOVER, N. II.
MASONIC TEMPLE, DOVER, N. H.
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what mixed and quite serious. The Middleton bruin had selected the fattest pig of the lot for his breakfast and was having a difficult job to get him over that log fence. Mr. Wakeham at once took a hand in the fight, but the big bear held his grip, mounted on the top of the fence, and in spite of all the farmer could do, old Bruin escaped, carrying the pig to his mountain den. where Mr. and Madam Bruin and all the cubs had a fine breakfast while Mr. Wakeman was making improvements on his log fence around the pig pen.
HENRY R. PARKER, M. D.
Representative Citizens
HENRY R. PARKER, M. D., formerly one of Dover's best known and most highly honored citizens, who passed from life's stage, December 29th, 1909. when in his 74th year, came of a long line of sterling New England ancestry, whose virtues were brightly reflected in his own life and character. The history of the family has been traced back in England to early in the fifteenth century, as the records show that a certain William Parker died chamberlain to the King (Henry VI) in 1423, and that this William "had an excessive pedigree." At subsequent periods many of the Parkers were prominent in church or state affairs. Sir John Parker, second son of the William above mentioned, was in 1470 canon of the church of Covingham. Sir John's eldest son, Matthew, in 1504 was master of Beuc College, Cam- bridge. His son Matthew was archbishop of Canterbury in 1564. The latter's eldest son, John, was a captain of the King's guard in 1600. Henry, son of the above mentioned John, was of the Queen's household in 1624. Matthew, another son of John, was custodian of Stoke Clane College in Suf- folk. John (2), son of John (1), was director of the Suffolk corporations. Stanley Hugh, son of John (2), for bravery in war, was made baron in 1681. Hugh (2), son of Hugh (1), was commander of the Channel fleet in 1720. Sir Hyde Parker, son of Hugh (2), was a gentleman of prominence; his son, Sir Hyde (2), commander of the British fleet in the East Indies, was, with his vessel and all his crew, lost at sea in 1768. Sir Hyde Parker (3) dis- tinguished himself on the English side in the American revolution in 1782. Sir William Parker (2) was a British admiral in 1810; and his son, Sir Wil- liam (3) received a baroncy in 1844, was made admiral of the blue in 1851, admiral of the white in 1853, and admiral of the red in 1858, and rear- admiral of the United Kingdom in 1862. He died in 1866.
From this family sprang the Parkers of America. Six male scions of this old English family came to New England during the 17th century and settled promiscuously about Massachusetts Bay. At the surrender of Corn- wallis at Yorktown two brothers by the name of Parker remained in this country, and later, on the captured "Frolic" another Parker remained in
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America. The former six are the founders of the registered Parker families in this country.
Coming to the genealogical line of the subject of this sketch it appears that William Parker, an artisan, second son of Hugh Parker, an alderman of London in 1681, "sailed in ye ship Hellen for the wilds of America in ye springe of 1696," where he became the father of a large family.
The record shows that William Parker, a tanner, came over from England in the latter part of the 17th century and settled in Portsmouth, N. H. He married and had four children. That his eldest son, William became a law- yer, then a judge of note and record. The judge's fourth daughter, Lydia, married Samuel Hale of Portsmouth, whose son John Parker Hale, became the father of John P. Hale, United States senator from New Hampshire, and free soil candidate for President in 1852.
Matthew Stanley Parker, fourth son of Judge William Parker, was born in Portsmouth in 1749. In 1773 he married Ann Rust, daughter of Captain Henry Rust. Here is where the Parker and Rust families mingle. He re- moved to Wolfeboro, bought the most of Wolfboro Neck and built the first house on it. Later he moved to "Slab City" and operated lumber mills there. He was a promoter of Wolfeboro. He was the father of seven sons and one daughter.
Matthew Stanley Parker's fourth son was Henry Rust Parker. He was born at Wolfboro, February 6, 1728. He married Hannah, granddaughter of Col. Henry Rust. For a while he operated a hotel at Mink Brook. He was one of the founders of the Wolfeboro and Tuftonboro Academy, and died Monday, September 15, 1848. His children were John Tappan, Sam- uel Sewall and Matthew Stanley.
John Tappan Parker, son of the above mentioned, was born September 25, 1804 and died September 25, 1848, at the age of 44 years. He married Sally L. Seavey and they had three children, Eliza Frances, Ruth Ann and Henry Rust Parker. Eliza Frances, born July 30, 1826, married first Asa- Perkins and had children, Hartley, John and Asa. She married for her second husband, Clark Collins. Ruth Ann, born August 9, 1832, married Moses Thompson and had children, Roland, Charles and Nellie.
Henry Rust Parker, third child of John Tappan and Sally L. (Seavey) Parker, was born in Wolfeboro, N. H., January 24, 1836. He began his educa- tion in the public schools, where he usually stood near the head of his class. When but twelve years of age he had the misfortune to lose both of his parents, and was thereby thrown wholly upon his own resources. Realizing the need of a good education in order to insure his future, he worked with a persistent energy that was bound to win success. Before many years had passed he
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was a student in the Wolfeboro Academy, and later his name was enrolled among those of the noted instructors of that institution. While performing his duties as a teacher Mr. Parker devoted his free time to the study of medi- cine, for which he had a predilection. Afterwards he entered the medical department of Dartmouth College, from which he was graduated in 1866. He began the practice of medicine in his native town and continued there until 1881, when he came to Dover. Here he made rapid strides in his chosen profession until he occupied an assured position among the leading medical practitioners of this section of New England. He was examining surgeon for pensions in Strafford County under both the administrations of President Cleveland, he being president of the board. He was for several years one of the trustees of the estate of the late Hiram Barker of Farmington. He was a member of the Dover Medical Society, which he served as president ; a member of the New Hampshire Medical Society, and a member of the Strafford County Medical Society, of which he was president in 1891 and 1892. He was a member of the medical staff of the Wentworth Hospital. He also served as a member of the State Executive Committee of the Y. M. C. A. of New Hampshire and Vermont.
Dr. Parker was elected mayor of Dover by the Democrats in 1890, after the most exciting campaign in the city's history and the following year was re-elected, his period of service comprising the years 1891-2. He gave the city one of the best administrations on record, bringing about an era of re- form on financial lines. He was a 32d degree Mason, a past master of the Blue Lodge and a member of St. Paul's Commandery, K. T. He was one of the incorporators of the New Hampshire Genealogical Society, which he served for a while as vice president and president. He was a member of the Northam Colonists, the Society of Colonial Wars of New Hampshire and the Sons of the American Revolution. He was a member and vestryman of St. Thomas's Episcopal Church, and president of the Men's Club of that parish.
Dr. Parker was married, May 27, 1866, to Miss Ella M. Thompson, of Wolfboro, N. H., and by this union there were three children-Nathalie S., wife of George B. Harper, of Montreal, Canada, whose children are Helen Louise and John Tappan; Alberta T., wife of Harry P. Henderson, of Dover, N. H., who has two children-Maud C. and Ella P .; and Henry R. Parker, Jr., who died December 27, 1894, at the age of nineteen years.
Dr. Parker died December 29, 1909, after being sick about a week with pneumonia. As soon as the sad event was known, Mayor George J. Foster published the following announcement :
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TO THE PEOPLE OF DOVER
City of Dover, Mayor's Office, December 30, 1909.
Death has removed from our midst an honored citizen of Dover, one who has been identified with its progress and development, and who worthily filled the office of Chief Executive of our city during the years 1891 and 1892.
As a mark of respect to the late Dr. Henry Rust Parker, I earnestly re- quest that our merchants close their places of business during the progress of the funeral on Saturday, January 1, 1910, between the hours of 1:30 and 2:30 p. m.
GEORGE J. FOSTER, Mayor.
This request was generally respected, universal sympathy being felt and shown for the bereaved family. Dr. Parker was both an able and conscien- tious man. Devotion to duty was one of his chief characteristics; but he went beyond that in often accepting responsibilities involving onerous labor from which many would have sought to be excused. He had an attractive personality and made many warm friends, whose esteem he never forfeited. He had his reward in the approval of his own conscience, and he will long be held in affectionate remembrance by all who knew him.
HON. ARTHUR GILMAN WHITTEMORE, attorney-at-law, banker, and one of Dover's best known and most popular citizens, was born in Pem- broke, N. H., in July 26, 1856. His parents were Hon. Aaron and Ariannalı (Barstow ) Whittemore, and he is a descendant in the eighth generation of Thomas Whittemore, who came from Hitchin parish, Hertfordshire, Eng- land, and settled in Cambridge, Mass., in 1642. Mr. Whittemore's great- great-grandfather on the paternal side was Rev. Aaron Whittemore, the first settled pastor of the Congregational church in Pembroke ( formerly Sun- cook), who was a graduate of Harvard College in 1732 and was ordained pastor March 2, 1738. The great-grandfather, son of the above-mentioned, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The father and grandfather of the subject of this sketch were associate justices of the Court of Common Pleas for Merrimack county. On the maternal side Mr. Whittemore is a descendant of Elder William Brewster, one of the Mayflower pilgrims.
Arthur Gilman Whittemore was educated at Pembroke Academy and Harvard Law School, being admitted to the bar in March, 1879. For nine years he was associated in law practice with Judge C. W. Woodman, in Dover, the partnership continuing until the latter's death in 1888, since which time Mr. Whittemore has practiced alone. By strict application to his chosen profession he has gained an extensive and lucrative practice and with it the
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confidence and respect of the whole community in which he lives. He is attorney for and vice president of the Strafford Savings Bank, one of the largest and strongest savings banks in the state, and is also a director in the Strafford National Bank. When the Dover National Bank failed in 1895, Mr. Whittemore was appointed receiver, and although the defalcation of its late cashier exceeded the capital stock, Mr. Whittemore so successively liquidated the remaining assets as to pay the depositors in full, with interest and a substantial dividend to the stockholders.
At various times Mr. Whittemore has taken an active part in some of the more important public enterprises of Dover. In 1887, when the new water- works system was installed, he was elected one of the water commissioners and held that important office thirteen years, by tri-annual elections by the city councils. In the management of the business he always manifested good judgment in financing the great work and in its up-keep and extension.
At the November municipal election, in 1900, Mr. Whittemore was elected mayor, and re-elected in November, 1901, and also 1902, serving three years. He was installed in office on the first Wednesday in January, 1901. During his three years of service some of the most important improvements the city has undertaken were inaugurated. They were not easy jobs, but required a good deal of shrewd but honest management to bring about. Mayor Whitte- more had a quiet, yet forceful, business-like way of taking hold of and carry- ing forward any scheme, so that most of the citizens were astonished, as well as delighted, when they saw what he had actually accomplished.
During his first year in office he was the chief promoter in securing a dona- tion of $30,000 from Andrew Carnegie for the construction of a public library building. When the proposition was first mentioned to Mr. Carnegie he did not seem inclined to comply with the request, and interposed various objec- tions, all of which Mr. Whittemore shrewdly and successfully removed from the generous Scotchman's mind, and the gift was secured for the city. The trustees of the public library for the year 1902 in their annual report say : "The wide and animating beneficence of Andrew Carnegie has not overlooked Dover. We have touched the edge of one of his golden showers. Plans are maturing for a new library building. *
* * A noble lot has been donated by the trustees of the Franklin Academy, being a part of their estate called the Hale lot on Locust street."
Mayor Whittemore in his inaugural address in January, 1902, said : "The city has had placed at its disposal a large and valuable lot for school and library purposes, situated in the heart of the city, near the city hall, and known as the William Hale estate. * * * I would recommend that you take immediate action in reference to the construction of a new high school
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building. Having the lot the building can be advantageously erected in con- junction with the new public library."
Mayor Whittemore's recommendations were adopted. But what a lot of judicious and persuasive work had to be done to remove the encumbrances on the north side of the Hale lot, to secure a clear opening to St. Thomas street. Most mayors would have folded their hands and given up in despair. Not so Mayor Whittemore. He talked, argued and advised with all interested parties, and success crowned his labors. Of course he had able assistants, but he took the lead and held it to the end of his three years' term.
The chief contest after the land claims were disposed of was what plan should be adopted for the high school house; the settling of that question required the concurrent action of the school committee and the city council, but Mayor Whittemore proved to be a good manager and the school com- mittee finally adopted his views and selected the plans he favored and the work of construction was begun; but the completion was left to his suc- cessor in office. The library building was completed during his third year, in accordance with plans he favored. These public buildings are monuments to his good judgment and a credit to his financeering ability. His adminis- tration was creditable in every respect, and that he was popular with the people is manifest by the fact that he was elected by the largest majority ever given any mayor of Dover.
In the summer of his first year in office Mayor Whittemore had the honor of entertaining, as the guest of the city, President Roosevelt, who paid its citizens a brief visit in August, on his way to Maine. The President left the train and was escorted to the large platform erected on Franklin Square, where he delivered a stirring speech, Mayor Whittemore presiding and intro- ducing him to the vast throng.
For eight years Mayor Whittemore was one of the three railroad commis- sioners; during the three years of the closing of his term he was chairman of the board; his term of service was cut short somewhat by action of the Legislature, which established a Public Service Commission, which took the place of the railroad commissioners. But in the performance of the duties of his office during his eight years he was efficient and judicious in render- ing decisions between the railroads and the public. During the last three years he was in office he was chairman of the board, when they were given some pretty hard problems to solve. When any complaint was entered he was always prompt in starting an investigation and never slow in finishing it. One of these important questions was regarding the express rate charges. Numerous complaints were made that the charges were exorbitant. The board instituted a thorough investigation and established an equitable rate,
CHRISTOPHER H. WELLS
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but they were deprived of the right of enforcing their rates, as the Legis- lature established the Public Service Commission, displaced the railroad commissioners, and nothing was done to enforce the order.
Mr. Whittemore is president of the Dover Board of Trade. He is a member and one of the organizers of the Bellamy Club, a business man's social club. He is a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church and one of its staunch supporters. Above all he is a courteous and agreeable gentleman to meet on any occasion.
Mr. Whittemore was married June 27, 1887, to Miss Caroline B. Rundlett, and they have two children, Manvel and Caroline. The son graduated from Dartmouth College in 1911, with honors, and is now a student at law. Mrs. Whittemore is a woman of marked ability. She has been president of the Dover Women's Club, and is a popular leader in society.
CHRISTOPHER HENRY WELLS, judge of the Probate Court, was born in Somersworth, N. H., July 6, 1853, son of Nathaniel and Eliza (Thom) Wells. He was graduated from Somersworth High School in 1871 and from Bowdoin College in 1875. On August 15, 1878, he was admitted to the bar and entered into the practice of law with W. R. Burleigh. February 10, 1883, he bought out the local printing and publishing plant which publishes the Somersworth Free Press, a weekly newspaper, and does a general printing and publishing business, and is now owner of and controls the business. On March 15, 1898, he was appointed judge of probate for Strafford County, N. H., and was appointed January 11, 1900, justice of the Somersworth Police Court. The latter position he held until July 1, 1913, when the police courts of the state were, for partisan purposes, abolished and district police courts substituted by the Democratic majority in the Legis- lature. March 28, 1901, he was appointed as chairman of the commission selected by Governor Jordan to prepare rules of practice and procedure in the probate courts of the state, and uniform blanks for use in those courts, this commission taking two years for its work. From 1881 to 1883 he was a member of the New Hampshire Legislature, and he was also a member of the New Hampshire Constitutional Convention of 1889. He served as aide-de-camp on the staff of Gov. Charles H. Sawyer, with the rank of colonel, in 1887 and 1888.
Judge Wells was president of the Strafford County Republican Club for four years. From 1894 to 1898 he was mayor of Somersworth, also a member of the Executive Committee of the State Republican Club, and from 1876 to 1880 he was captain of the Independent Company of Cadets, of Somersworth, one of the best drilled companies in New England. Judge
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Wells is a member of the New Hampshire Bar Association, the New Hamp- shire Historical Society, the New Hampshire Society of Sons of the American Revolution, president of the First National Bank of Somersworth, trustee and first vice president of the Somersworth Savings Bank, and trustee of the Somersworth Public Library. He was one of the first to inaugurate the movement which resulted, in 1893, in obtaining a charter and establishing the city of Somersworth, and was chairman of the committee which con- structed waterworks for Somersworth, from 1893 to 1896. Judge Wells is a member of the Psi Upsilon fraternity, is a Scottish Rite Mason, a Knight of Pythias, and member of Somersworth Grange, P. of H. He is also a member of the Somersworth Club, the Derryfield Club of Manchester, the New Hampshire Weekly Publishers' Association, and the Suburban Press Association of Massachusetts. He married in Dover, June 15, 1887, Oriana Hartford.
Such in brief, is a simple statement of Judge Wells' career, but he deserves something more than that. His father, Nathaniel Wells, Esq., who was born in Wells, Me., in 1805, and graduated from Phillips-Exeter Academy in 1826, has a record that shows where the son received his inherited ability from. After graduation he edited a newspaper at Brunswick, Me., three or four years and then, in 1830, came to Somersworth and commenced study of the law in the office of Winthrop A. Marston, and at the end of the usual three years' course was admitted to the Strafford County Bar, and became a part- ner of Mr. Marston in the practice of his profession. Later he was partner with Hon. Charles H. Bell, and when in 1854 George William Burleigh pur- chased Mr. Bell's interest, the firm of Wells and Burleigh was formed, which continued two years, when Mr. Burleigh withdrew and Mr. Wells took as his partner his law student, Royal R. Eastman, which partnership continued until 1873, when Mr. Eastman withdrew on account of ill health. Mr. Wells' last partnership was with William R. Burleigh. The latter died August 16, 1878. He was attorney for the Great Falls Manufacturing Company, director of the Great Falls National Bank and trustee of the Somersworth Savings Bank. He was an able and successful lawyer.
Judge Wells has performed with credit to himself and benefit to the public the various duties that have been assigned to his keeping by his towns- men and by the higher authorities of the state; a good lawyer, a just judge and a discreet councillor in the management of public affairs. Beyond that Judge Wells is a first class newspaper man, an inherited trait of his father which was never fully developed in the parent, as he was in that business only three years before he began the study of law, and not under favorable circumstances for encouragement to continue. On the other hand the son
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