USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > History of Strafford County, New Hampshire and representative citizens > Part 54
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90
On the 6th of December, 1870, Judge Frost was united in marriage with Miss Martha Hale Low, at Dover, N. H. She is daughter of Dr. Nathaniel and Mary Ann (Hale) Low of Dover, in which city she was born the 13th of June, 1841. Her father, a distinguished physician, was born 4th of July, 1792 ; her mother was born 11th of November, 1798; they were married 18th of November, 1818; residence, Dover. He died April 2, 1883; she died October 7, 1882. She was daughter of Hon. William Hale, who married April 30, 1794, Lydia Rollins, daughter of Judge Ichabod and Ruth Philpot Rollins. Mr. Hale was born in Portsmouth, August 6, 1765 ; he died in Dover, November 8, 1848. He was son of Major Samuel Hale, who married May 23, 1751, Mary Wright, daughter of Capt. Thomas Wright of Portsmouth. Major Hale died in that city, July 10, 1807, and his wife March 11, 1811. Both are buried in the North Cemetery, near the railway station in Portsmouth. William Hale lived in Dover. He was a merchant and ship builder and ship owner with his brother, Judge Samuel Hale of Barrington. He was State Senator from 1797 to 1801; member of the Governor's Council, 1803 to 1805; repre- sentative in Congress six years 1809 to 1811 and 1813 to 1817. The father of his wife was one of the first judges in the courts of Strafford County. Mrs. Frost is a worthy descendant of such excellent ancestors.
The children of Judge George S. and Martha Hale (Low) Frost are: Mary Pepperrell, born at Dover, Sept. 18, 1871. Margaret Hamilton, born at Jamaica Plain, Mass., Nov. 21, 1873. Sarah Low, born at Dover, Oct. 7, 1875. Elizabeth Rollins, born at Dover, Dec. 29, 1881. Of these daughters, Mary Pepperrell graduated from Smith College, 1894; married June 10, 1897 ; James Cowan Sawyer; lives in Andover, Mass. Their children are: George Frost Sawyer, born June 25, 1902; Charles Henry Sawyer, born Oct. 20,
575
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
1906. Miss Elizabeth Rollins Frost graduated from Smith College in 1903; graduated from the Albany Library School; was assistant librarian at Buffalo, N. Y., and at the Carnegie library at Pittsburgh, Pa., is now reference librarian at Waterbury, Conn. Sarah was assistant librarian Dover Public Library a number of years. She is also librarian for Phillips .Andover Academy, Andover, Mass.
WILLIS McDUFFEE, president and editor of the Courier Publishing Company, of Rochester, N. H., a citizen well known and highly esteemed all over Strafford County, was born in Rochester, N. H., March 15, 1868, a son of Franklin and Mary Frances ( Hayes ) McDuffee. Ancestors of the McDuffee family were among the first settlers of Dover, and for generations representa- tives of the family have been among the best known and most useful citizens of the county. The paternal grandfather of our subject, John McDuffee, was a well known banker, founding the first bank in this section. Franklin McDuffee, father of Willis, graduated from Dartmouth College and studied law, but instead of practicing that profession, went into the banking business with his father, and it remained his occupation throughout the rest of his life, which terminated in 1880. His widow now resides in Rochester, this county. They had two sons, Willis and John Edgar, the latter of whom died in 1900.
Willis McDuffee began his education in the schools of Rochester and then attended Dartmouth College, where he was graduated in the class of 1890. After six months spent in foreign travel, he formed a partnership, in 1891. with William W. Lougee (now practicing medicine in Massachusetts ) in the journalistic enterprise of which he is now the head. In 1894 the present stock company was formed. Charles G. Janness is now business manager, the stockholders, being Gov. Samuel D. Felker, Ex-mayor R. V. Sweet, N. T. Kimball, Charles G. Janness, and the subject of this sketch. This enterprise has achieved a pronounced success. The Courier is a bright, newsy journal, up-to-date in all its departments, and deserving of the large circulation to which it has attained. It is neat in appearance, reliable in its news, and its editorial page usually contains some timely clean cut thoughts on the leading topics of the hour.
For a number of years Mr. McDuffee has been actively interested in politics. He formerly served on the school board for three years, was representative to the state legislature in 1895, and for some time was a member of the Repub- lican State Committee. In 1906 he was one of the men to start the progressive movement in the state, but declined to enter the third party movement in 1912. presiding at the meeting of the Progressives at Concord in opposition to this
576
HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY
movement, which was responsible for carrying the state for Taft at the primaries. He is a Knight Templar Mason.
Mr. McDuffee was married July 22, 1897, to Miss Dora Haley, of Barring- ton, N. H., who is well known throughout the State as a vocalist of great talent. They have two children-Franklin and Maude Chase. The family are affiliated with the Congregational church and are prominent in the best society of Rochester.
GEORGE A. TOLMAN, M. D., a well known physician and surgeon, in successful practice at Dover, N. H., was born in Maine, July 6, 1867, the only child of George and Eliza A. (Spofford) Tolman. His father, who was a merchant, is now retired, and both parents reside at the home of our sub- ject.
George A. Tolman, after acquiring his elementary education in the public schools, attended the Westbrook Seminary. He was graduated from Bowdoin College in 1890 and Maine Medical College in 1893, and graduated from New York Post-Graduate Hospital and became assistant to Dr. Carl Beck a noted New York surgeon. He began the practice of his profession in Dover in 1894, and has since built up for himself a large and profitable clientage. He belongs to a number of medical societies, including the American Medical Association, the State of Maine Medical Association, the New Hampshire State Medical Association, the District and Strafford County Medical Association, and the New Hampshire Surgical Club and Dover Medical Society. He is a 32d degree Mason, belongs also to the Royal Arcanum, and in politics is a Repub- lican. As a citizen he is held in high esteem.
Dr. Tolman married Miss Clara E. Rounds, a daughter of George H. Rounds, of Portland, and they have one child, Eloise P. The family affiliate with the Congregational Church, and reside at No. 37 Summer street. Dr. Tolman's office is located in the Strafford National Bank Building.
CHARLES H. PITMAN, one of the substantial citizens of Farmington, who carries on a satisfactory business in insurance and real estate, was born July 13, 1844, at Barnstead, N. H., in the neighborhood of which he spent the first twenty-five years of his life. He is a son of Henry and Druzilla ( Miles) Pitman, the former of whom was born in New Hampshire and the latter in Vermont. Both have rested for many years in the family lot in the old cemetery at Barnstead.
Charles H. Pitman was the third member of his parents' family of four children. He attended the public schools of Barnstead and an academy at Pittsfield and continued to assist his father on the home farm until the fall of
577
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
1869, when he came to Farmington. Here he entered the employ of James E. Fernald, with whom he remained for thirteen years, during this time assisting Mr. Fernald to establish the Farmington "News." Subsequently he embarked in the insurance business and also opened a job printing office, conducting the latter enterprise for twenty-two years and then selling it. Since then he has devoted his entire attention to insurance and real estate. He has made property investments here and is a stable and dependable citizen of the town.
In 1872 Mr. Pitman was married to Miss Emma J. Crosby, a daughter of Ebeneezer H. Crosby. The one daughter of this marriage died in 1907, at the age of thirty-three years. She was the wife of Fred W. Holmes and is survived by one son, Charles Leslie Holmes, who is a young man of twenty-one years and is of a literary turn, at present being correspondent for Dover newspapers and the Boston "Globe." In 1885 Mr. Pitman was married (sec- ondly) to Miss Carrie L. Pearl, a daughter of Charles L. Pearl, of Farming- ton. Mr. and Mrs. Pitman are members of the Order of Rebeckah and of the Pythian Sisters, and he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, to the Odd Fellows and the Masons. For eleven years Mr. Pitman was a member of the New Hampshire National Guard, holding rank as second lieutenant, first lieu- tenant and then captain, for eight years being captain of Company F, of the Second Regiment and then resigned. He was elected major of the Second Regiment, but declined to serve on account of business. A Democrat in politics, he has frequently been sought for public office, including that of state representative, and has served four years as town clerk, six years as a member of the school board, three years as tax collector, and in 1912 was town treasurer of Farmington. He also served as clerk of the Farmington Village Precinct for seventeen years.
CURTIS W. BLAISDELL, one of the well known residents of Strafford county, residing on his valuable farm of thirty-eight acres, situated in Rollins- ford, was born January 21, 1858, at Lebanon Center, Me., and is a son of John and Sarah (Drew) Blaisdell, and a grandson of Enoch Blaisdell, all of the same state. The father was born at Lebanon and the mother at Newfield and both are now deceased.
Curtis W. Blaisdell continued to live in his native town until he was nineteen years of age, attending school in the meanwhile. He then came to Strafford county and for two winters afterward attended school in Rollinsford. By trade he is a carpenter and follows the same when not engaged with his farm, on which he settled in 1877. On December 5, 1893, he was married to Miss Belle Randall, who was born at North Berwick, Me., July 5, 1864, and is a daughter of Isaac S. and Olive (Coffin) Randall. The father of Mrs. Blaisdell
34
578
HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY
was a native of North Berwick, where the family is an old settled one, and he still lives there, being now in his 82d year. The mother died May 17, 1909, having passed her seventy-fourth birthday. Mr. and Mrs. Blaisdell have one daughter, Edna M., who was born June 20, 1895, and is a student in the Dover High School. For several years Mr. Blaisdell has been a director of the Salmon Falls Bank. In politics he is a Republican. He belongs to the Calvin Baptist church of South Berwick, while Mrs. Blaisdell is a member of the Old School Baptist church.
HARLAN P. LORD, dairyman and milk dealer, who has resided on his present farm near Rollinsford, N. H., since 1909, was born May 30, 1880, at Effingham, Carroll county, N. H., and is a son of Thomas B. and Harriet P. ( Burbank ) Lord, and a grandson of Thomas and a great-grandson of Thomas B. Lord. It was the great-grandfather who came from England very many years ago, settling at Berwick, Me., where he reared his family. One of his sons, Thomas Lord, subsequently located in Carroll county, N. H., and founded a settlement which perpetuates his name as Lord's Hill. There the father of Harlan P. Lord was born and there he died when the latter was three years old.
Harlan P. Lord attended the public schools of Effingham and for two years was a student in a seminary at Parsonfield, Me. He was eighteen years old when he began to work in the milk business and for five years was in the employ of Childs' Bros., a large firm of Waltham, Mass. Later he was with H. P. Hood & Sons, well known wholesale and retail milk dealers, for four years, in their milk depot at Charlestown, Mass. He thus had a large amount of practical experience in this industry and was well prepared to embark in it when he came to Rollinsford in May, 1909. He has built up a fine trade and has a paying milk route in Dover. His farm of fifty acres is devoted mainly to dairying and his sanitary and well equipped buildings are always ready for inspection.
In June, 1909, Mr. Lord was married to Miss Celia R. Mudgett, a daughter of the late Willie Mudgett, of Conway Center, N. H. They have one son, Almon M., who was born June 18, 1911. Mr. Lord is a very intelligent and progressive man and in his views on public questions is inclined to identify himself with what is known as the Progressive party. He belongs to the Hiram R. Roberts Grange, Patrons of Husbandry.
IRA W. DUNTLEY, who is one of Milton's best known citizens, holds a record for continuous work in one line, having been engaged in horseshoeing for fifty-four years, in his own blacksmith shop, after three years' similar service during the Civil war, as a member of Company K. First R. I. Cavalry.
579
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
and of Company K, First N. H. Cavalry. He was born in the village of Milton, N. H., March 16, 1842, and is a son of Hazen and Phoebe (Laughton) Duntley.
Hazen Duntley was reared in Vermont and New Hampshire, probably at Farmington, in the latter state, as he there married Phoebe Laughton, who died when aged fifty-eight years. They had eleven children, six of whom are still living. In 1838 Hazen Duntley built his blacksmith shop on almost the same site as that now owned by his son, Ira W., and followed the blacksmith trade during all his active life, during the Civil war serving as a blacksmith for three years in the same regiments as his son. He was an expert workman and a dependable, honest man. In politics he was a Democrat and religiously was affiliated with the Free Baptist church. He died in 1884 in his eightieth year.
Ira W. Duntley attended the village school and learned his trade with his father. After serving three years in the army, as noted above, he was honorably discharged December 4, 1864, in Virginia, and returned then to Milton, where he has carried on his work as horseshoer and blacksmith to the present time. He is a member of and at times has been an official of Eli Wentworth Post, G. A. R., No. 89, at Milton and is greatly interested in Grand Army affairs. In politics he gives support to the Democratic party but does not call himself a politician.
Mr. Duntley married Miss Sarah A. Hodgeman, who was born near Lowell, Mass., and they have two daughters: Ada C., who is the wife of Robert McIntosh, of Milton; and Hattie M., who resides with her parents. Mr. Duntley and family attend the Free Baptist church. For forty years he has been identified with the Milton lodge of Odd Fellows, and is a charter member of the Madokawando Tribe, No. 21, Improved Order of Red Men. Mr. Duntley is highly regarded as a neighbor and citizen, being a man of upright character and charitable impulses.
DANIEL A. GAGE, a substantial and progressive farmer of Dover and a member of a well known family of this section, was born in the town of Dover, N. H., February 25, 1853, and is a son of Daniel and Sarah (Hersum) Gage, and a grandson of James Gage. Grandfather Gage established the family in the section known as Gage's Hill and there Daniel Gage resided all his life. dying some years since. He was a well known and respected citizen. His wife survived him for a few years. They had two children: Walter F .. who is deceased; and Daniel A.
Daniel A. Gage was reared in the old home on Gage's Hill and continued to live there until he was thirty years of age. He attended the public schools and also Franklin Academy at Dover. About 1885 he located on his present valuable farm of 120 acres in the Blackwater District and gives attention to general farming and stock raising. In politics he votes with the Republican
580
HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY
party and has served two terms as selectman from the First Ward. For many years he has taken a deep interest in the grange movement and belongs to Cocheco Grange No. 81, Patrons of Husbandry, in which he has filled the office of steward, and also to Eastern New Hampshire Pomona Grange and to the New Hampshire State Grange. Mr. Gage attends the Methodist Episcopal church.
HON. PAUL LA BONTE, mayor of Somersworth, who conducts an up-to-date grocery store at No. 183 Main street, that city, was born at Salmon Falls, this county, in Feb. 11, 1876, a son of George and Margaret (Guilmette) La Bonte. The father was a native of Canada who came to the United States and Located at Gt. Falls, later removing to Salmon Falls, this county. He died here at the age of 82 years. He and his wife were the parents of 16 children.
Paul La Bonte began his education in the common school at Salmon Falls, N. H. He subsequently attended college at Levis, in the Province of Quebec, Canada. Returning to New Hampshire after his graduation, he entered the grocery business in Somersworth as clerk and applied himself to learn the trade. About nine years ago he bought out his employer and started his present business, dealing in a general line of groceries. He has always kept a high grade stock and has a large patronage.
A Democrat in politics, he has been quite active in public affairs and has been elected to some important offices by his fellow citizens. He served as councilman from the Fourth Ward for four years, was city clerk four years, sanitary officer one term, and was elected mayor of the city in March, 1912, in all of which positions, as well as in some others, he has served with efficiency and with an eye to the public interest. His society affiliations include member- ship in St. Jean Baptiste Society; Court Rochambeau, Catholic Order of Foresters ; Court St. Martin, A. C. A .: L'Union St. Jean Baptiste, of America ; Artisans Canadiens Francais, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
Mr. La Bonte married Georgiana La Bonte, of Somersworth, N. H. They have had two adopted children-Eva, who died at the age of 16 years, and Raymond, who survives. The family belong to St. Martin Catholic church.
A. NOEL SMITH, M. D., is one of the oldest medical and surgical prac- titioners in Dover, where he has successfully practiced his profession for the last thirty-five years. He was born in Meddybemps, Me., July 29, 1851, a son of Dr. Samuel M. and Mary E. (Nickerson) Smith, the father, a graduate of Bowdoin, being a well known physician. Dr. Smith's elementary education was acquired in the public schools, and he subsequently attended
581
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
Calais, Me., Academy, where he was graduated in 1868. From there he went to the medical school at Bowdoin college, graduating in 1872. After tak- ing a post-graduate course at Harvard in 1872-1873, he began the practice of his profession in the year last mentioned at Silver City, Idaho, remaining there until 1878. He then returned east and located in Dover, where he has since remained. He is a member of the Dover, County, State, and American medical associations, and has served as president of both the Dover and County associations. He belongs also to the Masonic order and to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. In politics he is a Republican, and was a member and chairman of the school board.
Dr. Smith was first married, in 1874, to Miss Hattie M. McCann, whose death occurred in 1885. Three children blessed this union, namely .: Arthur Thad, Laura H. and Ina E. Smith. In 1886 Dr. Smith married for his second wife, Miss Ella Dame, a daughter of Moses Dame. Dr. Smith is one of the best known and most popular medical men in Dover. Since coming here in the late seventies he has built up an excellent practice and made many fast friends. As a citizen he is interested in every movement calculated to promote the moral or material welfare of the community in which he lives. He has a pleasant and commodious residence on Mt. Vernon street, while his office is located at No. 430 Central Avenue.
FRANK L. HAYES, one of the reliable business men of Rollinsford, N. H., who is in the dairy business and operates a milk route in Dover, was born in South Farmington, N. H., May 14, 1852, and is a son of Charles C. and Elizabeth W. (Pollard) Hayes, and a grandson of Levi Hayes, who was a native of Barrington, N. H.
Charles C. Hayes was born and reared at South Farmington, N. H. He married Elizabeth W. Pollard, who was born at Acton, Me. In the spring of 1860 Charles C. Hayes moved to Rollinsford, N. H., settling on the farm which his son now owns and occupies. He followed farming and dairying and for 25 years during his early manhood taught winter terms of school. He was a man of solid character and educational acquirements, having enjoyed advantages at both Strafford and Gilmanton academies. For some years he was superintendent of the public schools of Rollinsford. In his political views he was a Republican. For a considerable period he was a member of the Masonic fraternity. His death occurred on his farm July 7, 1888. He had survived his wife for sixteen years, she passing away March 14, 1872. She was the mother of two children : Nellie F., who is the wife of Albert Elliot, of Rollinsford; and Frank L.
Frank L. Hayes was eight years old when his parents settled in Rollinsford,
582
HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY
where he attended the public schools and, later, Franklin academy at Dover, N. H. He was reared to farm pursuits and has made dairying a specialty. After many years of business association with his fellow citizens his record shows that he is respected and esteemed by them and is held as a man of sterling character.
Mr. Hayes married Miss Jennie S. Horne, who died December 23, 1912. Her parents were Augustus E. and Rebecca (Carley) Horne, formerly of Rochester, N. H., but both now deceased. Mrs. Hayes was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, attending church at Dover. In politics Mr. Hayes is a Republican. He takes much interest in progressive agriculture and is a charter member of the Hiram R. Roberts Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. Mrs. Hayes also belonged to this organization.
HON. ALBERT F. SEAVEY, now deceased, for many years was closely identified with the business life of Dover and with public affairs in Strafford county. He was born December 29, 1843, in the town of Rochester, Strafford county, N. H., and died at Dover, December 14, 1909. His parents, Samuel F. and Eliza (Ham) Seavey, were lifelong residents of New Hampshire.
Albert F. Seavey grew to manhood on the home farm, where he gave his father assistance while attending the public schools and the Rochester Academy, and then came to Dover, where he was an employe of a shoe factory for four years. Afterward, in association with his brother, J. F. Seavey, he established the clothing firm of J. F. Seavey & Co., with which he remained connected during life. During the last eight or ten years of his life he was also owner and proprietor of the Albert F. Seavey Co., dealers in lumber. He Charles H. Seavey & Co., dealers in lumber. While his business concerns profited by his judgment and foresight, he yet found time to take part in public affairs, for which his natural gifts well fitted him, and he served in numerous responsible elective and appointive positions. In politics he was a Democrat and in 1874 and 1875 served as a member of the common council of Dover, representing the Fourth Ward, and in 1876 and 1877 was a member of the New Hampshire legislature. In 1874 he served as a member of the staff of Governor James A. Weston. In every position he served with the integrity that marks the honorable and unselfish public man.
On July 31, 1883, Mr. Seavey was married to Miss Marietta Fogg, a daughter of Charles F. and Rebecca F. (Webster) Fogg, of Dover, and they had five children: Alice Mary, Marion Webster, Harold Leon, Helen Grace and Katharine Fogg. The family attend the St. Thomas Episcopal church. Mr. Seavey was a thirty-second degree Mason and belonged also to Olive
583
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
Branch Lodge No. 6, Knights of Pythias, Uniform Rank; to the Knights of Honor and to the Improved Order of Red Men.
CHARLES ALBERT FAIRBANKS, M. D., was born in Portsmouth, N. H., December 17, 1849; removed to Dover with his parents in 1855, and has since resided here. He was a student in the Dover High School for three years and entered the Chandler Scientific Department of Dartmouth College, from which he was graduated in the full course in 1871. He studied medicine in the office of Dr. John Randolph Ham and in the Harvard Medical School, from which he was graduated in 1877.
He is son of Albert Augustus and Lydia L. (Brock) Fairbanks, the former of whom was born in Dedham, Mass., October 21, 1821, and died in Dover, February 19, 1890, where he had resided for thirty years, the larger part of which time as an expert machinist for the Cocheco Manufacturing Company. His wife was born in Barrington, N. H., September 21, 1821, and was daughter of Ralph and Dorothy (Young) Brock. She died in Dover, January 19, 1892.
Dr. Fairbanks is ninth in descent from Jonathan Fairbanke ( Fairbank, Fairbanks) of Dedham, Mass., the immigrant ancester, who was born in England before 1600, came with his family to Boston in 1633, and settled in Dedham in 1635, where he resided until his death, December 5, 1668. The large two-story mansion house which he built in that town is now the property of the Fairbanks Family Association.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.