History of Strafford County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 58

Author: Scales, John, 1835-1928
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold
Number of Pages: 988

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Mrs. Ricker is a member of the Woman's Suffrage Association and has liberally aided the cause, both with her money and with her pen. She has always believed in the ultimate success of the movement, and has the distinc- tion of having been the first woman in Dover, N. H., who tried to vote. As long ago as 1870 she appeared before the selectmen of the town and asked to have her name put on the check list, claiming to be a law-abiding and tax-pay- ing citizen. She was Suffrage candidate for governor of New Hampshire in 1910, and during the last campaign she was strongly opposed to Rooseveltism, writing for the press a number of pithy articles, antagonistic not so much to the Progressive propaganda as to the arbitrary domination of Mr. Roosevelt, its Presidential candidate, whom she regards as a would-be czar. Her answers to the anti-suffragists, which have appeared in the press from time to time. and some of which have been published in pamphlet form, are also strong and forceful productions. Mrs. Ricker is not givin to mincing words. She likes to drive the nail in up to the head. When attacking error or defending a righteous cause it is her custom to call a spade a spade, and not to beat about the bush in search of euphemistic expressions to gild the edge of crit- icism. This applies with full force to her various articles against dogmatic theology, as she is an advanced free thinker. She was a personal friend and ardent admirer of the late Col. Robert G. Ingersoll, and has offered copies of his works to a large number of town libraries, the gift having in some cases been accepted and in others refused. A number of years ago she presented a set to the library of the state prison. Those who wish to know her views more fully on these subjects should read her pamphlets entitled, respectively : "Jona- than Edwards," "What do Ministers Know?" "How Can We 'Take' Christ ?" "Fable of the Bees," and "Reply to Elder A. E. Kenyon."

Mrs. Ricker is a woman of broad charity, with an intense sympathy for all unfortunates, and her law practice has lain largely with criminals. It has been a frequent custom of hers to visit the jail on Sundays, befriending the needy and offering words of cheer and encouragement to the prisoners. She works for all, good and bad alike, and has long been known as "The Prisoners' Friend."

Mrs. Ricker still claims Dover, N. H., as her home, though during the winter she is usually to be found in Washington. In her attire she studies simplicity and comfort rather than fashion. Her hair is worn short and

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curled, and she always wears a frill of soft lace at the throat, which lessens the effect of plainness and gives a womanly setting to her strong intellectual face.

A. PLANTE, president of the Somersworth Candy Company and owner of the Cascade Laundry at Somersworth, is one of the solid business men of this place, one who has shown an enterprising and progressive spirit. He was born in Canada, in 1870, and is a son of Joseph Plante, also a Canadian, who died when A. Plante was but four years old. He was the father of six children, five of whom survive.

In the schools of his native locality A. Plante secured the usual common school training. When he left Canada he came to Somersworth and secured work in the Great Falls mills, where he continued until 1894. He then embarked in the laundry business and now operates the largest laundry in the place, his location being at No. 85 High street. The Cascade Laundry is equipped with modern laundry machinery, is sanitary in every particular, gives steady employment to seven people and delivers its clean linen by auto- mobile. The Somersworth Candy Company is also an important business concern of this section.

Mr. Plante married Miss Georgina Fillion, and they have had twelve children, nine of whom survive. Mr. Plante and family belong to the Catholic church. In politics he is a Democrat and fraternally belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Canada-American society.

LOUIS P. COTE, manager of the Somersworth Candy Company, at Somersworth, N. H., an incorporated business of considerable importance in Strafford county, was born in Canada, in 1862, and is a son of J. B. and Elizabeth (Bergeron) Cote. The father was born in Canada and died in Wisconsin while his children were young. They were five in number, two of whom are living. The mother, now in her seventy-fifth year, resides with her son at Somersworth.

L. P. Cote obtained his education in the schools of his home neighborhood and remained with his mother on the home farm in Canada. About 1888 he moved to Marlboro, Mass., and five years later came to Somersworth and went into the drug business, which he continued for five years and then bought a stock of dry goods and millinery. This enterprise is under the personal oversight of Mrs. Cote, his wife; it is located at No. 23 Main street and is one of the largest stores in the place. Mr. Cote was one of the original directors of the Somersworth Candy Company, which, five years ago, was incorporated under the laws of the state of Maine. The officers of this

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company are : A. Plante, president; E. F. Gowell, secretary ; Joseph Deshaies, treasurer; and L. P. Cote, manager. This is largely a wholesale jobbing business in all kinds of candy and the trade territory is wide, one representa- tive being on the road.

Mr. Cote married Miss Minnie Martel, of Marlboro, Mass. In politics a Democrat, Mr. Cote has served in many official positions. He has been a member of the common council, also of the school board, has served in the state legislature and in 1912 was a member of the constitutional convention. He belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters, to the Maccabees, to a Canadian-American society, to a temperance organization and to the Catholic church. These connections plainly indicate his high standing in his com- munity.

HON. SIDNEY F. STEVENS, who is a member of the well known law firm of Mathews & Stevens, with office at No. 68 High street, Somersworth, was born January 26, 1878, at Somersworth, N. H., and is a son of Charles E. and Frances A. ( Loud) Stevens.

Charles E. Stevens was born at Parsonsfield, Me., and now lives retired at Somersworth, to which place he came in 1873. For forty-six years he was a conductor on the B. & M. Railroad and when he was retired on a pension, was the oldest in point of service in the Western Division. His wife, a native of Massachusetts, was reared in Maine ; she survives, as do their three sons : Albert E., who is baggage master on the B. & M. at Somersworth; Melvin L., who lives at Reading, Mass. ; and Sidney F.

Sidney F. Stevens attended the public schools until prepared for college, when he entered Dartmouth. After graduation he completed his law studies, which he had in the meanwhile been pursuing with the firm of Edgerly & Mathews. Graduated from the Boston University Law School, he was ad- mitted to the bar in June, 1904. In the same year he became associated in practice with Mr. Mathews, with whom he entered into partnership in 1905. A large amount of important litigation is entrusted to this firm, the pro- fessional standing of which is deservedly high. Mr. Stevens is a director of the First National Bank of Somersworth.

Mr. Stevens married Miss Nancy E. Woy, of Quincy, Mass. A Republi- can in politics, Mr. Stevens has been a loyal party man and served twice as a member of the state legislature with marked ability, in 1907 being chair- man of the committee on Revision of Statutes and in 1909 a member of the judiciary committee. For a number of years he has been chairman of the Republican city committee and for two years was chairman of the Republican county committee, as well as a member of the State executive committee. At

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present he is serving as a member of the school board. He retains member- ship with his college fraternities and is entitled to attach a number of letters to his name indicating the degrees he has taken in his studies. He attends the First Baptist church.

JOHN PARSONS, superintendent of the water works at Somersworth, N. H., was born here in 1853, when the present city was the village of Great Falls. He is a son of John and Mary (Morrison) Parsons, who were born and married in Ireland. About 1846 they came to the United States, landing in the city of New York, where the father worked as a laborer until 1848. when the family came to Somersworth. The father died here at the age of eighty-two years. Of his large family of children but two survive, John and Mary.

John Parsons went to school until old enough to work in a factory and afterward was a clerk in a clothing store and since June, 1905, has been superintendent of the water works and has proved very efficient in this office. Mr. Parsons was married first to Hannah Griffin, and one of their three children lived to maturity, Mary A., who is now the wife of John E. Sullivan. His second marriage was to Margaret Lynch, and two of their children survive : Louisa C., who is a teacher in the public school, and John J., who is a school boy. The family belongs to Holy Trinity Catholic church. Mr. Parsons has been very prominent in Democratic circles and served in the state legislature in 1888-90-91 and 1892. When Somersworth became a city he was elected the first alderman from the Fourth Ward. He is identified with the Ancient Order of Hibernians and was the first president of Division No. 5 of that order and in 1910 was state president and was re-elected in 1912 to the same office.

FRED H. BROWN, attorney at law and city solicitor of Somersworth, was born at Ossipee, Carroll county, N. H., April 12, 1879, and is a son of Dana J. and Nellie (Allen) Brown. They still live at Ossipee, where the father during his active life was a merchant.

An only child, Fred H. Brown had many educational advantages. He attended the public schools of Ossipee and Dow academy, at Franconia, N. H., and afterward passed one year at Dartmouth College and at the Boston Uni- versity. He read law in the office of James A. Edgerly of Somersworth, and was admitted to the bar in 1907, afterward, until the death of Mr. Edgerly in 1908, being associated with his preceptor in practice. In the latter year he was elected city attorney and is still serving. He has always been an active and responsive citizen and is serving as chairman of the school board

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at Somersworth. A loyal Democrat, his party has frequently acknowledged his fitness for positions of responsibility and named him as a presidential elector in the interests of President Woodrow Wilson's campaign, and in 1912 sent him as a delegate to the constitutional convention. For the past four years he has been a member of the Democratic state committee. He belongs to Prospect Lodge, Knights of Pythias; the Blue Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Edwards Chapter, at Somersworth, and to the Council at Dover.

JESSE R. HORNE, president of the Somersworth National Bank and also of the Somersworth Savings Bank, is also owner of the J. R. Horne planing, box and lumber mill, which is situated in Berwick, Me., his many interests indicating the prominent position occupied in this section. He was born at Rochester, N. H., March 1I, 1833, and is a son of Jesse and Sallie (Hubbard) Horne, the former of whom was a native of Somersworth and the latter of Berwick, Me. Jesse Horne, the father, followed farming all his active years, then retired to Rochester and died there at the age of eighty-six. Of his family of five children Jesse R. is now the only survivor. Albert M. died November 26, 1913.

Jesse R. Horne obtained his educational training in the schools of Rochester, afterward becoming a mill worker in various places but mainly at Somersworth. In 1879 he erected his own mill, which is the oldest lumber mill in this section. All kinds of general mill work in lumber is engaged in, the manufacturing of boxes being a specialty. He has been a resident of Somersworth since April 19, 1858, and learned his trade here, and in 1905 became president of the Somersworth National Bank. In 1881 he was made trustee of the Somersworth Savings Bank, of which he became president in 1905. Although his business responsibilities have been heavy and more or less absorbing for many years, Mr. Horne is the type of citizen who never permits himself to be indifferent concerning the welfare of his community and his high business and personal standing have caused his fellow citizens to frequently urge him to accept public office. He served ably in the New Hampshire legislature during 1865-6, as a county commissioner of Strafford county from 1869 until 1872, and as a member of the city water works board during 1903 and 1904. For many years he has served as a member of the school board and was president of the Fresh Glade cemetery board for fifteen years. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Horne has traveled over a good portion of his own country, spending winters in Florida and Texas, and in 1893 he first went abroad, journeying pleasantly through Spain, Italy and North Africa, in 1911 making a second visit during which he traveled through

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the northern part of Europe including England, Scotland, and also through France, Germany, Italy, Holland and Switzerland.

Mr. Horne was married in 1854 to Miss Mary Robinson, who was born in 1839 and died July 23, 1889, a daughter of James and Martha Robinson of Dover, N. H. They had one daughter, Nellie M., who was born October 17, 1858, and died November 23, 1881. In January, 1893, Mr. Horne was married to his second wife, Miss Frances Black, who was born January 3, 1862, a daughter of John H. and Kate Black, of Boston, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Horne have one daughter, Jessie Eleanor, born April 26, 1898, who is attending school. Mr. Horne and family attend the Methodist Episcopal church.

WILLIAM F. RUSSELL, who is the oldest practicing attorney at Somersworth, has long been a leading representative of the bar of Strafford county. He was born at Waterford, Oxford county, Me., in 1855, and is a son of William and Eliza (French) Russell, being one of the six survivors of their family of eight children.

William Russell, the father, was a native of Fryeburg, Oxford county, Me., and his business was farming and manufacturing. In October, 1864, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, entering Company B, Eighth Maine Volunteer Infantry, and fell mortally wounded on the battle field of Hatch's Run, April 3. 1865.

William F. Russell attended school in his native place and also Gould's Academy at Bethel, and at the age of seventeen years began to teach school. Afterward he entered the Freeport High school both as student and as teacher, and in 1877 entered the University of Maine. He remained but a short time on account of trouble with his eyes. He was admitted to the New Hampshire bar in 1884. in the meanwhile having pursued his law studies with Judge Wells and William R. Burleigh. Later he became associated as a partner, succeeding Judge Wells, and the law firm of Burleigh and Russell continued with the two partners until 1888. In 1889 Mr. Russell admitted Edmund S. Boyer to partnership, the latter having been a student with Mr. Russell. In 1894 Mr. Boyer moved to Anderson, Ind., since which time Mr. Russell has continued in practice alone, maintaining his office first in the Great Falls Hotel building until 1911 and now at No. 48 High street. He has taken part in much important litigation and has continued practice in the local courts for the past thirty years. He is counsel for the Somersworth Savings Bank and the repository of many family trusts.

Mr. Russell was united in marriage with Miss Lucy W. Tibbets and they have two children, Lucia G. and Frances E., the former being a graduate

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and the latter a student at Smith College, Northampton, Mass. Mr. Russell is member of the Congregational church, while Mrs. Russell and daughters are members of Emanuel church of Boston, Mass. He has long been identified with the Masonic fraternity.

F. S. RICKER, cashier of the First National Bank of Somersworth, with which institution he has been identified since 1909. was born in 1863, at Berwick, Me., and is a son of Winslow T. and Martha A. ( Smith) Ricker. The father of Mr. Ricker, a native of Maine, died at Berwick in 1902. He was born at Lebanon but the larger portion of his life was spent at Berwick, where he was engaged in the tanning business. Of his four children but one, F. S., survives. The mother of our subject was a native of New Hampshire.

F. S. Ricker was reared and educated at Berwick, Me. For a few years he was connected with the mercantile house of Carter & Son, at Somersworth, and later was in a real estate business at Chicago, Ill. For five years prior to accepting his present position with the First National, Mr. Ricker was practically out of business but since then has devoted himself to advancing the interests of the First National Bank, his name, as an official, being an asset of the same. Mr. Ricker married Miss Grace Hyde, who is a daughter of Rev. Henry Hyde, a former pastor of the First Congregational church at Somersworth, to which Mr. and Mrs. Ricker belong. They have two children, Caroline Hyde and Elizabeth Palmer. Mr. Ricker gives his political support to the Republican party, and fraternally he is connected with the Masonic order.

HON. W. R. TEBBETTS, a member of the New Hampshire State Legis- lature, to which honorable body he was elected in November, 1912, has been one of the representative business men of Somersworth for the last eighteen years. Mr. Tebbetts was born in 1872, at Berwick, York county, Me., and is a son of George S. and Harriet S. (Roberts) Tebbetts.

George S. Tebbetts was born in Maine and was a resident of Berwick and a farmer there until 1897, when he moved to Rochester, N. H., where he now lives retired. He married Harriet S. Roberts, who also survives. and they have two sons: George E., who is a resident of Dorchester, Mass., and W. R., of Somersworth.

WV. R. Tebbetts attended school first at Berwick and later at Somersworth, after which he engaged in a mercantile business at Dover, with John A. Hoye, on Third street, and later with John C. Lathrop, with whom he con- tinued for six years. On September II, 1895, he established his present business at No. 30 Market street, Somersworth. dealing in clothing, hats and

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furnishings. Mr. Tebbetts is a successful business man, and has also served in several important local offices prior to his election in 1912, on the Republican ticket, to membership in the General Assembly. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and a "Shriner," and belongs also to the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. His good citizenship has never been questioned nor his business integrity assailed. Mr. Tebbetts was united in marriage to Miss Olive Stone, of Berwick, Me. By a former marriage he has one daughter, Marion. The family attends the Methodist Episcopal church.

WILLIAM A. GILMAN, for many years a prominent citizen of Strafford county and an honored and useful resident of Dover, was born December I, 1846, in South Berwick, Me., and died at his home in Dover, N. H., Novem- ber 1, 1910. He was a son of George and Susan ( Plummer) Gilman, the former of whom was born at Exeter and the latter in Rollinsford, N. H.

William A. Gilman received academic instruction at South Berwick, after which he came to Dover and entered the dry goods store of John Bickford as a clerk, continuing after the business was purchased by Charles Trickey. Later for a time he filled a clerical position at the U. S. Navy Yard at Portsmouth. His main interest, however, was farming, to which he devoted the time not claimed by public affairs. He was an intelligent and earnest citizen and early identified himself with the Republican party which, on many occasions, recognized his loyalty and superior qualifications for public service. He served in the city council of Dover and in 1895 was elected a member of the New Hampshire legislature, representing the Second Ward of the town of Dover. As a public man he was honorable and efficient and as a neighbor and friend he was true to every obligation.

Mr. Gilman was married first to Mrs. Nancy Rollins, widow of John Rollins, her maiden name having been McDuffee, and two children were born : Helen A., who is the wife of John A. Marshall, of Lawrence, Mass., and James W., who is also a resident of Lawrence. On May 25, 1899, Mr. Gilman was married secondly to Miss Jennette S. Nealley, who was born and liberally educated at South Berwick, Me. She is a daughter of Andrew J. and Lydia (Hodsdon) Nealley. Her father was born at Nottingham, N. H., a son of Benjamin Nealley, an old settler. In early manhood he moved to South Berwick where he engaged in farming and in the lumber industry and died there. The mother of Mrs. Gilman was born in South Berwick and was a daughter of Benjamin Hodsdon. Mrs. Gilman is a member of the Dover Woman's Club and belongs to the Daughters of the American Revolution, her connection with this exclusive society being through her ancestor, Sergeant Joseph Nealley, a Revolutionary hero. She is a

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member of the Congregational church of South Berwick and is quite prom- inent in the social life of both South Berwick and Dover.

GEORGE W. FARNHAM, whose long, busy and useful life has been passed in New England, is well known in different sections where he was identified with various interests, has lived retired for some years, occupying his comfortable residence at No. 7 Cedar street, Dover. He is one of the few survivors who can recall from personal observation, the manner and appearance of General Lafayette, when he was the nation's honored guest in 1825 and visited Dover. Mr. Farnham was born March 14, 1819, at Woodstock, Vt., a son of Jeremiah and Martha (Perkins) Farnham, the father born in Maine and the mother at Dover, N. H. Three of their children survive: George W., of Dover, and Mrs. Martha M. Griffin and Mrs. Fannie F. Smith, both of Springfield, Mass.

When George W. Farnham was three years old his parents moved to South Berwick, Me., and six years later to Rollinsford, N. H. For a number of years he lived in Rollinsford and there attended school, also in Dover, and for a time was a pupil in the South Berwick Academy. While the great industries for which this section is noted were not developed as they are today, they offered ready employment and remunerative compensation for the times and Mr. Farnham, like others, entered the big woolen mill at Salmon Falls. There he worked for seven years and then went into a cotton mill at South Berwick, Me. He then engaged in farming for some years at Lebanon, Me., and after that came to Dover and for several years was in the weaving department of the Cocheco Mills. He then embarked in a mercantile business at South Berwick, Me., and during a number of years' residence there was a clerk for others and also proprietor of his own store. When he returned to Strafford county he located on a farm near the Granite State Park, which farm lay partly in Somersworth and partly in Dover. It was while living on this farm that his first wife died and he then removed to Springfield, Mass., where he continued until he came once more to Dover, making this city his permanent home ever since.

Mr. Farnham was married first at Newfield, Me., to Miss Mary Moore, and they had two children, Mary A. and George F., both of whom are deceased. His second marriage was to Miss Jennie Woodward, who died 1903, who was born in Canada but was educated in New York and at the time of her marriage was a resident of West Springfield, Mass.

In many ways Mr. Farnham has been an ideal citizen for he has always been a promoter of progressive movements wherever he has lived; his con- duct has been honorable and upright and he has ever had scrupulous regard

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for the sanctity of his given word. During his years of activity he was much interested in the subject of improved roads, an important one not only in New Hampshire but in every state. While a resident of Somersworth he served in the office of highway surveyor for a number of years, giving much personal attention to this work, and also served as a member of the school board. His long life has bridged an eventful period in the history of the world and he still takes an interest in newer developments. His acquaintance is wide in Dover and his friends are many.

GEORGE N. PRESCOTT, a representative of one of the old pioneer families of Rockingham county, N. H., and a well known and popular citizen of Dover, was born May 17, 1863, at Deerfield, Rockingham county, N. H., and is a son of Samuel and Mary ( Jones) Prescott. Family tradition tells that three brothers of the name of Prescott came from England to New Hampshire in the far distant past, all personal record of them having been lost except that they took up land in Rockingham county. There Samuel Prescott, father of George N. Prescott, was born, as was his father, Ware Prescott. He lived to be over ninety years of age, having been a farmer during all his active life, and died at Dover, to which place he had moved in 1871. He married Mary Jones, who was born at Manchester, N. H., and predeceased him.

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History of Strafford County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 58

Author: Scales, John, 1835-1928 Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold Number of Pages: 988

Author: Scales, John, 1835-1928
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold
Number of Pages: 988