USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > History of Strafford County, New Hampshire and representative citizens > Part 64
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Mr. Cooper was twice married, first to Miss Hannah Lucas, of Alton, N. H. Of their four children there is one survivor, Annie O., who is the wife of John S. Hanson, of Rochester, N. H. Three children are deceased- Clarence, Estelle and Charles, the last named for several years having been a clerk in the Dover postoffice. Mr. Cooper's second marriage took place Feb- ruary 17, 1871, to Miss Jennie M. Wentworth, who was born at South Wolf- boro, N. H., a daughter of Josiah and Betsey A. (Lucas) Wentworth, the former a native of New Durham, N. H., and the latter of Alton, N. H. The grandfather of Mrs. Cooper, Josiah Wentworth, was also a resident of New Durham, the Wentworth family being one that settled very early in that sec-
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tion. Mrs. Cooper has one sister, Mrs. E. A. Johnson, of South Sanford, Me., and one brother, Josiah B. Wentworth, who is manager at Salem, Mass., for the great packing firm of Swift & Co., of Chicago, Ill. Mrs. Cooper is one of Dover's well known and highly esteemed residents. She has been unselfish in her work for charity, is a member of the Dover G. A. R. Relief Corps and is very active as a member of the Free Will Baptist church. Her social interests also engage a portion of her time and she is a member of Pocahontas lodge of the Auxiliary Order of Odd Ladies' at Dover, and of the Christian Temperance Union.
FRANK G. CHAPMAN for many years was a prominent and universally respected citizen of Somersworth, N. H., where he was born July 1, 1870, and died January 18, 1908. He was a son of Hartley S. and Arthama H. (Gar- land) Chapman, and a grandson of Hartley W. and Sarah R. (Winslow) Chapman. The Winslow line can be clearly traced from Sir Edward Winslow, who was the first governor of the colony of Massachusetts.
Hartley S. Chapman was born in Maine, came to Somersworth with his parents when about fifteen years of age and resided here until his death in March, 1909, when in his eighty-second year. For many years he was overseer of the spinning department in the factory of the Great Falls Manufacturing Company.
Frank G. Chapman was reared and educated in his native place and in the Bryant and Stratton Business College at Boston, Mass. For two years in early manhood he was employed as a clerk in the auditor's office of the Boston and Maine Railroad, at Boston, afterward becoming bookkeeper for the Lothrop-Farnham Company, well known clothiers at Dover, N. H. In 1891 he was appointed superintendent for the Great Falls Gas Light and Water Company of their plant at Somersworth, N. H., a position he continued to fill for seventeen years. He was a man of sterling character, upright and cap- able in every position to which the duties of life called him and he passed away with the respect and esteem of those who knew him best and thus will his memory be preserved. Mr. Chapman had been cradled as it were, in the Re- publican party, his father being an ardent supporter and twice a member of the New Hampshire legislature, and the son served three years as a member of the city council, representing the Second Ward. For three years he was master of the Somersworth Grange and was deeply interested in the workings of the order. He was a member of the First Baptist church of Somersworth and was a man noted for his kind and generous impulses.
On July 5, 1893, Mr. Chapman was married to Miss Alice Augusta An- drews, who was born at Somersworth, a daughter of Alonzo H. and Mary
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(Hutchins) Andrews, the former being a native of Somersworth and the latter of York, Me. The paternal grandfather, Elisha Andrews was of English descent and for many years was a resident of Somersworth. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Chapman: Gerald L., Vera Irene and Marcia Frances. Mrs. Chapman is a graduate of the Somersworth High school and for four years previous to her marriage, taught school in Strafford county. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and an active worker in the same, being much interested in its benevolent agencies and a member of the Ladies' Aid Society. Her residence stands on the corner of Maple and West High street, Somersworth.
JOHN H. WATSON, a prominent citizen and lifelong resident of the town of Dover, owns a valuable farm of 100 acres and carries on general farming and dairying. He was born in the house in which he still resides, June 4, 1855, and is a son of Seth and Lydia A. ( Horne ) Watson.
Seth Watson spent his entire life in Dover and was a son of Benjamin Watson, who also was born and died in Dover. The family came originally from England. Seth Watson was a type of the plain, unostentatious farmer and stable citizen, a man who followed the dictates of his conscience in all the affairs of life and at death left the world better than he found it. He married Lydia A. Horne, who was of Scotch extraction, and of their family of children the following survive: John H. and Thomas E., both residing in Dover; and Mary, wife of William E. Whiteley, also of Dover. The mother of these children survived the father for many years, passing away in 1909, a woman of many virtues.
John H. Watson attended the district schools in Dover in boyhood. Hav- ing no occasion to leave the homestead he has remained on it, continuing the agricultural industries of father and grandfather and making such improve- ments as he has deemed advisable. He occupies the old round log house built by an ancestor on a hardwood frame and it has sheltered eight generations of the family, often being repaired and remodeled but never changed to any great extent. This staunch old dwelling house remains as one of the land- marks of pioneer days in the county.
John H. Watson was married first to Miss Ida A. Cannavan, who was born in New Hampshire and was a daughter of Martin Cannavan who for years was an engineer on the Boston and Maine Railroad. Two children survive her : Robert M., of Dover, and Alice L., who is the wife of Dr. Fred S. Cav- erly, of Passaic, N. J. Mr. Watson's second marriage was to Mrs. Grace M. Sutermeister, widow of Samuel Sutermeister, formerly of Boston, and daughter of Frank Getchell, who was born and died in New Hampshire.
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Mrs. Watson is a member of the Baptist church of Boston, Mass. Mr. Watson attended the M. E. church. He has always acted with the Republican party but has never accepted public office. He belongs to the A. O. W. W., to the Knights of Pythias and to the Royal Arcanum, all at Dover.
EDWARD C. NEAL, who is one of Rochester's highly respected retired citizens, has occupied his comfortable residence at No. 14 Autumn street since 1900. He was born in 1848 at Tuftonboro, N. H., and is a son of Thomas W. and Triphena (Kelsey) Neal, of Revolutionary stock. The father moved to Boston with his family and was there engaged in a trucking business until his death in 1880, at the age of fifty-nine years.
Edward C. Neal was the second born of a family of five children and completed his education in the schools of South Boston. He then assisted his father in the trucking business, after which for eight years he was in the wholesale grocery trade. In the fall of 1873 he came to Rochester as agent for the Eastern Express Company and remained until the death of his father in December, 1880, recalled him to Boston. In association with an older brother he took over the father's business and the partnership continued until 18yo. In March of 1900 Mr. Neal received an injury to his hand that caused his practical retirement from business and in that year he established his residence at Rochester. He has had other business connections, for five years-1890 to 1895-being in the employ of the Standard Oil Company and for five years -1895 to 1900-he was with the Dover Stamping Company.
Mr. Neal married Miss Emma J. Copp of Tuftonboro and Rochester. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Neal is well known in Masonic circles in Strafford county and Boston. He became a Mason on June 18, 1870, and advanced rapidly, in 1871 entering Boston Commandery and at the present time is the oldest Knight Templar in years of service at Rochester. All of the Masonic bodies that he is a member of are in Boston.
GEORGE D. McDUFFEE, a well known farmer and dairyman of Dover, N. H., belongs to one of the oldest families of Strafford county, the record showing that his great-great-grandfather, the first John McDuffee, being of Scotch descent, came to New Hampshire from the north of Ireland and set- tled in this county as early as 1720. During the Revolutionary war members of his family served on the Committee of Safety, an organization made up of the most dependable men of the different communities. George D. McDuffee was born near Dover, N. H., January 19, 1867, and is a son of James Y. and Abigail (Jenness) McDuffee.
James Y. McDuffee was born at Rochester, N. H., which was also the
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birthplace of his father, John McDuffee, and of his grandfather, James McDuffee. Near what is now Gonic, N. H., may yet be seen traces of the first house erected by the immigrant ancestor, John McDuffee. James Y. McDuffee married Abigail Janness, also of Rochester, and they settled on the farm at Dover on which George D. McDuffee now lives. Of their children there are two survivors, George D. and M. Abbie. The mother died in 1874 and the father in 1900. They were worthy people in every relation of life and were respected by all who knew them.
George D. McDuffee was educated in the public schools of Dover and at Franklin Academy, and since then has devoted himself mainly to farming, owning 75 acres of well developed land. On January 19, 1888, he was united in marriage with Miss Nellie M. Furber, of Rochester, N. H., a daughter of Charles Furber, formerly of Farmington. Mr. and Mrs. McDuffee have one daughter, Muriel L.
Mr. McDuffee is a very enterprising and careful agriculturist and is inter- ested in all the agencies that assist the farmer and the farmer's family. One of these without doubt is the organization widely known as the Patrons of Husbandry, with which he has been identified for many years and he is an active member of Cocheco Grange, which he served several times as master. He belongs also to Mt. Pleasant Lodge of Odd Fellows, at Dover. As was his father, Mr. McDuffee is a Republican and for 19 years he has served as a member of the school board at Dover. With his family he belongs to the First Congregational church at Dover and is superintendent of the Sunday school. He stands as an honorable, upright, useful citizen of his community and as such enjoys public confidence and esteem.
IRVING E. GOODWIN, market gardener at Dover, who has lived in his comfortable residence at No. 809 Central avenue since 1902 was born October 18, 1865, at Eliot, Me., and is a son of Daniel and Mary (Lord) Goodwin. The Goodwin is an old family of Eliot and there Daniel Goodwin was born and still resides, being a son of Daniel Goodwin, who was of English ancestry.
Irving E. Goodwin secured a public school education in his native place and was eighteen years of age when he came to Dover, his mother's birthplace, and here learned the carpenters' trade. He continues to work at the same and is known as an expert and careful mechanic. On his land on Central avenue he carries on market gardening and takes a great deal of pleasure in his success in producing early vegetables.
Mr. Goodwin was married to Miss Mabel Raitt, who was born at Eliot, Me., and they have had four children : Harold R., Eugene B., Frank E., and Clyde M., who is deceased. Mr. Goodwin is a Republican in politics but is no
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seeker for public office. He has lived a quiet, busy, self-respecting life and when his fellow citizens name over the reliable and stable men of their town they do not forget his name.
GEORGE E. PUGSLEY, who is overseer of the dressing rooms of Mill 3. Great Falls Manufacturing Company, efficiently fills one of the numerous posi- tions in this great industrial plant, which are very necessary to ensure the easy working which the quality and volume of modern production demand. He has been identified more or less continuously with this mill since 1872. He was born at Acton, Me., July 19, 1849, and is a son of John M. and Mary (Grant) Pugsley. The family is of English extraction but the father was born at Sharpleigh and the mother at Acton, Me.
George E. Pugsley was about thirteen years of age when his parents moved to the father's old home at Shapleigh, and there he completed his school attendance. He was about 20 years of age when he moved from there, where he had been a mill worker, and was employed in mills at other places. During several winter terms he taught school, being a successful and popular teacher at Acton, Shapleigh and Sanford, all in the state of Maine, having prepared for this line of work in the Western Normal School at Farmington, Me., and at the West Lebanon (Me.) Academy. In 1872, as mentioned above, he came to Great Falls, now Somersworth and entered the employ of the Great Falls Manufacturing Company. Here he has worked in various departments but during the greater part of the time has been in the dressing department of the works and since 1910 has been overseer of Mill 3, as already stated.
Mr. Pugsley was united in marriage with Miss Olive Butler, of Lebanon. Me., and they have two children: William A., who is a clerk in the U. S. Custom House, Boston; and John B., who is principal of the high school at Somersworth, being a graduate of Colby College at Waterville, Me. Mr. Pugsley and wife are members of the Free Will Baptist church, in which he is a deacon, and in this as in other connections enjoys the confidence and good will of those with whom he is associated. In his political views he is a Repub- lican and has served two terms as councilman from the Second Ward. For several years he has been a member of Libanus Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Somersworth. The family residence is at No. 30 Highland street.
J. HERMAN HAM, general farmer and dairyman, and substitute rural mail carrier for Route No. 4, Dover, is one of the well known and substantial men of this part of Strafford county, where the family settled at a very early day. He was born in Dover, N. H., September 6, 1879, and is a son of Joshua M. and Mary A. (Wiggin) Ham.
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Joshua M. Ham was born on the old Ham homestead, located two miles from the city of Dover, a son of Walter Ham, and died on the old homestead farm in 1888, aged 48 years. He married Mary A. Wiggin, who survives him and still lives on the homestead. They had five children : Walter W., now deceased; Grace A., who is the wife of John T. Perkins of Dover ; Hittie F., a teacher in the Dover school; Bertha M., who is the wife of J. Henry Lock- wood, of Lawrence, Mass., and J. Herman.
J. Herman Ham was educated in the Dover schools. Since the age of sixteen years he has been engaged in farming and dairying and has carried on his industries with such good judgment that he has made them profitable. On April 17, 1907, he was united in marriage with Miss Annie Wright, who is a native of Dover, a daughter of William and Mary (Greeneway) Wright. Mr. and Mrs. Ham have three children : Carlton W., Dorothy E. and Phyllis. In politics, like his late father, Mr. Ham is a Republican. He is a man of enterprise and believes in progress, being especially interested in keeping the public schools at a high standard. He belongs to Pleasant Lodge No. 16, I. O. O. F., and Prescott Encampment No. 23, both of Dover, and both he and his wife are members of Dover Grange No. 225, Patrons of Husbandry.
LEONARD Z. CORSON, a well known resident of Dover, who has lived on his present farm situated on the Mast road, since March, 1889, where he makes a specialty of market gardening and poultry growing, was born in Rochester, N. H., September 27, 1852, and is a son of Zimri and Dorothy (Wentworth) Corson.
Zimri Corson was born in Rochester, N. H., and spent his life there. He was a son of Joseph Corson, who was also born there, this being one of the old settled families of the state and of Scotch extraction. Farming has been the main occupation of the generations of Corsons and they all have been men of industry and uprightness. Zimri Corson died in 1898 and was interred in the Cold Spring cemetery at East Rochester.
Leonard Z. Corson secured school training in his native neighborhood. In 1877 he came from there to Dover and for the following 22 years was em- ployed in the Sawyer Woolen Mills as an employe of the shipping department, retiring then to his farm of ten acres, on which he has resided ever since. Mr. Corson is an excellent manager and makes every foot of his ground give some return. He raises certain crops other than garden produce and each year has enough stock for his own use.
Mr. Corson was married to Miss Annie E. Moody, who was born in Balti- more county, Md., a daughter of Christopher Moody, a former well known resident of Baltimore county. Mr. and Mrs. Corson have two sons : Wilbur
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W., who is a letter carrier in the city of Dover ; and Edwin L., who is shipping clerk for the C. E. Brewster wholesale drug house at Dover. In politics Mr. Corson is a Republican as was his father, and he belongs fraternally to the Improved Order of Red Men at Dover. In a general way he enjoys the friendship and good will of his fellow citizens for he is always ready to bear his share of public responsibilities and further movements for the general welfare.
JOHN H. DAME, one of Dover's well known, respected and substantial citizens, residing on Silver street, Dover, and the owner of a farm of twenty- seven acres, was born November 21, 1858, in Lee, N. H., of an old Strafford county family. His parents were Israel S. and Mary E. (Hanson) Dame, the father a native of Lee and the mother of Dover, N. H. The paternal grand- father was Israel Dame, who was also born in Lee, his father having been one of the early settlers in that section of the state. Israel S. Dame spent his life as a farmer in the town of Lee and at times served in local offices there, being elected to the same on the Democratic ticket. He died at the age of 65 years. He was a member of the Baptist church, while his wife belonged to the Society of Friends.
John H. Dame spent his boyhood and youth on his father's farm, during the winter seasons attending the district schools. Afterward he learned the carpenters' trade, which he has followed at Dover for twenty-two years, and for several years past has also been interested in the lumber industry. Pos- sessed of excellent business judgment, Mr. Dame has prospered in his under- takings and is justly regarded one of the substantial men of Dover. Nom- inally he is a Republican but is too intelligent a man to blindly follow party leading and is much disposed to cast his vote independently. For a number of years he has been interested in the workings of the Grange movement and at present is overseer of the Dover Grange.
Mr. Dame was married first to Miss Mary E. Hanson, a daughter of the late Sergeant Hanson, of Madbury, N. H. His second marriage was to Miss Edith B. Nason, a daughter of William F. Nason, late of Eliot, Me. Two children were born to them : Frank H., who is deceased; and Marion A., who lives at home. Mrs. Dame is a member of the Free Will Baptist church.
W. ASHTON HORN, a well known business man of Somersworth, N. H., manufacturer of White Root Beer, ginger ale and all kinds of soda water, with quarters at No. 83 Green street, is a native of Somersworth, born Feb- ruary 6, 1858. His parents are Edwin P. and Elizabeth (Frost) Horn.
Edwin P. Horn has spent his entire life at Somersworth, born here sev- 40
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enty-seven years ago, a son of Wentworth Horn, a native of Berwick, Me. For over forty years he was active in the business life of Somersworth, for many years being the representative of the Portsmouth Brewing Company, of Portsmouth, N. H. Some years since he became proprietor of the Somers- worth Bottling Company and continued active until 1903, when he was suc- ceeded by his son, WV. Ashton Horn, under whose management the business has continued to prosper. For two years in its early days, Mr. Horn served as chief of the fire department of this city and in many ways has been a citizen of value. He married Elizabeth Frost, who was born at Shapleigh, Me.
W. Ashton Horn was reared and educated at Somersworth. For fifteen years prior to 1903 he worked at the trade of iron molder, then succeeded his father, as above mentioned as proprietor of the Somersworth Bottling Works. He keeps five men employed at his plant and his products, White Root Beer, ginger ale and soda water of all flavors, the ginger ale being a specialty, are sold over Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. He is also agent and bottler of the Portsmouth Brewing Company's ale and lager beer-a satisfactory and reliable as well as enterprising business man.
Mr. Horn married Mrs. Ella (Nichols) Wiggins, of Moultonville, N. H., and they have one son, Archie A., who conducts an automobile and garage business at Wolfboro, N. H. Mr. Horn is deemed a good citizen although he never has desired public office and votes according to the dictates of his own judgment. He belongs to the Odd Fellows at Meriden, Conn., and to the Elks at Dover.
ORRIN J. PALMER, a well known citizen and prosperous business man of Dover, a contracting mason, with headquarters at No. 7 Lexington street, has been a permanent resident here since 1875. He was born at Effingham, Carroll county, N. H., March 9, 1857, and is a son of Luther S. and Mary D. (Woodson) Palmer, and a grandson of Joseph Palmer, this family being an old one in Carroll county.
Orrin J. Palmer obtained a public school education in his native place. He was eighteen years of age when he began work at the trade of general mason, with his uncle, Morris D. Palmer, of Dover and he served an appren- ticeship of four years there and three years at Fall River, Mass. In 1875 he returned to Dover and almost ever since has been engaged in some branch of mason work as a contractor, in late years making a specialty of brick work and plastering. Long since he proved his skill and accuracy and he has been concerned in many of the large contracts which have been successfully com- pleted here, keeping a large force of capable men employed.
Mr. Palmer was married September 5, 1880, to Miss Gertrude Brown,
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who was born at Dover, a daughter of the late Caleb Brown, who once was the leading carriage builder of Dover. Mrs. Palmer died April 15, 1908, a lady of many virtues and of beautiful character. Mr. Palmer is a member of the Free Will Baptist church on Washington street, in which he has been a deacon for many years and also has been church warden, at present being a member of the board of trustees. Politically he is a Republican and frater- nally belongs to the A. O. U. M. and to the Knights of Pythias at Dover. He is one of the city's solid, reputable men and deserves the high regard in which he is held by his fellow citizens.
HON. HENRY E. PERRY, superintendent of the water works at Dover, N. H., is one of Strafford county's popular and representative men, and has been a resident of Dover for the last thirty-five years. He was born at Ports- mouth, N. H., October 25, 1849, and is a son of Dr. Adams and Selissa Scott (Seagrave) Perry. Dr. Adams Perry was born at Plymouth, Mass., in 1812, and his wife at Uxbridge, Mass. For over a half of a century Dr. Perry practiced medicine at Portsmouth, N. H., where his death occurred in 1880. Of his family of children but one survives, Henry E. Perry of Dover.
After his school days were over, Henry E. Perry learned the trade of machinist and steam engineering, serving his apprenticeship with the Swan- scott Machine Company, then located at South Newmarket, now Newfields, N. H. He continued to live there until 1878, when he came to Dover, where for 25 years he was employed as a machinist with the Sawyer Woolen Com- pany and during this time also gave attention to the duties of numerous civic offices. In 1903 he was appointed superintendent of the water works and in this position his practical knowledge has been of great use in relation to the efficiency of this important public utility. A zealous Republican since man- hood, Mr. Perry has been frequently honored by his party. He served two years as a member of the city council from the Fourth Ward and also as alder- man, and for four years was a member of the school board of Dover and twice was elected a member of the New Hampshire legislature.
On August 28, 1869, Mr. Perry was married to Miss Camelia M. Gilson, who was born at Nashua, N. H., a daughter of William E. and Melissa J. (Clay) Gilson. The father of Mrs. Perry was born at Concord, Mass., and the mother at Madbury, N. H. In her childhood they moved to South New- market, N. H., where she was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Perry have one daughter, Helen K. B., who is the wife of Prof. Robert J. Sisk, who is a graduate of Dartmouth College and is supervising principal of the public schools of Auburndale, Mass. Prof. and Mrs. Sisk have one son, Harland P. Mr. and Mrs. Perry take an active interest in all things that are educational
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