USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > History of Strafford County, New Hampshire and representative citizens > Part 67
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William G. Bradley had but meager school advantages in boyhood and the greater part of his book knowledge was secured in night schools at Lowell. He was but 13 years of age when he found work, driving a team from Burling- ton to Boston, after which he returned to Lowell and worked in a shop until 1866. In April, that year, having saved a little money, he went West, but after spending his savings returned home. Then, in 1869, he went to Grafton and spent two years on a milk farm, subsequently returning to shop work. In 1876 he came to New Hampshire and was employed by a Dover firm for four months, following which he came to Rochester and for the next three years was engaged in work at the Wallace Shoe factory. Mr. Bradley then embarked in the retail shoe business on Central Square, starting business
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August 25, 1879, and continuing in the same until December 31, 1896, when he sold all his stores. He made this city his home, while at the same time he con- ducted branch stores at Gonic, East Rochester, Salem and Newburyport. In 1898 Mr. Bradley was elected mayor of Rochester, being re-elected in 1899, again in 1902, 1903, 1907, 1908 and 1909; having previously, in 1895, served in the New Hampshire legislature, elected on the Republican ticket. His good citizenship has been in many other ways recognized by his fellow citizen: For nine years-from 1899 to 1908-he was manager of the Rochester Fair Association, being also a stockholder in the same. Although now retired from active business he still has large lumber and real estate interests which more or less claim attention, from 1911 to January 1, 1912, being associated in these lines with Mayor Preston. He is also one of the trustees of the Gaf- ney Home for the Aged.
Since starting in business at Rochester Mr. Bradley has been a liberal con- tributor to all manufacturing plants coming to Rochester, East Rochester and Gonic. It was through his efforts that the street railway was extended to East Rochester, he assuming all responsibilities. He also had the fire engine house and town hall built at East Rochester. The president of the street rail- way company was present at the dedication and in his speech said that the peo- ple of Rochester and East Rochester were indebted to Mr. Bradley alone for the street railroad to East Rochester.
Mr. Bradley was united in marriage with Miss Louise M. Howe. They attend the Baptist church. Since 1871 he has been identified with the Masonic fraternity and belongs also to the Order of the Eastern Star.
HARRY A. MORRISON, collector of taxes for Dover, N. H., a well known, capable and trustworthy citizen, who is serving in his ninth year in the above office, was born at Dover, Deceniber 14, 1873, and is a son of Andrew and Margaret (Anderson) Morrison.
Andrew Morrison was born in South Boston, Mass., in 1839 and he and his wife are now highly esteemed residents of Dover. He was a brave soldier during the Civil war and is a valued member of the Grand Army post at Dover. In politics he is affiliated with the Republican party.
Harry A. Morrison secured excellent educational training in the public schools of Dover and afterward, for a time, worked at the carpenter trade and then became chief clerk for D. L. Furber, who conducted a shoe store on Washington street, Dover, and also was a manufacturer. For several years Mr. Morrison was at the head of the retail department and continued with Mr. Furber until 1904, when he was elected tax collector for the first time and his efficiency in office has been rewarded ever since by re-election.
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Mr. Morrison married Miss Mabel L. Priestly, of Dover, and they have one daughter, Ruth E., who was born May 13, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Like his father, Mr. Morrison has been active in the affairs of the Republican party. He belongs to Moses Paul Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and to the Knights of Pythias in all branches of that order, being a member of its board of trustees at Dover, and is treasurer and secretary of the building committee of the new Knights of Pythias' build- ing which is now under course of construction in this city.
IRA G. STUDLEY, treasurer and manager of the Studley Box & Lumber Company, with plant located on Silver street, Rochester, N. H., was born in 1876, in Massachusetts, and is a son of Gideon and Elizabeth (Totman) Studley.
Gideon Studley, who is engaged in the box business at Rockland, Mass., is an experienced box manufacturer. In 1905 he came to Rochester and in association with his son, Ira G., founded the Studley Box & Lumber Company, the business of which has now grown into large volume, becoming one of the largest enterprises of this manufacturing city and affording employment to 125 men. Gideon Studley married Elizabeth Totman and twelve children were born to them.
Ira G. Studley attended the public schools in his native state and then took a course in the Institute of Technology at Boston, after which he was in the box manufacturing business with his father. Later he was in the business at Henniker, N. H., and from there, in April, 1905, came to Rochester and bought the plant which is now owned by the New England Cotton Yarn Company, to whom he sold and for four years afterward operated it for them. In the meanwhile he started his present business, utilizing the same building then standing but introducing all the improvements The business is dressing lumber in transit and manufacturing box shooks. Capital. good business judgment and honorable methods have combined to make this a prosperous undertaking. Mr. Studley is not active politically but gives his support to the Republican party. He is identified with several degrees of Masonry.
JOHN CANNEY, a well known and highly respected resident of the town of Dover, where he owns a farm of 20 acres, has been active in many local positions of responsibility since the close of his services as a soldier in the Civil war. He was born at Barrington, N. H., December 16, 1845, and is a son of Isaac and Betsy (Cater) Canney.
Isaac Canney was a son of Isaac Canney, who was a son of the pioneer of the family, who was born in Ireland and who, when he came to the United
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States, located among the early settlers in Madbury, Strafford county, N. H. Isaac Canney, father of John Canney, spent the greater part of his life in Dover, where he died at the age of 69 years. He followed farming and was also a dealer in cattle. He married Betsy Cater, who was born at Barring- ton, N. H.
As soon as his boyhood school days were over, John Canney learned shoe making and worked at his trade and also as a farmer until he enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company E, First N. H. Cavalry, which was attached to the Army of the Potomac. He served for almost one year, being mainly engaged in scouting and raiding, and was then honorably discharged and returned to his Dover farm. For twelve years Mr. Canney has been in charge of the Rochester Fair Grounds during the annual exhibitions and few men in the county are more generally known, for the county fair brings residents of every section to Rochester, either as exhibitors or interested visitors. Dover also has reason to know him well and favorably, for he was assistant marshal on the police force of Dover for eight years. In politics he is nominally a Republican but has independent inclinations. Mr. Canney married Miss Cynthia Huntoon, and they have one son, Lyman Canney, who is now a resident of East Pepperill, Mass.
LOREN D. CASLER. Not every man of really good intentions possesses the energy and enterprise that are necessary in order to advance, especially along the industrial lines in which competition is great. Loren D. Casler, who is one of Somerworth's respected and useful citizens, has demonstrated his capacity in his many years of business life and now occupies a responsible position as general overseer of the yards of the Great Falls Manufacturing Company. He was born at Little Falls, Herkimer county, N. Y., January 20, 1849, and is a son of Myron C. and Catherine S. (Fink) Casler.
The Casler family is an old and respected one in the Mohawk valley, and when the German ancestors settled there they spelled the name as they pro- nounced it, Keysler. In later generations it became Casler. Myron C. Casler and wife were both born there and during the childhood of their son, Loren D., removed to Montreal, Canada, which was the family home for many years, Myron C. Casler being foreman for the Montreal Water Works for 20 years. Both he and his wife died at Montreal.
Loren D. Casler remained during his school period and early manhood in the city of Montreal and then came back to the United States. At Omaha, Nebr., in 1876, he enlisted in Company E, 4th U. S. Cavalry, and during his five years of subsequent service was stationed at points ranging from Dakota to Texas, and in 1881 received his honorable discharge at Fort Elliott, Texas.
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Mr. Casler soon afterward came to Great Falls, N. H., now Somersworth, becoming a clerk in the store of William Plummer & Co., this firm at that time doing the largest grocery business in the place. After a number of years with this house Mr. Casler went with the Great Falls Bleachery and Dye Works, where for a number of years he had charge of the baling goods department, and his faithful service was rewarded by appointment to his present responsible position, on January 11, 191I.
On June 29, 1882, Mr. Casler was married to Miss Ella Isadore Plummer, who was born at Great Falls (Somersworth), N. H., and is a daughter of William and Mary A. (Horne) Plummer. Her father was born in Maine and her mother at Great Falls. Mrs. Casler is a lady of mental attainments and for eleven years was a teacher in the public schools before her marriage, for seven years being an instructor in the Somersworth High school. Mr. and Mrs. Casler have one son, Stanley Casler, who is a resident of Peabody, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Casler are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has served in various offices, at present being church clerk. Politically he is a Republican and has been supervisor of the check list of Somersworth for the last twelve years. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to Blue Lodge and Chapter at Somersworth and to the Commandery at Dover.
DAVID CHALMERS, founder of the Chalmers conservatories at Roches- ter, whose death took place September 19, 1913, was born at Alva, Scotland, and came to this country when a baby with his parents. In Scotland the name of Chalmers is a highly respected one, much honor having been conferred on it by the ministry and life work of Dr. Chalmers, the noted Scotch divine, known and revered throughout the land.
On arriving in this country the parents of our subject settled first at Troy, New York, from which place they subsequently removed to Massachusetts, later coming to Rochester, N. H., or about 40 years ago. For some years David Chalmers worked for the Cocheco Company at East Rochester. In the meanwhile Mrs. Chalmers, with the assistance of her eldest son, Ernest D., then only eleven years old, began raising vegetables for the market. They had such success that about 1890 Mr. Chalmers resigned his position with the Cocheco company and entered into the business also, taking up the raising of flowers and founding the widely known Chalmers conservatories. This plant consists of several glass houses 300 feet long, devoted to the raising of flowers for mortuory and other purposes, the trade in cut flowers, which is large, being a specialty. The business is the largest of the kind in this section.
Mr. Chalmers married Mabelle Cushing, who was born in Rochester, N. H., a daughter of Samuel Cushing, now one of the older residents of
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Rochester, who came here from Tamworth, N. H., at the age of 20 years. Mr. Cushing is the oldest pansy grower in New Hampshire. His wife, whose maiden name was Elmira Wentworth, was born in this vicinity.
Mr. and Mrs. Chalmers were the parents of five children, namely : Ernest D., born in Rochester, N. H., December 25, 1878, who married Mary Hamil- ton and has two children-(1) Dwight, born July 25, 1908, and Dorothy, born July 9, 1909; (2) Forrest S., born July 9, 1883, who married Jennie Spring- field of Rochester and has one child-Harold S., born January 16, 1913: (3) Albert R., born August 9, 1885; (4) Harry O., born August 17, 1887; and Winnifred R., born May 17, 1891, who married Angie Roberts of Farmington. Mr. Chalmers' death caused much sorrow in this community, as he was a man widely known and respected. Among the floral tributes was a wreath of heather which came from Ole Bull's home in Norway and was given by the Shapleigh family of Lebanon, Me. He was a member of Unity church and in politics was a Republican. The conservatories are now under the management of his widow and give full employment to three of his sons.
AUGUSTINE S. PARSHLEY, whose death occurred December 11, 1901, was one of the foremost citizens and business men of Rochester, New Hamp- shire. He was a veteran of the Civil war and a man whom it pleased the people to elect to offices of trust upon various occasions. He had a large, well established insurance business, and also dealt in real estate. Mr. Parsh- ley was born in Strafford county, N. H., June 21, 1840, and was a son of John W. and Mary A. (Foss) Parshley, both natives of Strafford county.
John W. Parshley followed farming and was also a carpenter, both of which occupations he followed in Strafford throughout his active career. He was a politician in no sense of the word, but was a free soiler. Religiously he and his wife were members of the Free Will Baptist church. He and his wife both died at the age of fifty-eight years. They were parents of the following children: Charles, who died in infancy; John D., who died in Rochester in 1895; Sarah J., widow of A. C. Hall, who lives in Georgetown, Mass. ; George C., deceased; and Augustine S.
Augustine S. Parshley remained at home, following farming and car- pentering with his father, until the war. In 1862, he enlisted for three years' service as a member of Company F, 13th Reg. N. H. Vol. Inf., his enlistment terminating in June, 1865. He was advanced to the rank of corporal. He was seriously wounded in the battle of Fredericksburg, and for one year was prevented from service with his regiment. When he returned to the front, he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps and assigned to the defense of Washington. Upon the close of the war, he returned to Strafford and
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followed carpentering until 1870, when he moved to Rochester and engaged in the insurance business. He was one of the pioneers in that field here and established a large and well paying agency. He also became interested in real estate and was secretary and treasurer of the Rochester Building and Loan Association for years. A republican in politics, he was in 1873 elected chairman of the board of selectmen, and was re-elected each term until 1882, serving a part of the time as town treasurer. When first incumbent of the latter position, the town indebtedness was $62,000, because of the war, and when he left the office the town was free of debt. When he stood for re-elec- tion in 1875, he received all but forty-five of a total of 1,200, which evidences the esteem in which he was held by his fellowmen. In 1873 he was chosen to represent his district in the State Legislature. In 1884 he was again elected chairman of selectmen, serving two years. He declined the nomination for mayor, although strongly importuned to accept it.
Mr. Parshiley was married in 1860 to Miss Georgiana Clough, who died, leaving a daughter, Nellie. This daughter, now deceased, was born June 24, 1861 ; married in July, 1886, Benjamin M. Flanders (also now deceased), and had one son, Philip R. Flanders, who was born July 1, 1887, and is at the present time in business in Boston.
In April, 1866, Mr. Parshley was united in marriage with Miss Ellen F. Buzzell of Strafford, and their union was blessed with four children: Abbie F., who was born August 14, 1867, and died while yet in her teens ; Lillian E., born August 16, 1868, who became librarian of the Rochester Public Library when it was established in 1893, and has served efficiently in that capacity ever since; Charles A., who was born October 4, 1871, and died February 15, 1899, at Southern Pines, North Carolina; and Mary E., born September 2, 1876, who holds a responsible position as bookkeeper. Charles A. Parshley, who was in the insurance business with his father, was married in 1894 to Miss Sadie Hanson. He was a Mason and a member of the Sons of Veterans.
Mr. Parshley was one of the founders of the Rochester Fair Associa- tion, and served as secretary of the board until some three years prior to his death. He was a devout member of the Free Will Baptist church, and for 25 years was superintendent of the Sabbath school. Rev. John Manter of that church officiated at his funeral services, which were largely attended by a host of friends and fraternal brothers. Mr. Parshley was a member of Lodge No. 18, I. O. O. F .; Humane Lodge No. 21, A. F. & A. M .; Temple Chapter No. 20, R. A. M .; Runnanville Tribe No. 9, I. O. R .; Sampson Post No. 18, G. A. R .; and of the Rochester Board of Trade.
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ALBERT I. HALL, a man of recognized business ability and standing of Rochester, N. H., is a dealer in farm machinery and sawmill equipment, in addition to which he sells real estate. He also is meeting with great success as a fruit grower and dealer. Mr. Hall was born in Barrington, N. H., in 1856, and is a son of John B. and Lydia S. (Foss) Hall. The father was a native of New Hampshire, and except for his early years in the shoe manu- facturing business in Havershill, followed farming. He and his esteemed wife reared four children.
Albert I. Hall was reared and received his educational training in Barring- ton and Dover. Throughout nearly the entire of his business career he has engaged in the sale of farm machinery, being much of the time traveling. He has been located at Rochester for 24 years, his office and residence being at No. 92 Charles street. He is the most extensive grower of apples in this vicinity, having 100 acres devoted to that fruit, and he markets from 2,000 to 5,000 barrels per year. Mr. Hall was united in marriage with Miss Esther S. Young, a daughter of Judge Jacob D. Young of Madbury, and their home has been blessed with three children: Irene M., Olive F., and Roswell, the last mentioned being now deceased. Politically Mr. Hall is a Republican. He is a man of wide acquaintance and is held in high esteem.
CHARLES F. PRAY,* station agent at Rollinsford, N. H., for the Boston and Maine Railroad, has been identified with railroad work ever since he reached manhood. He was born at Rollinsford, September 23, 1851, and is a son of Humphrey and Eunice (Stackpole) Pray. The father was born in York, Me., and the mother in Strafford county, N. H. The Pray family is of Scotch ancestry.
Charles F. Pray attended the public schools of his native place and the Salmon Falls High school. Having decided on railroad work as his occupation, he learned the art of telegraphing, beginning as an operator, August 15, 1870, with the Boston and Maine Railroad. Two and a half years later he was appointed station agent and ever since has filled both positions. This is a busy railroad point and Mr. Pray's duties occupy all of his time during working days, while his church and Sunday school activities fill the first day of the week, especially as he is church organist.
Mr. Pray has been twice married, first to Miss Novella A. Libbey, of Lowell, Mass. They had two children: Charles B. and Harry E., the latter being assistant superintendent of the Sayles' Bleachery, of Saylesville, R. I. The second marriage of Mr. Pray was to Miss Lucy B. Lord, of Lebanon, Me., a highly educated lady who had been formerly a teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Pray
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are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of South Berwick, in which he used to be Sunday school superintendent. He is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Salmon Falls. Politically a Republican, he belongs to that wing of the party that particularly advocates temperance. Mr. Pray is one of Strafford county's well known and most popular citizens.
FORREST L. KEAY, M. D., of Rochester, N. H., having an office at 19 S. Main street, was born at Lynn, Mass., April 1, 1865. His father, Frank Keay, was until 1869 engaged in the maunfacture of shoes at Lynn, Mass. He then became a resident of East Rochester, N. H., where he con- ducted a grocery store. Later he engaged in brick manufacturing at Lebanon, Me. His death took place at Ocean Park, Old Orchard, Me., in 1907, when he was 72 years old. He married Releaf Goodwin Jones and their family numbered seven children.
Forrest L. Keay was educated in the schools of Rochester, including the high school, from which he graduated in 1883, and Dartmouth College, graduating from that institution in 1888. In the fall of 1893 he was gradu- ated from Dartmouth Medical College, after which he spent one year in St. Elizabeth Hospital, Boston. He then began the practice of his profes- sion in East Rochester, N. H., remaining there five years and a half, or until February 1, 1900, at which time he took up his present location in Rochester. He has made a good record in his profession, and, being appointed medical referee, served in that position for six years, from 1907 to 1913. He was county physician for eight years and is now secretary of the board of health and overseer of the poor. He was also for several years medical examiner of pension applicants and served on the school board one term. He is a member of the County, State and American Medical Associations, belongs to the Rochester Country Club, and is a 32d degree Mason, having been High Priest of Temple Chapter four years, from 1900 to 1904, and for three years' time Eminent Commander of Palestine Commandery, from 1908 to 19II. Dr. Keay married Lillian M. Quimby, of E. Rochester, on June 20, 1895. In politics he is a Republican and in all things a reliable and patriotic citizen.
FRED C. SMALLEY, who is engaged in the monument and building busi- ness at Dover and also at Portsmouth, is one of the representative men of Strafford county, progressive and enterprising and more or less a leader on account of these qualities. He was born in 1866, in Rutland county, Vt., a son
FRED C. SMALLEY
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of Christopher and Virginia (Guard) Smalley. They had a family of five children, four sons and one daughter, all surviving but one son. The father was a farmer in Rutland county and died at the age of 77 years.
Fred C. Smalley enjoyed excellent educational advantages, attending school at Black River Academy and later at Albany, N. Y., and afterward taught school during several winters. In 1890 he became an employer in the office of the Vermont Marble Company at Proctor, Vt., where he continued for three years and then was employed for two years in their branch office at St. Louis, Mo. He spent the following two years in traveling through the Central States. In 1896, with a partner, he embarked in a monument business of his own at South Berwick, Me., but two years later the partners bought the Dover plant. Later he purchased his partner's interest and in 1906 bought his Portsmouth business place and operates them both. He has two large quarries, in partnership with his brother, at Milford, N. H., and at Westerly, R. I. His location at Dover is Nos. 297-301 Central avenue, and at Ports- mouth, No. 19 Water street.
Mr. Smalley married Miss Grace M. Hanson, of South Berwick, Me., and they have four children: Virginia, Elizabeth, Frederick and Harry. In politics he is a Republican and at present is serving on the board of aldermen. He belongs to Moses Paul Lodge No. 96, A. F. & A. M., and to the Royal Arcanum. With his family he attends the Unitarian church.
C. W. LOWE, who is associated with his son, H. C. Lowe, in the livery and undertaking business, at Rochester, was born at North Shapley, Me., in 1855, and is the oldest of the family of six children born to his parents, who were John and Hannah (Hargraves) Lowe. The father was also born in Maine and died at North Shapley at the age of 74 years. During his entire active life he was a spinner in a mill.
C. W. Lowe left school at the age of eleven years to become a worker in a textile mill, where he continued until 18 years old. He then spent one summer in Boston, after which he located at Milton Mills, N. H., later mov- ing to Union, where he bought a marble shop, still later entering a woolen mill at Springvale. He remained there as carpenter for 18 months and then came to Rochester, where he was car inspector for two years. In 1904 he embarked in the livery business and in 1911 his son, H. C. Lowe, went into the undertaking business, and the two lines have since been carried on in partnership.
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