USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > History of Strafford County, New Hampshire and representative citizens > Part 75
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THOMAS HUGHES,* who for a quarter of a century has been engaged in the meat and provision business at Dover, now confining himself entirely to the wholesale meat trade, is recognized as one of the solid and substantial men of this city. He was born in the north of Ireland, December 12, 1860, and is a son of Felix and Catherine ( McIntyre) Hughes, who also were natives of the north of Ireland.
Thomas Hughes was reared through boyhood and youth in his native land, enjoying such advantages as his parents could afford him, but America attracted him and when in his twentieth year he took passage on a steamer bound for Boston and after a quick passage was safely landed. In 1880 he reached Dover, N. H., and this city has continued to be his home. He built up a substantial business in the meat and provision line, on Locust street, which is still carried on under the old name of Hughes' Market, by his son, Edward Hughes. Mr. Hughes owns a farm of more than 40 acres which he devotes to general agriculture. He has been very successful in his various business undertakings and at the same time has been reliable and useful as a citizen. Nominally he is a Democrat but is somewhat independent in his political views. Mr. Hughes married Miss Sarah Delaney, of Somersworth, N. H., and their children are: Edward, Philip, Thomas, William, John, Sadie B., and Ellen. Mr. Hughes and family belong to the Roman Catholic church.
LUTHER W. BREWER, master mechanic for the Salmon Falls Manu- facturing Company, is a man who has depended from youth on his own ef- forts for advancement and the large measure of success which he has reached in his undertakings, illustrates what an industrious, persevering, honorable young man can accomplish, in spite of many drawbacks. Mr. Brewer was born at Eastham, Cape Cod, Mass., October 18, 1859, and is a son of Reuben and Ruth (Snow) Brewer. His father was born also on Cape Cod and for many years followed the sea. He died in his goth year. The mother of Mr. Brewer was born near Brockton, Mass.
Luther W. Brewer grew up in Eastham, where he had early school op- portunities. He then learned the carpenter's trade and at the age of 19 years left his home and for a number of years lived in different places in Massa- chusetts, supporting himself by work at his trade. After reaching Strafford county he continued to work as a carpenter and as his skill began to be rec- ognized he secured employment as such with the Salmon Falls Manufactur- ing Company, entering the mill April 19. 1888, with which concern he has been identified ever since. He worked his way through the departments of the mill until he had acquired the experience that enabled him to accept a position as master mechanic, which was tendered to him in 1904 and this position he has filled satisfactorily ever since. To have been continuously 46
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connected for a quarter of a century with one of the great industrial plants of New England, proves a man's efficiency and his standing in his community without further comment.
Mr. Brewer was married on November 1, 1883, to Miss Vida E. Ingalls, who was born at Whitingsville, Mass., and they have two daughters, Florence V. and Lillias M. Both ladies are graduates of the Normal School at Ply- mouth, N. H., and the younger, during 1912 was a teacher in the public schools of Franklin, N. H. The elder daughter was a teacher for seven years at Dover, N. H., prior to her marriage to Fred A. Chapman, who is an educator at Cohasset, Mass. Mr. Brewer has always taken a deep interest in educational advancement and for a number of years has been a member of the school board of Rollinsford. In politics he is a Republican. With his family he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church at South Berwick, Me., of which he is a steward, trustee and treasurer and also has served as superin- tendent of the Sunday school.
C. E. CLARK, general manager and sole owner of the Rochester Woolen Company, has one of the foremost business enterprises of Rochester, N. H. He was born in Somersworth, N. H., in 1855, and is a son of Everett and Sarah A. (Bean) Clark.
Everett Clark was born in Strafford, N. H., and there followed the trade of a painter. He died at the age of 57 years. He was married to Sarah A. Bean, who was born in Sandwich, N. H., December 15, 1832, and is now liv- ing at the advanced age of 81 years. They reared three children: Frank, who follows farming at Barrington; Edward, who is chief of police of Dover, N. H .; and the subject of this sketch.
C. E. Clark received his educational training in the public schools of Dover and in Austin Academy. After leaving school he learned the trade of a machinist, which he followed for a period of 20 years. He established the first machine shop in the village, and at one time was owner of the Rochester Machine & Foundry Company. He was then in the lumber busi- ness some seven or eight years, when in 1901 he bought into the Rochester Woolen Company. He owned it with his son, Herman E. Clark, until 1909, since which time he has been sole proprietor. The plant had been shut down for twelve years prior to 1901, and the success met with since that date re- flects good executive ability and business policy in its management. He manufactures ladies' dress goods, and gives employment to about 100 people.
Mr. Clark was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Varney, who was born in Dover, N. H., and they have two children: Herman E., who is a broker of Salt Lake City; and Leo I., who is completing a technical educa-
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tion in the Textile School at Lowell, Mass. Religiously the family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics Mr. Clark is a Republican.
WALTER S. LAWSON*, agent of the Great Falls Bleachery and Dye Works, is prominent among Somersworth's active and successful men of busi- ness. He has been associated with the company named since 1892, the year in which he came to this place to live. Mr. Lawson was born in Andover, Mass., February 23, 1871, and was reared there and at Lawrence, Massa- chusetts, where he attended high school. When about 19 years of age he began working in the Pacific Mills at Lawrence, being employed in the dye- ing department, until he moved to Somersworth, N. H. He is a son of John and Isabella (Brande) Lawson, both natives of Scotland. They located at Andover, Mass., where both continued to live until their deaths. Upon com- ing to Somersworth in 1892, Walter S. Lawson became overseer in the dye- ing department of the Great Falls Bleachery and Dye Works, with which concern he has been identified continuously since. After a short time he was advanced to the position of superintendent of the works, in which capacity he remained five years, then in 1899 became agent of the Great Falls Bleach- ery and Dye Works. A young man and ambitious, he brought into the posi- tion a world of energy and some good ideas, it being his aim to make his services as valuable as possible to the company. That he has well succeeded is well evidenced by the fact that he still continues as agent of the company after a long service. Mr. Lawson has been much interested in civic matters. For ten years he served as chairman of police commissioners of Somers- worth, and for a period of three years represented the first ward as a member of the city council. He is a Republican in politics.
Mr. Lawson was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Gertrude Bates, a native of Somersworth and a daughter of the late George S. Bates of this place. Two children have blessed this union, Dorothy and Donald S. Lawson. Fraternally, the subject of this record is a member of Blue Lodge, F. & A. M. at Somersworth, and of St. Paul's Commandery, K. T., in Dover, N. H.
BENJAMIN A. WIGGIN*, who has been a resident of Somersworth, N. H., for more than 40 years, now lives retired at No. 207 High street. He was born at Wolfboro, N. H., October 1, 1826, and is a son of Jeremiah and Hannah (Nudd) Wiggin, both parents being natives of New Hampshire.
Benjamin A. Wiggin was a babe of one year when his parents moved to Bingham, Me., and there he grew to manhood, attending school in boyhood and, as soon as old enough, beginning to take care of himself. He had little assistance and practically is a self made man. He learned the shoemaking
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trade and also engaged in teaming and when not occupied with either of these employments, worked as a farmer, his entire career having been marked with self respecting independence. Since 1872 Mr. Wiggin has been a resident of Somersworth and it is an interesting story he can tell of the many changes that have been brought about in the last 40 years. For seven years he was street commissioner after Great Falls was transformed into Somersworth and the latter became an incorporated city, and many of the improvements he ad- vocated during his official life served as the foundation for the present city's most valuable utilities. While always inclined to follow his own judgment to some degree in political matters, Mr. Wiggin is nominally a Republican.
Mr. Wiggin was married at Bingham, Me., to Miss Mary C. Chase, of that place, a daughter of Davis Chase, an old resident there. Mrs. Wiggin died February 18, 1909, the mother of six children : Ella C., who is deceased ; Persis L., William H., Harriet E. and Joseph F., all of whom reside at Somers- worth ; and Emma G., who is the wife of George F. Wells, who is assistant postmaster of Somersworth. Mr. and Mrs. Wells have one son, Burleigh R., who is a graduate of the New Hampshire State College at Durham, and is now office inspector for the Western Union Telegraph and Cable Company at Boston, Mass. In his energy and enterprise he possesses many of the traits that enabled his grandfather, many years ago, to face and successfully over- come many disadvantages and discouragements.
OSCAR L. GUPTILL*, general farmer and cattle raiser, residing on the Rocky Hill road, town of Somersworth, is successful as a business man and respected as a citizen. He was born on Diamond Hill, Berwick, Me., July 22, 1868, of old and honorable Maine ancestry. His parents were Albert W. and Adalaide J. (Roberts) Guptill. Albert W. Guptill was born in York county, Me., a son of Moses Guptill, also of Maine. For a short time Albert W. Guptill resided on the farm which his son now owns, but his death oc- curred very soon after he retired to Raymond, N. H. He married Adalaide J. Roberts, a native of Dover, N. H., who is now deceased.
Oscar L. Guptill was 16 years of age when the family removed from Dia- mond Hill to the village of Berwick, Me., where he had school advantages and afterward attended the South Berwick Academy. In response to a natural inclination toward the law, he entered the office of Pierce Brothers, well known attorneys at Somersworth, where he was a student for two years and afterward continued his law studies in the office of his brother, Ernest L. Gup- till, of Portsmouth, N. H. In the meanwhile he had become somewhat in- terested in Democratic politics and was appointed deputy sheriff of Rock- ingham county, N. H., in which office he served for two years. Following
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his retirement from office he came to his present farm and has since lived the life of an agriculturist.
On December 25, 1883, Mr. Guptill was united in marriage with Miss Una C. Keyser, who was born at Benton, N. H., and is a daughter of James H. Key- ser, who is a resident of Rochester. Mr. and Mrs. Guptill have four children : Winthrop H., Laurence W., Brenda J. and Byrl C. The family attend the High street Baptist church.
A. G. GELINAS, who is a substantial business man of Rochester, N. H., engaged in the fire insurance and real estate business, with headquarters at No. 22 Bridge street, was born December 28, 1863, at St. Guillaume, Prov- ince of Quebec, and was there educated, coming to Strafford County, N. H., when 22 years of age.
Mr. Gelinas began industrial life as an employe of the Gonic Manufac- turing Company, remaining with them for two years and a half. He then entered into the grocery business and was proprietor of a general store at Gonic, N. H., for five years, at the end of which time he sold out to Holland & Marginson, and for about three years was practically out of business. He then carried on a grocery store until 1905, from which time until 1909 he was interested in brick manufacturing at Kennebunkport, Me. During all this time he had maintained his residence at Rochester and continued all his civic interests. In 1902 he was a member of the state constitutional conven- tion, for three years was assessor of the city of Rochester, and for three years has been a member of the city council, representing the 4th Ward.
Mr. Gelinas was first married to Miss Virginia Roulx, who died six months later. Two and a half years afterward he was united in marriage with Mrs. Adella (Gagnon) Vadeboncoeur, who had been the widow of Ferdinand Vadeboncoeur for three years. Mr. and Mrs. Gelinas are members of the Roman Catholic church. He belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters and was a delegate to the Foresters' international convention in August. 1913; at Louisville, Ky.
GERALD A. SCARR, a well known citizen of Dover, engaged in the plumbing business, who is now serving in his second term as representative to the legislature from Ward 3, has been a resident of this city since 1901, having come here from Salem, Mass. He was born in Lancashire, England, April 18, 1865, a son of James and Elizabeth Scarr. His parents, who were both natives of England, are now deceased. They came to New England in 1878, and their son accompanied them. They first settled in Lawrence, Mass., where he obtained a good education in the public schools and then
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commenced learning the plumber's trade in Lawrence and subsequently fol- lowed it there for a number of years. While residing in Lawrence his parents died and in 1894 he moved to Salem, Mass., where he resided, working at his trade until 1901, in which year, as above stated, he came to Dover, where he has since continued in the plumbing business. He has achieved a gratify- ing measure of success and is regarded as one of the reliable and substantial citizens of Dover. A Republican in politics, he has taken an active part in public affairs, served two years as councilman from Ward 3, and also the same length of time as alderman. As already stated, he is now serving his second consecutive term as representative from his ward to the state legislature, and in these various official positions has shown efficiency and a high regard for the interests of his constituents.
Mr. Scarr was married, July 17, 1898, to Alice M. Towle, a native of Dover, and daughter of Sidney M. and Lavina C. (Hoyt) Towle. Mrs. Scarr's father was a native of Wolfboro, and her mother of Rochester; both are now deceased. Sidney M. Towle came to Dover when a boy and resided here for the rest of his life, being engaged in the lumber industry. He was a veteran of the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Scarr are members of St. John's M. E. Church of Dover, and both are efficient workers in the various organi- zations of the society.
Mr. and Mrs. Scarr are members of St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church in Dover, and both are efficient workers in the various organizations of the society. Mrs. Scarr is also a member of the Woman's Christian Tem- perance Union, and has held various official positions. Mr. Scarr is a member of the Strafford Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Dover, but has held no official posi- tions.
Aside from being a first-class plumber Mr. Scarr is a mineralogist of no small acquirements. When he was a school boy he began collecting minerals and from time to time since then has added to his specimens, as in his travels he has found them in various parts of the United States, and he has not a few that friends have furnished him from foreign lands. No doubt his collec- tion of minerals, fossils and other curios is the largest and finest private se- lection to be found in Strafford county. It gives him great pleasure to show and explain the various articles to his friends and strangers, who cannot be otherwise than delighted and instructed by the examination.
Mr. and Mrs. Scarr are esteemed members of Dover's social circles. They have no children, but have taken a lovely girl, Viola Andrews, to care for, and bring her up as they would their own child.
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JAMES CORSON, who is a member of one of the old and substantial families of Rochester, N. H., has spent his long and busy life in Strafford county, where he owns acres and acres of valuable land. He resides on Port- land street, one-half mile southwest of East Rochester and one and one-half mile northeast of the public square in the city of Rochester. He might reside, however, in many other places did he so desire, for he owns 500 acres of land in the town of Rochester ; 500 acres in the town of New Durham; 200 acres in the town of Milton; and 350 acres in the town of Farmington. Mr. Corson was born on a farm on the Salmon Falls road, in the town of Rochester, N. H., February 15, 1845, and is a son of Michael E. and Mary (Butler) Corson.
Michael E. Corson and his father, Joseph Corson, were both born in Rochester and spent their lives here, passing through the usual human experi- ences and finally, in the course of nature, giving way to their descendants. They were among the founders and supporters of the Methodist Episcopal church at Rochester. Michael E. Corson married Mary Butler, who, in all probability, came from the same sturdy stock that produced Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, of Civil War fame, who was also closely identified with the cotton mill industry at Lowell, Mass. Four sons were born to Michael E. Corson and wife : John, who died in May, 1913, at the age of 73 years; Hiram, who resides at Kennebunk, Me .; James ; and Nahum, who is a resident of Rochester.
James Corson attended the district schools in boyhood and since reach- ing manhood has given attention to lumbering, farming and dairying. When the Patrons of Husbandry came into being and the first grange was organized at Rochester, Mr. Corson was one of the first to take an interest in the move- ment and is the only surviving charter member. Mr. Corson married Miss Mary E. Curtis, who was born one-half mile south of the present home, on the Salmon Falls road and is a daughter of Cyrus K. and Rachel W. Curtis, old settlers of Rochester. Mr. and Mrs. Corson have had the following children : Freeman, who is a resident of Providence, R. I .; Edna, who is the wife of S. A. Capron, of Westfield, Mass .; Woodbury, who died when three years old; Lilly, who died at the age of twelve years; Grace R., who is the wife of Eldred G. White; Nellie W., who is the wife of Charles Boyce, of Palmer, Mass .; and Bertha, who lives at home. Mr. Corson and family at- tend the Baptist church at East Rochester. He has consented to serve in small town offices at times but has never been very active in politics, his time being very fully occupied with his extensive land interests.
WILLIAM L. MARSTON,* who for more than 30 years was identified with Mill No. 3, of the Great Falls Manufacturing Company, most of the time
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as overseer of the weaving department, is a resident of Berwick, Maine, where he owns a farm of 45 acres. He was born in Williamstown, Vt., March II, 1846, and is a son of Orvis K. and Caroline (Letch) Marston, both natives of Vermont. The Marstons are of English ancestry.
William L. Marston was reared in Williamstown, Vt., and there attended the public schools. He enlisted for service in the Federal Army during the Civil War, enlisting June 23, 1862, as a private in Company I, 9th Reg. Ver- mont Volunteer Infantry. About two months after they left Vermont, this regiment was included in the force surrendered by General Miles at Harper's Ferry. Mr. Marston, among others, was paroled, and was marched to Anna- polis, Md., thence later to Chicago, Ill. About four months later, he was duly exchanged. He then served in various states until the fall of 1864, when at the battle of Chapin's Farm, City Point, Va., near Richmond, he was severely wounded. Incapacitated for service, he was confined in a military hospital for five months. In April, 1865, he returned to his regiment at Chapin's Farm and was on picket duty within five miles of Richmond when that city was evacuated by the Confederates. He was one of the first men to enter Richmond after it had been abandoned. He was honorably dis- charged from the service on June 14, 1865.
After the war had closed, Mr. Marston returned to his native state and shortly after began farming, at which he continued for several years. He subsequently went to Rhode Island, where he was in the employ of a house fur- nishing concern at Providence for a time. He next moved to Great Falls (now Somersworth) New Hampshire, and entered the employ of the Great Falls Manufacturing Company as a bobbin boy. He was later a loom fixer for three years, after which he was advanced to second hand in the weaving room. After a time he went to Biddeford, Maine, where he became overseer in the weaving department of the Pepperill Mills. He remained there nine years, at the end of which time he returned to the Great Falls Company as overseer of the weaving department in Mill No. 3. At this time he took up his residence in Berwick, Maine, where he has lived continuously since. He served in a highly efficient manner and continued without interruption as overseer of that department from 1886 until 1912, when he resigned. For a number of years he had followed agricultural pursuits, and is the owner of a good farm of 45 acres in Berwick.
In May, 1874, Mr. Marston was united in marriage with Miss Jennie S. Bailey, who was born in Lisbon, N. H., and is a daughter of William G. and Susan (Clough) Bailey. Her father was born in Bath, N. H., and her mother in Lyman, N. H. Mrs. Marston is descended from Richard Lynne Bailey, who came from England in the ship "Bevis" in 1639, coming as a
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servant of one Richard Dummer. He settled at Newburyport, Mass., reared a family, and to him many of the name trace their ancestry. Of his descend- ants some were participants in the Revolutionary struggle, some as privates and others with rank of captain or colonel. William L. Marston and his wife are members of Granite State Commandery No. 46, Golden Cross, at Somers- worth, N. H. and of Martha Washington Rebeccas. Mrs. Marston is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church of Berwick. He is a member of Lodge No. 2, I. O. O. F .; Great Falls Encampment No. 15, I. O. O. F., at Somers- worth; Washington Lodge No. 4, I. O. O. F., Somersworth; Joseph H. Dear- born Canton, I. O. O. F., of Biddleford, Me .; and Mavochen Lodge No. 2, K. P., at Biddeford, Maine. He is a member of Littlefield Post, No. 8, G. A. R., at Somersworth, of which he was commander two terms and of which he is now quartermaster.
CHARLES A. ALLEN, farmer and dairyman, residing one mile from Rochester Square, on Washington street, Rochester, N. H., owns seventy acres of land and manages it so well that it makes satisfactory returns for all his investments. He was born at Barrington, N. H., April 7, 1851, and is a son of James L. and Mary A. (Hoyt) Allen. In 1863 the parents of Mr. Allen moved to Gonic, where the father died at the age of 72 years. The mother still lives there and is now in her 86th year. They had five children, three of whom survive.
Charles A. Allen was mainly educated at Gonic and has been a resident of Rochester for the past 50 years. For eleven and a half years he served as city marshal and for 25 years has been on the police force of the town and was formerly its chief. For ten years he operated a livery and feed stable, building his barn at the City Hotel on Arrow street. On his present place Mr. Allen has brought everything to a first class condition and raises all his own corn and keeps ready for constant use a silo of 100 tons capacity. He maintains his dairy with 24 head of cows and has some thorough-bred cattle and in the past has raised fast horses. He delivers daily from 150 to 200 quarts of milk in Rochester, employing one man besides himself in the morn- ing delivery and has never disappointed his patrons one day in the last three years.
Mr. Allen married Miss Mary Abbie Randlett, who was born in Durham and is a daughter of Charles and Lucy Randlett. She was mainly reared at Lowell. Mass., and attended school at Rochester. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have two children : Charles Roscoe, a resident of Rochester, who married Maude Small: and Alta Maude, who is the wife of Frank Grover, of Rochester. Mr. Allen is quite prominent in Republican politics in Strafford county and served one term in the state legislature, representing the town of Rochester.
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