USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > History of Strafford County, New Hampshire and representative citizens > Part 76
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JOHN E. HORLOR*, who has been identified with the Great Falls Manu- facturing Company at Somersworth, N. H., for the last 26 years, a master mechanic since 1907, is held in the highest esteem as a trained, experienced and capable workman and as a man whose fidelity could never be called into question. He was born at Berwick, Me., October 6, 1861, and is a son of Charles W. Horlor and a grandson of William Horlor. The latter was a native of England and for many years was well known at Great Falls as a gunsmith. Charles W. Horlor for a long period was a machinist with the Great Falls Manufacturing Company.
John E. Horlor attended the public schools of Great Falls but from the age of 14 years has been entirely dependent upon his own efforts for support and advancement. He may rightly be termed a self made man. In 1887 when he entered the employ of the Great Falls Manufacturing Company he already understood the machinist trade and he continued work as a machinist there until 1891, when he was promoted to be a millwright, working as such until 1896. Then promotion came again and he worked as a steam engineer until 1903, when he was made assistant shop foreman and continued in that capacity until he became full foreman in 1905, in 1907 being made master mechanic. In 1891 when the bleachery plant was built, Mr. Horlor was given charge of the installation of the machinery, with the result that its entire construction was entirely satisfactory. Step by step he has advanced in his business and occupies a very responsible position as master mechanic of this large manufacturing concern.
Mr. Horlor married Miss Etta S. Morrill, a daughter of Charles R. Mor- rill, of Somersworth, and they have two children: Lennie M., who is the wife of E. L. Thompson, of Sanford, Me .; and Charles H., who is with the Great Falls Manufacturing Company. Mr. Horlor and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Republican but is not an aggressive politician. He is identified with the Knights of Pythias at Somers- worth and is past chancellor of the lodge.
CHARLES F. WILLEY,* who carries on general farming and market gardening in the town of Dover, owns 50 acres of excellent land, lying along the Littleworth road, this being his father's old homestead. He was born October 31, 1843, and is a son of Thomas J. and Elizabeth ( Ricker) Willey.
Thomas J. Willey, father of our subject, was born in Strafford, N. H., a son of Isaac Willey, one of the early settlers there. He owned the two bodies of water known as the Willey ponds, together with a grist mill and a large tract of adjoining land. He was of English extraction. In early manhood Thomas J. Willey came to the town of Dover, settling on the land now owned
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by his son, Charles F., and died here many years ago. He was a man of consequence, serving as councilman and also as alderman of Dover, and was highly regarded by all who knew him. He was a member of the Free Will Baptist church, which he served many years as deacon. He married Eliza- beth Ricker, a daughter of Nicholas Ricker, who was a son of Nicholas Ricker, the father and grandfather being old residents of Dover. Four chil- dren were born to Thomas J. Willey and wife, two of whom survive, namely : Annie M. and Charles F., both of Dover.
Charles F. Willey attended the district schools and later Franklin Academy at Dover. His life has been largely devoted to agricultural pursuits, espe- cialy market gardening, Dover being his point of distribution. He is well known and is held in esteem both as a business man and neighbor. For some years he served as deacon in the Free Will Baptist church.
L. F. LANGMAID,* who is proprietor of the granite works at No. 24 South Pine street, Dover, is one of the oldest monument men in the business in this section. He was born in December, 1865, at Durham, N. H., the only child of Jacob and Emma (Davis) Langmaid. Jacob Langmaid, also born at Durham, was a carpenter by trade and worked at the same until he died at the age of 70 years. The property which is the site of the present post- office building was once his and after selling he bought a house at a very high figure for those days, in order to enjoy the fine location. This he sold after the tragic death of his wife, who was accidentally killed by a railroad train near her home, when aged but 28 years. She was a native of Newmarket and an admirable woman in every relation of life.
L. F. Langmaid secured his education in the village schools of Durham, as soon as old enough assisting his uncle in the latter's monument shop dur- ing the summers and returning to his books in the winter. He also worked under Joseph Abbott, with whom he learned the best methods of cutting stone, and continued with him until he came to Dover to go with the firm of Stephens & Chesley. Later he entered into partnership with Stephen W. George, sell- ing out four years later, and for seven years following was with the firm of Spencer & Coombs. In 1899 he came back to Dover and bought his present place, where he does all kinds of cemetery and stone work and carries both simple and ornate monuments. He gives constant employment to four men and often has six on his pay roll.
Mr. Langmaid married Miss Annie Thompson, who died at the age of 23 years, leaving three children : Gertrude, who is the wife of Fred Pinkham; Vera, who is the wife of Samuel Gage and has two children, Dorothy May and John Linville; and Ruth E. Mr. Langmaid was married second to
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Miss Annie Knapp, who conducts a millinery store at Dover. Mr. Langmaid is quite prominent in Democratic politics and was a member of the New Hampshire legislature in 1913, and for five years was street and park com- missioner of Dover. He belongs to the Royal Arcanum, the Red Men and the Elks and is also a member of Mt. Pleasant Lodge, Odd Fellows and Prescott Encampment, and additionally is identified with the Masonic bodies including the Chapter.
ALPHONSO D. LEATHERS, a well known citizen of Dover, and a veteran of the late Civil war, residing on the Mast road, was born in Palmyra, Maine, April 17. 1841, a son of Oliver and Lucinda (Boody ) Leathers, Oliver Leathers, the father, resided for most of his life in Palmyra, to which place he moved in 1823 from Nottingham, N. H., his native town. He was a son of Joseph Leathers of Nottingham. The Leathers family is said to be of English extraction, and Joseph Leathers, grandfather of our subject, fought for American independence in the Revolutionary war, while Oliver was a soldier in the War of 1812-15. The latter died in Palmyra, Me. His wife, Lucinda, was a native of Barrington, N. H. Of the eleven children, four were soldiers in the Civil war, namely: John B., now deceased; Charles H., residing in Minneapolis, Minn .; Frederick A., a resident of Champlin, Minn., and Alphonso D., the subject of this sketch.
Alphonso D. Leathers was educated in the public schools of Palmyra, Me. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, 2d Regiment N. H. Volun- teers, which was attached to the Army of the Potomac. At the first battle of Bull Run he was captured by the enemy and subsequently spent three months and ten days in Libby prison, being among the first Northern soldiers to be confined there. Ile was then transferred to Parish prison, New Orleans, where he was confined four months, and the remainder of his prison term, totaling ten months and fourteen days, he spent in Salsbury prison, North Carolina. He was finally released on parole and subsequently exchanged, after which he returned home to Palmyra, Me. After remaining home a few days he went to Washington, D. C., where he was employed in the quarter- master's department (in the clothing department ) for eleven months. After Lee's surrender he helped decorate the White House and was subsequently detailed to assist in draping buildings on Lincoln's assassination. He also took part in the grand funeral procession in Washington. After his return home and discharge from the army he spent some eight years in Farmington, N. H., working at the trade of shoemaking, and subsequently followed the same trade in Dover for nine years, residing on and having charge of the Benjamin Thompson Farm, now the New Hampshire State College Farm. He took up his residence on the Mast road, Dover, in June, 1889.
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Mr. Leathers was married in May, 1867, to Jennie E. Wentworth, who was born in Farmington, N. H., a daughter of Joseph Wentworth, of that place. Of this union was born one son, Frank A., who also resides on the Mast road, Dover. Mrs. Leathers, the wife of our subject, died in 1888. Mr. Leathers is a member of the G. A. R. post at Dover and he and his son are both Democrats in politics. They are well known and progressive citizens, taking an active interest in the betterment of the community and keeping well informed on current events, being extensive and thoughtful readers.
DANIEL F. JENNESS, who is one of the representative men and sub- stantial farmers and stock raisers of Strafford county, has passed his entire life on his home farm near Rochester and was born here October 16, 1856. He is a son of Cyrus and Mercy (McDuffee) Jenness, and a grandson of Daniel Jenness, who was one of the early settlers of Rochester. Both parents of Daniel F. Jenness were born at Rochester and the father died in 1881 on the old homestead farm which he had cultivated. He was a prominent member of the Society of Friends and was a man of sterling character.
Daniel F. Jenness attended school at Rochester and for a time was a student in Franklin Academy, a well known institution, after which, during several winters, he taught school in the neighborhood of his home. Agricul- ture, however, has claimed his main attention. His farm of 150 acres is devoted to general farming and stock raising, and he makes a specialty of pure-bred shorthorn cattle. He has always felt a citizen's responsibility and has lent his influence to public measures when convinced that they were honestly beneficial. He votes with the Republican party but has been a candidate of the Prohibition party for the General Assembly. He served one year as a selectman from the town of Rochester. Mr. Jenness was reared in the Society of Friends and is an elder in the same and belongs to the congregation at Gonic, N. H.
Mr. Jenness married Ida M. Wiggin, who was born at Danvers, Mass .. May 17, 1859, a daughter of Andrew Wiggin, and the following children were born to them: Cyrus F., residing in Newton, Mass .; Elwood S., of Rochester, N. H .; Elizabeth E., a teacher in the Friends' Select School, at Philadelphia, Pa .; Chester A., of Newton, Mass .; Myron Irving, of Roches- ter : Rachel Ida, residing at home; Edith W., formerly a student in the Westtown Boarding School, at Westtown, Pa .; Judith V., who is a student in the above named institution ; and Gertrude and Margaret, both of whom are at home. In many quiet, unostentatious ways, Mr. Jenness has been a useful man in his community and he enjoys universal respect and confidence.
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HON. CURRIER W. LANGLEY,* formerly a member of the New Hampshire legislature and a well known business man of Dover, came to this city in 1869, some years after the close of the Civil war, in which he had honorably participated. He was born August 1, 1848, at Newfield, Me., and is a son of William and Sarah H. (Dearborn) Langley. The Dearborn family is of English extraction and were early settlers in New Hampshire, while the Langleys settled equally early in Maine. Both were of a sturdy type that left worthy representatives. William Langley was a son of Valentine Langley. He died in 1852, the father of ten children, Currier W., then four years old, being the youngest of the family.
Currier W. Langley remained with his mother at Newfield, Me., until he was thirteen years old, after which he spent two years in Boston. He then returned to Newfield to re-enter school and continued more or less continu- ously at his studies until October, 1864, when he enlisted for service in the Civil war, entering Company F, Second Me. Volunteer Cavalry, contracting for one year or during the war. Fortunately he had to serve but eleven months, mainly in Florida, and then was honorably discharged and returned to Newfield, Me. Shortly afterward he moved to Concord, N. H., where he worked for a short time in a cabinet-maker's shop. He then went to Cam- bridge for a limited period, then to Weymouth Landing, Mass., and from there. in 1869, came to Dover. Here he learned the carpenter and building trade with W. P. Hayes, then a well known builder of Dover, and remained with Mr. Hayes for twelve years. Since then he has been in the contracting and building business for himself and has done a large amount of work all over New Hampshire. He has been an active and interested citizen and has served as councilman and as alderman from the Third Ward in the Dover city government and at all times has had the welfare of the majority at heart.
Mr. Langley married Miss Alice J. Jennis, who was born at Newfield, Me., and they had two children : William C., who is now deceased; and Frank M., who is a resident of Dover. In politics Mr. Langley in a general way is a Republican but claims the right to be independent in action when his judgment so urges. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to the Odd Fellows and is a member also of the Charles W. Sawyer Post, G. A. R., at Dover. With his family he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. The family residence is at No. 336 Washington street, Dover.
A. ROSCOE TUTTLE,* who is engaged in business at Gonic as a black- smith and carriage manufacturer, and also pays some attention to contract- ing, is a substantial and respected citizen who would be missed should his
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interests call him to another section. He was born December 20, 1872, in the town of Strafford, county of Strafford, N. H., and is a son of Freeman and Jane L. Tuttle, both of whom are deceased, the father dying at Strafford, N. H., and the mother at Berwick, Me.
A. Roscoe Tuttle obtained his education in the schools of Strafford and Gonic, following which he learned the blacksmith's trade with C. E. Pearl, whom he succeeded in 1894. In his blacksmith, carriage and repair shop he employs five regular men the year through and as he has other interests he is quite a large employer of labor for a place of the size of Gonic. Formerly, for five years, he conducted the local hotel and at present is operating a first class livery stable, affording satisfactory service at reasonable rates.
Mr. Tuttle was united in marriage with Miss Agnes Abbott, a daughter of Charles Abbott. They have no children and occupy comfortable rooms in the rear of the shops. In politics Mr. Tuttle has always been a stanch Democrat and for nine years served as a member of the council of the town of Rochester. He is identified with the Odd Fellows and with the J. O. U. M., both of Rochester.
JAMES W. FORD,* a representative citizen of Dover, N. H., and a member of the city council, representing the Fourth Ward, was born at Dover, April 10, 1849, and is a son of George W. and Martha S. (Cate) Ford.
George W. Ford was born at Dover Point, N. H., and was a son of Ben- jamin A. Ford, and a grandson of Jacob Ford, a very early settler, probably of Scotch extraction. George W. Ford spent his entire life in the town of Dover and was a man of local prominence. For many years he served as a justice of the peace in quorum, was a special policeman on occasion and also was a constable. His death occurred in May, 1910. He married Martha S. Cate, who was born in Strafford county, N. H.
James WV. Ford grew to manhood in Dover and attended the public schools. While a large portion of his time has been absorbed by public duties, he owns and operates a farm of 53 acres. For a quarter of a century he has served as special policeman of Dover Point and for two years has been a member of the Dover city council. Mr. Ford married Miss Carrie Brackett, of Dover, and they have had one daughter whom they named Edith Ina. She is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Ford have an adopted daughter, whom they reared from childhood, Florence May, who is now the wife of George O. Hodgon, of Dover. In politics Mr. Ford is a Republican. He belongs to two well known fraternal organizations, the Odd Fellows, at Council Bluffs, Ia., and the Red Men, at Dover.
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GEORGE A. DAVIS, general farmer and stock raiser, residing on his 400-acre farm which is located in Farmington and New Durham townships, was born on this place, November 22, 1871. He is a son of Samuel and Caroline B. (Hayes) Davis, who were born in New Hampshire and lived and died on this farm, which has been in the family five generations, their burial being in a private cemetery on the place. This land came into the family three generations before they were married, the line being on the maternal side, the date of the original grant from the King of England being 1750. The residence was solidly built by Edmund Tibbetts, in 1780, and is yet com- fortable, having been remodelled first in 1844 and again in 1885.
George A. Davis was the youngest of four children born to his parents, but two of whom are living, Dr. W. S. Davis of Sanbornville, N. H., being the other survivor. Mr. Davis was educated in the public schools and has always made his home on the farm, with the exception of two years during which he was a shipping clerk in a wholesale leather house in Boston. He carries on general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of hay, rais- ing about seventy-five tons of timothy hay in a year. He cultivates about 100 acres, following modern methods and utilizing the best improved machinery.
In 1891 Mr. Davis was married to Miss Eliza Davis, who was born July 1, 1872, the second of three children born to her parents, George E. and Ariana P. Davis. Her father was born in Maine and her mother in New Hampshire. Both have passed away, the burial of the father being in the Mt. Alban cemetery, and the mother at Farmington. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have five children : Hazel, aged 21 years, a student at the New Hampshire Normal School, and a graduate of the Farmington high school, who has taught three years of school very satisfactorily; and Ruth E., Albert H. and Anna P., aged respectively, twelve, ten and eight years, are all at school; the youngest being Louise, who is three years old. Mr. Davis and family are members of the Congregational church at Farmington. In politics he is a Republican. For a number of years he has been a Mason, is past master of the Blue Lodge and past high priest of Columbian Chapter.
BROOKS D. STEWART, a well known contractor and builder of Dover, N. H., is a progressive and public-spirited citizen, always to be found in the forefront when any movement is afoot pertaining to the welfare of the com- munity. He has been a resident of Dover since September, 1879, and since 1880 has maintained an office in the Bracewell Block. Mr. Stewart was born in Skowhegan, Maine, June 24, 1843, and is a son of Isaac and Betsy (Co- burn) Stewart, both natives of Skowhegan, Maine. The Stewart family is
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of Scotch extraction. Isaac Stewart was an agriculturist of Bloomfield, which now is a part of Skowhegan. Rev. Robert Coburn, maternal grand- father of the subject of this sketch, was a Calvinist Baptist minister, and en- joyed an extended acquaintance and reputation throughout the eastern part of the state of Maine.
Brooks D. Stewart was reared in his native village, where he attended the public schools and what formerly was known as Bloomfield Academy. He served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade at that place, and when the war broke out he joined the Federal army, enlisting on October 18, 1861, as a member of Company K, 11th Reg. Me. Vol. Inf., which became attached to the Army of the Potomac. He was with General Mclellan's command throughout the Peninsular Campaign, and later saw service in the Shenan- doah Valley. He was in active service during a greater part of the war, a part of the time engaged in construction work, and no matter what the task set for him it was done faithfully and with such ability as he possessed.
After receiving an honorable discharge from the army, Mr. Stewart returned to his New England home and spent most of his time in the build- ing business. After a time he went west to Logansport, Ind., where for sev- eral years he was superintendent of the agricultural works of Tucker & Howe. In September, 1879, as before mentioned, he returned east and took up his residence in Dover, N. H. He maintains an office in the Bracewell Block and has a shop at No. 14 First Street. A broad, liberal-minded man, he has not been content to restrict his energies to mere success in business ; his interest is unbounded whether it be in civic affairs, music, lodge work or charities. In 1889 and 1890 he was a member of the Dover City Council, representing the fourth ward. He is a member of C. W. Sawyer Post No. 17, G. A. R., in which he has held one office or another for the past 28 years, a part of the time as commander. Since 1897, he has been quartermaster and at the pres- ent time is also patriotic instructor of the post. He also has been a member of the Council of Administration of the New Hampshire Department, G. A. R., and served the department as inspecting officer. In 1897 he represented the State Department as a delegate to the National Encampment which was held in Buffalo, New York, in that year. For more than a quarter of a century he has held office in the National Veterans Association of which he is a mem- ber, and at the present time he is secretary and treasurer with headquarters at Weir, N. H. He has been a justice of the peace 12 years. Mr. Stewart has been an Odd Fellow for more than forty years, being a member of Winnipesaukee Lodge No. 7, at Laconia, New Hampshire. He has been very active in musical circles in years past, and was at one time treasurer of the Choral Society, which formerly flourished in Dover.
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Brooks D. Stewart and Mary D. Viles were married on June 2, 1880. She was born in Orland, Maine, and is a daughter of Joseph H. and Tamson (Eldridge) Viles, the father being a native of Orland, Maine, and the mother of Bucksport, Maine, both families being of English extraction. Two chil- dren have been the issue of this marriage, namely : Charles D., of Melrose, Mass., who is in the railway mail service, running between Bangor and Boston; and Morris A., the second son, employed in the classification depart- ment of the Patent Office at Washington, D. C., in the government service. The latter is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, from which he received the degree of Ph. D. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have with them a granddaughter, Miss Olive M. Stewart (a daughter of Charles D.), who was graduated in 1913 from Dover High School. Mrs. Stewart is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
P. F. CASEY,* who is well known as a business man at Dover, is an electrician, with shop at No. 2 New York Street. He was born in Ireland, in 1877, and is a son of Peter and Rose (Donnelly) Casey. Peter Casey and wife came also to Dover and he followed farming until his death when aged 50 years. He and his wife were members of the Catholic church. They had seven children.
P. F. Casey attended school after coming to Dover and then was em- ployed in the grocery store of William F. Carter for six years and subse- quently was a road salesman for several years, one year for E. A. Gower & Son. In 1909 he started his present business in partnership with Edgar A. Davis, later becoming sole proprietor. He does all kinds of electrical work and carries electrical supplies. Mr. Casey married Miss Catherine Davis and they have four children : John F., Edgar, Morris and Ralph. Mr. Casey and family belong to the Catholic church and he is a member of the Knights of Columbus.
GEORGE H. SPRINGFIELD,* lumberman, general farmer and raiser of thorough-bred shorthorn cattle, owns a fine estate of 600 acres in the town of Rochester. The homestead farm lies one and one-half miles from Roch- ester Square, on the ten-rod road, but Mr. Springfield resides at No. 26 Antrim street, Rochester. He was born in Rochester, N. H., January 10, 1855, and is a son' of George W. and Sarah J. (McDuffee) Springfield.
George W. Springfield was born also in Rochester and for many years was a successful farmer and lumberman in Strafford county. He was an active member of the local Grange and was a lifelong Democrat in politics. He married Sarah J. McDuffee and they had two sons : J. Frank and George H.
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George H. Springfield was reared and educated in the town of Rochester and has always maintained his home here. He raises about 40 head of fine cattle yearly which are sold all over the country. His herd of thorough-bred shorthorns he has exhibited at many agricultural fairs where they have won the blue ribbons. He sells his lumber by contract only and all his in- dustries are carried on according to modern methods. He is a very thor- oughly interested member of the local grange.
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