History of Strafford County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 79

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

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was daughter of Simon Arnold, descendant of William Arnold, born in Warwickshire, England, 1587. He came to Providence in 1630 and was associated with Roger Williams as one of the fifty-four proprietors of the Providence Plantations, which now constitute the state of Rhode Island.

Mr. Brown is member of the New Hampshire Society Sons of the Ameri- can Revolution, also of the Society of Colonial Wars in New Hampshire, of which he was governor, 1900-1901. Mr. Brown's ancestors whose service in the Colonial period entitle him to membership are twenty in number, namely: The Reverend Chad Brown; Deputy Governor John Brown; the Reverend James Brown; Deputy Governor Elisha Brown; Colonel Richard Waterman; Mr. Christopher Peake; Mr. William Almey; Mr. Peter Green ; Governor Roger Williams; Major John Rhodes; Mr. Zachariah Rhodes; Captain Randall Holden; Mr. William Harris; Dr. John Green; Deputy Governor John Green; Mr. John Rhodes; Lieut. Charles Holden; Lieut. Andrew Harris; Mr. Richard Tew; and the Reverend Obadiah Holmes.

In this connection it is interesting to note that Mr. Brown's son, Harold Winthrop Brown, is also a member of the Society of Colonial Wars, and has to his credit on the records of the Society the twenty ancestors of his father and ten more on his mother's side, who are: Governor John Win- throp; Governor Thomas Dudley; Judge and Rev. Samuel Dudley; Judge Edward Hilton; Judge George Smith; Col. Samuel Smith; Major Joseph Smith; Capt. Joseph Bickford; Mr. Jeremiah Burnham and Mr. Clement Meserve.

Mr. Brown has been for many years a member of the New Hampshire Historical Society. Also he was one of the founders of the Dover His- torical Society and is now one of its officers. He is specially interested in local and state history and has some very valuable books and manuscripts in regard to these matters.

The New Hampshire Veterans' Association has made him an honorary member of that organization. Also the Society of the Cincinnati in New Hampshire has made him an honorary member of that patriotic order.

He is also a member of the following organizations: The National Con- servation Association; National Audobon Society; National Geographic Society : the American Forestry Society; New England Historical and Genea- logical Society; the American Civic Alliance ; New Hampshire Peace Society, and the Bellamy Club of Dover.

Mr. Brown's Family-Elisha Rhodes Brown was united in marriage with Frances Bickford, at Dover, 18 October, 1870. She is daughter of Dr. Alphonso and Mary Joanna (Smith) Bickford. Her father was a leading citizen and highly successful physician of Dover for many years. He was

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Mayor of Dover during the beginning years of the Civil War, and he was a very vigorous and efficient magistrate in the performance of the duties of that office. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Brown are: I, Alphonso Bickford, born 23 January, 1872. He graduated from Yale College in 1894, and from Harvard Medical College in 1897. He practiced his profession in Newbury- port until his death, 17 October, 1906. He married 3 October, 1899, Edith Lawrence, daughter of Mayor Huse of Newburyport, who was also Editor of the Newburyport News. They had one daughter, Elizabeth Lawrence Brown, born 6 July, 1903. The mother and daughter reside in Dover. II, Harold Winthrop, born 8 November, 1875. Graduated from Harvard Col- lege in 1897. He is and has been for several years treasurer of the Straf- ford Savings Bank. He married, 15 June, 1899, Katherine Van Hovenberg of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, who is a graduate of Smith College, 1896. They have one daughter, Margaret Von Hovenberg, born July 3, 1912. IJI and IV, Raymond Gould and Philip Carter, born 27 August, 1885. Both are graduates of Harvard College, Philip in 1906 and Raymond in 1907. The latter graduated from Harvard Law School in 1910; he is engaged in the practice of his profession in New York City. Raymond Gould married, 22 January, 1911, Miss Juliette W. Duxbury of Dover. Philip Carter, after graduating from Harvard, took a two years' course at the Institute of Tech- nology, from which he graduated in 1908. He married, June 1, 1909, Mar- guerite L. Williams, daughter of Frank B. and Mary (Locke) Williams. They have a daughter, Mary Phyllis, born 20 July, 1910. Mr. Brown is engaged in business with his father-in-law in belt imanufacturing; Mr. Wil- liams is head of the firm of I. B. Williams & Sons, one of the largest and miost noted belt manufacturing companies in New England.

Mr. Brown's House-Mr. Brown resides on Silver street, one of the oldest in the city, north of Dover Neck. On that street are eiglit houses that are from 150 to 200 years old, all in good state of preservation, and fine colonial mansions. Mr. Brown's house is not one of that number, but it comes close up to the century mark in age, having been built in one of the early years of the last century. Everything is arranged for comfort and vis- itors are sure to feel that way as soon as they enter the hall. One of the most noticeable and valuable of these furnishings is his library, which con- sists of about 8,000 volumes. Not having one room large enough for shelv- ing all his books they are nicely arranged in several rooms, so that every visitor who loves books will be delightfully surprised on his first steps about the house. The selections are of choice literature, historical works having the preference. Many of the sets are in beautiful and costly bindings, being the product of the best binderies in Boston and London. Besides making

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this large and choice collection for his house he has given to the Dover Public Library, of which he is a trustee, about 1,000 volumes of valuable publica- tions. Besides his books he has in his library a very large collection of steel engravings, among which are excellent reproductions of the best work of the grand masters in art.

Mr. Brown's Camp-Mr. Brown's Camp is located on a bluff at the head of the Pascataqua River, which is formed by the water from Little Bay and Oyster River. Little Bay is connected with Great Bay at the ancient Furber's Ferry, which was the route of travel across Furber's Strait between Furber's Point and Adams' Point, on Mathews' (or Mathes') Neck, where the Adams House now is. Little Bay is separated from the Pascataqua River by the strait between Fox Point and Durham Point. The water view from Mr. Brown's Camp (up Little Bay and down the Pascataqua) is very beautiful and is encircled by many historic spots.

The camp stands very near where John Meader's garrison stood, which was burned by the Indians at the time of the massacre in July, 1694. Mr. Meader and his family were obliged to desert the house and make their escape across the river to Fox Point, because he did not have sufficient means for making a defense against the savage enemy. It was rebuilt by Mr. Meader immediately after the battle and properly fortified for defense, and he was living there as late as 1712, and his descendants in the years that followed. This land was originally granted to Valentine Hill by the town of Dover and by him was sold to John Meader in 1660, September 20. Previous to that John Meader had a grant from the town of Dover, in 1656, down the river on the north side which included all the neck of land between the Pascataqua and Back River, which ever since has been called Meader's Neck. The cove on the west side of the neck is Meader's Cove, and that on the north is Royal's Cove. On this neck, the easterly point, which is at the mouth of Back River, is called Cedar Point, where the town lines of Dover, Madbury and Durham come to a point, and one can stand in three towns at the same time. The southerly point, where is the abutment of the old Pascataqua Bridge, is called Tickle Point, and the land north of it and east of Meader's Cove is where was located Franklin City, the first city ever organized (on paper) in New Hampshire. It was incorporated by the New Hampshire legislature in 1796. The bridge across the river there had been completed and opened to travel November 25, 1794. The First New Hampshire turnpike road to extend from there to Concord was incor- porated June 16, 1796, and was completed in 1801. From the opening of the bridge in 1794 to the opening of the turnpike road in 1801, a period of seven years, it was a bustling center of business, but the opening of

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the road decreased the business and the proposed city failed to develop as was hoped for and confidently expected in the beginning. But for many years there was a large amount of travel and transportation of goods and produce between Portsmouth and Concord, all passing near where Mr. Brown's Camp is.

Goat Island is in the middle of the Pascataqua River, in front of Mr. Brown's Camp and about half a mile away. The bridge was the link that connected it with the Durham and the Newington shore. It was over this bridge and island that Daniel Webster, Jeremiah Mason, Ichabod Bartlett and the rest crossed the river when they came up from Portsmouth to Dover to attend courts in the old court house on Tuttle Square, now Bradley's garage. The island remained the property of the town of Dover until it was granted to William Pomfrett, Town Clerk for many years, 5th, 5 mno. 1652. Before that it had been used in common by the townsmen on Dover Neck for pasturing their goats. It contains about three acres and afforded good and safe pasture ground for "ye goatetts."

In the prosperous years of the bridge the Pascataqua Bridge Tavern stood on the island. This was built by the proprietors of the bridge and both tavern and bridge were opened for business in 1794. The bridge con- tinued to be used until February 18, 1855, when 600 feet of it, on the Newington side, was carried away by ice. The tavern was burned to the ground several years before that.

As Mr. Brown sits in his Camp and looks to the southeast he has in view Fox Point, a high bluff of land a half mile long, which lies between Little Bay and the Pascataqua River. It is one of the beauty spots of New Hampshire. It is now owned by Hon. Woodbury Langdon of Ports- mouth and is his country residence. It is so called in a deed of land Septem- ber 14, 1642, which shows it was a well established name for it then. The origin of the name is unknown, but it is supposed that the hunters in the earliest years of the settlement of Dover drove the foxes they pursued into this long, narrow neck and caught them, they having no chance for escape. It is said that the Indians long before that caught wild animals here in the same way. This land was the common property of the town of Dover until the 10th of the 8 mo. 1653, when "Thirty acres of upland on Fox Poynt" were granted to John Bickford, Sr. Mr. Bickford and his wife Tem- perance, May 13, 1677, gave it to their daughter Mary, wife of Nicholas Harrison. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison resided there until his death in 1708, when it passed, by will, to their daughter Elizabeth, wife of Col. John Down- ing, and the Downings lived there several generations, until about 1840.

John Bickford, Sr., is Mrs. Brown's immigrant ancestor. It was to the

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home of Nicholas Harrison and his wife, Mary Bickford, that the Meaders and Bickfords and Edgerly and others fled when they escaped from the awful Indian massacre at Oyster River in July, 1694, not having suitable protection at home. As one sits in Mr. Brown's Camp it is not difficult to call up a picture of the women and children being rowed across to Fox Point, in the common boats of the period, as the war whoops of the savages were heard and the flames of the burning garrisons along the river were seen behind them.

There was the home of Col. John Downing, who for twenty years was one of Governor Benning Wentworth's Councillors, a man of remarkable ability and of great influence in the province. One of his intimate friends and co-laborers was Councillor Joseph Smith of Oyster River, a kinsman of Mrs. Brown, on her mother's side. It was a descendant of Col. Down- ing, Mr. Samuel Downing, who died in 1864, who was the last survivor of the soldiers of the Revolutionary Army. Councillors Downing and Smith were guests at the historic wedding at the Wentworth Mansion, Little Harbor, when Governor Wentworth and Martha Hilton were united in marriage by the Reverend Arthur Brown, the scene of which is so beautifully described by Longfellow in his poem, "Lady Wentworth."

Mr. Brown's camp is near the mouth of Oyster River, on the south side of which is Durham Point, between which and Fox Point is the Narrows that connects Little Bay with Pascataqua River. On Durham Point were the Bickford garrison and the Edgerly garrison; the latter was captured and burned by the Indians in July, 1694, while Judge Edgerly and his family escaped in boats across to Fox Point. Captain Thomas Bickford, however, defended his garrison successfully in a very unique manner. As soon as the Captain was aroused from his slumbers by the alarm guns at the upper garrisons, which told him the Indians were at hand, he hustled his wife and children into boats and sent them across to Fox Point. He closed fast the big door of the palisade and then awaited the approach of the enemy. When they arrived and began firing guns at his house he in turn fired rapidly as possible at them, and kept up a great shouting of mili- tary orders, as if he had a company of men; and from time to time he showed himself to the enemy in a fresh guise, cap and uniform. In this way Captain Bickford deceived them so effectually that they thought his garrison was well manned with, soldiers, and so gave up the attempt to reduce it. Captain Bickford was a kinsman of Mrs. Brown.

The Davis garrison stood near Oyster River, a short distance above Mr. Brown's Camp. It was there that Lieut. James Davis successfully defended it against the attack of the Indians in 1694. It was there that his son, Col.

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James Davis, resided, who in his day was one of the leading men of Dover and the Province.

The Smith garrison was a short distance above the Davis garrison and in sight of it. This garrison was built by Joseph Smith, who on the 31st, 7 mo. 1660, had a grant of land there, which has remained in the posses- sion of the Smith family continuously to the present day, a period of 252 years, the present owner being Mr. Forest S. Smith, Mr. Smith built his house there and soon bought more land from the William Williams estate, north of his grant, from the town of Dover. About fifteen years later he converted his house into a garrison, as the Indians were beginning to be troublesome. It so remained until 1725, when the Indian wars hereabouts ceased. When the Indians made the attack in 1694 Captain Smith was ready for them, having been aroused by the reports of the guns fired up- river. The Indians made a furious attack, but were repulsed at all sides. So not only the Smith family, but also several others who had fled there for protection, were saved. Near where the garrison stood is the Smith family burying ground, in which can be seen sets of grave stones the like of which cannot be duplicated in New Hampshire. There are interred the remains of seven generations who in succession had been proprietors of the Joseph Smith farm, beginning in 1660. All were conspicuous citizens and business men of the town. Mrs. John Brown's mother is a lineal descend- ant from Joseph Smith.

To the east of the camp can be seen the site of the old meeting house on Dover Neck, where was the beginning of Dover history. That was Dover, when the present center of the city was simply "Cochecho" in Dover. The meeting house that stood there was the center of business for nearly a century. Several years ago Mr. Brown and the late Governor Sawyer purchased four acres there, which includes the site, and presented it to the First Church. A few years ago Margery Sullivan Chapter, D. A. R., very generously had · a splendid bank wall built along the east side, next to the road, on which they placed a bronze tablet with appropriate inscription; they also had iron rails around the site on which the meeting house stood.

CHARLES W. LEAVITT*, a veteran of the great Civil war, residing at 34 Prospect street, Dover, N. H., came to this city in 1905. He was born in Gilford, Belknap county, N. H., Feb. 3, 1840, a son of Taylor and Maria (Roberts) Leavitt. Both his parents were natives of New Hampshire, the father born in Strafford, of which place his father, Samuel Leavitt, was a resident for a number of years. When about three years old Taylor Leavitt removed from Strafford, N. H. to Gilford, Belknap county, with his parents,

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and there he was reared and there died in his 83d year. His father, Samuel. passed away in 1860.

Charles W. Leavitt, our direct subject, was reared in Gilford, acquiring his education in the public schools, and residing on his father's farm, on which at an early age he began to make himself useful. On August 9, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, 12th N. H. Volunteer Infantry, and soon found himself a soldier in the Army of the Potomac. With that army he took part in some of its most desperate battles, including Drury's Bluff, Ber- muda Hundred, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and numerous other actions more or less bloody. Being severely wounded in the neck at Cold Harbor, he spent several months subsequently in various hospitals, on his partial recovery being assigned to duty with a wagon train. With his regiment he entered Richmond after its evacuation by the Confederates. He received an honor- able discharge in July, 1865 and then, returning to his native town of Gilford, he engaged there in farming, an occupation in which he continued for many years. He then moved to Laconia, N. H., remaining there four years and thence going to Somersworth. this county, but not long after, he came in 1905, as above stated, to Dover, which place has since been his home. He was formerly a member of the Lakeport, N. H. post of the G. A. R. In politics he is a Democrat and he is widely recognized as a progressive, up to date citizen, taking an interest in everything calculated to benefit the community in which he resides.

Mr. Leavitt has been three times married, first to Martha Dolloff, of Laconia, N. H., who bore him two children-Myrtle E., now the wife of Levi Wright of Laconia; and Florence A., the widow of Frank Cheney and a resident of Lakeport, N. H. Mr. Leavitt's second wife was Mary Lamp- rey, a native of Alton, N. H. He married thirdly Mrs. Eliza Lilley, widow of Joseph Lilley, a former well known resident of Lakeport, N. H. She is a daughter of George H. Spencer, a native of England, where she also was born. Her father was formerly a well known and respected resident of. Lakeport. Mrs. Leavitt is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and she and her husband are popular members of Dover society.

CHARLES H. EASTMAN, one of the well known residents of Gonic, who, for the past five years has been a special police officer here from the Third Ward, was born at Kearsarge, N. H., July 26, 1852, and is a son of Abiathar and Louisa (Holt) Eastman, both now deceased. In the schools of his native place Mr. Eastman received educational training and from Kearsarge, in 1893, he moved to Rochester, N. H., having already learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed at Rochester until 1905, when he

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came to Gonic. While a resident of Rochester he worked for almost all the contractors at one time or another and there are few streets in that place on which he has not helped in the building of some structure. As Rochester, is somewhat noted for its attractive appearance, Mr. Eastman may be justi- fiably proud of his creditable work there. Three years after coming to Gonic he was appointed to his present office, the duties of which he has faithfully performed ever since. He resides at No. 72 Main street, Gonic. Mr. Eastman married Miss Margaret Lynch, who was born at Rochester, and is a daughter of Patrick and Winifred Lynch. In politics he is a Democrat.

LESLIE PERKINS SNOW, lawyer and president of the Rochester National Bank, of Rochester, N. H., was born in Snowville, Carroll County, N. H., October 19, 1862. He is a son of Anson Edwin and a grandson of Joseph Snow, the latter of whom married Sally Atlinson. Anson E. Snow, father of our subject, was born at Snowville, N. H., October 15, 1836. He was educated in the schools of Eaton, in which town Snowville is situated, and for some time remained at home, taking care of his parents in their old age. The ancestral estate finally came into his possession, and in 1856, in company with his brother, he opened a general store at Snowville. Three years later he bought out his brother and subsequently carried on the busi- ness alone. In 1866 he built a combination saw and grist mill. From 1873 to 1878 he was a member of the firm of Snow & Brooks, cattle dealers, their operations extending throughout Maine and New Hampshire. From 1856 he was also continuously engaged in the lumber business, carrying on whole- sale manufacturing, together with a saw mill and store, and gradually adding to his possessions. He carried on his lumber operations on scientific prin- ciples, cutting only the large timber and letting the small stand. A man of sound business judgment, large executive ability and unquestioned integ- rity, he was highly successful. He also took a prominent and useful part in local affairs. As a Democrat he served his party on the State committee. was a leader in promoting public improvements, such as the movement for a highway from Eaton to Brownfield. Me. and to Conway, N. H .; served as justice of the peace, and was legal advisor of his fellow townsmen on various matters of importance. As moderator he presided at town meetings for many years. He was selectman of the town of Eaton in 1864-66 and from 1878 to 1882, 1887 to 1889 and in 1900, presiding as chairman of the board, except during the first year. From 1895 to 1897 he was on the board of education; in 1873 he was town clerk, town treasurer in 1877; postmaster of Snowville in 1894; county commissioner for 1875-1876; auditor from

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1881 to 1886; and again county commissioner from 1881 to 1891. Elected representative to the State legislature, he served during the sessions of 1867-1868, 1881-1882-1883-1884 and 1899-1900, being a member during a part of this time of the Railroad and Judiciary committees. He was a State senator in 1891-1892, and in 1894 was appointed a member of the State Board of Equalization, serving thereon until his death at which time he was the oldest member in point of service. In these various and respon- sible positions he showed more than ordinary ability and ever with a due regard for the public interest, by which he earned the gratitude and esteem of his fellow citizens. Religiously he was a consistent member of Mt. Chris- tian Baptist Church. He also belonged to the Odd Fellows' lodge at Snowville.

Anson E. Snow was married, October 14, 1857, to Helen M. Perkins, of which union there were six children-Nellie H., Isabella, Leslie P. (subject of this sketch), Bertha C., Helen M. and Nellie. In 1902 he married for his second wife, Martha Jane Harmon.

Leslie Perkins Snow in his youth attended Fryburg and Bridgton acad- einies, graduating from Bridgton in the class of 1881. He then spent a year engaged in business in Snowville, after which, in 1882, he entered Dart- mouth College, graduating B. A. in the class of 1886. During his college life he was a member of the Theta Delta Chi Fraternity and in 1886 served as its president. During his vacation he was associated in business with his father, and from 1887 he presided over town meetings for a number of years. In 1887-1888 he represented the town of Eaton in the legislature. Appointed special pension examiner for the U. S. Government, he served in that capacity from 1887 to 1890, spending two years in Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado and one year in Washington, D. C. In 1887 also he began the study of law and was graduated from the Columbia Law School (now George Washington University ) in the class of 1890, taking first prize for the best legal essay. He was admitted to the Maryland bar in June, 1890, and then returning to Snowville was engaged in the lumber industry there for one year. Being admitted to the New Hampshire bar in August, 1891, he opened a law office in Rochester, but almost immediately became a member of the law firm of Worcester, Gafney & Snow, the other members of the firm being Joseph H. Worcester and Charles B. Gafney. This firmn had already built up a large practice. After the death of Judge Gafney in 1898 the business was con- tinued under the old style until 1900, when Mr. Worcester died and Mr. Snow has since continued it alone, conducting a successful practice. Since 1881 his name has been associated with that of his father in the firm of A. E. Snow & Son, in the general store, mill and lumber business.

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History of Strafford County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 79

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

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