USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > History of Strafford County, New Hampshire and representative citizens > Part 82
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Capt. Hardy was married March 29, 1871, to Elizabeth Bickford, a native of Dover, N. H., and daughter of Dr. Alphonso Bickford, in his day a promi- ninet Dover physician and at one time mayor of the city. Capt. and Mrs. Hardy had two children born to them: Mary R., wife of Henry Folsom, a well known attorney of Boston; and Francis H., who is captain of a gov- ernment steamer in the coast survey service. He is a graduate of Dartmouth college, while the daughter, Mrs. Folsom, graduated from Smith college.
DANIEL W. HALLAM, a well known and substantial citizen of Dover, N. H., now retired from active business life, was born in this city, February 50
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25, 1838, a son of Daniel and Martha (Purstglove) Hallam. His parents were both natives of Derbyshire, England, where the Hallam family has been settled since the early part of the 13th century, or, according to genealogical records, about the year 1224 A. D. The parents of our subject came to America in 1834, landing at New York, whence they came to Dover, N. H. Daniel Hallam, the father, was a merchant tailor by occupation, but did not follow his trade after arriving in this country. Instead he found em- ployment with the Cocheco Print Works, then under the management of George W. Mathewson, as an employe. He remained with this concern for many years and a short time before his death, which took place March 4, 1852, he was promoted to the position of superintendent.
Daniel W. Hallam, our direct subject, was in his 14th year when his father died. He was educated in the public schools of Dover, including the high school, and in 1863 he went to Philadelphia, where he attended for six months the Bryant and Stratton Business College. He was also a student for one year at the Wagner Institute of Science, receiving a diploma for a special course in science. He subsequently attended the Franklin Institute, pursing the mathematical and mechanical courses there as a regular student for several years. He also studied natural history at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, following these studies at intervals for a number of years. In 1865 he became identified with the foreign fruit and produce business, at first as bookkeeper with a concern engaged in that line, then as traveling salesman with two different concerns, and finally, in 1868, en- gaging in the business for himself in Philadelphia, conducting a wholesale and retail establishment and dealing in both foreign and domestic fruits, nuts, etc. He did a large and prosperous business until 1899, when he retired and in the following year returned to Dover, N. H., of which place he has since been a resident. He has been a member for several years of the Dover Sportsmen's Association, which he is now serving as secretary and treas- urer. He is a progressive and up to date citizen, a Republican in politics and a member of St. Thomas Episcopal church. He takes a keen interest in the commercial prosperity of the city and in its material and moral improve- ment and is widely recognized as one of Dover's reliable and substantial citizens.
FRANK D. HENDERSON, who carries on general farming and raises cattle with profitable results, was born June 10, 1848, on his farm of 125 acres, which lies three and one-fourth miles from Rochester, N. H., on the Farmington road. He is a son of Daniel Henderson and a grandson of William Henderson.
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William Henderson, the grandfather, was the pioneer settler of the family in the town of Rochester. He was already married and more children were born on the farm on which he settled in 1774-5, and the following names have been preserved: Stephen; Tim, who served in the War of 1812-15; James, who died when aged fifty years; William, Daniel, Polly, Sally, Mar- garet, Susan, Abigail and Betsey. All were reared on the farm above men- tioned but when Grandfather Henderson died he left the place equally divided between his sons Tim and Daniel.
Daniel Henderson was born in 1812. When he reached mature age he bought his brother Tim's interest in the farm and always lived here, although, being a carpenter by trade, he erected a fine residence at Dover. He married Ruth McDuffee, a daughter of Thomas McDuffee, and they had the follow- ing children : an infant that died; William, Hannah, Sarah, Thomas, Frank D., Charles, Lewis and George. Of these, Thomas and Lewis died each at the age of four years.
Frank D. Henderson, with his brothers and sisters, attended school in youth and had kind and judicious instruction at home. He received his farm from his father but earlier had worked in the shoe factory at Rochester and continued until 1898, since which time he has given his entire attention to the industries pertaining to his farm. About one-third of his land is under fine cultivation. In 1880 the timber was first cut and in 1909 and 1910 Mr. Henderson cut timber all over his place but at the present time there is a fine new growth.
Mr. Henderson married Miss Eliza Henderson, a daughter of William Henderson, of Cambridgeport, Mass., and they have four children: Horace L., Helen Louisa, Ruth Etta and William Daniel. Mr. Henderson and family attend the Methodist Episcopal church. He gives his political support to the Democratic party but has never been willing to accept public office. He is one of the representative and reliable men of this part of Strafford county.
WINFIELD SCOTT MILLER, who is one of the leading citizens and substantial men of Milton Mills, Strafford county, carries on general farming on 250 acres of land and in addition to this large estate owns a tract of tim- ber land of considerable extent, extending across the state line into the town of Acton, Me. He was born in the village of Miller's Corners, in the town of Acton, Me., Marchi 4, 1850, and is a son of Ira and Fannie W. (Merrill) Miller.
The Miller ancestry can be traced through at least three generations. The great-grandparents were Benjamin and Lois (Woodman) Miller, the latter being a daughter of John Woodman. Benjamin Miller was born at New-
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ington, N. H., in 1766. They were the parents of eight children: John, Caleb, Benjamin, Woodman, Polly, Hannah, Louisa and Eliza. Benjamin Miller died in 1849.
Caleb Miller, son of Benjamin and grandfather of Winfield Scott Mil- ler, was born in the town of Acton, Me., November 13, 1798, and died Novem- ber 13, 1838. His wife, Mary Miller, was born December 18, 1808, and died January 29, 1827.
Ira Miller, son of Caleb and father of Winfield Scott Miller, was born in the town of Acton, Me., December 13, 1826, and died December 12, 1902. He was left motherless when a babe of six weeks and was twelve years old when his father died. He was reared by his uncle, Woodman Miller. When sixteen years of age he started out to take care of himself and assisted farm- ers during the haying season, feeling sufficiently well paid when he received twenty-five cents for a day's work. He then went to Lebanon, Me., where he worked for Millett Wentworth for seven months, thereby earning the sum of seven dollars, after which, during the summers he again assisted farmers and attended school in the winters, in Acton, Me., where he after- ward was employed by Simon Tuttle at a wage of ten dollars a month, which in his second season, was increased to thirteen dollars. He then learned the shoemaking trade at Milton Mills and then opened a shop and soon had a trade that made necessary the employment of six or eight men. In 1855 he erected the first shoe factory ever built at Acton, Me., and embarked in shoe manufacturing on a large scale, having a shoe store in connection, later selling his factory and buying the Roberts' grist mill. This he remodeled and made it the best plant of its kind in the county, operating it from 1859 until 1866. He then sold out and went into the hotel business, becoming proprietor of the Central House at Milton Mills, which he conducted until 1877. He then opened the largest general store at Milton Mills, putting in a heavy stock, including groceries, boots, shoes, oil, drugs, hardware and farm implements, and this proved a very prosperous enterprise. He also had acquired 400 acres of valuable land, together with his town property. In public affairs he was equally important and served in numerous impor- tant offices. For twenty years he was town clerk and selectman, also for the same length of time was town treasurer and also represented the town of Milton Mills in the legislature. From the formation of the Republican party he was identified with that organization, and for years had been a member of the local Masonic lodge. Before his death he sold his store interests to his son-in-law, F. H. Lowd. He had a wide acquaintance and held the con- fidence of the people who recognized his business ability as well as his business integrity.
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Ira Miller was married May 29, 1849, to Fannie W. Merrill. She was born in Acton, Me., December 7, 1825, and died January 30, 1897. She was a daughter of Asa and Fannie (Wood) Merrill. Her maternal grand- mother was the wife of the son of Ralph Farnham, who was one of the last surviving Revolutionary soldiers when he died at the age of 105 years. To Ira Miller and wife three children were born: Winfield Scott; Fannie, who died at the age of four years; and Fannie L., who was born August 15, 1863, and died May 25, 1898. She married F. H. Lowd and is survived by two children, Grace M. and Alice M.
Winfield Scott Miller attended school at Acton and Milton Mills and his sister was a graduate of the West Lebanon Academy. Mr. Miller began to work in his father's grist mill when he was nine years old and continued until his seventeenth year, when the mill was sold, and after that he assisted in the hotel business. When his father died he received all the real estate located in Acton and in Milton Mills. After marriage he lived for two years on a farm. He then became associated with his father, remaining with him until the latter's death. He has since devoted his time to looking after his real estate interests. In his political views he is a Republican but has never been willing to accept the responsibilities of public office.
In 1878 Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Miss Josephine White- side, who was born at Lowell, Mass .. November 24, 1857, and was reared and educated there. She is a daughter of Edward J. and Frances (Thomp- son) Whiteside, and a granddaughter of James Whiteside, who died in England. Edward J. Whiteside, father of Mrs. Miller, was born in Eng- land. His second marriage took place at Lowell, Mass., and eight children were born to the union. The mother of Mrs. Miller, Frances (Thompson) Whiteside, was born in Scotland and died at Boston, Mass. She was a daughter of Robert and Nancy (Stewart) Thompson, and her grandmother, Nancy James, was born at Paisley, Scotland, where Robert Thompson was a contractor for the building of bridges.
JOHN E. TOWNSEND, one of Strafford county's well known business men, is sole owner of the Townsend Mill, an old plant at Milton Mills, hav- ing succeeded his father and, indirectly, his grandfather in the mill business. He was born at Milton Mills, N. H., September 9, 1871, and is a son of Henry H. and Agnes ( Brierley) Townsend.
John Townsend, the grandfather, was born in England and came to the United States in 1819 and to Milton Mills, N. H., about 1845. He pur- chased the plant of the Milton Manufacturing Company and continued it, carrying on woolen manufacturing under the name of John Townsend.
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His one son, Henry H., was born in Massachusetts, and his two daughters, Caroline and Jennie, at Milton Mills.
Henry H. Townsend was born at Dorchester, Mass., in 1842, and died at Milton Mills in 1904. When he went into business it was with S. H. Atkins as a partner, under the name of Townsend & Company. With twenty employes the company engaged in the manufacture of felt until 1880, when Henry H. Townsend bought his partner's interest, after which he erected what is now known as Townsend's Mill. He entered into the business of manufacturing both wool and cotton blankets and continued it prosperously until his death, at the age of sixty-two years. Between 1894 and 1900 accom- modations were greatly increased to meet the demands of trade, and by that time fifty people were given constant work in the mill. Henry H. Town- send was a shrewd, careful business man, always too busy to accept the responsibilities of office, although well qualified through excellent judgment and a high sense of honor. He married Agnes Brierley, a daughter of Edward Brierley, who was a felt manufacturer. They had two children, Grace M. and John E. The mother of these children died in 1891 and was buried in the Milton Mills cemetery. She was a member of the Congrega- tional church.
John E. Townsend was educated at Milton Mills and Lindsey University, Me. He afterward entered his father's office and continued therein until the latter's death. He then took charge and operated the mill until 1906, when he bought the plant of the estate and conducts the mill along the line of fine blanket manufacturing, affording constant employment to sixty-five men. As superintendents he has men well known for their efficiency, includ- ing F. H. Simms, A. T. Loud, J. F. Archbold and E. A. Wentworth. This mill is classed as a 4-set mill and is equipped with electricity, the plant site covering two acres.
Mr. Townsend married Miss Eda B. Loud, a daughter of Elbridge and Melissa Loud, of Acton, Me., and they have two children: Henry A., who attends the Brunswick School at Greenwich, Conn .; and Agnes M., who is a student at Brookline, Mass. In politics a Republican, Mr. Townsend was elected in 1903 a member of the New Hampshire legislature. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and belongs also to the Odd Fellows at Mil- ton Mills. The handsome family residence is on the corner of Western avenue and Church street, Milton Mills.
EZRA C. GOODWIN, superintendent of the I. B. Williams & Son Belt factory at Dover, N. H., and a veteran of the Civil war, was born in South Berwick, Me., February 27, 1841, a son of Samuel and Polina A.
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(Cooper) Goodwin. Both his parents were natives of South Berwick, where the Goodwins are among the old settled families, having originally come from England. The immigrant ancestor was James Goodwin, who settled in Kittery, Me., about 1628. Jedediah Goodwin, grandfather of our sub- ject, in his day was a prominent citizen of South Berwick, following the combined occupations of teacher, preacher, farmer and shipbuilder, being also a local judge. He was a man of some influence in local politics. His father was a Revolutionary soldier.
Samuel Goodwin, father of Ezra C., resided in South Berwick, Me., until 1852, when with his family he came to Dover, N. H., which place was his home for the rest of his life.
Ezra C. Goodwin was eleven years old when he accompanied his parents to Dover. He was educated in the public schools here and began industrial life at the age of fourteen. On April 29, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company D, 2d N. H. Volunteer Infantry, his regiment becoming a part of the Army of the Potomac. With it he fought in both the first and second battles of Bull Run, the Siege of Yorktown, the battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Kettle Run, Gettysburg and Cold Harbor, in which last men- tioned engagement he was wounded three times, subsequently spending sev- eral months in the hospital. He was then granted a furlough, which he spent in Dover, later returning to his regiment. In February, 1865, he was honorably discharged for disability, having been previously wounded at second Bull Run and Gettysburg. He had received promotion to the rank of sergeant.
On his return home he entered the employ of I. B. Williams in the lat- ter's belt factory at Dover, which concern later became merged into that of I. B. Williams & Sons, a prominent manufacturing establishment with which Mr. Goodwin has been connected since October, 1865, for the last few years having been superintendent of the plant. In addition to belts the company manufactures lace-leathers and welting. From 250 to 300 men are em- ployed, over whom Mr. Goodwin has supervision. Mr. Goodwin is a mem- ber of Charles W. Sawyer Post, No. 17, G. A. R., of Dover, of which he has been commander three years and is now serving as senior vice commander. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and to the local Grange. For two years he was a member of the Dover city council and also served two years as alderman. For the same length of time he represented Ward 3 of Dover in the New Hampshire legislature, in politics being a Republican. He is widely recognized as a broad-minded, reliable citizen and has made a multi- tnde of friends.
Mr. Goodwin was first married to Lucy H. Beal of Dover, N. H., of
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which union two children were born-Harry B. and Grace G., the latter being now deceased. He married for his second wife Mary A. Felker, of Dover, N. H. Mrs. Goodwin is a consistent member of Washington Street Free Will Baptist church, Dover.
J. EDWARD RICHARDSON, a well known resident of Dover, a rep- resentative citizen and successful professional man, has been established as an architect since 1894, making choice of his native city as the scene of his professional work, with office at 36 Masonic Temple. He was born September 27, 1873, and is a son of J. Herbert and Jettie ( Huntress) Rich- ardson, both of whom were natives of New Hampshire.
J. Edward Richardson was educated at Dover, completing the high school course. He was about nineteen years of age when he began the study of architecture. Possessing a natural talent in this direction Mr. Richardson proved an apt student; he advanced so rapidly that by 1894 he so thoroughly understood the principles of his profession that he opened his own office and has continued in practice ever since. He has designed many of the beautiful structures for which Dover is justly celebrated and has also made the plans for other buildings here and at other points. As a competent and tasteful architect he is well known all over Strafford county.
Mr. Richardson married Miss Mary M. Worthen, of Dover, and they have four sons-Charles E., Melvin W., Albert F. and Homer H. Mr. Richardson has been affiliated with the Republican party since attaining man- hood but has never been very active in politics. In fraternal life, however, he takes much interest, as did his father, and belongs to Strafford Lodge. A. F. & A. M .; Belknap Chapter, No. 8; Orphan Council, No. 1, and St. Paul Commandery, and is also a member of Olive Branch Lodge, Knights of Pythias, all of Dover.
ERNEST ALBERT CROSS, general farmer, owns sixty-five acres of excellent land, which is located two and one-half miles east of Rochester Square, on the Rochester Hill road. He was born opposite the site of the Odd Fellows' Building, in the city of Rochester. August 19, 1857, and is a son of Nathaniel and Jennie (Stillings) Cross.
Nathaniel Cross was born at Rochester, N. H., and was a son of Joseph Cross, who once was register of deeds for Strafford county. Nathaniel Cross during many years of life was connected with the Wallace shoe factory as boss finisher in the dressing room. After he retired from business he spent his remaining days as a member of his son's household and died while
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visiting his daughter in Maine, when aged seventy-nine years. He married Jennie Stillings, of Ossipee, N. H., who died in 1880, at the age of forty-six years, being survived by an only child, Ernest Albert. The parents of Mr. Cross were steadfast members of the Congregationalist church.
Ernest Albert Cross was reared and attended school at Rochester and then entered the Wallace shoe factory and was under his father's supervision in the dressing shoe room for a time, after which he entered the service of the Boston and Maine Railroad Company, and was so occupied for sixteen years. During this time he was yard clerk in the W. N. P. Division of the B. & M. Railroad and later was yardmaster. In 1900 Mr. Cross turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, purchasing his present property, known as "Maple Place," from David Whitehouse. He has made many improvements here, including the erection of a garage and ice house and a new barn with dimensions of 38x60 feet. He handles cream, skim milk and general products and has 120 customers at Rochester, to whom he makes deliveries by auto- mobile twice a week. Through his energy and enterprise, Mr. Cross has made this enterprise successful.
On March 12, 1881, Mr. Cross was married to Miss Elizabeth A. Jack- son, who was born at Rochester, N. H., a daughter of James H. and Lucy (Mayfield) Jackson, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Cross attend the Congregational church. In politics Mr. Cross is a Republican, as was his father. He is identified with the Rochester Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, and with the Odd Fellows.
F. W. CLARK, a prosperous agriculturist of the town of Rochester, Strafford county, N. H., is the owner and resides upon a farm of 175 acres, located one half mile west of Gonic on the Barrington and Gonic Road. He was born on this farm March 4, 1851, and is a son of Smith and Abigail (Henderson) Clark. He is a grandson of Hezekiah Clark, and a great- grandson of Jacob Clark. It is an old New England family and has long been established in Strafford county.
Jacob Clark, above mentioned, came from the vicinity of Portsmouth, N. H., and settled on Waldron Hill, Center Barrington, but later moved to Round Pond, North Barrington. He had two sons, Aaron and Hezekiah. The latter, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was reared in Bar- rington and was favored with a good educational training. He married Hannah Ham, who was born on the farm on which her grandson, F. W. Clark, now lives. Five daughters and three sons blessed this marriage, and all grew to maturity and lived at Barrington. Hezekiah Clark was a farmer by occupation and had the old homestead farm his father had taken up on Round Pond. He died at the age of sixty years.
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Smith Clark was eldest of the eight children born to his parents, and was born in North Barrington. He spent all of a long and useful life on the farm, dying at the advanced age of ninety years and eleven months. He was a Democrat in politics, and in religious attachment was a Baptist. He married Abigail Henderson, a daughter of Richmond Henderson, and they became parents of two sons and three daughters.
F. W. Clark was the third of the children born to his parents and was reared on the home place. He received a public school education, attending the Gonic school, and then turned his attention to farming, at which he is meeting with good results. He has 175 acres in his home tract, in addition to which he has a wooded tract of fifty acres in Strafford county. He is a Democrat in politics, but is in no sense a politician, being only interested to the extent of seeing good administrative officers elected. Fraternally, he is . a member of the Order of Odd Fellows at Rochester.
RALPH M. KIMBALL, a representative citizen of Strafford county, formerly postmaster of the village of Milton of which he is a selectman, was born in the city of Rochester, N. H., August 28, 1859, and is a son of Alva and Annie M. (Hayes) Kimball.
Alva Kimball was born and reared at Rochester, where he became a man of public importance, serving in the state legislature. Loyally enter- ing the army at the opening of the Civil war, he served as officer in the 5th N. H. Volunteer Infantry. His death occurred in 1868, his burial being in the old Rochester cemetery. He married Annie M. Hayes who survives him, being now in her seventy-eighth year and an esteemed resident of the village of Milton. Her father was Richard Hayes, of Farmington, one of the founders of the Congregational church there. Four children were born to Alva Kimball and wife, two of whom survive.
Ralph M. Kimball was nine years old when his father died and he was carefully reared by his solicitious mother who saw that he had educational opportunities both at Rochester and Milton. For two years he worked on farms in Massachusetts before settling permanently in the village of Milton. For one year he served as first assistant under Postmaster Charles H. Looney and then served four years as postmaster, under the administration of President Harrison. He has always been a loyal party man and has fre- quently assisted his friends in their ambition to secure public office. Mr. Kimball was concerned in shoe manufacturing at Milton for some time and is now successfully interested in raising poultry.
Mr. Kimball married Miss Carrie E. Willey, a daughter of the late Jonas D. Willey, of Middleton, N. H., and they have two children: Annie
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