History of the city of Nashua, N.H., Part 74

Author: Parker, Edward Everett, 1842- ed; Reinheimer, H., & Co
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Nashua, N.H., Telegraph Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 652

USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > History of the city of Nashua, N.H. > Part 74

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Mr. Pease married, Jan. 1, 1890, Linna B. Flagg, daughter of W. H. Flagg of Lowell. She is an artist who ranks among the first in her profession. Their children are Eleanore, born April 16, 1891, Robert A., born Nov. 21, 1893, Theodore S., born April 7, 1895, and Dorothy, born Nov. 3, 1896. Mr. Pease is a member of Rising Sun lodge, A. F. and A. M., and the First Congregational church.

William J. Mckay was born in Pembroke, Me., June 13, 1869. He is a son of Neil and Sarah (McKay) Mckay, descendant of the old Scotch Camerons and Morrisons. He attended the public schools of his native place until he was fifteen years of age when, in 1884, following the death of his father, he became a resident of Nashua, attending the high school and graduating in the class of 1888. He then read law in the office of William W. Bailey, and in 1890 entered the Boston university law school, where he graduated with the degree of LL. B. in 1892. Mr. Mckay is a self-made man. He has fought his way to the front single-handed and largely by teaching, having held the responsi- ble position of principal of a city evening school five years. He is a member of Rising Sun lodge, A. F. and A. M.

Alvin J. Lucier was born in Nashua Jan. 6, 1869. He is a son of Paul and Elizabeth (Brennan) Lucier. His father came to Nashua from St. Damase, Can., about forty years ago. He attended the primary and grammar schools and was graduated at the Nashua high school in 1886. He then entered St. Hyacinth college in Canada where he was graduated in 1889. Mr. Lucier read law in the office of J. J. Doyle, attending the Boston law school and was admitted to the bar Jan. 31, 1891, at Concord. He then became a partner in the business of Mr. Doyle under the name of Doyle & Lucier. Mr. Lucier is a member of the church of St. Louis de Gonzague, where he has been organist for several years. His brothers and sisters, as well as himself, are among the leading musicians of the city. In fact Mr. Lucier came very near choosing a musical career, but gave it up for the more congenial profession of the law. Mr. Lucier was united in marriage Oct. 8, 1895, with Katherine A. Doucet, daughter of Augustus F. Doucet, of Merrimac, Mass. They have one child, Alvin Augustus, born August 7, 1896.

Edmund Parker was born in Jaffrey Feb. 7, 1783. He was a son of Abel and Edith (Jewett) Parker. He graduated at Dartmouth college in 1803, and read law first in the office of Samuel Dakin of Jaffrey, afterwards, and finishing, with David Everett of Amherst, whom he succeeded in business. He represented Amherst in the legislature from the year 1813 to and including 1826, being speaker of the house in 1824, taking the place of Andrew Pierce, resigned. He was solicitor of Hillsborough county from 1825 to 1829, in which latter year he was appointed judge of probate, holding the office until 1835. He was a lawyer of high standing at the bar. Mr. Parker removed from Amherst to Nashua in 1836, where he was agent of the Jackson Manufacturing company. He represented Nashua in the legislature for several terms, between the years 1849 and 1854, and was a delegate to

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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.

the constitutional convention of 1850. He was president of the Nashua & Lowell corporation for a time.

Judge Parker married Susan, daughter of Joseph Cutter of Jaffrey, in 1812, for his first wife, by whom he had three children. His second wife was Mrs. Sarah (Leland) Boynton, daughter of Joseph Leland of Saco, Maine.

William Barrett was born in Wilton, July 2, 1836. He fitted for college at Appleton academy, Mont Vernon, graduated at Harvard university in 1859 and at Harvard law school in 1861, and soon after commenced practice in Nashua. He was a partner of H. B. Atherton, from 1866 to 1872. He was city solicitor and held other offices of honor and trust. He was elected solicitor for Hillsboro county in 1871. Mr. Barrett was a man of superior knowledge and bore the reputation of a man ex- cellently well read in his profession. In 1876 he moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he gained a high reputation as a lawyer. He died at St. Paul Sept. 14, 1888, and his remains were brought to Nashua where they were interred in the Nashua cemetery. Mr. Barrett was a thirty-third degree Mason and had been grand master of New Hampshire and attained high position in other masonic bodies. While in St. Paul, in 1888, he published a work on the Genealogy of the descendants of of Thomas Barrett, Sr., of Braintree, Mass.

Mr. Barrett married Sarah E., daughter of Christopher Page of Nashua, Sept. 24, 1861. Of this marriage were born two children, William, who survives him, and a daughter who died in childhood.

James F. J. Otterson was born in Nashua in 1855. He is a son of James P. S. and Aseneth H. Otterson. (For further genealogy see sketch of J. D. Otterson in this book.) Mr. Otterson received his education in the common schools of his native place, graduating at the high school in 1875. He read law in the office of Stevens & Parker and graduated at Harvard university law school. After he was admitted to the bar about 1879, he practiced for a short time in Nashua and then removed to Marlborough, Mass., where he has ever since resided. He is now and has been for quite a number of years clerk of the Marlborough police court and is a lawyer of standing and reputation. Mr. Otterson attends the Episcopal church ; he is unmarried.

Leonard Freeman Burbank was born in Melrose, Mass., Nov. 21, 1859. He is a son of Leonard E. and Frances A. Burbank, and, on the paternal side, a descendant from Eleaser Burbank, one of the original settlers of Bradford, Mass., and on the maternal side, from Samuel Varnum, who came from Dracott, England, in 1649, and was the first settler in Dracut, Mass., and whose son John was the first white child born in the Merrimack river valley. Mr. Burbank came to Nashua with his father's family in 1860. He was educated in the public schools of the city, graduating from the High school in the class of 1878. After graduation, he attended the law school in Boston university, and in the same year entered the law office of Stevens & Parker as a student. He was an excellent and painstaking student, and at the close of his term was admitted to practice as an attorney in the Hillsborough county bar in 1881. Soon after being admitted he entered into practice in partnership with E. E. Parker. His partnership continued about one year and was dissolved by mutual consent. For several years after this Mr. Burbank practiced his profession alone, occupying an office in Goodrich block. He then moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he opened a law office and remained in practice a short time and then returned to Nashua. Since his return his tastes and inclinations -lying always in more artistic and literary lines than those afforded by the dry and dusty paths of the law,. have gradually divorced him from the active duties of his profession. Mr. Burbank is an exceedingly well read lawyer, and had he continued in active practice, had the qualities necessary to success. For the last few years he has been engaged in literary work, writing for newspapers and magazines, and with gratifying success and increasing popularity. Mr. Burbank has travelled considerably in his own country, and in 1893 made a tour of Europe. He is a popular and active citizen and society man. He attends the Unitarian church, is a member of the Vesper Country club, the Nashua Golf club, Sons of the American Revolution, and the Coon club. He is unmarried.

Lyman Demerrette Cook was born in Sandwich. He is a son of John D. and Elizabeth L. (Perkins) Cook. He came to Nashua, with his parents, while yet a lad, and passed through its schools, graduating in the high school in the class of 1878. He graduated from Dartmouth college in 1882, and later from the law school of Boston university. In 1887 he became a partner of Geo.

.12.4

HISTORY OF NASIIUA, N. II.

A. Ramsdell, in the practice of law in Nashua, with whom he remained for about three years, when he determined to give up the practice of the law for the ministry, and accordingly after the usual probation was installed as a clergyman in the Methodist Episcopal church in 1891. He is now a member of the Northern New York conference of that church, and bears the reputation of being an eloquent and successful minister.

Mr. Cook was married to Effie L. Smith, daughter of Riley D. and Elmira J. (Sargent) Smith of Nashua, March 31, 1891.

George Wilson Clyde was born at Dracut, Mass., October 23, 1865. He is a son of Samuel W. and Hannah J. (Boles) Clyde of Hudson, coming there from Dracut in 1867. He was educated in the common schools of Hudson, is a graduate of Dean academy, Franklin, Mass., and took a special course of two years at Tuft's college. He graduated at Boston university law school in 1894; was admitted to the bar in 1895, and soon after opened an office in Nashua, where he is practicing at the present time. Mr. Clyde is a lawyer of good abilities, which argues well for a successful and bright career in his profession. He holds the position of judge of the Hudson police court and is also a member of the Hudson board of education. He takes an active interest in civil, political and social affairs and is a popular citizen.

Mr. Clyde is an attendant at the Universalist church, and a member of Hudson lodge, 94, I. O O. F. He is unmarried.

Henri T. Ledoux was born in St. Albans, Vermont, Nov. 4, 1873, where he resided until Nov. 29, 1879, when he came to Nashua. He was educated in the public and parochial schools of Nashua, St. Theresa classical college, St. Theresa, P. Q., and Boston university law school. Mr. Ledoux has taken an active part as a young man in matters appertaining to the welfare of Nashua and its citizens, whose respect and esteem he enjoys. He was a member of the common council, from Ward Three, in 1895 and 1896, a representative to the general court in 1897, and is also secretary of the Democratic city committee, a member of St. Francis Xavier's church-Catholic-the society of the League of the Sacred Heart, Lafayette court, No. 440, C. O. F., organizer and first president of Les Montagnards club, and state chief ranger of the Catholic order of Foresters.

Mr. Ledoux is a rising lawyer, and, although young in the profession, has already a respectable clientage. He is unmarried.

Walter E. Kittredge was born at Merrimack. He is a son of Walter and Anna C. (Fairfield) Kittredge who is a daughter of Benjamin Fairfield of New Boston. His father, who came to Merri- mack from Billerica, Mass., and who is now living at Reed's Ferry, is the author of many popular songs, among which may be mentioned "Tenting on the Old Camp Ground," which attained a na- tional reputation during the war of the Rebellion and is still popular.

Mr. Kittredge was educated in the common schools of Merrimack and McGaw normal institute, and is a graduate of Dartmouth college, class of 1877. After his graduation he read law in the office of John A. Andrews of Manchester. He opened an office in Nashua where he is now in practice. He attends the Congregational church.

January 23, 1896, he married Addie L. Wilson, a daughter of Horace W. and - J. (Burns) Wilson of Merrimack. One child, Annie L., born Jan. 12, 1897, is the result of their marriage.

Among the lawyers who have resided and practiced in Nashua for a short time, and who are either deceased or living and moving in other and distant fields, or have failed to furnish notes for sketches, and of whom time and space will allow only a brief mention, are William L. Carter, a son of Joel Carter of this city, who practiced here some time from 1857 to 1862. Edward A. Dana, origin unknown, a partner of G. Y. Sawyer for a short time about 1834. John W. Johnson. I. C. Bates Smith, who came here from Worcester, Mass., in the seventies, and remained a short time, with his office in Beasom block; he married a daughter of M. A. Worcester. C. B. Tilden, a son of Lucius L. Tilden of this city, and brother of Mrs. George Gray, who has been for many years a successful patent lawyer in Washington, D. C. Samuel M. Wilcox, at one time a partner of the late Aaron P. Hughes, of whom it is said he was a good lawyer, and whose residence is now unkonwn to the writer. Fabius E. Elder, a quiet, unpretentious, gentlemanly man, who occupied rooms for a short time in the Telegraph block, in the seventies, and left for other fields and pastures new. William J. Nutt, a

HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H. 425

brother of the late George W. Nutt of this city; Mr. Nutt was born in Nashua, studied law in the office of Charles R. Morrison, practiced here for a few years and died leaving no family, many years ago. Jesse B. Twiss, who studied law with W. W. Bailey, was admitted to the bar, had an office in Beasom block, with R. D. Barnes, in the eighties for awhile, and finally removed to Jaffrey. James A. Leach, a son of Libeous Leach of this city, who studied with W. W. Bailey, and had an office in Telegraph block at the time of his decease, which occurred in the latter part of the eighties. Thomas D. Luce, the present popular clerk of the supreme court of this county, who came here from Man- chester. E. B. West, who was a partner of A. F. Stevens a while, and who left here about 1863 for Portsmouth. Lewis Smith, here in the fifties.

SACRED HEART PAROCHIAL SCHOOL.

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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.

nelia Sawtelle, daughter of Ebenezer and Sally (Tolles) Sawtelle of Groton, Mass. Seven children have been born to him : Josephine, born Aug. 31, 1853; Clara Anna,

DAVID STEVENS.

born April 16, 1855; Nellie May, born May 28, 1857, mar- ried Elden E. Cummings of Hudson, Sept. 13, 1883; Fan- nie Elizabeth, born Dec. 9, 1863, died July 19, 1889 ; David, born Jan. 2, 1865, married Nettie L. Knowles, June 25, 1890; Jennie P., born Sept. 10, 1867, married Menzell S. French of Nashua, June 20, 1894; Georgie Ellen, born Feb. 22, 1870, married Charles J. Hamblett, Oct. 4, 1894.

JOHN CROSS.

John Cross, son of Levi and Hannah (Kidder) Cross, was born in Litchfield, Aug. 30, 1814. His ancestors were among the first eleven families that settled in Notting- ham West, now Hudson, in 1710. They lived in a garrison. His grandfather, John Cross, who died in Litchfield in 1816, at the age of 81 years, was an ensign in the Revolutionary army. His wife, Elizabeth (Dakin) Cross, died March 6, 1820, aged 85. Nathan Cross, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was sur- prised by Pequawket Indians Sept. 4, 1724, while at work at a pine forest growing on the bank of the river not far from the present site of the Nashua cemetery, (see History of Hillsborough county, page 149), and with his com- panion, Thomas Blanchard, was hurried into captivity in Canada, where he remained about a year, when he was rescued. He came from England about 1710. On the maternal side he is a descendant of Capt. Jonas Kidder of Lyndeboro, who married Huldah Cram. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and (see History of Lyndeboro) a lieutenant in the service at the battle at Ticonderoga. He was promoted to a captaincy, and was a pensioner of the government; died in Litchfield, Nov. 1, 1837, aged 94.

Mr. Cross was educated in the public schools of Hudson. He followed the pursuits of agriculture in Litchfield until he was twenty-four years of age, and after that in

Hudson, where he served upon the board of selectmen two years. In 1862 he came to Nashua and entered the lumber business with Dana Sargent, under the firm name of Sargent & Cross, their mills and yards being on the north bank of the Nashua river, near the Jackson com- pany's dam. The firm did a very large and prosperous business. In 1872 Mr. Tolles bought out the interest of Mr. Sargent, and since then the firm has been Cross & Tolles. A few years later the new firm absorbed the business of H. D. Melendy & Company on Quincy street, and removed thither. By the aid of new machinery for box making, house mouldings, and finish, and by perse- vering industry and enterprise they have built up one of the largest manufactories and general lumber marts in southern New Hampshire, and are justly entitled to recognition among the first merchants in the state. But Mr. Cross' constant attention to business has not pre- vented him from taking a conspicuous part in public affairs or from performing the duties that are demanded of every faithful citizen. He represented Ward One in the common council in 1878-9 and 1879-80, and in the board of aldermen in 1881-2. In 1885 he served the city as a member of the board of assessors. Mr. Cross performed all the duties of these positions with ability and impar- tiality, and was highly regarded as a public official. He is a man of retiring disposition, quiet deportment, generous impulses and model citizenship, one who con- scientiously performs every duty that falls to his lot. He is a member of Ancient York lodge, A. F. and A. M., and of the First Congregational church.

JOIIN CROSS.

Mr. Cross was united in marriage Nov. 15, 1838, with Sarah A. Sargent, daughter of Reuben and Eunice K. (Davis) Sargent of Hudson. (For ancestors, see sketch

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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.

JOSIAH MOODY FLETCHER.

Josiah M. Fletcher was born in Halifax, Mass., Jan. 14, 1828. He is a son of John and Dolly M. (Johnson) Fletcher, and a descendant in the seventh generation

JOSIAH MOODY FLETCHER.

from Robert Fletcher, 1630, whose descendants form the Fletcher family union that meets triennially, generally in Boston. His grandfather, Josiah Fletcher, was the builder of the first mill in Lowell, (1812). His father was a manufacturer of woolen goods in Lowell and at Halifax, Mass., being at one time superintendent of the Hurd mills in the first named place. The subject of this sketch came to Nashua in 1842, following the death of his father, and since that time his home has been here.

Mr. Fletcher was educated in Lowell, where he entered the high school but did not remain long enough to graduate. His first work was that of a bobbin boy and notwithstanding the hardship and long hours, (from five in the morning till seven at night), he contrived to improve his education by attending an operatives' night school. At the age of sixteen he entered the bookstore of J. Buffum, in Beasom block, where he remained three years. During this time he edited a work called the "Golden Gift," which was stereotyped and editions printed in Portland, Boston and Connecticut at the same time. His next employment was that of surveyor of stone in Lowell. A little later he traveled in the South, and then returned to Nashua and became proprietor of the bookstore in which he had been a clerk. A year later, in December, 1848, he went to California and re- mained a year and is consequently a "forty-niner." Upon his return he purchased the controlling interest in The Ladies Wreath, a magazine published in New York, and published and partly edited it, for three years, retain- ing his residence and business interests in Nashua. In 1853 he published the Free Democrat, a campaign paper. After seven years as a bookseller, publisher, editor and manufacturer of specialties he gave up business for a time and traveled extensively through the West and South.

Mr. Fletcher is one of the most versatile of men. His next enterprise was that of a manufacturer of furniture.

He has formed as many as twenty partnerships and dur- ing the last ten years has been sole proprietor of the Fletcher- Webster Furniture company and Nashua Nov- elty works. His effort to promote the industrial interests of Nashua is shown in the fact that he was the first person in New England to manufacture metallic bird cages; among the first in the country to manufacture furniture by machinery ; first to manufacture carpet sweepers ; that he has manufactured soap and ink and sent out pedlers with Yankee notions, and has always been ready and willing to adopt and use the inventions of others, being the first person in Nashua to purchase and discover the utility of the sewing machine and typewriter. In fact, in all these things he has kept abreast of the times and has shown a progressive spirit.

In the world of letters, religion and politics Mr. Fletcher has always been of the radical school, and gen- erally allied with the minority. In religious matters his opinions reach to a universal church. He has investigated spiritualism in all its phases and holds advanced views. In politics he has drifted from the free soil party through the republican party, into the prohibition party. In the organization last named, he has been several times a candidate for mayor of Nashua, governor of the state and member of congress. He edits and publishes a prohibi- tion paper at the present time at Manchester, and when a political campaign is on he usually addresses the people on the issues before them. . His last publication, for he is a pleasing writer of poetry as well as prose, is entitled "A Thousand Songs of Life, Love, Home and Heaven," which exhibits merit and has had a fair sale. He has been an extensive traveler and visited nearly every state in the union, many of the principal cities and all points of interest. Mr. Fletcher is an Odd Fellow, a Good Templar and a member of several other societies and organizations. In a word, few men, especially those of as delicate health as he, have accomplished so much and accomplished it so well as Mr. Fletcher, and certain it is that no citizen is more highly regarded as a conscientous, liberal and honorable man.

Mr. Fletcher was united in marriage Jan. 23, 1851, with Adaline Jane Eastman of Rumney. Six children were born of their union all of whom died in infancy except Laurie Angie, who lived till her twenty-second year.

DAVID STEVENS.

David Stevens, son of Samuel G. and Betsey (Davis) Stevens, was born at Goffstown, Oct. 8, 1823. He came to Nashua with his parents when he was three years of age and was educated in the public schools of the town and at Crosby's Literary institution. Following his school days he learned the carpenters' trade, and during his active career followed that occupation and engaged in moving buildings, in which he is an expert and has performed some of the most difficult undertakings of any man in the state. Mr. Stevens never aspired to public office and yet he has served his ward on the board of selectmen and represented it, 1876 and 1877, in the common council and in a good many political conventions. He is a man of unblemished reputation, a believer and worker in the cause of temperance, and an enterprising citizen ; a mem- ber of the United Order of the Golden Cross, the Nashua grange, and president of the landlord's league. Mr. Stevens was united in marriage April 19, 1848, with Cor-

- t

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HISTORY OF NASIIUA, N. H.

nelia Sawtelle, daughter of Ebenezer and Sally (Tolles) Sawtelle of Groton, Mass. Seven children have been born to him : Josephine, born Aug. 31, 1853; Clara Anna,

DAVID STEVENS.

JOHN CROSS.

Mr. Cross was educated in the public schools of Hudson. He followed the pursuits of agriculture in Litchfield until he was twenty-four years of age, and after that in

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History of the city of Nashua, N.H., Part 74

Author: Parker, Edward Everett, 1842- ed; Reinheimer, H., & Co Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Nashua, N.H., Telegraph Publishing Company Number of Pages: 652

Author: Parker, Edward Everett, 1842- ed; Reinheimer, H., & Co
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Nashua, N.H., Telegraph Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 652