USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > History of the city of Nashua, N.H. > Part 95
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HIRAM TENNEY MORRILL.
Hon. Hiram T. Morrill was born at Weare, May 22, 1815, died at Nashua, July 7, 1885. He obtained a common school education and beyond that was a self-taught and self-made man. His early life was spent upon a farm at Weathersfield, Vt. When he attained his majority he invested his savings in a farm which he soon after sold advantageously. With his increased capital he purchased the stage route between Alstead and Charlestown, and by careful management, soon after added to it other lines
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and finally controlled the Forest line, from Nashua to Charlestown. In about 1850 the advent of railroads called a halt in staging and made it evident to him that a change in his enterprise was necessary. Accordingly he sold out part of his interest and founded an express business between Wilton and Boston, under the firm name of Morrill & Co. This firm and business, with the exception of a few years' interim, continued till Jan. I, 1882, when it was sold out to the American Express company.
During his active career of more than forty years in Nashua, he was honored with many and laborious posi- tions of trust, and he filled all of them with entire credit to himself. He was an active member of the old state militia, and held many commissions. He was the war mayor of Nashua in 1862 and 1863, and the amount of
HIRAM TENNEY MORRILL.
work which he did in those troublesome times, his wise precautions to preserve the peace and uphold the general government, his gratuitous service in hours of danger and sorrow, journeys at his own expense to the battle- field, caring for Nashua's wounded, burying her dead and providing for widows and orphans, are worthy to be recorded among the sacrifices and the brave deeds of the heroes, who, having perfect faith in the justice of their cause and a determination to do a man's whole duty in bringing about the final triumph of the federal arms, stood by the ship of state and Abraham Lincoln in every emergency that arose. That a self-made man, from humble beginnings, should be able to do this should be the very pride of our institutions.
Colonel Morrill was elected commissioner of Hills- borough county three times and served seven years. He was a member of the legislature in 1858, 1859 and 1883,
and, at the time of his death, was senator from the seventeenth or Nashua district. He was president of the New Hampshire Banking company, and an active citizen who was ever ready to do his part in any enterprise to advance the interests of the city, and he gave to the poor and every good cause that appealed to him with a lavish hand. In the social affairs of life he was the most genial and sunny temperament, always at ease and always entertaining. He was a member of Rising Sun lodge, A. F. and A. M., Meridian Sun Royal Arch chapter, St. George commandery, K. T., and the Scottish Rite con- sistory 32d degree.
Col. Morrill was united in marriage Jan. 15, 1842, with Anne M. Mason of Boston. Mrs. Morrill, who was a descendant of Gen. Henry Woods, a pioneer of Groton, Mass., a woman who was active and self-sacrificing in the days of her country's trial and honored for noble deeds as wife, mother and neighbor, died at the family home in Nashua, June 3, 1875. Four children were born of their marriage : Ellen M., born Jan. 14, 1843, married James B. Fassett, Sept 9, 1867; William Mason, born Dec. 13, 1845, married Alice D. Scott of Springfield, Mass., Aug. 13, 1883; Fred Hiram, born March 23, 1860, died May 29, 1892, clerk of police court for several years and at the time of his death; Edward Tenney, born Aug. 21, 1861, married Lavinia J. Harrington Sept. 9, 1890.
EDWARD SPALDING, M. D.
Hon. Edward Spalding, M. D., was born at Amherst, Sept. 15, 1813, died suddenly, June 22, 1895, near Parma- cheene lake, in Maine, while on a fishing trip in that region. Dr. Spalding was the fourth child and first son of the children of Dr. Matthias and Rebecca (Atherton) Spalding. On the paternal side he was of the fifth gener- ation in direct descent from Edward Spalding, who came to New England about 1632 and settled at Braintree, Mass., removing a few years later to Chelmsford, Mass., of which place he was one of the earliest proprietors. In the fourth generation his descent was from Col. Simeon Spalding, son of Edward, who married for his second wife, Mrs. Abigail Wilson, whose maiden name was Johnson, the fourth generation in descent from Edward Johnson of Woburn, Mass., who came from Kent county, Eng. Dr. Matthias Spalding, one of the youngest of her children, was born at Chelmsford, Mass., June 25, 1769, and was graduated at Harvard college 1798. He then went abroad to perfect his education, and attended medical lectures in London. Soon after his return home he settled in Am- herst and in 1806 was united in marriage with Rebecca Wentworth, daughter of Joshua Atherton, sister of Charles H. Atherton, the father of Charles G. Atherton. He was a physician and surgeon of superior education, whose services were widely sought, and who distinguished him- self for successful treatment of diseases. Moreover he was a citizen who wielded a wide and beneficent influence and who contributed a good man's full quota in moulding the character of his generation, so that Amherst has been noted in all the decades since then as a place of culture and refinement. His wife is remembered as a lady of refined nature and elegant manners.
The subject of this sketch went to Chelmsford when eleven years of age to be under the instruction of Rev. Abiel Abbott. When thirteen years of age, he became a student at Pinkerton academy at Derry, Abel F. Hildreth,
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a celebrated schoolmaster in those days, being principal. From the academy he went to Dartmouth college from which he was graduated in 1833. Among his classmates were young men who later in life became distinguished in the professions: J. F. Joy, LI. D., Rev. F. A. Adams, Ph. D., Prof. Joseph C. Bodwell, D. D., John Lord, I.I. D., Prof. David Crosby and Samuel L. Sawyer, M. C. from Missouri. Following his graduation he went to Lex- ington, Ky., hoping to find employment as a teacher. The field was not favorable to his ambition and conse- quently he re- turned east in 1834 and commenced the study of med- icine and surgery in the office of his father. He at- tended three courses of lectures at Harvard medi- cal school in Bos- ton and received his degree of M. D. in 1837. Dr. Spalding then spent a few months riding with his father and observ- ing his treatment of the sick. Mean- time he was cast- ing about for a place to locate and had two or three in view when the small-pox broke out in Nashua and he was invited by the authorities to take charge of the patients. The epidemic lasted about eight months, at the end of which time, hav- ing made several pleasing acquaint- ances, and, being urged to remain, he opened an office and cast his let with the people of Nashua. Follow- ing a few years of practice by himself he accepted an invitation from Dr. Micah Eldridge, and became a partner with him in prac- tice. After this partnership was dissolved, he gained for himself an extensive and valuable practice. He was a member of the Hillsborough and New Hampshire Medical societies and enjoyed the confidence of a large circle of families, and his success as a physician had given him an enviable reputation. In the meantime he had been called to assume responsibilities of a fiduciary nature, involving such time, care and labor as to seriously interfere with his professional engagements. The transition to these
new employments was the natural sequence of the excel- lent judgment and rare capacity for business which he manifested. The accuracy and promptitude with which his accounts were rendered to the probate, and the just con- sideration for the feelings and interest of all persons con- cerned in the settlement of the estates committed to his trust, brought such a pressure of occupation that he was compelled to relinquish his profession.
Ife had now been in practice twenty-five years, and satis- factory as his services as a physician had been to the com- munity, he was yet to perform an im- portant and valu- able service by his judicious manage- ment of important trusts and his earn- est co-operation in the direction and enlargement of new enterprises. In addition to his engagements in the settlement of large estates, he became interested in banking, manu- facturing and rail- roads, holding various offices of labor and respon- sibility in these institutions and corporations. He was for several years treasurer of the Nashua Sav- ings bank and sub- sequently its presi- dent. He was one of the original projectors of the Pennichuck water works, of which company he was president at the time of his death ; a director and president in both of the large cotton manufacturing companies which have contributed so much to the prosperity of the city ; he had also filled similar duties in other corporations elsewhere.
EDWARD SPALDING.
In municipal and town offices he performed important duties, taking a lively interest in the progress of popular education. He was elected a member of the school com- mittee in 1839 and served on that committee and on the board of education, of which he was president a number of terms, for a period of twenty years. He was also actively engaged in building up the city library, of which he was a trustee from the beginning of the enterprise. Never seeking political preferment and personally disin-
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clined to the strife for political distinction he, neverthe- less, served as city physician and overseer of the poor in 1853, in the common council in 1854, in the board of alder- men in 1857, and in 1864 was elected mayor, attending the Republican national convention at Baltimore in the same year. He was a member of the state convention for the revision of the constitution in 1876, and councilor for two years during the administration of Gov. Benjamin F. Prescott, 1878 and 1879. In 1866 he was elected a trustee of Dartmouth college and continued in that office twenty- five years, during which time he contributed to the sub- stantial prosperity of the institution by frequent unob- trusive gifts, and the steady service of a loyal graduate. In 1882 the college conferred the degree of LL. D. upon him. He also represented the college as a trustee of the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts during several years of its existence as a department of instruction, and was a trustee of the New Hampshire asylum for the insane from 1883 until his death.
Although his life was a busy one he found time for recreation, often seeking the woods and waters of north- ern New Hampshire, and the forests and lakes of Maine, finding in them the pleasures that an angler experiences, and also the elements of good health. His piscatorial diversions caused him to be identified with a good many men like-minded as himself, and as a consequence he served a number of years as chairman of the state board of fish commissioners, a board that was created to pro- mote the fish and game resources of the state and which accomplished a noteworthy work.
Dr. Spalding was a member of the First Congregational church and few men in New Hampshire have served the cause that represents man's happiness here and hereafter with more zeal and liberality. His contribution in 1870 to rebuild the First church, the original edifice having been destroyed by fire, was $10,000, while his gift to the building fund for the magnificent edifice erected on Lowell street in 1893 and 1894 was the second largest of the contributions. Dr. Spalding was a willing servant in all the departments of church activities. He was presi- dent of the New Hampshire Bible society from 1860 until his death, a Sunday school teacher, a promoter of mis- sions, chairman of conventions and zealous in promoting all good works calculated to advance the standard of right living and bless the homes of the people. More than this no man in Nashua of his generation did more to advance the cause of education or showed a kinder spirit or more generous hand in fostering and encouraging secular enter- prises for the public weal, and in encouraging individuals by example, by advice and by pecuniary aid to make the most of their opportunities, and thereby make this. Nashua of ours the prosperous and enlightened city we behold to-day.
Dr. Spalding was united in marriage June 23, 1842, with Dora Barrett, second daughter of Joseph and Mary (Appleton) Barrett of New Ipswich, a family honorably identified with the history of the town so widely known by the character and achievements of its sons. Mrs. Spalding, who died Jan. 17, 1887, was a woman of rare good sense, gentle, kind to those in sorrow and affliction, never wearying in the ministrations that make men and women better and happier. Three children were born of their marriage: Edward Atherton, born Oct. 13, 1852, died Nov. 10, 1863, Mary A. and Dora N., now living.
VIRGIL CHASE GILMAN.
Hon. Virgil C. Gilman was born in Unity, May 5, 1827. He is the third child and eldest son, in a family of eight children, of Emerson and Delia (Way) Gilman. Mr. Gilman traces his lineage to Moses Gilman, who was one of three brothers-Edward, John and Moses-who emi- grated from England to this country early in the sixteenth century. The descendants of these pioneers in the civilization of this continent are numerous. There is hardly a state in the Union where they may not be found. The family has been in civil office from the time our colony became a royal province to the present time. John Gilman was one of the first councilors in President Cutt's commission, and died in 1708. Col. Peter Gilman was one of the royal councilors in 1772. Nicholas Gilman was councilor in 1777 and 1788, John Gilman in 1787, while John Taylor Gilman was fourteen years, eleven in succession, our highly respected chief magistrate. His brother, Nicholas Gilman, was a member of the house of representatives in congress eight years, and in the national senate nine years. The ecclesiastical annals also have: Rev. Nicholas Gilman, Harvard college, 1724, and Rev. Tristram Gilman, Harvard college, 1757, both respected men. The subject of this biography is a descendant in the line of Moses Gilman through Stephen and Dorothy (Clough) Gilman, who became his second wife Sept. 5, 1793, and bore him twelve children. His first wife, by whom he had nine children, was Anne Hunton. Stephen was a native of Kingston and served as a cavalry officer in the Revolutionary war. Emerson, son of Stephen, and father of Virgil, followed the trade of a clothier until machinery supplanted the hand process, when, after pursuing the occupation of a farmer for a few years, he removed to Lowell, Mass., in 1837. Blessed with good courage and strong and willing hands he supported his large family and give his children the advantages the city afforded in the way of education.
Mr. Gilman was ten years of age when he became a resident of Lowell. He made fair progress, for a boy of his age, in the public schools and continued his studies through several grades in the high school. In 1843 he removed to Nashua, but it was not until 1851 that he entered business for himself. He then became associated with Charles P. Gage and O. D. Murray, under the firm name of Gage, Murray & Co., in the manufacture of printers' cards, embossed and marble papers. The firm managed its affairs with skill and enterprise, and out of it came the Nashua Card and Glazed Paper company.
Mr. Gilman is one of the finest penmen and most accurate book-keepers in southern New Hampshire, and consequently his services, after severing his connection with Gage & Murray and while seeking renewed health, which had become impaired under his close application to business, by tilling the soil and other out-door employ- ment, were often in demand in that department of mer- cantile affairs. He opened the first set of books for the Nashua Savings bank, and was the cashier's substitute in the Pennichuck bank during his absence.
Mr. Gilman has been active all his life. In 1876 he became treasurer of the Nashua Savings bank in place of Dr. Edward Spalding, resigned, a position of great responsibility, which he held for more than eighteen years and with it the complete confidence of the public. Mr. Gilman has been identified with the growth and
HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. II.
prosperity of Nashua in many ways not heretofore men tioned. He was a stockholder and diector in the Under hill Edge Tool company and Amoskeag Axe company, is a director in the Indian Head National bank, and was for many years a director in the Nashua Iron and Steel company and president of the Nashua Saddleis Hardware company and the Peterboro' railroad. In fact Mr. Gil- m.it's interest in pushing Nashua into the front rank of industrial importance has been such that he has written, for newspapers and other publications, more valuable articles on the sub- ject than any other citizen, with pos- sibly the exception of Editor Moore. Besides this Mr. Gilman has taken a decided interest in military mat- ters. He was a member of the famous Governor's Horse Guards and an honorary mem- ber of the Foster Rifles. During all this time his inter- est in agricultural pursuits has been such that he has owned some of the best farms in Nashua, and cul- tivated them to the admiration of the farming com- munity, furnish- ing tillers of the soil an incentive to do their best. Under his aid and encouragement what is known as the Concord street greenhouses were founded. He has served on the board of trustees of the New Hamp- shire board of agriculture and of the New England agricultural socie- ty, done yeoman service at numerous agricultural and horticultural fairs, and was among the first to breed and develop the now famous Plymouth Rock fowl and to encourage poultry shows, both local, state, New England, and national, and was awarded a bronze medal at the Centennial exhibition for poultry.
With all else Mr. Gilman has found time to hold public office. Never a self-seeker in the field of political pre- ferment, the positions of responsibility which he has filled are where the office has sought the man. He was mayor of Nashua in 1865, has served long and faithfully
on the board of education, and performed no end of work in promoting the cause of the people through the public library, having served from its organization, more than twenty-five years, on its board of trustees and performed the duties of secretary and treasurer. Besides this he represented his ward in the legislature in 1879, being chairman of the committee on banks, and zealously opposing taxation of church property. In 18St he was chosen senator from the old Nashua district, and was honored with the chairmanship of the leading committee of the senate, the judiciary, no mem- ber of the legal profession having a seat in that body. The duties of this position, which had usually been assigned to an at- torney, were per- formed in a man- ner so conscien- tious and courte- ous and with such ability as to win for him the esteem of all who had business before the committee.
Mr. Gilman is a member of the First Congrega- tional church and society, and active in all its missions, having served it as director and treasurer, and president and di- rector of the Sun- day school. He was a generous contributor, not only to the build- ing fund of its second and pres- ent edifice, but to the many things that are necessary to the furtherance of its work. It may be justly said, therefore, that in all that tends to strengthen society, in all that is for the best interests of the city of Nashua, Virgil C. Gilman has done his full share as an honest man and good citizen. Dartmouth college conferred on him the degree of A. M. in 1893.
VIRGIL CHASE GILMAN.
In 1850 Mr. Gilman was united in marriage with Sarah Louisa, daughter of Gideon Newcomb of Roxbury. Two children were born of their marriage: Harriet Louisa, born October 21, 1853, married Charles W. Hoitt, attorney at law and judge of the Nashua municipal court, January 14, 1875, and Alfred Emerson, born February 16, 1857, died September 29, 1857.
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JOTHAM DUTTON OTTERSON.
Hon. Jotham D. Otterson was born in Hooksett, Sept. II, 1805, died at Nashua, 1880. He was a son of James and Martha (Chase) Otterson. His immigrant ancestor, James Otterson, came to this country from the north of Ireland early in the eighteenth century. Of his four sons who accompanied him, William, who married Jane Temple before leaving his native land, settled in that part of Chester, now Hooksett. He enlisted as a soldier in the French and Indian war and perished at Ticon- deroga, leaving a widow and two children, James and Mollie. James, who was born Aug. 19, 1757, named for his grandfather, and the father of the subject of this sketch, became a soldier in the War of the Revolution. Mollie lived a single life. It is an interesting fact in the history of the Otterson family that Jane, wife of William, accompanied her husband two miles on foot carrying her
JOTHAM DUTTON OTTERSON.
baby, Mollie, in her arms, and leading James, then in his third year, by the hand, when he started from home to join his company. It was their last parting. The cour- ageous woman returned to the farm, took up her life work, tilled the soil, brought up her children and at her death left the estate to her son. The same farm is now owned and occupied by a nephew of the fifth generation. On the maternal side he was a descendant of Abner and Betty (Bradley) Chase, whose ancestors were among the first settlers of the Suncook valley, and bore an honorable record for piety and good-citizenship.
Mr. Otterson was educated in the public schools of his native town and at Blanchard academy in Pembroke. He learned the machinists' and iron moulders' trades and worked in Lebanon, Nashua, Hooksett, Pittsfield, Mass., and came to Nashua about 1833. After being employed for sometime in the machine shop of the Nashua Manu- facturing company, he went to Clinton, Mass., where he was superintendent of the Lancaster mills, and in 1850 returned to Nashua and purchased the interest of Deacon Baldwin, then lately deceased, in the Nashua Lock com- pany, located on Water street. With his associates, Col. L. W. Noyes and Robert Living, he continued the manu- facture of locks, knobs and house trimmings until the
partnership was dissolved. In settlement of the business Mr. Otterson took the foundry, tools and fixtures, and continued in business as sole proprietor and manager until his death, under the name of the Otterson Foundry company. He was a conservative and practical business man, who paid good wages and took a deep interest in everything that had a tendency to dignify labor and promote the welfare of the laboring man. With all else Mr. Otterson was a citizen of the most democratic char- acter. He believed in the people and he entered heartily into the things that interest them. In the days before Nashua was incorporated as a city he belonged to the fire department, was foreman of the Nashua company's engine company and chief of the department. Mr. Otterson held a good many positions of honor and trust and assisted several industries upon their feet. He rep- resented his ward in the legislature with ability during two sessions and in 1868 and 1870 was mayor of the city.
Mr. Otterson was one of the founders of the Pearl street Congregational church, and no man connected with it was more generous in its support or more constant and loyal to all its missions. He gave it financial support, without which it could not have sustained itself, and when it became necessary to close its doors he was sor- rowful, and yet, true man that he was, he united with its successor the Pilgrim church. Mr. Otterson was a mem- ber of Granite lodge, I. O. O. F., and was one of the truly good and generous men of Nashua, who performed every duty of life with conscientious fidelity, and left an unblemished record in all things.
Mr. Otterson was twice married: first, Feb. 1, 1838, to Sarah Emery Scribner, daughter of Parker and Elizabeth (Emery) Scribner of Franklin. Mrs. Otterson was a descendant on the paternal side of Josiah Scribner, who settled at Andover, who, on the maternal side, was descended from the Websters, his mother being Hannah, the sister of the father of Daniel Webster, and on the maternal side of the Emerys and Fesendens. She died at Clinton in January, 1852. His second marriage, in December, 1852, was with Lucia Fish of Athol, Mass. Eight children were born to him, all by his first mar- riage : James Parker Scribner, born in Hooksett, January 14, 1831, married Feb. 17, 1853, Asenatlı Hurd Bannister ; Mary Elizabeth, born June 29, 1833, at Lebanon, married Rev. Robert S. Stubbs; Lafayette Washington, born in Nashua, March 5, 1836, died Sept. 14, 1837; Sarah Emery Dana, born in Nashua, July 15, 1838, married Frederick Bunnill, who died in the army, afterwards married Edgar B. Burke of Nashua; Nancy Emery, born in Nashua, Nov. 20, 1841, married Dana D. Dodge of Nashua; George Washington, born in Hooksett, Oct. 5, 1843, married Priscilla Cook, now resides in Florida; Ann Maria, born in Clinton, Mass., Feb. 7, 1847, married William H. Cook ; William Henry, born in Nashua, March 31, 1850, died Sept. 17, 1851.
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