USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > History of the city of Nashua, N.H. > Part 97
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BENJAMIN FLETCHER, JR.
grand lodge in 1871 and 1872. In religious matters he is a Universalist. Mr. Fletcher is a man of ideas, and in the lodge or before the public is never at a loss to clothe these ideas so as to make their significance plain and forcible. In fact he is a self-made, self-reliant man whose career shows what may be accomplished by study and application.
Mr. Fletcher was united in marriage in 1859 with Parmelia Ingram, daughter of Roswell and Laura (Pratt) Ingram of Nashua and a descendant of Samuel Ingram and Richard Pratt. There were four children of their marriage, all born in Nashua: Frank M., born Dec. 24, 1859, graduated at Nashua high school, class of 18SI, died Jan. 25, 1885; Laura Belle, born April 29, 1864; Agnes, born Dec. 4, 1870, died April, 1874; Rosalind, born Dec. 4, 1870, married O. C. Cole of Bridgeport, Conn., Oct. 30, 1890.
ALFRED METCALF NORTON.
Hon. Alfred M. Norton was born at Greenland, April 13, 1822, died at Nashua, July 13, 1892. He was a son of
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HISTORY OF NASIIUA, N. H.
Daniel J. and Mary ( Marston) Norton. His paternal ancestors were of English origin, and among the early settlers of the territory roundabout Dover. His maternal grandfather was Thomas Marston, who married Mary White. Both families were among the first people of their section, active and influential in social circles and public affairs.
Mr. Norton was educated in the common schools of his native place and graduated at Brackett academy April 1, 1851. He entered the service of the Boston Gaslight company, where, by industry and perseverance, he mastered every de- tail of the business and was rapidly advanced from one position to another until he became recognized as one of the expert gas engineers of New England. In 1853 he became man- ager of the gas works at Dover, where heremained seven years. He then became em- ployed at the gas works in East Bos- ton, and in 1861 became the com- pany's manager, a position he held until he came to Nashua in 1874, making thirteen years in the service of that company. He held the re- sponsible position of engineer and manager of the Nashua Light, Heat and Power company from the date last men- tioned until his death, and for sev- eral years was treasurer of the company. During his administration the gas company's plant was remodeled, enlarged, new buildings were erected, modern inventions and methods adopted and the price of gas to consumers reduced nearly one-half. It will thus be seen that Mr. Norton spent forty years of his life in the manufacture of gas, and that during thirty-eight years of this time he was a manager.
In 1883 and 1884 Mr. Norton served the city in the office of mayor, and although elected and re-elected by a parti- san political organization, it is greatly to his credit that he gave the city a non-partisan administration both in his appointments and in the demand for improvements.
There was nothing small or hollow-hearted in Alfred M. Norton in any association or business transaction of life. Ile was commanding in stature, perfect in physical pro- portions, democratic in social life, conservative in judg- ment, faithful to every trust, and had the complete confidence of the people. Mayor Norton built the Canal street iron bridge, completed undertakings begun by former administrations, and incepted and carried forward other improvements that have been of vast importance to the public. Following this service to the city his party desired to nominate him for senator, well knowing that his popularity would insure his election, but he declined the honor. Mr. Norton was made a Free Mason in Strafford lodge at Dover, and was knighted in Wil- liam Parkman commandery, Knights Templar, at East Boston. He affiliated with the local bodies, and, by reason of his commanding stature, marched at the head of the column in St. George command- ery whenever that body appeared in public.
ALFRED METCALF NORTON.
Mr. Norton was united in marriage at Gonic, July 13, 1859, with Leona E. Foster, daugh- ter of Nathan and Sally (Gilson) Fos- ter. Mr. Foster was born at Nor- way, Me., April 9, 1795, died at Nor- way, Me., Jan. 19, 1837; Mrs. Foster wasborn at Groton, Mass., Dec. 30, 1791, died at Nash- ua, July 13, 1882. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Norton are : Mary E., born June 17, 1860, at Reading, Mass .; Julia L., born Oct. 12, 1861, at Boston, Mass., married Albert J. Mckean of Nashua, April 23, 1889; Harry Austin, born Dec. 13, 1863, at Boston, married Katherine Gallinger of Concord, Oct. 10, 1888; Leone S., born Feb. 8, 1866, at Boston, married Frank H. Ivers of Cambridge, Mass., Oct. 8, 1884; Fred W., born at Boston, Nov. 17, 1868, mar- ried Almira Mercy Whithed of Nashua, Oct. 24, 1894; Paul T., born at Boston, June 4, 1870; Arthur E., born at Boston, Dec. 9, 1871; Walter F., born at Boston, Oct. 20, 1873.
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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
JOHN AUGUSTINE SPALDING.
Hon. John A. Spalding was born in Wilton, May 29, 1837. He is a son of Moses and Anna H. (Kimball) Spalding. The name appears early in the middle ages of English History when battles were fought hand to hand (see "Spalding Memorial," published in 1872), and a coat-of-arms was deemed essential to honor. There is a town in Lincolnshire, Eng., bearing the name, and it is from that place that Edward Spalden (the name being written Spalding and Spaulding in the next and suc- ceeding genera- tions) emigrated to this country in 1630 or 1631. He settled at Brain- tree, Mass., where his first wife and daughter died. In 1645 his name ap- pears among thir- ty-two petitioners for a tract of land for the purpose of a settlement, and subsequent rec- ords show that, in 1655, he be- came one of the incorporators of Chelmsford, Mass., named after Chelmsford, Eng- land. The family name of his second wife, Rachael, is not given in the records of that day, but the line- age is successively traced through seven generations to the subject of this sketch. The descendants of this pioneer, like that of many another early settler, are scattered through- out the union. They have held, and still hold, prominent places in the professions, in the mercantile and monetary world, in manufacturing industries and all the occupations in which men are employed for a liveli- hood.
JOIIN AUGUSTINE SPALDING.
Mr. Spalding was educated in the district schools of his native town and at the Nashua Literary institution, of which Prof. David Crosby was the founder and princi- pal. From 1850 to 1856 he was a clerk in the clothing store of his brother, Capt. William R. Spalding, at Law- rence, Mass. In the last year mentioned, being then in his nineteenth year, he came to Nashua and engaged in
the same line of trade for himself. He continued in the business with good success until 1862, when the First National bank was founded and he was chosen cashier, a position he held, with credit to himself and the entire confidence of the community, until January, 1895, thirty- two years, when he resigned aud his son, Col. William E. Spalding, became his successor. He is still a director in the institution and its vice president. Mr. Spalding has also served for many years on the board of trustees of the Nashua Guaranty Savings bank. To him it is largely due that the investments of this institution are of a character that enabled it to pass unscathed through the finan- cial depression of 1893 and 1894, and thus retain its credit as one of the soundest institu- tions of its kind in the state.
But Mr. Spald- ing's activity as a citizen of Nashua has not been wholly in the line of banking. For years he has been a large and suc- cessful operator in real estate. In fact the records of Hillsborough county show that during the past twenty-five years he has received and executed more deeds than any other man in the county. During the serious fire in- surance troubles that were forced upon the state in 1880, he responded to the cause of the people and lent his services as an officer and his money as a stock- holder to form and manage two local companies, both of which were serviceable in protecting the property of the city and state, and in winding up their affairs returned to the stockholders their original investment with hand- some interest. Mr. Spalding has always encouraged individual enterprises and manufacturing industries. Many a successful merchant owes his start in life to him, and many corporations would be extinct to-day had he not come to their aid in time of financial distress. He is at the present time officer and stockholder in the Howard Furniture Manufacturing company, and several other
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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. II.
concerns that employ a large number of men and women, and directly and indirectly benefit the people of Nashua and the towns of the Souhegan valley.
It is not alone in the activities mentioned that Mr. Spalding has been a busy man and useful citizen. He represented his ward in the legislature in 1865 and 1866, and the district, which then included Nashua and several neighboring towns, in the senate of 1878. This was the last senate under the constitution of 1850 and was composed of twelve members instead of twenty-four as now. In 1883 and 1884 he represented the third district in the governor's council, and in 1885 he was elected mayor of Nashua. The number of ballots cast for him in this election must be considered as a test of popularity, for in 1884 his party was defeated at the polls by about one hundred and eighty votes and he was elected by that number, a change of three hundred and sixty. He was not a candidate for re-election, and, as it turned out, his party was defeated under a new leader. Mr. Spalding's administration of the affairs of the municipality was one of the most satisfactory in the history of the city. He investigated the system of sewerage, and, finding it imperfect, had new surveys made with an outlet at the Merrimack river and made good progress in its con- struction. He also incepted the fire-alarm system and put it in the line of realization; anticipated the needs of the future by purchasing nearly eleven acres of land and adding the same to the Edgewood cemetery, and started the Nashua street railway of which he was the first presi- dent. Besides this he was a presidential elector of the Garfield and Arthur ticket, and was chairman of the Nashua Police commission from its organization in 1892, until 1895.
Mr. Spalding was a director of the Concord railroad six years, which included its stormy history, and at the present time is a director in the Wilton railroad and in the Worcester, Nashua & Rochester road, positions which he has held for a series of years. He is a member of Rising Sun lodge, A. F. and A. M., Meridian Sun Royal Arch chapter, St. George commandery, K. T., and of Edward A. Raymond consistory 32d degree; also of Pennichuck lodge, I. O. O. F., of which he is past grand, and Nashoonon encampment of the same order, of which he is past chief patriarch, and an original promoter and stockholder of the association that built Odd Fellows' block, serving on its board of directors from its organiza- tion to the present time. That Mr. Spalding has been a very busy man since he settled in Nashua is further evidenced by the fact that he is president of the First Congregational society and served it in 1893 and 1894 as chairman of the building committee of the magnificent edifice on Lowell street, expending $125,000 with fidelity that had the approval and thanks of the subscribers of that fund.
Of Mr. Spalding as a man among his fellow-citizens much might be said that must be omitted in an historical work that has its limitation. It should be stated, how- ever, that his oversight of the affairs of the First National bank has been of the most satisfactory and appreciable character by its stockholders and patrons; that his administration of public trusts have been of a most ser- viceable character to the people and honorable to him- self ; that no worthy cause appeals to him and is dismissed empty-handed; that his democratic sociability with the humblest as well as the affluent has been, and is still, a
source of happiness to thousands of men and women whose lives are brightened by intercourse with him, and whose private affairs are benefited by the advice he has given and the aid he has advanced. Mr. Spalding has a summer home at the old homestead district on Abbot hill in Wilton, and also in the grounds of The Grand at Mont Vernon, and whenever he is at either place his latch- string is out for friends and acquaintances.
Mr. Spalding was united in marriage at Wilton, Oct. 13, 1859, with Josephine E. Eastman, daughter of Joseph and Abagail Eastman of Rumney. Mrs. Spalding died at Nashua in January, 1877. His second marriage occurred in November, 1878, with Anna, daughter of Dr. E. T. and Mary M. Learnard of Fall River, Mass. His children, by his first wife: William E., born Dec. 13, 1860; Harry E., born 1862 who died the same year.
JAMES H. TOLLES.
Hon. James H. Tolles was born in Nashua Oct. 17, 1846. Ile is a son of Horace C. and Sophia A. (Wright) Tolles. ( For ancestors see sketch of his father).
Mr. Tolles obtained a common school education in the district where he was born, and a wider range of practical knowledge relative to mercantile customs and methods and matters of public moment by private study, intuition and observation. He is a musician by nature, study and practice, and during his youth made it his profession, being a member at various times of the Dunstable Cornet band, the Nashua Cornet band and several orchestras, besides teaching and playing in church choirs. At the present time music, both vocal and instrumental, is almost entirely abandoned by him, although he continues to greatly enjoy it, both his wife and daughter being musicians of high rank in the profession.
Mr. Tolles is a self-made man in the truest sense. When he left his home, at the age of twenty years and six months, he was in feeble health. He had not been able to perform any work for two years, and even then could do but little. He went to work, however, for his brother, Henry J. Tolles, in a grocery store at Dunstable, Mass., and remained there about three years, his health improving meantime so that he felt like pushing out into the world. He returned to Nashua, and although he had obtained a complete knowledge of mercantile affairs, he accepted a situation in the dry goods store of Crawford & Anderson, located in Noyes block, and the largest store of its kind in the city at that time, at seven dollars and a half a week. His ability as a salesman in this, to him, new line of business, was soon discovered by his employ- ers, and his wages were very soon increased beyond the usual salaries of that day. In July, 1872, although his employers offered him every possible inducement to remain with them and spoke discouragingly of his pur- pose to enter a new line of trade, he resigned his clerk- ship and accepted an invitation to go into the lumber business with John Cross, his father-in-law. It was an unfavorable time of the year to enter the business, and, consequently, on his return from his wedding trip, he accepted a position with Sargent & Cross, whose mills and lumber yard were located on Canal street, near the Jackson company's dam, as an all round assistant for the firm. Three months later, Dec. 9, 1872, Dana Sargent and his brother, B. F. Sargent, retired from the business, and the firm was changed to Cross & Tolles, and so continues at the present time.
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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
Mr. Tolles, however, is something more than a success- ful business man. He has put time, money and influence into the enterprises that have been incepted and carried forward for the development of Nashua industrial resources, and has been a generous giver and worker in the things that promote the interests of society and are helpful to the public. He was elected mayor of the city for 1886, and re-elected for 1887 and 1888. (See chapter on Civil Government).
In private life he is a cordial and companionable man, a model citizen, a promoter of the interests of musi- cians, and an ear- nest worker in many directions for the public at large. He is a member of Penni- chuck lodge, I. O. O. F., Merrimack River command- ery, U. O. G. C., a member of the supreme com- mandery of the order, and for many years, and now, is grand treas- urer of the grand commandery of the state of New Hampshire; the order of Good Fel- lows, and an officer in the supreme as- sembly, and also of the City Guards club. He is also in corporate and other organiza- tions, being a director and clerk of the Nashua Light, Heat and Power company, the Indian Head National bank, the Nashua Building and Loan associa- tion, the Lowell Electric Light corporation (Low- ell, Mass.,) the Wheeler Reflector company (Boston), and active in the management of many other important trusts, besides being a trustee of the Nashua Savings bank, the City Emergency hospital, and serving on the executive board when it was established; president of the Nashua Board of Trade and a member of the state board, in which he served as the chairman of the committee on statistics; administrator and trustee of the estate of Dana Sargent. Mr. Tolles is a member of the First Congregational church, which he served on the committee that had charge of the erection of the magnificent edifice on Lowell street.
Mr. Tolles was united in marriage July 8, 1872, with Mary Ellen Cross, daughter of John and Sarah A. (Sar- gent) Cross. (For ancestors see sketch of her father). One child has been born to them, Marion E., born Aug. I, 1874.
CHARLES HORACE BURKE.
Hon. Charles H. Burke was born in Milford, Dec. 4, 1850. He is a son of Nahum W. and Anna M. (Lewis) Burke. On the paternal side he is a descendant of Rich- ard Burke, who came from Eng- land to America in 1670 and settled at Sudbury, Mass., where he became an influential citi- zen. His children and children's children, like those of many oth- ers of the colonial families, have be- come widely scat- tered and have made for them- selves honorable records in the pro- fessions, the mer- cantile world and the general occu- pations of men. On the maternal side he is a de- scendant of David Lewis of Frances- town, of whom honorable mention is made under date of 1764 in Coch- ran's history of that place.
JAMES H. TOLLES.
Mr. Burke came to Nashua with his parents in 1856 and was educated in our public schools. During his minor- ity he was em- ployed in his father's bakery, and shortly after attaining his ma- jority he became a a partner in the business, the firm name being N. W. Burke & Son. His father died in 1883, and since that time he has conducted the business alone, having added new machinery from time to time, increasing the output and keeping abreast of the times. Mr. Burke is one of the most reliable and busy business men in Nashua, and besides the management of his bakery is president of the Nashua Iron and Brass foundry, president of the Nashua Boot and Shoe company, president of the Home Building and Loan association, director in the Second National bank, the Nashua Armory association, Nashua coal com-
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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
pany, trustee of the City Guaranty Savings bank, ex- president of the board of trade, and one of the promoters of the Nashua street railway, having served on its first board of directors. That he has the confidence of the people is thus abundantly shown, and that he has done all in his power to build up and promote the industries of Nashua is a fact beyond cavil.
In politics Mr. Burke is a progressive Democrat, a man whose magnetism and popularity is such that he has been elected to office several times when his party associates on the ticket have failed of an elec- tion. Mr. Burke represented Ward Eight in the com- mon council in 1874, and in the legislature in 1876. In 1878 he was col- Jector of taxes for the city, and in 1889 and 1890 he served in the office of mayor. His ad- ministration of city affairs during the two terms he was chief magis- trate was marked with patriotic zeal and improvements that have the ap- proval of the peo- ple. He recog- mized the' long standing claim of the veteran volun- teers for a suitable memorial to those who fought the battles of the re- public by erecting and dedicating the beautiful soldiers' and sailors' monu- ment on Abbot square, and he added the Arling- ton street school- house and the Court street police station to the needed and per- manent improve- ments of the city.
CHARLES H. BURKE.
Mr. Burke has been an active citizen. He has shown praiseworthy interest in church, educational, social and benevolent organizations and has done his part in pro- moting the interests of each. He is a member of the Universalist church and its treasurer for the past fifteen years, and served the Ballou association as its president, taking part in its entertainments and encour- aging its members to lives of usefulness. Mr. Burke is a member of Rising Sun lodge, A. F. and A. M., and of Edward A. Raymond consistory 32d degree; also of Pen- nichuck lodge, I. O. O. F., of which he is past grand, of Indian Head encampment of which he is past patriarch, and Evening Star lodge, K. of P., of which he is past chancellor. He is an honorary mem- ber of the New Hampshire Vete- rans' association, a deserved com- pliment paid him for his patriotic service in build- ing the monument to the memory of Nashua's veter- ans, and a former member of the City Guards club.
Mr. Burke was united in mar- riage Sept. 7, 1876, with Aserath D. Spalding, daugh- ter of Hosea B. and Dorcas (Mar- shall) Spalding of Merrimack. (For genealogy see sketch of Solo- mon Spalding, Mrs. Burke's pa- ternal ancestry be- ing practically the same.) They have one child, Tena, born at Nashua, Dec. 25, 1889.
He also improved the sewerage system, sidewalks, streets and highways and devoted his time unstintedly to the public service, and to the inci- dental things that convenience the people and give a city an important name abroad. Mr. Burke was appointed on the Nashua police commission in 1891 by Gov. Hiram A. Tuttle, and re-appointed by Gov. John B. Smith for a term ending in 1899. He is clerk of the board and highly regarded by his associates and those who have business with the department.
It is not alone in the business and political world that
WILLIAM H. BEASOM.
Hon. William H. Beasom was born in Nashua, at the homestead on Main street where he now resides, Aug. 17, 1861. He is a son of William D. and Jane N. (Boardman) Beasom. (For ancestors see sketch of his father.)
Mr. Beasom was educated in the public schools of his native city, and, with the exception of five years spent in California, Colorado and Nebraska, has always had his home here. His business is that of a manufacturer. He was treasurer of the Underhill Edge Tool company from
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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
1886 till its plant and business were sold to the American Axe company in 1891, and the Nashua Saddlery Hardware company, of which he is general manager and treasurer,
WILLIAM H. BEASOM.
owes its existence and prosperity largely to his enterprise and business sagacity. He is a trustee in the Nashua Savings bank and director and vice-president in the Indian Head National bank, besides being interested in one way or another in other public and corporate institu- tions.
Notwithstanding his business cares and responsibilities Mr. Beasom has been much in public life. He was clerk of Ward Four in 1886 and 1887, councilman in 1888 and a member of the board of aldermen in 1889 and 1890. He was elected mayor of Nashua for the municipal year 1891 in one of the hardest fought local campaigns ever waged, and was the youngest executive officer, being twenty-nine years of age at the time, in the history of the city. His administration was of a business character. Every department was improved, sewers extended, streets paved, the police station completed and occupied and the con- struction of Amherst street schoolhouse begun. Mr. Beasom was re-elected for the year 1892, but after he had discharged the duties of his office for a few months his health failed and he relinquished the executive chair to Alderman C. E. Faxon, who was acting mayor the balance of the term. In politics Mr. Beasom is a Republican and influential in party councils. He is a member and junior warden of the Church of the Good Shepherd, and a man whose amiable qualities and honest purpose commands respect and attracts friends who support him in business enterprises and at the polls with earnestness that cannot be otherwise than gratifying to himself and friends.
Mr. Beasom was united in marriage Oct. 8, 1884, with
Mary F. Stevens, daughter of Mark W. and Lucy R. (Phelps) Stevens of Sloansville, Schoharie county, N. Y. Two children have been born of their marriage: Mary, born Sept. 3, 1885; Margaret, born Dec. 23, 1896.
WILLIAMS HALL.
Hon. Williams Hall was born at Mason Aug. 11, 1835. He is a son of George and Rachael (Boynston) Hall, and a direct descendant of Richard Hall, who came from England and settled in Bradford, Mass., in 1673. On the maternal side he is also of English ancestry, the Mason branch of the Boynston family having a lineage in one of the oldest in New England.
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