USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Candia > History of the town of Candia, Rockingham County, N.H., from its first settlement to the present time > Part 41
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engaged in town business. He was selectman a number of years, town clerk, a representative to the state legislature two years and town agent for a considerable period. He was also Captain of Candia Light Infantry. He was married a second time to Miss Hannah G. Lane, who died in 1892. Mr. Eaton was for many years a member of the Congregational church. He died in 1886.
STEPHEN SMYTH.
Stephen Smyth was the son of Joseph Chase Smyth, who with his three brothers, Oliver, Biley and Jonathan, came from Brentwood to Candia about the year 1771, and settled on North Road near Hall's mountain. Stephen was one of the family of eight children, Abigail, Joseph Chase, Stephen, Betsy, Mary, Jesse, Sally, Mehitable. He bought the place on North road now owned by Jonathan Martin and married Dorothy, daughter of Isaiah Rowe, a soldier of the Revolution. They had five children Gilman C., Sarah, Frederick, Sophia and Abraham Calvin. In 1828, Mr. Smyth sold his place and moved to that now in the possession of William S. Healey on the Burpee road. In 1833, 'he bought of Rev. A. Wheeler the farm on North Road now owned by the heirs of Mrs. Thomas Morse. In 1841, he re- moved to Manchester. He was a member of the Congrega- tional church in Candia and a member of the First Congrega- tional church in Manchester. He died in 1866. Mrs. Dorothy 'Smyth, who was a woman of good natural abilities, was also a member of the Congregational church. She was an invalid several years and died Aug. 2, 1852, aged 66 years.
FREDERICK SMYTH.
Hon. Frederick Smyth, the second son of Stephen and Doro- thy (Rowe) Smyth, was born March 9th, 1819, in the house on North Road in Candia, since owned many years by Jona- than Martin, Esq., and formerly by Frederick's great-grand- father. In his early boyhood he attended school in the school- house in old District No. 8, built more than one hundred years ago, but is still standing and owned by him, religious services
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being held there on Sundays. When, at a later date, his father moved to the Burpee road he attended school in old District No. 2. In 1837-38, he taught district schools in Auburn and Hooksett,. and attended the following year the English Seminary, Andover, Mass., Rev. Dr. Coleman teacher. In the Spring of 1840, he became a clerk for George Porter, who kept with one or two exceptions, the only store on Elm street in Manchester at that time. Three years after he formed a partnership with 1 John Porter, a brother to George. In 1844, he was married to Miss Emma Lane, a daughter of John Lane, Esq., of Candia. She was a woman of great personal beauty, singularly lively and happy in her disposition and considerate to all.
In 1849-50-51 he was elected city clerk of Manchester and held that office 3 years, was elected mayor in 1852-53-54, and then in. 1864, his last election having been made irrespective of party ties and substantially unanimous. During his administration as. Mayor of Manchester all that portion of the city across the river,. previously belonging to Bedford and Goffstown, was annexed at. his urgent solicitation and personal appeals to the legislature. The setting of most of the trees on Merrimack, Concord and. Tremont Squares and Elm street was inspired by him, and many of them were transplanted from the country by his own hands. The supply of water for the city, the acquisition of Pine Grove cemetery and many other important improvements. were urged by him in his inaugural addresses. In 1855, Gov .. Metcalf appointed him chairman of a board of commissioners. to locate and erect buildings for a House for Reformation of juvenile offenders. He was cashier of the Merrimack River Bank of Manchester from 1855 to 1865, and held the same position when the institution became the First National Bank. of Manchester. He resigned that office in 1884 to become its. president, which position he still occupies. When the Merri- mack River Savings Bank was chartered in 1858, he was chosen trustee and treasurer, which positions he still holds and is also its president.
Following his success as mayor of Manchester, the Republi- can party nominated him as its candidate for governor in 1865, electing him by the largest vote which had been thrown for many years. He was re-elected in 1866 by a large majority. While
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governor he provided for the immense war debt which had been contracted, some of it at a rate of 12 per cent. interest by funding it at 6 per cent. He personally received as the chief magistrate the remnants of nearly every regiment on their return from the war, welcoming them home, thanking them for their services in behalf of the state, and taking the blood-stained battle-flags and depositing them in the state's archives. Urged by many of the papers to accept a third nomination he firmly declined.
During the war he visited the battle-fields of Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Spottsylvania and many others, caring for the New Hampshire wounded, saving many lives by his care and carrying in his arms some of the disabled soldiers from the battle field to the hospital. In 1866, he was appointed by con- gress a member of the Board of Managers for the National Homes of Disabled Soldiers, his associates being the President of the United States, the Secretary of War, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and a member from each of the states of Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Gen. B. F. Butler being president. He held this office for 14 years, and was also auditor of accounts for the several Homes of Augusta, Me., Dayton, Ohio, Milwaukee, Wis., and Hamp- ton, Va He served, too, on the committee to purchase sites and build all these Homes.
He was for many years closely identified with the agricultural interests of the country and served as treasurer of the New Hampshire Agricultural society from 1851 to 1861, and its president from 1866 to 1868. He was instrumental, with Hon. Geo. W. Nesmith, president of the society, in procuring Hon Daniel Webster, Hon. Edward Everett, Hon. Marshall P. Wilder and Hon. John M. Botts of Va. as orators at the various state fairs in . Manchester. He was a trustee of the United States Agricultural society, Marshall P. Wilder president, from 1857 to 1871, and was a joint manager of its exhibitions at Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Richmond and Phila- delphia. He is now a vice-president of the U. S. Horticultural society.
Upon the organization of the State Orphan's Home at Franklin, on the Webster farm, he was elected trustee and vice-
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president, and on the death of its president, Hon. George W. Nesmith, he was chosen to that position which he still holds.
During the last 20 years he has been director of the Concord Railroad and the last 10 years its president. During his admin- istration the B. C. & M. has been consolidated with the Con- cord R. R. and is now the Concord & Montreal, of which he is a director and its president. The following branches and extensions have also been built : The Lake Shore R. R. from' Laconia to Alton, the Belmont Branch from Tilton to Belmont, the extension of the Suncook Valley from Pittsfeld to Barnstead, the New Boston from Goffstown, the Tilton- Franklin extension. the Whitefield extension from Whitefield to Berlin, the Bethlehem and Profile R. R. acquired ; and the fine passenger and freight station built at Concord. He is a direc. tor of the Suncook Valley, Boston & Acton, New Boston branch, Suncook Valley extension and other railroads.
He has traveled extensively in countries of both hemispheres. In 1862, he visited England as a U. S. commissioner at the great International Exhibition at London, at that time extending his trip to France. Italy, Germany, Holland and Belgium. In 1878, he was a U. S. Commissioner at the great International exhibi- tion at Paris, and after ending his duties there, in company with his wife, journeyed through mary of the countries of Europe. Asia. Africa, including Italy, Egypt, Turkey, Greece and Pales- tine. In 1882, Mr. and Mrs. Smyth made a second tour of these countries, going by way of Spain, and making a trip up the Nile. In 1884, Mr. Smyth was afflicted by the death of his wife, who had cheered and encouraged him throughout their wedded life of forty years.
Governor Smyth is a man of untiring industry and perse- verance, combined with great foresight and sound, practical judgment. With these endowments he has been able to dis- charge the duties to which he has been called with signal ability and satisfaction. He has been a member of the Franklin St. church and society of Manchester for many years and has held the office of president of the society for ten years.
In 1886, he was married to Miss Marion Cossar, who was born near the town of Lanark, Scot'and, and who came to this country with her parents at the age of 10. The marriage cere-
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zony was performed at the home of the bride's grandfather, in Scotland, whither she had gone on a visit, by Rev. Dr. Wilson, who had journeyed with Mr. Smyth up the Nile years before. She is a woman of excellent natural abilities and unassuming manners. In 1888, Gov. Smyth and his wife visited many of the principal places in Great Britain and countries of Northern Europe. among them Sweden, Norway and Russia. A year later they traveled through Mexico, and in 1890, again visited England and Scotland, sailing to the North Cape, where they beheld the splendors of the midnight sun. In 1891, they went to California, Washington and Alaska. Then, in 1892, they once more visited the Old World, going as far south as Switzerland and Italy, this being Mr. Smyth's fourth visit to these countries. Amid the varying scenes and situations of of his busy lite he has always cherished a warm interest in his native town and the welfare of its people, nothing giving him greater pleasure than to visit the places of his childhood and to greet the surviving friends of his early days.
JOSEPH P. DUDLEY.
Joseph P. Dudley, son of Dea. Samuel Dudley, was born Nov. 21, 1832. He attended school at the Village and was a pupil at Pembroke Academy several terms. He assisted his father in the management of his store and shoe manufacturing :several years. He held the rank of Major on the staff of Gen. Richard D. Sanborn, commander of the Third Brigade. In 1858, he settled in the city of Buffalo, N. Y., and was connected with an iron foundry in that place. In 1861, he engaged in the business of manufacturing kerosene from crude petroleum, wwhich had then been recently discovered in large quantities in Pennsylvania and other localities near Buffalo. He organized the great company called Empire Oil works, and the business became very profitable. In 1877, the company was consolidated »with the Star Oil works and Major Dudley was placed at the head of the organization, the business of which amounts to mil- dions of dollars annually and extends through New York state, the Provinces, England and elsewhere. Major Dudley, who is wvery popular with all classes in that city, is one of the most
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successful men in Buffalo. He has been connected with the Lafayette Presbyterian church of that place and is specially distinguished for efforts to raise the standard of music. He was married to Miss Mary Folsom Underhill in 1854. She died in 1891.
SAMUEL DUDLEY.
Deacon Samuel Dudley was the son of Joseph Dudley of Raymond, and was born in that town May 5, 1796. He came to- Candia in 1812 and learned the trades of tanner and shoemaker of Elder Moses Bean. A few years later he established himself in the business of tanning and shoemaking. His business. increased from year to year, until at length a large number of the people of the town were in his employ. He. was married to Judith, daughter of David Pillsbury, Oct. II, 1819. The following are the names of their children who lived to grow up, there being six others who died in infancy : Sarah, Jr, born in 1826, married Rev. John D. Emerson, and died Sept. 15, 1862 ; Joseph P. who was born in 1832; David B., born March 19, 1838, and was killed in the battle of Antietam? Woodbury J., born 1834. Mrs. Dudley died Sept. 18, 1838 .. Dea. Dudley was married 2d, to Miss Sally Marston.
WOODBURY J. DUDLEY.
Woodbury J. Dudley, a son of Dea. Samuel Dudley, was born Aug. 25, 1834. After attending the school in the Village he- became a pupil at Atkinson academy He was employed in his father's store for some time and in 1857 he came into pos - session of the business. He has been a trader at the old stand constantly ever since. He has been Town Clerk three years, Superintendent of the schools two years and Justice of the- Peace 30 years. He has been a member of the Free Will Bap- tist church for 40 years; clerk of the church and a trustee of the F. W. Baptist society 25 years, Secretary of the Christian Association 20 years and clerk of the Rockingham Quarterly meeting 10 years. He was married Oct. 21, 1857, to Miss Amanda Stevens of Duanesburg, N. Y., who died July 26, 1876 ..
yours truly F. B. Eaton.
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They had two daughters, Mary J. and Sara J. Both are gra- duates of Wellesley College. Mary has been a teacher three years at the Maine Central Institue and three years in Minne- sota. Sara taught three years at the Franklin school in Phila- delphia and several years at the Upton school in Canandaigua, N. Y. Both of the young women have visited Europe and passed several months at Berlin in Germany, and in Paris.
In 1877, December 18, Mr. Dudley was married to Emily Libbey, a daughter of Rev. C. O. Libbey of Dover.
FRANCIS B. EATON.
Francis B. Eaton, son of Peter Eaton and Hannah Hale Kelly, was born at Candia Feb. 26, 1825. He was educated at the common and high schools in Candia and at Pembroke and New Boston Academies. In 1852, he wrote and published "History of Candia once known as Charmingfare, with Notices of Some of the Early Families." Was assistant editor and Washington correspondent of the Manchester Daily American 1853-54. He married Lucretia, daughter of John Lane, Esq., Jan. 1, 1854. The following year he became Librarian of the Manchester City Library, filling that position 10 years, during which time he was a frequent writer for the Daily Mirror and correspondent for the Boston Traveller. From Dec., 1861, to Jan. 1, 1863, he was editor and proprietor of the New Hamp- shire Journal of Agriculture, which was merged in the Mirror and Farmer: In 1864, the Boston Daily Advertiser having sent one of its staff to the front, Mr. Eaton took his place in the office until the end of the war, when he became an assistant editor on the Boston Journal. From 1866 to 1869 he was in the employ of the Customs Department stationed at Montreal and Portland, Me. Then, returning to Manchester, he followed the business of bookseller for 11 years. At present he is a director of the First National Bank and vice-president of the Merrimack River Savings Bank. He was also the principal editor and compiler of the sketches of the life and public ser- vices of ex-Gov. Smyth printed for private circulation in 1885, the Hon. Ben : Perley Poore contributing some personal remi- niscences.
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Mr. Eaton was for some years a director of the Franklin Street society, and clerk of the church in which he now holds' the- office of deacon.
JOSEPH C. LANGFORD.
Joseph C. Langford was born in Portsmouth, January 11, 1804. He was the son of Dea. Anthony Langford, a native England, and was one of a family of nine children, two of whom died in infancy. He came to Candia with his father in 1820. He was married to Abigail Patten, a daughter of William Patten, Nov. 30, 1826. She died Sept. 15, 1827, leaving one son, who died at six years of age. Mr. Langford was married a second time to Miss Pluma Howe of Concord, Oct. 7, 1833. They had six children, Harriet, who. married Henry Hubbard, Martha, who married Walter S. Holbrook, Francis P., who married Lavina Dearborn, Elizabeth, who married W. H. Thompson, Anna, who- married Frank B. Lovering, and Joseph who married Emma L. Keyes of Raymond. Mr. Langford was a. trader in a store at East Candia several years, having succeeded Abel Follansbee. He was also a successful farmer. He was a member of the board of selectmen 1846, 1847, 1866 and 1867, and was a representative to the legis- lature in 1847 and 1848. He was an active member of the. Congregational church many years, and was highly esteemed by his fellow townsmen as a man of good intelli- gence and an upright and public spirited citizen. He died Jan. 19, 1880, aged 76 years.
JOHN BROWN.
John Brown was born March 1, 1812, in the old Fitts. mansion at East Candia, now owned by J. Munroe Fitts. He was a son of Jeremiah Brown, a grandson of William Brown and a great-grandson of Nehemiah Brown, who came to Candia from Kensington in 1765, and settled on the lot now owned by the heirs of Major Nathan Brown. His mother, Abigail Clifford, was a daughter of Jacob Clifford.
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Both of his parents died before he was fourteen years of age. He attended school in district No. 12, and grew up to be a man of excellent habits and good business capaci- ties. He married Mary W., a daughter of Dea. Anthony Langford. They had two children, who died in infancy. During their wedded life of more than 40 years, they furnished a home for eight orphan children, the most of whom were cared for until they were able to care for themselves, were given a good education and were instructed in the principles of morality and religion. Mr. Brown was a farmer and for several years was engaged in the business of coopering and shoemaking. By perseverance and economy he accumulated a fortune of $20,000. He was a Republican in politics and represented the town in the legislature in 1861 and 1862. He was an active member of the Congregational church and greatly aided in sustaining religious meetings at East Candia. He was a member of Leola Lodge of Odd Fellows. He died in 1890, leaving the Congregational society a legacy of $6000.
SAMUEL MORRILL.
Samuel Morrill is the son of Samuel Morrill, 2d, and a grandson of Samuel Morrill, sr., Esq., who was one of the seven soldiers from Candia who fought in the memorable battle of Bunker Hill. He was severely wounded in that action, as has been stated elsewhere in this work. The mother of Samuel Morrill, 3d, the subject of this sketch, was Lydia Rowe, one of the children of Isaiah Rowe, a soldier of the Revolution. He was born March 9th, 1809, in the large two-story house on High Street, which was the residence of his father and grandfather, and is now owned by Harrison Brown. In 1837, he married Mianda, daughter of William and Lydia Short. They had three children, Henry Robie, Charles Francis, and Josiah Short Morrill. The latter, who was for sometime a clerk in the First National Bank of Manchester, died in 1874. He was a very amiable and promising young man. He was graduated at Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn., in 1860. He studied law
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and was a practitioner at Litchfield, and Waterbury, Conn., and was Judge of the Court of Common Pleas several years. He married Anna B., a daughter of Stevens Colcord, in 1871. She died in 1875. Henry R. Morrill died July 12, 1.883, aged 43.
Mr. Samuel Morrill is a man of sound sense and greatly interested in the public welfare, but has never cherished any ambition for office, following contentedly the vocation of farming. Both himself and wife are sincerely religious in their natures and have belonged to the Congregational church many years.
CHARLES F. MORRILL.
Charles F. Morrill, the second son of Samuel Morrill, 3d, and Mianda (Short) Morrill, was born May 6, 1847. His early education was obtained in the old district school No. 5 on High Street, after which he attended the public schools of Lowell, Mass., and the academies of New Ipswich and Pembroke. He taught district schools in Pembroke two terms and the high school in Candia several terms with marked success. In 1870, he was chosen principal of the grammar school in Amoskeag district in Manchester, and held the position about three years. In 1873, he became a clerk, then a teller and in 1884, cashier in the First National Bank of Manchester, retaining that situation until 1892, when he retired to accept the office of cashier of the Bank of the Commonwealth, and soon after he was chosen treasurer of the Derryfield Savings Bank. In 1881, he was elected a member of the Common Council from ward I of Manchester. He was appointed treasurer of the People's Fire Ins. Co. in 1885. Mr. Morrill has a very active tem- perament, is genial and social in his nature and is regarded as one of the most popular and successful business young men of Manchester. He was married in 1882 to Miss Hattie* S., daughter of the late Oliver Tozer of Manchester. They have a daughter, Marguerite, who was born in 1883.
SAMUEL C. BEANE.
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JAMES H. FITTS.
Rev. James H. Fitts was born in Candia, March 3, 1829. He is a son John Fitts, a grandson of Reuben Fitts and a great- grandson of Abraham Fitts, an officer in the war of the Revo- lution. His mother was Abigail, a daughter of John Lane, a a distinguished citizen of Candia, who came to the town from Poplin in 1773. He attended the common and high schools in Candia and the academies at Pembroke, Reed's Ferry in Merri- mack and Lancaster, Mass. He taught high schools in Candia, Manchester, Deerfield and Pelham and in Quincy and Ashby, Mass. He graduated from the Theological Seminary at Bangor, Me., in 1858, and was ordained as an Evangelist at the Con- gregational church in Candia, 1859. He was pastor of churches in Roxbury, West Boylston and Topsfield, Mass., four, nine and ten years. He was settled over a church in South New Market in 1880, and still holds that position. Mr. Fitts is a member of the New Hampshire Historical society, and has published several historical pamphlets relating to the Fitts and Lane families. He has also prepared and delivered several centennial addresses, as referred to elsewhere in this work. He was married to Miss Celina French, a daughter of Dea. Coffin .M. French, Jan. 1, 1862.
SAMUEL C. BEANE.
Rev. Samuel C. Beane was born in that part of Candia called the Island, Dec. 9, 1835. His father, Joseph Beane, was a son of Dea. Abraham Beane, and a grandson of David Beane, sr., who came to Raymond in 1752 and from thence to "Candia a few years later. His mother, Lydia Collins, wwas a daughter of Col. Samuel Collins of Deerfield. He prepared for college at Pembroke Academy, Phillips' .Academy, Exeter, and Andover, Mass., to graduate from Dart- -mouth college in 1858, and at the Divinity School connected with Harvard University in 1861. During the same year he avas settled over the Unitarian church at Chicopee, Mass. In 4865, he was settled over the Second church at Salem, Mass.,
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established in this state. In 1888, Mr. Holt was one of the selectmen of .Candia, and he is regarded as an energetic, successful business man. He owns a farm on the Langford road.
FRANK P. BROWN.
Frank P. Brown was born in East Candia, in 1852. He is a son of Jeremiah Brown, a grandson of James Leavitt Brown, a great-grandson of William Brown and a great-great-grandson of Nehemiah Brown, one of the first settlers on North Road. His mother was Caroline, a daughter of Ichabod Cass. He attended the public school at East Candia and the high school at Raymond. When he was sixteen years old he became a clerk in J. L. Barker's store at the Depot Village. In 1873, he formed a partnership with Lewis H. Dearborn and they opened a store in East Candia, opposite the school house. After a few months Frank bought out his partner, and did such a flourishing business for about six years that he built a new and larger store. In 1885, he was appointed postmaster at the Depot Village and opened a new store at that place, though continuing his trade at East Candia. After two years he sold his store at the Depot Village and gave his whole attention to his business at East Candia. He was a represen- tative to the legislature in 1879-80, was a selectman in 1878-79 and town treasurer in 1892. He was married in 1873 to Miss Rosa M. Lakin of Sanbornton. They have three children, two sons and a daughter. He is a member of the Rocking- ham lodge of Masons and of the Juniata lodge of Odd Fellows.
COFFIN M. FRENCH.
Coffin Moore French, son of John and Comfort (Moore) French was born April 6, 1879. He married Dec. 8, 1825, Dolly, daughter of Samuel Pillsbury of Sandown, who was born March 22, 1799, They had children as follows :
I .- John Pillsbury born Sept. 14, 1826, married Edie Knight of Atkinson, June 29, 1861, who died July 18, 1863. Second marriage, Mary Elizabeth Craig of Worcester, Mass., Sept. 28,
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1881. He is a farmer and lives on the homestead. He was chosen deacon of the Congregational church in 1874, during the pastorate of Rev. Geo. E. Lovejoy. 2 .- Mary Celina, born May 6, 1832 ; married Rev. James Hill Fitts, Jan. 18, 1862. 3 .- Samuel Franklin, born Dec. 22, 1835 ; married Martha Jane Upton of Andover, Mass., Dec. 22, 1864. 4 .- George Henry, born July 27, 1838 ; married Fannie E. Kilburn, of Worcester, Mass .. Sept. 28, 1871. (See professional history).
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