USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Claremont > History of the town of Claremont, New Hampshire, for a period of one hundred and thirty years from 1764 to 1894 > Part 36
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MILES JOHNSON
Was born in 1748 and died in Claremont December 1, 1834. He came here from Guilford, Conn., in 1796, bringing his family and
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effects by a team of four oxen, driven by his son Parmer, then eight years old. He was a soldier in the war of the Revolution; was with Washington's army when it crossed the Delaware river, in the battle of White Plains, and with Israel Putnam at Ticonderoga. In his old age he often related incidents of the marches and battles in which he participated. He settled on the farm on the west side of Green mountain, now owned by his grandson, Amos D. Johnson.
PARMER JOHNSON,
Son of Miles Johnson, was born in 1788 and died in Claremont March 25, 1866. When eight years old he came with his father from Guilford, Conn., and ever after lived on the west side of Green mountain. He was drafted into the army in the war of 1812, but by reason of the declaration of peace was not mustered into the ser- vice. He had two sons, both living,- Rev. J. G. Johnson, of Red Wing, Minn., and Amos D. Johnson, of this town, and several daughters.
JOHN KIMBALL
Was born at Haverhill, September 30, 1796. He graduated at Dartmouth College, and studied law at Bath, in the office of Hon. Moses Payson, and was admitted to the bar at Haverhill. He was in practice at Claremont from 1830 to 1839, and at Putney, Vt., from 1839 to 1870. He was twice elected to the New Hamp- shire senate while he lived in Claremont. He represented Putney in the Vermont legislature several years; was twice state senator for his district, and once president of the senate. He died at Put- ney, February 23, 1884.
PHILANDER C. FREEMAN
Was born at Plainfield, August 27, 1807. He graduated at Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio; studied law in the office of Judge J. H. Hubbard, at Windsor, Vt. He came to Claremont about 1838, opened an office and commenced the practice of his profession. He was a representative in the New Hampshire legislature in 1843
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and 1844, and for several years was justice of the police court. He died April 20, 1871.
SANFORD KINGSBURY
Was born at Windham, Conn., April 7, 1743, was one of the early settlers of the town, and a prominent citizen until his death at the age of ninety-one years, which occurred November 12, 1833. He settled on the farm on Town hill now owned by the heirs of Russell Jarvis, and lived there until 1795, when he sold it to the senior Dr. Leonard Jarvis. He was selectman in 1784, 1786, and 1789; mod- erator in 1786 and six years succeeding; representative in the New Hampshire legislature in 1786 and three years succeeding; state senator in 1791 and 1792; member of the executive council in 1789; and judge of probate from December 20, 1797, to June 20, 1798.
DR. WILLIAM M. LADD
Was born in Unity in 1813. He graduated at Kimball Union Academy ; studied medicine with his uncle, Dr. Charles Perry, in Rutland, Vt. ; attended lectures at the Vermont School of Medicine, where he took his degree of M. D. For the next ten years he was in the active practice of his profession at Townshend, Vt. He then came to Claremont, continued practice for a time, and then opened a drug store and continued in that business until his death, June 29, 1885. He was postmaster of Claremont from May 5, 1855, to June 17, 1861, being appointed by President Pierce. He was also commissioner of schools for Sullivan county for several years.
CHARLES LELAND
Was a son of Thomas Leland; born at Windsor, Vt., July 28, 1817; was educated in the schools of his native town; studied law with his father; was admitted to the New Hampshire bar, and was in the practice of his profession at Claremont a few years. For the twenty-two last years of his life he was salesman for a New York drug house. He died at Claremont March 28, 1884.
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THOMAS LELAND,
Son of Thomas Leland, was born at Grafton, Mass., August 5, 1784; graduated at Middlebury, Vt., College in 1809; studied law in the office of Judge J. H. Hubbard, at Windsor, Vt .; was admitted to the bar in 1812; was in practice at Windsor until 1834, when he came to Claremont and continued in practice until his death, March 3, 1849. He represented Windsor in the Ver- mont legislature one or more terms.
GEORGE G. LEWIS,
Son of Wilca and Elizabeth (Stewart) Lewis, was born in Clare- mont, July 7, 1800, and died at Worcester, Mass., February 12, 1889. He descended in about the eighth generation from George and Mary (Fuller) Lewis. This George Lewis came from England in 1630, and settled near Plymouth, Mass. His son, through whom George G. Lewis's descent is traced, married a daughter of Dr. Fuller, one of the Mayflower Pilgrims. Wilca Lewis, father of George G., settled in Claremont about 1790, on the farm at the east side of Red Water brook, known later as the Mrs. Whitcomb place. George G. Lewis's grandfathers, Jabez Lewis and Jacob Stewart, were both soldiers in the Revolutionary War, on the side of the colonies, and Jabez Lewis served throughout the entire war. George G. Lewis married Adeline Labaree, a great-granddaughter of Peter Labaree, who was captured by a party of Indians at Charlestown in 1754 and carried to Canada, with the Johnson family. Labaree afterward escaped and returned to Charlestown, where he raised up a considerable family. George G. Lewis and his wife had ten children born to them - seven sons and three daughters. The oldest son, George William, and the youngest, Herbert, died in infancy; the eight others are still living. Mrs. Lewis was highly educated for her time, had fine literary taste, great energy, and ambition for her children, whom she encouraged and materially aided in obtaining good educations. The five sur- viving boys graduated at Dartmouth College, and the girls were
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fitted to teach the higher branches of learning. She died Novem- ber 26, 1876.
Of the five boys, Eugene, born in 1839, graduated at Dartmouth in 1864; read law with H. W. Parker, of Claremont; was later ad- mitted to the bar; practiced for a time at Peterborough, and Moline, Ill., and is now living at Salt Lake city, Utah. Frank W., born in 1840, graduated at Dartmouth in 1866; read law with Henry W. Paine, of Boston, and was admitted to the bar there; removed to Lincoln, Neb., and engaged in the business of western investments. In 1893 he returned to Boston, where he is acting president and eastern manager of the Merchants' Trust Company. Arthur G., born in 1845, graduated at Dartmouth in 1869; en- gaged as teacher and superintendent of schools, and is now prin- cipal of a grammar school in Worcester, Mass. Henry E., born in 1848, graduated at Dartmouth in 1872; studied law and was ad- mitted to the bar in Illinois; moved to Lincoln, Neb., in 1881, and was engaged in making western investments for eastern parties. From 1889 till 1893 he was president of the Lincoln Safe Deposit Company, and is now secretary and treasurer of the Merchants' Trust Company. Homer P., born in 1849, graduated at Dart- mouth in 1872. Since leaving college he has been engaged in teaching. At Davenport, Ia., he was principal of the high school, from whence he went to Omaha, Neb., in 1883, since which he has been principal of the high school there. Of the daughters, Ellen A., born in 1838, married John Bugbee, of Hartford, Vt., and now resides there. Belle H., born in 1842, has for several years been assistant teacher in the high school at Omaha, Neb. Marion, born in 1843, lives at Salt Lake city, where she has been chiefly engaged in teaching.
This is a remarkable record of a family of eight children of a New Hampshire farmer of but moderate means, due largely to the intelligence, ambition, frugality, and industry of the mother, in co- operation with the father and the children themselves.
FRANCIS LOCKE.
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JONAS LIVINGSTON,
Son of William Livingston, a Scotchman, was born at Sharon, Hills- borough county, December 13, 1806, and died at Peterborough, November 22, 1877. He was agent of the Phoenix cotton mill, at Peterborough, and came from there to Claremont in 1845, as agent and manager of the Monadnock mills, which position he held until 1863, when he resigned and returned to Peterborough. He subse- quently bought a controlling interest in the Phoenix mill, which he operated successfully until his death. He was sole representative from Claremont in the New Hampshire legislature in 1853, and was elected a member of that body, with others, in 1854. He was president of the Sullivan Savings Institution several years, and a prominent citizen of the town.
FRANCIS LOCKE
Was born in Stoddard, March 19, 1810. He is the youngest of eleven children of Enos Locke. When twenty-one years old he went to Walpole, where he worked as a farm laborer, carrying on a farm on shares, and then as owner, until 1862, during which time he was selectman and overseer of the poor four years. Having accumulated a comfortable fortune, that year he sold his farm, came to Claremont, and bought the large brick house on the west side of Pleasant street, built by the late S. F. Redfield, which has since been his home. He was selectman of Claremont in 1866, 1867, 1870, 1871, and 1872. He has been twice married and is now a widower. By his first wife he had one daughter, the wife of George W. Holden, who lives with him. By reason of the trials and hardships of his early years, caused by the excessive use of ardent spirits by others than himself, in whom he was inter- ested, he has been an ardent temperance man for many years.
CHARLES H. LONG,
The oldest son of Charles F. Long, was born in Claremont March 14, 1834. He graduated at Norwich, Vt., Military University in 1855. Soon after the breaking out of the War of
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the Rebellion, in April, 1861, he was employed to drill recruits at Newport, Concord, Dover, Portsmouth, and other places in the state. In July, 1861, he opened an office and recruited men for the Fifth Regiment, and was commissioned captain of Com- pany G. At the battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862, he was severely wounded in the left arm by a minie ball, and re- signed November 6. April 17, 1863, he was commissioned cap- tain and authorized to raise a company of heavy artillery to garrison the defenses of Portsmouth. In the summer of 1864 a full regiment was raised and he was commissioned colonel of it September 29. This regiment was ordered to the front, served in the defenses of Washington, and was mustered out June 15, 1865. In November, 1864, Colonel Long was ordered to the command of the First Brigade, Hardin's Division, Twenty- second Army Corps, and retained that position until mustered out with his regiment. Generals Howard, Hardin, and other officers under whom he served, spoke of Colonel Long and his conduct as an officer in commendatory terms. When the Con- cord and Claremont railroad was opened he was appointed station agent at Claremont village, which position he has since held.
MICHAEL LOVELL
Was born in Rockingham, Vt., in 1764, and died here April 29, 1860. He was a son of Michael Lovell, who was a captain in the War of the Revolution, and both he and his wife were zealous and active in the cause of liberty. Michael Lovell, the younger, came to Claremont in 1821, bought the Alexander Ralston farm on Town hill and lived there until his death. His son, Porter Kimball Lovell, graduated at Bowdoin College and became a physician. He went to Hayti with Dr. James Hall, formerly of this town, who was made president or governor of Liberia. On their arrival there the yellow fever was raging, and Dr. Lovell soon became famous by reason of his success in the treatment of that fearful disease. He was surgeon-general in the army in the revolution of Hayti in 1842-44, and died
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there at the age of thirty-seven years. Another son, Seymour, died while attending medical lectures in New York city.
LEONARD A. LOVERING,
Son of the late John L. Lovering, was born at Hartford, Vt., November 13, 1854. He was appointed cadet at West Point in 1872; graduated and was commissioned second lieutenant Fourth U. S. Infantry June 15, 1876; promoted first lieutenant of same January 3, 1885, and captain of same October 15, 1893. He was detailed by the war department acting assistant professor of chemistry and mineralogy and geology at the United States Military Academy, West Point, 1881-85; engineer officer, De- partment of the Columbia, 1888-89; aid-de-camp to Brig. Gen. John Gibbon, U. S. Army, 1889 -91; aid-de-camp to Brig. Gen. Thomas H. Ruger, U. S. Army, 1891; in command of his company at Boise City, Idaho, in 1894.
DR. ALBERT L. MARDEN,
Son of Nathan J. Marden, was born at Epsom, December 31, 1849, and graduated at Dartmouth Medical College in 1874. He was resident physician at Rumford Island, Boston Harbor, for a time, and in 1875 settled at Perkinsville, Weathersfield, Vt., and removed to Claremont in 1891, where he is in the prac- tice of his profession.
MILON C. M'CLURE
Was born in Acworth, January 7, 1819; graduated at Dart- mouth College in 1846; taught in the Claremont Academy two years; was admitted to the bar in 1849; formed a law partner- ship with P. C. Freeman in Claremont, which was continued until his death, September 1, 1860. In 1855 and 1856 he was a member of the governor's council; in 1857 and 1858 repre- sentative in the New Hampshire legislature.
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FRANK P. MAYNARD,
Son of Levi P. Maynard, was born in Fairfield, Me., August 25, 1850. In 1869 he went to California and was engaged in hydraulic mining three years.
He then returned east and went to Nashua, where he was in the shoe manufacturing busi- ness until 1879, when he went to Boston and was in the retail shoe trade. In 1883 he formed a copartnership with his brother- in-law, Charles N. Washburn, under the firm name of Maynard & Washburn, and they came to Claremont, bought what was known as the Home Mill property, and commenced the manu- facturing of shoes on an extensive scale. They made additions to the buildings from time to time and this industry became an important addition to the business of Claremont. They employ from two hundred to two hundred and twenty-five persons, and the goods made by them are distributed all over the country. In April, 1893, Mr. Maynard bought the interest of Mr. Wash- burn and became sole proprietor of the concern. He was the founder of the Claremont Electric Light Works; is president of the Claremont Building Association, and was one of the com- mittee that built Hotel Claremont. When the People's National Bank was organized, in 1892, Mr. Maynard was chosen presi- dent of it, and has been interested in other enterprises for building up and improving the town.
In 1876 Mr. Maynard married Helen E., daughter of N. P. Washburn, now of Claremont. She died in December, 1890, and in April, 1892, he married Miss Jennie Sampson, of Port- land, Me. They have a handsome residence, corner of School and Oak streets, shown in the illustration.
RALPH METCALF,
Oldest son of John Metcalf, a thrifty farmer, of North Charles- town, was born November 21, 1796, and died in Claremont, August 26, 1858. He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1823; studied law with Henry Hubbard, of Charlestown, Richard Bart- lett, of Concord, and George B. Upham, of Claremont; admitted
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to the Sullivan county bar in 1826, and opened an office at Newport. In 1831 he was elected secretary of state of New Hampshire and held the office eight years. He represented the town of Newport in the New Hampshire legislature in 1852 and 1853; register of probate for Sullivan county from 1845 to 1851; chairman of a committee to revise the laws of the state in 1852; governor in 1855 and 1856. With a few temporary in- tervals he had his home at Newport until 1856, when he removed to Claremont and built the house on Broad street, where he died, now the home of the widow of William Breck. He was a man of varied attainments and an able chief executive of the state.
WILLIAM H. H. MOODY,
The seventh of eleven children of the late Jonathan Moody, was born in Claremont May 10, 1842, and was named for President William Henry Harrison. When fourteen years old he entered the shoe factory of Russell W. Farwell here, with the design of learn- ing the business, where he continued four years. In December, 1861, he enlisted in Troop L, New England Cavalry, served a few months and was honorably discharged. In the fall of 1862 he engaged as traveling salesman for a large shoe jobbing house in Boston, and sold goods all over the country. In 1867 he was ad- mitted as partner in the concern, under the firm name of McGib- bons, Moody & Raddin, having but little capital other than ability and knowledge of the business. In 1873 he became a partner in the firm of Crain, Moody & Rising, and they established a shoe manufactory at Amoskeag, employing one hundred hands, making shoes for the western and southern markets. In a few years, the business having outgrown its quarters, the firm removed to Nashua and continued there about seven years. Then the shoe manufacturing firm of Moody, Estabrook & Andersons was organ- ized and has continued to the present time. They built at Nashua a three-story brick factory large enough to accommodate from nine hundred to ten hundred hands, and to turn out eight thousand and
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five hundred pairs of men's, boys', and women's shoes of various styles per day. This is the largest manufactory of its class of goods in this country. Its business amounts to about two million dollars . annually. The goods are sold wholly to jobbing houses at the west and south. The firm has an office and warehouse in Boston, and Mr. Moody is a director in the National Shoe and Leather Bank, Boston.
In the early half of the present century Jonathan Moody, the father of William H. H., employed several men and made shoes by hand, using pegs of his own make, for one half the people of the town. He was also a famous tenor drummer, and was in request at all military trainings and musters.
Since going to Boston Mr. Moody has accumulated a handsome fortune. In 1877 he bought what was known for many years as the Mann farm, of eighty-seven acres, about a mile south of Clare- mont village on the west side of the road to Charlestown. He has added to it from time to time adjoining farms and lots of land, and has now six hundred acres all connected with his original purchase, mostly strong, productive upland. On this farm he has erected a large and elegant house, barns, and other buildings and appurte- nances adapted to an extensive first-class horse-breeding establish- ment; and in 1893 had one hundred and fifty blooded horses of all kinds. He has expended large sums of money annually in enrich- ing and improving his farm, adding to the wealth, importance, and beauty of his native town, for which he has always had a strong affection. Mr. Moody spends a portion of each summer on his place here, and his winters in Boston.
CHASE NOYES,
Son of Tristham Noyes, was born at Boscawen in 1790. He came to Newport in 1828, and from there to Claremont in 1854. He died here May 22, 1862. He was an uncompromising abolitionist, was prominently connected with the underground railroad, and is said to have aided many slaves in escaping from bondage to freedom. He had eight children - four sons and four daughters. The sons,
HOSEA W. PARKER.
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William T., Silas E., Henry C., and Baron S. Noyes, are all living except William T., who died in November, 1884. The father and all the sons were at different times engaged in the man- ufacture and sale of shoes.
HOSEA W. PARKER,
Second son of the late Benjamin Parker, was born in Lempster, May 30, 1833. His father died in 1845, leaving a widow, two sons, a daughter, and a good hill farm. Hosea W., twelve years old, assisted his brother Hiram, three years older, in the work of the farm, attending the district and an occasional term of a select school in the town until he reached his eighteenth year. He attended Tubbs Union Academy, Washington, a few terms, and then entered the Green Mountain Liberal Institute, South Woodstock, Vt., where he fitted for college. In 1855 he entered Tufts College, where he remained two years, then commenced the study of law in the office of Burke & Wait, Newport, and was admitted to the Sul- livan county bar in 1859. While pursuing his studies he taught school winters in Newport and other places. He commenced prac- tice in his native town and removed to Claremont in the fall of 1860, where he has since resided. He soon acquired a remunera- tive practice, which increased continually until he became one of the leading lawyers in western New Hampshire, being engaged on one side or the other of almost every important cause tried in the Sullivan county court. As a jury lawyer he ranks with the fore- most in the state, both in the examination of witnesses and as an advocate. He has been admitted to practice in the United States circuit and district courts in New Hampshire, and in 1873 was ad- mitted to the supreme court of the United States at Washington, D. C.
In politics Mr. Parker is a Democrat, and has been a leader in and worker for that party ever since he became a voter, attending county, state, and national conventions, and taking the stump in all exciting canvasses. In 1859 and 1860 he represented the town
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of Lempster in the New Hampshire legislature, and took a leading part on committees and as a debater in the house. In 1869 he was the candidate of his party for member of congress from the third New Hampshire district - which had been Republican by a decided majority for many years - and was defeated by Jacob Benton. In 1871 he was again a candidate and was elected over Gen. S. G. Griffin, the Republican candidate,- receiving many more than his party vote,-fully one hundred in Claremont. He was again elected over General Griffin in 1873, by an increased majority. Nobody voted for him supposing that he was anything but a true and loyal Democrat. In congress he was constantly in his place in the house, generally acting and voting with his party. He was always opposed to jobs and jobbery. He was a member of the committees on education and labor, and on patents. The patents held by the sewing-machine monopolies were about to expire, and extraordinary efforts and large sums of money were used to secure an extension of these patents ; but Mr. Parker was opposed to it in the interest of the people. The committee, by a majority of one, voted to report against the extension, and the report was sustained by the house.
Since the close of his second term in congress Mr. Parker has devoted himself closely to the practice of his profession, seeking no political honors. In 1892 he was nominated unanimously in con- vention of the second district for member of congress, but was defeated by Henry M. Baker by a small plurality. In 1883 Tufts College conferred upon him the degree of A. M., and at the same time elected him one of the trustees of the college, which position he still holds. He is a prominent Freemason, and has been for the past twenty years eminent commander of Sullivan Commandery, Knights Templar, of Claremont.
In 1861 Mr. Parker was married to Miss Caroline Lovisa South- gate, of Bridgewater, Vt., and has one daughter, the wife of Rev. Lee S. M'Collester, of Detroit, Mich.
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HENRY PATTEN,
Son of William Patten, was born June 11, 1817, in Roxbury, Mass., now a part of Boston. He came to Claremont in October, 1839, and entered the store of Nicholas & William H. Farwell, father and son, at the west end of the lower bridge, known as the Far- mers' Exchange for many years. In the following February Mr. Patten became a partner in the firm, and so continued three years, when Nicholas Farwell retired, and the copartnership of Farwell & Patten was formed, and existed about three years. Mr. Patten then moved across the bridge and established him- self in trade in the west end of the brick block erected by Horace Parmelee, and known for a long time as the Parmelee building, where he continued until 1882, when he retired from active business. In 1840 he married Nancy, daughter of Nicholas Farwell, and they had five children -three sons and two daugh- ters -four of whom are living. The oldest son died in early manhood, and Mrs. Patten died in May, 1881.
ALEXANDER RALSTON
Came from Scotland to Boston, where he carried on the business of manufacturing gloves before and during the Revolutionary War, and accumulated a handsome fortune for those times. Being a pronounced Tory he was obliged to leave Boston soon after the close of the war, came to Keene and from there to Claremont in 1784, and purchased four tracts of land on Town hill, which included most of what was for many years known as the Michael Lovell farm, now owned by Dr. Osmon B. Way, and the territory west of it extending to Connecticut river. He kept an inn at the Lovell place, widely known while he kept it and afterward, for more than thirty years, as the Ralston Tavern. He returned to Keene about 1804, where he died March 29, 1810, at the age of sixty-four years. He had five children - three sons and two daughters. His daughter, Jennette, married Ithamer Chase, of Cornish, father of the late chief justice of the United States su-
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