USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Salisbury > The history of Salisbury, New Hampshire, from date of settlement to the present time > Part 56
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25. Abigail, b. Feb. 5, ISO1 ; d. Nov. 24, 1802.
SECOND BRANCH.
(2.) Capt. David Pettengill undoubtedly came here as carly as 1760 ; he certainly resided here in 1767, settling on the
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site now occupied by Isaac N. Sawyer. He devoted his entire interests to farming, owned much land and gave a farm to each of his children as a marriage portion. He died wealthy and esteemed by all. He m. in May, 1760, Betsey Heath, who d. Jan. 12, 1831, aged 91.
26. Lydia. b. March 3, 1761 ; m. Nov. 9, 1780, Rowell Colby. He took sixty young trees on his back, including apple, rose and currant bushes, to En. field in one day, setting them out on his farm at that place.
27.
Betsey, b. April 22, 1763 ; m. April 5, 1785, Joel Eastman. When quite young she rode from her home, in Rocking- ham county, to Salisbury, on a pillion, with her uncle. She was one of a number of young girls who discovered the lifeless body of an infant under a loose floor in a building in South Hamptom, connected with the school- room where Ruth Blay was teaching. She was then about five years of age. Miss Blay was arrested, tried and convicted for concealing the death of an infant child. She was executed in December, 1768. The sheriff who executed her was Thomas Packer. The fact that the discovery was made by Betsey and her school- mates, in consequence of which Miss Blay was exposed, tried and executed, cast a gloom over Mrs. Eastman's whole subsequent life, and in her later years she often referred to her knowledge of and connection with that melancholy affair, dwelling upon it with much sadness, and exhibiting great feeling and a spirit of compassion for the unfortunate victim, whose shameful death made a deep and lasting impression upon the public mind at the time. She always had a lurking suspicion that Miss Blay was wrongfully executed, and this opinion was shared by many, and although at that time her age was under the bounds of responsibility, she felt shocked at having contributed to the death of one who might have been "more sinned against than sinning." ( See Appen- dix.) Betsey soon returned to Salisbury and ever after made the town her home, casting sunshine all around by
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her loveliness of disposition and genial temper. Under the preaching of Rev. Mr. Worcester several very marked revivals occurred, particularly one on Dec. 2d, 1794, when thirty young converts professed their faith in Jesus Christ, among whom was Mrs. Betsey Eastman. She was a woman of remarkably active body and retentive memory, which latter she retained until her death, Sept. 30, 1867, aged 105 years, 5 months and 7 days. No person ever left her door hungry, and among the poor she was particularly charitable. Her native wit is well shown by the following anecdote : Her son, Hon. Joel Eastman, visited her just before her death, and when leaving kissed her and said, "Well, mother, we may never meet again on this earth," She quickly replied, " What, Joel, do you expect to die soon ?"
28. Mehitable, b. June 23, 1765. 29. Marion, b. May 11, 1767 or 1768.
30. David, b. March 29, 1769. ( See.)
31. Ruth, b. April 7, 1772; m. March 21, 1793, Stephen Greenleaf. ( See.) d. March IS, IS26.
She
32. Ann, b. June 26, 1775; d. Aug. 28, 1776. 33. Ann, b. June 19, 1777.
34. Rebecca, b. Aug 25, 1779; m. in April, 1800, Isaac F. Sawyer. ( See.) She d. Feb. 1, IS45.
35. Nancy, b. -; m. Richard Currier, of Enfield.
(30.) Lieut. David remained on the farm, building the present I. N. Sawyer house. In 1816 he built the brick mansion on Centre road, when laborers were hired for a peck of shelled corn per day. After its completion he removed there and d. Dec. 29, 1829. He m. Jan. 18, 1797, Polly, dau. of Dea. Moses Sawyer, (see) who d. May 1, 1851.
36. Betsey, b. Nov. 6, 1799; m. Benjamin Pettengill. ( See.)
37. Melinda, b. Aug. 5, 1So1 ; m. Rev. Hiran Stevens. ( See.) She d. Feb. 2, 1874.
38. Polly, b. Sept. 22, 1So3; m. Worcester Webster. ( See.)
39. John Milton, b. Jan. 4, 1806; came into possession of the old homestead where he d. April 10, 1838; m. Catherine Goss, of Ilenniker, where she d. Nov. 14, 1877, aged 74; two children, both d. young.
40. David, b. July 26, 1812 ; d. Aug. 26, 1813.
41. John F., b. -; d. April 16, 1840, aged 12.
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THIRD BRANCH.
(3.) Ensign Andrew Pettengill was b. at Plaistow in 1742, from which place he removed to Salisbury previous to 1769. He owned considerable property about South Road village, and built a two-story frame house, which stood between the dwelling house and shop owned and occupied by Dea. T. D. Little. It is said "this house was the first two-story frame house between the rivers." This house was the Pettengill tavern, the first public house in town. The town meetings, and public and re- ligious gatherings, were for many years held at this place. Mr. Pettengill was a blacksmith by trade, undoubtedly the first in the settlement, the shop standing west of his dwelling. He participated in the fight at Bunker Hill ; was 2d Lieut. in Capt. Peter Kimball's company, of Bos- cawen, Col. Stickney's regiment, at Bennington, where he was wounded in the leg, from the effects of which he d. after his return, Dec. 12, 1777, aged 35. He m. Abi- gail Greeley, who was b. at Plaistow in 1749. She m. (2) Sept. 20, 1779, Peter Severance ; she d. at Bradford, Vt., in 1819.
42. Benjamin, b. April 23, 1770. ( See.)
43. Betsey, ( Rebecca ) b. March 11, 1772; m. John Flanders, of Bradford, Vt.
44. Abigail, b. July 26, 1774; m. Eliphalet Tenney, of Corinth, Vt.
45. Marian, b. July 6, 1776; m. March 25, 1798, John Bean, of Warner.
(42.) Lieut. Benjamin, at about the time of his marriage, built the William Holmes house and carried on the large farm, in addition to which he purchased and carried on the old Wilder & Bowers grist and linseed oil mill. About 1816 he removed to South road and succeeded Stephen Web- ster in the tavern. Not liking hotel life he returned to the farm in 1820. As a most successful farmer he accum- ulated much property ; he was of more than ordinary ability, and in the Congregational church, of which he was a member, as well as in society, his standing was good. Although not a politician his friends had such
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unbounded confidence in his ability and integrity that they sent him to the legislature for two terms and con- tinued him as one of the board of selectmen for more than twenty-five years. For more than forty years he was tax collector. He m. Dec. 31, 1788, Hannah Gree- ley, who was b. June 26, 1772, and d. Sept. 28, 1838 ; he d. June 20, 1853.
46. Andrew, b. April 30, 1790; m. Dec. 31, 1811, Mary Smith. After the death of her husband, at Salisbury, Jan. 22, 1817, she m. (2) June 16, 1819, Capt. Elias Pike, of Newburyport, Mass., where she d. - They had one son, Silas, who settled at Alton, Ill., where he d. in 1838. Mr. Pettengill built a house on the site of the residence of Charles C. Holmes. He had a tan- nery and carried on the gristmill.
47. David, b. Dec. 4, 1791 ; m. (1) Jan. 21, 1817, Hannah Quimby, who d. April 25, 1830; m. (2) Abigail Quimby. He resided for a time on Searles hill, and had seven children ; he d. at Alton, Ill., leaving three sons : David E., who resides at Bunker Hill, Ill .; George and Benjamin, and four daugh- ters, viz : Mrs. D. B. Gale, of St. Louis, Mo., Mrs. Dr. Erving, of Alabama, Lucy and -
48. Mary, b. Dec. 14, 1793; d. Dec. 3, 1863, unm.
49. Moses, b. Nov. 27, 1795; d. Jan. 7, 1801.
50. John, b. Oct. 19, 1797 ; d. Nov. 28, 1816.
51. Sarah, b. Oct. 23, 1799; m. Col. Stephen Sanborn, (see. She d. at St. Louis, Missouri, June 6, 1840, leaving three daughters, Mary, Cordelia and Sarah, the latter being married. They are well educated and are worthy christian women, residing at Bunker Hill, Ill.
52. Moses, b. April 16, 1802. ( See.)
53. Ursula, b. April 2, 1804; m. Moses True, ( see.)
She d. at Bunker Hill, Ill., Aug. 11, 1842.
54. Benjamin G., b. April 30, 186; m. Fanny Stevens, of Rochester, N. Y. He d. at St. Louis, Mo., July 27, 1839.
55. Julia A., b. July 20, ISOS; m. Joseph Smith, ( see.) She d. March 8, 1859.
56. Lydia J., b. Jan. 5, 1812; m. William H. Smith ; d. at St. Louis, Feb. 10, 1841.
57. Abigail T., b. Feb. 21, 1814; m. Dr. Robert Smith, ( see.) She d. Feb. 22, 1868.
58. John A., b. May 14, 1817 ; m. - Johnson and resides at Bunker Hill, Ill. He has two sons and two daughters; the former like their father are active business men ; the daughters are married and worthily fulfilling the place of wives, mothers and christians.
(52.) Moses, (Hon.) His school advantages were concluded at Salisbury Academy in 1820, after which he taught school in his native town, at Lowell, Mass., and at Sara- toga, N. Y. In 1827 he embarked his earnings in a gen-
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eral store at Rochester, N. Y., and was burned out in Jan., 1828, losing all his property. Returning to Salis- bury he again went to teaching, and after a short time went into business at Bucksport, N. Y. While there he m. May 23, 1833, Lucy, dau. of Dea. Amos Pettengill, (see.) She was one of Salisbury's most successful teachers and for a time followed that occupation at the "Ipswich ( Mass.) Female Seminary." As a 'wife and mother she was faithful and ordered her household with wisdom. As a Sabbath school teacher and church mem- ber, at her new home in Peoria, Ill., she evinced an earn- est desire to do her duty to her scholars and to her heav- enly father. In the dark days of slavery Mrs. Pettengill was heart and hand with her husband in sympathy for a down-trodden and oppressed race. She d. at Peoria, Feb. 29, 1864. In June, 1834, with his wife and Mr. Jacob Gale, (see) he removed to Peoria, (then Fort Clark) Ill., and in company with Mr. Gale opened the first hardware and stove store in that place. In 1835 Mr. Pettengill bought out his partner and added the manufacture of sheet iron and copper ware, the first in central Illinois. He also engaged in the manufacture of plows and in the lumber business. In 1870 he began the manufacture of soap, but later withdrew from the company. He then engaged in the wholesale boot and shoe business, purchasing the interest of his partner in 1873, and in 1875 the firm of Moses Pettengill & Son was formed to carry on the same business. In the spring of 1872 the Pettengill Boot and Shoe Manufactur- ing Co. was formed, with Mr. Pettengill as President, and $100,000 capital stock. Within a year they secured the labor of the convicts at the Illinois State Penitentia- ry. They employ 250 men, and manufacture 65 cases a day, at a cost of $1300 a day. By his first wife Mr. Pet- tengill had Hannah G., b. Sept. 5, 1836; d. March 22, 1841 ; Moses T., b. May 17, 1839; d. Nov. 21, 1844. He m. (2) May 17, 1865, Mrs. Hannah W. (Bent ) Tyner,
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY
an educated and christian lady, a native of Middlebury, Vt. By her former marriage she had one son, S. B. Tyner, b. Oct. 17, 1850, whom Mr. Pettengill adopted and took into partnership. In Dec., 1834, Peoria's first church - Presbyterian or Congregationalist - was organ- ized by Mr. Pettengill and wife, among eleven members. From 1834-5 to 1881 he held the office of trustee and deacon, and since the latter date that of deacon. Dur- ing these forty-nine years he gave largely of his time and means to aid in building a frame church, a frame mission chapel, a brick church with bell and town clock, and a new stone church costing some $75,000, towards which he contributed $11,000, and in 1859 gave also a Thanksgiving offering to his church of $4000. He sub- scribed princely sums in aid of the negro, and his purse was always open for his country and the soldiers. He also gave liberally to sustain Wheaton College. For some years he had thought there was great need of an institution of learning-for girls especially -to qualify them for responsible positions. After friendly consulta- tion he purchased two lots in Peoria, costing $4500, and erected a three-story brick building with stone facings, 50x64. This was completed in 1882, at a cost of about $25,000, the steam heating apparatus alone costing not less than $1600. The building is used as a day and boarding school, which is meeting with great success. Mr. Pettengill took much more interest in his family and in the moral questions of the day than in politics. He was however elected on a heavy vote by the Free Soil party to the state senate. He held the responsible office of treasurer of the city school fund, and was also school director, making an effort to secure free schools and free school houses, things at that time unknown in Illinois. For a time he held the office of city councilman. For upwards of forty-nine years Mr. Pettengill watched the growth of Peoria, and d. in his adopted city Nov. 9, 1883.
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GENEALOGY AND BIOGRAPHY
FOURTH BRANCHI.
(4.) Capt. Benjamin Pettengill was b. at Haverhill, Mass., March 16, 1730; m. Mehitable Kimball, who was b. in Haverhill in 1739 and d. in Salisbury, April 23, 1812. The following obituary is taken from a Concord newspa- per : "Died in Salisbury, April 23, the widow Mehitable Pettengill, aged 74. Her husband, the late Capt. Benja- min Pettengill, for many years kept a public house, in which many weary and needy travelers, especially in the time of the infancy of many settlements in this state and in Vermont, had opportunity to witness the exemplary deportment, the peculiar hospitality, the sympathetic kindness and the truly christian charity of the deceased. To her children, grand-children and her numerous rela- tives she was greatly endeared by the most tender and unwearied regard to their welfare. To her neighbors and all around her she was a mother in Israel. Her christian profession from early life to old age was adorned by a steady discharge of her duty to her God, to her Sav- ior, to her brethren in the Lord, and to her fellow-crea- tures in general. Her religion was not so much in words as in deeds. Counting her own attainments in godliness as small, she appeared clothed in humility, saying less but doing more than others." Soon after marriage Mr. Pettengill removed to Plaistow, from which place he re- moved to Salisbury prior to 1773. It is the tradition that he settled over the cellar-hole on the north side of the road, west of John C. Carter. He may have built the house afterwards occupied by his son James. He d. March 15, 1805. His children were :
59. Benjamin, b. Sept. 22, 1758. ( See.) 60. Amos, b. Nov. 5, 1760. ( See.)
61. Betsey. b. -; m. John Fifield, 2d.
62. Abigail, b. Dec. 31, 1767 ; m. Maj. Isaac Blaisdell. ( See.)
63. Mehitable, b. -; m. March 11, 1754, Capt. Winthrop Fifield. ( See.)
64. Polly. ( Mary ) b. -; m. Sept. 13, 1790, Col. Levi. S. George. ( See.)
65. -; m. - Judkins.
66. Moses, b. in 1773: drowned in Blackwater river, June 30, 1794.
67. James, b. Nov. 13, 1775. ( See.)
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY
(59.) Capt. Benjamin (2d) built the John C. Carter house, and possibly the Stone house, opposite the brick mansion. When the news of the battle of Lexington reached here, in the forenoon, he and his father were at work in the field ; his mother called him to the house, told him what she had heard about the battle, and bade him go to his country's rescue. With a small bundle of necessities prepared by the mother, with his father's gun and equip- ments, he rapidly travelled south and arrived at Charles- town in season to participate at Bunker Hill, and served with distinction in other battles. He d. Feb. 3, 1834; m. Lydia Sleeper, of Kingston, who was b. at Plaistow, Nov. 13, 1755, and d. Dec. 10, 1830.
68. Thomas Hale, b. Nov. 20, 17So. ( See.)
69. Lydia, b. April 28, 1782; m. May 1, 1826, Dr. Calvin Batchelder, of North- field. ( See Physicians.)
70. Benjamin, b. March 17, 1784 ; d. in 1785.
71. James, b. in November, 1786; removed to Louisiana, where he d. March 9, IS26, he had one son, Narkel, who removed to Georgia and d. unm.
72. Benjamin, b. Sept. 17, 1789. ( See.) 73. Moses, b. in 1790, d. in 1791.
74. Mehitable, b. June 19, 1792; m. Joseph Couch and removed to Nashua, where she d. in September, 1874, leaving one son, Enoch.
75. Moses, b. March S, 1794; d. at Savannah, Ga., in September, IS19, unm.
(60.) Amos (Deacon ) before his marriage bought the old Cur- rier mill privilege, (see mills ) and with unusual foresight purchased all the land about the "Bays," up as far as the C. J. White farm in Andover. By this means he con- trolled all the flowage. He soon erected a mill and later built the sawmill on the site of the Gookin sawmill, just previous to the August freshet of 1826. He then pur- chased the Peter Severance farm, (now the D. F. Searles farm on Centre road) built additional buildings and con- ducted a famous hotel from 1805 to 1838. He. d. March 18, 1840. Mr. Pettengill was one of the town's most re- spected, enterprising and active citizens, possessing a sound judgment and not easily turned from his course when once decided. One of the prime movers in the 4th New Hampshire turnpike, he owned much of the
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GENEALOGY AND BIOGRAPHY
stock and held several offices in the same. He got up a snow plough, to which he attached twelve or fifteen yoke of oxen, making a road fifteen feet wide through the town. For many years he was one of the deacons in the Congregational church. His numerous family of daughters were accomplished and refined ladies, of fine personal appearance, possessing high worth and christian principles, and were educated at the old Dummer school in Byfield, Mass. He m. (1) Feb. 2, 1786, Charlotte True, who d. June 26, 1834, aged 73 ; m. (2) Aug. 30, 1835, Jane Greeley, who d. Feb. 27, 1836, aged 59; m. (3) May 19, 1836, Deborah, widow of Rev. Thomas Wor- cester ; she d. July 26, 1839. Children :
76. Eleanor, b. Dec. 26, 1786; m. Samuel C. Bartlett. ( See.)
77. Amos, b. March 22, 1789; d. March 22, 1790.
78. Ann, b. April 10, 1791; m. Dr. Peter Bartlett, ( see.) She d. at Peoria, Ill., Nov. 3, 186S.
79. Susannah, ( Susan ) b. Aug. 10, 1793; m. Rev. Benjamin Huntoon, ( see.) She d. at Peoria, Ill., Nov. S, IS37.
So. Mehitable, b. Nov. 12, 1795; m. in October, IS24, Rev. Benjamin Woodbury, A. M., who was b. at New London, 1792, and d. at Plain, Ohio, Dec. 29, I845 ; she d. at Bowling Green, Ohio.
SI. Sarah, b. Sept. 21, 1797; m. June 27, 1821, Josiah Babcock, of Andover. He was a successful manufacturer and merchant; he d. at Galesburg, Ill .; she d. at Hampden, Me., in IS52.
82. Amos, b. April 5, ISoo; d. Feb. 13, ISO1.
S3. Lucy, b. Feb. 5, 1802 ; m. Hon. Moses Pettengill, ( see foregoing sketch.) She d. at l'eoria, Ill., Feb. 29, 1864.
S4. Charlotte T., b. Feb. 26, 1805; m. June 2, IS28, Dr. Enoch Cross ; she d. at Gorham, Me., in September, 1843. He resided for a time at Peoria, I!]., and is now (1883) at Newburyport, Mass. She was an accomplished and highly educated woman, and was for a time an assistant teacher with Miss Grant and Mary Lyon, at Derry, N. H., in a young ladies' school, which at that time was without a superior.
(67.) James Pettengill ( Capt.) was b. Nov. 13, 1775 ; m. Jan. 8, 1797, Ilannah True. He left Salisbury in 1816, in the forty-first year of his age, for the wilds of western New York, selling his place to Jonathan Kittredge. He had managed, aside from an ample outfit for the new home, to scrape together three thousand silver dollars, which were carried in saddle-bags so that they might be
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY
thrown upon the horses' backs and saved by flight, in case of trouble or attack, a thing not improbable in those early days. The furniture and other personal effects of the family were drawn by four splendid horses. The fam- ily rode in an immense carriage constructed especially for the purpose of the long journey, and with one or two outriders the whole caravan started out of Salisbury one beautiful spring morning. No less than eight carriages and vehicles filled with friends and neighbors accompan- ied this brave little band, departing in such a truly patri- archal style, for a whole day's journey. There was dur- ing the day much hilarity as well as sadness, many jests and many sad words of parting, and at length the last good bye. The second morning the Pettengill family and young Sewell B. Scribner, who accompanied them as a guard, arose betimes and headed resolutely for the great west, to reach which one lofty mountain chain had to be crossed, and hundreds of unbridged rivers and streams forded, and the way picked for hundreds of miles through an almost unbroken forest. The Indians were still numerous, especially about the small lakes in cen- tral New York, but fortunately they were at this partic- ular time in a friendly attitude. At length, after a jour- ney which was to the boys like one long picnic or hunt- ing excursion, strange and wild to the girls, to the moth- er a cup of mingled hope and fear, and of heroic enter- prise to the brave Captain, one evening in June they. safely reached their destination, the place now known as Ogden, Monroe county, New York, a short half mile north of and upon the same street where now stands the present Ogden post office. Of the children, Hannah m. Nathaniel Rollins. Of her two children, Louise and Ed- win, the son survives and still lives in Ogden. His no- bleness of character and religious devotedness tells in his life the story of his mother's spirit and training. Of the boys, Benjamin, the eldest, felt perhaps more severe- ly than his younger brothers the heavy hand of manual
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labor ; he d. July 30, 1868, leaving an only daughter, Mrs. C. C. Buckley, of Leoni, Mich. Reuben m. Claris- sa Green, a most devoted, intelligent and faithful woman, who still survives him and is spending her declining years encircled by the love of her children ; he d. at San José, Cal., while visiting his children there, Feb. 6, 1883, aged 82. Reuben had spent the most of his life at the old Ogden homestead, and was blessed with six children, four of whom were daughters. The eldest daughter, Rhoda, widow of Roswell P. Wyman, and his eldest son, Reuben T., now reside at Tonkus, on the Hudson, N. Y. Rhoda is the mother of Charles Dinsmore Wyman, a graduate of the University of Chicago and of the Albany Law School; also Vice President of the Belt R. R. of N. Y. and a member of the executive committee of the American Railway Association. Reuben T. has always been identified with the Sunday school interests of the Baptist church. His children are all daughters but one, Reuben Wilson ; he and Louis, the young son of James Pettengill, of San José, are the only descendants of Capt. James who bear the Pettengill name. Roxana, the wife of George Bull, of San Francisco, is the mother of three promising sons, Arthur and Jerome being in the agricul- tural implement business with their father in San Fran- cisco, and her daughter is the wife of the Rev. T. G. McRune, pastor of the Baptist church there. Susan, the widow of Horatio Webster, resides at Medina, N. Y. Moses, who was the most intelligent and scholarly of the family, married twice and both times happily. He spent the most active portion of his life at Niles, Michigan, but finally, like his brother Reuben, he sought the genial climate of California, at Auburn, where he d. Feb. 3, 1884. What he saw in his extended and frequent jour- neys he wrote up for the press, and his articles were read with profit and pleasure. Moses was as tolerant in spirit and genial in manner as he was thoughtful and cultiva- ted. He left a widow and two married daughters, Mrs.
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Coolidge, of Niles, Michigan, and Mrs. Hoppin, of Wood- land, Cal., both of whom are very lovely and accom- plished women. James Osgood Pettengill resides at Rochester, N. Y. He was first married at the early age of twenty to Emeline Woodbury, a dau. of Manley G. Woodbury, one of the earliest aldermen of Rochester. She d. April 11, 1850. Married (2) Mrs. Harriet B., widow of Dr. George C. Howard, who d. Oct. 13, 1882. Mr. Pettengill is a man of much tact, coupled with force and executive ability. Eminently thrifty and practical, careful of reputation and example, always sympathetic, he is admirably fitted for helping others, without unduly neglecting his own interests. While with these charac- teristics he has been exceedingly prosperous in all his ventures he has been at the same time public spirited and interested in many public affairs. During his earlier years he served often as highway commissioner, also as school commissioner, and was a magistrate and supervis- or. In 1853 he became a member of the legislature, and at once took rank as a sensible and extremely practical lawmaker. In 1863 he retired from business and became interested in the founding and management of the Roch- ester Theological Seminary, which he has since devoted- ly served with his usual force and determination. Al- ways a trustee of this institution, he was for sixteen or eighteen years chairman of the executive board which, between the infrequent meetings of the whole board, is charged with the management of its affairs. The chair of Church History in this institution bears his name, in appreciation of donations made for the benefit of the seminary. For many years he has been a deacon of the first Baptist church, of Rochester. By his first marriage he had three daughters: Martha, the youngest, died in childhood ; the second, Mary, died in Havana, Cuba, at the age of thirty-three, whither she had repaired for her health, having been three times married. Sarah, the eldest and only surviving daughter, is the wife of Hon.
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