USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Sutton > The history of Sutton, New Hampshire: consisting of the historical collections of Erastus Wadleigh, esq., and A. H. Worthen, part 2 > Part 15
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IV. Mehitabel Kezar m. Feb. 16, 1794, James Watson, of New- port. Children, b. in Newport,-
1. Rhoda, b. June 6, 1795; d. Aug. 27, 1837 : m. Jan. 28, 1815, Samuel F. Chellis, of Newport ; 6 children.
2. Ebenezer, b. June 20, 1796 ; d. April 30, 1867, in Prairie du Lac : m. Oct. 14, 1825, Mrs. Mary A. Barnes, dau. of Dr. James Corbin, of Newport ; 5 children.
3. Samuel M., b. Dec. 26, 1797 ; m. Harriet Jackson ; m., 2d, Eliza- beth Carter. Child,-
(1) Emily C.
4. Jonathan, b. Sept. 29, 1799; d. July 6, 1806.
James Watson m., 2d, Oct., 1801, Mrs. Sally Cutting. They had 3 children, of whom Mehitabel, b. Jan. 13, 1804, m. Dec. 3, 1833, Joseph Harvey, of Sutton. She d. Feb. 26, 1870, in Sutton. James Watson m., 3d, Mrs. Mabel Gilbert, and they had 6 chil- dren, of whom Hiram, b. Nov. 13, 1812, m. Jan. 6, 1839, Hannah Harvey, of Sutton. Hiram Watson d. March 22, 1855, in Sutton.
V. Hannah Kezar, wife of John Harvey, d. at the age of 19, leaving an infant daughter, Hannah, who grew to maturity, married Dudley Morrill, and with him removed West.
VIII. Samuel Kezar spent his life in Sutton, and was esteemed a very useful and honorable man. He m. Jan. 21, 1802, Martha Sargent, dau. of Philip and Hannah (Hadley) Sargent, of Weare. She was b. 1776; d. Aug. 9, 1851. Children,-
1. Ebenezer, b. June 25, 1804 ; d. March 17, 1841, unmarried.
2. Joseph, b. Nov. 13, 1807; d. June, 1886, unmarried.
3. George, b. March 8, 1809 ; d. Aug. 25, 1865.
4. Philip, b.
5. Helen Mar, b. April 14, 1816; d. Nov. 7, 1847 ; m. Joseph Trus- sell, of New London. Children,-
(1) Martha Ann, b. 1842 ; d. April 20, 1858.
(2) Mary Ellen, b. 1845 ; d. 1855.
(3) Helen, b. 1847 ; d. same year.
50
786
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
3. George Kezar, m. June 25, 1835, Fannie M. Munroe, of Stoddard. Children, b. in Sutton,-
(1) Fannie A., b. Sept. 12, 1842; m. Nov. 2, 1858, James Smiley Bohonnan. [See Bohonnan.]
(2) Mary J., b. Nov. 12, 1843 ; d. same day.
(3) Sarah Jane, b. Oct. 17, 1847 ; m. Nov. 19, 1867, John D. Colby, of Sutton. [For children, see Pressey.]
4. Philip Kezar removed to northern New York, where he m. Bar- bara Allen and had a family. Present residence of some of his de- scendants, including a son Philip, Massena, N. Y.
XIII. John Kezar also spent his life in Sutton. He was a man of keen intellect and excellent capacity, and was an ingenious black- smith. He m. Ellinor, dau. of Benjamin and Sarah (Watson) Whitcomb, of Newport. She was b. Dec. 8, 1788; d. Oct. 13, 1853. Children, b. in Sutton,-
1. Hannah, b. Nov. 23, 1808; d. Dec. 11, 1847.
2. Mehitabel, b. Aug. 11, 1810; d. July 29, 1812.
3. Mehitabel, 2d, b. Sept. 24, 1812; d. Oct. 27, 1831.
4. Sarah W., b. Oct. 13, 1814.
5. Simon, b. Oct. 29, 1817.
6. Benjamin Whitcomb, b. June 6, 1820; d. April 12, 1832.
7. Jonathan Harvey, b. Sept. 27, 1822.
8. Ruth Harvey, b. Aug. 11, 1825 ; d. March 6, 1885.
9. Lydia W., b. March 25, 1828; d. May 5, 1845.
1. Hannah Kezar m. 1824, Joseph Greeley. [See Greeley.]
4. Sarah W. Kezar m. Jan. 6, 1841, John G. Huntoon, of Gilmanton. Children, b. in Sutton,-
(1) Mary Ellinor, b. Nov. 25, 1841; m. Aug., 1866, Frank O. Dow, of New London. No children.
(2) Lydia K., b. July 1, 1844 ; d. April 12, 1867.
(3) Sarah Frances, b. Dec. 14, 1851; m. Dec. 30, 1889, H. Roscoe Chadwick.
It was a fortunate day for this town when Mr. Huntoon married this Sutton lady, and henceforth made her native place the home of his adoption. As a public officer he has proved faithful and efficient, as well as a judicious and influential adviser. As a citizen he has been generous and public spirited, and with the hearty cooperation of his sympathetic and energetic wife he has ever been found among the first to step forward with real and ready help whenever sickness and want have made help necessary. In addition to the care and work of their farm, Mr. and Mrs. Huntoon have for the last twenty years accommo- dated many city boarders, for whom their pleasant and commodious house, enlarged and fitted for the purpose, affords a much desired re- treat during the vacation season, and in many cases the whole year round. See "Town Officers " for record of Mr. Huntoon's services as representative, &c.
787
GENEALOGY.
5. Simon Kezar m. Mary Ann Pinney. She was dau. of Dr. Charles Pinney, of Hopkinton, and his wife Betsey (Davis), of New London, who were married in Sutton May 12, 1818. Children, b. in Sutton,-
(1) Marietta; d. young.
(2) Hannah G., m. Freeman Blanchard. Children,-
Mary J .; Walter M .; Burton C .; Leon A .; Edward S .; Will- iam C .; James F .; Fred H .; Valentine; Addie B.
Mary J. Blanchard m. John Schwamp. Child,-Arthur.
7. Jonathan Harvey Kezar m. April 11, 1847, Emily Snow, of Dub- lin. She is sister to Mrs. Joseph Greeley, of North Sutton. Their mother, Mrs. Snow, a widow, d. in Sutton, June 27, 1873. Children, b. in Sutton,-
(1) Emogene M., b. April 5, 1849 ; d. March 20, 1872.
(2) John H., b. Feb. 14, 1851.
(3) Josephine M., b. May 5, 1853; d. June 16, 1867.
(4) Ella S., b. Oct. 30, 1855.
(5) Carrie S., b. Aug. 3, 1857.
(6) Fred H., b. May 18, 1860.
(7) Hattie, b. Sept. 10, 1862.
(2) John H. Kezar m. 1880, Clara E. Comey. Child,- Alice C., b. March, 1883.
(4) Ella S. Kezar m. April 27, 1878, Frank Walter Todd, of New London, b. Feb. 10, 1854, son of Eli P. and Abigail H. (Nelson) Todd. Children, b. in New London,-
George H., b. Feb. 7, 1880.
Howard E., b. June 4, 1884.
Robert C., b. Dec. 24, 1885.
Leon N., b. Jan 2, 1789.
(5) Carrie S. Kezar m. Nov. 25, 1878, Fred Putney, son of Truman and Lydia A. (Woodward) Putney.
(6) Fred H. Kezar m. 1882, Grace M. Shattuck, dau. of Martin V. B. and Deborah Elizabeth (Moody) Shattuck. Child,- Herbert F., b. March, 1883.
8. Ruth Harvey Kezar m. Nov. 16, 1848, William W. Coburn, son of Adoniram and (-) Coburn. Children, b. in Sutton,-
(1) Susan E., b. Jan. 8, 1850; d. Jan. 25, 1882: m. William H. Chadwick ; no ch.
(2) Benjamin K., b. Dec. 8, 1851; m. Oct. 17, 1874, Minerva Har- wood. · Children, b. in Sutton,-
Lena M., b. March 18, 1876. Josephine E., b. Aug. 31, 1882.
(3) Edgar W., b. April 12, 1857 ; m. Sept. 28, 1880, Nellie Jones. She was b. Aug. 16, 1856 ; d. March 6, 1888. He m., 2d, - -.
(4) Maria S., b. -; m. Nov. 23, 1881, Charles L. Fowler, son of Charles A. and Catharine (Harvey) Fowler, of Sutton.
788
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
KING.
James King m. - , in Hampstead. Children,-
I. John, b. 1764.
II. Nathaniel, b. 1767, in Hampstead.
He m., 2d, Delia Harriman. Children,-
III. Polly, b. Oct. 30, 1775; m. Oct. 15, 1795, Trueworthy Noyes, of Tunbridge, Vt.
IV. Betsey, b. June 5, 1777.
V. Asa, b. March 15, 1779; m. Jan. 29, 1799, Polly Cheney.
VI. Jesse, b. Oct. 28, 1781.
I. John King m. Hannah Austin. Child,-
1. Hannah, b. Sept. 28, 1786.
Mrs. King d., and John King m., 2d, Ednah Woodward. Chil- dren,-
2. John, b. Jan. 7, 1790.
3. Sally, b. Aug. 18, 1791; m. Carter Hall.
4. Polly, b. April 26, 1793; m. Dec. 30, 1810, Jonathan Fellows. [See Fellows.]
5. Betsey, b. Jan. 11, 1795; m. Thomas Walker, 2d. [See Walker.] 6. James, b. Aug. 19, 1796 ; m. Hannah Hopson.
7. Elbridge Gerry, b. May 22, 1798; d. Jan. 25, 1868.
8. Guy, b. March 21, 1800; m. May 25, 1823, Charlotte Chadwick. Children,-
(1) Aspasio. (2) Eugene. (3) Almira. (4) Louisa. (5) Maria. 9. Serena King, b. Dec. 13, 1801; m. March 22, 1820, Stephen Cilley. They lived in Grantham. Children,-
(1) Elbridge G. (2) Benjamin (deaf mute). (3) Serena K.
1. Hannah King m. Feb. 5, 1809, Pliny Bliss, of Fishersfield.
2. John King m. Nov. 1, 1812, Sally Hills, dau. of Moses Hills, Esq., of Sutton. Children,-
(1) Moses H. (2) Sarah. (3) James. (4) Pliny B. (5) Lafay- ette. (6) Lemuel W. (7) Melissa. (8) Drusilla. (9) Marietta J. (10) Almira E.
7. Elbridge G. King m. March 13, 1817, Mary Dearborn, dau. of Henry and Mary (Williams) Dearborn. Children, b. in Sutton,-
(1) Marilla, b. Feb. 28, 1818 ; m. March 1, 1838, Albert P. Richards. [See the same.]
(2) Mary Jane, b. Nov. 29, 1819.
(3) Elbridge, b. April 23, 1832; d. June 7, 1840.
Elbridge G. King spent almost his entire life in North Sutton, where he was always much respected, and the same is true of his wife. He d Jan. 25, 1868. His wife d. Nov. 21, 1880.
GENEALOGY. 789
(2) Mary Jane King m. Sept. 11, 1838, Perley Sargent, of New Lon- don, b. Nov. 12, 1811; d. Feb. 14, 1864, in Ripon, Wis., son of John Sargent. Children,-
a. Albert, b. July 8, 1840 ; d. Oct. 25, 1887, in Montreal.
b. Emoroa, b. May 24, 1842.
c. Emily, b. Nov. 9, 1843.
d. Alma, b. April 14, 1848 ; d. Jan. 31, 1870, in Sutton.
e. Walter P., b. June 7, 1850.
f. Frederic G., b. Jan. 2, 1852; d. May 28, 1863, in Ripon, Wis.
a. Albert Sargent m. Feb. 19, 1866, Alice Savage. Children,-
Flora A., b. Dec, 1866, in Montreal.
Stella A., b. July 5, 1868, in Sutton.
Lotta L., b. Sept. 7, 1870, in Parkersburg, Iowa.
Frederic J., b. May 11, 1873, in Montreal.
Lena S., b. May 27, 1874, 66
Lena P., b. Nov. 28, 1875, 66
Charles, b. Jan. 31, 1878, 66
Alice H., b. April 14, 1880, 66
Edith M., b. April 8, 1882,
Grover S., b. Sept. 8, 1884, 66 Albert, b. Dec. 16, 1887, 66
b. Emoroa Sargent m. Dec. 29, 1869, John W. Ven. Child,- Charles F., b. Dec. 11, 1870, in Blair, Neb.
c. Emily Sargent m. Dec. 14, 1865, W. J. McLean. Child,- Bert E., b. Sept. 23, 1883, in Parkersburg, Iowa.
e. Walter P. Sargent m. July 26, 1874, Mary Frances, dau. of Benja- min P. and Adeline Charity (Felch) Sargent. Child,- Sevira, b. Dec. 1, 1880.
Perley Sargent kept store in New London, and later for several years in North Sutton, in connection with his brother, James Sargent. He was postmaster several years. He was much esteemed, and had many warm friends. He removed to Wisconsin and there died. Later his family returned to Sutton. His widow m., 2d, May 5, 1874, Philip N. Little, she being his 2d wife. Mr. Little d. Oct. 16, 1887.
V. Asa King, b. March 15, 1779; m. Jan. 29, 1799, Mary Che- ney, dau. of Nathaniel and Mary (Stevens) Cheney. Children, b. in Sutton,-
1. Nathaniel C., b. Feb. 20, 1801.
2. Sarah, b. June 2, 1802 ; m. June 9, 1821, Joseph Colby ; 6 ch.
3. Polly, b. Oct. 2, 1804; m. 1830, Stephen Nichols, of Lawrence, Mass. ; no ch.
4. Eliza, b. Jan. 6, 1807 ; m. 1823, Asa Aldrich ; 1 son,-Charles.
5. James Albert, b. March 24, 1809 ; lost at sea 1840.
6. Asa, b. Oct. 9, 1811 ; d. July 18, 1812.
Asa King and family moved in 1812 to Whitefield, where he d. His wife d. Dec. 3, 1813.
.
790
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
1. Nathaniel C. King m. April 21, 1824, Joanna B. Johnson, of Whitefield. Children, b. in Whitefield,-
(1) James M., b. Aug. 26, 1825; d. same day.
(2) Asa J., b. April 22, 1827 ; d. April 23, 1827.
(3) Angeline M., b. June 8, 1829; d. Dec. 23, 1832.
(4) Caroline S., b. June 19, 1831 ; d. Dec. 24, 1832.
(5) Charles E., b. June 16, 1834.
(6) James M., b. July 9, 1836 ; d. Feb. 28, 1837.
(7) William P., b. Nov. 21, 1837 ; d. Feb. 20, 1839.
(8) Emerenza M., b. Sept. 2, 1839; d. Oct. 28, 1844.
(9) Marshall H., b. July 24, 1844; d. Nov. 10, 1862, at Hilton Head, in the war.
KNOWLTON.
The ancestors of the Knowltons of Sutton came from Manchester, Mass., where some of the family were living as early as 1680.
Samuel Smith Knowlton, a resident in New London, was b. 1797 ; d. 1853. He m. Martha Witherspoon, b. 1797; d. 1881. Children,-
I. Andrew, b. 1823; d .-·
II. Betsey, b. 1825.
III. Samuel, b. 1827 ; m. Allory Winchester.
IV. James, b. 1828.
V. Ezekiel, b. 1828.
VI. John, b. 1830; m. Susan Harvey. He d. 1862 or 1864.
VII. Mary, b. 1832 ; d.
VIII. George, b. 1834; m. Laura
IX. Nathaniel, b. 1837.
X. Martha, b. 1839; d.
XI. Mary, b. 1841 ; d.
II. Betsey Knowlton m. John Cutler. Children,-
1. Obediah, m. Mary Tallant.
2. Martha.
She m., 2d, Curtis Messer, of Newbury (his 2d wife). Child,- 3. Clara.
IV. James Knowlton was b. in New London, Dec. 7, 1828. He came to Sutton in June, 1853. He was for several years in partner- ship with William H. Marshall in operating a saw-mill and in lum- bering. Since disposing of his share in the business his occupation
HON. EDGAR J. KNOWLTON,
ELECTED MAYOR OF MANCHESTER, N. H., NOVEMBER 4, 1890.
791
GENEALOGY.
has been that of a carpenter, and giving some attention to agricul- tural pursuits. He m. Mary F. Marshall Jan. 9, 1855. Chil- dren,-
1. Edgar J., b. Aug. 8, 1856.
2. George H., b. Sept. 21, 1858.
3. Nellie G., b. Aug. 14, 1861.
4. Alice B., b. March 25, 1864.
5. Wesley J., b. June 15, 1867.
6. Mary F., b. Feb. 24, 1870.
7. Charles K., b. Feb. 2, 1873.
8. Ray F., b. March 15, 1880.
1. Edgar J. Knowlton at the age of fifteen entered the office of the Daily Union, Manchester, to learn the printer's trade. After two years in the mechanical department he was advanced to a reporter's chair, and shortly after to the city editor's desk. In June, 1880, he accepted the assistant editorship of the Lockport, N. Y., Daily Union and Niag- ara Democrat, being employed in this capacity till January, 1881, when he returned to Manchester to accept a place on the staff of the Mirror and American. In October, 1884, he returned to his old position as city editor of the Union, and has since remained thus employed. Dur- ing his journalistic career he has done important work upon the New York Herald, Tribune, and World, for the various Boston papers, and for several years has been the Manchester correspondent of the Boston Globe. At the state election in 1886, although a member of the minor- ity party, he was elected a representative to the legislature from Ward Six, and in the campaign of 1888 was a member of the Democratic city committee. He m. Nov. 2, 1880, Genevieve I. Blanchard, of Nich- olville, N. Y. Children,-
(1) Bessie Genevieve, b. April 2, 1885.
(2) Belle Frances, b. Oct. 3, 1887.
2. George H. Knowlton served an apprenticeship to the drug business in Manchester, and then entered the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, from which he graduated in 1881. He resides in Manchester, where he has been a member of the firm of Marshall & Knowlton, apotheca- ries, since 1880. He m. June 11, 1884, Nellie S. Colby, of Warner.
3. Nellie G. Knowlton m. Aug. 14, 1879, George F. Nelson.
5. Westley J. Knowlton learned the printer's trade at the Mirror office in Manchester. His health becoming impaired he returned to Sutton, after residing for a time in California. He died July 17, 1890, in Sutton.
IX. Nathaniel Knowlton m. Elizabeth Hill. Children,-
1. Alberta, m. Bert Currier.
2. Warren F.
Of the children of Samuel Smith Knowlton only James and John ever lived in Sutton.
792
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
CAPT. NATHANIEL W. KNOWLTON,
b. Sept. 23, 1794 ; d. July 14, 1879 : m. Ruth Herrick, b. April 8, 1791 ; d. March 29, 1867. Children,-
I. Nathaniel C., b. March 16, 1820.
II. Caroline R., b. Dec. 2, 1821.
Capt. N. W. Knowlton moved from Newbury to Sutton in 1825.
I. Nathaniel C. Knowlton m. Oct. 20, 1850, Caroline R. Chad- wick. Children.
1. Frank W., b. May 5, 1855.
2. Horace E., b. July 12, 1856 ; d. Jan. 30, 1858.
3. Sarah Luette, b. Nov. 28, 1857.
4. Willie M., b. May 28, 1861.
5. Mary E., b. Oct. 14, 1865.
1. Frank W. Knowlton m. Nov. 27, 1878, Emma E. Little, b. Jan. 20, 1854, dau. of John C. and Mary Ann (Baker) Little. Children,-
(1) Herbert L. (2) Wilbur C. (3) Adna J.
5. Mary E. Knowlton m. Dec. 12, 1885, Fred O. Prescott. Child,-
(1) Ashley G., b. May 12, 1886.
II. Caroline R. Knowlton m. Nov. 3, 1840, Elbridge G. Haynes, who d. Nov. 3, 1881. Children,-
1. Martin A., b. July 30, 1842 (ex-congressman).
2. Addie M., b. April 29, 1846.
3. Charles F., b. Nov. 26, 1851; d. Dec. 30, 1887.
4. Cora, b. Dec. 1, 1863.
1. Martin A. Haynes m. March 9, 1863, Cornelia T. Lane. Chil- dren,-
(1) Ruth. (2) Mary. (3) Addie.
2. Addie M. Haynes m. Chauncey Clement.
[Copied from the History of Merrimack and Belknap Counties.]
LANE.
Dr. Robert Lane was born at Newport, April 2, 1786. He studied medicine with Dr. Truman Abel at Claremont. He first - settled in the practice of his profession at New London, moving to Sutton about 1810. He m. Mary Kelsey, of Newport, Jan., 1807. They had three children,-Elizabeth, who m. Dr. James R. Smiley,
Robert Lane
793
GENEALOGY.
of Grafton, Mary, who d. when two years old, and Adelaide, who m. George W. Ela, of Concord. June 10, 1812, Dr. Lane's wife died, and he returned to New London for residence, but continued to occupy the same field of practice. During the first years of prac- tice he spent the winter months in attending lectures at Harvard and Dartmouth, and in 1814 received his degree of M. D. from the latter college.
Close application to the study and practice of his profession, con- tinued through several years, told upon his health, and in 1817 he gave up practice for a season of rest. He went South, and after visiting most of the Southern states, accepted an appointment as surgeon in the expedition of Gen. Jackson against the Indians and Spaniards in Florida. After the capture of Pensacola he was sta- tioned there for a short time, and then was ordered to Mobile, Ala., and placed in charge of the military hospital at that post. In the summer of 1820 he resigned his position in the army, and returned to Sutton to settle permanently. He bought a farm near the North village, and the rest of his life was spent in the routine work of a country physician and in farming.
The breaking out of the War of the Rebellion reawakened his military ardor, and it was with keen regret that he felt the infirmi- ties of age bearing too heavily upon him to permit his acceptance of the responsible position in the service which was tendered him.
Toward the close of the war he was appointed by the governor an examining surgeon in the preparation of the draft rolls, and, as it did not take him from the state, he was able to perform the duties of the office.
He continued in active practice till he was eighty years old. In the spring of 1872 he fell upon the floor, crushing the bones of one hip, from the effects of which accident he died May 3d, aged eighty-six years.
For more than fifty consecutive years Dr. Lane was an influen- tial citizen of Sutton. As a physician he stood in the first rank among his contemporaries. He loved his profession and gave to it the best efforts of a clear and vigorous intellect. Beginning prac- tice with a better preparation than was common at that day, he was a life-long student, both of books and in the line of original investi- gation. He regarded his profession as a field for unlimited research and study, and held it to be the physician's first duty to be always learning.
794
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
He was gifted by nature with the special qualifications of a good surgeon, and the circumstances of his army connection gave him unusual facilities for the study of surgery. Upon his return to New Hampshire he gave special attention to that branch of his profes- sion, and soon became widely known as one of the best surgeons in the state. His reputation as a physician was also far more than local, and, in addition to his home practice, which embraced all the towns adjoining Sutton, he almost always had patients under his care in more distant towns. Professionally he may be said to have belonged to the county rather than to the town of his residence.
In the midst of his professional work Dr. Lane found time for the watchful supervision of his farm. He was a devoted lover of New Hampshire soil, and stoutly maintained that it was the equal of any as a field for progressive and profitable agriculture. In this pursuit, also, he was a close student of books and of nature, and in his efforts to harmonize book farming and practical farming he was a generation in advance of his time. He was fond of experiments, and held many peculiar theories ; but these were the result of a careful study of the soil and the crops with which he had to do, and for the most part experience proved them true. At a time when New Hampshire farming was generally the practice of a blind routine, his work was based upon an intelligent study of the natural laws which governed it.
In politics Dr. Lane was an old time Whig, and in later years a Re- publican. Sutton was a staunch Democratic town, only three Whig votes being cast at its polls for several years. After a while the . number of Whigs increased to thirteen, and so remained until the little band, known as " Dr. Lane and his twelve disciples," became polit- ically famous in the region round about. In politics, as in all other things, his opinions were sharply defined and tenaciously held, and he was always well informed upon current political ideas and events. He however had no wish for political position, and little time or taste for political controversy, but it was with pardonable pride that he at last saw his faith triumphant at home as well as in the country at large. In 1866 the Democrats failed of a majority at the annual election, and Dr. Lane was chosen the first Republican representa- tive from Sutton to the state legislature. He was then eighty years old, and the oldest member of that legislature.
The mental characteristics of Dr. Lane were strength and breadth of view, united with accuracy and minuteness in the notice
795
GENEALOGY.
of details. Aside from his profession he was self-educated, but his education was broad and thorough. He had marked literary tastes, and was especially devoted to the study of the English classics. When wearied with professional work he habitually found rest in the reading of standard English literature. But he took nothing for granted. Everything that he read must pass the ordeal of his independent judgment. His books, medical, agricultural, and lit- erary, were dotted along their margins with his notes of approval or dissent.
He possessed rare conversational gifts, and a great store of anec- dotes, and having a retentive and exact memory his talk was an instructive and interesting mingling of facts and quotations with his own argument. He was always employed, finding his recreation in study or in a change of work, rather than in rest or sport. Thus the measure of his long life was filled with useful activity ..
The genealogy of the Lane family may be traced for several gen- erations, until lost in the traditions of the seventeenth century. The ancestors of Dr. Lane were prominent among the early settlers of Connecticut and New Hampshire. His father, Jesse Lane, was born at Lebanon, Conn., Dec. 1, 1746, and removed to Newport in June, 1766. Feb. 22, 1770, he married Hester Wright, of Killing- worth, Conn., who was born Oct. 31, 1750. He was a leading citi- zen among the first settlers of Newport, serving as representative three years and selectman eight years. He died at the age of seventy-two years.
The family of Jesse Lane consisted of eleven children, of whom Robert was the fifth son and eighth child. Jesse Lane was the sec- ond son of Robert Lane, who was born at Killingworth, Conn., in November, 1713. He married Mary Thatcher, of Lebanon, Conn., July 4, 1744, and moved to Newport, N. H., about 1770.
It may be of interest here to state that the charter of the town of Newport,-the original document itself,-was pre- served by Jesse Lane, by his son, Dr. Lane, and by Mrs. Smiley, daughter of Dr. Lane, and was kept in Mrs. Smi- ley's possession till she loaned it to Mr. Wheeler, the histo- rian of Newport, to copy from.
In borrowing and here presenting the foregoing sketch of Dr. Lane it is felt that no apology is necessary, since to
796
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
the discerning reader it must be apparent that it is much better executed than anything of the kind that the compiler of this work is able to do. An item of personal knowl- edge and experience, however, if here added, will do no harm. Many years ago, when Dr. Lane was a younger practitioner than almost any one now living can remember him, a baby in Sutton received a terrible burn on the in- side of the right hand and arm. There was every indica- tion that the hand was spoiled for life. As it healed the fingers showed an obstinate determination to grow together, and, with the hand, to curl up into a solid ball. Dr. Lane gave his personal care and attention to that baby's hand, and saved it, without even a disfiguring scar, and without any loss of its usefulness. He dressed the burns himself every day for several weeks, and, sixteen days in succes- sion, cut the fingers apart with scissors, and bound each one up separately, and then bound the whole, slightly curved, over a ball of yarn wound soft enough to allow some little movement of the muscles. The complete restor- ation of that hand was considered a great triumph of sur- gical skill. It has served its owner well through a long life, and it is the same hand that is now preparing these pages for the printer. Without the care and skill of Dr. Lane it would never have been able to hold a pen, or any thing else.
[Copied from the History of Merrimack and Belknap Counties.]
DR. JAMES R. SMILEY.
William Smiley, the grandfather of Dr. Smiley, was of Scotch Irish origin, born in the north of Ireland in 1728. He was one of the first settlers of Jaffrey in 1758. He had ten children, two of whom, David and Robinson, were the first college graduates from that town. David became a lawyer, married Mary Harkness, whose mother, Elizabeth Putnam, was a relative of General Israel Putnam of Revolutionary fame. They had five children, only two
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