History of Cheshire County New Hampshire Collections – Page 15 of 25

Biographical Sketch of Joseph Holt

Joseph Holt came to Chesterfield, from Fitchburg, Mass., about 1812. His son Joseph married Elizabeth Osborn, and died in Chesterfield in 1832. He kept a hotel where Leonard W. Leach now lives, also where Mrs. L. F, Bonney now lives. He was also of the firm of Holt & White. merchants, more than fifty years. Abel, son of Joseph, Jr., was born January 15, 1803, married Hepsibeth J. Brown; of Damers, Mass., October 11, 1829, and had born to him five children. Of these, Joseph was born December 9, 1830, married Mrs. Martha E. Bowen in September, 1869, and resides … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jonathan Hildreth

Jonathan Hildreth settled in Westmoreland as early as 1751, and moved to this town about 1763, settling on the farm now owned by Watson Wheeler. He was selectman in 1767, ’70, ’79. Lotan, son of Jonathan, was born March 29, 1763, married Sarah Pierce, and died June 3, 1812. Africa, one of his eleven children, was born April 1, 1797, married twice, first. Mariam Blanchard, and second, Mary Blanchard, a sister of his first wife. He died Tune 22, 1869. His children were as follows: Frances A., Cyrus C., Louisa E., Henry S., Lotan B., John W., George L., Elathine … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jonathan Fox

Jonathan Fox came to this town, from New Ipswich, N. H., and married Sibyl Jackson, of Concord, Mass., who bore him seven children. His son John H., married Isabella W., daughter of Luke Howe, and had born to him three children. He was a physician and the town representative for many years. His residence was located on the academy square, at the Center Village. His son John H. married Belle W., daughter of Rodney and Angie L. (Turner) Brown, has one daughter, and resides in the village of East Jaffrey. He is town representative at the present time.

Biographical Sketch of Jonathan D. Gibbs

Jonathan D. Gibbs, son of Joseph S., married twice, first, Rhoda, daughter of Edward and Rhoda (Lawe) Locke, of Westminister, Mass., who bore him one daughter, Elizabeth R., now living; second, Sarah H., daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (Merriam) Wilson. of Mason, N. H. He first settled in Jaffrey upon a farm on road 3, where he remained twelve years, and then moved to Jaffrey Center, where he stayed until his death, March 2, 1882. He published a very accurate map of the town of Jaffrey which is highly prized. His wife and daughter occupy the homestead at the present … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jonas Pierce

Asa and Betsey (Pike) Pierce, from Weston, Mass., located in Dublin about 1786. After a few years he died, leaving his widow and two sons, Asa and Jonas. July 29, 1790, his widow married Thomas Davidson, and removed to Jaffrey. Jonas Pierce, second son of Asa, was born in Dublin, April 8, 1788. He married Lucinda, daughter of Benjamin Bailey, of Jaffrey, September 1, 1811. She died in 1838. He married, second, Mrs. Polly Bowers, September 11, 1838, who died March 2, 1895, aged eighty-five years. He died May 28, 1857. He was one of the prosperous farmers of Jaffrey. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jonah Carter

Jonah Carter was a native of Leominster, Mass. His son Jonah married Lucy Joslin and came to Jaffrey about 1793. He settled upon a farm on road 61, and reared a family of ten children, only one of whom, Luke, is now living. This son married Lucy, daughter of Silas and Susan (Reed) Ross, and reared a family of eight children, four of whom are now living. He is a manufacturer of woodenware, and resides upon a farm on road 13.

Biographical Sketch of John W. Prentiss

John W. Prentiss, whose son, W. H. Prentiss. is now one of the Sentinel company, died August 17, 1863, aged fifty-eight years. The following paragraph appeared in the Sentinel of that date: ” John W. Prentiss, whose death is announced in another column, was a son of Hon. John W. Prentiss, the founder of the Sentinel establishment, and probably the oldest editor now living in New England. The son was the junior proprietor and editor of the Sentinel for many years previous to 1847, when he became sole proprietor, and s me five years afterwards disposed of his interest in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Turner

John Turner, from Mansfield, located in Walpole at an early day and died in this town in 1860. His son John G., born in Walpole in 1810, came to Alstead in 1844, and for about ten years drove a stage between Charlestown and Marlow. Since 1847 he has been actively engaged in farming. His son E. A. is the present chairman of the board of selectmen and has served the town as representative.

Biographical Sketch of John Streeter

John Streeter was born in Attleboro, R I., August 16, 1751 (o. s.). He married Jane Smith, of Smithfield, R. I., and moved to Hinsdale at an early date, locating in the southern part of the town, where he lived several years, then located in the northern part, where his grandson, Quinton D., now resides. He lived there the remainder of his long life, dying in January, 1845, at the age of ninety-four years. He was twice married, his first wife, however, being the mother of his six children, who were as follows: Lyman, who died at Council Bluffs, Iowa, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Slade

John Slade, of Irish descent, came from Enfield, Conn., to this town in the autumn of 1773. He married widow Leason, of Enfield, Conn., by whom he had five sons and two daughters. His sons were John, William, Thomas, Daniel, and Samuel. John, Jr., moved- to Brookfield, Vt. Lieut. William Slade married Anna Root, of Windsor, Conn., by whom he had five sons and three daughters. Samuel married Hannah Thompson, by whom he had three sons and five daughters.

Biographical Sketch of John Shirley

John Shirley, a soldier of the Revolution, was born on board ship coming from England, and was brought up in Boston. He came to Fitzwilliam about 1780, settling in the village, and married Submit Bogle, of Sudbury, Mass. He reared a family of nine children, and died at the age of ninety-three, in the house where his grandson, William H., now lives. His son, Henry, was born in the town, held the office of selectman several years, and died at the same place his father did, at the age of seventy-two. William H., son of Henry, was born in the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Knowlton

John Knowlton, a Revolutionary soldier, came to Dublin, from Massachusetts, about 1790, and was the first settler on the old homestead, on road 28. He married Susan Jennings and reared a family of seven children, among whom was Silas, who was twice married, first to Susanna Nutting, and second to Elizabeth Hardy. Only two of his six children ate now living. His son, Asa, married Lydia A., daughter of Luther and Lydia K. Darling, and has two children. He served in Co. A, 14th N. H. Vols., and was honorably discharged. He now resides on the homestead farm.

Biographical Sketch of John Kneeland

John Kneeland, son of Timothy, was born in Gardner, Mass., in 1766 or 1767. He married Polly Johnson in 1791. He came to Chesterfield about 1797 and resided many years on the farm now owned by Charles C. P. Goodrich, Esq., and which has long been known as the “Squire Kneeland farm.”He was justice of the peace for many years, and held the office of selectman sixteen years in all, longer than it has ever been held by any other person since the town was incorporated. He was also representative in 1818,’20, ’22 and ’25. He died February 9, 185o, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Josiah Holbrook

John Josiah Holbrook, son of Daniel Hill and Caroline Lawrence (Prime) Holbrook, was born at Swanzey, December 10, 1844, and died at Keene on the afternoon of Monday, March 24, 1844. He was educated at Mt. Caesar seminary of Swanzey, at the Leland and Gray seminary, of Townshend, Vt., the Keene high school, and then began his preparatory course at New London Literary and Scientific Institution, whence he was graduated in 1865. In 1872 he was graduated from a full course at Brown university, and entered upon a three years course at Newton, (Mass.), theological institute, graduating in 1875. The … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Houghton Fuller

John Houghton Fuller was of a family which, during his childhood, emigrated from Lunenburg, Mass., to Walpole in this county, sometime during the last decade of the last century. He passed his youth in Walpole, and began active life in a country store, first in Chesterfield, then in Winchester, and then in Keene, where he soon engaged in wool-dealing, which became the main business of his after life. While living at Winchester, he was called to act as adjutant-general of the government forces stationed at Portsmouth during the closing season of the war of 1812, and it was then, too, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Holbrook

John Holbrook, son of John, was born in Uxbridge, Mass., August, 17, 1788. He married Mercy Hill, came to Swanzey in 1802, and located in the southern part of the town on the farm now owned by Israel Gun. He was a carpenter and wheelwright, and died in 1838. Five of his ten children are living, two of them, Sophia, widow of Carlistine Blake, and Daniel H., residing in Keene. The latter was born at Swanzey January 8, 1806. He received a common school education, and was engaged as a farmer and manufacturer of and dealer in lumber until his … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Harkness

John Harkness, born in Smithfield, R. I., in 1767, came to Richmond, N. H., when a child, and lived there until his death. in 1851. His son, James,. a native of Richmond, came to this town when about twenty-six years of age, and is now located on road 19.

Biographical Sketch of John H. Barrett

John H. Barrett was born November 8, 1789, and came to Chesterfield in 1851. He married Charlotte Thomas, of Hinsdale, who bore him four children-Shubael, Miranda, Julia and George W. The latter came here in x85 I, and now resides on road 37.

Biographical Sketch of John Guillow

John Guillow was born in Gill, Mass., December 21, 1784, and came here in 10o6. He studied medicine with Dr. Palmer, and was called ” Doctor” Guillow, but never practiced much. He married Betsey Stevens, March 29, 1808, and had born to him thirteen children. His son, John C., was born April 7, 1813, and married Finis P. Hemenway, June 21, 1837, who bore him thirteen children. He is engaged in lumbering and farming, and has served the town as selectman several years. His son, Lucius R., was born February 24, 1842, and married Elizabeth Spooner, in 1862. He is … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Gowing Jr.

James Gowing, Jr., of Scotch descent, came to Dublin, from Lynnfield, Mass., in 1788, married Abigail Greenwood, in 1772, and reared eight children. His father, James, Sr., settled in Jaffrey in 1777. Joseph, son of James, Jr., and father of Charles W., was captain of the Dublin Grenadiers Almerin, the fourth child, born October 1, 1799, married Sarah Sanders in 1826. He was selectman in 1837-39, and was captain of the Dublin Grenadiers. George A., the eldest son of six children, born December 8, 1827, married Lydia S., daughter of Benjamin Perry, October 15, 1850, and has two sons, Clifford … Read more