Merrimack and Sullivan Counties New Hampshire Biographies Collections – Page 11 of 23

Biography of Hon. Ezra Scollay Stearns

Hon. Ezra Scollay Stearns, Secretary of the State of New Hampshire since 1891, came to that office superabundantly qualified to meet its most exacting requirements. He was born in Rindge, N.H., September 1, 1838, son of Samuel and Mary Fitch (Moore) Stearns, his father being a native of Brattleboro, Vt., and his mother of Sharon, N.H. Through his mother he is connected with the Fitch family, several members of which were men of distinction during the Colonial period. The family was of Scotch-Irish origin; and the city of Fitchburg, Mass., was named in honor of John Fitch, a descendant in … Read more

Biography of Hon. Edmund H. Brown

Hon. Edmund H. Brown, the subject of this sketch, was born in Fisherville, now Penacook, a part of Concord, N.H., October 29, 1857. He is the youngest son of Henry Hayes and Lucretia (Symonds) Brown, and traces his ancestry directly back to the early Pilgrim settlers. The late Henry H. Brown, father of Edmund H., conducted an extensive manufacturing business in Penacook for many years, and was one of the most enterprising citizens and prominent residents of that village in his day. Edmund H. Brown was educated at the Penacook Academy and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston. After completing … Read more

Biography of Hon. Dexter Richards

Hon. Dexter Richards, of Newport, who was born here, September 5, 1818, son of the late Seth Richards, comes of distinguished English ancestry. Sylvanus Richards, who came here from Dedham, Mass., in the first of the century, and took an honorable position among the early settlers of the town, was his grandfather. His father, a gentleman of the old school, was a lifelong resident of Newport. The other children of Seth Richards were: Emily, born January 2, 1820, who married Perley S. Coffin, now deceased; Elizabeth, born November 19, 1821, who married the late John S. Parmelee, and now resides … Read more

Biography of Hon. Daniel Webster, LL.D.,

Hon. Daniel Webster, LL.D. “With rarest gifts of heart and head From manliest stock inherited, New England’s stateliest type of man.” Born on January 18, 1782, in Salisbury, N.H., Daniel Webster was the younger son of Captain Ebenezer Webster by his second wife, Abigail Eastman. His father was a son of Ebenezer second, grandson of Ebenezer first, and great-grandson of Thomas Webster, of Ormsby, Norfolk County, England, who was an early settler in Hampton, N.H. Captain Ebenezer Webster is said to have inherited from his mother, Mrs. Susannah B. Webster, who was a descendant of the Rev. Stephen Bachiler and … Read more

Biography of Hon. Chester Pike

Hon. Chester Pike, a prominent citizen of Sullivan County, New Hampshire, residing in Cornish, his native town, was born July 30, 1829, son of Ebenezer and Judith (Bryant) Pike. On both his father’s and his mother’s side he is descended from distinguished ancestry, and from families that have been conspicuous, not only in the history of New Hampshire, but in the history of the nation. His grandfather Pike was born in Newbury, Mass., and came to Cornish in early manhood, the first of the name to settle here. He bought a farm and a mill on Blow-me-down Brook, and devoted … Read more

Biography of Hon. Charles C.Kenrick

Hon. Charles C. Kenrick, State Senator, is one of the most prominent citizens of Franklin, N.H. He was born April 8, 1844, fourth son of Stephen and Clarissa A. (Blanchard) Kenrick. His paternal grandfather, John Kenrick, who was born December 17, 1764, was a native of Amesbury, Mass. He married Sarah Colby, of the same place, born January 25, 1771, and had nine children, of whom Stephen, father of Charles C., was the youngest. John Kenrick died in Amesbury in 1806, and his widow married David Marsh. Stephen Kenrick was born June 15, 1806, in Haverhill, Mass., and came to … Read more

Biography of Hon. Austin Tyler

Hon. Austin Tyler, who was an extensive builder and the largest land-owner of his day in Claremont, was born there, January 6, 1790, son of Ephraim and Abigail (Pardee) Tyler. His grandfather, Colonel Benjamin Tyler, born at Wallingford, Conn., February 22, 1732, married Mehitable Andrews, and removed to Farmington, Conn. From that place Colonel Tyler went to Claremont in the spring of 1767, and the Town History gives the information that he built the first dam across Sugar River at West Claremont, having been given a tract of land for that purpose by the town. After the completion of the … Read more

Biography of Hon. Addison Newton Osgood

Hon. Addison Newton Osgood, a well-known and prominent resident of Pembroke, was born in Allenstown, this State, March 16, 1836, son Ira B. and Alice (Prescott) Osgood. He belongs to the seventh generation of Osgoods in this country, tracing his descent to Christopher Osgood, a native of Ipswich, England, who died in 1650. The first of Christopher’s two marriages was contracted with Mary Everett, an Englishwoman, who had one child by him. His second wife was Margery, daughter of Philip and Mary (Winsley or Winslow) Fowler. She was baptized in Marlboro, England, May 25, 1615. By her he became the … Read more

Biography of Hon James B. Tennant

Hon. James B. Tennant, one of the most prominent business men of Epsom and an ex-member of the New Hampshire Senate, was born in Deerfield, N.H., May 26, 1847, son of Arthur and Ruth O. (Sanborn) Tennant. He comes of English stock. His great-grandfather was an early settler in Portsmouth, N.H. Thomas Tennant, the grandfather, who was born in Haverhill, N.H., April 10, 1771, owned and cultivated farms in Wentworth and Hampton, N.H., during the active period of his life. His last days were passed in Wentworth, and he was about eighty years old when he died. He married Sarah … Read more

Biography of Homer E. Grannis

Homer E. Grannis is an enterprising farmer and real estate owner residing in Claremont, Sullivan County, N.H., where he was for many years engaged in the saw-mill and lumber business. He was born in Claremont, July 16, 1832, son of Solon C. and Nancy (Spaulding) Grannis, and belongs to one of the oldest families in the town, being a great-grandson of Timothy Grannis, Sr, who came from North Haven, Conn., to Claremont in 1769. For his first wife Timothy Grannis, Sr., married Sarah Sumner, daughter of Dr. William Sumner. She died June 25, 1789; and he married for his second … Read more

Biography of Hollis Lemuel Blood

Hollis Lemuel Blood, a well-to-do farmer and dairyman of Bradford, Merrimack County, N.H., was born July 16, 1845, in Goshen, Sullivan County, this State, a son of Lemuel and Eliza (Dodge) Blood. On the paternal side he is of Scotch ancestry and on the maternal of English. His paternal grandfather served throughout the Revolutionary War, and in later life was always called General Blood. After the war he removed from Maine to New Hampshire, locating on Blood Hill in Bradford Centre, his son Moody, who later settled in the South, coming here with him. The General subsequently made his home … Read more

Biography of Hiram Parker

Hiram Parker, Postmaster of Lempster, and an ex-member of the New Hampshire legislature, was born in this town, July 3, 1830, son of Benjamin and Olive (Nichols) Parker. His grandfather, Joseph Parker, moved his family from New Ipswich, N.H., to Lempster, first settling in the northern part of the town. At a later date Joseph removed to the farm now owned by his grandson. While he owned and successfully conducted a farm, he was also engaged in the manufacture of potash. His death occurred March 14, 1825. He married Sarah Wright, a native of Washington, N.H.; and his children were: … Read more

Biography of Hiram N. Hayward

Hiram N. Hayward, Librarian of the Silsby Free Public Library at Acworth, N.H., was born in this town, April 6, 1837. His parents, Joseph and Patty G. (Slader) Hayward, were also natives of Acworth. His paternal grandfather, Jacob Hayward, was born in Bridgewater, Mass. From Mitchell’s history of that early settled town in Plymouth County we learn that he was the third in direct line to bear the name of the Hebrew patriarch, and that he was the sixth in descent from Thomas Hayward, the immigrant progenitor, who was one of the original proprietors of Bridgewater. Nathaniel Hayward, son of … Read more

Biography of Hiram H. York

Hiram H. York, a well-known farmer of Cornish, has always resided in this town on the estate where he was born December 6, 1823. His grandfather, William York, also born in Cornish, was prominently identified with the Democratic party of the early days. William, in many ways the most prominent man in the town, was a noted veterinary surgeon, whose practice covered an extensive district. He was Sheriff of Sullivan County for many years. In the later part of his life he joined the Methodist church. A man capable of much physical endurance, he had a remarkable constitution, which, perhaps, … Read more

Biography of Herman Wells Greene

Herman Wells Greene, formerly a lawyer of considerable note in Hopkinton, was born here, April 11, 1836, son of Herman H. and Ellen Chase (Little) Greene. His only brother died at the age of fourteen years; and his only sister is now the wife of a Mr. Roberts, of Philadelphia, Pa. After receiving his early education in the public schools of Hopkinton and at Pembroke and Gilmanton Academies, he became interested in the legal profession, and read law with George & Foster, of Concord, and later with Beard & Nickerson, of Boston, Mass. On his twenty-first birthday he was admitted … Read more

Biography of Herbert M. Kimball

Herbert M. Kimball, a skilful, intelligent, and highly successful farmer of Hopkinton, was born in this town, December 20, 1862, a son of Moses T. and Mary F. (Smith) Kimball, and a grandson of Nathaniel Kimball. A more extended history of his ancestors may be found on another page of this volume, in connection with the sketch of Gilman B. Kimball, his brother. Mr. Kimball has been engaged in agricultural pursuits from early youth. Since arriving at man’s estate, he has also, in partnership with his brother, carried on a large business in lumbering and dairying. He lived on the … Read more

Biography of Henry Tubbs

Henry Tubbs, a successful dentist practising in Newport, was born in Peterboro, N.H., February 24, 1831, son of Joseph and Azuba (Monroe) Tubbs. The family is traced back to one William Tubbs, who came to the Plymouth Colony from London, England, in 1635. The paternal grandfather of Dr. Tubbs was Captain Joseph Tubbs, of Marlow, N.H., an early settler, a successful farmer, a good citizen, and a Captain in the old State militia. He died at the age of eighty years. Joseph Tubbs, son of Captain Tubbs, in company with Thomas Baker owned the Eagle Mills at Peterboro, N.H., where … Read more

Biography of Henry Pearson Rolfe

Henry Pearson Rolfe, a prominent lawyer of Concord, N.H., was born in Boscawen, this State, February 13, 1821. His parents were Benjamin and Margaret (Searles) Rolfe. Benjamin Rolfe, Sr., his paternal grandfather, was one of the early settlers of Boscawen, whither he came in 1769 all the way from Newbury, Mass., on horseback. His wife rode behind him on a pillion, and their housekeeping and personal necessaries were carried on the same horse, this being the ordinary method of travelling in those early Colonial times in New England. She returned alone through Chester, N.H., and left him in the forest … Read more

Biography of Henry McCoy

Henry McCoy, proprietor of the Bradford Mineral Springs and the Bradford Springs Hotel at Bradford, N.H., entertains each season large numbers of guests from New England and various other sections of the country. Bradford Spring Park is located in the town of Bradford, about a mile from the village of East Washington, and comprises upward of forty acres of land, including Lovewell Lake, which in the summer is alive with gay parties of hotel visitors using the pleasure boats provided for them. The spring was first heard of by the white inhabitants in 1770, when some of them passing that … Read more

Biography of Henry Marshall Elwell

Henry Marshall Elwell, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen of Langdon, Sullivan County, N.H., son of Robert and Phoebe (Evans) Elwell, was born in this town, April 13, 1839. His paternal grandfather, Benjamin Elwell, a lifelong resident of Langdon, was a wealthy farmer and highly esteemed citizen. He married a Miss Kendall, and had four children, named: Samuel, Betsey, Nancy, and Robert. Benjamin Elwell and his wife died on the same day, within a few minutes of each other; and their mortal remains were buried together in the same coffin. Samuel, the eldest son, lived in Langdon all his life, … Read more