Merrimack and Sullivan Counties New Hampshire Biographies Collections – Page 14 of 23

Biography of George E. Miller

George E. Miller, a prominent resident of Pembroke and a member of the firm of Simpson, Miller & Co., general merchants, was born in Deerfield, N.H., October 30, 1850, son of Ebenezer and Mehitable L. (Dow) Miller. The grandfather, Samuel Miller, spent his early life in Chichester, N.H., engaged in agricultural pursuits; and his last years were passed in Brentwood, N.H. The maiden name of his wife was Annie Yeaton; and he had a family of six children, of whom Ebenezer, George E. Miller’s father, was the second-born. Ebenezer Miller grew to manhood as a farmer. When a young man … Read more

Biography of George E. Hilliard

George E. Hilliard, a well-known gun manufacturer and a leading citizen of Cornish, is a native of Claremont, where he was born August 26, 1838. He is descended from the Rev. Avery Hilliard, a Unitarian clergyman, who, coming to this country from England with his brother, resided for a time in Sutton, Mass., and afterward settled in Cornish, being the first of the name in the town. The Rev. Mr. Hilliard was twice married, and had in all ten children. His son Benjamin was grandfather of George E. Hilliard. Benjamin, who was born in Sutton, came to Cornish with his … Read more

Biography of George E. Davis

George E. Davis, a prominent farmer of Northfield and a native of Acworth, N.H., was born April 30, 1839, son of Oliver and Harriett Elizabeth (Moore) Davis. The father, a native of Acworth, removed to Surry, and later to Lempster, which was the home of his wife. In Lempster he was engaged in farming until his death in 1881. His wife, Elizabeth, died at Manchester in 1885. Henry J. Davis, the first-born of their nine children, was a surgeon in the army, and died at Baltimore. George E., the subject of this sketch, was their second son. His brother, Jefferson, … Read more

Biography of George Cook, M.D.

George Cook, M.D., a prominent physician of Concord, was born at Dover, this State, November 16, 1848, son of Solomon and Susan Ann (Hayes) Cook. His early education was obtained in the Concord High School and in Franklin Academy. In 1865 he began to read medicine with Drs. Charles P. Gage and Granville P. Conn, of Concord. Also he attended a course of lectures on medicine at Burlington, Vt., and two courses at the School of Medicine of Dartmouth College. After graduating from the last-named school in 1869, he immediately began the practice of his profession in Henniker, N.H., where … Read more

Biography of George Chase Freeman

George Chase Freeman, one of the best known dairy farmers and cattle breeders in Plainfield, was born in Cornish, N.H., August 26, 1819, son of Cyrus and Sarah (Dow) Freeman. The grandfather, Daniel Freeman, who was a native of Connecticut, moved his family to Plainfield, where he engaged in farming. He also kept a hotel in Lebanon, N.H., for a number of years. The maiden name of his first wife was Dow. That of his second wife is unknown. His children were: Cyrus, Daniel, Benjamin, Joseph, Deborah, and Mercy. Benjamin, who was a farmer, married Eudocia Childs, and reared a … Read more

Biography of George Barstow Walker

George Barstow Walker, a leading resident of Cornish, comes of a family whose representatives have been distinguished for manly Christian character and pure lives. His grandfather, Peter Walker, lived and died in Cornish, and was one of the prominent farmers of this section. Peter had four children-Joseph, Moses, Cyrus, and Eathan -none of whom are now living. Moses Walker, the father of George B., was born in Cornish in 1812. He was educated in the town schools, and began his working life as a farmer. Later he did a large business, and became very prosperous. Besides doing more or less … Read more

Biography of George Bancroft Griffith

George Bancroft Griffith, a well-known littérateur residing in Lempster, N.H., was born February 28, 1841, in Newburyport, Mass. His parents, Robert and Charlotte (Merrill) Griffith, were both natives of that town, with whose mercantile interests his paternal grandfather, who also bore the name Robert, was for many years identified. The elder Robert Griffith married Nancy Bartlett, a native of West Newbury; and their family of seven children were as follows: Rufus, Robert, Augustus, Isaac, Angeline, Henrietta, and Elizabeth. Robert Griffith, Jr., George B. Griffith’s father, was reared and educated in Newburyport; and when a young man he entered the clothing … Read more

Biography of George A. Sumner

George A. Sumner, a popular storekeeper and real estate owner of Hill, was born on the place where he now resides, June 27, 1839, son of George W. and Hannah (Abrams) Sumner. [For the full genealogy of the Sumner family the reader is referred to the account of Governor Increase Sumner, to be found in the General Register.] George Sumner is a direct descendant of Edward Sumner, a Revolutionary patriot, who for a long time would not allow tea to be served on his table, and who was one of the Boston Tea Party. Edward’s son, Nathaniel, by his wife … Read more

Biography of Gawn E. Gorrell

Gawn E. Gorrell, a farmer and well-known Republican of Northfield, was born May 16, 1857, son of Clough and Sarah (Forrest) Gorrell, both natives of Northfield. The grandfather, Gawn A. Gorrell, a native of Salem, Mass., was the first of the family to come to Northfield. He settled on a farm near the home now occupied by his grandson, and resided there until his death. Clough Gorrell was also a farmer. When quite a young man he settled on the Thomas Clough farm, where his son now lives, and lived there for the remainder of his life. He died May … Read more

Biography of Freeman Cutting

Freeman Cutting, a prosperous farmer of Newport, was born in Croydon, N.H., July 19, 1821, son of Francis and Keziah (Hudson) Cutting. His grandfather, Benjamin Cutting, one of the first settlers of Croydon, was an energetic and successful farmer; and he served his country in the Revolutionary War. Benjamin and his wife, Anna Bemas Cutting, died at the respective ages of eighty-eight and ninety years. Of their thirteen children none are now living. Francis Cutting, who was next to the youngest, followed his father’s occupation, that of farming. He was also an extensive stock dealer, in fact, doing, it is … Read more

Biography of Frederick Myron Colby

Frederick Myron Colby, of Warner, as well as all the Colbys of America, is descended from Anthony Colby, one of the Puritan colonists of Boston in 1630, who subsequently settled in Amesbury, Mass., where the house he dwelt in still stands. The second son of his father, Anthony was a lineal descendant of Sir Robert de Colebi, one of King John’s knights in 1199. The family seat was in the County of Norfolk, England. In early times the name was variously spelled Colby, Colebi, Coleby, Colebey, Colebei, Chaulby, Colbye, and Colebeye. The name of two English towns, as well as … Read more

Biography of Frederic Augustus Briggs

Frederic Augustus Briggs, a well-known hotel man of Claremont, N.H., was born in Charlestown, this State, September 9, 1838, son of Joseph Gilman and Abigail (Woods) Briggs. Some interesting facts concerning the origin of the Briggs family may be found in Burke’s “Peerage” and in the History of the County of Norfolk, England, by Bloomfield. It is shown that before the time of Edward I. (1272 ) the representatives of the family assumed the surname of De Ponte or Pontibus. Many of them from the time of de Ponte de Salle, whose son John was born in 1383, became men … Read more

Biography of Fred Moulton

Fred Moulton, a leading resident of Plainfield and the proprietor of a large grocery store at Lebanon, was born July 11, 1836, in Plainfield, son of Stephen R. and Sally (Noyes) Moulton. The Moultons have had representatives in Plainfield for four generations, men who have been prominent in the development of the town and closely identified with all the important events in its history. The first of the name to settle here was William, grandfather of Mr. Fred Moulton, who took up land, and cleared a farm, which is still in the possession of his descendants. Known from the first … Read more

Biography of Fred H. Fellows

Fred H. Fellows, one of Chichester’s representative men, was born in this town, December 18, 1859, son of John and Ursula M. (Webster) Fellows. His grandfather, John Fellows (first), learned the blacksmith’s trade in Chichester, and followed it in this town during the active portion of his life. John owned a small farm, which he also cultivated industriously. In politics he was a Democrat, and he served as a Selectman and in other town offices. He married Betsey Page, who bore him eight children, six of whom are living; namely, James B., Esther, Elizabeth J., Louisa, Frank J., and Octave. … Read more

Biography of Fred Bean

Fred Bean remained at home until his marriage, there obtaining a practical experience in general agricultural work. On October 15, 1877, he married Miss Frances A., daughter of Francis and Abigail (Gage) Robbins. Immediately after he moved on to the Robbins homestead, which he has since conducted. Mr. Robbins was born July 9, 1815, in Mason, N.H. In early life he engaged in the lumber business at Enfield, N.H. Here he was married to Abigail Gage, who was born in that town, December 10, 1814. Subsequently he carried on the same business in connection with farming in the town of … Read more

Biography of Franklin J. Pierce

Franklin J. Pierce, a successful business man of Claremont in the eighties, was born in Chester, Vt., August 5, 1848, the seventh child of Joseph G. and Hannah (Hemenway) Pierce. At the age of eighteen Mr. Pierce entered business life in Windsor, Vt., in the capacity of clerk in one of the stores. Afterward, in Claremont, he followed in turn the business of clothier and that of shoe dealer. Later for a short time, he was a druggist in Lawrence, Mass. Ill beyond recovery, he was obliged to return home from Lawrence; and he died February 13, 1886. The maiden … Read more

Biography of Franklin J. Emerson

Franklin J. Emerson, formerly a member of the Concord City Council, was born July 11, 1824, in Unity, N.H., son of Samuel and Matilda (Gould) Emerson. His grandfather, Jonathan Emerson, who was born in March, 1740, settled in West Concord, and there reclaimed from the wilderness the property now owned and occupied by his grandson. Jonathan subsequently replaced his primitive log cabin with a modern frame house; and at his death, which occurred when he was seventy-five years old, he left a good farm. He was twice married, and had twelve children, six by each union. Samuel Emerson, father of … Read more

Biography of Frank Willard Grafton, M.D.

Frank Willard Grafton, M.D., a successful medical practitioner of Concord, was born in Gilford, N.H., in 1869, son of James and Mary Jane (Collins) Grafton. The earliest known progenitor of this family, also named James, emigrated from Scotland to America, locating in Cushing, Me., where he cleared a tract of land, and was afterward engaged in farming. He married, and had a large family, of whom Joseph, the eldest child, was the great-grandfather of Frank Willard. Joseph Grafton, born in Cushing, who was also engaged in agricultural pursuits, passing his entire life on the farm, married, and reared a large … Read more

Biography of Frank W. Foster

Frank W. Foster, a leading farmer and dairyman of Hill, was born in the town of Bristol, N.H., September 20, 1859. His father, Wilson Foster, was born in Alexandria, N.H.; and Wilson’s father, Joseph Foster, was a farmer well known in Bristol for many years. From Bristol Joseph removed to Merrimack, where he spent the latter part of his life, dying at the age of eighty years. His wife, in maidenhood Lydia Pattee, became the mother of nine children. Of these Wilson, the youngest son, was educated in the public schools, and followed farming in Bristol for sixteen years. He … Read more

Biography of Frank T. Vaughan

Frank T. Vaughan, one of the younger lawyers of Newport, was born May 4, 1864, in Woodstock, Vt., son of Edwin and Elizabeth L. (Tenney) Vaughan. The father, who graduated at the Albany Law School, New York, followed the legal profession, and at the time of his death was Judge of Probate. Edwin Vaughan commenced his law practice in New York City; but in 1859 he removed to Claremont, N.H., and entered into partnership with Colonel Alexander Gardner. In 1861 he enlisted in the New Hampshire Battalion of the First Rhode Island Volunteer Cavalry, and was afterward transferred to the … Read more