Merrimack and Sullivan Counties New Hampshire Biographies Collections – Page 17 of 23

Biography of Dr. J. H. Sanborn

Dr. J. H. Sanborn, a retired physician of Franklin Falls, was born in Meredith, N.H., September 23, 1830, son of John and Susan (Hubbard) Sanborn. His grandfather, Jeremiah Sanborn, represented Sanbornton in the first legislature, that met in Exeter in 1784. Highly prized by the family are a compass, a book on surveying, and a powder-horn that belonged to Jeremiah, all over one hundred and twenty-five years old. Another cherished relic is a pewter platter that has been handed down in the Hubbard family for two hundred and sixty-five years, since it was brought over from England. Dr. John Sanborn, … Read more

Biography of Dexter Peabody

Dexter Peabody, a well-known farmer of Newport, was born on the farm where he now resides, December 14, 1822, son of Ammi and Sarah (Johnson) Peabody. A carefully arranged family tree kept by Mr. Peabody shows that the different branches of the family sprung from Francis Peabody, who was born in England in 1614. Francis had a son John, born in 1642, who had a son David, born in 1673, who had John, born in 1714, who was the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Jedediah Peabody, son of the last John and grandfather of the present Mr. Peabody, … Read more

Biography of Deacon Samuel W. Carter

Deacon Samuel W. Carter and his brother, Harrison, wellknown natives and residents of Henniker, are sons of Nathan and Margery (Wadsworth) Carter. Their grandfather, Samuel Carter, who was born in Wilmington, Mass., in 1758, settled in Hillsborough County after his marriage. Samuel’s wife, Molly Abbott Carter, was born May 18, 1769, in Londonderry, N.H. Nathan Carter was born in Hillsborough County. When a young man he settled at Westboro Corner in the town of Henniker. He was a carpenter, and he followed that trade for forty-three years as a contractor and builder. It was said that there was not a … Read more

Biography of David Warren Cogswell

David Warren Cogswell, one of Henniker’s most highly esteemed residents and a prominent Odd Fellow, was born in this town, January 1, 1824, son of David and Hannah (Haskell) Cogswell. His father, who was a son of Joseph Cogswell, was a native of Essex, Mass., born April 25, 1790. David Cogswell learned the blacksmith’s trade with David Choate in his native town, and worked for a time as a journeyman on Cape Ann. He was First Lieutenant of a Gloucester Military Company during the War of 1812, and subsequently received for his services a warrant for one hundred and sixty … Read more

Biography of David N. Patterson

David N. Patterson, for many years one of the most active and prominent business men of Contoocook, N.H., was born June 1, 1800, in Henniker, Merrimack County, and died March 28, 1892, in the village of Contoocook, at the venerable age of ninety-one years, nine months, and twenty-eight days. He was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, so called, being a direct descendant of John Patterson, who on account of religious persecution fled from Scotland to the northern part of Ireland, where his son Robert and his grandson, who, it is thought, was named Alexander, were born. The latter emigrated to America in … Read more

Biography of David M. Currier, M.D.

David M. Currier, M.D., a successful physician of Newport, was born in Grafton, Grafton County, September 15, 1840, son of David and Rhoda (Morse) Currier. The grandfather, David Currier, presumably came from Salisbury, Mass., and located in Canaan, where he became the owner of a good tract of land, and died at the age of seventy-one years. He married February 2, 1797, Ruth Stevens, David, born February 8, 1803; Edward, born June 12, 1805; Aaron, born September 10, 1813; Dorothy, born January 28, 1799; and Hannah, born June 23, 1800. David, the father of Dr. Currier, was also a farmer. … Read more

Biography of David F. Dudley

David F. Dudley, a prominent lawyer of Concord, was born in China, Me., October 17, 1857, son of Matthew F. and Patience A. (Hutchins) Dudley. John Dudley, his grandfather, was a native of Kennebec County, where he passed the greater part of his life in farming. The maiden name of John’s wife was Eunice Winslow. Matthew F. Dudley, also a native of China, Me., was a farmer in that town, and died there when he was forty-eight years old. He married Patience A. Hutchins, daughter of James Hutchins, and had a family of three children. These were: Charles E., who … Read more

Biography of David E. Farwell

David E. Farwell, one of the most extensive farmers of Charlestown, N.H., his native place, was born March 20, 1845, the youngest son of George and Aurilla (Brownell) Farwell. He is of the seventh generation in descent from John and Priscilla (Mullens) Alden, of the “Mayflower” company, who were married in Plymouth probably in 1621. [For further notes of ancestry see sketch of Jesse H. Farwell .] Mr. Farwell’s great-grandfather, William Farwell, who was born in 1712, was one of the first settlers in Charlestown, coming from Mansfield, Conn. He died here, December 11, 1801. His children by his wife, … Read more

Biography of David Arthur Brown

David Arthur Brown, Manager and Treasurer of the Concord Axle Company of Penacook, an ex-member of the New Hampshire legislature, and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Attleboro, Mass., May 14, 1839, son of Henry H. and Mary Ann (Daggett) Brown. His parents were natives of Attleboro. On the father’s side he is descended from an Englishman who settled in Massachusetts in the year 1624. His great-grandfather was John Brown, and his grandfather was David Brown. On the mother’s side his genealogy is traced through her father, Otis Daggett, of the seventh generation, Joab of the sixth, … Read more

Biography of David A. Sargent

David A. Sargent, a hotel-keeper in Croydon, was born January 5, 1829, in Grantham, N.H., son of Moses and Mary (Clement) Sargent. His paternal grandfather was one of the early settlers of Warner, N.H. The father was born in Warner, May 1, 1788, and remained there for some time, carrying on general farming. Later he removed to Grantham, where he spent the remainder of his life. While a Republican in politics, he never held public office. He died in 1849, at the age of sixty-one years. His wife Mary, who was born in Warner, December 3, 1788, died in 1870, … Read more

Biography of Daniel Yeaton

Daniel Yeaton, one of the leading farmers of Epsom and the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, was born in this town, January 6, 1839, son of John Yeaton (third) and Sarah (Bickford) Yeaton. His ancestors for several generations were prosperous tillers of the soil in this State; and his great-grandfather, John Yeaton (first), was a pioneer settler in Epsom. John Yeaton (second), grandfather of Daniel, a native and lifelong resident of this town, was one of the successful farmers of his day, and owned considerable property. In politics he supported the Democratic party, and he was a member of … Read more

Biography of Daniel L. Moore

Daniel L. Moore, a successful farmer of Loudon, Merrimack County, was born here, June 30, 1843, son of Archelaus and Harriett T. (Lowell) Moore, his parents also being natives of this town. Archelaus Moore, first, the grandfather, lived and died in Loudon, Daniel L., was the first of the name to settle here. Archelaus Moore, second, followed the vocation of his forefathers, and died leaving eight children: Abigail, wife of P. L. French, of East Concord, N.H.; Lydia Amanda, who married Hugh T. Warren, a farmer of Pembroke, N.H.; Jennie, now deceased, who became the wife of James Richardson, a … Read more

Biography of Daniel Gilman Chesley

Daniel Gilman Chesley, one of the largest land-owners of Epsom, Merrimack County, was born upon the farm he now occupies, July 2, 1837, son of John and Joanna (Tibbetts) Chesley. The Chesley family is believed to be of English origin; and the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch was Lemuel Chesley, who resided in Lee, N.H. His son, John Chesley, Sr., grandfather of Daniel Gilman, was born in Lee. When a young man he went to Chichester, N.H., where he learned blacksmithing of James Blake. After his marriage he settled in Epsom and continued to work at his trade … Read more

Biography of Daniel G. Peaslee

Daniel G. Peaslee, a farmer and lumberman of Bradford, residing about three miles west of the village, was born April 4, 1841, in Newbury, Merrimack County. His father, Jonathan Peaslee, a native of Newbury, was a son of Samuel Peaslee, one of the pioneers of the town. Further mention of the Peaslee family may be found in the biography of J. Albert Peaslee. Jonathan Peaslee, who was reared to farming, became a tiller of the soil from choice. When ready to settle in life, he bought a tract of land lying on the Bradford and Newbury line, and built his … Read more

Biography of Daniel F. Wyman

Daniel F. Wyman, a successful lumber dealer of Henniker and an ex-member of the New Hampshire legislature, was born in the southern part of this town, November 29, 1826. His maternal ancestors were early settlers in New Hampshire. Moses Harriman, his great-grandfather, Plaistow in 1736. His grandparents, Eldad and Lydia (White) Harriman, who were industrious farming people, lived to be eighty-four years old. Daniel resided with his grandparents until he was sixteen or seventeen years old. Then he learned daguerreotyping; and, after following it for a time, he sold out his apparatus and became a clerk for James Peverly in … Read more

Biography of Daniel Downes

Daniel Downes, a well-known resident of Andover, was born in Salisbury, N.H., June 10, 1837. His father was Isaac Downes, who came from Maine, his native State, successively bought a farm in Salisbury and Ellsworth, lived on each for a time, and then removed to Lowell, Mass., where he kept a boarding-house until his death. Isaac married Mary A. Cilly, of West Andover; and their children were: Philip, Leonard, Priscilla, Lydia, Ann, Ellen, Daniel, and Isaac. Philip Downes, who was a soldier in the Union Army, died from the effect of wounds received in the battle of Gettysburg. Leonard was … Read more

Biography of Daniel C. Westgate

Daniel C. Westgate, a prominent resident of Plainfield and an ex-member of the New Hampshire legislature, was born in this town, June 4, 1857, son of Earl and Sarah Chase (Cole) Westgate. His great-grandfather, John Westgate, who was the first ancestor of the family to settle in Plainfield, came here in 1778. John married Grace Church, of Tiverton, R.I., a descendant of Colonel Benjamin Church, who commanded the Colonial forces in the war against King Philip. They were the parents of eleven children; namely, Betsey, John, Lydia, Earl, Priscilla, Mary, George, William, Joseph, Benjamin, and Hannah. Earl Westgate, grandfather of … Read more

Biography of Daniel B. Sanborn

Daniel B. Sanborn, a successful farmer of East Concord, Merrimack County, was born in Webster, N.H., April 12, 1840, son of Daniel and Sally (Batchelder) Sanborn. Mr. Sanborn’s grandfather, Tristam Sanborn, came to Webster with his wife and her parents, and took up land on what is now known as Sanborn and Clough’s Hill. He lived to be quite an old man, and remained in this place until his death. He had a large family of children, of whom Daniel, father of the subject of this sketch, was the youngest but one. Daniel Sanborn moved to Canterbury when his son … Read more

Biography of Danford Rice

Danford Rice, late a well-known farmer of Claremont, who died August 4, 1877, was born in this town, December 2, 1805. His grandfather, Ebenezer Rice, who was one of the earliest settlers of Claremont, coming with a little colony of pioneers from Tolland, Conn., bought considerable land in the village, but afterward removed to West Claremont. He was a carpenter by trade, and framed the old Union church at West Claremont. He was a Deacon of the church, and in the absence of a minister he used to read the services. A stanch patriot, he fought for American independence in … Read more

Biography of Dana W. Call

Dana W. Call, a prominent farmer of Franklin, was born in this town, August 27, 1847, son of Hazen H. and Mary (Thomas) Call. His grandfather, Hazen Call, who was a lifelong resident of Franklin, spent his active period in tilling the soil. The father was reared and educated in this town. He was engaged in farming and lumbering, and died October 2, 1888. His wife, Mary, who was a native of Sanbornton, N.H., became the mother of eight children-Joseph L., Calvin T., Helen, Dana W., Horace M., Helen V., David S., and Frederick W. Joseph L. married Ann Severance, … Read more