Merrimack and Sullivan Counties New Hampshire Biographies Collections – Page 18 of 23

Biography of Cyrus Runnels

Cyrus Runnels, a well-known and highly esteemed citizen of Concord, was born at Mast Yard, in 1832, son of Samuel Runnels. His grandfather, Samuel Runnels, Sr., a native of Boxford, Mass., came early to New Hampshire, where he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty-two acres, and spent the latter part of his life occupied in farming. He was a land surveyor, and assisted greatly in laying out roads and lots in his day. He was also one of the Home Guard of the War of 1812. At his Anna Hardy Runnels, he reared four children-Samuel, Lois, Priscilla, and … Read more

Biography of Cyrus O. Brown

Cyrus O. Brown, formerly a well-known schoolmaster and now a prosperous farmer of Epsom, was born in Kensington, N.H., August 15, 1834, son of Abel and Ruth (Fellows) Brown. On the paternal side he is a lineal descendant of John Brown, who, born in England in 1589, is said to have been of Scotch origin. It is believed that this ancestor was reared in a seaport town, as he was a ship-carpenter by trade. It is recorded that he was concerned in the building of many vessels for the king. He emigrated to New England, and became one of the … Read more

Biography of Cyrus Marden

Cyrus Marden, a prosperous farmer of Epsom, was born in this twon, May 16, 1850, son of David and Ann (Bickford) Marden. The grandfather, William Marden, who was a native of Portsmouth, came to Epsom about the year 1790. He followed the carpenter’s trade in connection with farming during the active period of his life, and died at the age of ninety-two years. Of his nine children two were born before he came to Epsom. David Marden, born in Epsom, and the youngest son of William, in early life assisted upon the home farm. Following the example of his father, … Read more

Biography of Cyrus E. Baker, M.D.

Cyrus E. Baker, M.D., of Claremont, Sullivan County, N.H., the well-known physician and oculist, was born in Plainfield, this State, April 9, 1835, son of Dimic and Hannah (Colby) Baker. He is of the eighth generation in descent from Jeffrey Baker, who came from England, and was one of the original settlers of Windsor, Conn. Jeffrey Baker married November 25, 1642, Joan Rockwell. They had five children, one of them being a son, Joseph, born June 18, 1655, who married Hannah Cook Buckland, January 30, 1677. Five children were the fruit of this union. Joseph Baker’s son, Joseph, Jr., born … Read more

Biography of Curtis White

Curtis White, a retired carpenter of Concord, was born at Bow, N.H., April 4, 1861, son of Daniel White, of that place. The grandfather, Isaac White, who was an early settler of Bow, went there from Pembroke, and converted a grant of land into a good farm home for himself and his family. Daniel, the youngest son, was a blacksmith and stone worker. He purchased a farm opposite his father’s, and there carried on stone work as well as some farming. His death occurred March 16, 1825, after a lingering and painful illness, in the course of which he was … Read more

Biography of Curtis W. Bennett

Curtis W. Bennett, one of the busy farmers and prominent residents of Pittsfield, was born in Epsom, N.H., January 1, 1832. His parents were Jeremiah and Betsey (Marden) Bennett, natives respectively of New Hampton and Epsom. Daniel Bennett, grandfather of Curtis W., was a lifelong resident of New Hampton. He owned a good farm, and was occupied in its cultivation until his death, which occurred when he was fifty years old. Politically, he supported the Democratic party; and in his religious views he was a Free Will Baptist. He and his wife reared a family of six children. Jeremiah Bennett … Read more

Biography of Curtis Franklin Lewin

Curtis Franklin Lewin, an enterprising provision dealer of Plainfield, was born in this town, April 24, 1850, son of Erastus and Fanny (Nash) Lewin. Among several of the members of the family who have achieved distinction in business and professional pursuits may be mentioned Judge Lewin, an eminent jurist and a wealthy resident of Hartford, Conn. The father of Erastus, Cranston Lewin, who was born May 6, 1777, came from Hartford, Conn., to Plainfield when a young man, and was engaged in farming and butchering for the rest of his active period. He married Esther Fuller, who was born in … Read more

Biography of Colonel Solon Augustus Carter

Colonel Solon Augustus Carter, Treasurer of New Hampshire, is one of the busiest citizens of Concord; for, in addition to the duties of his responsible position in the executive department of the State government, he is actively concerned in a number of financial enterprises, and holds high office in several social organizations. He was born in Leominster, Mass., June 22, 1837. His parents, Solon and Lucretia (Joslin) Carter, were natives of the town of Leominster. Colonel Carter is seventh in descent from Thomas Carter, who left St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England, for this country in 1635, and was ordained and settled … Read more

Biography of Colonel Rufus P. Copps

Colonel Rufus P. Copps, a veteran agriculturist of Hopkinton, and one of its most honored and respected citizens, was born January 13, 1818, in Haverhill, Mass., a son of Moses and Mary (George) Copps. It is said that this branch of the family originated with a little boy who was found wandering around the streets of Boston, finely dressed in velvet clothes, and who, it is supposed, was put ashore from an English vessel in the harbor. He could give no name, but was adopted by a man named Copp, from whom Copp’s Hill, at the North End in Boston, … Read more

Biography of Colonel Charles H. Long

Colonel Charles H. Long, station agent at Claremont and a brilliant military man, was born here, March 14, 1834, son of Charles F. and Caroline J. (Hubbard) Long. The grandfather, Simeon Long, who was the captain of a whaling vessel, came to Claremont from Nantucket about the year 1810. His son, Charles, learned the printer’s trade in New Bedford, but later followed the sea for the benefit of his health, employed on a merchant vessel for twenty-three years. In 1843 Charles returned to Claremont and took up farming. Thereafter he prospered in every way, taking a prominent part in local … Read more

Biography of Colonel Abial Rolfe

Colonel Abial Rolfe, a prominent resident of Penacook, was born March 29, 1823, on the estate where he now resides, son of Henry and Deborah (Carter) Rolfe. His grandfather, Nathaniel Rolfe, came here from Haverhill, Mass., when there were but few settlers in this section. Nathaniel converted a tract of wild land into a good farm, built a frame house, and carried on farming and lumbering throughout the rest of his life. His son Henry grew up on the farm, receiving his education in the Concord schools. When old enough to engage in business for himself, Henry followed the same … Read more

Biography of Clyde Augustus Blake

Clyde Augustus Blake, a prosperous merchant of Hill, N.H., was born here, December 17, 1876, son of Curtis N. and Jennie L. (Piper) Blake. He comes of a vigorous American family. His grandfather, Greenleaf Blake, who was born in Sanbornton, N.H., settled in Hill, and there followed the occupations of blacksmith and farmer. One of those examples of health and sturdiness of which there were so many among the early settlers, he had attained an advanced age when he died. His wife’s maiden name was Miss Charlotte Kelley. Curtis N. Blake attended the district schools, and there received the education … Read more

Biography of Clayton B. Hilliard

Clayton B. Hilliard, a leading resident and native of South Cornish, was born November 26, 1863, son of Joseph and May (Bryant) Hilliard. His grandfather, Joseph Hilliard, Sr., was a farmer and carpenter and a prominent man in his day. In politics he was a Democrat and in religion a Baptist. His wife, Roxie Day Hilliard, bore him ten children-Rufus, Hiram, George, Emmeline, Betsy, Roxie, Charlotte, Jane, Joseph, and Chester. Rufus, who was a farmer and carpenter, was born in Cornish, and died in 1894. He married Martha McClurer, and had two children. Hiram, a farmer and a Democrat, married … Read more

Biography of Christopher Columbus Gibson

Christopher Columbus Gibson, one of the leading violinists of America, is an honored resident of the town of Henniker, N.H., where he was born August 24, 1824, a son of John and Susannah (Hale) Gibson. The emigrant ancestor of the Gibson family was John Gibson, who was born in England in 1601, and was made a freeman in Cambridge, Mass., in 1634. The line was then continued through the following-named progenitors: John, born in 1631; Deacon Timothy Gibson, born in 1668, who lived with Abraham Holman in Stow, Mass., and at the age of twenty-one received from him a deed … Read more

Biography of Charles Winch

Charles Winch, a Justice of the Peace and a successful farmer of Langdon, is a native of Sullivan, Cheshire County. He was born November 13, 1845, son of Thomas and Clarissa (Town Winch. The family, which is of English origin, was founded by Samuel Winch, who settled in Sudbury, Mass., in 1670. Caleb, the great-grandfather of Charles, was born in Framingham, Mass., September 26, 1744. In 1768, when he was married, he removed to Fitzwilliam, where he resided until his death in 1826. He was a man of means, influential in town affairs and active in church work. The maiden … Read more

Biography of Charles W. Hardy

Charles W. Hardy, who owns one of the most fertile farms in Boscawen, Merrimack County, was born in Warner, N.H., July 19, 1834, son of Ozias and Lavinia (Barton) Hardy. His grandfather, Silas Hardy, was a prosperous farmer, who resided for a time in Hopkinton, N.H., from which town he removed to Warner. Ozias Hardy was brought up to agriculture, which calling he followed through life. He owned farms in Warner and Hopkinton, and spent his last days in the latter town, dying about the year 1850. His wife, Lavinia Barton Hardy, who was a native of Stoddard, N.H., became … Read more

Biography of Charles Sumner Hall

Charles Sumner Hall, the junior member of the firm Silver & Hall, general merchants of Gossville, and an ex-member of the New Hampshire legislature, was born in Epsom, N.H., June 3, 1854, son of John C. and Martha E. (Rand) Hall, late of Epsom. The father, a native of Lee, N.H., was born January 26, 1806. In early life he came to Epsom and followed the trade of a carpenter here for some time. Later he opened a store, becoming a prosperous merchant; and he also conducted a large farm. Politically, he was in his later years a Republican; and … Read more

Biography of Charles S. Towle

Charles S. Towle, one of Chichester’s representative farmers, was born in this town, October 17, 1854, son of James B. and Sarah (Sherburne) Towle. His grandparents, Jonathan and Sally (Fellows) Towle, who were prosperous farming people of Chichester, had twelve children, of whom Sarah J., Betsey, Mary E., Cynthia, and Olive Jane are living. Sarah J. is the widow of George P. Haines, late of this town, and has five children-Sarah J., George H., Annie M., Albert H., and Alvin M. Betsey is the widow of the late Augustus Leavitt. Mary E. is the wife of Stephen Marston, of Pittsfield, … Read more

Biography of Charles S. Rowell

Charles S. Rowell, a farmer and the Postmaster of West Hopkinton, was born June 26, 1857, in the house which he now occupies, son of Isaac and Harriet (Adams) Rowell. This farm was owned by his great-grandfather, who settled here shortly after the Revolutionary War, probably about 1780, and was the birthplace of his grandfather, Moses Rowell, who was born November 29, 1776. Moses lived on the farm both during his father’s lifetime and after his death, when he became its owner. At one time he owned some mills; but after a while he sold them, devoting himself exclusively to … Read more

Biography of Charles O. Eastman

Charles O. Eastman, formerly the Postmaster of Claremont, was born October 25, 1824, in Lisbon, N.H., one of the seven children of Nicholas and Hannah (Baker) Eastman. Until he reached the age of twenty-one years he remained with his parents, receiving his education in the district schools and the Methodist Seminary at Newbury, from which he duly graduated. After leaving the seminary, he taught school for several winters. In 1845 he left home to go to Windsor, Vt., where he remained for five years. Coming to Claremont in 1850, he was first employed in the bookbindery of the Claremont Manufacturing … Read more