Merrimack and Sullivan Counties New Hampshire Biographies Collections – Page 20 of 23

Biography of Charles A. Jefts

Charles A. Jefts, a prosperous business man of Langdon, was born in Putney, Vt., January 27, 1853, son of Alphonso M. and Almira (Clough) Jefts. He comes of a family whose founder emigrated from England some time in the seventeenth century, settling in Billerica, Mass., and whose descendants made their home in that State for many years. Jonathan, the great-grandfather of Charles A., born in Townsend, Mass., was the first to seek a home in the Granite State. The last years of his life were spent in the town of Mason. Hosley Jefts, the father of Alphonso M., and a … Read more

Biography of Charles A. Huber

Charles A. Huber, an energetic and successful farmer of Northfield, was born January 12, 1846, in Melun, France, near Paris, son of Melheur and Katherine (Farney) Huber, both also natives of Melun. His father, who followed the sea during the active period of his life, died in France, August 21, 1855. Mr. Huber’s mother, having survived her husband but three days, died August 24. Melheur and Katherine F. Huber were the parents of fourteen children, as follows: Petre Paul, who died in the army; Joseph, who resides in Pennsylvania; Louis, who lives near Manchester, N.H.; Alexander, a bricklayer of Concord, … Read more

Biography of Charles A. Fisher

Charles A. Fisher, a prominent resident of Claremont, Sullivan County, and an ex-member of the New Hampshire legislature, was born in this town, November 10, 1837, son of Leonard P. and Nancy T. (Lincoln) Fisher. The original ancestor of the family in America was Anthony Fisher, who emigrated with his wife and five children from Syleham, Suffolk County, England, in 1637, and settled in Dedham, Mass. Jeremiah Fisher, a descendant of Anthony, resided for many years in Massachusetts, and enlisted four times to serve in the Revolutionary War. On the Lexington alarm roll, April 19, 1775, he appears as a … Read more

Biography of Charles A. Bailey

Charles A. Bailey, an able business man of Merrimack County, New Hampshire, and an esteemed resident of Hookset, was born in Pembroke, November 11, 1847, son of Charles and Sarah A. (Edmunds) Bailey. His paternal grandfather, Josiah Bailey, was born in Chester, Rockingham County, this State, on February 11, 1766. When a young man he removed with his family to Pembroke, Merrimack County, and was there engaged as a miller until his death, February 19, 1854. His wife, whose maiden name was Ruth Frost, was born March 8, 1769, in Tewksbury, Mass., and died in Pembroke, N.H., November 28, 1835. … Read more

Biography of Chancey Adams, M.D.

Chancey Adams, M.D., a successful medical practitioner of Concord, was born in North New Portland, Me., March 15, 1861, son of Benjamin and Eliza Briton (Sawyer) Adams. He belongs to a branch of the famous old Massachusetts family of the same name. Henry Adams, the founder of the Massachusetts family, was an English emigrant, who came over to this country in the year 1630, with his eight sons, and settled in Braintree, in the Colony of Massachusetts. Of these eight sons, one subsequently returned to England. The names of the others, according to the records of Massachusetts, were: Peter, Henry, … Read more

Biography of Carlton Hurd

Carlton Hurd, a druggist of Newport, and the President of the Sugar River Savings Bank, was born in Newport, October 7, 1842, son of Isaac B. and Emaline (Dow) Hurd. Nathan Hurd, the great-grandfather, came from the State of Connecticut to Newport among the first settlers, taking land on which he passed the rest of his life. Levi, his son, was a tanner and shoemaker, and had one of the first tanneries in the town. Afterward Levi was engaged in farming and shoemaking, and he died at the age of seventy-three. His wife, Anna Bradley Hurd, was born in Haverhill, … Read more

Biography of Captain John P. Knowlton

Captain John P. Knowlton, a retired merchant of Sunapee, was born in that town, October 10, 1821, son of Samuel and Betsey (Pike) Knowlton. The grandfather, Robert Knowlton, was one of the pioneer settlers of New London, N.H., and a leading man in his time. He was a well-educated man and a successful school teacher. He also had time to attend to farming. His last years were spent in the State of Indiana, where he died at an advanced age. He married a lady named Smith, and she also lived to a good old age. Samuel Knowlton, born June 16, … Read more

Biography of Captain John L. Kelley

Captain John L. Kelley, proprietor of Maplewood Farm, Franklin, and an ex-member of the New Hampshire legislature, is a native of Gilmanton, Belknap County. He was born September 19, 1824, his parents being Daniel and Sally (Weeks) Kelley, the former a native of Gilmanton and the latter of Gilford. Daniel Kelley carried on a farm in his native town until 1866, when he moved to Franklin, where he resided for the rest of his life. He was the father of six children, as follows: Betsey M., born June 3, 1813, who died April 18, 1895; Sara, born June 11, 1815, … Read more

Biography of Captain Harry C. Fay

Captain Harry C. Fay, editor-in-chief of the National Eagle, a bright and thoroughly up-to-date newspaper published in Claremont, was born in Richmond, Vt., November 30, 1830, son of Captain Nathan and Polly (Colby) Fay. Stephen Fay, his great-great-grandfather, was an early settler in Bennington, Vt., and was the father of eight children. His son John kept the Catamount Tavern, which during his day became a meeting-place for many great statesmen, who formed a legislative body, and held there meetings known as “Councils of Safety.” He, John, fell in the battle of Bennington. His son, Nathan Fay, served as a Colonel … Read more

Biography of Captain Eleazar L. Sarsons

Captain Eleazar L. Sarsons, a well-known resident of Acworth and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Lyme, N.H., August 9, 1836, son of Leon and Flora Ella (Prue) Sarsons. His father, who was born in France in the year 1800, emigrated to Canada in 1828, and in 1834 moved to Sheffield, Vt. He was a shoemaker by trade, and followed this handicraft in connection with farming for some time. He later plied his calling in Lyme, N.H., and other places; and in 1871 he came to Acworth, where he spent the rest of his life. He married … Read more

Biography of Capt. Jacob Knight Clark

Capt. Jacob Knight Clark was a farmer of Hopkinton. He was born here, April 4, 1812, son of Jacob and Betsey (Huse) Clark. His grandfather, also named Jacob, came here from Newbury, Mass. The other children of his parents were: Thomas, Prudence K., Sally F., Cyrene H., and James M. Thomas, born June 6, 1810, married Judith Lull, of East Weare, and died at the age of thirty years. Prudence K., who was born August 9, 1814, died in early childhood. Sally F., born December 30, 1816, married Thomas Edwards Paige, of Weare, and died in Hopkinton, August 11, 1882. … Read more

Biography of C. Reed Lewis

C. Reed Lewis, the well-known horse dealer and auctioneer of Unity, was born in Marlow, N.H., July 10, 1837, son of Gilbert and Orrilla H. (Huntley) Lewis. His grandfather, Dudley Lewis, was a prosperous farmer and lifelong resident of Marlow. Gilbert Lewis was born and reared in Marlow. In 1839 he moved to Goshen, where he conducted a store, and remained three years. In 1842 he located in East Unity, and was there engaged in farming for some time. His last days were passed on a farm in Unity Centre, where he died November 16, 1872, aged sixty-two years. His … Read more

Biography of Bridgeman Hapgood

Bridgeman Hapgood, the father of Mrs. Mary E. Dickenson, was born in 1800, son of a well-to-do farmer, who built the first frame house in Reading, Vt. He became a successful merchant in Reading, at the same time manufacturing starch in Plymouth and woollen goods at Weathersfield, Vt. At one time he was extensively engaged in farming on the old homestead. He was a Democrat in politics. He has been Postmaster of the town, Justice of the Peace for seventeen years, Town Clerk for ten years, trustee of surplus revenue for five years, and he represented the town in the … Read more

Biography of Benjamin W. Breed

Benjamin W. Breed, farmer, of Franklin, Merrimack County, N.H., a veteran of the Civil War, who nearly lost his life by a gunshot wound received in battle, was born in Nelson, Cheshire County, February 12, 1830, son of John and Sarah (Blood) Breed. Many of his ancestors and of their near kin were of Massachusetts birth, and were lifelong residents of that State, the family being one of the earliest that settled in Essex County. Dr. Nathaniel Breed, who was a native of Lynn, Mass., was a surgeon’s mate on the staff of General Washington in the Revolution. Dr. Breed’s … Read more

Biography of Benjamin Lyman Culver

Benjamin Lyman Culver, late a retired resident of Pembroke, Merrimack County, N.H., who died December 6, 1896, was born in Norwich, Vt., August 10, 1830, son of the Rev. Lyman and Fanny (Hovey) Culver. The Culver family is of French origin, and is said to have been founded in America by Benjamin L. Culver’s great-grandfather, John Culver, who, it is thought, emigrated from Paris, France. He settled in Connecticut, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits for the rest of his life. His son, James Culver, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Connecticut; and in early life … Read more

Biography of Benjamin Henry Fuller

Benjamin Henry Fuller, one of Plainfield’s most extensive farmers and an ex-member of the New Hampshire legislature, was born in this town, February 20, 1848, son of Benjamin L. and Persis C. (Freeman) Fuller. His grandfather, Benjamin Fuller, who was a native of Connecticut, moved with his family to Plainfield early in the present century. Grandfather Benjamin married Rachel Boyd, who was also born in Connecticut. Their children were: Naomi, Esther, James, and Benjamin L. Naomi died at the age of twenty years; Esther married Cranston Lewin, a native of Connecticut, who followed farming and butchering in this town, and … Read more

Biography of Benjamin Glines

Benjamin Glines, a prosperous general farmer and stock-raiser of Northfield, was born in this town, October 3, 1839, son of Jacob and Elmira (Glover) Glines. His great-grandfather was probably the first settler in Northfield. Grandfather Abram Glines was a lifelong resident of the town. The father, now deceased, who was occupied in farming throughout the active period of his life, was twice married. The maiden name of his first wife was Nancy Glines. His second marriage was contracted with Elmira Glover, who bore him eight children. Of these two are living, Benjamin, the subject of this sketch; and Nancy, who … Read more

Biography of Benjamin F. Porter

Benjamin F. Porter, a member of the Board of Selectmen of Plainfield, was born in this town, August 28, 1852, son of Jabez and Eliza F. (Green) Porter. The Rev. Micah Porter, the father of Jabez, was a Congregational minister, who, after preaching in Connecticut, his native State, for some years, was called to Plainfield, where he passed the rest of his life. He was also a cancer doctor. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Gallup, and his children were: Isaac, Benjamin, William, John, Jabez, Martha, and Phœbe. The five sons studied medicine, and four of them became … Read more

Biography of Benjamin F. Maxfield

Benjamin F. Maxfield, one of the farmers of Loudon township, was born in Gilmanton, N.H., March 22, 1828, son of Enoch and Sallie (Thompson) Maxfield. The father, a farmer of Gilmanton, was a native of Chichester; and the mother was from Northfield, N.H. Their children were: Oliver, now deceased, who married Sobrina Ann Towle; Benjamin F., the subject of this article; Clearsy, deceased; Laura, also deceased, who became the wife of Cyrus Jones; B. Jennie, who is the wife of Thomas Tate, and now lives in Rockport, Mass.; Charles H., deceased; Hiram, deceased, who successively married Mary E. Flanders and … Read more

Biography of Benjamin F. Heath

Benjamin F. Heath, a wellknown resident of Warner and its present Representative in the State legislature, was born August 2, 1835, in that town, at the Lower Village, son of Matthias Heath. The father, a native of Henniker, this county, born in 1790, came to Warner in early manhood. He married Mary Rand, who was born in Warner in 1797, in the log house in which her parents, Ephraim and Lucy (Noyes) Rand, began housekeeping. Matthias Heath was a teacher for some years. Subsequently he engaged in trade in Bradford, N.H., and then in Hillsborough, finally settling in Warner, where … Read more