Merrimack and Sullivan Counties New Hampshire Biographies Collections – Page 21 of 23

Biography of Benjamin F. Gale

Benjamin F. Gale, who was for many years a prominent citizen of Concord, was born May 13, 1819. His grandfather, Daniel Gale, a son of Captain Benjamin Gale, was a native of Haverhill, Mass. A blacksmith by trade, Daniel came at the age of twenty to Concord, and here married Ruth Carter, a daughter of Dr. Ezra Carter, the first physician of Concord. The father, Benjamin Gale, kept a tavern at the corner of Warren and Main Streets in Concord for forty years. This was in the days of the old stage-coach, before the railroad was built; and the greater … Read more

Biography of Aurelius Dickenson

Aurelius Dickenson, formerly a wealthy hotel-owner of Claremont, was born at Granville, Mass., February 10, 1804. He remained on his father’s farm until twenty-one years of age. His first experience in business was in Hartford, Conn., where he was engaged as a clerk for a leather firm. A few years later he started a country store, and conducted it successfully for some time. When on his wedding trip, he took a fancy to the principal hotel at Amherst, Mass., and purchased it. This investment proved a paying one until 1837, when the hotel was burned. He then sold the property, … Read more

Biography of Augustus Barnard

Augustus Barnard, formerly of Hopkinton, was one of the brave men who fought for the Union in the Civil War. Born in Haverhill, Mass., he was reared and educated in New York State. After spending a part of his early life in Boston, he came to Hopkinton, where he learned the currier’s trade of Jonathan Osgood. He followed this trade in connection with tanning until the late war was well in progress. Then he enlisted as a private in the Sixteenth New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry for nine months. With his regiment he served his full time, the most of which … Read more

Biography of Arthur Wilson Silsby

Arthur Wilson Silsby, of Concord, who for the past thirteen years has been Judge of Probate for Merrimack County, was born in Concord, August 28, 1851, son of George H. H. and Sarah F. (Chickering) Silsby. He is a direct descendant of Henry Silsby, who emigrated from England about the year 1630, and settled in Salem, Mass. Captain Henry Silsby, greatgrandfather of Arthur W., was an early settler in Acworth, N.H. He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and was a member of the Committee of Public Safety. His son, Ozias, Judge Silsby’s grandfather, was a Congregational preacher. … Read more

Biography of Arthur C. Graves

Arthur C. Graves, the station agent of the Boston & Maine Railroad in Henniker, was born in Andover, N.H., November 7, 1857, son of John and Ann (Clifford) Graves. He is a descendant of John Graves, who came in 1792 from Kingston, N.H., and settled on the Graves homestead in Andover. Jesse Graves, son of John and grandfather of Arthur C., occupied the farm, and died at the age of fifty-four years. The father, who was born in Andover, and succeeded to the property, was engaged in cultivating and improving the farm during the active period of his life, and … Read more

Biography of Arthur B. Chase

Arthur B. Chase, book-keeper and paymaster of the Sugar River Mills, was born in Newport, N.H., January 3, 1833, son of Joseph T. and Elizabeth D. (Allen) Chase. Caleb Chase, the grandfather, came to Newport in 1822. He was a native of West Newbury, Mass., and a farmer by occupation. He was a member of the old South Congregational Church for many years. He died at the age of sixty-five years. His wife, Hannah Carr Chase, died at the age of seventy – six. Joseph T. Chase, father of Arthur, followed the shoemaking trade in Newport throughout his life. He … Read more

Biography of Artemas Terrill Burleigh

Artemas Terrill Burleigh, who is now engaged in truck farming in Franklin, was born in this town, February 25, 1860, son of Gordon and Charlotte (Turner) Burleigh. The father, who was a native of Dorchester, N.H., accompanied his parents to Franklin when he was two years old. In early manhood he was engaged in the coal business in Boston. He subsequently returned to Franklin, and resided upon the farm now occupied by his son, Artemas T., until his death on August 10, 1891. His wife, Charlotte, who was a resident of Charlestown, Mass., became the mother of ten children, namely: … Read more

Biography of Anthony K. Lane

Anthony K. Lane, one of the best known residents of Chichester, was born in this town, December 15, 1812, son of Jeremiah and Hannah (Tuck) Lane. His great-grandfather, Deacon Joshua Lane, who was born in Hampton Falls, N.H., followed agriculture in his native town, and died December 29, 1806. Jeremiah Lane (first), grandfather of Anthony K., was born in Hampton Falls, March 10, 1732. The active portion of his life was spent in farming; and he died June 21, 1806. He was a zealous church member and a Deacon. He wedded Mary Sanborn, daughter of Lieutenant Joseph Sanborn, and became … Read more

Biography of Anson Colby Alexander, M.D.

Anson Colby Alexander, M.D., a prominent homoeopathic physician of Penacook, was born in Littleton, N.H., October 10, 1855, son of Wesley and Sarah B. (Bray) Alexander. Both paternal and maternal ancestors of his served in the War for Independence. Wesley Alexander, a native of Swanzey, N.H., was a prominent resident of Littleton, and took an active part in public affairs. He was one of the original promoters of the Republican movement in this State, having formerly been a supporter of the Whig party. For more than thirty years he used his influence successfully in securing the predominance of these parties … Read more

Biography of Andrew Jackson Kelley

Andrew Jackson Kelley, Postmaster of Dimond Hill, Hopkinton, a successful agriculturist of this town, and one of the brave men who fought in the late war, was born January 22, 1835, in Webster, Merrimack County, son of Timothy and Jane (Burbank) Kelley. Timothy Kelley was born December 25, 1778, in Kilcoloman, County Waterford, Ireland. He New York. Making his way from that city to Massachusetts, he lived for a time in Newbury, Mass., where he wooed and won his wife. Subsequently, removing to Webster, N.H., he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, July 15, 1854, aged seventy-five years … Read more

Biography of Andrew J. Silver

Andrew J. Silver, senior partner in the firm of Silver & Hall, Gossville, and an ex-member of the New Hampshire legislature, was born in Deerfield, N.H., May 9, 1835, son of Joseph M. and Sarah S. (Chase) Silver. The latter, natives respectively of Haverhill, Mass., and Deerfield, were both born in the year 1800. Joseph M. Silver moved to Deerfield when quite young and learned the carpenter’s trade. The active portion of his life was devoted to that calling. He owned a good farm, which he also cultivated with success, and lived to the age of eighty-eight years. In politics … Read more

Biography of Andrew J. Mitchell

Andrew J. Mitchell, one of Lempster’s well-to-do farmers and an ex-member of the New Hampshire legislature, was born in Acworth, N.H., August 3, 1828, son of William L. and Elmira (Moore) Mitchell. He is a descendant of Thomas and Mary (Mitchell) Mitchell, who emigrated from Ireland, and located in Londonderry, N.H. William and Martha (Wallace) Mitchell, Andrew J., settled upon a farm in Acworth in 1777. Jonathan Mitchell, grandfather of Andrew J., and a native of Acworth, spent the active period of his life engaged in agriculture. He married Nancy Mitchell, of Francestown, N.H., and his children were: William L.; … Read more

Biography of Andrew J. Abbott

Andrew J. Abbott, a prosperous farmer of West Concord and an ex-member of its Board of Selectmen, was born in the house he now occupies, December 19, 1856, son of Simeon and Mary (Farnum) Abbott. The Abbott homestead, which has been owned by the family for five generations, was bought in 1754 by James Abbott from one of the original proprietors of Concord. James Abbott, who was a native of Andover, Mass., moved from there with his family to this land, and proceeded to clear and improve it. In 1760 he erected a frame house, which is still in use. … Read more

Biography of Amos Richardson

Amos Richardson, an influential resident of Cornish, was born here, November 27, 1817, son of Amos and Sophia (Cummings) Richardson. He is a descendant of Dr. Amos Richardson, who was a physician of note in Pelham, N.H. Dr. Amos’s son, Joseph, was grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Joseph’s children were: Miriam, Joseph, David, Josiah, Sarah, Mercy, Rebecca, and Amos. Miriam, now deceased, was the wife of Joshua Wyman, of Pelham, and the mother of seven children; Joseph married Polly Hilliard, of Cornish, and had a family of twelve children; David, now deceased, married Sarah Ford, and was the … Read more

Biography of Alvin W. Sanders

Alvin W. Sanders, one of the leading merchants of Pittsfield, was born in this town, October 5, 1850, son of William and Adeline (Reynolds) Sanders. His grandfather, Samuel Sanders, who was a resident of Strafford, N.H., followed shoemaking and farming throughout the active period of his life, and died at the age of seventy years. Samuel’s wife, whose maiden name was Betsey Cater, lived to be eighty years old. She was the mother of nine children, all now deceased, of whom William was the youngest. William Sanders was born in Strafford, and reared upon a farm. He learned the shoemaker’s … Read more

Biography of Alvah Charles Ferrin

Alvah Charles Ferrin, a retired contractor and builder of Concord, who served in the United States Navy during the Civil War, was born in Plymouth, N.H., August 13, 1835, son of Daniel E. and Mary Jane (Durgin) Ferrin. His father was a native of Hebron, N.H.; and his mother was born in Buxton, Me. On the father’s side he is a descendant of Revolutionary patriots. His education, which was begun in the public schools of Lowell, Mass., where 1841, was completed when he was about sixteen years old in Hebron, N.H., to which they went in 1842. He started in … Read more

Biography of Alvah B. Chellis

Alvah B. Chellis, a leading farmer of Plainfield and the senior partner in the well-known firm, Chellis & Stickney, was born here, January 27, 1841, son, of John Pettengill and Lucinda (Bean) Chellis. The first representative of the family in this country came from Wales in 1636. His son John, born in Kingston, N.H., was the great-great-grandfather of Alvah B. Chellis. John’s son Thomas, born in Kingston about the year 1750, was in the Revolution together with all his brothers, and fought at Bunker Hill. The grandfather, Thomas Chellis, Jr., who was born at Salisbury, this State, March 24, 1785, … Read more

Biography of Almon W. French

Almon W. French, of Plainfield, Sullivan County, represents the third generation of the Frenches in this town. The family is of English origin, and members of it were pioneers of New England. Its founder in Plainfield, Nathaniel French, the grandfather of Almon W., came here when about twenty-two years of age, at the time when much of the district was an unbroken wild. Having done his part in rendering the place habitable, he died at the age of eighty-nine. His wife, Alice Back French, had eight children, of whom one died in infancy. The others were: Liman, George, Hezekiah, John, … Read more

Biography of Alfred Woodman

Alfred Woodman, a successful farmer of Plainfield, Sullivan County, N.H., and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Newburyport, Mass., March 9, 1834, son of Daniel and Sarah (Hall) Woodman. His grandfather, Joseph Woodman, was a native of Newbury, Mass., and a cabinet-maker by trade. He was twice married; and his second wife was Abigail Atkinson, of Newbury, who reared the following children: William, Edna, Abbie, Jane, Hannah, Betsey, Phoebe, David, John, James, Joseph, and Daniel. William Woodman became a prominent business man of Dover, N.H., was a man of strict integrity, and for a period of fifty … Read more

Biography of Alfred Fitch

Alfred Fitch, a prominent farmer of Cornish and a descendant of one of the old families of the town, was born May 12, 1861. The first of the family to settle in Cornish was James Fitch, who came from Connecticut. He was born in 1712, and died October 25, 1805. His son, James, was father of Samuel, who was the great-grandfather of the present Alfred. Hezekiah, a brother of Samuel, and who was born in Cornish in 1746, died September 30, 1830, built the house owned by the Fitch family of to-day. Samuel Fitch was born in Cornish, October 15, … Read more