Merrimack and Sullivan Counties New Hampshire Biographies Collections – Page 22 of 23

Biography of Albon Loverin

Albon Loverin, a prominent farmer of Northfield, is a native of Springfield, N.H. He was born May 24, 1851, son of Austin C. and Lavina A. (Morrill) Loverin. The father, who was a farmer, died in 1868. He was twice married. The children of his first marriage were: Elijah W. and Gilbert, both of whom are now deceased. His second wife, Lavina, a native of Wilmot, bore him six other children, namely: Oliver B., who resides in Grand Rapids, Mich.; Sarah, who is the wife of George Morgan, of Springfield, N.H.; Ara M., who is a hotel keeper of Concord; … Read more

Biography of Albion H. French, M.D.

Albion H. French, M.D., a wellknown physician of Pittsfield, was born in Gilmanton N.H., March 27, 1847, son of Thomas H. and Sarah Ann (Brown) French. His great-grandfather, Ezekiel French, an Englishman, who was a pioneer of either Loudon or Hampton, N.H., spent his last days in Loudon, where he owned a farm. The second of Ezekiel’s two marriages was contracted with Sallie Smith. His son John was a native of Loudon. When a young man, John settled in Gilmanton, where he became a wealthy farmer, and died at the age of seventy-five years. He married Lucy T. Prescott, who … Read more

Biography of Albert Stevens

Albert Stevens, a farmer of Concord, was born at Canterbury, N.H., January 24, 1833, and is a representative of the third generation of the Stevens family born in this town. His paternal grandfather, whose name, it is believed, was Simeon Stevens, was a farmer and lifelong resident of Canterbury. He attained an advanced age, and was the father of six sons and four daughters. Three of the sons-Moses, John, and Thomas -went West, and settled in Princeton, Ill., where they grew prosperous and married. John Stevens had a son who became extremely wealthy, and two of the sons of Simeon … Read more

Biography of Albert S. Wait

Albert S. Wait, of Newport, the oldest lawyer in active practice in Sullivan County, was born in Chester, Windsor County, Vt., April 14, 1821, son of Daniel and Cynthia (Reed) Wait. His grandfather, John Wait, was among the early settlers of Mason, N.H. John moved to Weston, Vt., and was a sturdy farmer of that Green Mountain town and a highly respected member of the community. He died in Weston at a good old age. His children were: James, John Sumner, Daniel Amos, Lucinda, and Mrs. Davis. Daniel Wait, who followed the trade of blacksmith, was a Brigadier-general in the … Read more

Biography of Albert P. Davis

Albert P. Davis, attorney-at-law and one of the most active, prominent, and pushing citizens of Warner, was born May 2, 1835, in the village of Waterloo, Merrimack County, N.H. The Davis family originated in Wales, from whence the first ancestor in this country emigrated in 1638, settling in Amesbury, Mass. Gideon Davis, the great-grandfather of Albert P., and a nephew of Francis Davis, who led in the early settlement of the town, was born in Amesbury, where he lived until after his marriage with Mary Cheney. In 1784 he came to Warner, and, taking up a large tract of timber … Read more

Biography of Albert Bingham Woodworth

Albert Bingham Woodworth, the Mayor of Concord and a well-known merchant of the city, was born in Dorchester, April 7, 1843, son of George and Louisa (Hovey) Woodworth. His grandfather, Sylvanus Woodworth, born in Lebanon, Conn., who was one of the first settlers of Dorchester, served in the Revolutionary War, and fought at Bunker Hill under General Putnam. The father, also a native of Dorchester, was a man of lofty character and thoroughly respected where he was New Hampshire. He was prominent in the Congregational church, of which he became a member early in life. The mother was a native … Read more

Biography of Ai J. Bartlett

Bartlett Brothers, comprising Erastus H. and Ai J. Bartlett, are the proprietors of the Excelsior Mills at Warner. The plant was first established by these gentlemen in 1872 as a pail, butter tub, and sap bucket factory. The original mill was destroyed by fire in 1873, entailing a loss of three hundred and fifty dollars beyond their entire assets, a grievous blow to the two young men just started in business. Nothing daunted, however, they commenced again on borrowed money. This time they engaged in the manufacture of excelsior for mattresses and furniture, in which they have since built up … Read more

Biography of Abraham Gates Jones

Abraham Gates Jones, a wellknown gentleman of Concord, N.H., formerly engaged in the printing business, but now retired from active business affairs, was born in the town of Bow, five miles south of this city, October 21, 1827, son of Philip and Sarah M. (Gates) Jones. His paternal ancestors for many years were residents of Merrimack County, while the maternal progenitors came from Massachusetts. Philip Jones, father of the subject of this sketch, was the son of Joseph Jones, and was a merchant in Hookset. He died on January 26, 1836. His wife, Sarah M. Gates, was a daughter of … Read more

Biography of Abiathar Richards

Abiathar Richards, a retired merchant of Newport, was born here, October 8, 1825, son of Seth and Fanny Richards, of Dedham, Mass. He is descended from Edward Richards, one of the twelve immigrants bearing that surname, who, England to this country at different times in the period between 1630 and 1728, and whose descendants are to-day represented in the learned professions, the arts, commerce, and the general business of the country. Edward Richards, who arrived in 1632, was the sixth of the twelve referred to. With him, a fellow-passenger on the ship “Lion,” was his brother Nathaniel, who afterward joined … Read more

Biography of Aaron L. Brown

Aaron L. Brown, of North Grantham, the second representative of his family in the ownership of his farm, was born February 1, 1828, son of Jonathan and Mehitable (Stevens) Brown. The family name is well known in every country where the English language is spoken. In America Browns have been prominent statesmen, educators, and soldiers. Jonathan Brown, the great-grandfather of Aaron L., was a patriot soldier of the Revolution. He was the first ancestor of this family to come to this country. His son, Jonathan Brown, Jr., was the first of the family to settle in the town of Grantham. … Read more

Biography of Hon. Willis George Buxton

Hon. Willis George Buxton, a well-known lawyer of Boscawen and a member of the New Hampshire Senate, was born in Henniker, N.H., August 22, 1856, son of Daniel M. and Abbie A. (Whitaker) Buxton. His father was a native of Henniker; and his mother was born in Deering, N.H. His paternal ancestors came from Massachusetts. After receiving his elementary education in the public schools of Henniker, he pursued a higher course of study in the Clinton Grove and New London Academies. In 1876 he commenced the study of law in the office of B. K. Webber, of Hillsborough Bridge, and … Read more

Biography of Colonel George H. Dana

Colonel George H. Dana, a retired East India merchant residing in Newport, N.H., was born in Boston, September 2, 1837. Son of the late Francis Dana, Jr., M.D., for many years a practising physician in Boston and Cambridge, he comes of old and honored Colonial stock, being a member of the Massachusetts family of this name that has given to the country so many citizens of worth and distinction. In an article recently publisbed in Munsey’s Magasine it is well stated that “of all American families there are few that can compare, in number of men eminent in various spheres, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William James Chandler

William James Chandler, whose life was profitably spent as a farmer in Langdon and the immediate vicinity, was born March 10, 1832, in Alstead, Cheshire County, son of James, Jr., and Sophia (Tuttle) Chandler. The grandfather, James Chandler, Sr., spent his life in Alstead, where he followed the occupation of a farmer. He married, and had a large family of children. When he died, he was the oldest Mason in New Hampshire. James Chandler, Jr., born in Alstead, September 20, 1801, besides farming was also engaged in the hotel business; and he was prosperous in both. The first of his … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Dorr Smith

William Dorr Smith, proprietor of Smith’s Business College of Concord, was born in Wilmington, Vt., February 22, 1867, son of Francis R. and Jeanette (Powers) Smith. His father was a native of Wilmington. His mother was born in Marlboro, Vt. His paternal great-grand-father, Jabez Smith, born at Dover, Mass., was grandson of Caleb Smith, born at Needham, Mass., in 1720. His paternal greatgrandmother, Chloe Richards, born at Dedham, Mass., was a direct descendant of Edward Richards, born in England in 1610. William Dorr Smith began his education in Wilmington, and later attended Glenwood Academy at West Brattleboro. At the age … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William C. Hobart

William C. Hobart, a retired carpenter of North Charlestown, Sullivan County, N.H., was born in Hebron, N.H. In early life he went to Unity, where in 1848 he purchased a farm; and he was successfully engaged in farming in that town for twenty years. In 1870 he removed to Charlestown, where he now resides. He is a carpenter by trade, and until late years has done a great deal of building in Charlestown and the vicinity. He holds membership in the Claremont and Charlestown Masonic Lodge, No. 12. He is also a prominent member of the Methodist church, of which … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas J. Otterson

Thomas J. Otterson, formerly a well-known business man of Allenstown, was born in Hookset, N.H., February 8, 1818, son of William and Betsey (Cofran) Otterson. On the paternal side he descended from William Otterson, a native of Ireland, who was drowned in Lake Champlain during the French and Indian War. William’s son, James Otterson, grandfather of Thomas J., was born in Londonderry, N.H., August 19, 1757. He was the father of twelve children, of whom William (second), father of Thomas J., was the third child. The father, who was born in Hookset, October 30, 1789, reared a family of five … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Solomon Stone

Solomon Stone was born in Plainfield, November 6, 1811, and died January 12, 1892. His wife, born in Cornish, June 11, 1813, still lives in Plainfield, enjoying good health and able to do nearly all her own work without assistance. Mr. Chadbourne’s mother, Sally Cady, was born in Cornish, August 29, 1790, and died December 16, 1864. Grandfather Cady was the first of the name to come to Cornish. He was born in 1743; and his wife was Hannah Hutchins, born in 1746. Grandfather Cady rode from Connecticut by marked trails. For a riding whip he had a willow stick; … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Robert H. Rolfe

Robert H. Rolfe, the courteous and efficient cashier and advertising manager of the Republican Press Association at Concord, N.H., was born here, October 16, 1863, and is the son of Henry Pearson and Mary Rebecca (Sherburne) Rolfe, of this city. In his boyhood he attended the public schools of Concord, and, after graduating from the high school, entered Dartmouth College, where he was graduated in the class of 1884. He then for a short time engaged in the study of law; but, feeling more inclination for a business career, he abandoned the thought of a profession, and entered the employ … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Orren Osgood

Orren Osgood, a substantial farmer of Newport, was born there, June 22, 1818, son of Lemuel and Hannah (Spaulding) Osgood. His grandfather, William Osgood, one of the early settlers of the district, took up a farm and built a log house when the place was still a part of the wilderness and was infested by bears. The log house was destroyed by fire, and another wooden structure was built, in which the family afterward lived. The same building is now standing, and is used as a wagon-house at the present time. William was industrious and persevering, and added fifty acres … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Nathaniel Everett Martin

Nathaniel Everett Martin, a successful attorney and well-known business man of Concord, was born in Loudon, N.H., August 9, 1855, son of Theophilus B. and Sarah L. (Rowell) Martin. He is of Scotch-Irish blood on the paternal side, being a direct descendant of William Martin, who came to this country from Ireland about the year 1732. Landing in Boston, William Martin went thence to Londonderry, N.H., from which place he removed subsequently to Pembroke, Merrimack County. James Martin, the great-grandfather of Nathaniel E., served with the rank of Ensign during the Revolutionary War, and died before the cause of American … Read more