Cheshire County NH

Biographical Sketch of Jonathan Hildreth

Jonathan Hildreth settled in Westmoreland as early as 1751, and moved to this town about 1763, settling on the farm now owned by Watson Wheeler. He was selectman in 1767, ’70, ’79. Lotan, son of Jonathan, was born March 29, 1763, married Sarah Pierce, and died June 3, 1812. Africa, one of his eleven children, was born April 1, 1797, married twice, first. Mariam Blanchard, and second, Mary Blanchard, a sister of his first wife. He died Tune 22, 1869. His children were as follows: Frances A., Cyrus C., Louisa E., Henry S., Lotan B., John W., George L., Elathine … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Hamilton

Samuel Hamilton, born in Ireland, in 1752, was the son of a linen merchant, or weaver, came to Boston about 1772, and settled in Chesterfield sometime between 1780 and 1785. He married Mary, sister of Dr. Joshua Tyler, May 9, 1775. He was engaged after coming to Chesterfield in the weaving of linen cloth. He died February 12, 1810. His children were John, Hannah, Hance, Loammi, James, Samuel, Ara, Fanny, Uri, and Amadella. Ara, born May 22, 1789, married twice, first, Sally, daughter of James Roberston, in 1815, who died December 11, 1823; and second.Almira, daughter of Phineas Fullam, in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Isaac Estey

Isaac Estey came to Hinsdale, from Royalton, Mass., in 1806, settled on Canal street, and engaged extensively in road building. He was the father of seven children, as follows: Joseph, the eldest, a farmer, and jobber in stone work, died in 1806, where his son George F., now lives; Sarah married a Mr. Parker, and died in Rutland, Mass.; Mary married Philip Fisher, and lives in Brattleboro, Vt., a widow; Israel Bartlet resides in Brattleboro, Vt.; Jacob is the well-known organ manufacturer of Brattleboro, Vt.; James F., also resides in Brattleboro, and is superintendent and vice-president of the Valley Mill … Read more

Biography of Dr. Messer Carmon

Dr. Messer Carmon moved to Sullivan, from New Salem, about 1796, and settled near the center of the town. He practiced medicine there about thirty years and died in 1824. Eliza, one of his two children, married Stephen Dean, of Keene, and died there in 1876. The other, Nancy, married George Hubbard, of Sullivan, and died in Gilsum at her son’s residence, in 1882.

Industry and Manufacturing of Gilsum NH

GILSUM is a handsome post village, located on the Ashuelot, at the inner of the “carpenter’s square.” It has a beautiful location, surrounded by and lying about 780 feet above sea level. It has one church, (Congregational) three stores, one hotel, two woolen mills, a saw-mill, two blacksmith shops and about fifty dwellings. John S. Collins’s wollen-mill, on road 10, was built by Gerould & Wetherby in 1845, and came into the present proprietor’s hands in 1872. He employed sixty-five hands, has twenty-four broad looms and 880 spindles, and manufactures, 8,000 yards of cloth per month. The Gilsum Woolen Co.’s … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hon. Samuel W. Hale

Hon. Samuel W. Hale, son of Samuel and Saloma (Whitney) Hale, born in Fitchburg, Mass., April 2, 1823. In 1859 he came to Keene and began in a small way the manufacture of chairs, a business which, under skillful management, grew to large proportions. He has also been extensive engaged in other manufactures, and in railroad enterprises, and interested in farming and banking enterprises. In 1850, at the age of twenty-seven, married Amelia M. Hayes, of Dublin, who has borne him two children, William S. and Mary Louise, the former being now connected in business with his father. Mr. Hale … Read more

The First Congregational Church of Hinsdale, NH

The First Congregational church of Hinsdale was organized in 1763. Rev. Bunker Gay, who served the parish forty-seven years, was its first pastor. The first house of worship was built of wood about 1760, and the present one also of wood, in 1835 or ’36. Its present membership is 150. The church property is now valued at $10,000, and the parsonage is valued at $3,000. The house will seat 550 people. The Sunday-school has an average attendance of 120. Rev. Henry R. Hamilton is the present parish clergyman.

Biographical Sketch of John A. Thayer

John A. Thayer came to Keene from Winchester, N. H., in 1866, opened a jewelry store, and continued as one of the leading jewelers here until ha death, November 12, 1881, at the age of sixty-three years. His widow, Fannie A. Thayer, still resides in Keene.

Biographical Sketch of Marshall H. Adams

Marshall H. Adams came to Jaffrey from Danvers, Mass., in 1863, and settled upon the farm where he now resides on road 27. He married Susan B. Patterson, of Danvers, Mass., who bore him four children, three of whom are school-teachers. He has been selectman three years.

Biographical Sketch of Rev. John Brockway

Rev. John Brockway, the first Universalist preacher in Surry, settled in that town at a very early day and died there about 1810. He was the father of four sons and two daughters. John, the eldest, was an officer in the war of 1812, and died at Schenectady, N. Y. Cephas was a goldsmith and a noted dentist. Rufus was a farmer, and Calvin emigrated to Ohio, where he accumulated a large fortune. Lockhart W. Brockway, a grandson of Rev. John and son of John, was born in Surry and came to Hinsdale in 1819. He boasts the honor of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Sylvester Partridge

Sylvester Partridge came to Alstead, from Londonderry, Mass., in 1783, locating in the northern part of the town. He was then about twenty-one years of age, and soon after married, though his wife lived but a short time. He then married Mrs. Rachel Fay, who bore him three children. By his third wife he had four children. His only son, by his second wife; Capt Theron, was the father of Alfred W. and James S. Partridge, who now reside here. Two other grandsons of Sylvester, Alva W. and Edward M. Smith, also reside here, and also a granddaughter, Mrs. Melissa … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Farnum F. Lane

Farnum F. Lane, son of Ezekiel, was born in Swanzey, March 15; 1816, He studied law in Keene, with Thomas M. Edwards, and was admitted to the bar in 1843. He married Harriet E. Butler, of Winchester, and has had born to him three children, two of whom are living, Helen L. and Emily B. The latter resides at home, and Helen L. married Gustavus Luke, and resides in Sherbrook, P. Q. Mr. Lane represented the town of Walpole in the legislature, in 1847-48, and represented Keene in 1861-6z. He located in this town in 1849, and has since resided … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Amos Andrew Parker

Amos Andrew Parker, son of Nahum, was born in Fitzwilliam, October 8. 1791. He was fitted for college at the New Ipswich academy, and graduated from the University of Vermont. He studied law with James Wilson, of Keene, and opened an office at Epping, N. H., where he remained two or three years. He then went to Concord, N. H., where he established the “New Hampshire Statesman.”

Biographical Sketch of David W. Goodrich

David W. Goodrich, son of George and Lucinda (Wells) Goodrich, and a descendant of William Goodrich, of the ancient line of that name in England, who emigrated to Watertown, Mass., about 1636, came to Chesterfield from Gill, Mass., about 1810. He was a cloth dresser by trade, but after some years’ residence here he engaged in farming. In 1813 he married Salome, daughter of Benjamin Wheeler. He died March 22, 1857. His children were Honor, George W., Lucinda, Mary E., Charles C. P., Sarah, David W., William, and Ellen. The family have quite widely separated, but nearly all are prominent … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Kimbal C. Worden

Peter Worden was among the early pilgrims of our country. He was from Clayton, Lancashire, Eng., and. lived for a short time in Lynn, Mass., it is certain, though the year of his arrival in America is not known for certain, Eighteen years after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, however, or on the 19th of February, 1638, he made his last will and testament, which ancient document is now in the possession of his descendants, in Hinsdale. The fact that he died soon after is established, as the will was proved on the 9th of March of the … Read more

Fitzwilliam, Cheshire County, New Hampshire History

Fitzwilliam, one of the southern tier of townships in the county, lies in lat. 42º 45 and long. 4º 54′, bounded north by Troy and Jaffrey, east by Jaffrey and Rindge, south by the state line, and west by Richmond. The town was originally granted by the Masonion proprietors, as Monadnock No. 4, January 15, 1752, to Roland Cotton and forty-one others. These grantees, however, failed to comply with the requirements of the charter and thus forfeited their right to the territory, and it was subsequently, early in 1765, re-granted to Samson Stoddard and twenty-three associates. On May 19, 1773, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Willard Martin

Willard Martin, born in Rehoboth, Mass., March 6, 1786, married Lucretia Houghton, in 1810, and died in Hinsdale, October 14, 1849. Mr. Martin was long known as one of the leading merchants of Guilford, Vt., where he was distinguished as one of the principal citizens, and for many years received almost the universal suffrage of the town as representative in the state legislature. Mrs. Martin died August 17, 1847. Dr. Oscar Martin, their eldest son, was born March 9, 1815. He married Susan George Sartle, November 27, 1839, and had born to him one child, which died in infancy. Mrs. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Joseph Scott

Joseph Scott was a native of Lancashire, England. Thomas, one of his five children, married a Miss Welch and reared a family of six children. His son John S. married four times, first, Alice Wilder; second, Lucy Tollman; third, Louisa Wilder; and fourth, Sarah A. Hodge. He has three children and resides upon a farm on road 45.

Biographical Sketch of Oliver Whitcomb

Oliver Whitcomb came to Fitzwilliam from Massachusetts, and located in the western part of the town, where he spent the remainder of his life. He reared a family of six children, three sons and three daughters, only one of whom, Rebecca, is living, and resides on the old homestead. Jacob, son of Oliver, was born in town, married Phillis Grant, who bore him six children, three of whom are now living, and located in the town of Richmond, on lots Nos. 11 and 12. His wife died November 23, 1866, and his death occurred in February, 1871. Anthony S. now … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Lewis Harris Kittredge

Kittredge, Lewis Harris; automobile business; born, Harrisville, N. H., June 18, 1871; son of Samuel Grant and Harriet Louise Harris Kittredge; educated, Keene, N. H., High School, New Hampshire State College, degree of B. S.; 1896-1897, with New York Belting & Packing Co., Passaic, N. J.; 1897 to present time with The Peerless Motor Car Co. of Ohio, pres. since 1906, same office for the company in New York and New England; director The Peerlees Motor Car Co. of Ohio; pres. since 1906, same office for the Company in New York and New England; director the Peerless Motor Car Co. … Read more