Cheshire County NH

Biographical Sketch of Thomas H. Leaverett

Thomas H. Leaverett, son of Thomas, was born in Windsor, Vt., February 12, 1806, attended Captain Partridges Military school, and came to Keene in 1836. He married twice, first, Harriet B. Nelson, who bore him one daughter, Sarah D., who is the wife of Reuben A. Tuthid, and resides in Boston. He married for his second wife, Abbey Barnes, of Marlboro, and had born to him one daughter, Kate F., who resides in New York city. Mr. Leaverette was cashier of the Ashuelot National bank, of Keene, from 1836 to 1869. He was quite a noted farmer, and died November … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Col. Cyrus Kingsbury

Col. Cyrus Kingsbury, from Worcester, Mass., came to Alstead in 1785. He married, first Annas S. Taynter, and second, Philete Partridge, rearing five sons and one daughter. He held a military commission for a considerable time, served as deacon of the Baptist church, and represented the town a number of years, and finally, in 1814, removed to Bloomfield, N. Y., where he soon after died. His family returned to Alstead. Cyrus, Jr., the only child of the Colonel’s first wife, though a cripple from his birth and ever afflicted with ill health, graduated at Brown University. R. a.. and subsequently … Read more

Military in Gilsum NH

During the war of the Revolution Gilsum had no Tories to report. Col. Ashley’s seventh company, numbering fifty-seven men, almost all of whom belonged in Gilsum and Surry, marched to the relief of Ticonderoga, in June, 1777. In another regiment, under Col. Moses Nichols, the ninth company, comprising forty men, was about half from Gilsum and Surry. This company joined the Continental army at Saratoga, and was in the battle of Bennington, where three of their number, Michael Metcalf, Joshua Fuller and William Wood were killed. In the war of 1812, no demand for soldiers was made from Gilsum till … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Edward C. Reed

Edward C. Reed, son of Phinehas, was born here, March 8, 1793, and graduated from Dartmouth college, in 1812. He studied law in Troy, N. Y. and settled in Homer, N. Y., in 1816. He was admitted to practice in one court after another, until 1830, when be was admitted to the court of chancery. He was elected to the Twenty-second congress; was district attorney many years, and also judge. He married Amanda Weller, of Pittsfield, Mass., and reared a family of twelve children, four of whom survive him.

Biographical Sketch of Oliver L. Spaulding

Oliver L. Spaulding. was born in Jaffrey, N. H., August 2, 1833, graduated at Oberlin college, Ohio, in 1855; removed to St. Johns, Mich., in 1857. In 1858 he was elected a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan for the term of six years. Served during the war of the rebellion in all the grades from captain to brevet brigadier-general In 1866 he was elected secretary of state for Michigan, and was re-elected in 1868. Was a special agent of the United States treasury department from 1875 till he resigned the position to take his … Read more

Industry of Fitzwilliam NH

Fitzwilliam Savings bank, located in the Postoffice block, at Fitzwilliam village, was incorporated in 1871, and commenced business in 1872, with Philip S. Batchellor, president, and Milton Chaplin, treasurer. The present officers are Amos J. Blake, president, and Stephen Batchellor, treasurer. George D. Webb Granite Co.’s quarry and shops are located at the crossing of the railroad and road 31. The firm consists of George D. Webb and C. F. Batchelder, of Worcester, Mass., who began work here in July, 1882. They have extensive sheds, a polishing-mill, blacksmiths shops and enginehouse, using three engines and two steam drills. Their works … Read more

Military History of Keene, New Hampshire

During the period of the Revolution, Keene performed her part faithfully. In 1773 the foot company of Keene numbered 126, under command of Col.. Josiah Willard. The alarm list, numbering forty-five, seems to have been made up of the older men, including many of the original settlers; the selectmen of Keene, David Nims. Eliphalet Briggs, Jr., and Benjamin Hall, reported the following census for Keene : Unmarried men, from sixteen to sixty 65. Married men, from sixteen to sixty 96 Boys, sixteen years and under : 140• Men, sixty years and upwards : 1, Females, unmarried 217 Females, married 105. … Read more

History of the Industry of Hinsdale, NH

The Hinsdale Savings bank, located a Hinsdale village, was incorporated in June, 1874, with C. J. Amidon. president, Edward Stebbins, vice-president, George S. Wilder, secretary, and George Wellman, treasurer, which list of officers is still retained. This bank has a solid financial basis, and is doing a constantly increasing business. Haile, Frost & Co.’s woolen mills, located at the village, were first built and run by Ripley & Harrington, using only one set of machinery. Subsequently they were run by Mr. Ripley alone, then by Ripley & Todd, and next by Haile & Todd, who sold to the present firm. … 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

Biographical Sketch of Daniel Thomas

Daniel, Amos, Israel, and Nathan Thomas, sons of one of the early pioneers, all settled here themselves as pioneers. Nathan married Marion Coats, and settled as a farmer in the northern part of the town. His children were Nathan, Charles, Frederick, Gideon, Thankful, Eunice, Electa and Marion. Nathan Thomas, Jr., was born in Fort Hinsdale, and settled on the place where his son Franklin and Waldo Rouillard now reside. He married Abigail Butler, and had born to him ten children, only two of whom now reside in the town-Mrs. Ellen Tyler and Franklin. The latter, at the age of seventy-three … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Reuben B. Foster Sr.

Reuben B. Foster, Sr., was born September 9, 1812, and married Betsey, H., daughter of Richard Hopkins, June 11, 1832. He is an employee of Currier Brothers, at Chesterfield Factory. He has had born to him seven children, as follows: James M., Helen M., Mary Jane, Mahalia S., Reuben B., Frank H., and William E. Reuben B., Jr., was born March 17, 1844, married Julia A., daughter of Hosea L. Stoddard, February 16, 1869. He is a mechanic for Currier Brothers at Chesterfield Factory.

Biographical Sketch of Isaac Cady

Isaac Cady, from Pomfret, Conn., came to Alstead about 1763-64, settling with his wife upon a farm at East Alstead, she being the first white woman to locate in the town. Mr. Cady became a Revolutionary soldier, and won a prominent place in the estimation of his townsmen. His son Joseph spent his life here as a farmer and reared a family of six, only two of whom, William and James B., residing on road 39, are living. The latter resides with his son, F. 0., who served the town as selectman in 1883.

Biography of Eli Pattridge

Eli Pattridge moved here from Mendon, Mass., about 1776, and remain in this town until 1800, when he moved to the northern part of the state. He had born to him nine children, namely: Eli, Joseph, Amos, M Rachel,, Charles. Nathaniel, Abel and Adam. Joseph, born in 1753, married Sarah Warren, of Mendon, Mass. He was selectman in 1801, ’03, ’16, ’17 and died in 1817. His children were Caroline, Prussia, John W., Mehitable; Joseph, Simon, Winslow, Sally, Abel, Ora and Samuel J. The last mentioned born November 22, 1800, was the youngest of Joseph and Sarah (Warren Pattridge’s eleven … Read more

The Third Congregational Church of Alstead New Hampshire

On the 3d of August, 1842, this church was organized, located at Alstead village. It grew out of the inconvenience undergone by the people in this vicinity reaching the other churches, and was made up of members as follows: twenty from the church at the Center, eight from the church at Langdon, one from the church at Acworth, and one from the church at East Alstead, making, with three who united by profession, thirty-three in all. Their first minister, Rev. Darwin Adams, remained about three years, and was succeeded by Rev. John Lawrence. Their church building, erected in 1843, is … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Simeon Horton

Simeon Horton, born at Milton, Mass., in 1784, came to Hinsdale about 1816, and finally located a home on road 15, where his son’s widow, Mrs. Mary A.. now resides. Here he remained till his death in 186o, aged seventysix years. He was a prominent man in town affairs, held the offices of selectman and justice of the peace several terms, and was the father and leader of the temperance cause here. Of his three sons and three daughters, one son died in infancy, and the others all settled in the town, though only one is now living, Mrs. Ivory … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George H. Nims

George H. Nims, son of Frederick Nims, of Sullivan, was born in that town, April 19, 1840, and became largely engaged in the wood and lumber business there. In 1868 he and his brothers, Marshall W. and Francis 0., became engaged in the market business in Keene, under the firm name of Nims Brothers. He continued in this until 1874, when he retired, and has since been engaged in the wood and lumber business, now owning 900 acres of timber-land within a few miles of Keene. He has been a Democrat in politics, and, although his ward is strongly Republican, … Read more

Biography of Henri G. Blaisdell

Henri G. Blaisdell, an accomplished musician of Concord, N.H., was born in Dorchester, N.H., October 23, 1850, son of Pettingill and Laurette (Lillis) Blaisdell. He is originally of Scotch descent. His paternal grandfather was Sanborn Blaisdell, who was long a resident, and presumably a native, of Dorchester, in which town he was engaged in farming and where he spent his last years. He married Mehitable Sanborn. Pettingill Blaisdell, father of Henri G., was born in Dorchester in 1824. He received his education in the district schools and subsequently engaged in the business of manufacturing and selling lumber, for many years … Read more

Darius Alanson Wood Genealogy

1. Darius Alanson2 Wood, son of Israel1 and Betsey (Pullen) Wood, b. Brattleboro, Vt., Oct. 9, 1830; m. Sept. 13, 1854, Sarah Adeline Moody, b. Landaff, N. H., Oct. 9, 1835, dau. of Moses and Betsey W. (Howe) Moody. He was employed in the U. S. Arsenal at Springfield, Mass. Divorced. After her divorce, Mrs. Wood res. in Sullivan on the Dauphin Spaulding 2nd place. A dau.: Gertrude Lenora3, b. Springfield, Aug. 18, 1855, d. at East Sullivan, Oct. 10, 1904; m. (1), June 27, 1876, Frank Myrick, b. Boston, Mass., Jan. 26, 1851, son of Oren Darius and Mary … Read more

Biography of Dr. Algernon Sidney Carpenter

Dr. Algernon Sidney Carpenter, son of Dr. Eber and Judith (Greene) Carpenter, was born in Alstead, N. H., October 16, 1814, and was descended from a family pre-eminently distinguished by the large number of skillful physicians it produced. He was educated in the common schools of his native town, and at Middlebury Medical college, from which he received the degree of M. D., in June, 1837. While acquiring his education he taught school in various places, and was, for a short time, in a store at Chesterfield. With the exception of a few years spent in Gardner and Northfield, Mass., … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dea. Jeremiah Howard

Dea. Jeremiah Howard, from Ipswich, Mass., came to Langdon, with his wife and three children, in 1783 or ‘8q.. He took up wild land, built a log house, and reared a family of four sons and five daughters. Stephen, his first born in Langdon, spent his life on the old farm, reared seven children, and died in 1873. aged eighty-seven years. When Stephen became of age, his father bought the land where Alstead village now is, and built a saw and grist-mill where the Holmes mill now is, though a mill had previously been built there,. by Mr. Towne. In … Read more