Cheshire County NH

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 John Slade

John Slade, of Irish descent, came from Enfield, Conn., to this town in the autumn of 1773. He married widow Leason, of Enfield, Conn., by whom he had five sons and two daughters. His sons were John, William, Thomas, Daniel, and Samuel. John, Jr., moved- to Brookfield, Vt. Lieut. William Slade married Anna Root, of Windsor, Conn., by whom he had five sons and three daughters. Samuel married Hannah Thompson, by whom he had three sons and five daughters.

History of Industry in Marlboro, New Hampshire

The Frost Free Library.-The town has a fine public library, founded by Rufus S. Frost, in 1865, who donated $15.000.00 for the purpose. Of this amount $7,000.00 were devoted to the erection of a substantial granite building, $3,000.00 more were used in the purchase of books, and the remainder placed at interest, the revenue therefrom to be used in sustaining the library and in the purchase of new books, The Cheshire Blanket Co., whose mills are located at the village, was organized in the spring of 1873, the proprietors being C. O. Whitney and AV. H. Clark. Their main building … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hon. Caleb Todd

Hon. Caleb Todd, or “Esq.” Todd, as he was more familiarly known, was for many years one of the most prominent and influential citizens of Hinsdale. He was born in Wallingford, Conn., March 16, 1785, resided and did business in Cooperstown, N. Y.. a few years, taking up his abode in Hinsdale in 1815. Here he was one of the pioneer manufacturers, and was widely known as a manufacturer of woolens for a great number of years. At his death, May 21, 1871, he was the oldest citizen of Hinsdale. Mr. Todd was twice married and reared eight children, five … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ithamer Chamberlain

Ithamer Chamberlain was born at Oxford, Mass., in 1745, married Hephzibah Farr, in 1770, and settled in Chesterfield during that year. He built the grist-mill on the place where the upper one now stands, at the West Village, about 1810. He was killed by a runaway horse, September 19, 1825, at the age of eighty years. His children were Rebecca, Samuel, Anna, Benjamin, Polly, Ithamer and Hephzibah. Joshua Wilder, Jr., grandson of Samuel, now resides at Factory Village. His son David W. is in the employ of Currier Brothers.

General History of Cheshire County NH

GILSUM lies in the northern-central part of the county, in lat. 43° 1′ and long. 4° 50′. In outline it is similar to that of a carpenter’s square, bounded north by Alstead and Marlow, east by Stoddard and Sullivan, south by Sullivan and Keene, and west by Surry. It was originally granted, under the name of Boyle, to Joseph Osgood and his associates, December 30, 1752. No settlements were made under this grant, through fear of the Indians, until so late a date that the charter was forfeited But notwithstanding this, in March, 1761, Benjamin Bellows bought of Rebecca Blanchard, … Read more

Chesterfield Village, Cheshire County NH

CHESTERFIELD is a delightful little post village located in the central part of the town. It has two churches (Congregational and Methodist Episcopal), one store, one hotel, two blacksmith shops, town-hall, and about thirty dwellings. Here also was located the celebrated Chesterfield Academy. This institution was incorporated under the laws of the state, by an act passed in 1790. The school was soon after opened and was one of the most flourishing institutions of the kind in the county for a period of over a half century. An academy building was erected in 1794, on the southeastern part of the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Capt. Eldad Prescott

Capt. Eldad Prescott, son of Benjamin, was a native of this town, and the first settler upon the farm on road 39 corner of 40. His son Oren married three times, first, Martha L., daughter of Jacob and Martha Adams, of Rindge; second, Caroline A., daughter of William T. Nutting; and third, Louisa J. Plummer, of Goffstown, who bore him five children. His son Elliot 0. married Lizzie A., daughter of Julius A. and Eliza Hale, of Rindge, and resides upon a farm on road 35.

Biographical Sketch of George W. Holland

George W. Holland, born in Chesterfield, N. H., in 1824, was educated in the public schools of his district and at Chesterfield Academy. In early life be engaged as a dry goods clerk, and was also in an Ohio book-store for a time. In 1851 he came to Hinsdale and engaged in the general merchandise business, where he has continued since. He represented his townsmen in the state legislature in 1878 and 1881, has held the office of town clerk twenty-five years, and also other town offices.

Biographical Sketch of Amos 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 Jebediah Putney

Jedediah Putney, a native of Charlton, Mass., located in Fitzwilliam about eighty years ago, and from there came to Marlboro, where he died in 1866, aged eighty-one years. His son Moses, born in Fitzwilliam, came to Marlboro in 1864, but returned about seven years ago.

Biographical Sketch of Sumner Warren

Sumner Warren, son of Increase Warren, of Westmoreland, married Luthera Willard, of Charlestown, N. H., September 30, 1841. He resided many years in Chesterfield Factory, was a tanner, and very successful in business; was noted for promptness, probity and liberality in all his dealings. He was town clerk in 1845 and contributed largely toward the building of the Union church, and lately resided in Keene. He had five children, three of whom died young. The eldest, Lyman H., born June 26. 1842, enlisted, in September, 1861, in the 17th Regt., U. S. Infantry, distinguished himself for cool ness and indomitable … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David Lacy

David Lacy came from Andover, Mass., and settled in Jaffrey previous to 1790, locating on lot 14, tier 8, and his name appears among those of early. land-surveyors. He married Charlotte, daughter of Jonathan Mollie (Fitch) Blodgett, November 2, 1788, and had born to him nine children. His son William married Betsey Brondson, May 26, 1829, and se in Jaffrey, engaging in mercantile pursuits in company with E. Cutter and L. Sweetzer, occupying the Ainsworth store. By diligence and economy found means to enlarge his trade, and in the spring of 1854, he bought stocked the Foster store, of East … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Jaqueth

Thomas Jaqueth, a native of Hollis, N. H., married Marinda Tarbox, of Londonderry, N. H. Dana S., the second of his thirteen children, married Ada M., daughter of Leeprett and Hannah (Keith) Wilber, of Westmore. land, has two children, and resides upon a farm on road 43. He served three years in Co. A, 2d N. H. Vols., was at the first battle. of Bull Run, and was a prisoner ten months, confined in Libby, Parish and aulsbury prisons. His son Willie L. married Jennie S. Chase, of Mt. Vernon, N. H., and now resides on road 55.

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Spaulding

Thomas Spaulding, a native of New Ipswich, Mass., married Hannah Brown, of Concord, about s800. He was a carpenter by trade, and built the first church erected in Hancock, Hillsborough county. He moved to Dublin, from Hancock, and from there to Sullivan. He reared a family of ten children-seven sons and three daughters. Only one his children, Ashley, is living. He was born January 21, 1805, and lived upon the home farm sixtysix years. He married, for his first wife, Clarissa Keith, who bore him two children, and for his second wife, Sallie Davis, who bore him three children. He … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hiram Blake

Hiram Blake was born in Rindge, February 9, 1838, was educated at New Ipswich academy, graduated at Albany Law school, in 1862, and practiced in New York city two years. From that time Mr. Blake traveled extensively in the West, being located six years in Nebraska, and settled in Keene in 1873.

Biographical Sketch of Martin Chase

Martin Chase was born in Unity, N. H., and came to this town in 1869. He represented the town of Washington in the legislature of 1840, and now holds the office of justice of the peace.

Biographical Sketch of Elijah Towne

Elijah Towne came to Alstead, after having previously lived in Weathersfield, Vt., Windsor, Vt., and also in Munson, Mass. He married Miriam Lane, and had born to him ten children, five of whom are living. Of these Samaria married Dean Towne and lives in Worcester, Mass. Miriam married Richard Blodgett and lives in Claremont, N. H. Marcia married William Ellis and also lives in Claremont. Elisha lives in Keene, and Salem in Walpole. Mr. Townsend died here at the age of eighty-four years.

Biography of John F. Butler

John F. Butler is the youngest of the children of Jonathan and Martha (Russell) Butler, and was born in Marlow, June 14, 1831. His father, who was a farmer, died when John was twelve years of age, leaving him chiefly to his own efforts to provide the means for his support and education, which he accomplished by jobbing, teaching district and writing schools during his vacations, receiving also substantial aid from the best of mothers. He received his preliminary training in the district school and at Marlow academy, “Tubb’s Union” at Washington, and under the private instruction of Prof. Wood, … 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