Among the ambitious and adventurous spirits that sought homes in the northern part of Vermont were three sons of Cephas Clark, namely Silas, Samuel, and Cephas, all of whom settled in Glover. The design of this work is to treat from now on of the history of the three sons of Cephas Clark who emigrated to and settled in the northern part of Vermont.
Jonathan Hemenway, from Walpole, N. H., came to this town in 1800, and located on road 5, upon the farm now owned by O. A. Thomas. Two of his children are now living on the same road.
Ira C. Clark, son of Josiah, who was a soldier of the Revolution, married Bethiah Rider, and reared four children, only one of whom, Lucinda C., is living. She married George F. Shedd, of Vergennes, Vt., who died February, 4, 1854. The daughter, Hattie N., lives in Keene, and the son, George F., resides in Knowlton, N. H.
Absalom Kingsbury, from Coventry, Conn., came to Alstead in 1771, and moved his family thither the following year. His first wife, Rebecca Rust, bore him eight sons and two daughters, the sons being as follows: Asa, Ebenezer, Ephraim, Obadiah, James, Elisha, Joshua and Amariah. His second wife was a widow Wilson. Asa studied medicine with Dr. Frink, of Keene, entered the Revolutionary service, and died at New York, in August, 1776, aged twenty-four years. Lieut. Ephraim, who continued on his father’s farm, married for his first wife, Kezia Richardson, of Wrentham, Mass., and for his second, Hannah Leonard, of Carver, … Read more
John Symonds was born in Hancock, N. H., May 18, 1816, and spent his boyhood in that town. In 1836 he commenced work as an apprentice with Elijah Reed, at his tannery in Hancock, and was employed there and at other places till 1841, when he began the tanning business himself, at South Antrim. But before his tannery was well under way it was destroyed by fire. He lost everything and was left $500.00 in debt. He then went to Salem, where he worked at his trade for a time. In 1848 he removed to Marlow, N. H., when he … Read more
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.
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.
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
Elijah Gates was born in Stowe, Mass., in 1765, came to Marlboro in 180o, settled where his son Elijah how resides, and died here in 1824. The latter was born here June 17, 1801, in the house he still occupies.
John Cutter son of Nathaniel, born at Woburn, Mass., March 16, 1765 came to Jaffrey in 1789. He married Abigail Demary, of Rindge, and so after commenced business as a tanner, buying the tannery of a Mr. Tanner which was afterwards occupied by his son, B. Cutter, Esq., but which has since been demolished. He was a man of singular energy of character and the first person in Jaffrey who kept his accounts according to the decimal system. By frugality and industry he acquired a competency. His so Ethan married Nancy B., daughter of Timothy and Elizabeth (Stiles) Blodgett, of … Read more
Elmer B. Howe, son of Jotham and Myra (Kemball) Howe, married Lucy, daughter of Israel and Tabitha (Wheelock) Marsh, of Keene, and has four children. He was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in Company C, 15th Mass Vols, was taken prisoner, and was one of the sufferers in Libby prison. He now occupies a farm on road 10, in this town.
Spafford brook is an outlet from the easterly shore of Spafford lake. The waters from the channel, “which flow easterly, take a southeasterly course, crossing the main road near George Hamilton’s sash and blind shop. Passing Currier Bros. bit manufactory, it takes an abrupt turn northward, again crossing the main road near Fred Pierce’s brush handle shop, descending and curving around the southeastern portion of Mt. Pistareen, through a deep glen. Holt’s brook unites with this stream from the south, into the “Bitshop “pond; Gilson brook comes down a deep gorge and is bridged over in the eastern part of … Read more
JAFFREY, a post village located in the central part of the town, has one church (Congregational), one hotel, two dry goods stores, a blacksmith shop, livery stable and about twenty-five dwellings. It has in its vicinity, also, the summer residences of many who come here during that season to enjoy the delightful scenery and healthful air.
J. S. Lawrence, son of Ithamer, married Sarah, daughter of Zachariah and Rebecca Emery, who bore him three children, all now living, and occupied the homestead until his death. His son Frederick J. married Clara, daughter of Nehemiah and Adaline (Bailey) Cutter, has one child, and resides on the home farm, road 5.
MARLBORO is a small irregularly outlined township, lying in the central part of the county, in lat. 24° 54 and long. 4° 49′, bounded north by Roxbury, east by Harrisville, Dublin and Jaffrey, south by Troy, and west by Troy, Swanzey and Keene. It was originally granted by the Masonian proprietors, under the name of Monadnock No. 5, to James Morrison, Jr., and thirty-one associates, May 20, 1752. This charter granted to these gentlemen a tract of 20,000 acres, bounded as follows: “Beginning at the northwest corner of the township called North Monadnock No. 3, [Dublin]. thence north 80° west … Read more
Rev. Samuel S. Dudley, a native of Sudbury, Mass., has been a Methodist minister forty-four years, seventeen of which he has preached in this county. He now resides on road 42.
Louis Woodruff, a native of Westfield, N. J., married Damaris N. Winans, of Elizabeth, N. J., who bore him six children, three of whom are living. His son John W. married Susan A., daughter of Luke and Abbie (Dawes) Tucker, of Elizabeth N. J. Two of his three children, James D., a resident of Minneapolis, Minn., and Frederick S., of Boston, Mass., are now living. John W. Woodruff resides upon a farm on road 3.
Daniel P. Adams, son of Isaac, and grandson of Stephen, married Emily L., daughter of Edmond and Oliver Burpee, of this town, and resides upon the old homestead of his grandfather, on road 22.
Silas Richardson, a descendant of John Richardson who came from England previous to 1636, was born in Medfield, Mass., 1748, married, in 1771, Sileme Daniels, of Medway, Mass. In 1776 he came to Chesterfield and settled on land one mile north of the Factory Village. The deed of his purchase under colonial government, still preserved, is dated in May, 1776. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and was called “Lieutenant” Richardson was one of the original trustees of the academy, selectman in 1788, ’93 an ’96, and died in 1803. His children were: Wilkes, born December, 1772 married Mehitabel … Read more
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.