Cheshire County NH

Biographical Sketch of Isaac Davis

Isaac Davis, the seventh son of a seventh son, and hence called Doctor, immigrated from Massachusetts to Roxbury while that town was still a wilderness, residing there until his death, in 1840. His son Joshua was born there in 1796, and died July 2, 1862, while Joshua’s son, George G., born in Roxbury, August 28, 1842, has been a resident of Marlboro since 1859. He is engaged in mercantile pursuits, has served as state senator from the 14th District, and was in the late war a year and a half.

Biographical Sketch of Abijah Wilder

Abijah Wilder, son of Andrew, was born November 28, 1750, and came to Keene, from Lancaster, Mass. He was a noted mechanic and a deacon in the Congregational church for thirty-four years. He died January 8, 1835. Azel, the youngest of six children, was a manufacturer of spinninG.wheels, married Elvira, daughter of John and Sarah (Eastman) Warner, and reared a family of ten children, only two of whom are living. Elvira, eldest daughter -of Azel, married Edward Poole, who died in 1847, and has one son, George Edward, a noted fancy wood-turner, residing in Keene. Elvira P., widow-of Edward Poole, … 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

The Congregational Church of Jaffrey, NH

The Congregational church of Jaffrey village.-The grant from the Masonian proprietors stipulated that a meeting-house be built within six years from the date of the charter. There is nothing in the early records of the town, however, to show that anything was done towards this object previous to 1774, when it was voted that such a structure be built. Neglect to build a meeting-house was not the only instance in which the settlers failed to fulfill the requirements of their charter. From the reports of the settlers to the grantors, testifying of the condition of the colony, we find that … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Gilson

Samuel Gilson, born about 1752, appears to have settled in Chesterfield about 1791, and is said to have been the first blacksmith at Factory Village. He died in 1826, aged seventy-four years. His son Calvin married Mehitabel, daughter of Joseph Pattridge, in 1810. Their children were Prescott W., Louisa M., Luke H., Sarah, and Joseph P. Prescott W., born December 33, 1812, married twice, first, Adeline Whitney, who died in 1836, and second, Urania M., daughter of Benoni Streeter, February 2, 1837. He had born to him two children, Calvin P. and Adeline L. The former was born October 5, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry Coolidge

Henry Coolidge was born in Massachusetts, July 1.4, 1787, and married Calista Pond, who was born September 18, 1791. He came to Keene when quite young, and clerked in Fosters store at Ash Swamp, for a time. He was clerk of the court of common pleas for many years. He was very highly respected, and was often consulted on legal points, although not a lawyer. He was a surveyor, and did a great deal of that business. He died March 20, 1843. Only one of his six children is living, Jane F., who married Dr. A. S. Carpenter, and resides … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Green Towne

Green Towne, son of Deacon Towne, who was a captain under General Green in the Revolution and also served in the French and Indian war, married Lucy, daughter of Capt. Solomon Rand, of Rindge. He reared a family of eight children, five of whom are now living. His son Levi P. married Emily A., daughter of Jonathan and Harriet (Dwinell) Sawyer, of East Alstead. He has two children and is a thriving farmer on road 53.

Biographical Sketch of Lockhart Willard Esq.

Lockhart Willard, Esq., a native of Keene, served in the Revolution, and was a prominent lawyer here. He married a Miss Reed, and reared four children. Lockhart, Jr., married Sally, daughter of Phineas and Annie (Thompson) Nourse. Three of his seven children are living. One of these, William L., married Lucretia, daughter of Israel and Tabitha (Wheelock) Marsh, of Keene, and has one son living, Lucius T. The latter who served in the late war as quartermasters clerk, in Co. G, 14th N. H. Vols., married Netta J. French, and resides at Jersey City, N. J.

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Gardner C. Hill

Dr. Gardner C. Hill was born in Winchester, N. H., March 20, 1829, and was educated in the public schools of his native town, and the academies of Chesterfield, Swanzey and Saxtons River, Vt., graduating from the latter institution. He taught school six years; the last year as principal of the ” old high school” at Winchester. He commenced the study of medicine with the late L. L. M. Comings, M. D., of Swanzey. He entered the Castleton Medical college, Vt., in 1853, and graduated with the class of 1856. He commenced the practice of medicine in Warwick, Mass., where … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Derby

Samuel Derby, a native of Hollis, N. H., came to this town when he was twelve years old. He married three times, first to Lois Twithell, second to Betsey Knowlton and third to Ruth Perry. Only two of his ten children are now living, viz.: Betsey Jane, of Minnesota, and Dexter, of this town. The latter married Julia, daughter of Jonas Brooks and Julia (Greenwood) Piper, and has two children. Samuel C. and Emily e. He now occupies the homestead farm on road 45.

Biographical Sketch of Ira J. Prouty, M. D.

Ira J. Prouty, M. D., only son of Dr. Ira F. Prouty, was born in Ogdensburg, N. Y., August 15, 1857. He was educated in the public schools of Keene, graduating from the High school in 1875. He continued his studies in Keene until 1878, when he entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he pursued a special course in analytical chemistry. In 1879 he entered the medical department of the University of the City of New York, where he remained three years, graduating in March, 1882, in which year he commenced the practice of medicine in Keene. In 1883 … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Henry

William Henry is said to have come to Chesterfield, from Lunenburg, Mass, between 1770 and 1776. He married May Conn, who bore him six children, as follows: May, William, James, Betty, Eunice, and Freelove. James married Mary, daughter of Gibson Willard, in 1798, who bore him six children. They were Frederick W., Rebecca H., John P., Willard, Mary F., and Betsey E. Willard, born February I, 1809, married three times, first, Mary B. Shaw,. in 1834; second, Emily, daughter of Samuel Goodrich, October 8, 1856; and third, Mrs. Sarah M. Reed, of Fitzwilliam, in 1877. His children are Nathaniel C., … 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.

Biography of John W. Jefts

John W. Jefts, a machinist by trade, but who for the past nine years has been successfully engaged in farming in the town of Langdon, was born here, December 4, 1859, son of Alphonso M. and Almira (Clough) Jefts. The genealogy of the Jefts family is traced to England, from which country, on some date between 1620 and 1638, the American progenitor emigrated to Massachusetts, and settled in Billerica. His immediate descendants continued to reside in that State for some years. Jonathan, the greatgrandfather of John W. Jefts, was the first of the name to come to New Hampshire. He … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Alfred T. Batchelder

Alfred T. Batchelder was born in Sunapee, February 26, 1844, was educated at New London and Tilton seminaries, and graduated at Dartmouth college in 1871. He read law with Hon. W. H. H. Allen and Hon. Ira Colby, of Claremont, and was admitted to the bar in 1874. In 7876 he was appointed register in bankruptcy, which office he held until it was abolished. In August, 1877, he settled in Keene, marrying Alice H., daughter of P. B. Hayward, April 24, 1879.

Biographical Sketch of Dolphus Bixby

Dolphus Bixby, born in Hillsboro, N. H., in 1790, has resided with his son Russell for the past sixteen years. Russell came here in 1870. In the spring of 1881 he made 240 pounds of sugar from seventeen maples.

Biographical Sketch of John Cutter

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

Biographical Sketch of Major Abner S. H. Hutchinson

Major Abner S. H. Hutchinson was born in Wilton, N. H., December 10, 1803. He joined the militia when a young man, and rose to the rank of major in the 12th N. H. Regt., and was captain of the Nelson Rifle Company. He married Mary, daughter of Bethuel Harris, who bore him five children, of whom Albert is in North Carolina, and Henry in Boston. His daughter, Belle, resides in Harrisville. Two sons, Albert and Henry N., are dead. A. S. Hutchinson came to Nelson in 1829, and began work in the mill. He was a partner four years … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Sidney S. Campbell

Sidney S. Campbell, now a retired manufacturer residing at Factory Village, was born in Westminster, Vt., and came to this town in 1830. He married Clarissa Daggett, of Westmoreland, who bore him three childrenMary E., Charles S., and Clara Anna.

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Daniel Ryan

Dr. Daniel Ryan, in 1750, came from Ireland as surgeon on board of a vessel, and settled in Marblehead, Mass. His son Samuel, also a physician, moved to Sharon, N. H., in 1790, married Mrs. Patty Sawyer, who bore him four children. One of these, Samuel, Jr., married Hannah J., daughter of George and Alice (Sawyer) Shead; of Peterboro, N. H., July 14, 1811, and rear a family of three children, two of whom are now living. He was a farmer and lumberman and the principal owner of the famous steam-mills of Fay, Comwins & Ryan. He was a leading … Read more