Cheshire County NH

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.

Biography of Josiah Butler

Josiah Butler, an early settler, located on road 6, where Seymour E. Butler now resides. He early cleared his farm and opened his house as a tavern, being on what was at that time the direct road from Massachusetts to Chesterfield and places north. Frequently, it is said. his house was filled with guests and his yard filled with the conveyances of pioneers who were on their way to their pioneer homes. Here he continued to reside until his death, at an advanced age.. He was the father of two sons and six daughters. His wife survived him and married … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Phineas Fullman

Phineas Fullman, born February 26, 1749, came to Chesterfield, from Westminster, Mass., about 1778. He married twice, first, Lucy Lampson, and second, Mrs. Bathsheba (Britton) Leach. He died August 4, 1823. His children were Paul, Asa, Lucy, Myra, Ellis and Almira. Asa, born February 24, 1780, married Lucena, daughter of Jonathan Farwell, in 1811. From May, 1815 to 1821, he engaged in trade at the Center Village, in partnership with Hon. Levi Jackson, afterwards with Ashbel Wheeler, Sr., and alone. For a number of years he run a freight-boat on the Connecticut, between Chesterfield and Hartford. He also erected a … Read more

The Trinitarian Congregational Church, Marlboro, NH

The Trinitarian Congregational church, located at Marlboro, was organized by a council convened for the purpose, with eight members, in 1778. The first pastor was Rev. Joseph Cummings. The first church building stood near what is now called Meeting -house pond, and was raised November 21, 1990, though it was not completed until 1774. The present brick structure was dedicated October 29, 1834. It will seat 400 persons, and is valued, including grounds, etc., at $12,000.00. The society now has 228 members, with Rev. John L. Merrill, pastor.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Hinsdale, NH

The Methodist Episcopal church, on Main street, Hinsdale, was organized in the fall of 1842, by Rev. Justin Spaulding, with six members. Rev. T. Furber was the first pastor. The first and present house of worship was erected of wood in 1876. The society has sixty members. The church originally cost $8,000, it present valuation. It will seat nearly 400 people comfortably, and the Sunday-school has about sixty members. The church is now under the pastoral care of Rev. Joseph L. Felt.

Biography of Aaron Hammond

Aaron Hammond built here about 1785. He drew the boards for his house from Swanzey, and split and shaved his own shingles and clap boards, some of which were found sound and bright seventy years after. This house was removed some years ago, to be the sugar house, owned by Mr. T. T. Clark. Mr. Hammond served the town as moderator, and was selectman four years. He was the ancestor of all the Gilsum Hammonds. This has always been one of the leading families of the place, and though mostly scattered at present, those who have gone to other places … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Benjamin Wild

Benjamin Wild came here from Norton, Mass., in the autumn of 1801, and settled in the eastern part of the town. His wife was Sarah Babbitt, who died in Chesterfield in 1826, in her seventy-fourth year, he dying soon after in his seventy-ninth year, His children were Sally, John, Nancy, David, Nathan, Abigail and Elsie. Nathan. born June 14, 1787, married Rachel Newcombe, Augu 18. 1814. In his youth he had a fondness for mathematical studies, which he pursued at home, with the assistance of his brother David. He applied himself assiduously to the study of surveying and astronomy, and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Valentine Butler

Valentine Butler, one of the early settlers of the town, located as a farmer at North Hinsdale, where Mrs. Abby M. Chandler now lives. He married Hannah Osgood, of Newfane. Vt., and reared five children, none of whom are now living. His oldest son, Josiah, died on the homestead previous to his father’s death. Lucinda, daughter of Valentine, married Azor Chandler, who purchased the homestead and remained thereon during life. Nathaniel, their only child, inherited the estate, which he retained until his death, in May, 1882. The property is now owned by his widow, Abby M., and their only child … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Lieut. Nathaniel Vilas

Lieut. Nathaniel Vilas, from Grafton, Mass., fourth son of Dea. Noah, came to Alstead in 1778, locating in the southwestern part of the town. Here he carried on a farm and engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, employing in the latter occupation twelve hands. He built the first water works into Boston, bringing the water in logs from Roxbury, Vt. He was twice married, first to Mary Chandler, and second to Lavina Crosby, both of whom bore him twenty children. He was a lieutenant of militia, held several of the town offices, and died in 1853. His son, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Barzaliel Baker

Barzaliel Baker came to Marlboro from Westminster, Mass., about 1800. He was a farmer and settled upon the farm now occupied by Howard Clark, where he died, at the age of eighty-two. His son Asa was born in Marlboro, where lived until 1833, when he moved, to Jaffrey, where he remained until his death, in October, 1869, at the age of sixty-six years. Edwin C., a native of Jaffrey, came to this town in 1870.

Biography of C. Reed Lewis

C. Reed Lewis, the well-known horse dealer and auctioneer of Unity, was born in Marlow, N.H., July 10, 1837, son of Gilbert and Orrilla H. (Huntley) Lewis. His grandfather, Dudley Lewis, was a prosperous farmer and lifelong resident of Marlow. Gilbert Lewis was born and reared in Marlow. In 1839 he moved to Goshen, where he conducted a store, and remained three years. In 1842 he located in East Unity, and was there engaged in farming for some time. His last days were passed on a farm in Unity Centre, where he died November 16, 1872, aged sixty-two years. His … Read more

Biography of Rodney Fletcher

Rodney Fletcher, son of Arad H. and Bethana (Darling) Fletcher, wasborn in Chesterfield, November 18, 1826, and married Olive W. Albee, daughter of Captain Nathaniel Albee, of Chesterfield, November 3, 1847. He has one daughter, Sarah E., who was married in 1873, to B. H. Swan; D. V. S. Since 1843 Mr. Fletcher has resided at Chesterfield Factory, and has worked in the auger factories located there, under various firms at different periods as finisher, having had charge of the polishing-room, where b has been for more than forty’ years. Under the old military regime, he was a prominent member … Read more

Biography of Eleazer Jackson

Eleazer Jackson was born May 12, 1736, married Rachel Pond in 1761, and came to Chesterfield about 1778. He settled upon the land which is now a part of the farm on which his grandson, Jay Jackson, resides, and which has always been, since 1778, owned by members of the Jackson family. He was selectman in 1782, ’83, ’87, ’88, ’93, ’96 and 1800, and representative in 1792, ’93 and ’97- In 1791 he was the delegate from Chesterfield for revising the constitution of the state. He died November 11, 1814. His children were Prudence, Jacob, Jarib, Lydia, Enoch, Elijah, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Joseph Watts

Joseph Watts was born here and, resided in the town until his death, in 1816. He resided just north of the village, where he reared four children, none of whom are living. An adopted son, George U. R., is now a resident of the town. John, Isaac and Jesse, brothers of Joseph, also spent their lives here. None of their descendants now reside here.

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.

Biographical Sketch of George P. Hooker

George P. Hooker, son of the venerable Henry Hooker, born May 3 1820, married Lucretia J. Ashcroft, October 25, 1843, and settled upon the farm he now occupies in 1849. He began life without any means, but with habits of industry and sterling integrity combined with sound judgment. the time he settled here this farm contained only fourteen acres of tillable land, and his barn, a structure 24×34 feet, was sufficiently large to store crops. Without adding anything to the size of his farm, however, he added to the capacity of his barn till the structure is 40×100 feet, eighteen, … Read more

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

Biographical Sketch of Silas Morse

Silas Morse came here from Holliston, Mass., with his parents, who settled on a farm near where Samuel Payne now lives, over a hundred years ago. After the death of his father he traded the farm owned by him for one in Sullivan, which he afterwards sold, and moved with his son, Ira L., to Gilsum. He finally returned to this town, where he died January 13, 1859, at the age of eighty-two years. His son, Ira L., was born in Sullivan, came to this town March 28, 1861, and resides on road 29.

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.

The Evangelical Congregational Church, Harrisville, NH

The Evangelical Congregational church of Harrisville was organized September 22, 1840, by a council composed of clergymen and delegates from the following towns: Swanzey, Troy, Antrim. New Ipswich. and Warwick, Mass., with thirty-one members, the first pastor being Rev. Otis C. Whiton. Their church building was erected in 1840-43, a brick structure capable of seating 350 persons, cost $4,000.00, and is now valued, including grounds, at $5,000.00. The society has fifty-one members, with Rev. George H. Dunlap, pastor. There have been added to the original thirty-one members 189 others, making a total of 220, of which 169 have been removed … Read more