Cheshire County NH

Phineas Wright Genealogy

Phinehas Wright of Hartford, Conn., m. Zilpha Cooper of Westmoreland, N. H., settled at Walpole and removed to Keene abt. 1796. Caleb2 Wright, son of Phinehas, b. Feb. 15, 1794, d. Keene, Nov. 21, 1869; m. Dec. 7, 1815, Sarah Reed, b. Surry, July 14, 1796, d. Keene, Nov. 16, 1838. Among their fifteen children, was: Calvin3, b. Keene, Mar. 13, 1816; d. Gilsum, Feb. 16, 1907; m. Diantha Leborveau of Keene, and had six children. Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Wright lived in S., on the Old Kemp or John Dunn place for a few years, and had born here: … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles R. Sargeant

Charles R Sargeant, a native of Chesterfield. N. H., was born in 1826. In early life he enjoyed the educational advantages afforded by the common-schools and academies, and was engaged in teaching from 1844 to 1852 Although he learned the stone mason’s trade and followed it for many years, until he finally abandoned it to engage in farming, which he continued till his death April 2, 1880. In 1849 he came to Hinsdale, and in 1857 was superintendent of schools, and town clerk, the latter office of which he held till 1859, when he was elected county commissioner in 1877, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Edward Jarvis

Edward Jarvis, son of Edward, was born at St. John City, N. B. He married Calista M. Gibson, of that city, September 16, 1856, and came to Chesterfield, June 29, 1860, and lived near the southern boundary line of Westmoreland in the house where Mr. Strobridge lived and died. After two years he went to Swanzey, and engaged in lumbering in California woods. Three years afterwards he removed to Westmoreland, and lived on the farm last owned by Sanford Guernsey, and the house built by Samuel Burt, ist. They lived there fourteen years, when the buildings were destroyed by fire. … 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.

Biography of Francis Allen Perry

Francis Allen Perry was born in Wolfboro, N. H., and while yet a child his parents removed with him to Biddeford, Maine, where his youth was passed in the acquirement of a good common school education. This supplemented with three terms at a private school fitted him for the duties of practical life. Early he exhibited a taste and talent for mechanical pursuits and turned his attention to the machinist trade in which he attained great proficiency. Several years of his life were passed in the employ of the Hinkley Locomotive works in Boston, where his faithfulness and skill so … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. George B. Twitchell

Dr. George B. Twitchell, son of Timothy, was born at Petersburg, Va., in 1820, studied medicine with his uncle, Amos Twitchell, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, in 1843. He entered the army in 1862, as surgeon of the 13th N. H. Vols., and was promoted that same year to brigadier-surgeon of the 3d Brigade. In April, 1863, he received the appointment of surgeon of N. S. V., by President Lincoln. He resigned in the autumn of 1863, on account of sickness, and has since practiced medicine in Keene. He married Susan E., daughter of Gideon F. Thayer, of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jeremiah Pratt

Jeremiah Pratt, a native of Massachusetts, was an early settler in Winchester, N. H., married Sarah, daughter of Robert Newton, and reared seven children. Jeremiah, Jr., married Lucy, daughter of William and Lucy Richford, and had born to him nine children, five of whom are living. Robert W., the youngest son of Jeremiah, Jr., married Ruby W., daughter of Jacob and Ruby (Prindall) Moody, of Northfield, Mass., and resides in Keene, on Washington street. Their children are Mrs. Hattie E. Parks, Mrs. Abbie A. Conan, and Charles R.

Benjamin Willis Genealogy

Benjamin1 Willis, who d. at Keene, Mar. 22, 1820, aged 80, was probably the father of Benjamin2, 1, of Sullivan. 1. Benjamin2 Willis, son of Benjamin1, was a farmer and res. Keene and Sullivan; d. in Sullivan, Aug. 26, 1837, aged 75; m. Mar. 17, 1785, Annis Briggs b. Norton, Mass., Sept. 25, 1759, d. Sullivan, Jan. 22, 1831; dau. of Elisha and Mary Briggs of Keene. Ch. b. Keene: Mary3 (christened Polly), b. Mar. 17, 1785; m. John Newman (q. v.) Sarah3, b. 1789; m. Robert. Hall (q. v.) Annis3, b. May 25, 1794. Asenath3, b. unk.; d. Keene, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Clark Mason

Clark Mason was born here April 16, 1794, removed to Oswego county, N. Y., in 1817, remained until 1824, then came back to Marlboro, and diedk here in August, 1861. 1. His grandson, Warren W., son of William C., is superintendent of Hale’s chair factory, at South Keene.

Biographical Sketch of Calvin E. Nurse

Calvin E. Nurse, son of Benjamin, was born in Keene, March 20, 182 He has resided a number of years in Chesterfield, having previously travel extensively in the United States and Canada as an attach€ of a circus co pany. He is a painter and paper-hanger.

Early Settlement of Keene, New Hampshire

Up to the winter of 1736 no person had remained in the town during that season. Those who came in the summer to clear their lands brought their provisions with them, and erected temporary huts to shelter them from the weather. But during that summer, Nathan Blake and Seth Heaton, from Wrentham, and William Smeed, from Deerfield, made preparation to pass the winter in the wilderness. Their house was at the south end of Main street. Their stock consisted of a yoke of oxen and a pair of horses, one of the latter belonging to Heaton and the others to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Houghton Fuller

John Houghton Fuller was of a family which, during his childhood, emigrated from Lunenburg, Mass., to Walpole in this county, sometime during the last decade of the last century. He passed his youth in Walpole, and began active life in a country store, first in Chesterfield, then in Winchester, and then in Keene, where he soon engaged in wool-dealing, which became the main business of his after life. While living at Winchester, he was called to act as adjutant-general of the government forces stationed at Portsmouth during the closing season of the war of 1812, and it was then, too, … 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

Biographical Sketch of Thaddeus Mason Jr.

Thaddeus Mason, Jr., married Lydia, daughter of Ivory Perry, and had born to him six children, one of whom is now living. His son Dexter married twice, first, Abigail, daughter of James Adams, who bore him four children, two of whom are living, and second, Harriet g., daughter of Samuel and Mary (Adams) Farewell, of Nelson, who bore him three children, all of whom are living. He was a native of this town and settled on a farm on road 4. He finally retired from the farm to the village of Dublin, where his widow now resides. He held many … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Eben Carpenter

Dr. Eben Carpenter was born in Coventry, Conn., in 1780, married Judith Green, and reared a family of nine children. He located in Alstead, N. H., where he had a large practice. His only surviving son, George H., is a physician, and resides in Cleveland, O.

Biographical Sketch of Hezekiah Stone

Hezekiah Stone came from Massachusetts about 1780, and bought the land where Benjamin Whitcomb now lives. He was a farmer, owned a saw-mill, and had two sons and three daughters. The eldest, Artemas, had a son, Artemas, who was the father of Stillman S. Stone. Moses, second son of Hezekiah, was born in Fitzwilliam, December 31. 1785. He was also a farmer, and operated a saw-mill. He was one who responded to the call for troops in 1812, and went to Portsmouth, but not into active service. He died in January, 1854.

Biographical Sketch of Eleazer W. Heath

Eleazer W. Heath, son of David, and a native of Corinth, Vt., married Rhoda Merril, of Bradford, Vt., and for his second wife, Mary N. (Gibbs) Gilmore, of Jaffrey. Mr. Heath was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was at the battle of Plattsburg. He is now living, at the great age of ninety years, and occupies a farm on road 29, known as the Emory place. He has seven children.

Biographical Sketch of Leonard Wellington

Leonard Wellington was born September 12, 1842. He received an academic education, and attended Albany law school, from which he graduated in 1865. He was admitted, that same year, to the Cheshire county bar, and formed a partnership with Dan H. Woodward, which continued until 1877, since which time he has practiced alone. He married Harriet L. Chandler, of Connecticut, in 1870, and has two children.

Biographical Sketch of Sylvester Partridge

Sylvester Partridge came to Alstead, from Londonderry, Mass., in 1783, locating in the northern part of the town. He was then about twenty-one years of age, and soon after married, though his wife lived but a short time. He then married Mrs. Rachel Fay, who bore him three children. By his third wife he had four children. His only son, by his second wife; Capt Theron, was the father of Alfred W. and James S. Partridge, who now reside here. Two other grandsons of Sylvester, Alva W. and Edward M. Smith, also reside here, and also a granddaughter, Mrs. Melissa … Read more

The First Congregational Church of Keene NH

The First Congregational church of Keene was organized October 18, 1738, with a membership of nineteen males. Rev. John Bacon, the proprietors clerk, was ordained October 18th, and settled over the church. Mr. Bacon graduated at Harvard in 1731. The church, originally built near the south end of Main street, was moved, in 1741, to a site near the present General Wilsons house, and was destroyed with the other buildings in 1747. Mr. Bacon was dismissed upon the evacuation of the town. In 1753, on the return of the settlers, the church was built on the common, and was occupied … Read more