Cheshire County NH

Biography of Godfrey Nims

Godfrey Nims was the first one of the Nims family known in this country, the earliest record extant giving his marriage, in Northampton, Mass., November 28, 1677. His son Ebenezer removed to Deerfield, Mass., a short time previous to 1702, and at the destruction of that town, February 29th, 1703-04, he and Sarah Hoit were among the captives taken and carried to Canada, where they were kept prisoners for about ten years. The Indian chief desired Sarah Holt to marry him, but she declined, promising to marry any one of the captives, and subsequently became the wife of Ebenezer Nims. … Read more

Biography of Alger, William Rounseville

Alger, William Rounseville, son of Nahum and Catherine Sampson (Rounseville) Alger, was born in Freetown, Bristol County, December 28, 1822. He attended the common schools from the age of four to ten, then began to work for a livelihood; he worked five years in a cotton mill at Hookset, N. H., studied attentively in all available house, educating himself in the various branches of an academic course. He attended an academy in Pembroke, N. H., two years, and one year at Lebanon, N. H. He entered the divinity school of Harvard University in 1844, and was graduated in the class … Read more

Biography of George Wallingford

George Wallingford, a prosperous business man of Claremont in the last generation, was born in Dublin, N.H., July 17, 1808, son of Ebenezer and Mary (Hildreth) Wallingford. The first ancestor, Nicholas Wallingford, settled in Bradford, Mass., in 1672. David Wallingford, of the third generation descended from Nicholas, was a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War. Born September 25, 1744, he went to the war from Hollis, N.H., was a minute-man, served in four companies under Captains Dow, Towns, Emerson, and Goss, and took part in the battles of Bunker Hill and Bennington. His son Ebenezer, who was born October 5, 1780, … Read more

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.

General History of Gilsum 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 Elijah Boyden

Elijah Boyden, a native of Massachusetts, came to this town in 1806, and died here July 22, 1814, aged fifty-one years. His son Elijah, born here August 15, 1814, began life as a clerk for his brother, with whom he remained seven years. He then went to Boston, and remained about three years, when he returned to Marlboro, and was a merchant here for fifteen years.

Biography of Dr. Daniel Adams

Dr. Daniel Adams, son of Dr. Joseph Adams, was born at Lincoln, Mass., in 1768, and died in Keene, N. H., August 22, 1830. He had three brothers and five sisters, one of the former of whom, Dr. Joseph Adams, returned, at the breaking out of the war, to Cornwall, England, the home of his ancestors, where he practiced his profession during life, and where his descendants still live. The other members of Dr. Adamss family settled in and about Boston. A sister, Mrs. Wheeler, occupied the homestead in Lincoln, Mass., which still remains in her family. Dr. Adams received … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dea. Bill Burnham

Dea. Billy Burnham, born in Vernon, Vt., married Sarah Thomas, of Chesterfield, N. H., and came to Hinsdale when there were only three permanent dwellings in the town. For several years thereafter the religious meetings were held in the dwellings of the settlers. Dea. Burnham was a Baptist and a devoted Christian, he and his wife being two of the eight original members of the first Baptist church. They were baptized by moonlight, when the weather was so cold that in returning to the house. eight rods distant, their clothing froze stiff. None of their five children are now living. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Pierce

George Pierce came from Smithfield, R. I., to Chesterfield about 1816, an settled upon the farm now owned by Mrs. Joseph W. Pierce, on road 1 where he carried on farming. He married Sophrona Mann, of Smithfield, RI., who was born June 14, 1785, and is still living in Chesterfield a venerate, centenarian. The one hundreth anniversary of this aged lady’s birthday observed in proper form by her relatives and friends, about 200 guests beii present, and on which occasion the Rev. Mr. Fowler read a history of thfamily, written in rhyme. Others of those present made short speeches, read … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Abner Harris

Abner Harris, son of Abner, came to this town from Woodstock, Conn., soon after 1777, and purchased 150 acres of land, the same being a part of the farm which has long been known as the Harris farm. His children were Abner, John, Perley, Elizabeth, Experience, Esther, Tamar, Deborah, Sarah, Lydia, Mary, Thomas, Zerviah and Dolly. Wilder, son of John and grandson of Abner, was born May 11, 1797, married three times, first, Harriet, daughter of John Davis, in 1817,who died November 2o, 1851; second, Mrs. Nancy J. Wood, of Saxton’s River, Vt., July 5, 1854, who died in December, … Read more

Biography of Francis W. Brooks

Francis W. Brooks, who died at Brattleboro, Vt., February 5, 1885, was born in Boston May 14. 1821, during the residence of his parents in that city or its vicinity. In the following August the family removed to Chesterfield. In 1839, however, they took up their residence in Brattleboro, and it was probably at about this time, or a year or two before, that the boy “Frank” went to Putney where he was the active, efficient clerk of Mr. P. R. Chandler, now of Chicago. After a few years spent at Putney the young man went to New York city … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Josiah Carter

Josiah Carter came from Lancaster, Mass., in 1803, being at that time sixteen years of age. His father, Joseph, was a shoemaker and he was brought up to the trade, which he carried on until 1818. He then bought a farm and devoted his after life to that. He was a lieutenant in the artillery. He married Betsey E. Foster and reared a family of four children, all now living. His sons, Josiah E., and Charles C., have always resided here and for fortynine years have carried on the carriage business together. Charles C. married Sarah C. Tyler, of Chesterfield, … 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.

Biographical Sketch of Abijah Richardson

Abijah Richardson, a native of Woburn, Mass., and a soldier in the Revolutionary war, was the first settler upon the farm on road 19, where Luke F. and Malachi Richardson now reside. He married Elizabeth Richardson and reared seven children, two of whom are living. His son Malachi married Tamesin, daughter of Aaron and Mary (Townsend) Greenwood, and reared a family of seven children, four of whom are now living. He still resides on the homestead farm, where five old people are living, aged respectively eighty-eight, eighty-six, eighty-six, seventy-nine and seventy-five years.

Early Government Dublin NH

On November 16, 1768, a meeting of the inhabitants was convened, with John Goffe, Esq., moderator, at which time a political organization was effected by electing the following officers: Moses Adams, Eli Morse and John Muzzey, assessors; Joseph Greenwood, clerk; Henry Strongman, collector; and Moses Adams, commissioner of assessment. This partial form of government was kept up till 1771, when, it not being considered adequate for all purposes of the town body-politic, a formal charter was required. Under this charter the town was duly organized, as previously stated, and Thomas Morse was chosen moderator; Joseph Greenwood, town clerk; and Henry … Read more

Cephas Clark Family

1 CEPHAS CLARK, b Keene, N.H., July 17, 1784; d Glover, Vt., Aug. 8, 1858; s Cephas and Jemima (Griggs) Clark. m Sept. 26, 1805, Deborah Wilbur, b Westmoreland, N.H., Apr. 18, 1790; d Glover, Vt., July 23, 1850; d Rev. Nathaniel and Deborah Wilbur. Issue: 2 Caleb Aldrich, b Westmoreland, N.H., Dec. 14, 1807; d Glover, July 10, 1883. 2 Cephas Cheney, b Rutland, Vt., Sept. 30, 1809; d Glover, Oct. 23, 1869. 2 Amasa Ford, b Rutland, June 22, 1811; d Wilmington, Mass., Sept. 5, 1879. 2 Alvah Warren, b Keene, N.H., July 9, 1813; d Glover, June … Read more

Biography of John Humphrey

John Humphrey, the founder and present general manager of the Humphrey Machine Company, was born October 12, 18$4, at Lyndon, Vt., from whence, at the age of nine years, his childhood home was changed to Rindge, N. H., and, with the exception of two years, he has since been a resident of Cheshire county. Not being exempt from enrollment in the great army of toilers for daily bread, he was early mustered into service in the conflict of life, and after some experience in the grist-mill and upon the farm of his step-father, he started out at the age of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Oliver L. Spaulding

Oliver L. Spaulding. was born in Jaffrey, N. H., August 2, 1833, graduated at Oberlin college, Ohio, in 1855; removed to St. Johns, Mich., in 1857. In 1858 he was elected a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan for the term of six years. Served during the war of the rebellion in all the grades from captain to brevet brigadier-general In 1866 he was elected secretary of state for Michigan, and was re-elected in 1868. Was a special agent of the United States treasury department from 1875 till he resigned the position to take his … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles Wyman

Charles Wyman, a native of Keene, married Mary Ann Ellis, and had born to him four children. Henry, second son of Charles, married Ellen M., daughter of Jesse and Lucinda Grimes, of Keene, and has two children, Frank and Charles. He now resides in this town at No. 3 Grant Street Emily Grimes, sister of Mrs. Henry J. Wyman, married James Wright, who died September 18, 1863, aged forty-five years. She now resides in Keene at No. 3 Grant street. Captain Isaac Wyman was in the Revolutionary war, at the battle of Bunker Hill. and was captain of a company … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Edward Pittsinger

Edward Pittsinger was born in West Hampton, Mass., November 29, 1821. In 1846 he went as brakeman on the Connecticut River railroad, where he continued one year, then became conductor from Springfield to Holyoke. In 1851, when the Ashuelot railroad was opened, he became conductor on that road, in which position he has since continued.