Cheshire County NH

Biographical Sketch of Lemuel Liscom

Lemuel Liscom, born in Rehoboth, Mass., came to Hinsdale at a very early date and September 26, 1796, married Submit Barrett, who bore him nine children. Of these, Mary married Henry Reed, and resided in Brattleboro, Vt. Lemuel married Emerancy, daughter of Hezekiah Horton, September 20, 1831, he at that time being a resident of Boston, Mass., where he was successfully engaged in the coal trade. In 1835 he purchased the farm where he and his aged wife are now residing with their son, L. F. Liscom. Their house is one of the oldest, if not the oldest in the … 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 Nathaniel Kingsbury

Nathaniel Kingsbury settled in the northern part of this town at an early day. He married four times. His son Abijah married Abigail, daughter of deacon Abijah Wilder. Josiah, one of his eleven children, married Eloise, daughter of Zadock and Sarah (Black) Taft, and resides in Keene. William Black, grandfather of Mrs. Josiah Kingsbury, was a pensioner of the Revolution, and the latter has some of the continental money which was paid to him.

Biographical Sketch of Roger Gilmore Esq.

Roger Gilmore, Esq., was one of the early settlers of the town and the first settler on road 30, near the center of the town. Most of the town meetings were held, previous to the erection of the first meeting-house, in 1775, at his home. When the town was organized, he was chosen the first tythingman, a very important office in those days. He was a delegate to the constitutional convention in 1791, and was the first justice of the peace appointed by the state, after the adoption of the constitution in 1784. When the first military company was organized, … Read more

History of Industry in Marlboro, New Hampshire

The Frost Free Library.-The town has a fine public library, founded by Rufus S. Frost, in 1865, who donated $15.000.00 for the purpose. Of this amount $7,000.00 were devoted to the erection of a substantial granite building, $3,000.00 more were used in the purchase of books, and the remainder placed at interest, the revenue therefrom to be used in sustaining the library and in the purchase of new books, The Cheshire Blanket Co., whose mills are located at the village, was organized in the spring of 1873, the proprietors being C. O. Whitney and AV. H. Clark. Their main building … 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.

Biographical Sketch of Azel R. Emerson

Azel R. Emerson, son of Hazen, and grandson of Richard, who came t Alstead from Haverhill, Mass., in 1786, was born December 29, 1822. H lived with his father upon the farm until twenty-one years of age, taught school two terms, and in 1847 started, with O. F. Beckwith, the first iron foundry and plow manufactory in Alstead. In 1849 he purchased Mr. Beckwith’s interest, and in 1893 sold out the business. In 1854 he was elected selectman of the town, and later on removed to Hinsdale, N. H., where t engaged in the foundry, machine and agricultural, implement business, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Joseph Scott

Joseph Scott was a native of Lancashire, England. Thomas, one of his five children, married a Miss Welch and reared a family of six children. His son John S. married four times, first, Alice Wilder; second, Lucy Tollman; third, Louisa Wilder; and fourth, Sarah A. Hodge. He has three children and resides upon a farm on road 45.

Town of Hinsdale, New Hampshire

HINSDALE (p. o.) is an enterprising, beautiful, and rapidly growing manufacturing village, situated in the southeastern part of the town, in a deep valley, and on the Ashuelot river, about a mile above its confluence with her more majestic sister. “the beautiful Connecticut.” Its principal streets are Main, Canal, Brattleboro, High and Pleasant, which contain many elegant residences, while nearly all the others are remarkably neat and tidy. It contains five church edifices- Baptist, Congregationalist, Roman Catholic, Methodist, and Universalist, and all are in fine condition. The Baptist and Catholic churches are especially fine structures. The business portion is located … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Gustavus Cutter

Gustavus A. Cutter, was one of the three children of Charles A. and Philena, who resided on road 53. He served in the late Rebellion and was honorably discharged.

Biography of Charles Rufus Skinner

CHARLES RUFUS SKINNER AMONG the younger men whose experience in matters pertaining to state, national and educational affairs has already been quite extensive and highly beneficial to his fellow-citizens, is the Hon. Charles R. Skinner, who, on account of his official relations, is now a resident of Albany. Born on the 4th of August, 1844, at Union Square, Oswego County, N. Y., he is a son of the late Hon. Avery Skinner, a worthy New England pioneer who left the granite hills of New Hampshire to seek a home in the richer northern regions of New York State. In October, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ira C. Clark

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.

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

Early Manufacturing, Alstead New Hampshire

Messer Bros.’ turning and planing mill, located in East Alstead, was built for a grist and carding mill, about 100 years ago. About 1862 it came into the possession of William H. Messer, and of the present owners in 1881. They employ six hands in the manufacture of baby-carriage spokes, sapspouts, pails, knife handles, etc. E. P Kidder’s saw-mill and rake factory, located it East Alstead, was originally built for a starch factory, by a Mr. Kidder about fifty years ago, and came into the present proprietor’s hands in 1858. He employs six men and manufactures about 100,000 feet of … Read more

History of the Water Works of Keene, New Hampshire

The matter of supplying Keene with an adequate water supply was agitated at an early date. In 1861 a charter was granted for the purpose, the estimated cost of the proposed works being $40,000.00. Much opposition was met with, however, on the part of some tax payers, which, combined with the troubles of the war, put the matter off. In 1866 the subject again came up, though it was not until August, 1868, that the vote was finally carried. A committee was appointed to act immediately, consisting of Samuel A. Gerould, Edward Joslyn, Thomas H. Leverett, Daniel H. Holbrook and … Read more

Biography of Henry Hooker

Rev. John Hooker, born March 28, 1729, ordained pastor of the Congregational church of Northfield, Mass., was the father of Seth Hooker, who was born October 22. 1759. The latter married Abigail Gay, daughter of Rev. Bunker Gay, May 5, 1789, and settled on the farm of his wife’s father, in Hinsdale, where he continued to reside until his death, May 31, 1844, aged eighty-four years. His children were Sally Gay, born December 25, 1789 and died January 12, 1797. Henry, born July 5, 1791, in Charlestown, N. H.. married Mary Dagget, of Westmoreland, October 23, 1816. In early life … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David Baker

David Baker, son of Thomas, was born in Keene in 1796, married Amanda H. Ellis, and reared a family of eight children. He located upon a farm on road 3, and lived there until his death, in 1868. His widow still resides on the farm.

Biographical Sketch of Abijah Richardson

Abijah Richardson, who was born in this town, moved to Royalston, Mass., where he died in 1840. His son, Leander, born in Royalston, Mass., came here in 1860, has been deputy sheriff three years and is now a policeman.

Biographical Sketch of Elijah Fitch

Elijah Fitch, a blacksmith by trade, and a native of Marlboro, married Eliza Josly, and died August 4, 1876, aged sixty-four years. His widow survives him, a resident of the village, where their son Murray also resides.

Biography of Capt. Thomas Taylor

Capt. Thomas Taylor, a son of Thomas and grandson of John, was a colonial captain and one of the grantees of Northfield. He was born in 1717 and learned the trade of a shoemaker. As a sergeant he was in command of seventeen men who were attacked in this town by twenty-six French and eighty Indians, July 14, 1748, while on a march from Northfield to Fort Dummer. After a desperate resistance Mr. Taylor was captured and carried to Canada, where he was kept in close confinement till September 2d, when he was released, arriving at his home on September … Read more