Cheshire County NH

Biographical Sketch of Jonas Pierce

Asa and Betsey (Pike) Pierce, from Weston, Mass., located in Dublin about 1786. After a few years he died, leaving his widow and two sons, Asa and Jonas. July 29, 1790, his widow married Thomas Davidson, and removed to Jaffrey. Jonas Pierce, second son of Asa, was born in Dublin, April 8, 1788. He married Lucinda, daughter of Benjamin Bailey, of Jaffrey, September 1, 1811. She died in 1838. He married, second, Mrs. Polly Bowers, September 11, 1838, who died March 2, 1895, aged eighty-five years. He died May 28, 1857. He was one of the prosperous farmers of Jaffrey. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Abiathar Wetherell

The second family that located in the town was that of Abiathar Wetherell, who came from Westmoreland, N. H., in 1798. In 1803, there came from the same place Zephaniah Leach and his four sons, Stephen, Nathan, William, and Jacob. He first settled on East hill, above where Nathan Page now lives , but afterward removing to the village, in connection with his son Nathan he built the first saw and grist-mill in town.

History of Education in Keene, New Hampshire

Although Keene is divided into eleven school districts, No. i is the metropolitan, called Union district, and includes the schools of the city proper. The suburban districts partake largely of the characteristics of rural schools. The following table gives a fair idea of the citys buildings and school facilities :- School House Pearl street 72 $ 525 00 1,$-3,500 00 $ 4,025 00 116 School street, old building. 41 400 00 2,000 00 2,400 00 112 School St., new building.. 141 125 00 3,111 00 3,236 00 98 Fuller school 5A 300 00 4,155 00 3,455 00 112 Washington street … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry O. Coolidge

Henry O. Coolidge, whose father, Oscar, was one of the early merchants of the town, was born January 5. 1830. In 1849 and 1870 he engaged in trade at the Center village in partnership with Hon. C. J. Amidon; from ’51 to ’62 (excepting ’54, when he was in Brattleboro. Vt.) with his father; from ’62 to ’66, alone. He was also postmaster about eight years; town clerk from ’52 to ’69, with exception of the years ’54 and ’68; selectman ’60, ’61, ’65 and ’67; representative ’67. In 1869 he removed to Keene, where he now resides, cashier of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John E. Fisher

John E. Fisher was born near St. Johns, N. B., in 1525, on Darling’s Island, which was the property of his grandfather, Captain Darling. His father, Richard, was a blacksmith, and removed to Boston about 1825, and ten years later moved to Quincey, Mass. He was one of the first four abolitionists in the town. His son John served seven years apprenticeship at stone cutting, working on the Boston custom-house. He had worked on government work in Boston about fifteen years before the Rebellion began. About three days after the firing on Fort Sumpter, he was placed in charge of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Pierce

Samuel Pierce came to Jaffrey, from Rindge, married Hettie Brooks, and reared a family of ten children, three of whom are now living. His son Charles W. married Abbie G. Gowing, of Dublin, who bore him thirteen children, eight of whom are dead. His widow now occupies the home farm here with her son Frank E., who married Ida M., daughter of James M. and Jane M. (Chandler) Hannaford.

Biographical Sketch of Aaron Royce

Aaron Royce came from Rhode Island at an early day. He has four children, one son and three daughters. His son David was born in town, married Harriet Streeter, of Hinsdale. N. H., and located in Hinsdale. After living here and in different parts of New Hampshire and Vermont for severa years, he moved to Charleston, Vt., where he and his wife both died. He reared a family of nine children, six of whom are living. Of these, Burnham lives in Boston; Harriet married H. Osman, and lives in Vermont; Cynthia in Lyndon, Vt.; Charles and Clark in Charleston, Vt.; … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dudley Smith

Dudley Smith was born at Dracut, Mass., February 10, 1772. He was twice married, first, to Hannah Graham, who bore him four children, as fol. lows: Dudley, Daniel, Dinsmore, and Hannah G. He married, for his second wife, Betsey Rollins, August 13, 1822, and had born to him four more children, as follows : Daniel. Joseph E., Eliza A., and Elbridge. He was a cabinet maker by trade, and when he first came to the town he cleared land by day, and worked at his trade till eleven at night, and from four in the morning till daylight. In 1849 … Read more

Baptist Church of Alstead New Hampshire

In December 1790, a Calvinist Baptist church was organized at the Center, which became quite large and was for many years very prosperous. At length, in connection with the Universalist society, formed in May, 1820, they erected a church building at Alstead village and finally became extinct.

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 Asa Fisk

Asa Fisk came to what is now Harrisville, from Rutland, Mass., in 1800 or 1801, and settled on the farm where his grandson, Levi W., now lives, and died there in 1829. His son Parker, eight years of age when he came here with his father, reared six children, only three of whom lived to maturity, and occupied the home farm until his death, in October, 1866. Levi W. married May B. Priest, of Hancock, N. H., who died in 1863, and lives on the old homestead.

Biographical Sketch of William Barker

William Barker came from Acton, Mass., and located in Nelson, in 1780. He was a soldier under General Washington, in the French and Indian war, and, with two of his sons, served in the Revolution, and was at the battle of Concord. His son Thaddeus, who came here with his father, had a family of eleven children, and died in 1843. His son Chauncey, the only child now living, was born in 1809, and has lived forty-six years on the place he now occupies. William Barker was town clerk and town representative for many years. Thaddeus also took an active … Read more

Captivity and Redemption of Mrs. Jemima Howe – Indian Captivities

Map of Indian Town of Missiskoui

A particular account of the captivity and redemption of Mrs. Jemima Howe, who was taken prisoner by the Indians at Hinsdale, New Hampshire, on the twenty-seventh of July, 1765, as communicated to Dr. Belknap by the Rev. Bunker Gay. As Messrs. Caleb Howe, Hilkiah Grout, and Benjamin Gaffield, who had been hoeing corn in the meadow, west of the river, were returning home, a little before sunset, to a place called Bridgman’s fort, they were fired upon by twelve Indians, who had ambushed their path. Howe was on horseback, with two young lads, his children, behind him. A ball, which … Read more

Military of Fitzwilliam NH

During the late war Fitzwilliam furnished 168 men for the service, 162 of whom were volunteers or substitutes for enrolled men not drafted. Of the thirty drafted men, twenty-two were excused for disability, one emigrated to Canada, one was excused as alien, four served, and two furnished substitutes, Of the total number furnished, forty-four were killed or died of disease while in the service. The total amount of money furnished by the town was $29, 933.37, of which $1,500.00 was reimbursed by the state, and $886.00 by the United States, leaving a net expense of $27,547.37.

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

Biographical Sketch of Isaac Davis

Isaac Davis, a native of Royalston, Vt., and brought up at Princeton, Mass., came here March 11, 1839. He is a blacksmith by trade, and, in 1877, invented the compound force cartridge, which he patented the same year. It is intended for shooting long distances, and the principal has been acted upon for heavy ordinances for piercing iron-clad vessels. By dividing the charge of powder great accumulative force is gained.

General History of Dublin NH

DUBLIN lies in the extreme eastern part of the county, in lat. 45° 54′ and long. 4° 59′, bounded north by Harrisville, east by Peterboro, in Hillsboro county, south by Jaffrey, and west by Marlboro. It was originally granted by the proprietors of land purchased of John Tufton Mason, to Matthew Thornton and thirty-nine others, November 3, 1749, the charter being given by Col. Joseph Blanchard, of Dunstable, and was called Monadnock No. 3, or North Monadnock. The grant comprised an area of thirty-six square miles, or a territory seven miles long and five wide, and was given under the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Alexander Chandler

Alexander, son of Clark Chandler, married Lydia J. Herrick, April 29,, 1839, and died June 29. 1881. His widow resides on 14 1/2. Their children were Maria F., Francis Mason, Harriet Barber and Clark Nelson.

Biographical Sketch of Ithamer Chamberlain

Ithamer Chamberlain was born at Oxford, Mass., in 1745, married Hephzibah Farr, in 1770, and settled in Chesterfield during that year. He built the grist-mill on the place where the upper one now stands, at the West Village, about 1810. He was killed by a runaway horse, September 19, 1825, at the age of eighty years. His children were Rebecca, Samuel, Anna, Benjamin, Polly, Ithamer and Hephzibah. Joshua Wilder, Jr., grandson of Samuel, now resides at Factory Village. His son David W. is in the employ of Currier Brothers.