DAVID WHIPPLE, son of Aaron, was a farmer and man of good judgment. He had an excellent memory, and retained his faculties almost unimpaired until the period of his death, at nearly eighty years of age. To him the editor is indebted for many facts relating to the fathers and mothers of the town.
HON. LEMUEL P. COOPER, born July 18, 1803, is one of the most intelligent and progressive farmers in town. He has always taken a deep interest in the cause of religion and education, as well as politics. He was a popular teacher and superintendent, a trustee of the Industrial School of New Hampshire, twice a representative, twice in the Senate, and was at one time a candidate for Governor of the State.
MAJ. ABIJAH POWERS, son of Ezekiel Powers, one of the earliest settlers of the town, was a man instinctively inclined to leisure and social enjoyments. He was a Major in the war of 1812. He was well educated, and bad a ready judgment, and hence was enabled to fill the offices of Justice, Selectman and Representative with much credit to himself. He was the greatest story-teller the town ever produced, with the exception perhaps of his uncle, Abijah Hall, the father of Capt. Amasa Hall. With him, as with James and other members of the family, in his last days … Read more
JEREMIAH NEWELL, one of the early comers to Croydon, settled at Ryder Corner, and was an extensive farmer, tidy, energetic and proud. His “Hack,” the first in town, was an object of great interest to the” little folks.” He was father to JEREMIAH, who was for a long time a popular sheriff at Newport, of PARKER N., merchant at Newport, and now at Princeton, Ill., of BENJAMIN, merchant and speculator, also at Princeton, Ill., and grandfather of THANKFUL M., daughter of David, a lady of uncommon energy and business talent-late wife of Shepherd L. Bowers, Esq., of Newport.
SARAH C. BRAGG, sister of the above, a lady of much literary merit and one of our most accomplished teachers, was born July 3, 1830. She graduated at Meriden with high honors, in the class of 1852. By her own industry and perseverance she defrayed the expenses of her education. After graduating she went to Georgetown, Mass., and taught a year and a half, she then became principal of the Young Ladies High School at Haverhill, Mass., which position she occupied most acceptably to all for four years, until her marriage with Seth Littlefield, Jr.
DANIEL R. HALL, son of Abijah Hall, and grandson of Lieut. Edward Hall, was born July 3, 1802. He took much interest in the militia; was an efficient officer in the “Croydon Rifle Company;” was Colonel of the 31st Regiment, and Brigade Inspector under Gen. Nathan Emery. He was Town Clerk ten years, Selectman in 1855, and Representative in 1862 and 1863. He is a Director in the First National Bank at Newport. As a Justice he has for many years done most of the business in his section of the town. He married Martha, daughter of James Perkins.
CHARLES PUTNAM, son of Solomon, remained on the homestead, and is an extensive and thriving farmer.
PAINE DURKEE, son of Rufus, was born on the 7th day of October, 1817. He followed the vocation of his father, that of tanner, at the East Village until 1852, when he went to California and worked in the mines one year. In March, 1861, he was elected Representative of Croydon, and in September of the same year enlisted into the military service; was chosen First Lieutenant, and stationed at Fort Constitution in Portsmouth Harbor. He was detailed as Quarter Master, and acted in that capacity until May, 1862, when the illness of his family obliged him to leave the … Read more
AMOS, IRA and CYRUS DWINNELL were in the early days mechanics at the Flat.
AHIRA HALL, son of James Hall, removed to Chautauque County, western New York, where he was an active Justice. His son JOHN, a wealthy lawyer, has been a member of the Assembly of the State. JAMES, a physician, was surgeon in the army, and died in the service. ALBINA, a clergyman, is settled at Girard, Pa.
DR. REUBEN CARROLL, a native of Sutton, Mass., came to Croydon in 1792, and settled near the Four Corners. He was the first physician in town, and for more than forty years was a successful practitioner. In 1840, he was thrown from his carriage and killed. (See Oration of Dr. Stow.)
ELISABETH RUMBLE, a spinster, was noted for her great age-a hundred years-and her many eccentricities. At the trout-brook she was the rival of the famous Isaak Walton.
LUCY MIRANDA WHEELER, daughter of James and Ruth Putnam Wheeler, and granddaughter of Dea. Nathaniel Wheeler, married Rev. Josiah Swett, an Episcopal clergyman, now residing in Burlington, Vt.
PLINY HALL, Son of Martin, and grandson of Capt. Edward Hall, was born Sept. 21, 1817. At the age of seven, on the death of his father, he went to live with his uncle Calvin Hall, and labored on the farm until he was twenty-one. In 1842 he entered the store of Ruel Durkee, Esq., where he was principal clerk for nine years, and was chief clerk to his successor for three years. He then returned to farming, which occupation he has since followed. He was appointed U. S. Assistant Census Marshal in 1850 ; was elected Representative in 1851 … Read more
VASHTI TOWNE, a sister of John, born May 8, 1813, was educated at Kimball Union Academy; taught school in her native town, three years at Norwich Institute, nine years at Portsmouth, Va., and fifteen years at Washington, D. C. While at the latter place she had under her instruction the sons of President Lincoln and also those of Presi dent Grant. She was an intimate friend of Mrs. President Fillmore who was a relative. She died in 1869 at Newport, NH.
Revolutionary War The sympathies of the first settlers of Croydon were early enlisted in the Revolutionary struggle. Soon after the Battle of Lexington, they sent Eleazer Leland and Abner Brigham to join the Provincial army; enrolled a company of twelve minute-men; raised eight pounds to purchase a town supply of ammunition, and chose Moses Whipple, Stephen Powers, Phineas Sanger, Abner Brigham and Joseph Hall a "committee of safety." In 1777 nine men from Croydon joined a company of militia, commanded by Captain Solomon Chase, of Cornish, and marched to Ticonderoga. Eight men joined the company of Captain Hardy, of Hanover, … Read more
Rev. JACOB WORTHEN HALL AMES, son of Jacob Ames, was born May 7, 1838, and died at Middletown, Ct., June 12, 1866. He was married July 12, 1864, to Miss Tillie Mathison, of Middletown. He fitted for College at the New Hampshire Conference Seminary, and graduated at the head of his class from Wesleyan University in 1864. He received his first regular appointment in 1864, and was stationed at Berlin, Ct., where he remained one year. He was then transferred to the N. E. Conference and stationed at Chelsea, Mass., and at the end of the year was re-appointed to … Read more
GILMAN C. WHIPPLE, Son of Moses, and grandson of Aaron Whipple, was born March 18, 1837. He is a most popular and successful merchant at Lebanon, N. H. Married in 1864, Clara, daughter of Samuel Wood, of Lebanon.
HON. CHARLES ROWELL, son of Lemuel Rowell, removed from “Ryder Corner” to Allenstown, N. H., where he died Jan. 11, 1867, aged 82 years. He was intrusted with many civil offices. He was Selectman of his town twentyfour years, Justice of the Peace about the same number of years, a Representative to the State Legislature four years, County Treasurer two years, and State Senator two years. He had been an earnest and consistent member of the Methodist E. Church for fifty-eight years. EDMUND ROWELL, a brother of the preceding, studied medicine and settled in Merrimac County, where he died young. … Read more
JOHN TOWN, son of John Town, was born Aug. 17, 1805, He was educated at Newport Academy. In June, 1840, he was appointed Deputy Secretary of State, which office he held for four successive years, often doing the duties of the Secretary. He was elected Register of Deeds for Sullivan County, in 1851, and was re-elected in 1852,1858 and 1854. He was often elected to minor offices. He was a teacher by profession, and in it was quite successful.