Hinsdale New Hampshire

Rev. Bunker Gay

Rev. Bunker Gay, born in Dedham, Mass., was educated at Harvard college, and was ordained a clergyman in the Congregational church. He came to Hinsdale in 1763, and was the first settled pastor of the Congregational church in the town. His church was located near the residence of Mr. Ivory S. Ide, and his parish embraced the whole town and Vernon, which was then included in Hinsdale. When Vermont became a state, and Vernon a sepa- rate town, that territory was taken from his parish, and left his church weak in members and property. He continued the nominal pastor during … Read more

Lodema Hepsibah Todd Ketcham of Richland City WI

KETCHAM, Lodema Hepsibah Todd8, (Caleb7, Jehiel6, Stephen5, Stephen4, Samuel3, Samuel2, Christopher1) born Oct. 25, 1828, in Hinsdale, N. H., died April 19, 1891, married Dec. 31, 1856, William Ketcham, who was born May 24, 1819, died Sept. 14, 1879. Their children were all born in Richland City, Wis., where also they both died. He represented his district in the state Legislature several years. Children: I. Charles Bates, b. Feb. 8, 1858. II. William Jagger, b. March 21, 1859. III. Abigail Rebecca, b. April 5, 1863, d. April 10, 1863. IV. Maggie Louise, b. Jan. 8, 1865, d. Aug. 8, 1879.

Biographical Sketch of Rev. Henry H. Hamilton

Rev. Henry H. Hamilton, born in Chester, Mass., February 1, 1842, fitted for college at Williston seminary and graduated from Amherst in 1868, from Union Theological seminary, New York, in 1871, and also passed an extra year at Andover Theological seminary. He was installed pastor of the Union Congregational church of Westfield, Mass., June 4, 1872, and continued its pastor just five years. His next settlement was over the Congregational church of Hinsdale, March 1, 1878, where he still remains.

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

Louisa Ann Todd Richards of Worcester MA

RICHARDS, Louisa Ann Todd8, (Caleb7, Jehiel6, Stephen5, Stephen4, Samuel3, Samuel2, Christopher1) born Nov. 2, 1834, in Hinsdale, N. H., died April 8, 1870, in Worcester, Mass., married April 8, 1863, Seth Richards, of Worcester, Mass., who was born Nov. 21, 1828. He was an instructor of music, also a singer and had a fine voice. Child: I. Cora Louise, b. Sept. 6, 1865, m. Nov. 7, 1888, George M. Bassett.

Biographical Sketch of Rev. John G. Bennett

Rev. John G. Bennett was born in Swanzey, July 17, 1812. He attended the district schools until sixteen years of age, when he attended a private school in Winchester, taught by Rev. Mr. Cushman, a Methodist clergyman. He next attended the Methodist Institute, located at Newbury, Vt., where he instructed several classes and occasionally preached. Before going to Newbury he was employed to preach under the direction of the presiding elder; being at that time only eighteen years of age. In 1836 he married Ruth C Britton, of Westmoreland, N. H., and soon after joined the Vermont and New Hampshire … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Rose

Samuel Rose, born at Groton, Conn., in 1786, married Mary Brooks, a native of Norwich, Conn., and came to Hinsdale in 1810. He located on “Meeting-house hill,” now Brattleboro street, and built the house now occupied by Londus Doolittle. Here he lived a few years, working at his trade of carpenter and builder, then built a two-story house on the site now occupied by the fine Union school building, and entered into a co-partnership with Samuel Spencer, in operating a grist and saw-mill, and carried on an extensive business for that time. in the manufacture and sale of lumber. He … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William S. Leonard

William S. Leonard, M. D., son of Rev. Levi W. Leonard, D. D., was born in Dublin, N. H., October 13, 1832. He graduated at Dartmouth in 1856, studied medicine with Dr. Albert Smith, of Peterboro, N. H., and received his diploma of Dartmouth, in May, 1860. In the following October he located in Hinsdale village, where he still carries on a successful practice. He was associated in practice with Dr. Frederick Boyden during the last ten years of the latter’s life.

Early Settlement of Hinsdale, New Hampshire

In the spring of 1673 a settlement was made at Northfield, which was attacked by the Indians in September, 1675, and soon after was abandoned to be re-settled in 1685, when a fort and grist-mill were erected. In the meantime, May 19, 1676, occurred the memorable fight below the mouth of Miller’s river, when Captain Turner, though at first victorious, was subsequently slain, with thirty-seven of his men, by King Philip and his braves. All through King William’s, Queen Anne’s and Father Ralle’s wars, this section was an unguarded frontier, constantly exposed to the depredations of the Indians. But in … Read more

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 Dwight Leonard Sanderson

Dwight Leonard Sanderson was born in Chesterfield, N. H., May 21, 1822. He married and settled upon the homestead of his grandfather, which he still owns, where he lived a few years and carried on farming and dealt in livestock and merchandise. About 1857 he moved to Winhall, Vt, where he resided five years, engaged in farming and stock dealing. In 1862 he came to Hissdale, where he now resides. Here he has been a farmer, live stock dealer and merchant. Only two of his five sons settled in the town. Elliot married Betsey Darling, was a successful farmer, accumulated … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Simeon Horton

Simeon Horton, born at Milton, Mass., in 1784, came to Hinsdale about 1816, and finally located a home on road 15, where his son’s widow, Mrs. Mary A.. now resides. Here he remained till his death in 186o, aged seventysix years. He was a prominent man in town affairs, held the offices of selectman and justice of the peace several terms, and was the father and leader of the temperance cause here. Of his three sons and three daughters, one son died in infancy, and the others all settled in the town, though only one is now living, Mrs. Ivory … 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.

Biographical Sketch of George P. Hooker

George P. Hooker, son of the venerable Henry Hooker, born May 3 1820, married Lucretia J. Ashcroft, October 25, 1843, and settled upon the farm he now occupies in 1849. He began life without any means, but with habits of industry and sterling integrity combined with sound judgment. the time he settled here this farm contained only fourteen acres of tillable land, and his barn, a structure 24×34 feet, was sufficiently large to store crops. Without adding anything to the size of his farm, however, he added to the capacity of his barn till the structure is 40×100 feet, eighteen, … Read more

Biography of Hon. William Haile

Hon. William Haile, son of John and Emma (Henry) Haile. was born in Putney, Vt., in May 1807. At the age of about fourteen years he went with his parents to Chesterfield, and was soon after taken into the family of Ezekiel P. Pierce, Sr., with whom he lived until he was about twenty-one years of age. Having attended school about two years, he entered, in 1823, Mr. Pierce’s store as clerk, and in 1827 or 1828 he borrowed a small amount of money and opened a store on his own account, in the Center Village. With his characteristic sagacity, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Holland

George W. Holland, born in Chesterfield, N. H., in 1824, was educated in the public schools of his district and at Chesterfield Academy. In early life be engaged as a dry goods clerk, and was also in an Ohio book-store for a time. In 1851 he came to Hinsdale and engaged in the general merchandise business, where he has continued since. He represented his townsmen in the state legislature in 1878 and 1881, has held the office of town clerk twenty-five years, and also other town offices.

Biographical Sketch of Daniel Thomas

Daniel, Amos, Israel, and Nathan Thomas, sons of one of the early pioneers, all settled here themselves as pioneers. Nathan married Marion Coats, and settled as a farmer in the northern part of the town. His children were Nathan, Charles, Frederick, Gideon, Thankful, Eunice, Electa and Marion. Nathan Thomas, Jr., was born in Fort Hinsdale, and settled on the place where his son Franklin and Waldo Rouillard now reside. He married Abigail Butler, and had born to him ten children, only two of whom now reside in the town-Mrs. Ellen Tyler and Franklin. The latter, at the age of seventy-three … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hon. Caleb Todd

Hon. Caleb Todd, or “Esq.” Todd, as he was more familiarly known, was for many years one of the most prominent and influential citizens of Hinsdale. He was born in Wallingford, Conn., March 16, 1785, resided and did business in Cooperstown, N. Y.. a few years, taking up his abode in Hinsdale in 1815. Here he was one of the pioneer manufacturers, and was widely known as a manufacturer of woolens for a great number of years. At his death, May 21, 1871, he was the oldest citizen of Hinsdale. Mr. Todd was twice married and reared eight children, five … Read more

Narrative of the Captivity of Frances Noble – Indian Captivities

Narrative of the captivity of Frances Noble, who was, among others, taken by the Indians from Swan Island, in Maine, about the year 1755; compiled by John Kelly, Esq. of Concord, New Hampshire, from the minutes and memoranda of Phinehas Merrill. Esq. of Stratham, in the same state; and by the Former Gen. Tleman communicated for publication to the editors of the Historical Collections of New Hampshire.

Biographical Sketch of Rev. John Brockway

Rev. John Brockway, the first Universalist preacher in Surry, settled in that town at a very early day and died there about 1810. He was the father of four sons and two daughters. John, the eldest, was an officer in the war of 1812, and died at Schenectady, N. Y. Cephas was a goldsmith and a noted dentist. Rufus was a farmer, and Calvin emigrated to Ohio, where he accumulated a large fortune. Lockhart W. Brockway, a grandson of Rev. John and son of John, was born in Surry and came to Hinsdale in 1819. He boasts the honor of … Read more