Artemas Bailey was born in Lunenburg, Mass., January 17, 1800, and married Clarissa Billings. He was a book-binder, and carried on that business in his native place for several years. He moved with his family to Keene, in 1830, and worked at the same business here for several years. He had three children, two of whom, Lizzie A. and Adaline S., live in Keene. He died November 7, 1865, and his widow died February 2, 1893.
Hon. Peleg Sprague became prominent in Keene, in 1792. He was born in Rochester, Mass., December 10, 1756, graduated at Dartmouth college, 1787, and settled in Keene. He was elected to Congress in 1797, to fill a vacancy, and was re-elect-l in 1799. He was taken sick, resigned, returned, and died April 20, 1800.
Alfred T. Batchelder was born in Sunapee, February 26, 1844, was educated at New London and Tilton seminaries, and graduated at Dartmouth college in 1871. He read law with Hon. W. H. H. Allen and Hon. Ira Colby, of Claremont, and was admitted to the bar in 1874. In 7876 he was appointed register in bankruptcy, which office he held until it was abolished. In August, 1877, he settled in Keene, marrying Alice H., daughter of P. B. Hayward, April 24, 1879.
Archibald Robertson, born in Scotland, in 1708, emigrated to America in 1754 with his wife, Elizabeth, and children. He came to Chesterfield, and December 14, 1775, he was chosen to represent Chesterfield and Hinsdale in the provincial congress, that was to assemble at Exeter, the twenty-first of that same month, being the first person ever chosen by the town for such a purpose. James, son of Archibald, came to Chesterfield in 1762, married twice, first, Sarah Bancroft, and second, Mrs. Mary Snow. Ebenezer, one of his large family of children, was born July 7, 1787, married Phila, daughter of Samuel … Read more
It has been ascertained by the old records of the proprietors of the town of Keene, that David Nims, the subject of this sketch-was chosen their scribe as early as July 25, 1737. The town of Keene having received a charter, he was elected first town clerk and town treasurer, at the first legal town meeting, held Wednesday, May 2, 1753, and continued to hold office as clerk, treasurer, selectman or moderator, almost every year till 1776. He was honest, courageous, firm and discreet, and consequently a man of great influence in the town, his simple word possessing almost the … Read more
John W. Prentiss, whose son, W. H. Prentiss. is now one of the Sentinel company, died August 17, 1863, aged fifty-eight years. The following paragraph appeared in the Sentinel of that date: ” John W. Prentiss, whose death is announced in another column, was a son of Hon. John W. Prentiss, the founder of the Sentinel establishment, and probably the oldest editor now living in New England. The son was the junior proprietor and editor of the Sentinel for many years previous to 1847, when he became sole proprietor, and s me five years afterwards disposed of his interest in … Read more
Even at this early date, however, a spirited controversy was in progress between the provinces of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, relative to the position of the boundary line between them (see page 64). The final settlement of this mooted question by King George II., in 1740, left the new township far within the limits of New Hampshire. On the third of October the proprietor held a meeting, to consider this grave subject of, which the following records of proceedings is left: “The proprietors being informed that, by the determination of his majesty in council respecting the controverted bounds between the … Read more
William Albert2 Wilson, son of Harvey1, m. May 1, 1875, in Keene, by Rev. W. O. White; Etta Elvira Kingsbury, b. in Sullivan, Oct. 25, 1857, dau. of Victor Good, and adopted dau. of George and Hannah Elvira (Hale) Kingsbury. She m. (2), Ralph Miner Kittson. Mr. Wilson d. in Nelson; res. both Nelson and Sullivan Two ch.: 1. Grace Mabel3, b. Nelson, Nov. 26, 1875, m. at Roxbury, Mass., June 17, 1898, Raymond Adams Robbins of Boston; b. at New Bedford, Mass., Apr. 8, 1870; son of William A. and Lucy (Kent) Robbins. He was a graduate of Boston … Read more
Ralph J. Holt, son of David, was born in Alstead, September 29, 1812. He taught schools winters and was engaged in farming during the summers. He married Sallie A. Towns, in 1844, and has three children. He moved to Keene in 1846, and was engaged in farming until 1848. He was then elected constable and policeman, holding the latter position for thirty years. In 1854 he was appointed deputy sheriff, which office he held until 1866, when hewn elected sheriff, holding that position for several years, and was again appointed to the office of. deputy sheriff, which he still retains.
John Symonds was born in Hancock, N. H., May 18, 1816, and spent his boyhood in that town. In 1836 he commenced work as an apprentice with Elijah Reed, at his tannery in Hancock, and was employed there and at other places till 1841, when he began the tanning business himself, at South Antrim. But before his tannery was well under way it was destroyed by fire. He lost everything and was left $500.00 in debt. He then went to Salem, where he worked at his trade for a time. In 1848 he removed to Marlow, N. H., when he … Read more
Reuben Stewart was born in Montgomery county, N. Y., January 22, 1819. In 1838 lie was engaged in mercantile business in Saratoga county, which occupation he continued until 1840, when he became a contractor in making the enlargement of the Erie canal, New York, also in building the GrotOn Water Works, at Harlem, N. Y., and the Hartford & New Haven R. R., at New Hartford and Meriden. During the building of the Cheshire railroad, he was engaged as clerk, paymaster and foreman of contractors. Since 1848, he has been in the employ of the Cheshire Railroad Co., being successively … Read more
The First Congregational church of Keene was organized October 18, 1738, with a membership of nineteen males. Rev. John Bacon, the proprietors clerk, was ordained October 18th, and settled over the church. Mr. Bacon graduated at Harvard in 1731. The church, originally built near the south end of Main street, was moved, in 1741, to a site near the present General Wilsons house, and was destroyed with the other buildings in 1747. Mr. Bacon was dismissed upon the evacuation of the town. In 1753, on the return of the settlers, the church was built on the common, and was occupied … Read more
I. Samuel1 Woods of Cambridge, Mass., b. abt. 1636; went to Groton, Mass., in 1662; d. in Groton, Mar. 19, 1712; m. in Cambridge, Mass., Sept. 28, 1659, Alice Rushton, b. abt. 1636. Seven ch.: the first b. in Cambridge, the others in Groton, Mass. II. Samuel2 Woods, son of Samuel1, I, b. Cambridge, Mass., Jan. 3, 1661; m. in Chelmsford, Mass., Dec. 30, 1685, Hannah Farwell, b. Chelmsford, Mass., Jan. 20, 1667-8; dau. of Joseph and Hannah (Learned) Farwell. She m. (2), Capt. Peter Joslin of Lancaster, Mass. Peter’s first wife was slain by the Indians who attacked her … Read more
Dr. Eben Carpenter was born in Coventry, Conn., in 1780, married Judith Green, and reared a family of nine children. He located in Alstead, N. H., where he had a large practice. His only surviving son, George H., is a physician, and resides in Cleveland, O.
Benjamin Bowker, a native of Scituate, Mass., served in the Revolutionary war, was at the battle of Bunker Hill, and died in his native place, aged sixty-eight years. His son Elisha married Sarah Spear, of Quincy, Mass. Pierpont F., one of the five children born to them. married Mary Ann, daughter of Elijah and Ruth (Stoddard) Randall, has three children, and resides in Keene.
Francis Augustus Faulkner, second son of Francis Faulkner and Eliza Stevens, was born in the homestead, on West street, in Keene, February 12, 1825. He early showed a decided inclination for books and study. and after attending the public schools in old Keene academy, he, in 1841, went to Philip Exeter academy to finish his preparation for college. He graduated from Harvard university in the class of 1846, standing high in that class, which numbered such able men as Hon. George F. Hoar, Prof. F. J. Child, Prof. George M. Lane and Dr. Calvin Ellis. The common-place books which he … Read more
Dexter W. Gilbert was born in Walpole, July 19, 1832, attended the common schools and the Saxtons River seminary, Walpole academy and Mount Caesar seminary, was a teacher for several years in the public schools in New England and New York, and a house carpenter by trade. He has resided in Massachusetts, New York, wasconsin, Indiana and Ohio, and came to Keene in 1864, where he has since lived. He was superintendent of the suburban schools of Keene, 1874-78, served two years in each branch of the city government, from 1819 to 1882. In politics he is a Republican, in … Read more
Cheshire National Bank.-The Cheshire Bank was chartered with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, by the state of New Hampshire in 180„ for a period of twenty years, or till 1824,-then till 1844,-and again till 1864, inclusive. The original corporators were judge Daniel Newcomb, Noah Cooke, Esq., and Elijah Dunbar, Esq. John G. Bond, Judge Newcombs sonin-law, procured most of the stock subscriptions, among which are the names of Samuel and Nathan Appleton, Eben Francis, Stephen Salsbury, John Bellows, Josiah Knapp and several others of Boston, Daniel Newcomb, John G. Bond, William Lamson, Moses Johnson, Alexander Ralston, Stephen Harrington, … Read more
Dr. Algernon Sidney Carpenter, son of Dr. Eber and Judith (Greene) Carpenter, was born in Alstead, N. H., October 16, 1814, and was descended from a family pre-eminently distinguished by the large number of skillful physicians it produced. He was educated in the common schools of his native town, and at Middlebury Medical college, from which he received the degree of M. D., in June, 1837. While acquiring his education he taught school in various places, and was, for a short time, in a store at Chesterfield. With the exception of a few years spent in Gardner and Northfield, Mass., … Read more
1. William Henry Harrison2 Woodbury, son of Rufus1 and Charlotte (Knapp) Woodbury, was b. in Northfield, Vt., May 1, 1842; m. May 22, 1866, Ora Ann Dodge Hale, b. Montpelier, Vt., Sept. 24, 1848, dau. of John P. and Susan W. (Going) Hale. He was a soldier in the War of the Rebellion; res. Newport and Hardwick, Vt., and Sullivan Two ch.: John Hale3, b. Apr. 26, 1867, res. in S. on the Asahel Nims Jr. place; m. Dec. 22, 1892, Alice Clinton Dodge, b. Salem, Mass., June 23, 1867; dau. of Charles William and Frances Amelia (Treadwell) Dodge. No … Read more