Nathan Wood, son of Joshua, who was one of the early settlers of Keene, was born here May 31, 1800. He was a blacksmith and farmer, married Lorinda Ruggles, of Rutland, Vt.. and bad born to him four children, as follows: Susan E.. widow of Hon. J. J. Allen, Jr., lives in town; Nathan, died December 4, 1861; Julia R. W., widow of Levi Porter; and Sarah L., both in Keene.
Arad Fletcher, son of Arad H., was born in Chesterfield May 20. 1823, and in 1848 married Martha S. Hall, of Chesterfield, and settled in Factory village, where he worked at finishing bits and augers, until about 1853 or 1854, when his health becoming improved he moved to the center of the town, where he lived until 1868, when he moved to the county alms-house, located at Westmoreland, as superintendent. He served in his capacity until 1883, when he moved to Keene, where he now lives. Mr. Fletcher represented the town of Chesterfield in 1859 and 1860, and also as … Read more
Lanmon Nims was born in Sullivan, February 3, 18r 1. He is the son the late Asahel and Mary (Heaton) Nims, and great-great-grandson of David Nims, one of the first inhabitants of the town of Keene, the first clerk of proprietors, and the first town clerk. Mr. Nims had comparatively few e educational advantages, but such was his diligence as a reader of history an current items of event, that he became in his maturity, a man of very extensive information. Having served his apprenticeship at the carpenter trade, with Dexter Spaulding, of Sullivan, in 1831, he continued to work … Read more
James and Samuel Thompson came from Londonderry, Mass., and settled within the limits of the present town of Holden, Mass., in 1718. They were Scotch Irish, and both died in 1755. Thomas, son of Samuel, married and settled in Royalston; Mass., in 1769. His wife died and he married again, about 1782, and soon after came to Keene, residing just south of the chairfactory. He reared a family of eight children, six sons,-Thomas, Isaac, Aaron, Daniel, John and Luther,-and two daughters. His son Daniel bought the “Statia farm” about 1823, where he spent the remainder of his life. His children … Read more
The Cheshire County Agricultural Society has grounds here, twenty-six acres in extent, with all the buildings and accessories necessary to a firstclass exhibition, which annually is made. In laying out the grounds the forest trees were permitted to stand along the avenues where the cattle pens are located, so that visitors may view the specimens and be well protected from sun or rain. The grounds are about a mile and a half distant from the cityhall. The Agricultural Society was organized January 16, 1850, when Salma Hale, of Keene, was chosen president; A. B. Hodskins, of Walpole, Edmund Jones, of … Read more
The Keith family is one of the oldest of southeastern Massachusetts. Its founder in America was Rev. James Keith, born in 1644, who came to America, landing in Boston in 1662. He became minister of the Bridgewater Church, where he administered to the spiritual needs of the people for half a century. He died July 23, 1719. He was twice married. His first wife was Susannah Edson, daughter of Deacon Samuel Edson.
James and Samuel Thompson came from Londonderry, Mass., and settled within the limits of the present town of Holden, Mass., in 1718. They were Scotch Irish, and both died in 1755. Thomas, son of Samuel, married and settled in Royalston; Mass., in 1769. His wife died and he married again, about 1782, and soon after came to Keene, residing just south of the chairfactory. He reared a family of eight children, six sons,-Thomas, Isaac, Aaron, Daniel, John and Luther,-and two daughters. His son Daniel bought the “Statia farm” about 1823, where he spent the remainder of his life. His children … 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
Jacob Hart, son of Daniel, was born at Reading, Mass., January 19, 1776. During his early childhood, his father bought a farm at Groton, Mass., where he moved with his family. Jacob was one of ten brothers who subsequently became enterprising men, and settled in nearly as many different states. He married Rachel, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Ferrett) Haynes, who was born at Natick, Mass., February 2, 1786. They were married August 7, 1808. He soon after went to Lunenburg, Mass., where he remained untie 1821, when he bought a large farm in the western part of Keene, to … Read more
As early as 1661 John Remington and his wife Abigail were at Haverhill, where their children, Daniel and Hannah, were born. John Remington is credited by one writer as being the emigrant ancestor from Wales of the Rhode Island Remingtons. He appears of record as early as 1669 at Jamestown, R. I., where Aug. 28th of that year he and two others were ordered to assemble inhabitants of Conanicut Island to consider what might be most suitable for defense and preservation against any invasion or insurrection of the Indians. He had been earlier at Haverhill, Mass. (1661), and Andover. He was one of the grantees in 1677 of what became East Greenwich, R. I. He and his sons were taxed in 1680. In 1695 he gave his son Thomas Remington, of Warwick, a deed for his Haverhill interests, and redeeded to him the same in 1709, he then being apparently of Warwick, R. I., the former deed having become “damnified through disaster.”
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.
Massa Bassett, from Keene, N. H., came to Eden in the spring of 1808, locating near the western border of the town, where he reared a family of eight children, and was a leader among his townsmen for many years. George, his second son, born in z8 10, resided here until his death, in 1899, leaving a family of five children. George was for many years actively interested in town affairs, holding many of the town offices. Two of his children now reside here. William G., born in 1838, is a large real estate owner, located on road a1. He. … Read more
KEENE, as a city, was brought into existence by an act of the legislature, approved July 3, 1873, incorporating the same, subject to the acceptance, by a majority of votes, of the city charter so enacted. In March, 1874, the act was accepted by a vote of 783 to 589. The new government was duly organized May 5, 1874, Hon. Horatio Colony being elected mayor. As previously stated, the entire township was included within the city limits, and is divided into five wards. The city proper, how ever, is the old village of Keene, which President Dwight pronounced ” one … Read more
Phinehas Wright of Hartford, Conn., m. Zilpha Cooper of Westmoreland, N. H., settled at Walpole and removed to Keene abt. 1796. Caleb2 Wright, son of Phinehas, b. Feb. 15, 1794, d. Keene, Nov. 21, 1869; m. Dec. 7, 1815, Sarah Reed, b. Surry, July 14, 1796, d. Keene, Nov. 16, 1838. Among their fifteen children, was: Calvin3, b. Keene, Mar. 13, 1816; d. Gilsum, Feb. 16, 1907; m. Diantha Leborveau of Keene, and had six children. Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Wright lived in S., on the Old Kemp or John Dunn place for a few years, and had born here: … Read more
Augustus M. Rice was a soldier in the Rebellion, serving first in the 1st Mass. Cav., second in Co. I, 92d N. Y. Vols.. third in Co. F, Mass. H. A., and fourth in Co. C, 53d Mass. Vols. He was honorably discharged after having been in the army four years and three months. He married Mrs. Julia Foss, daughter of Timothy and Hannah Ellis, of Keene, and now resides in this town.
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
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
Joseph Perry was born in Westminster, Vt., May 30, 1788. His father, Silas Perry, married Catharine Hale (both natives of Massachusetts), in 1783. Silas served in the Revolutionary war, and, in 1800, moved with his family o Keene, locating upon a farm on road 4. Joseph prepared for college in the preparatory schools, and graduated from Dartmouth in 1811. He was the appointed preceptor of the academy connected with this college, where he remained until November, 1816. He then went to New York city and engaged in the business of a private classical and mathematical teacher, for which h had … Read more
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.
1 CEPHAS CLARK, b Keene, N.H., July 17, 1784; d Glover, Vt., Aug. 8, 1858; s Cephas and Jemima (Griggs) Clark. m Sept. 26, 1805, Deborah Wilbur, b Westmoreland, N.H., Apr. 18, 1790; d Glover, Vt., July 23, 1850; d Rev. Nathaniel and Deborah Wilbur. Issue: 2 Caleb Aldrich, b Westmoreland, N.H., Dec. 14, 1807; d Glover, July 10, 1883. 2 Cephas Cheney, b Rutland, Vt., Sept. 30, 1809; d Glover, Oct. 23, 1869. 2 Amasa Ford, b Rutland, June 22, 1811; d Wilmington, Mass., Sept. 5, 1879. 2 Alvah Warren, b Keene, N.H., July 9, 1813; d Glover, June … Read more