Keene New Hampshire

Biographical Sketch of Dea. Luke Joslin

Dea. Luke Joslin, born in Stoddard, December 22, 1797, married Lydia, daughter of Samuel Foster, of Stoddard, November 24; 1824. They lived in `Leominster Corner” until 1840, when they moved to a farm near the village. He held many offices of trust while in town, and was a deacon of the Congregational church for some years. They sold their farm and moved to Keene in April, 1855, where he died June 3, 1875. His widow is still living, at the age of eighty-four years. They had three children born in Stoddard, Gilman Joslin, born December 4, 1825, married Susan Wilson, … Read more

Biography of John Colony

John Colony, son of a nobleman, was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1730, and came to Boston when he was sixteen years of age. He had with him a bag of gold which was subsequently stolen from him, leaving him but four cents. After paying the toll to Charleston he had two cents left and had had no breakfast. He, however, obtained a half cord of wood to saw, thus enabling him to buy himself something to eat. He prospered, being willing to do any kind of work he could get to do. He came to Keene in 1761, and … Read more

The Second Congregational Church of Keene New Hampshire

The Second Congregational church was organized October 16, 1867, with one hundred and twenty-three members, who had seceded from the First church for that purpose. The building and organ cost $35,000.00, and was completed, paid for, and dedicated September 16, 1869, when Rev. Joseph Allen Leach was installed as pastor. Mr. Leach is a native of Rockingham, Vermont, born April 15, 1836, graduated at Amherst college in 1861, at Andover Theological school in 1864, was commissioned chaplain of the 19th Regt. U. S. A., and first settled in Keene as a colleague of Dr. Barstow, at the close of the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry Coolidge

Henry Coolidge was born in Massachusetts, July 1.4, 1787, and married Calista Pond, who was born September 18, 1791. He came to Keene when quite young, and clerked in Fosters store at Ash Swamp, for a time. He was clerk of the court of common pleas for many years. He was very highly respected, and was often consulted on legal points, although not a lawyer. He was a surveyor, and did a great deal of that business. He died March 20, 1843. Only one of his six children is living, Jane F., who married Dr. A. S. Carpenter, and resides … Read more

Catholic Church of Keene, NH

Catholic church. – The Catholics of Keene were first united under the Rev. John Brady in 1857. He built the present church and purchased the cemetery. His successors were Rev. Fathers OHara, Parache, Herbert, Murphy, Holohan and Galvin. The present pastor is Rev. J. R. Power, who has purchased a site and is engaged in erecting a school and convent. The parish embraces the neighboring tows of Marlboro, Fitzwilliam, Troy, Swanzey and Gilsum, and numbers about 2,500 souls.

Biographical Sketch of Massa Bassett

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

Biographical Sketch of Adin Holbrook

Adin Holbrook, who served in the Revolutionary war and was at the battle of Bennington, was born in Wrentham, Mass., March 22, 1752. He came to Keene about 1777, built a sawmill in the western part of the town, and about 1780 settled upon the farm now owned by his grandson, W. H. Holbrook, on road 6. He married Hannah Day, reared five children-two sons and three daughters.and died in 1843. He and his son Adin. Jr., built an oilmill on this farm. Enos, the second son of Adin, was also a noted millwright and was born on the homestead. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of C. F. Rowell

C. F. Rowell, born in Goshen, N. H., came to Keene in 1851, and worked as a carriage painter, in the employ of French Bros., twenty-one years. He traversed the entire state of New Hampshire as correspondent for the New Hampshire Patriot, at which occupation he spent three years. He was station agent for Connecticut River & Ashuelot R. R., from June 1877, until June 1884, and since then has been agent for the recovery of lost freight on the Cheshire R. R. He was sergeant-at-arms of the New Hampshire house, under J. A. Weston, and has been twice Democratic … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hon. John J. Allen Jr.

Hon. John J. Allen, Jr., was born at Fitzwilliam, N. H., March 12, 1818, and received his education at the common schools. He was a teacher many years, represented the town of Fitzwilliam in the legislature four years, and two years in the state senate. He married twice, first, Sarah E. Horton, of Gilsum, who bore him one child, Agnes, who died when young. He married for his second wife, Susan E. Wood, of Keene. Mr Allen was editor of the New Hampshire Sentinel a short time, and was also editor of the Clinton Courant, of Clinton, Mass. He was … Read more

Biography of Capt. Horace Truman Hanks Pierce

Captain Horace Truman Hanks Pierce, son of Ezekiel Porter Pierce and Susanna Porter, was born at Chesterfield, New Hampshire, February 22, 1822. He was brought up on the homestead farm, and -enjoyed such scholastic advantages as the common school and academy in Chesterfield afforded. He also pursued a partial course at Norwich University, Vt., which, in addition to the usual collegiate and scientific courses of study, imparted instruction in military tactics. Being naturally of a military turn of mind, he gave considerable attention to this branch study while in the university, and in after years turned his martial acquirements to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Farnum F. Lane

Farnum F. Lane, son of Ezekiel, was born in Swanzey, March 15; 1816, He studied law in Keene, with Thomas M. Edwards, and was admitted to the bar in 1843. He married Harriet E. Butler, of Winchester, and has had born to him three children, two of whom are living, Helen L. and Emily B. The latter resides at home, and Helen L. married Gustavus Luke, and resides in Sherbrook, P. Q. Mr. Lane represented the town of Walpole in the legislature, in 1847-48, and represented Keene in 1861-6z. He located in this town in 1849, and has since resided … Read more

Genealogy of Cephas Clark

Among the ambitious and adventurous spirits that sought homes in the northern part of Vermont were three sons of Cephas Clark, namely Silas, Samuel, and Cephas, all of whom settled in Glover. The design of this work is to treat from now on of the history of the three sons of Cephas Clark who emigrated to and settled in the northern part of Vermont.

Biographical Sketch of James Thompson

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

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Spaulding

Thomas Spaulding, a native of New Ipswich, Mass., married Hannah Brown, of Concord, about s800. He was a carpenter by trade, and built the first church erected in Hancock, Hillsborough county. He moved to Dublin, from Hancock, and from there to Sullivan. He reared a family of ten children-seven sons and three daughters. Only one his children, Ashley, is living. He was born January 21, 1805, and lived upon the home farm sixtysix years. He married, for his first wife, Clarissa Keith, who bore him two children, and for his second wife, Sallie Davis, who bore him three children. He … Read more

Samuel Woods Genealogy

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

Biographical Sketch of Arad Fletcher

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

Fair Grounds And Trotting Park of Keene, NH

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

Biography of Henri G. Blaisdell

Henri G. Blaisdell, an accomplished musician of Concord, N.H., was born in Dorchester, N.H., October 23, 1850, son of Pettingill and Laurette (Lillis) Blaisdell. He is originally of Scotch descent. His paternal grandfather was Sanborn Blaisdell, who was long a resident, and presumably a native, of Dorchester, in which town he was engaged in farming and where he spent his last years. He married Mehitable Sanborn. Pettingill Blaisdell, father of Henri G., was born in Dorchester in 1824. He received his education in the district schools and subsequently engaged in the business of manufacturing and selling lumber, for many years … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Rev. David Darling

Rev. David Darling came to this town, from Wrentham, Mass., about 1785, was a Congregational minister, and settled upon the place where his son Daniel now resides, on road 6. He built the house now occupied by the latter, about a hundred years ago. He reared a family of sixteen children, and died in March. 1836. Daniel, the only child now living, was born on the home farm May 15, 1807, and has always resided here.

St. James Episcopal Church of Keene NH

St. James Episcopal church.-The history of St. James church, of Keene, dates from the year 1858. Previous to this time, however, services had been held as opportunity offered by various clergymen. About the year 1816 the Rev. Mr. Leonard, rector of St. Pauls church, Windsor, Vt., visited Keene, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Dunham and other parishioners, and held several services in the village. Soon after their visit the regular services of the church were conducted for several weeks, probably by the Rev. James Morse, of Newburyport, Mass., in the old court-house, then standing on the site of what is … Read more