Philemon Wright, a soldier of the war of 1812, married Abigail Bigelow, and reared six children. He came to Keene, from Worcester, Mass., in 1833, and remained here until his death, in 1862. His daughter Mary married Will-. lam Rand, who served two years in the late war. Their three children are, Abbie S., who married John W. Patch, and resides in Boston; Fannie M. and Mary I., who live at home.
Ira French Prouty, M. D., son of Willard and Sally Prouty. of Langdon, N. H., was born November 9, 1812, and came to Keene in 1863, After leaving the district school he attended the academies of Bellows Falls and Chester, Vt. He studied medicine with Dr. Lowell, of Chester, and later with Dr. Lawrence, of Saxtons River. He attended lectures at Woodstock and Dartmouth medical schools, graduating from the latter in May 1837. He immediately went to Illinois, where he practiced his profession about a year. Leaving the West, he came to Chesterfield Factory, and was afterward located in Alstead … Read more
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
Solomon Woodward came to this town, from Milbury, Mass., in 1797 and settled upon the farm now owned by his son Daniel. The latter resides here and is eighty-five years of age.
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
Leonard Wellington was born September 12, 1842. He received an academic education, and attended Albany law school, from which he graduated in 1865. He was admitted, that same year, to the Cheshire county bar, and formed a partnership with Dan H. Woodward, which continued until 1877, since which time he has practiced alone. He married Harriet L. Chandler, of Connecticut, in 1870, and has two children.
Benjamin Nourse came to this town, from Rutland, Mass., in 1790, and located upon the farm now owned by his grandson, Luther Nourse, on road 17. He reared a family of ten children,-six sons and four daughters. He died here in 1840, aged ninety-six years, and his wife, whose age was ninetythree years, was buried on the same day. His son, Phineas, who was born in Rutland, Mass., December 25, 1775, came here with his father in 1790. He married Anna Thompson, of Keene, and had born to him twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, Eleven grew to maturity … Read more
Frederick Metcalf was born in Keene, June i 1, 1769. He married Esther Dwinell and reared a family of eleven children-five sons and six daughters. Four of these, Alvah E., Edwin G., William and Mary E., are living and reside in Keene. Mr. Metcalf died September 16, 1849. His wife died February 27, 1847. Mary E. married Arba Kidder and is now a widow. Alvah E. was born October 30, 1813, married Harriet Willis, of Alstead, and has had six children, only two of whom are living. Of these, Alice married C. H. Clark, and Hattie M, resides at home. … Read more
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
Dr. George B. Twitchell, son of Timothy, was born at Petersburg, Va., in 1820, studied medicine with his uncle, Amos Twitchell, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, in 1843. He entered the army in 1862, as surgeon of the 13th N. H. Vols., and was promoted that same year to brigadier-surgeon of the 3d Brigade. In April, 1863, he received the appointment of surgeon of N. S. V., by President Lincoln. He resigned in the autumn of 1863, on account of sickness, and has since practiced medicine in Keene. He married Susan E., daughter of Gideon F. Thayer, of … 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
William Hall, the enterprising proprietor of Langdon Creamery, Langdon, N.H., and dealer in butter, cream, milk, eggs, chickens, pork, and other farm and dairy products, was born in Claremont, this State, March 23, 1850. He is a son of Jonathan and Caroline L. (Leet) Hall and a descendant of one of the oldest families in Sullivan County. Both his grandfather and his great-grandfather Hall bore the Christian name of Jonathan. Grandfather Hall was born August 25, 1776, in Spencer, Mass., whence he came to Langdon when a young man. He afterward removed to Claremont, where he died in 1854. In … Read more
Samuel O. Gates, son of Joel, was born at Hancock, August 5, 1827 and came to Keene in 1851, where he was engaged in mercantile business and in the manufacture of boots and shoes for fifteen years. He has been selectman, city marshall four years, deputy sheriff fifteen years, and still holds the latter position. He was chief of police in 1881, and represented Keene in the legislature in 1864-65. He married Sarah A. Randall, of Keene, June 29, 1854. She died September 14, 1877.
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
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
Dr. John F. Jennison was born at Walpole, in August, 1813, was educated in the public schools and at Cavendish academy, and studied medicine with Dr. Davis, in Norwich, Vt. He graduated at Norwich academy in 1838, and from Dartmouth college in 1842. He commenced practice in Swanzey, N. H., the same year, but moved to Keene in 1852. He married Elizabeth Ross, and died December 15, 1884. The widow still resides in Keene.
Hon. Thomas Mackie Edwards, son of Dr. Thomas Edwards, was born in Providence, in 1795, but was brought to Keene by his parents at an early age. He fitted for college with Rev. John Sabine, of Fitzwilliam, graduated at Dartmouth college, in 1813, read law with Henry Hubbard, of Charlestown, and commenced to practice in Keene. He was postmaster at Keene from 1817 to 1829, and was eight years a member of the state legislature, between the years 18J4 and 1856. In the latter year he was a presidential elector. In 1859 and 1861, he was elected a representative in … Read more
Hon. Daniel Newcomb is first mentioned in the annals of Keene as a delegate to a county convention, held at Walpole, in 1780, of which he was clerk. He was born in Norton, Mass., in 1746, graduated at Harvard college, in 1768, settled in Keene in 1778, and commenced to practice law in 1783. In 1790 he was appointed chief judge of Cheshire county court. He was a justice of the superior court of judicature, from April 6, 1796, to 1798. In 1800 he was elected the first state senator from Keene, and resigned November 21, of the same year. … Read more
John Josiah Holbrook, son of Daniel Hill and Caroline Lawrence (Prime) Holbrook, was born at Swanzey, December 10, 1844, and died at Keene on the afternoon of Monday, March 24, 1844. He was educated at Mt. Caesar seminary of Swanzey, at the Leland and Gray seminary, of Townshend, Vt., the Keene high school, and then began his preparatory course at New London Literary and Scientific Institution, whence he was graduated in 1865. In 1872 he was graduated from a full course at Brown university, and entered upon a three years course at Newton, (Mass.), theological institute, graduating in 1875. The … Read more
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.