Keene New Hampshire

Biography of Dr. Daniel Adams

Dr. Daniel Adams, son of Dr. Joseph Adams, was born at Lincoln, Mass., in 1768, and died in Keene, N. H., August 22, 1830. He had three brothers and five sisters, one of the former of whom, Dr. Joseph Adams, returned, at the breaking out of the war, to Cornwall, England, the home of his ancestors, where he practiced his profession during life, and where his descendants still live. The other members of Dr. Adamss family settled in and about Boston. A sister, Mrs. Wheeler, occupied the homestead in Lincoln, Mass., which still remains in her family. Dr. Adams received … Read more

The Baptist Church of Keene, NH

The Baptist Church. – Baptists from Middleborough, Mass., located in the east part of Westmoreland, where they constituted a church in 1771. This family spread into the west part of Keene. Here a church of the same faith was recognized by on ecclesiastical council, on the 9th day of September, 1816, consisting of thirteen members. It was gathered under the ministry of Rev. Charles Cummings. The church was received into the Dublin Baptist Association, in October of that year. A small meetinG.house, with square pews and a gallery, was built that autumn, situated in that part of the town known … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Daniel W. Biscoe

Daniel W. Biscoe was born at Watertown, Mass., November 17, 1765, was a tanner by occupation, and died at Walpole, N. H., May 16, 1828. Leonard, son of Daniel W., was born at Walpole, June 9, 1800, moved to Keene in 1843, where he was appointed clerk of the court of common pleas and the superior court of judicature. He held that office until December 1857. He was also secretary and agent of the Mutual Fire Insurance company. Mr. Biscoe married Lucy Ann, daughter of James and Miranda Dodge, who was born at Whitestown, N. Y., January 23, 1832. They … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David Baker

David Baker, son of Thomas, was born in Keene in 1796, married Amanda H. Ellis, and reared a family of eight children. He located upon a farm on road 3, and lived there until his death, in 1868. His widow still resides on the farm.

Biography of Hon. John Prentiss

Hon. John Prentiss, the founder of the New Hampshire Sentinel, and for forty-eight years its editor, died at his residence in Court street, Friday noon, June 6, 1873, at the age of ninety-five years and three months. He came to Keene in March, 1799, at the age of twenty-one years, and established the Sentinel under many embarrassments, and with a list of subscribers numbering only seventy. His first printing office was in a low building standing where S. W. Hales house now stands, and for some time afterwards in the new building south of Dr. Edwardss tavern. Subsequently (in 182 … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hon. Daniel Newcomb

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

Biographical Sketch of Hiram Blake

Hiram Blake was born in Rindge, February 9, 1838, was educated at New Ipswich academy, graduated at Albany Law school, in 1862, and practiced in New York city two years. From that time Mr. Blake traveled extensively in the West, being located six years in Nebraska, and settled in Keene in 1873.

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

Biographical Sketch of Benjamin Bowker

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.

Biographical Sketch of Horace M. Irish

Horace M. Irish enlisted in Co. L, 1st Vt. Cav., was at the battles of Cedar Creek, Winchester and Fishers Hill, was twice taken prisoner, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. He married Eliza A. Dort, has two children, and resides in Keene.

History of Manufactures of Keene, New Hampshire

Cheshire county, with perhaps a few towns in the northerly portion of Worcester county, Mass., adjacent thereto, may be regarded as the birthplace of wooden-ware manufacturing, and until 1860 it was noted as the principal center of that class of manufacture, and it is yet quite a prominent industry of the vicinity, though the business, as it has extended, has gone largely to other places where timber is more plentiful. It is said that the first wooden-pails made by machinery were manufactured at Keene, by Jehiel Wilson, who now resides at South Keene. The manufacture of clothes-pins by machinery is … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Josiah Holbrook

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

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

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 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

The First Congregational Church of Keene NH

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

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Dinsmoor Jr.

Samuel Dinsmoor, Jr., was admitted to the bar in 1819, but was not enrolled as an attorney at Keene until 1823. He was the son of Gov. Samuel Dinsmoor, and was born May 8, 1799. He graduated from Dartmouth college in 1815, and was associated with Gen. James Miller in the practice of law in Arkansas. In 1826 and 1827, and in 1829 and 1830, he was clerk of the senate, and postmaster several years, at one time cashier of Ashuelot bank. and later its president. In 1849, 1850 and 1851 he was governor of New Hampshire. He died February … Read more

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

Biographical Sketch of Daniel O’Brien

Daniel O’Brien came to America, from Ireland, in 1839. Six of his ten children are living, as follows: Nancy, Ellen, Caroline, Michael, Daniel, and Thomas. Mr. O’Brien died March 16, 1884, and his wife, Mary, died March 11, 1880.

Biographical Sketch of Frederick Metcalf

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