Biography of Henry Marshall Elwell

Henry Marshall Elwell, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen of Langdon, Sullivan County, N.H., son of Robert and Phoebe (Evans) Elwell, was born in this town, April 13, 1839. His paternal grandfather, Benjamin Elwell, a lifelong resident of Langdon, was a wealthy farmer and highly esteemed citizen. He married a Miss Kendall, and had four children, named: Samuel, Betsey, Nancy, and Robert. Benjamin Elwell and his wife died on the same day, within a few minutes of each other; and their mortal remains were buried together in the same coffin. Samuel, the eldest son, lived in Langdon all his life, … Read more

Biography of William Hall

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

Biography of John W. Jefts

John W. Jefts, a machinist by trade, but who for the past nine years has been successfully engaged in farming in the town of Langdon, was born here, December 4, 1859, son of Alphonso M. and Almira (Clough) Jefts. The genealogy of the Jefts family is traced to England, from which country, on some date between 1620 and 1638, the American progenitor emigrated to Massachusetts, and settled in Billerica. His immediate descendants continued to reside in that State for some years. Jonathan, the greatgrandfather of John W. Jefts, was the first of the name to come to New Hampshire. He … Read more

Biography of Charles Asa Holden

Charles Asa Holden, a well-to-do farmer of Langdon, was born in this town, August 4, 1833, son of Asa and Mary Ann (Evans) Holden. Edmund Holden, the father of Asa, was a native of Shirley, Mass., and the first of the family to settle in Langdon. He was a prosperous farmer and stock-raiser. In 1796 he married Susan Rockwood, of Groton, Mass., and became the father of six children, born as follows: Amanda, in 1797; Suka, in 1799; Edmund, in 1802; Asa, May 30, 1804; Rockwood, in 1809; and Sophronia, in 1813. Asa Holden taught school for a number of … Read more

Biography of Charles A. Jefts

Charles A. Jefts, a prosperous business man of Langdon, was born in Putney, Vt., January 27, 1853, son of Alphonso M. and Almira (Clough) Jefts. He comes of a family whose founder emigrated from England some time in the seventeenth century, settling in Billerica, Mass., and whose descendants made their home in that State for many years. Jonathan, the great-grandfather of Charles A., born in Townsend, Mass., was the first to seek a home in the Granite State. The last years of his life were spent in the town of Mason. Hosley Jefts, the father of Alphonso M., and a … Read more

Biography of Roswell Huntoon

Roswell Huntoon, an enterprising farmer residing in Langdon, was born in the town of Unity, this county, October 14, 1820, son of Lemuel and Sybil (Palmer) Huntoon. Phillip Huntoon, born in Wiltshire, England, in 1664, was the immigrant ancestor of this family. The next in line was John. Then came Charles, who was born October 12, 1725, at Kingston, N.H., and died in Unity, May 27, 1819. He was a very prominent man in Unity, and he served in the General Court of the State. He bore arms in both the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. His … Read more