Merrimack County NH

Biography of James Madison Connor

James Madison Connor, a successful and enterprising farmer of Hopkinton, was born in Henniker, N.H., August 21, 1828, son of James and Lydia (Kimball) Connor. His great-grandfather, David Connor, or O’Connor, and two brothers, all natives of Ireland, were the first settlers of the name in the district. The brothers settled in Exeter, near Lake Winnepesaukee. David, who took up his residence in Henniker, was a Revolutionary soldier. His son James, grandfather of James M., and who was later in life called Captain James, was born in Henniker. The Christian name of his wife was Dorcas. When the subject of … Read more

Biography of Josiah Edwards Dwight

Josiah Edwards Dwight, a member of the noted old New England family to which President Timothy Dwight of Yale College belonged, is one of the leading Concord, N.H. Born in Belchertown, Mass., May 17, 1839, son of Harrison D. and Sophia (Cook) Dwight, he traces his lineage through his mother, also, back to the early days of the New England colonies. On the paternal side his first ancestor to settle in this country was John Dwight, who came from Dedham, England, in 1634, and located in the part of Massachusetts afterward named Dedham. He was the second man of wealth … Read more

Biography of Frank Willard Grafton, M.D.

Frank Willard Grafton, M.D., a successful medical practitioner of Concord, was born in Gilford, N.H., in 1869, son of James and Mary Jane (Collins) Grafton. The earliest known progenitor of this family, also named James, emigrated from Scotland to America, locating in Cushing, Me., where he cleared a tract of land, and was afterward engaged in farming. He married, and had a large family, of whom Joseph, the eldest child, was the great-grandfather of Frank Willard. Joseph Grafton, born in Cushing, who was also engaged in agricultural pursuits, passing his entire life on the farm, married, and reared a large … Read more

Biography of William Gregg Andrews

William Gregg Andrews, a prosperous farmer of Sutton, Merrimack County, N.H., was born July 7, 1834, on the farm upon which he now lives. His father was Nathan Andrews, Jr., a native of Sutton; and his paternal grandfather was Nathan Andrews, Sr., born in Danvers, Mass., in 1767, a son of Samuel Andrews. He came to Merrimack County when a young man, and in 1795 he married Hannah Gregg and at once settled upon a farm at Fishersfield. His wife was a daughter of James and Janet (Collins) Gregg, and, though lame from childhood, was energetic and industrious, and lived … Read more

Biography of Sylvester Prentiss Danforth

Sylvester Prentiss Danforth, an enterprising member of the well-known firm of Danforth, Forest & Morgan, contractors, builders, and lumber dealers of Concord, N.H., was born in Boscawen, N.H., August 14, 1838. His parents were Nathan C. and Sophia C. (Brown) Danforth, both residents of Merrimack County for many years. His father and grandfather were engaged in the lumber business for years, while his maternal ancestors were farmers in this county. Sylvester P. Danforth attended the public schools and Boscawen Academy, completing his school education at the age of eighteen years. He then learned the cabinet-maker’s trade with Caldwell & Amsden, … Read more

Biography of George H. Haines

George H. Haines, a well-known resident of Chichester, Merrimack County, N.H., for quite a number of years engaged as a carriage and sleigh manufacturer, also as an extensive lumber dealer, now partially retired from his former activities, was born in this town, January 27, 1845, son of George P. and Sarah F. (Towle) Haines. The family is of Colonial origin; and the first ancestor of whom there is any exact knowledge was Robert Haines, who settled in Falmouth, Me., and remained there eight or nine years, or until the Indian outbreak in 1688. He married Rachel Davis, who was born … Read more

Biography of Hon. George Peabody Little

Hon. George Peabody Little is an influential citizen of Pembroke, N.H. In his veins flows the blood of two old and reputable New England families, the Littles of Newbury, Mass., and the Peabodys of Danvers, the famous banker and philanthropist, George Peabody, having been his kinsman. Mr. Little was born in Pembroke, N.Y., June 20, 1834, a son of Dr. Elbridge G. and Sophronia Phelps (Peabody) Little. He is of the eighth generation of Littles in this country, tracing his descent from George Little, who settled in old Newbury, Mass., in 1640 or soon after. George Little was a tailor … Read more

Biography of Samuel C. Carter

Samuel C. Carter, a farmer of Loudon township, was born here October 19, 1840, son of Clark and Eunice (Elliott) Carter. His grandfather, Samuel Carter, who was born in Loudon, married Rachel French, also of this township. The father, born January 18, 1812, and a farmer by occupation, married Eunice Elliott. She was born October 11, 1817, daughter of Samuel Elliott, a farmer and shoemaker of Loudon. Clark Carter died June 22, 1880. His widow now resides with their son Wyman on the homestead. Their other children were: Samuel C., the first-born; Clara Ann, who died at the age of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Alva J. Dearborn

Alva J. Dearborn, a prosperous farmer of Canterbury, N.H., was born in this town, October 13, 1851, son of James and Susan (Fellows) Dearborn. James Dearborn, who was a native of Plymouth, N.H., came to this town when a young man, and carried on farming here the rest of his life. He died in December, 1868. His wife, a native of Canterbury, died April 1, 1882. They had five children: Ella, now the C. Wesley Carter, of Boscawen; Alva J., the subject of this sketch; Susan E., who died in March, 1895; and twins, one of whom was named Lyman, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Benedict Crowell

Crowell, Benedict; mining engineer; born, Cleveland, O., 1870; son of William and Mary Benedict Crowell; educated St. Paul’s School, Concord, N. H., and Yale University, 1891; married, Cleveland, 1904, Julia R. Cobb; two children, Florence Cobb Crowell and Benedict Crowell, Jr.; pres. Crowell & Sherman Co., The Tavern Club and Wetherbee Concentrator Co.; director Associated Investors Realty Co., and National City Bank; senior partner Crowell & Murray; member American Institute of Mining Engineers; N. Y., Lake Superior and Canada; American Society for Testing Materials; American Chemical Society; California Miners Ass ‘n; Ohio Society of New York; member Tavern, Union, Mayfield, … Read more

Biography of George T. Abbott

George T. Abbott, a well-known farmer of Concord, was born here, September 16, 1833, on the estate which was bought by his father, Aaron, of the late Daniel Prince. His great-grandfather, Nathaniel A., was the third settler in that part of Concord known as the Iron Works, coming here from Massachusetts in 1735, when the district was almost a wilderness and Indians were numerous. Nathaniel brought his wife with him and built for their home a log house. Before his death he had cleared considerable land and had seen great changes, as he lived to be a very old man. … Read more