SAMUEL METCALF, his third son, was father to ALEXANDER, a wealthy farmer and justice at Northfield, Min., who married Anna, eldest daughter of Col. Nathaniel Wheeler, and grandfather of SAMUEL METCALF WHEELER, a distinguished lawyer at Dover, N. H.
Almon W. French, of Plainfield, Sullivan County, represents the third generation of the Frenches in this town. The family is of English origin, and members of it were pioneers of New England. Its founder in Plainfield, Nathaniel French, the grandfather of Almon W., came here when about twenty-two years of age, at the time when much of the district was an unbroken wild. Having done his part in rendering the place habitable, he died at the age of eighty-nine. His wife, Alice Back French, had eight children, of whom one died in infancy. The others were: Liman, George, Hezekiah, John, … Read more
2. GEORGE WILLIAMSON2 BALLOCH (James1) was b. Dec. 26, 1798, in Cornish; m. Sept. 19, 1825, Amanda West of Claremont, b. in St. Albans, Vt., June 23, 1798, and d. at Washington, D. C., Dec. 22, 1876. Mr. Balloch was a tall, straight man of large and portly carriage. In “military times” he led the ranks of the Light Inf. for many years. His majestic figure, once seen there, was always remembered. Except a few years spent in West Claremont as a butcher, he, as a farmer, spent his life chiefly in Cornish. He d. in Windsor, Vt., Sept. 2, … Read more
JOHN TOWN, son of John Town, was born Aug. 17, 1805, He was educated at Newport Academy. In June, 1840, he was appointed Deputy Secretary of State, which office he held for four successive years, often doing the duties of the Secretary. He was elected Register of Deeds for Sullivan County, in 1851, and was re-elected in 1852,1858 and 1854. He was often elected to minor offices. He was a teacher by profession, and in it was quite successful.
HON. CYRUS BARTON, son of Benjamin Barton, Esq., was born Dec. 25, 1795. He commenced the ” Claremont Spectator,” at Claremont, in 1823, but in 1825 removed to Newport and commenced the ” New Hampshire Spectator,” where he remained until June, 1829, when he removed to Concord and took charge of the N. H. Patriot. He retired for a short time from the editorial chair and was engaged in agriculture at Hopkinton, but in Jan. 1852, returned to Concord and established the ” State Capital Reporter,” a semiweekly paper, which he superintended during the remainder of his life. He was … Read more
FRANK H.9 WELD (Henry A.8, Willard7, John6, Moses5, John4, Joseph3, John2, Joseph1) was b. Feb. 19, 1853; m. first, Oct. 23, 1877, Julia E. Bartlett of Cornish, dau. of Edwin P. and Emeline (Wood) Bartlett, b. Nov. 19, 1855; and d. Sept. 4, 1884; m. second, March 24, 1886, Ada H. Hilliard of Cornish, dau. of Joseph and Mary (Bryant) Hilliard, b. July 22, 1855. Children: one by each wife, and b. in Cornish: 1. ANA E., b. June 3, 1882; m. March 7,1905, Oscar Lewis of Randolph, Vt. 2. HENRY HILLIARD, b. Feb. 21, 1892.
CAPT. SETH COLE was b. Feb. 4, 1825, in Warren, R. I. He was the son of Elijah and Mary (Esterbrooks) Cole. In 1843 when but 18 years of age he commenced seafaring, which occupation he followed through the remainder of his life, with the exception of five or six years. His first five years on the ocean were spent in the whaling business and the remainder in mercantile services. He first became shipmaster in 1850. During the Civil War his vessel was seized and burned near New Orleans; goods all confiscated and himself taken prisoner; taken to Richmond, Va., … Read more
JAMES W. PUTNAM, Son Of John Putnam, Esq., was born December 15, 1822. He pursued his preparatory studies at Kimball Union Academy, and graduated at Norwich University. He received his theological training at Clinton Seminary, Clinton, N. Y., then under the direction of Rev. T. J. Sawyer.. In 1848 he received the fellowship of the Universalist denomination at the New Hampshire State Convention, and in 1849 was ordained as pastor of the first Universalist society of Danvers, Mass., where after a life of much usefulness and ever-increasing popularity, he died November 3, 1864. He had charge of the public schools … Read more
HON. LEMUEL P. COOPER, born July 18, 1803, is one of the most intelligent and progressive farmers in town. He has always taken a deep interest in the cause of religion and education, as well as politics. He was a popular teacher and superintendent, a trustee of the Industrial School of New Hampshire, twice a representative, twice in the Senate, and was at one time a candidate for Governor of the State.
THEODA and POLLY CLARK had the following children b. in town: i. THEODA, a son, b. Aug. 12, 1802, and d. the same day. ii. ELIZA, b. Aug. 16, 1803. iii. MARY, b. Sept. 4, 1809. iv. RACHEL, b. Aug. 5, 1811. v. DANIEL, b. Nov. 9, 1813, vi. GEORGE, b. March 21, 1816. It appears that Polly d. soon after the birth of the last child, and Theoda m. second, -, Betty- , and had one son. vii. REUBEN, b. July 14, 1818.
WILLIAM ELIAS2 CHADBOURNE (Benjamin1) was b. July- 31, 1823; m. June 15, 1858, Martha Rosella Stone of Plainfield, dau. of Solomon and Betsey F. (Read) Stone, b. March 24, 1836. Mr. Chadbourne has been a successful farmer, owning and occupying a fine river farm. Never aspired to public honors, though often urged to accept, and has been known to decline such office after having been handsomely elected. W. E. Chadbourne and wife celebrated their golden wedding June 15, 1908. Children, all b. in Cornish: 1. ANGIE LETTIE, b. Oct. 19, 1862; m. Nov. 2, 1892, Earl Westgate of Cornish. 2. … Read more
Rewell J. Ellis, a well-known Grand Army man and a prominent farmer of Cornish, was born at Brandon, Vt., September 5, 1840, son of Seneca and Aurilla (Bagley) Ellis. His grandfather was John Ellis, who married Margaret Holt, and was the father of Seneca and William Ellis. William, who was born at Shoreham, Vt., went West a number of years ago, and has not since been heard from. The family do not know whether he is living or not. Seneca Ellis was born at sea, July 26, 1809. He was educated in the schools at Brandon, Vt., and subsequently followed … Read more
AMOS, IRA and CYRUS DWINNELL were in the early days mechanics at the Flat.
9. DAN WHEELER5 COLE (Daniel4-3, Ebenezer2, Ephraim1) was b. in Plainfield Jan. 18, 1826; m. April 2, 1849, Philena A. Spencer of Plainfield, dau. of Archibald Spencer, b. in 1826 and d. Jan. 23, 1892. They came to Cornish in 1850 and settled on the Thomas Ayers place where they lived many years and then returned to Plainfield where they both d. He d. June 28, 1881. One child, b. in Cornish: LYDIA ANN, b. Jan. 6, 1852; m. first, Walter Symonds and by him had two children: 1. Lena Spencer, b. June 5. 1871. She m. — Hawkins. She … Read more
Charles Gilkey, a prominent resident of Cornish, who was formerly engaged in the gunsmith business, is a native of Plainfield, N.H., born September 29, 1826. Charles Gilkey, his grandfather, born in Connecticut, was the first of the family to come to Plainfield. He came originally as agent of a wealthy Connecticut family, and remained in their employ for some time. After failing in an attempt to buy a farm with the Continental money in which his salary was paid, owing to the depreciated value of that currency then, he succeeded in leasing one from the State for nine hundred and … Read more
ALBINA HALL and LYMAN HALL, Sons of James Hall, after spending most of their minority in town, turned their attention to medicine. The former married Livia Powers, and after practicing awhile in Maine and New York has returned to Croydon. The latter followed his profession at Cornish Flat until his death, which occurred but a few years since.
3. LEVI HENRY8 COBB (Levi7, Ebenezer6-5-4-3, John2, Henry1) b. June 30, 1827. He m. Jan. 12, 1858, Harriet J. Herrick at Malone, N. Y., b. in Milton, Vt., Jan. 10, 1827. Children: i. MARY ABBIE, b. March 7, 1859; m. , Rev. E. F. Hunt. Res., Conway, Mass. ii. HARRIET ELIZABETH, b. March 16, 1860; d. in Oberlin, Ohio, Oct. 2, 1881. iii. GEORGE HENRY, b. Jan. 20, 1863. Graduated from Amherst College, also from College of Physicians and Surgeons. Res., N. Y. City (1898). iv. NELLIE MARIA, b. Jan. 18, 1868; d. June 23, 1872, in Springfield, Vt.
THOMAS WHIPPLE, son of Moses, married Thankful Powers, and settled at Charlestown, N. H., and raised up a large family. AARON married Matilda Cooper and settled in the south part of the town, near Coit Mountain, on the farm so long and so well occupied by his son MOSES WHIPPLE previous to his retirement to his present life of comparative leisure at the Flat. Aaron, “In fair round belly, with good capon lined,” relished a joke.
MARGARET A. BRECK, daughter of James Breck, Esq., was born April 24, 1814. She was married to H. H. Perkins, Esq., at Newport, in 1837, and removed to St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, where he died in 1850, leaving three children. The eldest daughter married W. D. Webb, an attorney at law at Minneapolis, Minnesota. The son, James Breck Perkins, a member of the senior class in Rochester University, is now traveling in Europe. Mrs. P. is finely educated, has a well balanced mind, and a decided taste for literature.
5. CALEB M.5 CHASE (Moses4, Daniel3. Moses2, Aquilla1) was b. in Cornish Sept. 11, 1767; m. Jan. 21, 1789, Elizabeth Deming of Cornish, dau. of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Dana) Deming, b. Aug. 13, 1763, and d. Sept. 20, 1840. He was a farmer and held a commission of Capt. in the militia. He d. Sept. 1, 1856, in Williamstown, Vt., aged 89. Children: i. ELIZABETH, b. Aug. 19, 1789; m. Nov. 14, 1815, her cousin, Capt. Cotton Chase, eldest son of Dea. John Chase. Five children. She d.- July 8, 1868. ii. MARY, b. Dec. 26, 1790; m. Dec. 13, … Read more