New Hampshire

Biography of David Arthur Brown

David Arthur Brown, Manager and Treasurer of the Concord Axle Company of Penacook, an ex-member of the New Hampshire legislature, and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Attleboro, Mass., May 14, 1839, son of Henry H. and Mary Ann (Daggett) Brown. His parents were natives of Attleboro. On the father’s side he is descended from an Englishman who settled in Massachusetts in the year 1624. His great-grandfather was John Brown, and his grandfather was David Brown. On the mother’s side his genealogy is traced through her father, Otis Daggett, of the seventh generation, Joab of the sixth, … Read more

Biography of Cyrus O. Brown

Cyrus O. Brown, formerly a well-known schoolmaster and now a prosperous farmer of Epsom, was born in Kensington, N.H., August 15, 1834, son of Abel and Ruth (Fellows) Brown. On the paternal side he is a lineal descendant of John Brown, who, born in England in 1589, is said to have been of Scotch origin. It is believed that this ancestor was reared in a seaport town, as he was a ship-carpenter by trade. It is recorded that he was concerned in the building of many vessels for the king. He emigrated to New England, and became one of the … Read more

Biography of Aaron L. Brown

Aaron L. Brown, of North Grantham, the second representative of his family in the ownership of his farm, was born February 1, 1828, son of Jonathan and Mehitable (Stevens) Brown. The family name is well known in every country where the English language is spoken. In America Browns have been prominent statesmen, educators, and soldiers. Jonathan Brown, the great-grandfather of Aaron L., was a patriot soldier of the Revolution. He was the first ancestor of this family to come to this country. His son, Jonathan Brown, Jr., was the first of the family to settle in the town of Grantham. … Read more

Biography of Frederic Augustus Briggs

Frederic Augustus Briggs, a well-known hotel man of Claremont, N.H., was born in Charlestown, this State, September 9, 1838, son of Joseph Gilman and Abigail (Woods) Briggs. Some interesting facts concerning the origin of the Briggs family may be found in Burke’s “Peerage” and in the History of the County of Norfolk, England, by Bloomfield. It is shown that before the time of Edward I. (1272 ) the representatives of the family assumed the surname of De Ponte or Pontibus. Many of them from the time of de Ponte de Salle, whose son John was born in 1383, became men … Read more

Biography of Benjamin W. Breed

Benjamin W. Breed, farmer, of Franklin, Merrimack County, N.H., a veteran of the Civil War, who nearly lost his life by a gunshot wound received in battle, was born in Nelson, Cheshire County, February 12, 1830, son of John and Sarah (Blood) Breed. Many of his ancestors and of their near kin were of Massachusetts birth, and were lifelong residents of that State, the family being one of the earliest that settled in Essex County. Dr. Nathaniel Breed, who was a native of Lynn, Mass., was a surgeon’s mate on the staff of General Washington in the Revolution. Dr. Breed’s … Read more

Biography of Henri G. Blaisdell

Henri G. Blaisdell, an accomplished musician of Concord, N.H., was born in Dorchester, N.H., October 23, 1850, son of Pettingill and Laurette (Lillis) Blaisdell. He is originally of Scotch descent. His paternal grandfather was Sanborn Blaisdell, who was long a resident, and presumably a native, of Dorchester, in which town he was engaged in farming and where he spent his last years. He married Mehitable Sanborn. Pettingill Blaisdell, father of Henri G., was born in Dorchester in 1824. He received his education in the district schools and subsequently engaged in the business of manufacturing and selling lumber, for many years … Read more

Biography of Charles Mortimer Bingham

Charles Mortimer Bingham, a former well-known merchant of Claremont, Sullivan County, N.H., was born in New London, Conn., February 22, 1804, son of Nathan Bingham. His father settled in Claremont in 1809. He was a hatter by trade, and carried on a large and successful business here. He was a musician, and played the bass-viol in the Episcopal church for years. He died at the age of seventy-eight. He had six children. His daughter Lucretia married Ralph Metcalf, who became the governor of New Hampshire. Her sister Elizabeth married Luther S. Porter, and Maria became the wife of Henry W. … Read more

Biography of Eli A. Boutwell

Eli A. Boutwell, a farmer and lumberman of Hopkinton, N.H., son of Samuel P. and Lydia A. (Allen) Boutwell, was born in Barre, Vt., February 25, 1833. His lineage has not been traced; but a little research would probably show that he belongs to the old New England family of Boutwells, of which the Hon. George S. Boutwell, ex-Secretary of the Treasury, is a representative. Its founder, James Boutwell, said to have been made a freeman in Lynn, Mass., in 1638 or 1639, died in 1651, leaving a wife Alice, sons James and John, and a daughter Sarah. The sons … Read more

Biography of George S. Bond

George S. Bond, a manufacturer of Charlestown, was born in that town, March 2, 1837, son of Silas and Alice (Abbot) Bond. His grandfather, William Bond, who was born in Watertown, Mass., at the age of twenty years came to Charlestown, and thereafter carried on general farming during the remainder of his active life. One of his six children was Silas Bond, who married Alice Abbot, and also was the father of six children, including the subject of this sketch. George S. Bond was educated in the district schools of the town. At the age of seven years his father … Read more

Biography of Francis W. Blake

Francis W. Blake, one of Pittsfield’s successful farmers, was born in Hampton Falls, N.H., September 3, 1837, son of Enoch and Lydia (Smith) Blake. The family is of English origin. Its founder, Jasper Blake, who came from England in 1640 and settled at Hampton, N.H., was a relative of Robert Blake, the famous British admiral of that period. The great-grandfather of Francis W. was Jeremiah Blake, son of Joshua. He was a native of Hampton Falls, and a farmer by occupation. He was the father of five children, of whom Enoch (first), the grandfather, was the eldest. Enoch Blake (first) … Read more

Biography of William Leavitt Bennett

William Leavitt Bennett, a prominent resident of Andover, was born in the town of Loudon, this State, January 16, 1837. His grandfather, Jeremiah Bennett, formerly of Kingston, accompanied Clough, journeyed from there to Loudon, carrying his luggage and implements on a hand-barrow. Having chosen a tract of timbered land favorably situated, he felled a few trees, and built a log hut. He had been a reed-maker by trade; but, after coming to Loudon, he devoted himself to clearing his land and to tilling the soil. He gradually placed it under cultivation; and, when he died, at the ripe age of … Read more

Biography of Edward S. Barrett

Edward S. Barrett, a prosperous farmer of West Concord, was born February 17, 1824, at Ashburnham, Mass., the son of Benjamin and Nancy (Stone) Barrett. The paternal grandfather, also named Benjamin, who was a native of Ashby, Mass., followed the occupation of farmer, spent the latter part of his life in New York State, and ended his days in Aurelius, N.Y. Benjamin Barrett, who was also born in Ashby, after having learned shoemaking, worked at that trade for a number of years. He then followed farming in Ashburnham for a time. Subsequently he removed to Fitchburg, Mass., and later to … Read more

Biography of George H. Bartlett

George H. Bartlett, a prosperous manufacturer of Sunapee, was born in that town, September 28, 1841, son of John and Sarah (Sanborn) Bartlett, natives respectively of Deering and Springfield, N.H. He belongs to an old family. One of his ancestors was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. John Bartlett, his grandfather, was a farmer in Deering, and died at a good old age. John’s son, also named John, was a pioneer of Sunapee. This John came here on horseback, and took up new and almost wild land. The remainder of his life was spent in Sunapee, where he left … Read more

Biography of John F. Bartlett

John F. Bartlett, Postmaster of Suncook and an ex-member of the New Hampshire legislature, was born in Newton Upper Falls, Mass., November 15, 1836, son of George W. and Jane (Nickelson) Bartlett. His grandfather, Abijah Bartlett, who served as a sailor in the War of 1812, was a rope-maker in Salem, Mass. Abijah married Elizabeth Bartlett, of Marblehead, and reared a family of six children. George W. Bartlett, born in Marblehead, resided in Newton Upper Falls and later in Nashua, N.H., where he followed the business of store-keeper. He died at the age of forty-five years. In politics he was … Read more

Biography of Hubbard Alonzo Barton

Hubbard Alonzo Barton, of Newport, a member of the present firm of editors and publishers of the New Hampshire Argus and Spectator, was born in Croydon, N.H., May 12, 1842, son of Caleb L. and Bethiah (Tuck) Barton. The Bartons are descended from English emigrants who came to the country previous to 1640. They have embraced many who have become distinguished in the learned professions and in other vocations in life. The great-great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill, and he was a near relative of General Barton of Revolutionary fame. The … Read more

Biography of Henry Batchelder

Henry Batchelder, a well-to-do farmer of Sunapee, was born here, January 17, 1843, son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Trask) Batchelder, both natives of Beverly, Mass. His grandfather, Zachariah Batchelder, a shoemaker by trade, was an early settler of Sunapee. Both Zachariah and his wife died in that town. Nathaniel, who came Sunapee for several years; and he voted the ticket alone. Active in religious work, he was an esteemed member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Newport. He died in Sunapee at the age of eighty-six. His wife lived to the age of ninety-two years. They had six children, three … Read more

Biography of Fred Bean

Fred Bean remained at home until his marriage, there obtaining a practical experience in general agricultural work. On October 15, 1877, he married Miss Frances A., daughter of Francis and Abigail (Gage) Robbins. Immediately after he moved on to the Robbins homestead, which he has since conducted. Mr. Robbins was born July 9, 1815, in Mason, N.H. In early life he engaged in the lumber business at Enfield, N.H. Here he was married to Abigail Gage, who was born in that town, December 10, 1814. Subsequently he carried on the same business in connection with farming in the town of … Read more

Biography of James E. Barnard

James E. Barnard is a lawyer of prominence at Franklin, N.H., his native place. He was born on January 29, 1863, son of the Hon. Daniel and Amelia (Morse) Barnard. His father, Daniel Barnard, was born January 23, 1827, in Orange, N.H. Naturally of a studious turn of mind, as a youth he attended the academy in winter, and worked on his father’s farm in the summer months. He subsequently taught school in different counties of New Hampshire. In 1851 he began to read law with the Hon. George W. Nesmith, and in 1854 he became junior partner in a … Read more

Biography of Augustus Barnard

Augustus Barnard, formerly of Hopkinton, was one of the brave men who fought for the Union in the Civil War. Born in Haverhill, Mass., he was reared and educated in New York State. After spending a part of his early life in Boston, he came to Hopkinton, where he learned the currier’s trade of Jonathan Osgood. He followed this trade in connection with tanning until the late war was well in progress. Then he enlisted as a private in the Sixteenth New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry for nine months. With his regiment he served his full time, the most of which … Read more

Biography of Hon. John Whitaker

Hon. John Whitaker, a retired lumber dealer of Penacook and ex-member of the State Senate, was born in Hopkinton, N.H., June 9, 1835, son of John and Hannah (Bickford) Whitaker. He is a descendant of one of three brothers who emigrated from England in the early days. His paternal great-grandfather, serving as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, participated in the battle of Bunker Hill, and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne. Peter Whitaker, the grandfather, a native of Deering, N.H., was a prosperous farmer. John Whitaker, Sr., Mr. Whitaker’s father, first enlisted for three months’ service in the … Read more