New Hampshire

Biography of Robert W. Hoit

Robert W. Hoit, of Mast Yard, Concord, N.H., son of Robert B. and Hannah (Goodwin) Hoit, was born July 15, 1859, on the ancestral estate on Horse Hill, Penacook, where he still makes his home. His great-grandfather, Oliver Hoit, born in November, 1747, married first Rebecca Gerald, and second widow Rhoda Hoit Whittier. He had by his first wife fifteen children, thirteen of whom lived to maturity. Mrs. Rebecca G. Hoit died in 1808, aged fifty-eight years; and Mrs. Rhoda Hoit died in 1851. Oliver Hoit died September 11, 1827. Oliver Hoit settled in 1772 on Horse Hill in the … Read more

Biography of Elder John G. Hook

Elder John G. Hook, of Concord, N.H., was born in Chichester, this State, February 13, 1820, the son of Jacob Hook. Elder Hook’s grandfather, Francis Hook, was born in Salisbury, Mass. He was a fisherman by occupation, and he also ran a horseback express from his native town to Newburyport. He finally bought a large tract of land in Chichester, and started all his five sons in life with a comfortable farm. Jacob Hook, father of Elder Hook, was the eldest of the family. He was educated in the Salisbury public schools, and was engaged in farming all his life. … Read more

Biography of Rev. Isaac G. Hubbard

Rev. Isaac G. Hubbard, at one time the rector of Trinity Church, Claremont, was born here, April 13, 1818, son of Isaac and Ruth (Cobb) Hubbard. His grandfather, George Hubbard, who was a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War, came to Claremont in 1778 from Tolland, Conn. Judge J. H. Hubbard, of Windsor, a son of George, was one of the ablest lawyers in New England. He was a powerful man, and as a pleader at the bar he had few equals. Isaac Hubbard, another son, who settled in Claremont, became a successful farmer and stock-raiser. He was an influential man, … Read more

Biography of John H. Hunt

John H. Hunt, a prominent farmer and a well-known veteran of Hill, was born in Dorchester, N.H., January 8, 1826, son of Jonathan and Eliza (Holmes) Hunt. His grandfather, who was born in Lexington, Mass., kept a tavern at the time Washington took command of the Continental army. Jonathan Hunt was a carriage-builder, and also kept a lumber wharf at East Cambridge, Mass., until the Lowell railroad was built. He died at Hopkinton, N.H., at the age of eighty-four years. He first married Hannah Larkin, of Lexington, Mass. His second wife, in maidenhood Eliza B. Holmes, was the mother of … 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

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 John J. Jenness

John J. Jenness, a well-to-do farmer of Pittsfield, was born in this town, April 13, 1829, son of John and Ann P. (Tilton) Jenness. The family, which is of English origin, was first represented in America by three brothers who were early settlers of Rye Beach, N.H. John Jenness (first), grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born at Rye Beach, and reared to agricultural pursuits. When a young man, he settled in Pittsfield, and was afterward engaged in tilling the soil in this town until his death, which occurred when he was forty-four years old. He rendered substantial … Read more

Biography of Abraham Gates Jones

Abraham Gates Jones, a wellknown gentleman of Concord, N.H., formerly engaged in the printing business, but now retired from active business affairs, was born in the town of Bow, five miles south of this city, October 21, 1827, son of Philip and Sarah M. (Gates) Jones. His paternal ancestors for many years were residents of Merrimack County, while the maternal progenitors came from Massachusetts. Philip Jones, father of the subject of this sketch, was the son of Joseph Jones, and was a merchant in Hookset. He died on January 26, 1836. His wife, Sarah M. Gates, was a daughter of … Read more

Biography of James Madison Jones

James Madison Jones, the popular and efficient station agent of the Concord & Montreal Railroad at Concord, was born at Deerfield, N.H., April 26, 1833, son of James and Hannah L. (Marston) Jones. Jacob Jones, his grandfather, a native of Pittsfield, N.H., kept a successful clock and gunsmith shop in his native town for many years. He had a high local reputation as a mechanic, and he lived to a good old age. James Jones, who was born in Pittsfield, N.H., inherited his father’s mechanical talent. He took up and continued the paternal business of making and repairing clocks and … Read more

Biography of John F. Jones

John F. Jones, a well-to-do farmer of Claremont, was born here, June 2, 1830, son of Worcester and Sarah (Dove) Jones. His great-grandfather, Asa Jones, came here from Colchester, Conn., in the early days of the town, and settled along the river at Claremont Junction, taking up a large tract of land. Asa was a Lieutenant in the army and a man of importance in the town. He married Sarah Treadway, of Colchester, and had a son, also named Asa. Asa Jones, Jr., born July 18, 1752, died June 4, 1828. On January 20, 1783, he married Mary Pardee, who, … Read more

Biography of Frank A. Jordan

Frank A. Jordan, a veteran of the Civil War, who is carrying on a thriving business as a stone cutter in Plainfield, N.H., was born in this town, April 19, 1840, son of Anthony W. and Mercy (Root) Jordan. It is known that some of his ancestors served in the Revolutionary War. His grandfather was James Jordan, who died May 10, 1860, aged eighty-two years. He was a native of Plainfield and a son of the first member of the family to settle here. James Jordan was a contractor for the construction of roads and bridges, and also carried on … Read more

Biography of Captain John L. Kelley

Captain John L. Kelley, proprietor of Maplewood Farm, Franklin, and an ex-member of the New Hampshire legislature, is a native of Gilmanton, Belknap County. He was born September 19, 1824, his parents being Daniel and Sally (Weeks) Kelley, the former a native of Gilmanton and the latter of Gilford. Daniel Kelley carried on a farm in his native town until 1866, when he moved to Franklin, where he resided for the rest of his life. He was the father of six children, as follows: Betsey M., born June 3, 1813, who died April 18, 1895; Sara, born June 11, 1815, … Read more

Biography of Charles L. Kenney

Charles L. Kenney, a prosperous farmer of Loudon and son of Bradley H. and Rebecca (Pease) Kenney, was born in this town, July 9, 1844. His grandfather, Joseph Kenney, was one of the early settlers of the town, where he was engaged in farming. Joseph went West in his later years, and died in Minnesota, at the home of his daughter. His son, Bradley, a cooper by trade, who was also engaged in farming, died in May, 1882. Bradley’s wife, Rebecca, who came from Barnstead, N.H., died in 1844. They had four children: Mary Ann, who is the wife of … Read more

Biography of Frank B. Kenney

Frank B. Kenney, a prominent farmer of Loudon and a son of Bradley H. and Nancy (Young) Kenney, was born in Loudon, December 19, 1854. His father, who was a native of New Hampshire, and a cooper by trade, settled in Loudon after his marriage, was thereafter occupied in farming, and died May 24, 1882, on the farm where the subject of this sketch now lives. The first of the father’s two marriages was contracted with Miss Pease, who bore him four children. These were: Mary Ann, who married Joseph A. Foster, and lives in Manchester, N.H.; Clarissa, now deceased; … Read more

Biography of John Shackford Kimball

John Shackford Kimball was an enterprising lawyer of Boston and a business man of Burlington, Ia. A son of David and Abigail (Perkins) Kimball, Pembroke, N.H., April 28, 1812. His descent from Michael Kimball, who married Bettie Runnells, came through David Kimball of the second generation and David Kimball of the third, who married Abigail Perkins. The fifth generation is now represented by John Stevens Kimball. Mr. Kimball’s parents died at Pembroke when he was thirteen years old, leaving nine children-Betsey, Asa, Perkins, John Shackford, Abigail, Sarah Towle (widow of Timothy Colby, of Concord ), Joseph, Mary Lewis (widow of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Moses F. Knowlton

Moses F. Knowlton, a wellknown livery man of Sunapee, N.H., was born in this town, July 24, 1845, a son of Dennis G. Knowlton. His grandfather, Samuel Knowlton, who was a lifelong resident of Sunapee, had three sons-Dennis G., Moses F., and John P. Dennis G. Knowlton had two sons-Charles A. and Moses F. Moses F. Knowlton was educated in the schools of his native town. When he first went to work for himself, he took up general farming. Subsequently he kept a general store in Sunapee for about ten years in company with his father. He then went into … Read more

Biography of Anthony K. Lane

Anthony K. Lane, one of the best known residents of Chichester, was born in this town, December 15, 1812, son of Jeremiah and Hannah (Tuck) Lane. His great-grandfather, Deacon Joshua Lane, who was born in Hampton Falls, N.H., followed agriculture in his native town, and died December 29, 1806. Jeremiah Lane (first), grandfather of Anthony K., was born in Hampton Falls, March 10, 1732. The active portion of his life was spent in farming; and he died June 21, 1806. He was a zealous church member and a Deacon. He wedded Mary Sanborn, daughter of Lieutenant Joseph Sanborn, and became … Read more

Biography of William B. Leavitt

William B. Leavitt, a prominent resident of North Grantham, widely known as the compiler of Leavitt’s Almanac, was born August 7, 1812, son of John and Susan (Burnham) Leavitt. The family has been in America since the early part of the seventeenth century, when three brothers came from England to the shores of the New World. Robust, sturdy, and energetic, these brothers soon assumed a leading position among the early settlers. Since that time the family tree has grown so that now its branches may be found in several parts of the country. It has given men of upright lives … Read more

Biography of John F. Leighton

John F. Leighton, a prosperous dairyman of Franklin, was born where he now resides, May 27, 1832, son of Edward and Judith (Rand) Leighton. His father, who was a native of Portsmouth, N.H., came to Franklin in 1816, settled upon the farm now owned by his son, and tilled the soil successfully during the rest of his active period, attaining the age of ninety-two years. He first married February 20, 1806, Lydia Rand, whose only child, Moses, is deceased. For his second wife, on April 24, 1813, he Judith Rand, a cousin of his first wife and a native of … Read more

Biography of C. Reed Lewis

C. Reed Lewis, the well-known horse dealer and auctioneer of Unity, was born in Marlow, N.H., July 10, 1837, son of Gilbert and Orrilla H. (Huntley) Lewis. His grandfather, Dudley Lewis, was a prosperous farmer and lifelong resident of Marlow. Gilbert Lewis was born and reared in Marlow. In 1839 he moved to Goshen, where he conducted a store, and remained three years. In 1842 he located in East Unity, and was there engaged in farming for some time. His last days were passed on a farm in Unity Centre, where he died November 16, 1872, aged sixty-two years. His … Read more