Biographies: Part 2 Hopkinton, Merrimack County, New Hampshire **************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net. Submitted by: Glenn Campbell grc1@charter.net Date: January 26, 2002 **************************************************************************** LIFE AND TIMES IN HOPKINTON, N.H. IN THREE PARTS Section II Bacon-Balch John Bacon, the son of John Bacon and Hannah Pierce, was born in Medford, Mass., March 28, 1799. from 1822 to 1825 he traveled in the West; subsequently he returned and learned the trade of a brick-mason. In the course of his life, he resided in Boscawen (now Webster) and in Contoocook. He was commissioned a lieutenant of rifles, and took great pride in the militia. In 1825, February 10, he married Sylvia Patterson, daughter of Isaac Patterson and Marcey Nelson, of Henniker. Mrs. Patterson is said to have taught the first school in Henniker. Mr. Bacon died October 5, 1871; his wife, September 28, 1864. They had children,--Laura Ann, Isaac Francis, Harriet Maria, John Henry, Edwin Alonzo. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joshua Bailey, one of the most influential citizens of Hopkinton in earlier times, was an Englishman, and came to this town from Massachusetts, living many years in the house where now resides Carlos G. Hawthorne. Mr. Bailey held many civil offices during his residence in Hopkinton. In 1775, he was a delegate to the convention at Exeter; in 1778, he was a representative to the General Court; in 1787, he was state senator; in 1787, also, he was a representative at the General Court, but, being chosen senator by the legislature, Aaron Greely was chosen a representative in his stead; from 1766 to 1791, he was town-clerk; in 1768, in 1774, from 1781 to 1785, in 1787, and in 1790, he was a selectman. Joshua Bailey's military record was equally honorable with his civil one. As captain, he led a company of men in Col. Thomas Stickney's regiment, Gen. John Stark's brigade, at Bennington, in 1777; he also commanded a company in Colonel Kelley's regiment, General Whipple's brigade, in the expedition to Rhode Island in 1778. The following are children of Joshua Bailey, and Anna, his wife: John, born February 23, 1769; Joshua, born November 13, 1770; Elijah, born February 27, 1773; Betty, born May 8, 1780; Rachel, born August 16, 1782; Esther, born March 18, 1785. Capt. Joshua Bailey died April 9, 1806, ages 68 years. He appears to have been twice married. His second wife died January 29, 1816, aged 64. She was Sarah Clement, of Haverhill, Mass., and was married November 6, 1788, by the Rev. "Joiles" Merrill, of Plaistow. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Bailey, an early resident and distinguished citizen of Hopkinton, was born in Haverhill, Mass., August 1, 1752. It appears that his father's name was Thomas, and that his mother's surname was Rust or Russ. Thomas Bailey, the subject of this sketch, seems to have come to Hopkinton about the time of the Revolution, or soon after it, as we find that he married Eunice Emerson, of Haverhill, in 1776. While in Hopkinton, Mr. Bailey was prominently identified in various public uses. He was a captain of cavalry in the state militia. He was a trial justice of the peace many years. In 1784, 1785, 1787, 1788, and 1805, he was a selectman of the town; in 1794, 1795, 1796, and 1802, he was a representative to the General Court. Thomas Bailey, by his wife Eunice, had seven children,-- Eunice, born May 5, 1779; Nancy, born February 15, 1784; Phoebe, born March 14, 1786; Catharine, born November 25, 1788; Betsey, born January 18, 1798. For a second wife, Mr. Bailey married Mrs. Hannah Harvey, widow of Matthew Harvey, of Sutton, and a daughter of Philip Sargent. She was also the mother of Gov. Matthew Harvey, by her first husband. Thomas Bailey and Hannah (Sargent) Harvey had one child, John Milton, born April 17, 1805. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Bailey, the son of Thomas Bailey and Eunice Emerson, was born in Hopkinton, November 7, 1790, and always resided in the town. He was a farmer. He was a selectman from 1830 to 1834, and in 1839, 1845, and 1846. In 1837 and 1838, he was a representative to the General Court. He married Jemima Smith, daughter of Moody Smith. They had children,--Hannah Q., Thomas S., William W. Thomas Bailey died in 1855; his wife, in 1865. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- William Wallace Bailey, the son of Thomas Bailey and Jemima Smith, was born in Hopkinton. He graduated from Dartmouth college in the class of 1854. He was a lawyer, and has lived in Nashua since 1856. In 1858, William W. Bailey married Mary B. Greeley, daughter of Alfred Greeley and Mary Webster, of Nashua. They have had children,--Marion G., Caroline W., William Thomas, Helen M. Mr. Bailey has held numerous political offices, being officially interested in several corporations, and trustee of the state agricultural college. He has also been Democratic candidate for the national house of representatives. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Milton Bailey, the son of Thomas Bailey and Hannah (Sargent) Harvey, was born in Hopkinton, April 17, 1805. Excepting the time from 1843 to 1848, he always resided in Hopkinton, following the vocation of a farmer. His home was many years in the Jewett Road district, on the farm where now lives Fred. H. Bailey, his son. The subject of this sketch was given considerable prominence in local affairs. He was a commissioned officer of the Hopkinton Rifle company in the old militia days, was representative to the General Court in 1860 and 1864; was collector of taxes from 1862 to 1865. In 1827, April 9, Mr. Bailey married Lucy Proctor Knowlton, daughter of Daniel Knowlton and Mary Nazro Stocker, of Hopkinton. They had two children, --George H. and Fred. H. John Milton Bailey died January 18, 1886. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Edwin C. Bailey, the son of Moses Bailey and Ruth Greene, is said to have been born in New York, June 10, 1816. In early life, he resided some time in Hopkinton, and eventually went to Boston, Mass., where he became a clerk in the post-office, his uncle, Charles G. Greene, editor of the Boston Post, being post-master. After being advanced to chief clerk, Mr. Bailey was appointed post-master by President Pierce. After serving his term, he purchased the Boston Herald, which journal he managed till about 1870, when he sold the paper to R. M. Pulsifer & Co., and traveled in Europe for his health. Returning from Europe, he located in Contoocook, where he repaired a house now remodeled into the Highland House. He purchased considerable real estate in Contoocook and vicinity, including the water-power, of which he rebuilt the dam. He also erected the present Bailey's block. He represented Hopkinton in the Legislature in 1874. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention at St. Louis in 1877. He built Bailey's block in Concord, and also engaged in a hotel enterprise at Stowe, Vt. While living in Boston, he was once a candidate for congress and again for governor of the state. While in New Hampshire, he was for a time the proprietor of the New Hampshire Patriot, printed at Concord. He relinquished his interest in this paper in 1877, and in 1879 became editor of the Boston Globe. In 1884, he assumed the editorial management of the Boston Star, and in 1886 he became the manager of the New England Budget, a small weekly sheet, from which he soon retired. He was at one time the commander of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery, of Boston, and bears the title of colonel. For some time he has resided in Boston or vicinity. Colonel Bailey has a wife and two children,--William P. Bailey and Mrs. L. D. Shepard. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- George Gardner Bailey, the son of Moses Bailey and Ruth Greene, was born in New York City, October 7, 1820. Subsequently residing in Hopkinton, he was educated at Hopkinton academy. Adopting the vocation of a printer, he became located in Boston, Mass., where he advanced in position till he became a proprietor of the Boston Herald, being also the foreman of the printing- office. In 1872, he became a resident of Hopkinton again, and in a year or two after built the hotel known as the Putney House, and later as the Mt. Putney House, burned in 1886. About this time Mr. Bailey resided a short period in Concord. Returning to Hopkinton, he resided there till his death. Mr. Bailey was twice married. His first wife was Susan Cogshall, of Nantucket, Mass., daughter of Robert Cogshall and Betsey Coffin, whom he married September 21, 1840. They had five children,--Sarah Frances, George Gardner, Frederick Cogshall, who died in infancy and was succeeded by another son of the same name, and Anne Gardner. Mrs. Bailey having died January 2, 1861, Mr. Bailey married Henrietta Jones, of Chelsea, Mass., and daughter of Frederick D. S. Jones and Abbie Hathaway, January 15, 1862. Three children were the offspring of the second marriage; their names are Etta Connor, Susie Forbes Ladd, and Grace Gardner. Mr. Bailey died May 11, 1885. His brother, Edwin C., and himself were grandsons of Isaac Bailey, and great grandsons of Isaac Bailey, who, it is said, came to Hopkinton from Newburyport, Mass., soon after the Revolution. There were at one time living in Hopkinton three persons of the name of Isaac Bailey, being father, son, and grandson. All three were members of the Congregational church, the father and son being in the course of events both deacons. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Theodore E. Balch, the son of Theodore Balch and Sally Lovejoy, was born in Lyme, January, 13, 1832. He attended school at Lyme academy. Being devoted to active, executive pursuits, he has traveled much and lived in various places. Identified with the Baptist church, Mr. Balch has served in various capacities as an executive or financial officer. Mr. Balch resided in Hopkinton from 1856 to 1868; in Wakefield, Mass., from 1868 to 1882; in Pella, Ia., from 1882 to 1884; after a short respite, in Nashville, Tenn., from 1885 to1887; in Wakefield, Mass., since 1887. While in Hopkinton, Mr. Balch was a member of the superintending school- committee from 1863 to 1865; in Wakefield, Mass., selectman one year, overseer of the poor one year, member of the board of health one year, member of the school-board six years, trustee of the Wakefield Savings Bank many years; in Pella, Ia., chancellor of the Central University of Iowa; in Nashville, Tenn., treasurer of Roger Williams University. He has also been twelve or more years in the service of the American Tract Society, financial agent of Colby academy, New London, and he is now general agent of The Watchman assuming the position in 1887. In 1856, September 3, Mr. Balch married Ellen R. Sanborn, daughter of John Sanborn and Rebecca Coffin, of Boscawen. They have had children,-- Ellen, Edwin R., Mary E., Annie G. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------