Biographies: Danforth-Dwinells. 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: March 2, 2002 **************************************************************************** From a book called "Life and Times in Hopkinton, N. H. in three parts" by C. C. Lord published 1890 LIFE AND TIMES IN HOPKINTON, N.H. Section IX --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Enoch Danforth, the son of Edmund Danforth and Rhoda Clough, was born in Boscawen, May 4, 1824. Mr. Danforth is a blacksmith by trade and a farmer by occupation. In 1862, he went to California, where he resided till 1872, since then residing in Hopkinton. Before going to California, he kept a hotel for a time in Contoocook. In 1879 and 1880, Mr. Danforth was a selectman of Hopkinton. Enoch Danforth married Melissa Colby, at Fisherville (now Penacook), for a first wife. They had children,--Anna N. and Edward E. For a second wife, Mr. Danforth married Lydia A. (Connor) Fisk, daughter of Isaac Connor and Lydia A. Kimball, who resided in Hopkinton. They have one child,--Edmund G. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- John S. Daniels, the son of George S. Daniels and Sarah J. Chase, was born in Hopkinton in1841. In the course of his life, he has resided in Minnesota, Manchester, and Lowell, Mass., being at different times a farmer, a school-teacher, a restaurant-keeper, etc. In 1862, August 0, he was mustered into Company B, 2d Regiment N.H. V., continuing in the service till May 17, 1865. On the 3d of June, 1864, at Cold Harbor, Va., he was wounded twice, in the right shoulder and in the left lung. A bullet still remains embedded in the lung. After being wounded, private Daniels was for a time in a hospital at Washington, D.C., and afterwards in Rhode Island, and again in Manchester. He was given a pension at the time for his discharge from the army. In August, 1867, Mr. Daniels married Mary A. Layman, daughter of Hiram Layman and Abigail Joice, of Minnesota. Mrs. Daniels died July, 1870, and in May, 1875, Mr. Daniels married Mary A. Zabin, daughter of Thomas Zabin and Agnes Brown, of Manchester. Mr. Daniels has two children by his first wife. Their initials are G.S. and C.H. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Abram Davis, the son of Abraham and Abiah Davis, was born in Hopkinton, January 23, 1776. Excepting six years in Lempster, he always lived in Hopkinton. He was a commissioned officer of cavalry in militia days. In 1837 and 1838, he was a selectman of Hopkinton. In the town-clerk's records, his Christian name is called Abraham. Though a farmer, he was a maker of farm implements, such as yokes, plows, and other utensils. In 1804, March 15, he married Priscilla Currier, daughter of John and Sarah Currier, of Hopkinton. They had children,--John Currier, born January 2, 1807; Betsey, born March 8, 1808; Sarah Clark, born October 23, 1809; Lucy Story, born July 23, 1811; Sabrina, born March 28, 1813; Amos Haynes, born March 29, 1815; Charles Chase, born June 15, 1817; Seth, born October 29, 1819; George, born July 29, 1821. Abram Davis died October 31, 1844; his wife, December 7, 1854. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amos Haynes Davis, the son of Abram Davis and Priscilla Currier, was born in Hopkinton, March 29, 1815. In youth, he attended Hopkinton academy. From 1836 to 1843, he pursued the vocation of a peddler; in 1844 and 1845, he was on a vegetable farm near Boston, Mass.; the remainder of his life was spent in Hopkinton, his home being on a farm in the Stumpfield district, where his son, Henry B., now resides. In 1862 and 1863, Mr. Davis was a selectman of Hopkinton. In 1845, Dec. 25, Mr. Davis married Betsey Ann Cressy, daughter of Robert and Abigail Cressy, of Hopkinton. They had children,--Frank Robert, Henry Barnard, Charles Currier. Mr. Davis died August 8, 1889; Mrs. Davis, August 9, 1866. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Walter S. Davis, the son of Nathaniel A. Davis and Mary Clough, was born in Warner, July 29, 1834. In early life, he received academical instruction at Washington, Thetford, Vt., and New London. He also in early manhood gave considerable attention to teaching. Later, he formed a partnership with Samuel H. Dow in the lumber business; subsequently, another with Paine Davis. In consequence of the needs of the lumbering business, the old mill at Davisville, the home of the subject of this sketch, was rebuilt, and a circular saw put in. In 1869, the mill was burned, and a new one was erected. In 1871, Mr. Davis formed a partnership with George W. Dow, of Bristol, and erected a straw-board factory. After sundry changes in the membership of the farm, Walter S. Davis and his brother, Henry C. Davis, became the proprietors of the business, under the name of Davis Brothers, continuing in the work of straw-board manufacture on a large scale till the transfer of the works to the Union Straw-Board Company in 1887, at the same time being actively engaged in the lumber business. In 1874, the subject of this sketch moved his family to Contoocook, where he purchased the water-power in 1887, and built his present elegant residence and sundry tenement houses in 1888 and 1889. In the prosecution of mechanics, he has shown ingenuity, having invented the Davis turbine water-wheel and a machine for the manufacture of paper boxes. At present, the Davis Brothers are interested in a box-making firm in Lynn, Mass. Walter S. Davis was representative of the town of Hopkinton in 1878, and state senator in 1885. A Mason, he was master of Harris Lodge, Warner, in 1882 and 1883. He was many years E. King of Woods's Chapter, No. 14, and is a member of Horace Chase Council, of Concord. In 1857, May 3, Walter S. Davis married Dollie Jones, daughter of Daniel Jones and Judith Trussel, of Warner. They have had children,--Walter S., Horace J., Charlie H., Mary A. (The forgoing is partly condensed from a sketch by Col. L. W. Cogswell.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lewis H. Dearborn, the sone of Edwin Dearborn and Lettice C. Stanyan, was born in Epsom, February 17, 1842. He resided in Epsom till 1847, in Pembroke till 1869, in Weare till 1872. Since 1872, he has resided in Hopkinton. He is a farmer. He was a selectman of Hopkinton from 1876 to 1878, and in 1885; collector of taxes in 1883 and 1884; superintendent of the Congregational Sunday-school form 1876 to 1878; he has been deacon of the Congregational church since 1879. During the late war, he served in Company C, 2d Regiment N.H. V., enlisting may 9, 1861; was in the first battle of Bull Run; was wounded at Williamsburg, Va., May 5, 1862; was discharged on account of wound, September 25, 1862. In 1870, May 24, Mr. Dearborn married Elvira C. Follansbee, daughter of Jesse Follansbee and Mary Melvin, of Weare. They have children,--Edwin J., Bertha L., Alfred H. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Henry M. Dearborn, the sone of Edwin Dearborn and Lettice C. Stanyan, was born in Epsom in 1846. He was educated at Pembroke academy, Bowdoin college, and Harvard Medical College. From 1869 to 1873, he practiced in Hopkinton; from 1874 to 1880, in Boston, Mass.; since 1880, he has practiced in New York city. From 1881 to 1890, he was visiting physician to the Ward's Island Home Hospital; from 1886 to 1890, professor of principles and practice of medicine in the New York Medical College and Hospital for Women; from 1886 to 1890, attending physician to the Laura Franklin Free Hospital for Children; from 1887 to 1890, consulting physician to the Hospital for Women. In 1890, he was appointed clinical professor of dermatology. He has been editor of the North American Journal of Homoeopathy since 1885, and president of the Homoeopathic Medical Society of New York city since 1889. He has been a medical examiner for life insurance since 1879. Dr. Dearborn's family history in this country dates back to colonial times, and among the direct descendants there have been about forty physicians. Dr. Dearborn owns an elegant summer cottage in this town, the edifice being the remodeled residence and school-house of the late famous Master John O. Ballard. In 1873, Dr. Dearborn married Sadie Smith, daughter of Edward Henry Smith and Sarah Butterly, of Peabody, Mass., by whom he has two children, --Cornelia H. and Frederick M. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- John J. Dearborn, a former physician of Hopkinton, was born in Concord, December 18, 1850, being the son of John M. Dearborn and Ruth F. E. Hoyt. He read medicine in the office of Drs. Gage & Conn, at Concord, and attended lectures at the medical school at Burlington, Vt. From 1872 to 1877, he practiced in Hopkinton. He then traveled a year in the West and South. From 1878 to 1884, he practiced in Salisbury, and afterwards in Tilton. He is now prevented from active practice by ill health. Dr. Dearborn is widely known as the compiler of the History of Salisbury. In 1881, November 21, Dr. Dearborn married Etta J. Bean, of Salisbury. She was the daughter of David S. Bean and Eliza J. Seward. They have one child, --Eliza S. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Moses E. Dodge, the son of Henry Dodge and Susan Eaton, was born in Hopkinton, September 26, 1826. He enjoyed such educational advantages as this town afforded, and became a thriving farmer and lumberman. He was one of the charter members of Union Grange, and an officer for several years. In 1875, he was one of a board of town assessors of real estate. In 1860, Mr. Dodge married Abbie A. Weeks, daughter of Charles Weeks and Phoebe Hemphill, of Hopkinton. They have one son,--Henry. Mr. Dodge died December 16, 1889, being suffocated and consumed in a fire that destroyed his barn, in the Stumpfield district, where he died. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Henry Dodge, the son of Moses Dodge and Abbie Ann Weeks, was born in Hopkinton, January 2, 1863. He was educated at Contoocook academy, New Hampton institute, Dartmouth Medical College, and the University of Vermont Medical College, graduating in 1887. Dr. Dodge began practice in Goffstown, in 1887, but moved to Webster the present year, 1889. In 1883, July 5, Henry Dodge married Josephine A. Hoyt, daughter of Benjamin Hoyt and Sarah E. Reed, of Hopkinton. They have one child, --Clarence B. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- William F. Dodge, the son of Grover Dodge and Lydia B. French, was born in Hopkinton, August 26, 1837. With the exception of six years in Manchester, he has always lived in Hopkinton. In youth, he attended Hopkinton academy. He is a farmer, who has been a selectman since 1887. In 1862, January 4, Mr. Dodge married Martha J. Edgerly, daughter of David Edgerly and Sarah Sanborn, of New Hampton. They have children,--Edwin L., Frank P., Grover W., Maud E. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Porter Dufur, the son of Eliphalet Dufur and Melinda Dimick, was born in Sutton, Canada, February 18, 1813. In the course of his life, he has resided in New York, New Jersey, and Missouri. He has also resided in Boston, Mass., Quincy, Mass., Lyme, Concord, Weare, and Hopkinton. His is a worker in stone. He was at one time employed on the Erie canal, N.Y., and afterwards on Moore's canal, while in New Jersey. He at one time ran on a steamboat between St. Louis, Mo., and New Orleans, La. He was on a steamboat running between Sackett's Harbor and Buffalo at the time of the great gale of 1841. During the lat war, he enlisted in Company F, 5th Regiment N.H. V., and was discharged in front of Richmond in 1862. In 1863, he reenlisted, and was put in the 18th Veteran Reserve Corps. He was on guard at Washington, D.C., at the time of the execution of the conspirators against the government in 1865. Mr. Dufur married Caroline M. Dimick, daughter of Jacob W. Dimick and Eliza Roberts, of Concord. They have living children,--Franlin, Elizabeth, Charlotte, and Eugene. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elmer B. Dunbar, the son of Azel Dunbar and Mehitable Nichols, was born in Grantham, August 8, 1830. He was a farmer till 1854, and has since then been a carpenter. He lived for a time in Springfield, but since 1839 has lived mostly in Hopkinton. He has been village sexton since 1859. In 1852, October 18, Mr. Dunbar married Ann Thorndike Webber, daughter of Seth Webber, of Hopkinton. They have had children,--Mary E., Freddie H., Henry P., Carrie B., Elmer E., Edwin G., Ida E., Grace M. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ebenezer Dustin, many years a prominent citizen of Hopkinton, was born in Warner in 1781. His mother's name was Lois Hunt. In quite early life he came to Hopkinton, living many years on the Dustin homestead, now to be seen at the foot of the westerly slope of Putney's hill. Mr. Dustin was prominent in many public councils. He settled many estates and was the guardian of numerous minor children. In 1811, and perhaps at other times, he was a member of the superintending school-committee of Hopkinton. In 1815, he was a selectman. He was a prominent temperance reformer of the earlier days. He was the president of the "Gun Cotton Society," organized in Contoocook about the year 1840, and which was aggressive in the work of suppressing the liquor traffic. Mr. Dustin married Sarah Pierce, of Warner, daughter of Daniel Pierce and Hannah (?) Marsh. They had children,--Cyrus, Daniel P., Eben H., Sarah, Charlotte, George, Betsey. Mr. Dustin died January 14, 1872, aged 91; Mrs. Dustin, December 6, 1859, aged 73. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cyrus Dustin, the son of Ebenezer Dustin and Sarah Pierce, was born in Warner, December 13, 1807. In early life, he came to Hopkinton, where he attended the school of Master John O. Ballard. Excepting one year in Salem, Mass., and three in Lowell, he has lived most of his life in Hopkinton, following the vocation of a farmer. In 1847, 1861, and 1871, Mr. Dustin was a selectman of Hopkinton. Mr. Dustin married Ednah P. Fisk, of Concord. She was the daughter of Ebenezer Fisk and Hannah Proctor. They had children,--Gilbert F., Clara A., Hannah P., Ebenezer F., Herbert C. Mrs. Dustin died February 15, 1887. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Herbert C. Dustin, the son of Cyrus Dustin and Edna P. Fisk, was born in Hopkinton, January 28, 1855. He attended Contoocook academy, and became a farmer. In 1883, 1884, and 1885, Mr. Dustin was a selectman of Hopkinton; in 1887, representative to the General Court. In 1880, January 15, Mr. Dustin married Sarah A. Richardson, daughter of Daniel Richardson and Sarah Dodge, of Hopkinton. They have children, --Gilbert R. and Daniel. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daniel P. Dustin, the son of Ebenezer Dustin and Sarah Pierce, was born in Hopkinton, November 23, 1809. In early life, he attended Master John O. Ballard's school. He was a farmer, who became noted for his efforts for the cultivation of an improved breed of sheep. He lived where his son, Henry D. Dustin, now resides until late in life, when he moved to Contoocook, where he died April 30, 1880. Daniel P. Dustin married Sarah Ann Barnard, daughter of Joseph Barnard and Miriam Jackman Eastman, of Hopkinton. They had children,--Joseph Barnard, born June 30, 1841; Sarah E., born July 29, 1843; Ada M., born July 22, 1846; Henry D., born February 25, 1849; Cyrus F., born January 25, 1853. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Henry Daniel Dustin, the son of Daniel Dustin and Sarah Ann Barnard, was born in Hopkinton, February 25, 1849. He attended school at Contoocook academy, and at nineteen years of age became a teacher. During his later life, he has almost or quite yearly been connected with schools, either as a teacher or school officer. From 1876 to 1878, Mr. Dustin was a member of the superintending school-committee; from 1881 to1885, a selectman; in 1885, representative to the General Court; since 1886, a member of the school-board. In 1871 November 30, Mr. Dustin married Helen Maria Tucker, daughter of Dea. David Tucker and Mary E. Straw, of Hopkinton. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- James M. Dwinells, the sone of James Dwinells and Lucy S. Greenleaf, was born in Hopkinton in 1832. During his life, he has resided twelve years in Weare. During the late war, he served in Company G, 7th Regiment N.H. V., two years and four months. In 1862, July 5, Mr. Dwinells married Susan M. Heath, daughter of Alfred Heath and Mary Brown, of Concord. They have had children,--Mary F., Nellie, Henry.