Col. Rufus N. Elwell Biography from History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire

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Surname: ELLWELL
Source:  History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens
          by Charles A. Hazlett, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill., 1915

Page 774

     COL. RUFUS N. ELWELL, a well known business man of Exeter,
engaged in general insurance as agent for various companies, and also in
the lumber business, was born in Detroit, Me., August 24, 1862, a son of
George H. and Hannah (Prentiss) Elwell. His parents were natives of
Troy, Me., where the father was a farmer and lumberman. He was a son
of Jacob Elwell, also a na1tive of Maine. The father died in January,
1899. His widow resides in Newton, N. H. A Republican in politics, he
performed the duties of a good citizen and was a man who stood high
in the good opinion of his neighbors.
     After attending the common schools the subject of this sketch com-
pleted his literary education in the Maine Central Institute at Pitts-
field, earning the money for expenses by school teaching. He began
his industrial life in connection with the lumber business, later taking
up insurance, in both of which lines he has since continued. For some
time also he was engaged in business as a box manufacturer in Exeter
and also in Newton. He is a member of the Wadleigh & Elwell Lumber
Company, operating in Maine, where they own several good tracts of
timber land. As an insurance man he is state agent for the New England
Casualty Company, also for the New York Plate Glass Company, be-
sides three fire insurance companies. He is a director in the Exeter
Co-operative Bank, being also chairman of the security committee of
the same. In politics a Republican, he served for eight years as a mem-
ber of the legislature, for two years being speaker of the House. Since
coming to Exeter in 1890 he has served two terms as collector of customs
at Portsmouth-from 1898 to 1905-and was on the staff of Governor
Tuttle, whence he derives his title of colonel. His society affiliations
are with the Odd Fellows, Red Men, Royal Arcanum, Sons of Veterans,
the New Hampshire Veteran Association and the New England His-
torical Society.
     Col. Elwell was first married in May, 1885, to Etta Ordway, of West
Newbury, Mass., a daughter of Charles W. and Caroline (Adams) Ord-
way. She died in July, 1886, leaving a son, George W. The latter, who
was graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy and later from Dart-
mouth College and the Harvard Law School, is now an attorney in Bos-

(Pages 775 and 776 contained a portrait for a different biography)

Page 777

ton. Col. Elwell married secondly Mary E. Boswell, who was born in
Salem, Mass., daughter of William W. and Lucy A. (Peabody) Boswell.
Her father was the son of Rev. James Boswell, and was born in Con-
necticut; her mother was a native of Massachusetts. Of this second
marriage there has been one son, Clinton W. He was graduated from
Phillips Exeter Academy, attended Dartmouth College two years, and
was later graduated from the Harvard School of Business Administration.
He is now associated with his father in the insurance business. Col.
Elwell and family attend the Baptist church. They are progressive up
to date people, possessing in large measure the best qualities of their
New England ancestors and occupying a high place in the estimation of
their neighbors and fellow citizens.