Orlando S. Langley of Epping, N.H. Biography from A History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire (1915)

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Page 845

   ORLANDO S. LANGLEY, a prominent citizen of Epping, New
Hampshire has been engaged chiefly in agricultural pursuits throughout
his active business career and at the present time is owner of a valuable
tract of 175 acres two miles from Exeter, on the Newmarket road. He

Page 846

was born in Newmarket, New Hampshire, October 16, 1840, and is a
son of Orlando and Harriet (Walker) Langley.
   Orlando Langley, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in
Lee, New Hampshire, in 1797, and died in 1853. His wife, Harriet
Walker Langley was born May 2, 1802, and lived to be more than ninety
years old, dying on September 17, 1892. They became parents of twelve
children.
   Of the children born to his parents, Orlando S. Langley was eleventh
in order of birth. When old enough he entered the schools of his home
community, attending about three months each winter, the remainder
of the time being devoted to work on the home farm. Thus he con-
tinued until he was fifteen, when he attended school at Newmarket
for two years. He then worked out for different ones until he had
sufficient means with which to buy a yoke of oxen. With this start
Mr. Langley freighted between Lee and Newmarket for eight years.
Industrious and saving he accumulated sufficient means to buy a 67
acre farm near Hedding, which he operated for three years. Then dis-
posing of it, he acted as manager of a farm for his grandfather one
year. He next came to Epping and bought a farm of seventy acres
which he managed and lived upon for two years. He purchased another
farm two miles from Epping, which he tilled for fifteen years. Dispos-
ing of this property to advantage he then purchased his present farm
of 175 acres located two miles from Exeter on the Newmarket road,
which his son now farms. Mr. Langley has always been a man of
public spirit, but never consented to mingle in politics or accept office,
other than that of selectman, in which capacity he served three years.
He was drafted for service in the Union Army during the Civil War, but
owing to the fact that his mother was a widow and he was the only
child left at home to care for her, he could not see his way clear to
follow his inclination and go to the front, paying $300 for a substitute.
   January 10, 1866, Mr. Langley was united in marriage with Miss
Hannah Burnham of Epping, a daughter of Uriah and Susanna Burn-
ham, and they became parents of four children: Harriet B., deceased
was the wife of Fred Cobb of Auburn, Maine; Albert S. married Alice
Norris and they have two sons, Norris and Richard; Nellie G. is the
wife of Charles W. Woods and has four children: Gertrude L., Ben-
jamin M., Harold R., and Hollis L.; and Samuel W. Langley of Exe-
ter, New Hampshire, married Ella Armstrong and they have a daugh-
ter, Helen M.
   Mr. Langley is an active member of the Patrons of Husbandry and
has filled all the offices in the local grange. He is a democrat in politics.
Mrs. Langley is prominent in club and social work, and has many friends
throughout this vicinity, which she has always called home. She is
active in the Ladies' Relief Corps, of which she has been chairman and
filled all other offices except that of secretary. Religiously they are
members of the Universalist Church.