Luther Dana Peaslee Biography from History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire From: Patricia Cooper - pcooper@peaknet.net Surname: PEASLEE Source: History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens by Charles A. Hazlett, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill., 1915 Page 898 LUTHER DANA PEASLEE, in former years one of the most prominent citizeris of the town of Kingston, Rockingham County, N. H., was born in this town August 12, 1810, and died February 24, 1905. His parents were Daniel and Elizabeth (Secomb) Peaslee, and he was a grandson of Major Jacob Peaslee, of High]and Scotch ancestry, who kept the old tavern, four miles from Kingston Plains, in what is now South Kingston, from 1776 to 1830, dying about the year last men- tioned, at the age of eighty-eight. Major Jacob Peaslee was twice mar- ried ; first to Martha Chenis, by whom he had four sons and three daughters, an of whom settled in Kingston. Of these, John married Hannah Peaslee of Newton and had two children. Moses died at the age of thirty-eight years. Lydia married Samuel Spofford and reared Pages 899 and 900 contained a portrait. Page 901 a family of four children, of whom Mrs. Dr. Bassett was one. Martha married a Mr. Eastman and had a son, Jacob P. Eastman, who was prominently identified with railroad construction work in various parts of the United States. Hannah married Jonathan Bartlett and now re- sides on the old Major Peaslie homestead. Major Peaslee married for his second wi£e a- Mrs. Clement, 0f which union, however, there were no children. Major Peaslee was a very wealthy man; owning large tracts of land, together with saw and grist mills, and giving employ- ment to a large number 0£ men, In personal appearance and general traits of character he is said to have strongly resembled President An- drew Jackson, and, as was natural to a man of such force of character, he stood at the head and front in all matters of public interest in the town of Kingston. He also represented Kingston in the state legilature. Luther Dana Peaslee passed his childhood on the home farm. His education was acquired chiefly in academies at Atkinson, N; H., and Haverhill, Mass. After completing his studies he taught school for two terms, and then, not liking farm work, he went, about 1833, with Gideon Webster to Holly, N. Y., where he engaged in mercantile busi- ness, the firm being known as Webster & Peaslee. Returning to King- ston in 1840, he established himself in the same business here, and for over forty years subsequently was one of the leading merchants of the town. He also had other important -business interests, being largely interested in farming, lumbering and real estate in New Hampshire, Iowa and Wisconsin. For years he was a trustee of Kingston Academy. A successful business man, and a public-spirited citizen, taking a per- sonal interest in whatever concerned the welfare of the community in which he lived, he was highly esteemed, and when at last he passed away £rom life's scenes, his loss was felt in a deep, personal sense by all Who had come within the wide circle of his acquaintance. Mr. Peaslee was first married November 1, 1846, to Charlotte F. Sanborn, a daughter of Jacob H. and Elizabeth (Hoyt) Sanborn of Kingston, N. H. Her married life was brief. for she died May 13. 1848, having been the mother of one child, who died in infancy. Her mother , Mrs. Sanborn, survived her many years. dying in Beloit, Wis., May 11, 1882, at the age of ninety-six years and six months. Mr.Peaslee mar- ried for his second wife, Mary S. Clark, a daughter of Col. Nathaniel Haven Clark, of P1aistow, N.H. The chlldren of this union were Grace B., Charlotte F., Caroline E. and .Mary Clark, the last mentioned of whom died at the age of six years. Grace B'.. born November 19. 1866. is the wife of William H. Johnson, of Haverhill, Mass., and has a daughter, Katherine. Mr. Johnson is a business man and treasurer of the Cushnoc Paper Company, with mills at Augusta, Me. Caroline E., born November 5, 1869, married Frederick E. Wood. She died March 27, 1904, leaving a daughter, Charlotte. Charlotte F. was born April 18, 1868. Mr. Wood married the latter June 19. 1906. Their summer home is in Kingston, but Mr. Wood is engaged in business in Boston. being a member of the firm of A. M. Wood & Co., in which his father is the senior partner. Mr. Wood is a past master m the Masonic order. He and his wife are members of the Congregational Church. ********************************************************************** * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. * * * *The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification.