Hon. William B. Underhill Biography from History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire
From: Betsy Webber - betsy@megalink.net

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

Page 1126

     HON. WILLIAM B. UNDERHILL, county commissioner and a pros-
perous farmer of Chester, who is president of the school board of this town,
was born in Chester, N, H., August 19, 1860, a son of Lieut. John Underhil1.
His father, who was born in Chester in 1834, was nephew of the late Benjamin
Chase, a prominent citizen and author of the History of Chester. His mother
was Molly Chase, a daughter of Benjamin Pike Chase, who was the first
sheriff here in early days. Lieut. John Underhill was one of Chester's most
prominent citizens, as serving as sergeant at arms in the state house of
representatives for many years. He was also one of the prominent shoe
manufacturers of the state. He enlisted in Capt. Patten's Company, Co. I,
Eleventh New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, for service in the Civil war,
was made sergeant of the company and was severely wounded at Fredericks-
burg, being for several months in the hospital at Baltimore, Md. When par-
tially recovered he returned home, but as soon as he was able to get about
he, with Capt. William S. Greenough, raised a company, he being made first
lieutenant, and going to the front, served all through the rest of the war.
He took part in the Grand Review at Washington and was mustered out
as captain, but was brevetted colonel. One of the most widely known men

Pages 1127 and 1128 contained portraits of three Underhills

Page 1129

in Rockingham County, he was highly esteemed and at different times held
all the various offices in the gift of his fellow townsmen, being representative
to the legislature in 1872-73. He died July 18, 1894.
     William B. Underhill was reared and educated in the common schools at
Chester and early, in life entered the shoe factory of his father. Subse-
quently he was with Coburn & Fuller and Perkins & Hardy, and indeed has
been identified with the shoe manufacturing industry of Rockingham County
from early boyhood until four years ago, when he retired on account of his
health and has since given his attention to his farm. Some twenty years ago
he bought the old Bell property, which is now on the line of the Chester and
Derry Electric Railway. When it came into his possession it was much
run down, owing to lack of care, but he has since made it one of the most
attractive homesteads to be found in this section.
     Mr. Underhill has always been an up to date and progressive citizen,
ever ready to lend his aid and influence to better local conditions, and not local
conditions merely, but those affecting the county and state. He was repre-
sentative to the state legislature in 1905, has served on the board of select-
men, also on the board of education for four years and has just been elected
for another three years. He is a member of Echo Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., of
Derry; past councillor of Burnside Council of the Junior Order of American
Mechanics, and member of Chester Grange, P. of H.
     Mr. Underhill was married April 30, 1885, to Sarah Ruth, daughter of
Charles P. R. Sargent and his wife Orissa A. Truel Sargent. Mr. and Mrs.
Underhill have two children: Carrie A., wife of Josiah Richardson of
Candia, N. H., and Dr. Charles Sargent, of whom the following is a brief
record.
     Dr. Charles Sargent Underhill in his boyhood attended the common schools
of Chester, Pinkerton Academy, Mt. Hermon, and was later graduated from
Ballou and Hobigan's preparatory school at Boston, Mass. He entered the
College of Physicians and Surgeons at Boston in the fall of 1908 and was
graduated M. D., June 12, 1912, as valedictorian of his class. He attended
clinics at the Boston Hospital, the Boston Dispensary and the Society of the
Lying-in-Hospital of New York City. On June 17, 1912, he passed the
medical examination of the State Board of Maine, and is now located at
Franklin, Me., where he has built up an extensive practice. He is a member
of the county and state medical societies, member of Chester Grange and of
Adelphi Lodge, F. and A. M. of Boston, Mass.
     Mr. and Mrs. Underhill are affiliated with the Congregational church.
He was elected on the republican ticket as a member of the Board of County
Commissioners.

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