New Hampshire Philanthropist, Civic and Patriotic Leader, Community Benefactor: Mary Ward (Lyon) Cheney Schofield of Peterborough

Posted on 6 January, 2020 by Janice Brown

Photograph of Mary (Lyon) Cheney Schofield from One Thousand New Hampshire Notables. Internet Archive

It is entirely fitting that my first biographical post of 2020 is about a woman.  Not just any woman, but a remarkable one.   She was born into an privileged family and life. She could have spent her life focused on self-indulgence.  Instead she was ever busy helping others–women, veterans, her community, her state and her church.

She was born Mary Ward Lyon, on 28 December 1868, daughter of Dr. Edwin Bradbury & Charlotte M. (Ward) Lyon in New Britain Connecticut.  Her father was an educator-turned-physician, and a Civil War veteran.  She was a direct descendant of George Lyon of Dorchester, Massachusetts.

She graduated from Dana Hall school, Wellesley, Massachusetts, and was a student for two years at Wellesley College.  [The Lyons Family genealogy states she worked briefly as a school teacher].  She left college to marry Charles Paine Cheney of Boston and Wellesley, son of Benjamin Pierce Cheney, the express company pioneer. Their marriage took place April 27, 1893. Continue reading →

Posted in Genealogy, History, New Hampshire Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A Toast to My Readers: New Year 2020

Posted on 1 January, 2020 by Janice Brown

A toast to my readers, may you continue to have keen eyesight and discerning tastes.

A toast to historians, that you will offer insight into the past without embellishment and with proper credit and attribution to your sources.

A toast to genealogists, that you will discover at least one ancestor this year who inspires you.

A toast to bloggers, may your New Year be rich with blog fodder, and may you be gentle with yourselves when you goof off.

A toast to my family and friends, for health and wealth, and joy. Continue reading →

Posted in Holidays, Really Old News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

New Hampshire Senator, Legislator, Farmer, Livestock Breeder and Mail Carrier: Doris M. Spollett of Hampstead

Posted on 27 December, 2019 by Janice Brown

Doris M. Spollett, photo from book, NH Women Legislators, compiled by Leon Anderson for the State of New Hampshire.

Doris Mildred Spollett was a woman of boundless energy and civic fervor.  Born on 12 Sep 1897 in  Hampstead NH, she was the daughter of Arthur J. & Carrie B. (Richardson) Spollett, and grand-daughter of Ladd & Mary A. (Randall) Richardson /and/ Samuel D. & Abbie (Batchelder) Spollett.  She died in November 1977 in Hampstead, New Hampshire.

She was a hard-working farmer, raising prize dairy goats and promoting New Hampshire’s only ‘native’ domesticated bird — the New Hampshire Red.   Before considering a run for a state office, she taught school in Hampstead NH for 11 years, served as a town selectman and worked as a mail carrier. She was a member of the Grange and the Farm bureau. Continue reading →

Posted in Genealogy, History, New Hampshire Politics, New Hampshire Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

New Hampshire’s Epic ‘Mud Turtle Monument’ of 1895

Posted on 21 December, 2019 by Janice Brown

Early photo postcard of the “Mud Turtle” Monument (now submerged) that marks the corner boundary line of New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts. (watermarked, property of the blog editor)

If you have never heard of the ‘Mud Turtle Monument’ you are probably not alone.  Yet the placement of this remarkable stone ended a 150 year old  dispute between New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont over their shared boundary.

New Hampshire claims all of the Connecticut River along the VT – NH border and this tri-state point was originally placed at the low-water mark, ending at the Massachusetts state line. The monument is still there, only now it sits beneath at least 12-14 feet of water and sand.

Historically the 200-mile Connecticut River’s west bank at the low water mark was considered New Hampshire’s domain and its Vermont boundary. As a series of ten power dams were built along the river, the water height changed. New Hampshire inherited the duty of maintaining most of the bridges across the river. Continue reading →

Posted in Boulders and Profiles, History, N.H. Missing Places, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gen. John Stark: “I am the enemy of all foreign influence…”

Posted on 18 December, 2019 by Janice Brown

Daguerrotype of a “painting” by A. Ritchie, circa 1831. Courtesy of John McNeil Stark Esq. Concord NH as found in book, “A life of General John Stark of New Hampshire.”

 

“I am the enemy of all foreign influence, for all foreign influence is the influence of tyranny. This is the only chosen spot for liberty — this is the only Republic on earth.”  General John Stark wrote these words in the same letter where the now famous ‘Live Free or Die’ motto was also penned.

There is no denying the courage, intensity, foresight and bravery of John Stark.  He never feared to face the enemy.  He always put his family, his community, his state, his country first.  I wish that could be said the same of all of our country’s politicians and so-called leadership.

 

 

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation: Combating Foreign Influence
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Posted in Current Events, History | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments