New Hampshire Political Heroines, Suffragists, Elected Women and Record Breakers

Posted on 5 November, 2016 by Janice Brown
Armenia S. (Aldrich) White of Boscawen and Concord NH

Armenia S. (Aldrich) White of Boscawen and Concord NH. A leader of woman’s suffrage in New Hampshire.

 

Being that November 8, 2016 is a momentous day for New Hampshire (and the United States), I want to highlight some of the heroic women who paved the way for us. Here is a recap of important stories of pace-setting political New Hampshire women who I have written about during the past ten years.

We need to think about these women of the past, and thank them. No less important are New Hampshire women of today–those making telephone calls to check on constituents, acting as drivers to get people to the polling locations, wanting to make sure people are educated and able to vote, and last but not least, running for office themselves. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire WWI Military: Private Omer Boissonneau of Manchester NH (1896-1918)

Posted on 5 November, 2016 by Janice Brown

boissoneault-omer-photograph-2-watermarkedOmer Boissonneau was born February 5, 1896 in Manchester NH, son of Jean Baptiste [John] & Aurelia (Marcoux) Boissineau [the surname is spelled various ways including Boissinneault /Boissonneault, etc.] He grew up at 14 Kidder Court, living in Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. housing, with most of his family working in the cotton mills. He had siblings, Rebecca, Virginia, Fred, Louis, Arthur, Joseph, Wilfred, Dona, and Stella.

In August of 1917 when he completed his War Registration Card, he listed his name as OMER BOSSONNEAU, residing at 37 Kidder Street Manchester NH, age 21. He stated he was born February 5, 1896 in Manchester NH, and his occupation was that of a Cloth Folder for Amoskeag Mfg Co. He was single, short, of medium stature, with blue eyes light hair. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire WWI Military: Private Ray W. Beadle of Manchester NH (1897-1919)

Posted on 4 November, 2016 by Janice Brown
Photograph of Ray Beadle from the Boston Post newspaper of 1918.

Photograph of Ray Beadle from the Boston Post newspaper of 1918.

 

Ray Wellington Beadle was born on 26 March 1897 in Manchester, New Hampshire, son of Charles S. & Abbie A. (Oslington) Beadle. When he filled out his War Registration form on 5 June 1917, he was living at 282 Central Street in Manchester.  He had siblings, Hazel and Howard. Charles/Charlie and Edith.

Ray had been working as a mill operative for the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. He had previously lived in Sandown NH for a few years.

On this same form Ray describes himself as single, medium height, slender with blue eyes and light hair. He indicates he had experience for 2 months as a private in the NH artillery. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire WWI Military: Gunner John B. Ahern of Manchester NH (1894-1918)

Posted on 4 November, 2016 by Janice Brown
Photograph of John B. Ahern from the Boston Post, October 1918

Photograph of John B. Ahern from the Boston Post, October 1918

John Bernard Ahern was born 4 October 1894 in Manchester, New Hampshire, son of Daniel J. & Julia (Butler) Ahern. At his birth, his father Daniel was a wholesale liquor dealer. The family lived at 556 Brown Avenue. Daniel J. Ahern was an Irish immigrant to the city who was successful in business and at one time was a Councilman. John had younger siblings Daniel, Helena/Nellie, Elizabeth, and Mary.

In 1915 John B. was a student living with his father at 556 Brown Avenue. In 1917 when he completed his War Registration Card on 5 June 1917, he was living in the same place, a law student at Georgetown University. He described himself as being tall and stout with brown eyes and dark brown hair. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire WWI Military: The Heroes of Hancock

Posted on 3 November, 2016 by Janice Brown
Circa 1918-1919 postcard photograph of the Hancock Public Library with WWI memorial.

Circa 1918-1919 postcard photograph of the Hancock Public Library with WWI memorial.

I recently purchased an interesting old postcard dating back to World War I days.  It displays a photograph of the (then) town library, along with a painted sign in the front yard.  The sign’s names are those of Hancock New Hampshire’s heroes of the World War or WWI as we now call it.

It was common during World War I for a town to place the names of participants on a wooden display, reverently painted by citizens, or a local artist. After a while  these memorials faded–weathered from the sun, rain, and snow.  Much of the time they were not replaced.  This seems to be the case in the town of Hancock. Continue reading →

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