History of Meredith, (Belknap County) New Hampshire United States of America

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Biographies:

Richard N. Batchelder, soldier, was born at Meredith, N.H., July 27, 1832. He was appointed regimental quartermaster of the 1st N. H. regiment, April 30, 1861. He was promoted captain and assistant quartermaster, and assigned to duty as chief quartermaster of the corps of observation in August, 1861; chief quartermaster second division, second corps, army of the Potomac, March, 1862; lieutenant-colonel and chief quartermaster, second corps, army of the Potomac, January, 1863; acting chief quartermaster, army of the Potomac, June, 1864; colonel and chief quartermaster, army of the Potomac, August, 1864. Here he had charge of the immense baggage trains of that great force, comprising some five thousand wagons and thirty thousand horses and mules, on the campaign from the Rapidan to the James. He was brevetted major, lieutenant-colonel and brigadier-general of volunteers, and major, lieutenant-colonel and colonel, United States army, for faithful and meritorious service during the war. He was appointed captain and assistant quartermaster in the regular service in February, 1865, and from that date until 1889 he served as assistant and chief quartermaster at various depots, posts and departments. He received seven brevets for faithful and meritorious services during the war, and medals of honor were awarded him by Congress under the act of July 12, 1862, and under that of March 3, 1863, for "such officers, noncommissioned officers and privates as have most distinguished or who may hereafter most distinguish themselves in action." He was brevetted "for most distinguished gallantry in action against Mosby's guerrillas, between Catlett's and Fairfax stations, Va., Oct. 13-15, 1863, while serving as lieutenant-colonel and quartermaster of volunteers, chief quartermaster of the second army corps." On July 10, 1890, he was appointed quartermaster-general of the army by President Harrison. During his six years of service in that capacity he handled forty-three millions of dollars. He was retired from active service July 27, 1896, He died at Washington, D.C., Jan. 4, 1901.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Charles Albert Busiel, governor of New Hampshire, was born in Meredith, N. H., Nov. 24, 1842; son of John W. and Julia (Tilton) Busiel; grandson of Moses F. Busiel, and a descendant of William Buswel, the immigrant. He was educated at Gilford, Belknap county, N. H., and entered on a business career in 1863, becoming the head of a large manufacturing plant at Laconia, N. H., in 1873. He was chief engineer of the Laconia fire department, 1872-85; a representative in the New Hampshire legislature, 1878-79, and a delegate to the Democratic national convention in 1880. In 1890 he became president of the Lake Shore railroad, and a director of the Concord and Montreal railroad. He was elected first mayor of Laconia by the Republican party, serving, 1883-94, and was governor of New Hampshire, 1895-96. He was president of the Laconia national bank and of the City savings bank. He died at Laconia, N. H., Aug. 29, 1901.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor