History of Holderness, (Grafton County) New Hampshire United States of America

Our database does not include an historic photo for Holderness, (Grafton County) New Hampshire, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us!

Biographies:

Oren Burbank Cheney, educator, was born at Holderness, N. H., Dec. 10, 1816; son of Moses and Abigail (Morrison) Cheney. When a boy he worked in his father's paper mill to fit himself to follow the business, and in 1829 was sent to the New Hampton academical institute. In 1832 he entered the first school of the Free Baptist denomination, established in that year at North Parsonsfield, Me. He was graduated at Dartmouth college in 1839, and was soon after chosen principal of the academy at Farmington, acting in that capacity there and elsewhere until 1845. In that year he went to Whitestown, N.Y., where he studied theology in the Biblical school, and taught Latin in the seminary. Having entered the ministry he preached in various locations until 1851, when he was elected representative to the state legislature by the Whigs and Free Soilers. In 1854 Parsonsfield seminary was burned, and Dr. Cheney at once began the carrying out of a long-cherished plan of establishing a Free Baptist college in Maine, and in 1854 he was instrumental in founding the institution which, in 1863, became Bates college, and he was made its first president. In 1894 increasing years made it necessary for him to relinquish the cares of office and he was made president emeritus, Prof. George Colby Chase succeeding to the presidency. In 1863 Wesleyan university conferred upon President Cheney the degree of D.D.

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

Person C. Cheney, governor of New Hampshire, was born in Holderness, N.H., Feb. 25, 1828; son of Moses and Abigail (Morrison) Cheney. He received an academic education, and when seventeen years old was placed in charge of his father's paper-mill at Manchester. In 1853 he was a member of the state legislature; in 1862 quartermaster of the 13th New York volunteers, and was forced to resign because of illness caused by exposure at Fredericksburg. In 1864-67 he was a state railroad commissioner; in 1871 mayor of Manchester; and governor of New Hampshire, 1875-77. He became U.S. senator on the death of Austin F. Pike, serving 1886-87; was U.S. minister to Switzerland, 1892-93, and a member of the Republican National Convention in 1892 and 1900. He received the honorary degree A.M. from Dartmouth in 1876. He devoted himself to manufacturing, stock raising and travel. He died in Dover, N.H., June 19, 1901.

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