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

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Biographies:

James Gilchrist Benton, soldier, was born at Lebanon, N.H., Sept. 15, 1820; son of Calvin Benton, noted for having first introduced merino sheep into New England. He was graduated at West Point in 1842 as brevet 2d lieutenant of ordnance, and assigned to duty as assistant ordnance officer at Watervliet arsenal, Troy, N.Y. In 1847 he was promoted 2d lieutenant of ordnance, and in 1848 was assigned to the ordnance bureau in Washington, to aid in preparing the "System of Artillery for the Land Service" and the "Ordnance Manual." In March, 1848, he was promoted 1st lieutenant, and in 1849 was at Harper's Ferry armory, Va. From 1849 to 1852 he was in charge of the San Antonio ordnance depot, Texas, and the following year was made assistant inspector of arsenals and armories. In 1853 he was commanding officer of the Charleston (S.C.) arsenal, and the next four years devoted himself to experiments for a new rifled musket. He was a member of the ordnance board, and in July, 1856, was made captain of ordnance. From 1861 to 1863 he was principal assistant to the chief of ordnance at the Washington arsenal, of which he was given command in 1863. On March 13, 1865, he was promoted lieutenant-colonel and colonel by brevet for faithful and meritorious services in the ordnance department. In 1866 he was transferred to the command of the Springfield (Mass.) armory, and superintended the construction of the Springfield rifle models. In 1873 he was sent to Europe to investigate the cannon in use there. He invented numerous improvements in fire-arms, and wrote valuable reports on ordnance. He is the author of "A Course of Instruction in Ordnance and Gunnery for the Use of the Cadets of the United States Military Academy" (1880). He died in Springfield, Mass., Aug. 23, 1881.

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

Henry Lane Kendrick, educator, was born in Lebanon, N.H., Jan. 20, 1811. He was appointed to the U.S. Military academy in 1831, was breverted 2d lieutenant, and assigned to the 2d U.S. infantry, July 1, 1835. He served at the academy as assistant professor of chemistry, mineralogy and geology, 1835-38, was promoted 2d lieutenant, April 1, 1836; transferred to the 2d artillery, June 16, 1836, and promoted 1st lieutenant, June 20, 1837. He was principal assistant professor of chemistry, mineralogy and geology at the academy, 1838-47; was promoted captain and returned to the 2d artillery, June 18, 1846, and served in the war with Mexico, 1847-48, being engaged in the siege of Vera Cruz, March 10-29, 1847; the battle of Cerro Gordo, April 17-18, 1847; the skirmish of Amazoque, May 14, 1847; and at the defence of Puebla, Sept. 15 to Oct. 12, 1847, where he was brevetted major for gallant and meritorious conduct. He served as acting ordnance officer, Dec. 10, 1847, to June 16, 1848; in garrison, New York harbor, 1848, and at Jefferson barracks, 1848-49; on frontier duty in command of an artillery battalion on the march from Fort Leavenworth, Kan., to Santa Fe, N.M., 1849; in the expeditions against the Navajo Indians, 1849 and 1851; at Santa F?, N.M., 1849-51; as commanding escort of the topographical party from Zuni river, N.M., to San Diego, Cal., 1851-52, and between the Republican Fork and the Arkansas river, 1852, and in command of Fort Defiance, N.M., 1852-57, and professor of chemistry, mineralogy and geology at West Point, 1857-80. He declined the appointment of brigadier-general of volunteers, Sept. 23, 1861. He was retired with the brevet rank of major and the pay of colonel, Dec. 13, 1880. He received the honorary degree of A.M. from Dartmouth in 1844, and that of LL. D. from the University of Missouri, 1868, and from the University of Rochester in 1869. He was vice-president of the Union League club, 1889-90. His portrait was painted for the library of the U.S. Military academy. He died in New York city, May 24, 1891.

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

David Hough, representative, was born in Norwich, Conn., March 13, 1753. He was a ship-carpenter and was employed in building the ships of Arnold's fleet on Lake Champlain and the frigate Confederacy at Norwich. In 1778 he settled at Lebanon, N.H. He was for many years a member of the state legislature; was a justice of the peace; colonel of militia; a delegate to the convention for forming the state constitution in 1784; and in July, 1798, was appointed a commissioner of valuation. He was a representative from New Hampshire in the 8th and 9th congresses, 1803-07. He died at Lebanon, N.H., April 18, 1831.

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

Elias Lyman Magoon, bibliophile, was born in Lebanon, N.H., Oct. 20, 1810. His father was an architect and his grandfather, a Baptist clergyman, served in the Revolution. He was an apprentice to a bricklayer, 1826-30, and earned the money to pay for his education. He was prepared for college at New Hampton academy; attended Waterville college, Maine, 1836, and was graduated from the Newton Theological institution in I839. He was ordained to the Baptist ministry in Boston, Mass., in August, 1839, and was pastor at Richmond, Va., 1839-46; was in Europe, 1840-46; was pastor of the Ninth Street church in Cincinnati, Ohio, 1846-50, of the Oliver Street church, New York city, 1850-58, of the First church, Albany, N.Y., 1858-68, and of the Broad Street church, Philadelphia, Pa., 1868-84. He withdrew from the ministry in April, 1884, and resided in Philadelphia until his death. He was collector of books and works of art, and before his death gave his large collections of Protestant theological books to the Newton Theological institution, his Roman Catholic collection to Cardinal John McCloskey, his miscellaneous works to Colby university and Bates college, Maine, his illustrated art works to the University of Rochester, and his collection of watercolor drawings to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. He also sold his paintings to Vassar college, of which institution he was a trustee. He received the honorary degree A.M. from Waterville college in 1842, and that of D.D. from the University of Rochester in 1853. He is the author of: Eloquence of the Celestial Times (1847); Orators of the American Revolution (1848); Proverbs for the People (1848); Living Orators in America (1849); Republican Christianity (1849); Westward Empire (1856). He died in Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 25, 1886.

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