History of Chester, (Rockingham County) New Hampshire United States of America

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

Biographies:

Louis Bell, soldier, was born at Chester, N.H., March 8, 1837; son of Samuel and Lucy (Smith) Bell. He was educated at the academies of Derry and Gilford. He was admitted to the bar, and in 1857 opened an office in Farmington, N.H. In 1859 he was appointed justice of the police court of the town, and in 1861 solicitor for the county of Strafford; meanwhile holding the office of brigade judge-advocate, with the rank of major. In April, 1861, he was appointed captain in the 1st N.H. regiment. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel in August, 1861, his abilities as an executive officer winning the recognition of Gen. Thomas W. Sherman, who appointed him inspector-general and chief of staff. On March 11, 1862, he was commissioned colonel. He was stationed at St. Augustine, Fla., for a time, and later, as commander of a brigade, he took a conspicuous part in the heavy operations on Folly and Morris islands, including the siege of Fort Wagner and the bombardment of Fort Sumter and Charleston, S.C. He was active in several minor engagements, and in January, 1865, led a brigade in the successful assault on Fort Fisher, where, on Jan. 15, he received a mortal wound. The secretary of war conferred upon him the brevet of brigadier-general to date from Jan. 15. He died near Fort Fisher, N. C., Jan. 16, 1865.

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

Henry Flagg French, jurist, was born at Chester, N.H., Aug. 14, 1813; son of the Hon. Daniel and Sarah W. (Flagg) Bell French. He was educated at academies in his native state and at Hingham, Mass., and studied law in the office of his father and at Harvard law school. He was admitted to the bar in 1835 and practised in Chester until 1840 when he removed to Portsmouth and thence in 1842 to Exeter, N.H. He was county solicitor, 1838-48, and bank commissioner, 1848-52. He was a justice of the court of common pleas, 1855-59, removing to Concord, Mass., in the latter year. He was district attorney for Suffolk county, 1862-65, and was president of the Massachusetts agricultural college in 1865-66. In 1876 he was appointed by General Grant second assistant secretary of the U.S. treasury and held the office until 1885, when he returned to Concord, Mass. He was married to Anne, daughter of Chief-Justice Richardson. He died in Concord, Mass., Nov. 29, 1885.

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

Samuel Bell, governor of New Hampshire, was born at Londonderry, N.H., Feb. 9, 1770; grandson of John Bell, who emigrated from Ireland to New Hampshire in 1722. In 1793 he was graduated at Dartmouth, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1796. He was actively interested in politics, his first elective office being that of a member of the state house of representatives in 1804. He served three terms, and was speaker during the last two. In 1809 he was elected a member of the executive council, and later served for three years as judge of the supreme court of New Hampshire (1816-'19). He was governor, 1819-'23, and U.S. senator, 1823-'35. He received the degree LL.D. from Bowdoin in 1821. He died at Chester, N.H., Dec. 23, 1850.

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

Charles Henry Bell, governor of New Hampshire, was born in Chester, N. H., on Nov. 18, 1823; son of John Bell, governor in 1829-'30. He was graduated from Dartmouth college in 1844, practised law in Chester; Great Falls, and Exeter; and was for ten years county solicitor. He was a representative in the state legislatures of 1858, 1859, and 1860, the last year being speaker; was state senator in 1863 and 1864, the last year being president of the senate; was representative to the 43d Congress and president of the state Republican convention in 1878. In March, 1879, he was appointed by Governor Prescott, United States senator to fill the vacancy made by the expiration of Senator Wadleigh's term before the convening of the legislature, in June, 1879. He was governor of New Hampshire from June, 1881, until June, 1883, being elected as a Republican. He was president of the state constitutional convention in 1889. As a historian and author Governor Bell gained wide reputation, and was president of the State historical society for many years Among his more prominent publications were: "Men and Things of Exeter, N.H."; "Exeter in 1776"; "Phillips Exeter Academy"; "Memorial of John T. Gilman, M.D."; "Memoirs of John Wheelwright," and "The Bench and Bar of New Hampshire." He died at Exeter, N..H., Nov. 12, 1893.

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