History of Charlestown, (Sullivan County) New Hampshire United States of America

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Biographies:

Benjamin Labaree, educator, was born in Charlestown, N.H., June 3, 1801; son of Benjamin and Hannah (Farwell) Labaree. He taught school in North Carolina and later studied at Kimball Union academy, Meriden, N.H., and was graduated from Dartmouth in 1828, and from Andover Theological seminary in 1831. He was ordained by the presbytery of Newburyport at Bradford, Mass., Sept. 26, 183l, and was sent on a tour through the southwest, by the American Education society, to enlist young men for the ministry. He was principal of the Manual Labor school at Spring Hill, Tenn., 1831-32, professor of ancient languages at Jackson college, Columbia, Tenn., 1832-36, president of the institution, 1836-37; secretary of the Central American Education society, New York city, 1837-40, and president of Middlebury college, Vt., 1840-66. During his administration the endowment of Middlebury college was largely increased, and important progress made in other directions. He resided in Andover, Mass., 1867-69; was pastor at Hyde Park, and acting pastor at South Weymouth, 1869-70, and resided at West Roxbury, Mass., 1870-75, at Charlestown, N.H., 1875-80, and Walpole, N.H., 1880-83. He was lecturer on moral philosophy and international law at Dartmouth college, 1871-76, and at Middlebury college in 1874. He received the degree of D.D. from the University of Vermont in 1841, and that of LL.D. from Dartmouth in 1864. He was twice married; first, Sept. 29, 1831, to Eliza Paul Capen of Dorchester, Mass., who died in Spring Hill, Tenn., Oct. 12, 1835, and secondly, Oct. 25, 1806, to Mrs. Susan (Freeman) Fairbank, of Cincinnati, Ohio. He died in Walpole, N.H., Nov. 15, 1883.

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

Henry Hubbard, governor of New Hampshire, was born in Charlestown, N.H., May 3, 1784. He was graduated at Dartmouth, A.B., 1803, A.M., 1806, and became a lawyer, practising in Charlestown. He was a state representative, 1812-27, and speaker of the house, 1824-27; was state solicitor for Cheshire county, 1823-28; judge of the probate court, 1827-29; representative in the 21st, 22d and 23d congresses, 1829-35, and speaker pro tempore of the house in the 23d congress; U.S. senator from New Hampshire, 1835-41; governor of New Hampshire. 1842-44, and U.S. sub-treasurer at Boston under appointment of President Polk, 1846-49. He died in Charlestown, N.H., June 5, 1857.

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

Ralph Metcalf, governor of New Hampshire, was born in Charlestown, N.H., Nov. 21, 1798; son of John and Robey (Converse) Metcalf; grandson of Samuel and Hannah (Richardson) Metcalf and of John and Kezia (Nichols) Converse, and a descendant of the Rev. Michael Metcalf. Samuel Metcalf served in the Revolutionary war. Ralph was brought up on his father's farm, attended the district schools of the neighborhood; was graduated at Dartmouth in 1823; was admitted to the bar in 1826, and practised first in New port and later in Claremont, N.H. He was secretary of state, 1830-38; declined the office of attorney-general of New Hampshire, held a clerkship in Washington, D.C., 1838-40, and while there refused the editorship of a leading Washington paper. He was register of probate for Sullivan county, N.H., in 1845, a representative in the New Hampshire legislature, 1852-53, and was elected governor of New Hampshire by the Native American party and re-elected, serving, 1855-57. He died in Claremont, N.H., Aug. 26, 1858.

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