Frame, James

The following data is extracted from Merrimack and Sullivan Counties, New Hampshire Biographies.

James Frame, a farmer of Canterbury, N.H., and dealer in registered thoroughbred Jersey cattle, is a native of Lennoxshire, Scotland. He was born September 5, 1834, son of Robert and Janet (Pettigrew) Frame. His paternal grandfather, also named James Frame, was a large lumber dealer in Scotland, where he died when still a young man. He married Margaret McKay.

Their son Robert, the father of the subject of this sketch, was for a number of years the editor of a newspaper in Glasgow. He introduced the omnibus into that city in 1845; and he ran the line for five years, keeping about ten omnibuses and one hundred horses. He sold out in 1850, and was appointed public inspector of carriages in Glasgow, an office April, 1894. His wife was Janet, the daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (Riddell) Pettigrew, of Scotland. Alexander Pettigrew was a weaver and farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Frame had five children, namely: James, of whom we shall speak more fully below; Alexander, deceased; Elizabeth, a missionary in the city of Glasgow; Mary, now living in Scotland; and Jane, who married Thomas Patterson, and is now dead. All of the children were educated in private schools.

James, their eldest son, learned the currier's trade when a young man, and served seven years in the city of Glasgow. He was appointed foreman of the business in 1855, and he held the position three years. Coming to this country in 1868, he settled first in Sunapee, N.H., where he worked as currier for a man named John Young. In the fall of 1869 he went to Chicago with the intention of making his home there; but, deciding that he liked the East better, he came back and settled in Franklin, N.H., where he worked with A. M. Stewart until 1880, when he removed to Manchester. After ten years' service there with Kimball & Gerrish he removed to Newport, R.I., where he set up in the currier business. He was very successful, and travelled a good deal on the road. He stayed but two years, however, and then came to Canterbury, N.H., where he bought of Frank Merrill his present property, containing about one hundred and thirty acres of well-improved land. His place is called Strathsee Farm, and is a beautiful homestead. Mr. Frame does general farming; but his main interest is in cattle, of which he has made a careful study. He keeps about twenty head of registered thoroughbred Jerseys, and makes annually a large amount of fine butter. He has taken nine prizes at the New Hampshire State Fair with his fine cattle.

In politics Mr. Frame is a Republican, and he is an active worker in his party. He belongs to Granite Lodge, K. of P., of Manchester, N.H.; and to the Merrimack River Grange, Canterbury. In religion he is of the liberal Christian type, and is a member of the Universalist church. He married Jane Patterson, a daughter of William and Susan (Hamilton) Patterson, born December 22, 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Frame have had four children. A brief record may here be given, as follows: Robert Frame, the only son, a graduate of Dartmouth, married Minnie Gail, of Canterbury, and is now Treasurer of the Dececo Company at Newport, R.I.; Susan Hamilton Frame married George W. Hardy, a machinist of Manchester, N.H., and died at the age of twenty-nine; Janet Pettigrew Frame is a trained nurse at Newport, R.I.; and Jeanie Frame, born in December, 1867, died July 25, 1887.

Source: Merrimack and Sullivan Counties, New Hampshire Biographies

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