Hartwell, Henry Harrison, Rev.

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

Rev. Henry Harrison Hartwell is an esteemed resident of Allenstown, where he has served for a long time as Superintendent of Schools and in other important town offices. He was born in Hillsborough, N.H., October 18, 1819, son of William and Betsey (Wilkins) Hartwell. His grandfather, John Hartwell, was a typical New Hampshire man, strong in mind and body, and respected by all who knew him. John Hartwell taught school in early life. In 1724 he was Highway Surveyor; and in 1757 he was Selectman of Concord, N.H. A member of the State militia, he was Ensign some time previous to 1741. He married Mary, daughter of Job and Mary (Hartwell) Parling, and reared a large family. His son, William, born August 26, 1795, in Hillsborough, besides working at his trade of carpenter, also cultivated a farm. An industrious man and endowed with great bodily strength, William looked for little leisure during his life. In politics he was a Democrat, in religious belief a Methodist. He died April 14, 1861, and his wife died at the age of eighty-four. Eleven children were born to them, two daughters and nine sons. Of these the survivors are: Henry Harrison and Elizabeth J. The latter is the wife of William II. Collins, of Cambridge, Mass., and the mother of three children-Hattie, Herbert, and Annie.

Henry Harrison Hartwell acquired most of his education in his native town. He became a member of the New Hampshire Annual Conference when he was twenty years old, and for a great many years labored as a Methodist pastor in Great Falls, Rochester, New Market, Manchester, Nashua, Lawrence, Portsmouth, and other places. He had been a zealous worker in the Christian vineyard for forty years, when his voice failed, and he was obliged to retire. Afterward he spent four years in California and Nevada, resting and recuperating, and then took up the auction and commission business in Allenstown, in which he is at present engaged. He moved to this place in 1867, and in the thirty years of his residence here he has held the respect of his townsmen. In politics he is independent. He has served in the capacity of Justice of the Peace for twenty years. He has been Tax Collector of Allenstown for a number of years, Superintendent of Schools for eleven years, and Chairman of the Board of Selectmen for one year.

Mr. Hartwell was married May 1, 1842, to Flora Ann Swett, of Webster, N.H., who died in September, 1858. She was the mother of four children, of whom Charles H. and Leon I. are living. Charles married Flora Moore, of Lawrence, Mass. Leon has been twice married, and has two children-Harry and Warren W., respectively borne by his first and second wives. His second wife, who is living, was Miss Bertha Wheeler, of Salem, N.H. The Rev. Mr. Hartwell contracted a second marriage April 10, 1861, with Mrs. Sarah Sargeant Hirsch, a daughter of Major Sterling Sargeant. By this union he has one child, Flora A., who is now the wife of Park Mitchell, of Manchester, N.H., and has three children-Emma May, Florence S., and Henry O. Mrs. Hartwell died May 19, 1897, nearly seventy-three years old.

Source: Merrimack and Sullivan Counties, New Hampshire Biographies

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