Abbott, George Whitefield

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

George Whitefield Abbott, of Penacook, President of the J. E. Symonds Table Company, cabinetmakers, was born in West Boscawen, now Webster, N.H., on March 13, 1837. His parents were Nathaniel and Mary (Fitts) Abbott, the former a resident of West Boscawen and the latter of Sandown, N.H.

George W. Abbott in his youth, after attending the public schools of Warner, completed his education at a private academy in West Salisbury, N.H. He went immediately to Boston, Mass., where he was employed as a clerk until 1861, when he came to Penacook, N.H., to engage in the grocery business with his brother, under the firm name of H. & G. W. Abbott. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Seventh New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, going directly to St. Augustine, Fla., remaining until May, 1863. From that city he went to Morris Island, South Carolina, being engaged all summer at Forts Wagner, Gregg, and Sumter. He then went to St. Helena, S.C.; and in February, 1864, General Truman Seymour, the objective point of which was Lake City, Fla. Severely wounded at the battle of Olustee, Fla., on February 20, he was obliged to stay in the hospital until April, 1865, shortly before the close of the war. Later he was returned to his regiment, and mustered out at Goldsboro, N.C., in June, 1865. Mr. Abbott then returned to Penacook, and engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1882, when he formed a copartnership with Mr. J. E. Symonds, for the manufacture of furniture, making a specialty of tables, desks, etc., their plant being one of the largest of the kind in New England. The J. E. Symonds Company has recently become a corporation, with G. W. Abbott as President, under the name of J. E. Symonds Table Company.

Besides his regular business Mr. Abbott officiates as President of the Penacook Electric Light Company and Director of New Hampshire Fruit Company, the Concord Street Railway Company, the Sullivan County Railroad, and of the First National Bank of Concord. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party. In 1892 he was a Presidential Elector, and in 1895 and 1896 he was a Representative to the State legislature.

Mr. Abbott was first married on August 15, 1865, to Myra Tucker, of Boston, who died after giving birth to one child. The child died also. He was again married on December 14, 1869, to Mrs. Addie Morrill Batchelder, of Penacook. By this alliance there is one child, Myra M. Abbott. Mr. Abbott is a Mason and a comrade of the Grand Army. He also belongs to William I. Brown Post, G. A. R., No. 31, of Penacook, N.H. His Masonic record given below, dated Concord, N.H., July 1, 1897, is from the pen of the recorder, John F. Webster : George Whitefield Abbott, born at Webster (West Boscawen), N.H., March 13, 1837, took the degrees in Horace Chase Lodge, Penacook (Fisherville), N.H.-E. A., March 3, 1871, F. C., April 4, 1871, M. M., May 12, 1871; Trinity Chapter, Concord, N.H. -Mark, February 17, 1880, Past, February 17, 1880, M. E., April 20, 1880, R. A., April 22, 1880; Horace Chase Council, Concord, N.H. -Royal, April 25, 1892, Select, January 26, 1893, Super Ex., January 26, 1893; Orders of Knighthood in Mount Horeb Commandery, Knights Templar, Concord, N.H. -Red Cross, May 31, 1880, Temple, June 7, 1880, Malta, June 7, 1880.

Source: Merrimack and Sullivan Counties, New Hampshire Biographies

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