1889 History - Biography - Josiah Thurston

Josiah Thurston was born in Freedom, N. H., June 9, 1814, and died suddenly of apoplexy, in Boston, November 13, 1886. He was the tenth child of Oliver and Austress (Cross) Thurston. Oliver was born in Brentwood, May 10, 1773, and in 1792 married Austress Cross, born in Exeter, November 3, 1775. They removed to Freedom, were among the early settlers of the town and there resided until their death. Mr. Thurston was one of the best farmers in the town. They had twelve children: Mary, Oliver, William (1), William (2), Sally (1), Martha, Nathaniel, Josiah (1), Sally (2), Josiah (2), Eunice, and Isaac; only one, Martha (Mrs. Hale Watson), is living. Josiah's early training was on his father's farm; his educational privileges were limited to the district school, where he laid the foundation for an active business career. He married first Mary Ann, daughter of William and Mary (Robinson) Thurston, of Eaton, September 10, 1840, who died November 16, 1875. For his second wife he married, April 23, 1877, Julia Anna Roberts, daughter of Daniel and Abigail Pierce, of Hiram, Maine; she was born February 3, 1843, and has one child, Hattie P. Thurston. Mr. Thurston had two children by adoption, Nathaniel H. Thurston (dec.), who married Georgia A. Sias, of Ossipee, and had three children, May Bell, Addie, and Winfield O.; Sarah A. (dec.), who married Edwin Towle, of Freedom, and had two children, Amos C. and Josiah Thurston.

Mr. Thurston, when a young man, became engaged in lumbering on a small scale, buying timber lots and operating them, disposing of his lumber in the log at the river-bank and on the cars. His business, by good management, gradually developed to large proportions, extending through eastern New Hampshire and western Maine, and at his death he was considered the largest landowner in Carroll county, and one of the largest in the state. Among the various enterprises with which he was connected was the old Pine River Bank at Ossipee. He was at his death three fourths owner of the Pine River Lumber Company, which owned a track of timberland 3,500 acres in extent, the original proprietors of which were Asa Beacham, Luther D. Sawyer, Esq., Isaac Thurston, and the Pine River Bank. Mr. Thurston first bought Isaac Thurston's interest, then Asa Beacham's and lastly, Luther D. Sawyer's, thus becoming three fourths owner, with Dr. N. Grant, of Ossipee Centre, as owner of the other fourth. Mr. Thurston was manager for the company until his death. July 1, 1868, an act to incorporate the Ossipee Valley Ten-cents Savings Bank at Freedom passed the state legislature, the charter being secured by the efforts of Mr. Thurston, John Demeritt, of Effingham, then in the legislature, and Elias Towle. At the first meeting Mr. Thurston was chosen president, and held the position during the remainder of his life; Elias Towle was chosen treasurer, and Stephen J. Keneson, secretary.

In connection with his other business he carried on the home farm, where he always resided and cared for his parents while they lived. He was an affectionate, devoted, and indulgent husband, fond of home and its surroundings, and a pleasant man in his family, hospitable and social with all; strong in his friendships and equally so in his dislikes, yet governed by reason; of uniform temperament, he often acted in the capacity of peacemaker between parties at variance; systematic, orderly, exact, honest; he possessed keen discrimination and good judgment as applied to business affairs and men. He was not a very robust man, but by care was enabled to accomplish more than an ordinary amount of labor. He was liberal to all worthy objects and causes, and willing to help those who showed a disposition to help themselves. Commencing with limited means, by judicious management and wise investments, he accumulated a large property, notwithstanding heavy losses, at one time losing twenty-five thousand dollars by one firm. He was always prompt, and expected others to be so. Careful in making a promise, his word once given was his bond. All his affairs were admirably arranged to avoid trouble at his decease. He left sums varying from one hundred to five thousand dollars to relatives. In politics he was a Democrat, and he took much interest in national, state, and local affairs. He held some town offices, and represented Freedom in the state legislature.

Mrs. Thurston, who inserts this sketch and portrait to the memory of Mr. Thurston, is a most estimable and capable lady; she retains the old homestead, where, with her daughter, Hattie P., she still resides.

Contributed 2022 Jul 11 by Norma Hass, extracted from History of Carroll County, New Hampshire by Georgia Drew Merrill, published in 1889, pages 576-578.