Author: Canaan Town Library

Nina Rachel Hammond

From the August 10, 1998 issue of The Country Chronicle

Orange, NH–Nina Richard Hammond, 79, died early Wednesday morning, Aug. 5, 1998. She was born in Grafton, NH on Oct. 23, 1918, the daughter of William J. and Bertha (Sargent) Jones. She had been a resident of this area all her life and graduated from Canaan High School in 1937. She was the widow of Ronald “Skip” Hammond who died in 1993. Prior to her retirement, she had been employed at Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital in Hanover as a unit assistant as well as assisting in the operation of the family business, F.C. Hammond and Sons Lumber Co. She was active for many years in the PTA, American Legion Auxiliary, and the 4-H Club. She was devoted to her family and friends and loved her cat dearly. She was always there to lend a helping hand. She enjoyed horseback riding and hunting.

Friends called at the Ricker Funeral Home in Enfield Thursday evening from 7-9 pm. A funeral service was held Friday morning at 11 am at the Canaan Methodist Church with the Rev. Patricia Williams officiating. A burial followed in the Wells Cemetery in Canaan.

The family requests donations be made in her name to The Canaan Fast Squad, Ambulance Fund, c/o Linda Lashua, Grafton Rd, Canaan, NH 03741.

Survivors include: Son, Fred Hammond, Canaan, NH; Daughter, Jeannette Stillson, Enfield, NH; Daughter, Helen Rocke, Canaan, NH; Daughter, Linda Jones, Orange, NH; Daughter, Debra Clark, Canaan, NH; Son, Vincent Hammond, Canaan, NH; 11 Grandchildren; 12 Great-grandchildren; and Mr. Cat, her companion.

Harold K. “Homer” Neily

from the May 25, 1998 issue of The Country Chronicle

Canaan, NH–Harold K. Neily, 61, died Friday, May 22, 1998 at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. He was born in Canaan, NH on January 24, 1937, the son of the late Wesley and Coletta (Beaton) Neily. A lifelong Canaan resident, he was a graduate of Canaan High School Class of 1955. He had been employed by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in Windsor, VT for over 25 years, retiring at the time of its closing in 1987. He was an avid reader and baseball fan, and enjoyed crossword puzzles. He dearly loved his children and his grandchildren. He was married to Joanne Allen on October 12, 1963.

Friends may call at the Ricker Funeral Home, Route 4 in Enfield, NH, Wednesday May 27, at 1:00 pm. Funeral services will follow at 2 pm in the funeral home with the Rev. Kevin Schwamb officiating. Burial will follow in the Canaan Street Cemetery.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to: The Canaan F.A.S.T. Squad, Canaan, NH 03741.

Survivors include: wife, Joanne (Allen) Neily, Canaan; daughters, Pam Caldwell, of Boscawen, Adriane Poland, of Grafton, and Donna Neily, of Canaan; a son, Jeffrey Neily, of Canaan; sisters, Nancy Plummer, Garnet Neily, Starr Kilgore and Evelyn Seamans, all of Canaan; brothers, Patrick Jameson, of Canaan, and Stephen Horsfield, of Grantham; a grandson, Aaron Poland, of Grafton; a granddaughter, Jessica Poland of Grafton; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Preceeded in death by: father, Wesley Neily, who died Jan. 1, 1976, and mother, Coletta P. Neily, who died May 3, 1998.

Albert H. Sanville, Sr.

from the May 11, 1998 issue of The Country Chronicle

Grafton, NH–Albert H. Sanville, 68, of Slab City Rd, Grafton, died on May 1st, 1998 at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. He was born on Nov. 11, 1929. He had been a resident of this area all his life and attended Lebanon schools. He was married to Alla M. Bressette on Jan. 25, 1947. He had been self employed in the area for many years doing lawn maintenance. Mr. Sanville enjoyed music, playing his guitar, dirt track car racing, fishing, camping and woodcarving.

Survivors include: his wife, Alta M. Sanville of Grafton, three sons, John Sr. of Plainfield, David of Grafton, Albert Jr. of Canaan; three daughters, Anna-Marie Hammond and Rosalie Sanborn, both of Canaan, and Shirley Bigley of Orlando, FL; a sister, Helena M. Kelley of Enfield; two half-brothers, Alfred Sanville of FL and Raymond Sanville of Lebanon; two half-sisters, Eva Duff of Lebanon and Violet Lee of FL; 18 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Monday, May 4 at the St. Mary’s Church in Canaan with burial following in the Canaan Street Cemetery.

Arrangements were made by Ricker Funeral Home in Lebanon, NH.

Wayne H. Barton, Sr.

from the October 6, 1997 issue of The Country Chronicle

Canaan, NH–Wayne H. Barton, Sr., 56, died Tuesday morning following a long illness. He was born in Newport, NH February 15, 1941, the son of Harold and Ruth (Beals) Barton. He grew up in Grantham, NH and had lived in Canaan, NH for the last 16 years. He had been employed by Evans Expressmart as a tractor-trailer driver for several years. A CB radio enthusiast, his handle was “Uncle Popeye.” He loved spending time with his grandchildren.

Survivors include: wife, Carol J. (Sturtevant) Barton of Canaan; mother, Ruth Douglas of Canaan; sons, Wayne Barton, Jr., of Campton and Michael John Barton of Dorchester; three brothers, Charles E. Barton of TX, Leavitt J. Barton of Campton and Gene A. Barton of Springfield; a sister, Geraldine M. Cote of Franklin; four grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Preceded in death by his father, Harold Barton.

Friends may call at the Ricker Funeral Home, 56 School St. in Lebanon, NH Wednesday evening from 7-9 pm. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday afternoon at 2 pm in the funeral home. Burial will be at a later date in the Canaan Street Cemetery in Canaan, NH.

Edith Myrtle Chesley

from the September 22, 1997 issue of The Country Chronicle

Lebanon, NH–Edith M. Chesley, 82, died Tuesday, Sept. 16, 1997 at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH following a brief illness. She was born in Mascoma (Lebanon), NH Feb. 28, 1915, the daughter of Everett & Grace Estes. She was married to Boyd Jerome Chesley Sr. on June 29, 1947.

Edith worked at the Enfield Woolen Mill for 37 years, and later worked for Split Ball Bearing for 8 years until her retirement. A longtime sportswoman, for her love for hunting and fishing was well known in the Upper Valley by many outdoorsmen. She was a past member of the Lebanon Emblem Club. Friends may call at the Ricker Funeral Home, 56 School St. in Lebanon, NH Thursday evening from 7-9 pm. Funeral services will be conducted Friday morning at 10 am in the funeral home with the Rev. Dale Edwards officiating. Burial will follow in the Valley Cemetery in Lebanon. Memorial contributions in memory of Edith may be made to the Resident Activity Fund c/o Hanover Terrace Healthcare, 53 Lyme Rd, Hanover, NH 03755.

Milton E. Parker

From the September 22, 1997 issue of The Country Chronicle

Enfield, NH–Milton E. Parker, 75, of May Street, died September 13, 1997 at his home.

He was born on July 23, 1922, in Royalton, a son of John Frank Parker and Anna L. Crate.

Mr. Parker attended Enfield schools and lived in town for most of his life. He had worked at farms in Enfield starting at age 14 and worked for the railroad before enlisting in the Army during World War II.

Following his discharge in 1945, he returned to Enfield and worked in the Baltic Mill. He later worked at the May Street Garage as an automotive repair mechanic and drove a delivery truck for Verham News. He had also worked as a logger in the area.

He was a life member of Post No. 22 American Legion in Lebanon and loved fishing.

He is survived by his wife, Florence (Wilmott) Parker of Enfield; two sons, Timothy and Frank, both of Enfield; four daughters, Rose Rogers of Lebanon, Mary Parker Grose of Grafton, Linda Therrien of Lebanon, and Willow Stewart of Enfield; a brother, Eugene Parker of Enfield; six grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Private family services will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Milton Parker Memorial Fund, RR2, Box 122, Enfield, NH 03748.

Evelyn Mina Wheeler

From the June 4, 1997 issue of The Country Chronicle

Canaan,NH–Evelyn Mina Wheeler, 74, died at her home Tuesday evening, May 27, 1997. She was born in Williston, VT Aug. 14, 1922, the daughter of Dayton and Berth (Davis) Atchinson. She attended local schools and was a graduate of Hartford High School. She worked as a telephone operator for New England Telephone for several years. She was married to Wilfred Wheeler on June 20, 1942 and they made their home in Enfield, NH. She worked at the Baltic Mills in Enfield before coming a cook at the Enfield Village School where she worked for many years. She later worked as a secretary for Dartmouth College Campus Police until retiring in 1970. She was a member of the Enfield United Methodist Church.

Survivors include: Husband, Wilfred R. Wheeler, Sr., Canaan, NH; Son, Wilfred R. Wheeler, Jr., Manteo, NC; Daughter, Linda Crate, Enfield, NH; Daughter, Sandra Reardon, Berlin, NH; Sister, Aleda Danube, Nashua, NH; Sister, Mona Luce, Quechee, VT; Brother, Arthur Atchinson, ME; 8 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by: Brother, Gordon Atchinson; Brother, Albert Atchinson; Brother, Vernon Atchinson.

Roger Ernest Warcup Sr.

From the June 4, 1997 issue of The Country Chronicle

Grafton, NH–Roger Earnest Warcup Sr., died 86, Tuesday, May 27, at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon. He was born in Swiftwater, NH May 16, 1911, the son of Walter J. and Ida (Gordon) Warcup. He attended Lisbon, NH schools and was a graduate of Lisbon High School where he played football. He enlisted in the U.S. Army after high school returning to Lisbon following his service. He later lived in Groton, MA for 30 years before coming to Grafton, NH in 1959. He was employed by Southworth’s Garage in Norwich, VT for 16 years retiring in 1976. He and his wife Ethel wintered in Hudson, FL for the last 20 years. He was a member of the Plymouth, NH Assembly of God Church.

The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to: The Assembly of God Church, Highland St., PO Box 2168, Plymouth, NH 03264.

Survivors include: Wife, Ethel (Dow) Warcup, Grafton, NH; Daughter, Jean Timmons, Marietta, GA; Daughter, Marlene May Makris, Cartersville, GA; Son, Roger E. Warcup, Jr., Atlanta, GA; Daughter, Florence Hackett, Claremont, NH; Son, Arnold B. Dunn, Laconia, NH; Son, Ronald D. Dunn, Concord, NH; Daughter, Sherry A. Cook, Grafton, NH; Daughter, Kathleen D. Eroszonak, Exton, PA; Daughter, Deborah M. Burnham, White River Jct., VT; 26 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by Son, Roger Warcup.

Roger was a Charter Member of the Grafton Sheriff’s Dept. Auxiliary which was founded in 1961 as a Mounted Posse.

The Mounted Posse under Roger’s direction as Drill Master performed in parades throughout the state.

The Mounted Posse came to be the Auxiliary in the early 1970’s and went from a mounted unit to a regular functioning unit. The task was to check camps during the winter around the lakes and patrol the trails in the White Mountains.

As the Chief of the Auxiliary, Roger moved the unit into a vital unit of support for the Grafton County Sheriff;s Dept.

The task was to provide security at Fair’s around the State Guard prisoners in the hospital, police many race tracks around the area including Loudon’s Motor Cycle weekend.

Many police officers today get their start in the Grafton County Sheriff’s Dept. Auxiliary because Roger Warcup spent untold hours helping each and every member become not only a solid qualified police officer but also taught respect of individual rights and restraint of power.

Roger taught that an arrest was the officer’s inability to solve the problem. He would say that if you took the time to understand the situation many problems can be solved without having to make an arrest. A good officer, he would say, knew when a problem could be solved by negotiation and when an arrest was the solution.

Roger’s commitment to knowing the law and what the Sheriff’s Dept. stood for was a credit to the Dept. and all law enforcement.

Never forgetting that each member represented the Grafton County Sheriff;s Dept. in all their actions he would strive to set the example in his daily living to show the way.

It is difficult to recount all that Roger meant to all the people he touched through out his time in Sheriff’s Dept. Auxiliary. This was his life and he did it well.

Roland M. Sawyer

From the May 28, 1997 issue of The Country Chronicle

Enfield, NH–Roland M. Sawyer, 75, died Monday, May 19, 1997 at the Lebanon Center of Genesis ElderCare following a longtime illness. He was born to the late Phillip & Lucy Mae (Williams) Sawyer. He was a graduate of Kennett High School in Conway, NH and a U.S. Army Veteran of WWII. A longtime resident of Enfield, he had been employed by the Baltic Mills of Enfield; and had been an electrician for Frank T. Cody Electric Company of Hanover and West Lebanon, and later for many years with Richard Electric of Hanover. He was a member of the Lebanon Lodge of Elks B.P.O.E. #2099. He enjoyed tending to his vegetable gardens and his berries.

Survivors include: Son, Richard L. Bill, Enfield; Sister, Marion Dragon, Haverhill; Sister, Beverly Cummings, Pepperill, MA; Sister, Barbara Fillian, Oakhurst, NH; Brother, Raymond Sawyer, Enfield; Bother, Clayton Sawyer, Barre, VT; 3 grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by: Wife, Pansy H. (Smith) Sawyer, died Nov. 30, 1996: Sister, Martha Sawyer; Brother, Archie Sawyer; Brother, Arthur Sawyer; Brother, Ralph Sawyer.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Norris Cotton Cancer Center, 1 Medical Center Dr., Lebanon, NH 03756.

Arrangements were made by the Ricker Funeral Home, 56 School St., Lebanon, NH.

Raymond Bronson Aldrich

From the May 28, 1997 issue of The Country Chronicle

Enfield, NH–Raymond B. Aldrich, 68, died Saturday, May 17, 1997 at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH. He lived in North Haverhill, NH before moving to Pike, NH. He was a graduate of Hopkington High School and the University of NH, where he received an associate’s degree in forestry. He enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict and was discharged at the rank of Sergeant in 1953. He woked as a horticulturist for the Merrimack County Farm and the Grafton County Farm for several years before purchasing the former Corey-Hewit Press in Lebanon during the late 70’s. He operated this business under the name of Ink Printing until retiring in 1991. He was married to Grace Kitson on July 1, 1967. He was a member of the American Legion and the M.O.O.S.E. Lodge of Lebanon. He served on the Enfield Town Planning Board for 15 years and served as its chairman for 10 years. He also served on the Bridge Study Committee and used his knowledge to help many residents with planning laws and development of their property. He had also served as chairman of the town’s Republican Party and was active in town politics.

Survivors include: Wife, Grace Aldrich, Enfield; Son, Greyland Bonner, Lebanon; Brother, Arthur H. Aldrich, Brimfield, MA; Brother, Erville H. Aldrich, Jr., Monson, MA; Step-daughter, Chrystal Monica, FL; many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by Erville Aldrich and Christele Bronson (his parents).

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Enfield Lions Club, PO Box 3, Enfield, NH 03748.