Four Manchester (NH) High School Graduates of 1888

The year was 1888.  Manchester New Hampshire’s only high school was then located on Beech Street, between Lowell and Concord Streets–“a three story building with mansard roof, Romanesque style arched windows with elaborate window crowns, and two side

pediment porticos.”  At that time, the administration included Principal Edward R. Goodwin with Sub-Master, George I. Hopkins. Assistants included Misses Lucretia E. Manahan, Mary A. Buzzell, Rocilla M. Tuson, and Mary Stanton.

Among the many students of 1888 were four in particular—George W. Bartlett, Lillian J. Gray,  John B. McGuinness,  and Emma A. Putney.  Here are their photographs and stories.

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Geo W. Bartlett, Class of ’88

George W. Bartlett, was the son of Rufus L. & Susan Maria (Whipple) Bartlett, born 9 April 1871 in Manchester NH, and  died 26 Feb 1901 in Manchester NH.  He was only 29 years old at the time of his death.  He was single, living at 131 Laurel Street (boarding) and working as a stenographer.  His cause of death was ‘La grippe’ [influenza]. The 1893 city directory shows that he worked in the Pembroke Building (now luxury apartments).

There were many people throughout the United States who died of the flu that year, including former president Benjamin Harrison two months later. Although the number of deaths in New Hampshire had decreased from the previous year, in 1901 the majority were from pneumonia or consumption. His death record says he was buried at Pine Grove Cemetery.

George Bartlett’s father Rufus, one of many mill operatives living in Manchester at the time of George’s birth, hailed from Webster, Massachusetts, while his mother, Susan, was born in New Boston.

Rufus Levi Bartlett, son of Levi & Eliza (Bracket) Bartlett, b. 29 Sep 1829 in Webster, MA, and d. 22 Jul 1913 in Hooksett, NH. He married Susan Whipple, daughter of William B. & Martha A. (Colby) Whipple. She was b. 13 April 1840 in New Boston NH, and died 23 Jan 1914 in Hooksett, NH. They were both buried in Pine Grove Cemetery.
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1880 US Census > NH > Hillsborough > Manchester
Rufus L. Bartlett 40 M W Wool Sorter 3500 500 Massachusetts
Susan Bartlett 30 F W Keeping House NH
Ida J. Bartlett 13 F W attending school NH
Willie R. Bartlett 12 attending school NH
Charles E. Bartlett 8 MW NH
Etta E. Bartlett 6 F W NH
Mattie E. Bartlett 1 F W Massachusetts
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1900 US Census > NH > Hillsborough > Manchester
Bartlett, Rufus Head W M Sep 1829 70 married 44 yrs MA CT MA Section Head, Cotton Mill
Bartlett, Susan M wife W F April 1840 60 m 44 yrs 8 ch 3 living NH VT NH
–living next door–
Bartlett, William Head WM May 1858 42 married 16 yrs NH MA NH
Bartlett, Melissa wife W F June 1862 37 married 16 yrs 1 ch 1 living Can-Fr Can-Fr VT
Bartlett, Rena P. dau W F Feb 1884 15 single NH NH Can-Fr
Bartlett, Geo L. son W M May 1874 26 single NH MA NH
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Children of Rufus L. & Susan (Whipple) Bartlett:
1. Ida Jane Bartlett, b. 26 Oct 1856 Manchester NH; m. 15 Aug 1883 in Manchester NH to Frank S. Whitehouse, son of Solomon
2. William Rufus “Will R.” aka “Willie” Bartlett, b  May 1858; m. 1 Dec 1883 in Manchester NH to Melissa Lucetta “M. Lou” Magoon, dau of John & Melissa Magoon. Their daughter Rena Pearl Bartlett b 1885 m. 24 Nov 1921 Manchester NH to Parker Hannaford Watson, son of Albert H. & Ellen Watson.
3. Charles E. Bartlett, b Manchester NH; m. 26 July 1883 in Manchester NH to Maggie E. Slatin; d. 6 January 1929
4. Etta E. Bartlett, d. 18 Aug 1889 in Manchester NH, age 25 yrs 3 months and 7 days, cause, General Debility
5. Martha Eliza “Mattie E.” Bartlett b 1869, d. 17 Dec 1878 Manchester NH
6. George W. Bartlett, b 9 Apr 1871, d. 26 Feb 1901 Manchester NH
7. Winser Hall Bartlett b 1881, d. 3 Sep 1882 in Manchester NH

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Lillian J. Gray, Class of ’88

Lillian J. Gray was born about 1870 in Manchester, New Hampshire, the daughter of Frank L. & Adelaide M. (Hall) Gray.  She attended Manchester High School, graduating in

1888.  She was single when she died only 2 years later on 30 July 1890 at Manchester NH of Phthisis Pneumonia [tuberculosis].  Her father, a Manchester ‘undertaker,’ reported her death.

Frank Lovell Gray, son of Kendall & Fanny (Styles) Gray was b about 1839 in  Hancock NH. He married 6 Jan 1869 to Adelaide M. Hall at Bennington NH. He died 14 Jan 1907 at Pawtucket, Providence RI. Adelaide Hall, dau of Gilbert & Evelyne (Butler) Hall, was born July 1843 at Lowell MA and died 12 Apr 1926 in Laconia, Belknap Co. NH.  Frank L. Gray was a Manchester N.H. undertaker and embalmer [see advertising].
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Frank L. Gray, Enlisted in Company E, NH 6th Infantry Regiment on 28 Nov 1861. Promoted to Full 2nd Lieutenant on 20 April 1864. Mustered out on 25 Dec 1864 at Hancock Station, VA. [Register of Soldiers & Sailors of NH 1861-65] Rank at Enlistment, 1st Sergeant. He received a pension starting 5 Jan 1865, paid to widow 6 March 1907.
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From 1890-1893 [city directory]: house 143 Pearl, work 1088 Elm Street, undertaker and embalmer.
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1860 US Census > NH > Hillsborough > Hancock
Kendall Gray 61
Fanny Gray 59
Frank L. Gray 23
Josephine Gray 20
[son of Kendall & Fanny (Styles) Gray]
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1870 US Census > NH > Hillsborough > NH
Gray, Frank L. 33 M W Brewer 4000 5000 NH
Gray, Adalaide 27 F W Keeping House NH
Gray, Lillian J 6/12 F W NH
Akin, Lottie 17 F W Domestic Servant
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1880 US Census
NH > Hillsborough > Manchester
143 Pearl Street
Frank L. Gray M 43 NH clerk in store
Adalade M. Gray F 37 NH keeping house
Lillian J. Gray F 10 NH at school
Evylin H. Gray F 7 NH
Fanny L. Gray F 4 NH
Alice M. Gray F 0 NH
Caroline Woods F 54 NH servant
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Children of Frank L. & Adelaide M. (Hall) Gray:
1. Lillian J. Gray, b. abt 1870 Manchester NH [see above]
2. Evelyn H. Gray b. Sep 1872 Manchester NH; m. 24 June 1902 in Manchester NH to James Wilkinson, son of Benjamin & Maria E. (Heslan) Wilkinson. He was b abt 1871 in Great Horton, England.
3. Fannie/Fanny L. Gray, b. 6 Aug 1875; , She d. 1 Nov 1961 in Providence Co. RI m. 12 January 1893 in Manchester NH to Frederick W. “Fred W.” French, son of John Haines & Achsah Eliza (Brown) French. He was b 26 Nov 1867 in Canada. CHILDREN 1) Marion G. French, 2) Winifred Clara French, 3) Lovell French, 4) Frederick L. French b 27 Jan 1898 in Nashua NH; 5) Dorothy French; 6) Mildred French
4. Alice Marion Gray b. Oct 1879 NH; m. 31 Dec 1914 at Laconia, Belknap Co. NH to Fred P. Stevens, son of James & Annie (Switzer) Stevens
5. Morris Franklin Gray, b. abt 1880 Manchester NH; d. 8 July 1881, 7 months 23 days at Manchester NH (son of Frank L. & Adelade Gray) – cholera infantum

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Emma A Putney Class of 1888

Emma A. Putney, dau of William A. & Mary A. (Fuller) “Emma” Putney, was born Aug 1871 in Hamburg, Iowa. Her father was a printer in New Hampshire and also in Iowa.  At one time he held some printing contracts for the New Hampshire legislature. Emma graduated in 1888 from Manchester (NH) High School.

She was married 19   June 1889 in Manchester NH to Walter R. Cox, son of Charles E. & Evelyn M. (Randall) Cox. He was born 8 Sep 1869 in Epsom NH. Walter Cox’s occupation was a horse trainer, owning a training farm.  In 1910 he was living at 538 Hanover Street in Manchester, NH, with Emma’s mother, Mary A. Putney, then a widow, living with them.   By 1920 they removed to Orange County, New York where Walter was a trainer of harness horses.  Emma died on 27 Nov 1939 at Tuxedo, Orange, New York at the age of 68.  They do not appear to have had any children.

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J.B. McGuinness, Class of ’88

John Bernard McGuinness, was born about 1870 NH, son of Bernard & Julia Ann (Murphy) McGuinness, Irish immigrants.  He graduated in 1888 from Manchester, New Hampshire’s high school.  He married on 26 September 1904 in Manchester NH to Madeleine Mathilda Dignam, daughter of Walter & Elizabeth (Hughes) Dignam.  

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1910 US Census > NH > Hillsborough > Manchester
McGuinness, John B Head M W 40 m1x 6 yrs NH Ire Ire cutter shoe shop
McGuinness, Madeline M. Wifw F W 39 m1x 6 yrs 1 ch 1 living NH England nJ
McGuiness, Bernard son M W 5 single NH NH NH
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John B. McGuinness had one child,
Bernard J. McGuinness, b. abt 1905 Manchester NH, son of John & Madeline (Dignam) “Elizabeth D.” McGuiness; married 6 Aug 1923 in Manchester NH to Elizabeth Igo, dau of James J. & Sarah (Whelan) Igo.
Children of Bernard & Madeline (Dignam) McGuinness:
1. James William McGuinness, b 15 June 1926, d 18 July 1926, age 1 month 3 days; Inanition, due to premature birth
2. girl McGuinness, d. 27 Oct 1940 Manchester NH
3. Child McGuinness, b. 9 Sep 1936, died same day, stillbirth

Editor’s Note: I ‘rescued’ these photographs from Ebay and decided to write about all of these Manchester High School Students of 1888.

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