Thomas Nesmith - born 1788, died 1870

Source: L.A. Morrison's History of Windham, New Hampshire, pages 695-696-697:
Colonel Thomas Nesmith was born in Windham, New Hampshire on September 7, 1788. Being named for his grandfather, he was especially dear to the heart of his long-widowed grandmother, with whom much of his early life was spent. His education was such as could be obtained from the district schools, and the high school, now Pinkerton Academy, in Derry, taught at that time by Mr. Samuel Burnham.

His father dying at the age of forty-four, leaving a family of nine children, his mother decided to continue the store which her husband had opened in one of the rooms of their own house. In this additional labor, she had the assistance of her older boys, and here Thomas remained until about 1810, when he went into business for himself.

The importation of linen in those days being altogether inadequate to the demand for it, the thread, as well as cloth, was spun and woven in various households throughout the country towns. Through this home industry, Thomas thought he saw a way to lay the foundation of a fortune. Buying a horse, and one of the primitive two-wheeled carts then in use, he collected the thread, carried it home to his grandmother to color, and his sisters to make into skeins; Then took it with the cloth to Lynn, and other large towns, where it found a ready sale. By this means, at the end of a few years he had accumulated six thousand dollars, and could enlarge his business somewhat. He hired a room, in 1815, of Robert Clark, near the meeting house in Windham, in which he opened a store with his brother John, with whom he associated as long as he remained in active business. During this period of his life, he took an active part in the town affairs of Windham, and acted as town clerk in 1821.

In 1822, Mr. James Nesmith took the Windham store, and the brothers, Thomas and John, removed to Derry, occupying the old store of Patterson & Choate, now a dwelling-house. It was during this period of his life that Mr. Nesmith met Lucinda Fay, whom he married May 20, 1832. She was then in Derry as principal of the Adams Female Seminary, and was a woman possessing a fine, strong religious nature, as well as much personal beauty. She was the daughter of Winslow and Betsey (Colburn) Fay, and was born at Lebanon, New Hampshire, June 12, 1810, and was educated at Miss Grant's school in Ipswich, Massachusetts.

Mr. John Nesmith after this went in a commission business in New York City, where he was soon joined by Thomas, but they remained there only a short time. The Livermore estate in Lowell was advertised for sale, and the brothers decided at once to purchase it and live permanently in that city. Mr. Nesmith was never afterwards connected with any active business outside of his own private affairs. What Mr. Nesmith's special characteristics were, may be told in a few words by an old friend and neighbor: "To great diligence, he through life added sound judgment and forethought, which produced very remarkable results of gain with small percentage of loss. He accumulated a large estate, but only by regular business transactions. He defrauded no man and left no enemies. His integrity was not questioned, and his moral and courteous bearing made him a pattern man in business affairs, a good citizen and neighbor, and Gentleman in social life. "When he went to Lowell, manufacturing corporations and city institutions were just assuming tangible form. He was a member of the city government the first two years of its existence, and helped forward many enterprises that were struggling into being. He never sought official position, or cared to be a leader in affairs.

In the war of 1812-15, he was a soldier drafted from Windham. He was enlisted September 15, 1814, for three months, was a third lieutenant in Captain Nathaniel B. Bradley's Company, and was stationed at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. During his youth he was a lover of the military service, and in May 1820, was Colonel of the 8th Regiment of New Hampshire Militia. But one of his benevolent acts which will cause his name to be remembered with gratitude by the people of Windham, his native town, was the founding of the Nesmith Library. It was a noble, generous act, and one worthy of a more general following by the wealthy sons of other towns. To the deserving poor of Lowell, he left the "Nesmith Fund" of twenty-five thousand dollars, which is now in the hands of trustees, and has been of great benefit to many worthy people. He died in Lowell, Massachusetts July 31, 1870.

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