Hubbell Pioneers - New Hampshire
State Beauty Wins a Hubbell Genius
Henry S. Hubbell
Always regarded as a haven of solitude and relaxation, New Hampshire is the ninth state in the Union and one of the smallest of the 50 making up the nation. Early in the 19th century, New Hampshire became recognized and esteemed as a haven of beauty and peace where such notables as Longfellow, Whittier and many others regularly frequented.
The Hubbell family in their treks over new land certainly did stop off in New Hampshire, but they did not stay. Soldiers by the dozens fought their wars in the territory, but they seldom returned.
Only six Hubbells were located there in the early l800s; only one of these was a male and the rest were girls who married and left. We cannot even determine how they came into the state in the first place.
Only one man in that century could claim with certainty the honor of being the first Hubbell pioneer in the territory. His name was Henry Hubbell. He was born February 2, 1884, in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, a prospering mill town in the north central part of the state. The leading industry was machine tool manufacturing. Henry's father, Canton, was a machinist by trade and owned a small machine tool company located in Ashburnham. Henry's mother's maiden name was Simonds. Her parents owned the Simonds Saw Co. of Fitchburg.
By the time young Henry reached high school, he had learned the machinist trade and showed a tremendous mechanical talent and desired to become a mechanical engineer. Shortly after the turn of the century, he left the small town of Ashburnham, located near the New Hampshire border, and headed for Boston with a dream of finding a job and attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He made his dreams come true and graduated near the top of his class. He soon was hired by the United States Shoe Machinery Corporation, a growing machinery manufacturer who was to be his employer for the next 45 years.
It became apparent at an early age that Henry had a genius for improving, designing and inventing machinery. The early 1900s was an era in which mechanical wizardry was in great demand. Over the years, Henry acquired many patents for his inventions. His employer recognized his talents and he progressed rapidly from a mechanical engineer to a management position in the expanding company.
Like so many young men of his generation, Henry was soon caught up in World War I and served as a pilot in the Army Air Force. Returning to his old job after the war, he found that the United States Shoe Machinery Corporation had grown to such an extent that it had factories in many parts of the eastern United States. At least three were located in New Hampshire, in the towns of Jaffrey, Lincoln and Conway.
During World War I he became acquainted with a young Boston girl assigned to the Army Signal Corps. Her name was Katherine Walker. Her father was a professor of architecture at MIT who also had close ties and love for New Hampshire. Her father, Charles Walker, had originally come from Portsmouth in that state, where his father was a clipper ship captain. In 1914, Mr. Walker built a summer home near Tamworth, which was located about 10 miles from Conway, an area familiar to Henry. Henry married Katherine.
By the early 1920s Henry had moved up the management ladder and was based in the corporation's building on Federal Street, Boston. The 1920s were good years. Henry was promoted in the company, raised three children, and spent more time in New Hampshire. The Hubbell family especially enjoyed mountain climbing, sailing, tennis and skiing. Henry was an excellent golfer. By the mid-1930s Henry bought a farm near Conway in Madison. He was now Senior Vice President of the company and in a position to spend more time in New Hampshire. He soon moved his family to Madison and commuted to Boston much of the time while still maintaining an apartment in that city.
Katherine became deeply involved in farming and local activities. She especially loved the scenery, mountains, and quiet of the rural location. Henry chose to retire early and by 1944 was living full time at the farm. He soon became interested in local activities. He was a bank director, hospital director, and consultant. The retirement years were full and busy in an area of magnificent scenery and dramatic weather.