This contains a transcription of the Oliver C. Whitcomb of Harrisville, NH biography from Biographical Review Volume XXIII: Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of Cheshire and Hillsboro Counties, New Hampshire, Biographical Review Publishing Company, Boston, 1897.
Page 46
OLIVER C. WHITCOMB, senior member of the firm O. C. Whitcomb & Co., the well-known box manufacturers of Harrisville, was born at Greenbush, N. Y., February 23, 1844, son of George and Aurelia (Goddard) Whitcomb. His grandfather, Ephraim Whitcomb, lived at Swanzey, N. H., during the greater part of his life, and was probably born there. Ephraim by occupation was a saddler and farmer. His children were: George, Ephraim, Jr., Dorothy, Demerias, and Esther.
George Whitcomb was born at Swanzey in 1812, and died in 1890. His first employment for wages was in a hotel in Massachusetts. From there he went to New York, and was engaged in railroading, being conductor of a train. A number of years later he went to Springfield, Mass., and subsequently to Keene, N. H., in each of which places he was employed as a conductor on trains running out from there. After the death of his father he returned to Swanzey, and bought the old farm, where he resided for the remainder of his life. For twelve years or longer he was sexton at Swanzey. In politics he was a Democrat. His religious belief was Universalism. His wife, Aurelia, was a daughter of Captain Edward Goddard, of Swanzey. She was the mother of two children—Oliver C. and Jane A. Jane died at the age of six years.
Oliver C. Whitcomb attended the public schools of Swanzey and subsequently Mount Caesar Academy in that town. After leaving school he worked for a time at clothes-pin making, and subsequently manufactured fancy boxes and toys. After working alone for a few years, he formed a partnership with Mr. E. Munsell, of Keene, a partnership that lasted three years. At the end of that period the business moved to Swanzey, and the firm name became Sprague & Whitcomb. When the factory was burned in 1882, the firm dissolved. Mr. Whitcomb subsequently carried on the same business at Troy, N. H., for a number of years. In 1892 he removed to Harrisville, the firm being then composed of himself and Mr. Frank S. Harris, and known as O. C. Whitcomb & Co. The principle articles manufactured by this firm are wooden packing boxes with locked corners, fancy boxes, children’s tool chests, and a large variety of toys and novelties. Their goods are sold all over the United States, and some are sent abroad, where they compete successfully with foreign goods.
Mr. Whitcomb married Ella M. Whitcomb, who was born in 1846, daughter of Sylvander L. Whitcomb, of Swanzey. Mr. and Mrs. Whitcomb attend the Unitarian church, and contribute liberally toward its support. Mr. Whitcomb is in a Democrat in politics.