Biography of RUFUS H. PIKE of Manchester NH
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Information located at http://www.nh.searchroots.com/Manchester
On a web site about GENEALOGY AND HISTORY OF MANCHESTER NEW HAMPSHIRE 
TRANSCRIBED BY JANICE BROWN 
Please see the web site for my email contact.
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The original source of this information is in the public domain, 
however use of this text file, other than for personal use, is 
restricted without written permission from the transcriber 
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Willey's semi-centennial book of Manchester, 1846-1896 : and Manchester edition 
of the Book of Nutfield : historic sketches of that part of New Hampshire 
comprised within the limits of the old Tyng Township, Nutfield, Harrytown, 
Derryfield, and Manchester, from the earliest settlements to the present time;
by George Franklyn Willey; Manchester, N.H.: G.F. Willey, 1896
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page 26

RUFUS H. PIKE, the fourth child and eldest son of Eber and Mary C. (Dakin) Pike,
was born in Londonderry [NH] Oct. 25, 1829.  Before he was three years old, his
mother died, leaving his father with a family of five children.  In 1833 the
family moved to Mont Vernon [NH] and lived there until the spring of 1837, when
they moved to Bedford [NH]. There the boy attended the district school until
he was sixteen years old, being, in the meantime, employed on the farm toiling
early and late to assist his father in caring for the family. That year he left
home and worked on a farm for two years, attending school winters. During the
spring of 1847 he went to Bangor, ME, where he was employed by an uncle on
cabinet work for a year and a half.  In the winters of 1848 and 1849 he went to
school in Pembroke.  In March 1849, he came to Manchester to enter the employ
of Hartshorn Darling & Tufts, copper, brass and iron workers, and in 1858 he
became a member of the firm, which was changed to Hartshorn & Pike.  Under this
name they did business until Mr. Hartshorn's death, when another change was
made, and Charles N. Heald became the junior partner.  In 1891, still another
change was brought about by the death of Mr. Heald.  Later a corporation was
formed bearing the name of the Pike & Heald Company, of which Mr. Pike was
president and treasurer.  For forty-six years he gave his energies to the
business, which, under his management, steadily increased, new departments 
being added from time to time as they were required, and at the time of his
death, which occurred Jan. 8, 1895, he was still actively devoted to its
interests.
  April 9, 1857 he was united in marriage to S. ELizabeth Balch.  In 1874 and
1875 he was president of the common council. At the time of his death he was
treasurer of the local and the state plumbers' associations, and these
organizations, with the exception of the Amoskeag Veterans, of which he was an
honorary members, were the only ones with which he was ever identified.  Mr. 
Pike was never an aspirant for political honors and never sought public service.
To his own private business he gave his energies and undivided attention, and
with that he was content, and his life work brought him ample recompense.  He
was ever the soul of honor and integrity. His word was never challenged and he
lived without an enemy and left no stain or blot upon his noble record. He is
survived by his widow and daughter, Florence M., wife of Willis B. Kendall. 
The accompanying portrait is from an ink drawing by H.W. Herrick.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: 
Willis Byron Kendall, son of --, was b. 12 Apr 1857 in Bedford NH and d. in Manchester NH. He married 2 June 1891 to FLorence Maria Pike, dau of Rufus Howard & Susan E. (Balch) Pike. She b 15 Oct 1861 in Manchester NH