Nemaha County, KS People Photos
John Stephenson Hidden
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Name: John Stephenson Hidden
Born: 04 AUG 1820, in Tamworth, Carroll Co., NH
Died: 12 MAR 1905, at Centralia, Nemaha Co., KS
Submitted by: Roger Goodman
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JOHN STEPHENSON HIDDEN, son of Ephraim and Dolly Hidden, was born in
Tamworth, New Hampshire, August 4, 1820. When four years old, his
father was drowned in Bearcamp River, upon which stream the old home
farm and mill were located. Mrs. Dolly Hidden was a woman of superior
education, great energy and marked piety, and a useful, active member
of the Congregational church. The mill was burned just before her
husband's death, and she was left with six small children, the youngest,
Dolly, a babe nine months old, whom she educated with great care, and
to whose influence and instructions they are indebted for that
exceptional success and usefulness, which has attended them through life.
They are all living (1879) and occupying honorable positions in society.
The eldest, Rev. Ephraim N. Hidden, is a minister of the Congregational
church at East Medway, Massachusetts; William H. is a member of the
well-known mercantile firm of Blodgett, Hidden & Swan, Boston; Lucinda
is the wife of a skillful master mechanic of Meredith, New Hampshire,
David resides on the home place, is a manufacturer and mechanic; and
Dolly married a wealthy farmer of Deerfield, New Hampshire. With the
aid of his mother, John succeeded in securing a good education. He
worked upon the farm during the summer until he was twenty years of age.
At the age of twenty he commenced the study of medicine, and graduated
with honors from the medical department of Dartmouth College, in 1846.
He located for the practice of his profession at Elliot, Maine,
remaining one year. He then removed to Saco, and for two years continued
in practice with his old preceptors, Drs. Malvey & Grant. In the fall
of 1849 he went to New York City and spent the winter in the hospitals
there, receiving great benefit from his researches into medical science
and the practice of the wards. In 1850 he settled in Deerfield, New
Hampshire, where he enjoyed a successful practice until 1857, when he
removed to Burlington, Iowa, and from thence to Wataga, remaining but
a short time in each place. In 1858 he removed to Kansas, settling upon
the old town site of Centralia. Dr. Hidden was always an anti-slavery
man, and has held numerous positions of honor and trust in the Republican
Party. In 1857 he was a member of the New Hampshire House of
Representatives; in 1863 he was a member of the lower house of the Kansas
Legislature, and was re-elected in 1864. He is a Royal Arch Mason and
also a member of the I. 0. 0. F. For many years he has held the position
of treasurer in the Masonic body, among whom he is esteemed very highly.
November 26, 1849, he was married, at Parsonsfield, Maine, to Hannah M.
Wadleigh, daughter of James Wadleigh, Esq. They have two children, who
received a superior education at St. Schollasticus Academy, Atchison,
Kansas: Anna, wife of A. J. Birchfield, who has one child, Gracie, and
Ella, now (1879) pursuing her studies.
