Danforth, Charles P.

Born: 1812-09-16 Hillsborough County, New Hampshire

Died: 1893-10-19 Nashua, New Hampshire

Flourished: Nashua, New Hampshire

Charles P. Danforth was a militia officer, newspaper publisher and editor, postmaster, tailor and draper, and sheriff. Born in Milford, New Hampshire, Danforth received his education in the public schools of his hometown. At an early age, he settled in Nashua, New Hampshire. From 1832 to 1834, Danforth was a lieutenant in the Nashua's first rifle company. In August 1839, Danforth purchased the Nashua Gazette, which he edited and published until August 1845. He served a postmaster of Nashua from 1845 to 1849. In 1850, he was working as a tailor and draper. He also served as sheriff of Hillsborough County for four years. In 1860, he was living in Nashua's first ward and owned real and personal property valued at $3,700. In politics, Danforth was initially a Democrat, but he broke with the Democratic Party over the Kansas-Nebraska Act. He gravitated to the Republican Party, taking an active role in the party's establishment in New Hampshire.

In September 1840, he married Nancy H. Pierce, with whom he had three children.

Edward E. Parker, ed., History of the City of Nashua, N.H. (Nashua, NH: Telegraph, 1897), 487, 497, 529; The Boston Daily Globe (MA), 20 October 1893, 5:5; Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-1971, NARA Microfilm Publication, M841, 145 rolls, Records of the Post Office Department, RG 28, 1842-1857, Volume 13:65, National Archives Building, Washington, DC; U.S. Census Office, Seventh Census of the United States (1850), Nashua, Hillsborough County, NH, 240; U.S. Census Office, Eighth Census of the United States (1860), Ward 1, Nashua, Hillsborough County, NH, 2; Gravestone, Hills Farm Cemetery, Hudson, NH.