Thomas B. Garland was born in Portsmouth, Aug. 20, 1817, the youngest child of William and Elizabeth (How) Garland. His father died when he was three years old and family moved to the home of his grandfather, David How, in Haverhill, Mass. He graduated from Haverhill Academy.
Later the family moved to New York City where he became a clerk in the publishing house of D. Appleton & Co. Mr. Garland returned to Portsmouth in 1837 and spent eight years as a seaman, sailing all over the globe in several vessels. While engaged in this occupation he married Harriet Kimball in 1842. She was the daughter of Daniel Kimball of Littleton, Mass.
Mr. Garland came to Dover in 1845, and worked for 33 years as clerk at Cocheco Print Works. He was made treasurer of the Dover Gas Light Company in 1869 and held that position for the rest of his life. He was treasurer of the Eliot Bridge Company and president of the Dover Navigation Company. He was a Trustee of the Dover Public Library from its founding and served as its first librarian. He was the Deacon of the Central Avenue Baptist Church for 20 years. He also served as chairman of the Dover School Board and sect./treas. of the Dover Improvement Association.
Mr. Garland and his wife Harriet lived at 13-15 Second Street (now 23 Second St.). They had four children, the oldest, Lt. William A. Garland, was killed in the civil war at age 21. The others were:
Elizabeth – married David H. Rice – lived in Brookline, Mass.
Alfred K. – was also clerk at Cocheco Print Works
Caroline K. – became librarian of the Dover Public Library
Harriet Garland died Jan. 13, 1900 and at the death of Thomas Garland on May 9, 1901, his daughter Caroline inherited the house on Second Street. She sold it to Henry J. Grimes in 1906.
Photograph from Dover Public Library archives, text from Marston, Robert, Dover, NH: People, Businesses and Organizations: 1850 to 1950. Dover, NH, 2004.