The square, old-fashioned New England house, where the family resided, is still to be seen. It stands in the picturesque village of Ashland, overlooking the valley below, and commanding a view of lofty hills and beautiful scenery. The childhood of the subject of this sketch was passed in this venerable mansion, but his boyhood and early manhood were passed at Peterborough, N. H., where his father was engaged in the manufacture of paper. This gave him an early and intimate acquaintance with the paper business, enabled him to gain a knowledge of all its details, and gave him those habits of industry and self-reliance, which, upon the basis of a strong natural sagacity and force of character, have distinguished his business life. He acquired a fair education in the ordinary branches of knowledge, in the academies at Peterborough and Hancock, N. H., and Parsonsfield, Me. His father removed to Holderness in 1845, having sold his interest to A. P. Morrison; and Person C. Cheney assumed the management of the paper-mill at Peterborough. In 1853 a firm of which Mr. Cheney was a member built another paper-mill at Peterborough; but he soon bought out the interest of his associates, and continued business in Peterborough till 1866. Mr. Cheney took an early interest in politics, and represented the town of Peterborough in the legislature in 1853 and 1854. He entered ardently into the memorable events of 1860 and 1861, and zealously aided and promoted the preparation of his state for the great struggle to maintain the Union. In due time he offered his personal services, and in August, 1862, was appointed quartermaster of the 13th Regiment, N. H. Vols., and proceeded with the regiment to the seat of war. Joining the army of the Potomac, he rendered faithful service to the regiment and the country until exposure and overwork in the campaign before Fredericksburg brought on a long and dangerous sickness. Barely escaping with his life, he was compelled to resign and return home. He received an honorable discharge in August, 1863. From that time till the close of the war the Union cause at home had no more earnest or efficient friend and champion. In 1864 he was chosen railroad commissioner of New Hampshire, and served three years. [Illustration: P. I. Cheney] In 1866, Mr. Cheney removed to Manchester, and formed a partnership with Thomas L. Thorpe, as a dealer in paper stock and manufacturer of paper at Goffstown. In 1868 the firm of E. M. Tubbs & Co., of which Mr. Cheney had been a member three years, bought out the interest of Mr. Thorpe, and the business was continued under the name of P. C. Cheney & Co. In 1870 the mill at Goffstown was destroyed by fire, but was replaced by a new mill, and the business enlarged by rebuilding the old mill at Amoskeag village.