John H. Varney (1820-1879) was born in Rochester, New Hampshire, and spent most of his life living in Sanbornton and Tilton, New Hampshire. He was an acquaintance of the Baker and Tilton families. He lived and worked in the household of Abigail Tilton and boarded with Martha S. Pillsbury. In addition to working for the Tiltons, Varney worked at an oyster saloon at the Boston, Concord and Montreal Railroad station in Tilton. Varney had previously loaned Eddy's second husband, Daniel Patterson, two mortgages on residences in Franklin and North Groton, New Hampshire.

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