A synoptic history of the Granite state, Part 12

Author: Bartlett, John H. (John Henry), 1869-
Publication date: 1939
Publisher: Chicago, New York, M.A. Donohue & Co
Number of Pages: 238


USA > New Hampshire > A synoptic history of the Granite state > Part 12


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12


But Portsmouth has left from the axe of the modern "de- spoiler" more colonial architecture than any city in America, and likewise more historical buildings. The abodes of Langdon, Woodbury, Whipple, Mason, Webster, Wentworth, Havens, Goodwin, Pickering, Lear, Aldrich, Pepperell, John Paul Jones, are standing there to-day to greet the eyes of historical senti- ment.


The Navy Yard is Portsmouth's greatest employer of labor. From it went the first American battleship and recently the latest submarine. From here went out the ill-fated "Squalus" on May 23rd, 1939. Portsmouth's present Mayor is K. E. Goldsmith.


City of Keene. Massachusetts was the self-appointed mother of Keene in 1733, but the child was then called "Upper Ashvelot." It was incorporated in 1753 under the name of "Keene," which became a city in 1873. Horatio Colony was its first Mayor. Governor Benning Wentworth named the city for his friend, Sir Benjamin Keene,-the British Ambassador at Madrid. It was the home of Governor Samuel Hale, Governor Samuel Dinsmoor, Judge Joel Parker, Amos T. Ackerman, and the present Chief Justice of the Supreme Court,-John E. Allen. Hon. Richard L. Holbrook is its Mayor.


City of Rochester. In 1722 Rochester was incorporated,


159


The Granite State


but since then Farmington and Milton have been cut from its original bounds. In 1891 it was made a city with C. S. White- house as its first Mayor. In early days its "number one" citizen was John P. Hale, the abolitionist, who was also the Free Soil candidate for President in 1852. In recent years it had the distinction of having furnished to the State three Governors almost in succession, namely, Rolland H. Spaulding, Samuel D. Felker, and Huntley N. Spaulding. Its "Rochester Fair" has become nationally known. It was named for the Earl of Rochester. John F. Conrad now presides over the City as Mayor.


City of Berlin. The City of Berlin was incorporated in 1897, with 20,018 population. It was settled in 182 1 by William Sessions on the Androscoggin River. Its superior water power (400 feet falls) is in the heart of the virgin forests. This made of it a great "paper city." Into this plunging river comes the little Swift River, the Dead Diamond River, Clear Stream, and other crystal waters to swell its power. Then the monster seems to stumble and fall 400 feet, then pick itself up and rush into the State of Maine, never to return. Berlin has an excellent High School building, and a good school system. It has been effective in Americanizing the large number of French-speaking Canadians who constitute the majority of its industrious popu- lation. Some of its prominent names are: Eli J. King, Joseph A. Vallancourt, Daniel Daley, Oscar Dupont, Orton Brown, Judge Rich, Editor John H. Houlihan, Judge Warren W. James and Sullivan. It has recently been conspicuous for the large number of women it sends to the Legislature. Berlin now has as its Mayor, Aime Tondreau.


City of Franklin. This City had its corporate birth as a town in 1828, and as a City in 1894. To create Franklin, the builders took pieces of Andover, Salisbury, Northfield and San- bornton and put them together. Chief Justice Frank N. Parsons resided here later, and was its first Mayor. Franklin's ace industrial citizen was A. W. Sulloway. Its first line statesmen were: U. S. Senators Thompson and Pike, Judge Blodgett,


160


A Synoptic History


Attorney General Daniel Barnard, Warren F. Daniels, M. C., publishers Omer A. Towne and Augustus Sawyer. Daniel Web- ster's father's farm was in Franklin, by a change of boundaries, but Salisbury had Webster originally. Senator Gallinger and President Bartlett of Dartmouth were also residents of Salisbury. Its Chief Executive at this time is Charles W. Adams, Jr.


City of Somersworth. The City of Somersworth, the home of former U. S. Senator and Governor Fred H. Brown, was cut off from Dover in 1729, became a corporate town in 1754, and a city in 1893. Before it became a city it was called "Great Falls." It is located on the west side of Salmon Falls River, but South Berwick, Maine, is closely built up on the east bank of the river, connected by a bridge, so that they comprise a two-State city, commercially speaking. It is distinctly a mill city, with its ups and downs. Alfred J. Boucher is its Mayor.


City of Laconia. "City of Lakes." And that's what it is. Lake Winnipesaukee, Lake Winnisquam, and scores of smaller lakes all about, overlooked by hills and mountains, all make it a central summer rendezvous for visitors. It is also the winter center of much "skiing." Laconia was cut off from Meredith and made a town in 1855, and a city in 1893, with Charles A. Busiel, Mayor. The latter became Governor. It had a dis- tinguished Governor in Henry B. Quinby. Its present Mayor is Robinson W. Smith. Laconia numbered among its distin- guished citizens the late Fletcher Hale, Judge Oscar J. Young and Thomas P. Cheney, Attorney General.


The Birthdays of Towns. The history of each town is well worth a volume by itself, but even a swift flight over our State's history makes it interesting to note how new towns came about and when. Therefore we will record the dates of the births, or incorporations of the towns. There seems to have been no rule as to how many people were required for admission to townhood. Most of the towns came in before the Revolution, and that meant that they were admitted solely on the discretion of the Royal Governor, who was inclined to admit a town whose Representative to the Assembly (Legislature) would be very


161


The Granite State


friendly to royalty as against the "radicals." This was especially so toward the end of Royalty when the Assembly was getting away from Governor John Wentworth.


Now to begin,-the "great four" towns as we have seen, began the procession in this order,-Portsmouth, Dover, Exeter and Hampton. The fifth town to come in was New Castle, which of course, had been a part of Portsmouth for a half century, and had a heap of history already. The "Fort" was there, and Assemblies were held there. Walback Tower and its legends, and many great events took place there. It was Thompson's "Great Island." So it became a town in 1693.


The sixth town was Josiah Bartlett's Kingston, admitted in 1694, with a population of 859. Greenland in 1704 was plucked away from Portsmouth. Hampton Falls was the eighth to be admitted, Newington the ninth and Stratham the tenth,-all three in 1712.


Then there were no more towns created for 10 years, or 1722, when Chester, Nottingham, Londonderry, Rochester and Bar- rington received official recognition. After four years Rye was initiated in 1726. Rye later took over Gosport on Star Island. A group of 7 were initiated into the State in 1727. They were: Bow, Barnstead, Epsom, Canterbury, Gilmanton, Chichester and Newmarket.


In 1728 Pembroke was incorporated, then Durham in 1732; Charlestown in 1735; Kensington, 1737; East Kingston, 1738; Epping, Windham and North Hampton, 1741. The year 1742 brought into the State South Hampton and Brentwood. The year 1746 admitted Merrimack, Hollis, Hudson and Pelham. In 1749 came four more,-Hampstead, Newton, Plaistow, and Litchfield. About 25 years before the Revolution, or in 1750, the Royal Governor, Benning Wentworth, gave Charters to Bedford and Salem. In 1752 Walpole, Chesterfield, and Rich- mond were admitted. In 1758 Hinsdale, Winchester, West- moreland and Swanzey came in. In 1756 Sandown, and in 1760 Danville, Peterboro, Boscawen and Amherst were incorporated.


There seems to be proof that whenever Governor Benning


162


A Synoptic History


Wentworth granted a Charter to individuals for a town, he al- lotted to himself, personally, a goodly slice. For this reason, perhaps, he granted them very generously. Here was his list in 1761: Plainfield, Bath, Lyman, Holderness, Newport, Goffs- town, Lempster, Grantham, Enfield, Lebanon, Hanover, Lyme, Orford, Marlow, and Canaan. In 1762 he incorporated Wilton, New Ipswich, and New Durham, and in 1763 a big string was captured, as follows: Woodstock, Lancaster, Croydon, Cornish, Plymouth, Candia, Gilsum, Fremont, Alstead, Warren, New Boston and Haverhill.


A group of 9 were incorporated in 1764 as follows: Raymond, Piermont, Lyndeborough, Unity, Weare, Claremont, Benton, Lincoln, Franconia. In 1765 there were admitted: Center Har- bor, Deerfield, Conway, Hopkinton and Dunbarton. In 1766 Lee, Acworth, Eaton and Albany.


At this point Governor Benning Wentworth was "forced to resign" for his "land grabbing" acts, which became known to the King, and his 29 year old nephew, John Wentworth, who was then on business in England, was at once appointed (Aug. II, 1766). Three other towns came in that year,-Tamworth, Groton and Wentworth, under the new Governor, who changed the "self-gift" policy.


Campton, Rumney, Atkinson, Chatham, and Sandwich were added in 1767. Rindge, Mason, Salisbury, Madbury, Meredith, Seabrook, Lisbon and Hunniker became incorporated in 1768, and in 1769 we took in Brookline, Surry and Temple. The year 1770 saw Sanborton, Wolfborough, Dublin and Dalton added to the list.


In 1772 Hillsboro, Harts Location, Dorchester and Frances- town joined the ranks, and in 1773 were added Northwood, Fitzwilliam, Loudon and Jaffrey. 1774 increased the list by Deering, Warner, Nelson, Stoddard, Landaff, and Wake- field. At this point the Royal Governor took up more serious business (war).


After the Revolutionary War began the War government of New Hampshire under Meshech Weare's regime, kept right on


163


The Granite State


incorporating more towns. In 1776 Marlborough, Washington; in 1777, Antrim, Moultonborough, and New Hampton; in 1778, Middleton, Hill, Newbury, Effingham, and Grafton; in 1779, Stratford, Hancock, New London, Northumberland and An- dover; in 1780, Northfield. Then came Thornton and Sunapee in 1781; Pittsfield and Alexandria in 1782. The year the new Constitutional government of New Hampshire took effect (1784) Littleton and Sutton were born. The next year, 1785, John Langdon, first Governor, took in the town of Ossipee. In 1787 Sullivan, Bradford, and Langdon were incorporated, while John Sullivan was Governor, and in 1788 Langdon as Governor admitted Bridgewater. In 1790 (Bartlett, Governor) Orange and Bartlett were voted in by the Legislature.


In 1791 there were admitted Sharon, Goshen, and Greenfield. Then came the little town of Hebron in 1792. Milford, Brook- field and Springfield were admitted in 1794. In 1795 we re- ceived Stewartstown, Luftonboro, Danbury and Stark (named for the General). Then in 1796 the initiates were: Alton, Colebrook, and Jefferson. In 1797 came Columbia and 1798 Farmington and Windsor.


Bethlehem was the last in the century (1799), and Jackson first in 1800. Ellsworth and Milton were born in 1802, Mount Vernon in 1803, and Whitefield 1804. Governor Langdon brought Wilmot into camp in 1807 and Roxbury arrived in 1812, while Troy waited until 1815. Bristol got a Charter in 1819, Shelburne and Stratford in 1820, Hooksett in 1822, Randolph and Milan in 1824 and Derry in 1827. Waterville was born in 1829, Freedom and Allenstown in 1831, Carroll in 1832, Erroll and Gorham in 1836, Pittsburg in 1840 and Bennington in 1842.


Auburn was incorporated in 1845; Dummer, 1848; Rollings- ford and Newfields, 1849; Madison, 1852; Clarksville, 1853; Monroe, 1854; Belmont, 1859 and Webster in 1860. Ashland arrived in 1868 and Tilton in 1869. Harrisville became a town in 1870, Greenville in 1872, and Easton and Livermore in 1876.


The city of Dover, mentioned as the second town as to date of settlement, became a great textile center,-the fourth largest


164


A Synoptic History


city in the State. Andrew Pierce was its first Mayor, and Samuel B. Blais is its present Chief Executive. It was the home city of John P. Hale, Governors Noah Martin and Charles H. Sawyer, Judges John Kivel and Robert G. Pike, Elisha R. Brown, banker, Congressman Joshua G. Hall and Daniel M. Durell.


Justice Levi Woodbury


Justice Salmon P. Chase C.J.


Justice Barlow. F. Stone


NEW HAMPSHIRE ON U. S. SUPREME COURT


Edna Dean Prostor


Marien M. Rieker


Mais Frank 8. Struter


Blood &


CHAPTER L


FOUR SONS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE ON THE UNITED STATES


SUPREME COURT. MANY OTHERS NATIONALLY FAMOUS.


O NLY one life-long resident of New Hampshire served on the Supreme Court of the United States, and that was Levi Woodbury. He was born in Francestown on December 22nd, 1789, the year when the United States govern- ment itself was born. In the Dartmouth College class of 1809 he took his degree at the age of 20 and at once began to practice law in that small home-town parish. At the age of 27 we find him Clerk of the State Senate, and at 28 he was appointed to the Supreme Court of New Hampshire. Two years later he moved to Portsmouth (1819). When 34 years old he was elected Governor of his State, and two years later entered the U. S. Senate. There he became known as the "Rock of the New England Democracy." After one term in the Senate he was made Secretary of the Navy from 1831 to 1834, then Secretary of the Treasury from 1834 to 1841. Then again he was sent to the Senate, to remain until 1846, when he was placed upon the highest bench in the nation. There he served with distinc- tion until his death at 62 on September 4th, 1851. There is evidence that his early decease prevented his becoming Presi- dent. He was much discussed in that connection. But, strangely enough, this exalted office went to another son of New Hamp- shire,-Franklin Pierce. Levi Woodbury's old colonial home- stead still stands in Portsmouth.


Three Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States were appointed as residents of other States but were born in New Hampshire. They were Salmon P. Chase, Nathan Clifford, and the present Harlan Fiske Stone. President Abraham Lincoln appointed Chase to be Chief Justice, as we have seen. He was


165


I66


A Synoptic History


a native of the very wee town of Cornish, born January 13, 1808, or 19 years after Justice Woodbury. Graduating at Dartmouth in 1826 he studied law in Washington, D. C., and began the practice of law in Cincinnati in 1829, when only 2 1 years of age. He was elected to the United States Senate and served from March 4th, 1849 to March 13th, 1855, when he became a Free Soil Governor of Ohio, only to be re-elected as a Republican. Then in 1860 he was elected to the United States Senate again, only to resign the next day after March 4th, 1860, to become President Lincoln's Secretary of the Treasury, which he held until July Ist, 1864. He had been a Candidate, at least had been strongly considered, for the Presidency instead of Lincoln. But on December 6th, 1864 he was appointed Chief Justice and served until his death, May 7th, 1873.


Nathan Clifford was born in Rumney, August 18th, 1803. The reader will note that Woodbury, Chase and Clifford covered much of the same early years in American history,-Woodbury, born in 1789, Clifford 14 years later and Chase 5 years after Clifford. Rumney too, was a tiny town. Again we note that Clifford also went to Dartmouth, but to practice law he hap- pened to go to York County, Maine, just across the Piscataqua River from Portsmouth, at 24 years of age. The old Pine Tree State made him Attorney General from 1834 to 1838, and then gave him two terms in Congress, as a Democrat. President Buchanan took a fancy to his talents and asked him to accept a Cabinet position as Attorney General, and he served from October 17th, 1846 to March 17th, 1848. Mr. Clifford nego- tiated the Treaty with Mexico to conclude that War. Then he was appointed to the "high bench" by President Buchanan, serving until he died, July 25th, 1881 at the age of 78.


After Justice Clifford's decease in 1881 New Hampshire waited nearly half a century before Harlan Fiske Stone was appointed a Justice of the United States Supreme Court, by New England's President Coolidge, in January 1925. Like Woodbury, Chase and Clifford, Justice Stone was born in a small town in New Hampshire,-Chesterfield, as was also his talented


167


The Granite State


wife, nee Agnes Harvey. Unlike his three New Hampshire predecessors on the Supreme Court from New Hampshire, Justice Stone was educated at Amherst College, graduating in 1894. His next move was to study law at the Columbia University Law School from which he received the degree of LL.D. in 1898. Thereupon he was admitted to practice law in the State of New York, and became a member of the law firm of Wilmer and Canfield, later of Satterlee, Canfield and Stone, and later of Sullivan and Cromwell. Justice Stone was a lecturer on law at Columbia Law School from 1898 to 1902, Adjunct Professor of Law in 1903, Kent Professor of Law and Dean at the same Law School, from 1910 to 1923. He was drafted into the Cabinet of President Coolidge as Attorney General in 1924. While there his organizing talent prompted him to set up the J. Edgar Hoover unit, and he alone deserves the credit of discovering the talents of this young man, buried deep among thousands of Civil Service employees. Since serving on the Supreme Court, his written opinions, both dissenting and majority, have put the spotlight on his judicial mind, much the same as it was on that of the late Justice Holmes whom he so greatly admired. Justice Stone's written opinion on the "Minimum Wage Law" was so humane and so convincing that it became history making.


Justice and Mrs. Stone have two sons,-Marshall H. Stone now practicing law in New York City and Lawson H. Stone, a Professor of mathematics at Harvard, and an author of math- ematical books. As an author, Justice Stone himself has written the following: "Law and Its Administration," "Public Influence of the Bar," and "The Common Law in the United States." Justice and Mrs. Stone reside in a new and homey home which he erected at 2340 Wyoming Avenue since going to Washing- ton. They are popular hosts and guests, and are glad to greet New Hampshire visitors at all times. He should be made Chief Justice at the next vacancy.


Governors. After some searching we find that New Hamp- shire has contributed the following Governors to other States, viz: Benjamin F. Butler, born at Deerfield; John Q. A. Brackett,


168


A Synoptic History


born at Bradford; and Channing Cox of Manchester, all became Governors of Massachusetts; John A. Dix, born at Concord, became Governor of New York; Salmon P. Chase, born at Cornish and Edward E. Noyes, born at Dover, became Governors of Ohio; Lewis Cass, Exeter and John S. Barry, Amherst, be- came Governors of Michigan; John S. Pillsbury, Sutton, Governor of Minnesota; Marshall Jewell, Winchester, Governor of Connecticut; Samuel Wells, Samuel E. Smith, Hollis, Harry M. Plaisted, Jefferson, Edward Kent, Concord, and Jonathan G. Huntoon, Unity, all became Governors of Maine; Samuel E. Pingree, Salisbury, Levi K. Fuller, Westmoreland, and Urban A. Woodbury, Acworth, all became Governors of Vermont; George F. Drew, Governor of Florida; Nehemiah G. Ordway, Warner, Governor of Dakota; Benjamin F. Flanders, Governor of Louisiana; Jonas Miller, Governor of Arkansas; Leonard Wood, Governor of the Philippines; John Wentworth, appointed Governor of Nova Scotia by the King, Frank F. Merriam, Governor of California.


Senators. We also note a few native sons of New Hamp- shire who have made the United States Senate from other States, viz: Daniel Webster, Salisbury; Henry Wilson, Farmington; John W. Weeks, Lancaster,-all United States Senators from Massachusetts; Lewis Cass, Exeter and Zachariah Chandler, Concord, U. S. Senators from Michigan; Dudley Chase, Cornish, from Vermont; Salmon P. Chase, Cornish, from Ohio; Senator Briggs, Manchester, from New Jersey; James W. Grimes, Deer- ing, from Iowa; Joseph C. Abbott, Concord, from North Carolina; Rufus Blodgett, Dorchester, from New Jersey.


Then we chance to run across the names of a few representa- tives to the House of Congress who were born in New Hampshire and elected from other States, viz:


Nathan Appleton, born at New Ipswich; William S. Damrell and Henry P. Lovering, both born at Portsmouth; William M. Richardson, Pelham; Tappan Wentworth, Dover; Lorenzo Sa- bin, Lisbon; Goldsmith F. Bailey, Westmoreland; Rufus S. Frost, Marlboro; Amasa Norcross, Rindge, and Samuel L.


1 69


The Granite State


Powers, Cornish; all the foregoing elected from Massachusetts; John Noyes and William Henry, elected from Vermont; Thomas A. Jenks, Newport, from Rhode Island; Noah Davis, Haverhill, and John Dickson, Keene; Clark B. Cochrane, New Boston, Charles B. Walker, Walpole; and John O. Whitehouse, Roches- ter; all elected from New York; Oliver L. Spaulding, Jaffrey ; B. M. Cutcheon, Pembroke, and Charles C. Cumstock, Sullivan; all elected from Michigan; Long John Wentworth, Sandwich; elected from Chicago; Gerry W. Hazelton, Chester; elected from Wisconsin; Edwin O. Stannard, Newport, elected from Arkansas; John C. French, Gilmanton; elected from North Carolina.


Judges. In addition to New Hampshire's four members of the Supreme Court noted supra, we mention John J. Gilchrist of Charlestown who became Chief Justice of the U. S. Court of Claims; George W. Anderson, born at Acworth, George H. Bing- ham, born at Littleton and Walter H. Sanborn, born at Epsom, Judges of the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals; and William M. Richardson, Pelham; Walter P. Hall, Manchester, Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts; William A. Fletcher, Plymouth, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Michigan; Calvin L. Brown, Goshen, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Minnesota; John W. Rowell, Lebanon, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Vermont; and Hoyt H. Wheeler, Chesterfield, Justice of the Supreme Court of Vermont; Albert R. Savage, Lancaster, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maine.


These migrating sons we have learned about casually. We would like to hear of others for future publication.


Daniel Webster and John Stark were the two New Hampshire sons whose statues were placed in the Hall of the States at the Capitol at Washington. And the State of Michigan is there represented by Lewis Cass and Zachariah Chandler, both native sons of New Hampshire.


Permit us also to name a miscellaneous list of eminent sons of New Hampshire, viz: Sherman L. Whipple, lawyer, New Lon- don, died a millionaire in Boston. Wilbur H. Powers of Croy-


170


A Synoptic History


don also made a conspicuous record as a lawyer in Boston ; Albert E. Pillsbury, Milford, became Attorney General of Massachu- setts. Guy S. Cox, lawyer, Manchester, has been successful in Boston.


Joseph E. Worcester of Bedford was author of Worcester's Dictionary.


Carroll D. Wright, statistician, was born in Dunbarton.


Ruel W. Poor of New London became President of the Garfield Bank in New York, and Harvey W. Gibson of North Conway, President of the New York Trust Co.


John G. Shedd of Alsted became President of the Marshall Field Co. of Chicago, merchants.


John S. Runnels of Effingham rose to the head of the Pullman Co.


B. F. Keith was born in Hillsboro; Denman Thompson at Swanzey; Charles H. Hoyt at Charlestown and Will Cressy at Bradford. Charles A. Dana, Editor of the New York Sun, Charles R. Miller, one-time Editor of the New York Times, were born at Hanover, and Horace Greeley, founder of the New York Tribune, at Amherst.


Bates College was founded by O. B. Cheney, born at Hold- erness; and Wellesley College by Henry T. Durant of Hanover.


Charles G. Green of Boscawen founded the Boston Post.


Harry Chandler, born at Lisbon, is publisher of the largest newspaper in California,-the Los Angeles Times.


Frank H. Simonds and Charles Carlton Coffin, War Corre- spondents, were New Hampshire men.


Edgar J. Knowlton of Manchester is widely known as a news- paper writer.


George L. Kibbe, formerly of the Manchester Union, was a well-known and much quoted editorial writer.


Maurice S. Sherman of Hanover, now Editor of the Hartford, Conn., Courant, was a Pulitzer Prize Winner.


Ernest A. Bournival, succeeding Editor Bernier, published the greatest French newspaper, "L'Avenir National," at Man- chester.


17I


The Granite State


Stilson Hutchins of Concord, purchased and published for a few years The Washington Post.


J. W. Estabrook and Governor Samuel W. McCall once owned The Nashua Telegraph.


Charles A. Young, astronomer, author, and Dr. Edward Frost, astronomer, both of Hanover.


Larkin D. Mead, Chesterfield, and Daniel Chester French, Exeter, sculptors of high rank.


U. D. Tenney, Hanover, portrait painter.


Frank Drake, president Gulf Oil Co.


Powerful Citizens. In any All-New Hampshire team of powerful citizens, covering its entire history, we have, in addition to those heretofore named, the following: Harry Bingham of Littleton, a great lawyer, John W. Sanborn of Sanbornville, railroad man, Herman Straw of Manchester, manufacturer, Charles H. Burns of Wilton, a noted attorney, John Hatch of Greenland, attorney, Sumner Wallace of Rochester, manu- facturer, Oliver E. Branch of Manchester, jurist, Dexter Rich- ards of Newport, manufacturer, George B. French of Nashua, jurist, John B. Nash of Conway, orator and politician, Orton Brown of Berlin, manufacturer, David Cross of Manchester, jurist, Albert S. Batchellor of Littleton, lawyer, Oscar G. Bar- ron of Twin Mountains, hotel man, Aretus Blood of Manchester, manufacturer, none of whom we have mentioned as being great incumbents of high political office.


CHAPTER LI


NEW HAMPSHIRE'S AUTHORS.


N EW Hampshire Authors. Robert Frost of Franconia is New Hampshire's greatest contribution to the poetry of America, ranking, as he does, at the top of all Ameri- can poets to-day, in the opinion of the critics, and vying with the historic poets of New England. We here mention but two of his poems, viz: "North of Boston" and "New Hampshire."


Going backward in point of time we here mention two other poets of fame,-Sam Walter Foss and Richard Hovey.


However brief our list of authors is to be it must include Thomas Bailey Aldrich whose writings will always entertain boys, although perhaps no more than Henry A. Shute's "Real Diary of a Real Boy."


No writer's name will ever live longer than that of Mary Baker Eddy, and no book will be read by more generations than "Science and Health."


Winston Churchill was a resident and citizen of New Hamp- shire for several years, and here he found material for and wrote his famous "Conniston."


Edna Dean Proctor, born at Heniker, made a place among the best of our poets by her "Song of the Ancient People," a story of the Pueblo Indians.


Mrs. Larz Anderson, nee Isabel W. Perkins, daughter of Com- modore H. Perkins, residing much in her ancestral home at Cantoocook, wrote many well-known books, among them the "Great Sea House," and "Every Boy and Other Children's Plays."


Frances Parkinson Keyes of North Haverhill has become rec- ognized as one of the first-line writers of to-day by her "Letters from a Senator's Wife," her novel, "Senator Marlowe's Daugh- ter," "Hour Bright" and her recent "Washington Kaleidoscope" and "Parts Unknown."


172


173


The Granite State


George Waldo Brown of Manchester contributed many good books relating to New Hampshire and its legends, among them, "The Hero of the Hills."


Celia Thaxter of Portsmouth left a book of fascinating poems centering around the "Isle of Shoals."


Eleanor Lattimore of Hanover has recently become well known through child stories, among them being "Little Pear and His Friends."


All New Hampshire Attorneys own a copy of Louis G. Hoyt's book on Probate Practice. Philip S. Marden, publisher of "Lowell (Mass.) Courier" and author of books of travel, and son of George A. Marden, is another writer of whom New Hampshire is proud.


If we were to include our summer guests in the list of authors we would name Tom Drier, Cornelius Weygandt, Edwin Arling- ton Robinson, Eric Kelly, Kenneth Roberts, Ernest Poole, Eleanor Porter, Herbert Welch, Samuel Crowther, John Q. Til- son, and many others.


-


CHAPTER LII


THE "SQUALUS" AND THE "SHOALS"


O N May 23rd, 1939, people of the entire world were shocked by the ghastly tragedy which befell the sub- marine "Squalus," in its work-out off Portsmouth, near the Isle of Shoals, in which a part of the crew were "taken" and a part were "left." Thirty-three of the fifty-nine men were miraculously rescued from the under-sea prison by what is called the "bell method,"-an invention accredited to Yankee ingenuity. Because of this tragedy may we not more fittingly insert here a few facts about those nine little islands which Cap- tain John Smith discovered on the same day that he located the Piscataqua River for they have a long history. These islands were originally called "Smith's Isles" by Captain John Smith. All men "who go down to the sea in ships" know the "Shoals." For a few years away back a stone church and a succession of ministers were there and for a short span of time some 300 people lived upon these barren islands to fish. They established a town there, "Gosport," which had a representative in the New Hampshire Legislature. Strangely enough, New Hampshire's first Provincial Governor, John Cutts, as well as the famous warrior, Sir William Pepperell, were its citizens for years. Later on hotels were erected and a few cottages. Now during the sum- mer seasons Unitarian Conventions are held there. These his- toric dots in the sea have names, all eight of them. They were given to them by sailors and fishermen, viz: Appledore, Star (the largest ones), Smutty Nose, White, Cedar, Hog, Londoner's and Mason. A monument of Captain John Smith stands there. These "Shoals" have been well poetized by Celia Thaxter,- they and their bird life, and dramatized by 90-year-old Oscar Leighton, a life-long resident. A part of this closely-huddled ocean group are technically in Maine for the boundary line pierces right through the middle. The Appledore and Oceanic


174


Senator Hollie


ong Rogers


Stevens


Cory


3. H. Brown 800+Sin


Judge Remick


Gov Tobey


John Sullivan State Com A. Lagion


G. m. Putnam


War g. W. Weeks


Dr CP. Bancroft


Democrats Ch Robert Munchie


Rov Bridgen





Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.