Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 9

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., Syracuse Journal Company, Printers
Number of Pages: 1266

USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886 > Part 9

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).

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muda, where he married a lady who was the owner of many slaves. On leav- ing the island in 1820, Mrs. Kimball freed her slaves. In 1824 Mr. Kimball became editor of the Concord Register. He was a gentleman of refinement and intelligence, companionable, and of amiable disposition, a good story- teller, and a writer of fair ability.

In the fall of 1826 he abandoned journalism, came to Canaan to practice law, opened an office, and was made postmaster a few months after. He was a scholar, an agreeable speaker, but he was not familiar with practice. Busi- ness flowed in upon him, but in the details of legal forms he made mistakes, and was often obliged to ask leave to amend his declarations. He was largely instrumental in building the Congregational church in 1828, and in erect- ing the "Noyes academy," and in changing its original features so as to admit colored pupils.

Mr. Kimball found it to his interest to leave Canaan. In 1836, in com- pany with Nathaniel Currier, he engaged in mercantile business in Alton, Ill. He was not successful in trade. After a time he came east, more em- barrassed than when he left. Discouraged, at last, at his wife's solicitation they returned to Burmuda, where, for about eighteen years, he was a lawyer and teacher in the town of Hamilton. He died in 1858.

John Hancock Slack, A. M., son of John and Betsey Ide Slack, born in New London, in June, 1789, died at Loudon county, Va., in August, 1857, aged sixty-eight years. He was a graduated from Dartmouth college in 1811, taught school at Hopkinton, read law with Hon. Moses P. Payson, of Bath, and Hon. John Harris and Baruda Chase, of Hopkinton, practiced at An- dover, Pembroke and Goffstown, was a resident of Canaan two years (1829 and '30), where he taught a select school and had some practice. Leaving Canaan, he drifted southerly to Georgetown, D. C., thence to Fairfax, Va., and afterwards to Loudon county, Va., where he died. In 1825 he married Lydia, daughter of Levi Hastings, of Wilton. He was an excellent teacher.

Jonathan Kittredge, LL. D., son of Dr. Jonathan and Apphia (Wood- man) Kittredge, born in Canterbury, July 17, 1793, graduated from Dart- mouth college in 1813, read law with Bleecker & Sedgwick, at Albany, N. Y., and Roswell W. Lewis, of New York city. He commenced practice at the latter place in 1817. He opened an office in Canaan in 1823 and resided here until 1826, when he moved to Lyme, where he resided about ten years. Meantime he married Miss Julia Balch, February 8, 1829 ; eight children. Before he came to Canaan he had contracted the habit of using strong drink. His case was sad and seemed almost hopeless. He had thrown off self-re- spect, lost caste in society, his brethren of the bar shunned him, and clients seldom sought his counsel ; but after all hope seemed in vain, he threw off the yoke and afterwards was an advocate of temperance. While at Lyme he wrote and delivered an address upon temperance, Jan- uary 8, 1827, which was published, and gave him almost a national reputa- tion. Lyme had not much use for lawyers either before or since that period,

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but Mr. Kitteredge continued to reside in that town among friends, who tenderly watched over him until he should gain courage and strength to meet his old enemy, and all his bad foes in the wide world's arena. In 1836 he returned to Canaan. In politics he was Whig. Five times he was elected to represent the town in the legislature. He held various town offices, such es- pecially as were agreeable to him. He went to Philadelphia in 1848, delegate to the convention that nominated Gen. Taylor. and worked actively for his election. In 1856 he was appointed a judge of Court of Common Pleas, and held the office until the court was legislated out of existence in 1858. He was respected as a lawyer and judge, but he was not popular either with lawyers or clients. He received the degree of LL. D. from Dartmouth college in 1858. In the spring of 1859 he removed to Concord where he continued to reside until his death, April 8, 1864, aged seventy-one years.

William Pickering Weeks, son of Brackett and Sarah Pickering Weeks, born at Greenland, February 2, 1803, graduated from Dartmouth college in 1826, read law with Hon. William A. Hayes and Charles N. Coggswell, of South Berwick, Me., and located at Canaan November, 1829. He soon afterwards became a partner with Mr. Blaisdell and continued thus for two or three years.

His practice was extensive and lucrative, chiefly in those branches of law relating to debt and credit, and the validity of titles. In these matters he made himself an authority. He was never counted a great lawyer, but he was a correct business man, and carefully attended to all matters placed in his hands. He was married July, 1833, to Miss Mary Elizabeth Doe, of Derry, and as the years went by three sons and two daughters were born to them.

In 1839-40 and also in '50 and '54 he represented the town in the legisla- ture. He was in the state Senate in 1848-49, being its president the last year. He was also in the constitutional convention in 1850. His business was profitable, and in his later years he became in all but the name a banker. His loans were great accommodations to persons in need of assistance, and it is but just to say in this regard that he was a lenient and honorable credi- tor. He was very fond of his cattle, horses, and particularly of sheep, and spent much time in caressing his fine flocks. Mr. Weeks died suddenly, Jan- uary 8, 1870, aged sixty-six years.

Hon. J. Everett Sargent, LL. D. (See Wentworth.)

George Washington Murray, A. M., born in Hill, July 23, 1830, son of John and Mary Murray, read law in the office of Nesmith & Pike, Franklin ; admitted to the bar, April term, at Concord, 1855. Same year opened an office at East Canaan, and that village has grown up about him. By diligent study during his thirty years' practice he has won an enviable reputation as a sound lawyer. He has served one term in the legislature and was a member of the constitutional convention of 1878. In religion he is a Methodist, and he gets credit for paying a large percentage of the expenses of his church. He is

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much interested in the schools of his village. He received the degree of A. M. from Dartmouth college in 1875.

Joseph Doe Weeks, son of William P., born in Canaan October 29, 1837, graduated from Dartmouth college in 1861, read law with Daniel M. Christie and Wheeler & Hall, of Dover, with whom for a short time he practiced. At the request of his father he returned to Canaan in 1864, and has since been a resident here. In the years of his practice here he has ever manifested a disposition to bestow favors upon friends, and other needy persons ; has en- tered with enthusiasm into all schemes for the success of the Democracy, to which he bears unswerving allegiance. His legal attainments are equal to all his needs He is generous and friendly, and has never been charged with oppressing any poor wretch who happened to fall into the fangs of the law. This trait has given him great power in politics, and he has seldom met with defeat even in this Republican town. Several times he has been sent to Con- cord, both as representative and senator. He is a regular attendent at the Methodist church and a generous supporter. Either as lawyer or man he is large of heart, sympathetic and friendly-is very genial and enters heartily into all social schemes " to drive dull care away." He is unmarried.

William Brackett Weeks, son of William P., and brother of Joseph D., born at Canaan April, 1839, educated at Canaan academy, was graduated from Dartmouth college, 1861, read law with his father, was admitted to the bar and practiced at Canaan a short time, then emigrated to West Virginia with the intention of making a home there ; but the war raged everywhere, and northern men were not welcome. In a few months he came back to his native hills, and became an attorney at Lebanon, where he has continued to reside. He is counted a well read lawyer and his correct legal knowledge se- cures him the confidence of business men. In 1866 he married Miss Hen- rietta Bridgeman, of Hanover.

Isaac Newton Blodgett, A. M., son of Caleb and Charlotte B., born in Canaan, January, 1838, educated at Canaan academy, read law in the office of Rolfe & Marshall, at Concord, and with William P. Weeks, and was admitted to the bar in April, 1861. In May, 1861, married Sarah, daughter of Rev. Moses and Cynthia S. Gould. From the date of his admission to the bar he was partner with Mr. Weeks for six months, when he bought out the business and continued to practice in the same office until 1867, when he removed to Franklin and became a partner with Mr. Pike. Always a politician, he has several times represented Franklin as a Democrat, and was chairman of the Democratic state convention in the campaign of 1876. He was for several years town treasurer of Franklin, and proved himself an able financier. He was successful as a lawyer. A vacancy occurring in the Supreme court in 1881, he was appointed to that bench, and has worn its honors with dignity, preserving a reputation for wisdom and impartiality. From Dartmouth col- lege he received the degree of A. M. in 1875.

Frank D. Currier, son of Horace S. and Emma P. Currier, born in Canaan

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October, 1813, educated at Canaan Union academy, and in a school at Lowell, read law with Mr. Pike, at Franklin, admitted to the bar ar Concord, April, 1877, then spent one year in the office of Mr. Murray, at East Canaan, and afterwards opened an office in the same village. He was studious and ener- getic, and is said to have managed his cases with such skill as to give him a good standing as a lawyer. But his career was not a long one. The facina- tions of politics were more attractive than the abstruce themes of law. The people sent him to Concord once. In 1883 he was elected clerk of the House of Representatives, and at the session of 1885 was made clerk of the Senate. He has served two campaigns as secretary of the Republican state committee, and in that position has rendered his party good service.

DANBURY .*- William Taylor Norris was born in Danbury, then in Grafton county, April 1, 1822. His father, William C. Norris, was a native of Salis- bury, whose father, Samuel Norris, was a native of Epping, married Sally Fraquier, of Nottingham, and raised a large family. His mother was an Elliott, of Concord, whose mother was a Carter of Canterbury. He is one of fourteen children. His youth was passed on a farm, with scant common school privileges. He fitted for college, beginning at twenty, at Canaan Union academy, took a partial course at Norwich university, studied theology a while, with a view to being a Universalist minister, read law in the office of Weeks & Sargent, at Canaan, and Crofoot & Broadhead, at Pontiac, Oakland county, Michigan, and was admitted to the bar at Detroit in May, 1849. He formed a partnership with Judge H. E. Hoyt, of Milford, Oakland county, and was in practice there nearly a year, when, on account of his wife's health, he was obliged to return to his old home. Hethen went to California after gold, to stand probation on, came back without it, and began practice in the town where he was born in 1854. In 1856 he was a member of the legislature, and re-elected in 1857. Here he continued in practice till he entered the firm of Eastman, Page & Norris, at Concord, in January, 1875. In a year Judge Eastman went out of practice, and the firm became Page & Norris. Dur- ing the existence of this firm the notorious Pembroke murderer, La Page, was twice defended by them, on the first trial Mr. Page acting a senior counsel Mr. Norris taking that place on the second trial. When Mr. Page went to Woodsville the firm of W. T. & H. F. Norris was formed, and run a few years. He is now in business alone in his native town. In 1857 Dartmouth college conferred on him the honorary degree of master of arts, and for a couple of years he was a member of the board of trustees of the state Normal school.

Stillman Clark was born in Dickinson, Franklin county, New York, No- vember 20, 1833, came to Danbury when quite young. He supplemented limited school training with a few years at an academy, served about three years in the Union army, read law with Judge Mason, of Bristol, was admitted in May, 1866, was postmaster here fifteen years or more, but never engaged

*Danbury, until July 10, 1874, was a part of Grafton county.

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in active practice of the profession. He has for a number of years been run- ning a country store, and turning his attention somewhat to farming.

ENFIELD .*- Samuel Rice, who was in practice here from 1816 to 1824, read law with Judge Sumner, of Charlestown, N. H., and came to Enfield from East Lebanon, where he had been previously located. Mr. Rice was a man of more than ordinary ability, but owing to various troubles and embarrassments did not attain the success to which his powers entitled him. He was in pol- itics a Democrat, but not a churchman. His family was a wife, one son and four daughters. He finally removed to Lowell, Mass., where he died.

Nathaniel W. Westgate was in practice here from 1827 to 1836. (See Haverhill.)

James G. Harvey, a notary of Canterbury, N. H., was located here about one year in the practice, in 1881 and 1882. He did not attend court and did not apply for admission to the bar of the county. He studied law with Hon. D. C. Denison, of Vermont, and was admitted to the bar of Windsor county in 1880. Since his return from Enfield, he has been engaged in successful practice at White River Junction, Vt.

HANOVER.t-We do not certainly know who was the first resident attor- ney. There are doubtful traces of one in 1775. But for conveyancing and other local business appropriate to this profession our people for many of the early years relied upon the services of Prof. Bezaleel Woodward, who was at the same time justice of the peace, holding regular terms of court at Han- over, and one of the justices of the county Court of Common Pleas. The first regular practitioner whose name appears on the dockets of Judge Wood- ward's court was Aaron Hutchinson, of Lebanon, in 1787 or 1788, but he never resided in Hanover.

At about the same time (1787) there came hither to reside, Bela Turner,. Jr., son of a merchant and inn-keeper of that name, in Lebanon. He was a member of the bar of the Superior court, but appears to have enjoyed but a very limited practice. He is supposed to have removed to Landaff in 1794, and thence to Bath, where he died in 1814, aged forty-nine years.

William H. Woodward, (the middle initial was inserted by act of legislature June, 1807,) eldest son of Prof. Bezaleel Woodward, and the first male child born on the college plain, graduated from Dartmouth college in 1792 and began the practice of the law at Hanover the following year. He was treas- urer of the college from 1805 to 1816, chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas, western or second circuit, from 1813 to 1818, and died August, 1818, aged forty-three years. He was an able man and a good lawyer, though somewhat technical, and highly esteemed in social life.

Benjamin Joseph Gilbert, born in Brookfield, Mass, graduated at Yale college in 1786, and settled in the practice at Hanover in 1792. He held a

*By W. F. Westgate.

+By fIon. F. Chase.

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prominent position at the bar of this county until 1826, when he gave up business and removed to Boston to reside with his children. He died there in 1849, aged eighty-five years. He was solicitor for Grafton county several years, councilor in 1809-11, and was member of the House of Representatives in 1800, procured the incorporation of the fourth New Hampshire turnpike. He was prominent in political life on the federal side. As a lawyer he ranked high for sound learning. Webster, who enjoyed and valued his friendship, took repeated occasion in public to express a high estimate of his capacity and attainments.

Mills Olcott, son of Gov. Peter Olcott, of Norwich, Vt., graduated at Dart- mouth in 1790, entered on the practice of the law at Hanover in 1800, and spent his life here. Being an extensive land owner and much occupied with other business, he was prevented from taking a very active position at the bar. He was treasurer of Dartmouth college from 1816-22, and from 1821 to 1845 a prominent member of its corporation. As its attorney he insti- tuted the suit upon which, in 1819, was rendered the judgment in the college case. He was an ardent federalist, and one of the two New Hampshire del- egates to the Hartford convention in 1814. He enjoyed the intimate friend- ship of Webster, Mason and Smith, and their contemporaries. Choate and Joseph Bell married into his family. He did not aspire to eminence as a lawyer, but his extraordinary business capacity, his elegant presence, his generosity and universal friendliness, his abounding hospitality and his wide acquaintance gave him a position altogether unique in this community. He died in 1845, aged seventy-one years.

Henry Hutchinson, son of Aaron Hutchinson, Esq., of Lebanon, a grad- uate of 1804, settled here in 1810 and remained until 1825, when he removed to New York city. He was a brother-in-law of Judge W. H. Woodward and a strong partisan of the " University " in 1816-19. He died in New York in 1838, aged fifty-three years.

James R. Wheelock, of the class of 1807, was a son of James Wheelock, Esq., of Hanover, and grandson of the founder of the college. He was ad- mitted to the Grafton bar September, 1813, and practiced at Hanover till 1817, when he gave up the law for the ministry. He died at Boston, Mass., November, 1841, aged fifty-one years.

Barna Tisdale, Jr., born in Lebanon, graduated at Dartmouth 1809. He was an attorney in Hanover from 1815 to 1819, but not in heavy practice. He then retired to a farm. He removed to Bradford, Mass., in 1856, and died there in 1860, aged seventy-two years.

George Wheeler, of the class of 1807, came here from Troy, N. Y., in 1815, and remained till about 1830. He was for a while a partner of Mr. Olcott, and afterwards postmaster of the village. He returned to Troy in 1830, where he died in 1870, aged eighty-seven years.

William Smith spent his boyhood in Salisbury and in Haverhill, studied law with Hon. A. G. Britton, of Orford, and was admitted to the Grafton bar

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September, 1813. He practiced at Hanover from about 1817 to 1833, when he removed to Lowell, Mass. Hon. B. F. Butler studied there in his office, and formed a partnership with his son who took the name of Henry F. Durant. Mr. Smith afterwards accompanied his son to Boston, and died there at an advanced age. He was a busy lawyer, devoted mainly to office practice and the conduct of routine actions.

Ninian C. Betton, of the class of 1814, a student of the Websters, prac- ticed here from 1820 to 1823. He then removed to Boston, where he enjoyed considerable prominence at the bar, and died in 1856, aged sixty- eight years.

Timothy Farrar, Jr., son of Hon. Timothy Farrar, of New Ipswich, came here, from Portsmouth, in 1822, as treasurer of the college. He had pre- viously acquired considerable eminence, had taken an active part on the side of the college in the great litigation, and published a report of the case in a volume of 400 pages. He was in 1824 advanced to the bench of the Common Pleas. Giving this up in 1838, he returned to Portsmouth, and thence removed to Exeter and to Boston, where he died in 1874, aged eighty- six years.

William T. Haddock, afterwards Heydock, of the class of 1819, a brother of Prof. C. B. Haddock, and son of William Haddock, of Franklin, read law with Daniel Webster, and practiced at Hanover from 1822 to 1828. He re- moved successively to Concord, and Boston and Lowell, Mass. He died at Hanover, in 1837, aged thirty-seven years. He published, in 1829, a New Hampshire Probate directory of great excellence.

Edward R. Olcott, son of Mills Olcott, a graduate of 1825, practiced here from 1828 to 1830. He then removed to Haverhill, and afterwards to Louis- iana, where he was raised to the bench. He died in 1869, aged sixty-four years.

William Olcott, also son of Mills Olcott, graduated from. college in 1827, practiced at Hanover from 1830 to 1835. He removed to Rochester and to Buffalo, N. Y., and then to Shreveport, La., where he died in 1851, aged forty-one years.

Ira Perley, son of Samuel Perley, of Boxford, Mass., a graduate of Dart- mouth in 1822, and a tutor till 1825, read law at Hanover with B. J. Gilbert, and settled here in practice in 1827. He was college treasurer from 1830 to 1835. He removed to Concord in 1834. He was raised to the bench of the Supreme Judicial Court in 1850, and in 1855 was appointed chief justice. He died in 1874, aged seventy-four years.

Solon Grout, of Brattleboro, Vt., came to Hanover and entered on the practice in 1832. He was for a time a partner of Mills Olcott. He removed about 1835, and finally returned to Bellows Falls, where he died.

Daniel Blaisdell, son of Hon. Eljiah Blaisdell was born at Pittsfield, spent his youth at Canaan, and graduated at Dartmouth in 1827. He read law with Joseph Bell, at Haverhill, practiced there from 1830 to 1832, than at

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Lebanon a year, and finally removed to Hanover in 1833. He was forty years treasurer of the college, from 1835 to 1875, and at the same time an able industrious and enthusiastic practitioner of the law. He was senator in 1863-65, and several years a member of the House. Through this long period of forty-two years active professional service unexamplied at Hanover, he possessed in a remarkable degree the esteem and confidence of the commu- nity. He died in August, 1875, aged sixty-nine years.

William H. Duncan, was of Scotch-Irish blood, a native of Candia. He graduated from the college in 1830, with the highest honors, and read law at Charleston S. C. He practiced at Haverhill a year or two, and came to Han- over in 1837. He died in 1883, aged seventy-five years. He had the ad- vantage of a graceful manner, scholarly talker, ready wit, extraordinary power of expression, and attractive social qualities.

. Augustine O. Brewster, son of Col. Amos A. Brewster, of Hanover, fifteen years high sheriff of Grafton county, graduated at Dartmouth in 1843. He studied law with Mr. Duncan and others, and practiced here from 1846 to 1850. He then removed to New York city, and in 1852 to Boston, where he now is.

Frederick Chase, a native of Hanover, son of the late Prof. Stephen Chase, and a graduate of Dartmouth of 1860, commenced practice here in 1874. He had previously been at the bar in Washington D. C. He became treasurer of the college in 1875, and judge of the Probate for Grafton county in 1876.

Henry A. Folsom, born in Sandwich, a graduate of Dartmouth in 1871, came to the bar in Boston, where he acquired an enviable standing in the profession, but driven from it by failing health, removed to Hanover in 1882.

HAVERHILL .*- Moses Dow .- The exact time when General Dow came to Haverhill, is not certainly known, but it must have been previous to 1774, as in that year he was appointed by the Court of the General Sessions of the Peace, to act as king's attorney, in the absence of the attorney-general. His native place was Atkinson, and his father's name was John Dow. Of his early education we have no information, but his academic course was pursued at Harvard college, from which he graduated in 1769. When and with whom he read law is also unknown. He began the practice of his profession, in all probability, at Haverhill, soon after his admission to the bar, and continued to do so till he was appointed a judge of the Court of Common Pleas, with an interruption of five years at Plymouth. He was unquestionably one of the strong and leading lawyers in the early history of the Grafton county bar, and held a prominent position, not only in his profession, but also in popular esteem. His name occurs repeatedly in the town records as taking an active part in town affairs, and he filled various town offices from 1783 till toward the close of his life. In addition to these places of service and honor, he was called into larger spheres of trust. For four years he was solicitor for Grafton

*By J. Q. Bittinger.

8 I

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county, and from 1774, for a period of thirty years, he was register of Pro- bate. In 1780-81 he represented the town of Haverhill in the legislature, and as early as 1790, he was a member of the state Senate, of which body he was chosen president during his term of senatorial service. Previous to this he was a member of the governor's council. He was interested in military matters, and was a brigadier-general of the state militia. In 1808 he was ap- pointed a judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Grafton county, which office he held till the close of his life. General Dow was also elected to the Continental Congress, by the General Assembly of New Hampshire, but de- clined the honor on the ground that he did not feel himself qualified for the high responsibilities of the position.

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Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 9

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., Syracuse Journal Company, Printers Number of Pages: 1266

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., Syracuse Journal Company, Printers
Number of Pages: 1266