USA > New Hampshire > Genealogical and family history of the state of New Hampshire : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Vol. II > Part 32
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As counsel for one of the banks in the town he became much interested in the subject of banking. and having a bent of mind for financial affairs he attained great success as a banker. As soon as he gained the means he bought bank stocks, and as carly as 1827 was a director of the Piscataqua Bank, and so continued as long as it existed. In 1845 the Piscataqua Exchange Bank was organized, and he became president and held that office until 1863. In that year, by request of his personal friend, Salmon P. 'Chase, then secretary of the treasury of the
United States, he organized the First National Bank of Portsmouth-the firist in the country, it is claimed-and into this the old Piscataqua Exchange Bank was merged, and he became its president and held that position till his death. He was also presi- dent of the Piscataqua Savings Bank, and a trustee of the Portsmouth Saving Bank.
When Mr. Hackett attained his majority he gave his adherence to the Whig party, whose principles he had embraced years earlier. With this party he acted until the Republican party was founded, and then he became a member of that organization, and was one of its staunch supporters from the time he joined it until he passed away. Until 1850 the Democrats were the political rulers of Portsmouth. and he had no opportunity for election to a political office, but from that time forward he was a prominent figure in local politics and a power in shaping the policy of his party there. In 1824-25 he had been assistant clerk of the senate ; in 1828 he was elerk of the senate ; in 1850 he was elected representative, and was re-elected in I851-52-57-60-67-68-69. He was sen- ator in 1861-62, and president of the senate the latter year ; presidential elector in 1864, and member of the constitutional convention in 1876. When he first en- tered public life he was fitly assigned to the com- mittee on railroads, of which he afterwards rose to be chairman. Later he served in two legislatures as chairman of the judiciary, which practically gave him the leadership of the house. In the various public positions he was constantly called to fill hie showed himself abundantly capable for the discharge of all their duties: "He was an admirable presiding officer, so rare a gift, that for a whole generation he was gladly sought, upon all occasions of greater or less importance"; and the duties of presiding of- ficer of the senate were discharged by him in such a courteous, fair, and impartial manner, as to add much to his already enviable reputation for services of that character.
Mr. Hackett was a man of sound and sagacious business views, and he did not hesitate to identify himself with every well-conceived project of a public character that gave reasonable assurance of future advantage to the citizens of Portsmouth. He had much to do with the opening of railroad communi- cation with Boston in 1841, and thereafter was for a long series of years a director of the Eastern railroad in New Hampshire, as well as the legal counsel of that corporation. With some modifica- tion the same may be said of his relations to the Portland, Saco & Portsmouth railroad. He forsaw the importance of building a line of railroad from the seaboard to the White Mountain region, was one of the projectors of the Portsmouth, Great Falls & Conway Railroad, and a corporator men- tioned in the charter which he was instrumental in obtaining. IIe was a director, and subsequently president of this railroad. Mention need not be made here of several other corporations with which he was connected, further than to specify a few, not, however, of a business character. At his decease he held the office of president of the South Parish Sun- day School Association, and was trustee as well as treasurer of the Rice Public Library of Kittery, Maine. In church affiliations. as in all other matters, he was found where the dictates of reason rather than emotion placed him. He was a member of the Church of the South ( Unitarian) Parish from 1826, and occupied the same pew for over fifty years. From 1826 to the time of his decease he was a mcm- ber of the Portsmouth Atheneum which has a library
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of many thousand volumes, unrivalled it is believed in quality by any general library of similar extent in the United States. Within the walls of the Atheneum he found the most constant and congenial employment of the leisure moments of his life. When a law student Mr. Hackett began writing for the press, and for intervals for more than fifty years hiis ready pen. sometimes for weeks in succession, enriched the columns of The Portsmouth Journal with thoughtful and timely articles that appeared as leading editorials, and this, too, when the field had not yet come to be occupied everywhere by the over- shadowing presence of the metropolitan newspaper. In 1847, at the request of the family of Andrew Halliburton, of Portsmouth, he prepared a memoir to accompany a collection, privately printed, of that gentleman's essays. He also wrote a valuable bio- graphical sketch of Charles W. Brewster, the author of "Rambles About Portsmouth." He gave much attention to historical and antiquarian subjects, and was long a member of the State Historical Society, and five years its president. In recognition of his attainments at the bar and his literary tastes, Dart- mouth College, in 1858, conferred upon him the de- gree of Master of Arts. He was one of Ports- mouth's most respectable and respected citizens, whose life is worthy of the study of young men who are now coming upon the stage of active life. He bore well his part in all educational. charitable, and re- ligious affairs, and left behind the record of a long life well spent. He was married, December 21, 1826, by Rev. Dr. Parker, of the South Parish, to Olive Pickering, who was born in Portsmouth, daughter of Joseph Warren and Hannah (Nutter) Pickering, and a descendant of John Pickering, who settled in Portsmouth in 1636. The young couple at once be- gan housekeeping in a dwelling on Congress street, where they continued to live the remainder of their lives, and celebrated their golden wedding a half century later. Four children were born to them: William Henry, see forward: Mary Anna (Mrs. Robert C. Pierce) ; Frank W., attorney of Wash- ington, D. C., retired paymaster of the United States navy: Ellen L. (Mrs. Captain E. M. Stoddard).
(VII) William Henry, son of William Henry Young and Olive ( Pickering) Hackett, was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. September 13, 1827, and died there September 24, 1891. He was educated in the schools of his native city, and for a short time pursued a commercial career in Boston. He then returned to Portsmouth and studied law in the office of his father, and after being admitted to the bar of New Hampshire continued the practice of law in- dustriously for the remainder of his life. While no partnership arrangement existed between himself and his father, they occupied the same offices and practiced more or less in connection with each other. But gradually the class of work pursued by the son differed from that which engaged the atten- tion of the father, and for many years Colonel Hackett enjoyed a very large and lucrative office practice. including the care of trust estates and financial concerns. He obtained his military title as a member of the staff of Governor Straw, and was generally designated as "Colonel" Hackett to dis- tinguish him from other members of the family, al- though his estimate of the value of this title-and many others which came to him from time to time- was simply that of a spirit of tolerance and not one of undue exaggeration of the importance of the com- pliment. In early life he was judge advocate, with the rank of major, in the state militia; so that a military title seemed to be at his disposal most of
his time. He had strong literary tastes and was a great reader. He possessed a large library of standard works, with which he was perfectly fami- liar. He was a ready and prolific writer, and for many years contributed to the press and magazine literature. He was editor of one or another of the local papers for several years, and was one of the proprietors of the Portsmouth Chronicle and Gazette for a series of years, during which time he wrote al- most constantly for these publications. One of his associate editors, speaking of him about the time of his death, states that,-"As a compendium of literary information, a cyclopedia of valuable fact, a diction- ary, a library. he was almost unequaled. The com- monest topic was made interesting at his hands by his fund of classic and historic parallel, and it was his command of the best fact and fiction which made hin pre-eminent at the social board." As a journal- ist Colonel Hackett had a terse, pointed habit, illus- trating hy apt reference or quotation, and emphasiz- ing his arguments by pertinent and unforgettable parallels. A strong vein of humor was noticeable in his speech and writing.
He had a genius for sympathy, and no appeal was made to his humanity in vain. Instances by the hundred may be had wherein his kind-hearted spon- taneous charity was administered by that grace which makes the left hand a stranger to its fellow. In political life he was a Republican, and was prom- inent in party councils. He served the city as an alderman, was a member of the state legislature several times, and of the constitutional convention. He was for many years clerk of the United States circuit court for the district of New Hampshire, and United States commissioner. He was an interested and influential member of the New Hampshire His- torical Society, and was a member of the various law and press associations throughout the state. He was a member of the Unitarian Church, and in that organization was a prominent figure and leader.
Mr. Hackett married Mary W. Healey, daughter of Wells and Elizabeth (Pickering) Healey. Three children were born to them: Mary Gertrude, who died in 1887; Wallace (see forward) ; Bessie Belle. wife of William H. Everett, of the United States navy. Mrs. Hackett died September 13, 1902.
(VIII) Wallace, only son of William Henry and Mary W. (Healey) Hackett, was born at Ports- mouth, New Hampshire, May 1, 1856. His early education was received in the public schools and at a private school in West Newton, Massachusetts. He read law in the office of his grandfather. Will- iam H. Y. Hackett, and entered Harvard Law School, graduating therefrom with the class of 1879. The same year he was admitted to the New Hamp- shire bar. He opened an office in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and for eight years thereafter devoted his attention exclusively to the practice of law. He was city solicitor for three years, also counsel for the United States in the court of commissioners of "Alabama Claims." He subsequently became inter- ested in business affairs outside his profession, and for several years has been more of a business than a professional man. For a number of years in Ports- month there has been a recognized need of a change in the conduet of its municipal affairs. Two years ago Mr. Hackett was appointed chairman of a com- mittee of citizens to prepare a new charter, with the object of overcoming the lax business methods which had hitherto prevailed. The charter was suc- cessfully drawn, accepted by the citizens, and passed by the legislature. In December, 1906, Mr. Hackett was elected mayor under this charter and is now
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(1907) serving in that capacity. Politically he is a Republican. He is a director in several banks and industrial institutions. He is a member of the Unitarian Church of Portsmouth, as were his father and grandfather before him. He is also a member of the New Hampshire Historical Society, and presi- dent of the Aldrich Memorial Association, recently organized, as well as of several ininor clubs and social organizations. In 1883 Mr. Hackett married Abbie, daughter of Ezra H. and Abbie J. Winchester, of Portsmouth. They have one daughter, Marion Hackett.
All the Meaders in New England in
MEADER Colonial times were descended from one ancestor, John Meader. His de- scendants are now scattered far beyond the borders of New England, but it is not certain that all Meaders now in New England are descendants of this forbear.
(I) John Meader, "the ancestor of all American Meaders," was born in England about 1630, and died at Oyster River, New Hampshire, after 1712. He came to America soon after 1650, probably, as he was at Dover in 1653. In 1656 he had land granted him in Dover, and he lived in that part of the town called "Oyster River." In 1661 and for many subsequent years he was taxed in Dover. 1665, 5th month, 19th day, he with others present "Humble petition of Oyster River to Honored Gen- eral Court of Mass." The petition alludes to an agreement made in 1651, 7, 14, by the town of Dover, that there should be two ministers-one at Dover Neck and the other at Oyster River. The petitioners complain that notwithstanding this they have no minister, and yet they are near fifty families, two hundred and twenty souls; mustering over seventy soldiers. They therefore ask to be made a town by themselves, for the "provision for a minis- ter, standing at a stay, the old and young in families are too much neglected;" but if they could be a town, numbers would increase soon, with an "able orthodox minister." In 1684 he with others was dispossessed of lands by suits at law brought by Robert Tufton Mason, grandson of Captain John Mason, on the ground of Captain Mason's grant. Executions were levied. but officers could neither retain possession nor find purchasers; so the prop- erty soon reverted to the actual settlers, their oc- cupancy not being long disturbed. In 1685 John Mcader with others signed a petition to the King against Governor Cranfield. 1687, 9. 3, he was foreman of a jury at an ingeust held at Oyster River. In 1694 his garrison house was destroyed by the Indians. His name is again of record in 1711, when he testi- fies regarding some Adams property. He married, about 1653, Abigail Follett, of whom nothing more is of record. They had children: John, Joseph, Elizabeth, Sarah and Nathaniel, next mentioned.
(II) Nathaniel, third son and youngest child of John and Abigail (Follett) Meader, was born at Oyster River, 6, 1.4. 1671, and died 4. 23, 1704, killed by the Indians. llis wife Eleanor died after 1705. Their children were: Lydia, Daniel, Na- thaniel. Elizabeth and Eleanor.
(IH) Daniel, second child and eldest son of Nathaniel and Elcanor Meader, was born at Oyster River, 3. 11, 1608. Seven at least of Daniel's sons settled in Rochester about 1750-60. They were Ben- jamin, Nathaniel, Elijah, Jonathan, Joseph. Lemuel and Jedediah, the last three coming somewhat later than their brothers.
(IV) Benjamin, son of Nathaniel Meader, was born at Oyster River, April 15, 1736, and died in Rochester, New Hampshire, April 20, 1827. He moved to Rochester between 1750 and 1760, and took up land in that part of the town known ever since Meaderborough. He married Patience born April 12, 1741, died March 22, 1825. Their children were: Hannah, born May 27, 1763; Mary, January 2, 1765; Tobias, May I, 1767; Micajah, August 29, 1769; Hanson, Septem- ber 26, 1772: Judith, January, 1776; Stephen (see later) ; Ephrahim, December 1. 1785.
(V) Stephen, son of Benjamin Meader, was born in Rochester, December 19, 1782, and lived on a farm near Meaderborough Corner, which is still in possession of his descendants. He died March 20, 1858, aged seventy-six. "He was a firm disciple of the Society of Friends, as nearly all the Meaders have been-a kindhearted, estimable man and neigh- bor, a worthy, influential citizen, and a true and staunch friend." He married Sarah Whitehouse (died June 29, 1858), and had: Tobias, Hanson, Jonathan, Levi, Asa. Mehitable and Benjamin.
(VI) Levi, fourth son and child of Stephen and Sarah ( Whitehouse) Meader, was born in Roch- ester, February 4, 1813, and died there September 25, 1885. He was a farmer, and resided in his native town. "He was a genial-hearted man. full of a sly humor which bubbled over in spite of him- self. He enjoyed a joke or witticism keenly, and was quick with a rejoinder. Sturdily built, pos- sessed of an iron constitution and great physical strength. he liked nothing better than to lay aside for the time his Quaker coat and have a friendly wrestling bout with whomever had the temerity to 'tackle' him, and seldom came off second. He took great interest in town affairs, and was an energetic and influential worker in politics. He was twice elected to the legislature on the Republican ticket." He married. December 24. 1837, Amanda East- man, who was born in Peacham, Vermont, March 26. 1817, and died March 24. 1888. They had eight children : Stephen C .. Valentine E., Charles H., Sarah F., George E., Julia E., John E., and Walter S. (John E. and descendants are mentioned at length in this article. )
(VII) Stephen Chase, eldest child of Levi and Amanda (Eastman) Mcader, was born in Rochester, December 14, 1840. He lived on a farm until he was fourteen years old, when he went with his father's family to Gonic village, where he obtained the greater part of his common school education. Between the terms of school he worked in the Gonic woolen inill. In 1857 he entered the Friends School in Providence, Rhode Island, where he re- mained nearly four years. He was a diligent stu- dent, excelling in mathametics and chemistry. He has always had a strong love for the latter, and if he had continued in this line would have made a reputation as a practical chemist. In 1860 he completed his school life in Providence, returned to Gonic. and entered the Gonie Manufacturing Co.'s mill in the employ of the late N. V. Whitehouse, working in various parts of the mill, but principally in the finishing and dyeing rooms. His natural ability and methodical habits made his progress easy and rapid, and he passed from dyer to finisher, superintendent, and finally to the position of agent. Ile was appointed to the last position in June. 1881, and has ever since retained it.
He is a man of both breadth and depth in the affairs of life; quiet, firm, unobtrusive and consci-
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entious; possessing a critical judgment, industrious and persevering. He is a typical Quaker of the present day, liberal to all religious denominations, and a generous contributor to the support of the village church, and a helper in all educational and moral purposes for the good of the community where he resides. In politics he is a Republican, and has thrice represented Rochester in the state legislature. He was a member of the constitutional convention in 1902, and for twelve years past has been a member of the council; is a trustee of the Rochester Public Library of Rochester, and a di- rector of the Loan and Banking Company of Roch- ester. He is a member of the Humane Lodge, No. 21, Free and Accepted Masons, and of Temple Royal Arch Chapter, No. 10. Mr. Meader married, in Farmington, New Hampshire, September 20, 1870, Effie Seavey, who was born in Farmington, July 28, 1849, daughter of Calvin and Irena (Clark) Seavey. They have one child, Gertrude A., who was born June IS, 1875, and is a graduate of the Friends' School at Providence.
(VII) John Eastman, fifth son and seventh child of Levi and Amanda (Eastman) Meader, was born in Rochester, August 29, 1850, and received his education in the public schools of Rochester, and at the Friends' School, Providence, Rhode Island. At eight years of age he began to be em- ployed during vacations in the woolen mills at Gonic. There he learned the carder's trade, and there he has always been employed except two years he spent on a farm for the purpose of improving his health, and one year he worked in the Cocheco Mill at Dover. After learning the carder's trade he learned finishing and dyeing and subsequently had charge of the dyeing department for some years. About 1892 he was promoted on account of his general efficiency to the position of superintendent of the Gonic Mills, and has since performed the duties of that position in such a manner as to receive the unqualified approbation of his employers. In po- litical faith he is a Republican. His business quali- fications and practical ideas recommended him to his townsmen, and in 1888 he was elected to repre- sent Rochester in the legislature, and in 1897 he was returned a second time. He and his family are members of the Society of Friends. He is also a member of Humane Lodge, No. 21. Free and Ac- cepted Masons ; Temple Royal Arch Chapter, No. 20; Palestine Commandery, Knights Templar; and the Patrons of Husbandry, of Rochester. He mar- ried, June 16, 1876, Clara E. Varney, who was born in Rochester, August 30, 1855, daughter of John W. and Harriet H. (Foss) Varney. Four children have been born to them: John Levi, Harry Hanson, Walter and Julia. J. Levi, born September 17. 1879, is assistant superintendent of the Gonic Mill. He married Lela Melvin, of Chicago, and has two children: Lois J. and Lola.
Harry Hanson was born May 1, 1883. and is a traveling salesman. He married Grace McDuffee, daughter of J. Arthur and Caroline (Tilton) Mc- Duffee, of Rochester. Walter, born January 9, 1889. died February 15, 1901. Julia, born July, 1890, died in 1892.
This family descends from an ancestor, HENRY Scotch or Irish, who came in the great movement that brought very many in- dustrious pioneers to young America. Many of their descendants were distinguished in the Revolu- tionary War, and later in peace.
(I) Hugh Henry, the first of this family to
dwell in America, was a native of Coleraine, Ire- land, and coming to New England, was one of the first settlers in Coleraine, Massachusetts. He was the father of a family, one of whom was John.
(11) John, son of Hugh Henry, seems to have lived in the same town as his father, and there reared a family.
(III) William was the son of John Henry and
(IV) William, Jr., was the third descendant from the settler.
(V) Hugh, fourth in descent from the original Hugh, was the son of William Henry, Jr., and re- sided at Ackworth, New Hampshire, most of his life. He was a merchant, and raised three chil- dren.
(VI) Hugh Horatio, son of Hugh and Mary (Dodge) Henry, was born in Chester, Vermont. Oc- tober 18, 1814, and died December 18, 1869. In 1833, at the age of nineteen years. he graduated from Dartmouth College. He succeeded to the landed estate of his father, to which he made substantial additions. He was nominaly a farmer. but his time and energies were chiefly expended on the solution of questions of finance, transportation and legislation. His residence was principally at Ches- ter, Vermont, but his business interests were scat- tered. He was prominent in public and political affairs in Vermont, was the original projector and principal promoter of the Vermont Valley railroad, to the presidency of which he was elected in 1850, and at the time of his death was serving his nine- teenth term as its president, being the oldest rail- road president in point of service in the United States. He was a director in the National Bank of Bellows Falls and a trustee of the Bellows Falls Savings Institution for more than twenty years. He was a Democrat until the Free Soil party arose, followed the lines of thought of John P. Hale. and other leaders of that organization, and when the Republican party succeeded the Free Soilers he lent his support to the new party, being one of the origi- nal Republicans. He was a delegate in the Chi- cago convention in 1860 which nominated Abraham Lincoln for president. From that time on he gave his unswerving loyalty and unflagging energy to the support of the Union and the Republican party. He was a representative in the Vermont legislature both as a Democrat and later as a Republican. He filled that office in 1839, 1841, 1843, 1860, and 1862, and was state senator in 1864. At the time of his death in 1869 he held the office of United States marshal for the District of Vermont, to which he had been appointed three years before. He was a man of broad mind and most excellent executive ability, a steadfast friend and an agreeable companion, al- ways to the fore in thought and action, and always ready to abandon worn out traditions and ideas for those that fit the case and the hour. He married Sarah Henry, daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Cooley) Henry, born in Charlestown, New Hamp- shire, June, 1812. They were the parents of nine children: Mary H .. Martin D., Julia. Clara. Charles F., Austin H., William G., Patrick and Saralı E., of whom only two at this time (December, 1905.) are living, viz .: Martin D. and William G., residents at Chester, Vermont.
(VII) Hugh, son of Hugh Horatio and Sarah (Henry) Henry, was born in Chester, Vermont, March 21, 1838, and was educated in the public schools of his native town and in Chester and Deer- field academies. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1862, but practiced only a short time
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