USA > New Hampshire > Coos County > History of Coos County, New Hampshire > Part 28
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Mr. Jordan began the study of law while clerk, continued it in the office of Judge Ladd, and, afterward, in that of Ray. Drew & Heywood, and was admitted to practice in the state courts in November, 1875. He remained with Ray, Drew & Heywood until May 26. 1876, when Mr. Heywood retired, and the firm became Ray, Drew & Jordan. This firm was succeeded Jan- uary 16, 1882, by Drew. Jordan & Carpenter, and, later, by Drew & Jor- dan. (In May. 1881, Mr. Jordan was admitted to practice in the Circuit Court of the United States.) As a lawyer Mr. Jordan has chiefly given attention to the drafting of legal papers (in which he excels) and other office business. Connected as he has been with two such noted advocates as Ray and Drew, and being somewhat modest as to his abilities, he has not ventured often into this field, but when he has done so he has acquitted himself ably, and, in the opinion of some of his legal brethren, if he were compelled to present all of his cases to the courts and juries, he would soon equal, if not surpass, any advocate in this section.
From his sixteenth year Mr. Jordan has been a hard worker in politics. In Colebrook he was among the chief workers in carrying that close town.
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He was a good organizer, a close canvasser, and men would follow his lead. For several years he was pitted against Hon. Hazen Bedel (the strongest man of the Democracy, and one of the best men in the county,) for the moderator vote, which was considered the test of the day, and was never defeated, although the plurality was sometimes but one. In Lancaster he was put up in the same manner against the popular Col. Henry O. Kent, and is the only candidate nominated by the Republicans who has ever beaten the Colonel for moderator. In 1880 in a hot, close fight, Mr. Jor- dan had one majority for first representative in a vote of nearly seven hundred, making a gain of over one hundred votes for his party. He was chosen speaker of the House by a very complimentary vote, and although new to the duties of this difficult office, he proved himself a most admira- ble presiding officer, prompt, impartial, easy and rapid in transacting the work of the position, and his efficiency and courtesy won him many and valuable friends. The Manchester Union, the leading Democratic paper of the state, thus voiced the general sentiment at the close of the session: "For Speaker Jordan there is but one encomium, and that fell from the lips of all, 'Well done. good and faithful servant."" Mr. Jordan was chairman of the Republican state convention held in Concord in Septem- ber, 1882. There was a bitter contest concerning the nomination for gov- ernor raging between the friends of Moody Currier and S. W. Hale. Fac- tional feeling ran high, but, under the tact and guidance of the presiding officer, harmony was secured, and the work of the convention successfully accomplished. Mr. Jordan has much influence in public matters, and prominent men have owed their elevation to important positions to his counsel and assistance. In 1886 he was unanimously nominated for state senator in the Coös district, and made a strong fight in spite of the over- whelming odds against him, running three hundred ahead of his ticket. In 1876 he was appointed one of a committee of three to investigate the affairs of the State Normal school, and wrote the report to the legislature, which was ordered printed in pamphlet form. In 1881 Dartmouth college gave him the degree of A. B .; in 1882 he was chosen honorary member of the Third Regiment, N. H. National Guards: in 1883 elected member of Webster Historical Society of Boston; in 1884 chosen honorary member of the Seventh N. H. Veteran's Association. He has long been a member of Evening Star lodge of Masons at Colebrook. and of the Chapter at Lan- caster, and was a director in the Lancaster National bank during the first two years of its existence.
Mr. Jordan married, July 19, 1879, Ida R. Nutter, daughter of Oliver and Roxannah C. (Wentworth) Nutter. She is descended from old New Hampshire families of repute, and is a lady whom it is always a pleasure to meet. They have had two children, Roxannah Minerva. born January 19, 1882, and Hugo, born May 26, 1884, died May 2, 1886.
R. N. Chamberlin
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Mr. Jordan's abilities have received recognition in business and social, as well as in publie and professional life. He is a wise and safe counselor in business matters, has conceded executive ability, and is the guardian of many private trusts. He has a keen appreciation of humor, tells a good story well, can give a quick and telling repartee with point and wit devoid of any sting, and is popular because he deserves to be. His judgments of men and measures are singularly clear and impartial. His conclusions are formed from a broad comprehension of all the facts. His sense of justice is strong. and his intellectual qualities are admirably balanced. With all this, he has the warmest of hearts, the quickest of sympathies, great kind- ness of manner and utmost geniality of spirit.
FRANK D. HUTCHINS, born in Putney, Vt., in 1850, was a graduate of Kimball Union academy and Dartmouth college. He taught school in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and proved himself a thorough, im- partial. scholarly, and highly competent instructor. In 1874 he began the study of law with N. B. Felton, of Haverhill, but completed his studies for admission to the bar with Ray, Drew & Heywood, of Lancaster, and practiced law there from 1876 to 1881. He then became cashier of the Lancaster National bank, which position he now holds.
WILLARD N. ARMINGTON, born in Waterford, Vt., November 10, 1850. graduated from University of Vermont in 1874; studied law with Belden & Ide, St. Johnsbury; admitted to the bar of Vermont at St. Johnsbury in 1876: located at Whitefield, September 15, 1876, where he has since been in practice.
PHILIP CARPENTER, son of Judge A. P. Carpenter, born in Bath, N. H., March 9. 1856, was educated at St. Johnsbury (Vt.) academy and Dart- mouth college. He graduated in 1877, read law with his father, and was admitted to practice at Concord in September, 1880. Forming an immedi- ate partnership with his father, he began practice at Bath. This firm did business one year when the father was appointed judge. Philip continued at Bath until the next January (1882) when he entered the firm of Ray, Drew & Jordan at Lancaster. He was in practice here until June, Iss5, when he removed to New York city, where he has acquired an extensive and profitable business.
ROBERT NELSON CHAMBERLIN, son of Antoine and Electa B. (Sears) Chamberlin, was born in Bangor, N. Y., July 24, 1556. His grandfather, François Chamberlin, was born in or near Paris, France, when young emi- grated to Canada, and was a marine in the British service during the War of 1812. He attained the great age of ninety-nine years, dying at the home of his son in West Stewartstown. Antoine Chamberlin was a native of Nicollet, P. Q. When fourteen he went to Sherbrooke, worked eight years at shoemaking, married his wife at Hinesburg, Vt., her native place, and made his home in Franklin county, N. Y., residing in Malone and
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Bangor until 1859, when he came to West Stewartstown where he now resides.
Robert was but three years old when his father came to Stewartstown, and, as he was one of a large family of children, and robust, he early became familiar with labor, and for years had the most meager educa- tional advantages; from eight years of age until he was sixteen obtaining as a respite from continuous toil only a few weeks attendance at the small village school. At the latter age he had the physicial power of a well-matured man, and commanded more than the usual wages as a farm hand; but the thoughtful youth was not content to excel in this sphere. A laudable ambition prompted him to attain a higher position and a broader field of usefulness, and, as a stepping stone to this, he applied himself to the acquisition of learning. It required more than an ordinary will to force himself out from and above his associations and surroundings, and to fix his attention on an intellectual career, but his active and vigorous mind carried him on; he worked summers and devoted his winters to learning, attending the academies at Colebrook and Derby (Vt.), acquiring a good foundation for the study of law, in which he saw much to attract him, and for which he seemed well adapted.
In the winter of 1877-78 he commenced his legal education in the office of G. W. Hartshorn, at Canaan. Vt., was admitted to the bar at Guildhall in March. 1551, and formed a partnership with Mr. Hartshorn. Attracted by the life and activity of the growing town of Berlin, Mr. Chamberlin, in July of the same year, established a law office there, thus becoming the first lawyer in the place. Finding that the rules of the New Hampshire bar barred him from practice in its courts, he applied for admission, passed the rigid examination creditably, and was admitted at Concord, March 15, 1883.
He married. November 2, 1882, Maria H., daughter of Ira and Ann J. (Howard) Mason, a native of Berlin, a lady of strong New England prac- ticality and sterling worth, in whom he has a helpmate, counselor, com- panion and friend. They have one child, Lafayette Ray.
Mr. Chamberlin has made rapid progress for a young lawyer, has acquired a good clientage, and is popular with the older members of the legal profession, and is entitled to much credit for what he has accom- plished. He has a clear conception of the strong and the weak points of a case, is earnest and industrious in the preparation and trial of causes entrusted to him, but prefers to keep his clients out of law-suits rather than involve them in protracted litigation. He always advises a fair and honorable adjustment of difference between parties, rather than the certain expense and the uncertain results at the hands of courts and juries. The same quiet, thoughtful determination which led him to obtain, unaided, a legal education, makes the first impulse of his mind in investigating any
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question to search for principles rather than expedients: this inclination will tend to make him particularly strong as a counselor, and in the domain of equity practice. His briefs, pleas, and other documents are drafted to cover every point, and one of the older members of the bar says: "They may appear awkward and clumsy, and easy to be torn to pieces, but on examination we find every point covered, and every nail clinched." Of fine physique, commanding presence, and clear voice, he has the qualities of a good advocate, and is rapidly winning his way in that difficult field. His presentation of the claims of Berlin for the estab- lishment of the county seat, at the late county convention, won much praise from leading men, and particularly his brother lawyers.
As a citizen he heartily supports all local improvements and public enterprises calculated to advance the interests of the town and the welfare of the community; he has served as superintendent of schools, on the board of education, and is one of the selectmen of 1887. He is a member of the Congregational church, a Republican in politics, and a member of the Masonic order. Yet a young man. having scarcely attained the fullness of his physical and mental powers, Mr. Chamberlin may look forward to a long life of usefulness in his chosen profession.
HERBERT IRVIN Goss, son of Abel B. and Lucy G. (Ross) Goss, and nephew of Judge Jonathan Ross, of St. Johnsbury, was born in Water- ford, Vt., December 4, 1857. Attended common schools, and was gradu- ated from St. Johnsbury academy in June, 1880. He taught school the following autumn, and in 1881 commenced the study of law. a profession for which he always had a preference, in the office of Elisha May, at St. Johnsbury. Mr. May soon after formed a partnership with Henry C. Bates, and Mr. Goss remained in their office until June. 1\$3, when he was admitted. upon examination, to the bar of Caledonia county. In October, 1883. he formed a business connection with F. B. Wright for the practice of law in Minneapolis, Minn. This partnership was dissolved in April, 1884. Mr. Goss remained in Minnesota until October, 1584. Returning east, January 21, 1885, he opened a law office in Guildhall, Vt .. and. April 1, 1885, he went to Lancaster, N. H., and entered into a two years' part- nership with Hon. Jacob Benton. July 30, 1885, he was admitted to the New Hampshire courts. He is a good student and well versed in law.
CARL ABBOTT, son of Prof. George N. and Mary (Ladd) Abbott, was born in Newbury, Vt .. April 19. 1559. The Abbott family is an old and prominent one in New England, showing strong and marked traits of character in every generation. The line of Carl's descent from George Abbott, the emigrant, one of the first settlers of Andover, Mass .. in 1643, is George1, William2, James4. Bancroft", James", George N.7. Carle. Carl attend- ed school for some years in Burlington, Vt., and the preparatory school at Mercersburg, Penn .. and was. for two years, at Mercersburg col-
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lege. He returned to Newbury in 1877, and, in 1880, entered the law office of Ladd & Fletcher, and was admitted to the bar of New Hampshire in the spring of 1884. He was employed in the office of his instructors until the fall of 1885, when he went to Gorham and took charge of the business of Alfred R. Evans until the spring of 1886. He then formed a partner- ship with A. S. Twitchell, as Twitchell & Abbott, which still continues.
Mr. Abbott is a close and diligent student, well versed in his profession, and, with good powers of logic, and a strongly marked individuality, has elements of more than an ordinary success. He possesses many of the intellectual traits of the Bancroft family, of which he is also a descendant.
DANIEL JAMES DALEY was born in Lancaster, January 27, 1859, acquired a good physique and health while passing his youth on the farm, was fitted for college at Lancaster academy. but, finding his taste and mental qualities in harmony with the practice of law, he entered the office of W. & H. Heywood, April 9, 1881, and for nearly four years received the ex- ceptionally good advantages afforded him under the venerable senior of the firm. He was an apt student, and was admitted to the bar at Con- cord, March 13, 1885. After a few months' stay in Lancaster, he removed, November 9, 1885, to Berlin, where he has formed many friends, and is building up a good practice. He is devoted to his profession, is active, energetic, and "pushing"; takes the cause of his client as his own, and with his thoroughness and ability deserves success.
NORTHERN DISTRICT.
(By James I. Parsons, Esq.)
The Northern Judicial District was formed by act that took effect- September 1, 1867. Cambridge, Millsfield, Odell, and Columbia, with the towns north of them, constitute the Northern District; while the towns south of those named constitute the Southern District. Before the legis- lature granted the petitions of the people of the upper towns for a sepa- rate court, the petitioners had to get the consent of representatives, and, to do so, promised to furnish a lot and court house complete for occupancy, which was done by voluntary subscription. After the time elapsed during which the representatives had agreed to furnish a house free, the county purchased the building for about three-fourths of the original cost, and the contributors lost a considerable portion of the principal, as well as the interest, and their trouble and labor, which, with some of them, was the most important item.
The first term was held the first Tuesday of February, 1868. At this term all northern actions pending or returnable at Lancaster, and all indictments for the county were transferred to this district. On the printed
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docket there were forty-six state and ninety-four civil cases. At the term seventy-three new entries were made to the civil, two to the sessions, and two or three to the criminal dockets, but no indictments were found. There were three cases tried by jury before the solicitor was ready to pro- ceed to the criminal business. The trial of Joseph Chase, indicted for rape of his daughter, was then commenced. He had a few years before fin- ished a ten years' sentence for arson, was a desperate and dangerous man, had escaped from the county jail after his arrest for this offense, and been kidnapped in Canada, where he remained near the boundary, making fre- quent night excursions into Colebrook and Stewartstown. The public were much relieved by his capture, and anxious for his conviction. Ossian Ray, afterwards member of Congress, was the solicitor, and W. S. Ladd and G. A. Bingham, both afterwards Justices of the Supreme Court, were for the defense. The court-house was crowded during the trial, and so packed at the close that every window and corner was crowded with people, who stood for hours listening to the arguments, and, sitting on the steps and floor, they crowded close to the chair of the presiding jus- tice. A very small boy, too young to be in any assembly alone, especially in that place, was on his knees beside the judge, and, during an intermis- sion, got up and asked him several very pointed questions as to what he believed as to the disputed facts, and wound up by pointing to his docket and asking, "What will you take for your little primer, Judge?"
There was intense, but in the main suppressed, excitement during the arguments. Mr. Bingham, after a review of one part of the uncontro- verted facts, asked in his most impressive manner, "Does not the dumb beast fight for her young, the stricken fawn cry out, the frightened rabbit flee?" "No! " responded the deep voice of a minister who stood with others in one of the windows looking down over the heads of the standing crowd. The exclamation was so evidently involuntary that he escaped punishment, but the quiet remarks of the judge has thus far prevented a repetition of the offense in this court. Judge Doe, in commenting upon the trial of the case in his charge, with evident emotion said, "It shows that the ancient glory of the New Hampshire Bar has not departed from it." Chase was sentenced for thirty years. He was fifty-five, and died in prison. Four more cases were tried by jury at this term-making a total of eight: and over twenty the next three terms. The "referee law" of 1874, and the subsequent amendments of the statutes and constitution, have to a great degree done away with the desire as well as the necessity of trying cases by jury.
At the August term, 1869, the case of Freeman Tirrell vs. Abram Bedel was tried. The defendant had procured the plaintiff to execute a release of debt for an inadequate consideration. The question was whether T he possessed sufficient natural capacity to be bound by the instrument.
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Among the witnesses were some boys who testified that they were accus- tomed to get him provoked, when one of them would advise him to chew various disgusting substances to spit in the faces of his tormentors. The grave manner in which William Heywood, then, as now, the nestor of the Coös bar, introduced and commented upon the evidence of "his pursuit of his companions around the barns and over the high beams" was so effective that the listeners were convulsed, and the presiding justice, again Judge Doe, laughed until the tears ran down his face. Judge Smith held his last term here, in August, 1870. It became necessary to wait for further testimony in some case. After a long and sleepy delay the judge suddenly looked up and said, "This reminds me of a story," and went on to tell it to the members of the bar and officers of the court, who composed nearly the whole audience, and then said to the undisputed leader of the bar on such an occasion, "Come, Shurtleff. now you tell one." Chairs were drawn close to the bench, and story followed story for an hour or more. It was uncertain who would prove the better raconteur, when the parties appeared, and the old judge, on the eve of his seventieth birthday, gravely resumed his duties.
Jeremiah Smith, Foster, Sargent, and Hibbard, who held the courts to 1874, were also self-poised, gentlemanly judges, controlling the litigants, counsel and spectators without effort or friction from the first. As though the gentle ways of Chief Justice Bellows permeated the court, the judges were models in their deportment in court and at chambers, and the influ- ence upon the bar was very marked.
A year or two later, during a term held by Judge Rand, several promi- nent attorneys, who perhaps felt competent to discuss a matter of practice with the presiding justice, and who had not heard Judge Ladd dispose of post mortem discussion with "It seems to me that you will find it super- fluous to discuss the matter after the court has passed upon it," did not heed the "Stop this, gentlemen !" and the judge, with his heavy bass voice, roared out " Sit down, all of you." They all went down, but an associate arose, and, apparently, was waiting to explain, remonstrate, or apologize, when they began to rise again. The court called upon the sheriff, who came around beside the attorneys and drew in his breath in a helpless kind of way, as they stood there flushed and silent, when, "sit down!"' SIT DOWN!" SIT DOWN !!! " thundered the judge, turning from one to another, who fell in turn until only Ray was left. He said " May it pl-" " SIT DOWN!" Ray feil like a stone and rebounded like a ball. " Please your honor," and went on with the discussion, in which the others soon joined.
Allen filled Rand's place the next winter. Isaac W. Smith succeeded Jeremiah Smith. Judge Carpenter, Judge Blodgett, and Judge Bingham came here to hold later terms, in place of justices who have resigned or deceased. Their characteristics can not be yet considered matters of history,
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though they are all entrenched in the good will and respect of this district, and receive most hearty welcome. It is certain that none of them will ever be "old - -" in the common conversation of the people. New Hamp- shire does not have judges, nor often attorneys, thus unconsciously branded with the appellation of ripening incapacity.
B. H. Corning, of Lancaster, now sheriff of Grafton county, was sheriff at the time of the organization of this district. Lucius Hartshorn, of Strat- ford, Samuel M. Harvey, of Columbia, and Joseph W. Cooper, of Colebrook, were the deputies ordinarily in attendance at court, and served the papers for our attorneys. Mr. Harvey, especially, did a great amount of work for many years all over Northern Coös. He had an unusual reputation as an accurate, efficient, and accommodating officer. Later, E. George Rogers and Samuel I. Bailey, both of Columbia, have been sheriffs; the latter by election. Albert S. Eustis, Henry N. Leavitt, Ira Quimby, John S. Capen, Walter Drew, Wesley Wentworth, William T. Keyes and George Hilliard, all of Colebrook, have been our deputies. Quimby, Leavitt. Capen and Drew have served for long and busy terms, been the best known as officers, have acquired a high reputation for courage and activity. and gained the good will of those with whom they had official business.
The best known and remembered of the early sheriffs were Ephraim H. Mahurin, of South Columbia, who was a deputy for about thirty years. being appointed as early as 1812; Hezekiah Parsons. of Colebrook, who was appointed in or before 1815, held the office continuously until 1833. when he was succeeded by Milton Harvey, for a short time: Horace Loomis, first an officer about 1830, later did about all the business for a few years, until he left the country; Timothy Tirrell, of Stewartstown, did a large business for about ten years; Enoch L. Colby acted as deputy here for a short time. then went to Lancaster, where he was first deputy, and afterwards sheriff during his active life; Hezekiah Parsons, Jr., was a deputy for a few years, then sheriff until his Republican deputy, Colby, succeeded him in 1856, when he declined a deputy's appointment. (Appointments have since been political.) Archelaus Cummings then held the position for several years. Others held an appointment for a short time, not long enough to gain that extended experience, and lasting reputation for efficiency, that makes the early officers an important part of our legal history.
Since Ray, Henry Heywood, Edgar Aldrich, and, from 1579. J. H. Dudley (the first by election), have been solicitors. The present clerk, M. A. Hast- ings, succeeded C. B. Jordan in 1874. An incident in our court-house, when the court was attending to naturalizations. will not be soon forgot- ten. One of the row, when Jordan arose and commenced to administer the oath, with a not wholly inexcusable distrust, snatched down his hand, paused, shook his finger at the clerk, and said, "Now swear me in a Dimmercrat, Chester." His seriousness and Jordan's reluctance were
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