USA > New Hampshire > Coos County > Lancaster > History of Lancaster, New Hampshire > Part 51
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" Captain John G. Derby of Lancaster, still a resident here, and connected with several business enterprises, and especially noted for his long service in the fire department, was an apprentice in the Democrat office when C. F. Brown was there.
" Lyman Stillings of Jefferson was also an apprentice in the office at one time. He later went West and died there.
"S. J. Green of Shelburne, who, after leaving the office, was up to the time of his death in 1869, a clerk in the different stores in Lancaster; Edmund M. Waters of Stratford, now deceased, selected as a clerk and protege by Mr. Rix ; Leland H. Plaisted, afterward foreman in Nicholson & Sibley's job office at Paw- tucket, R. I .; Albro Bean, at one time foreman in the office of the Vermont Patriot, at Montpelier, Vt. ; and Frank Goss, who went West, were among the other employés of the office, whom memory recalls."
The Coös Republican .- This paper, next in date of issue, was established at Lancaster in December, 1854. It was first published in the town hall building, by Daniel A. Bowe, of Middlebury, Vt., for several years preceptor of Lancaster academy. David B. Alli- son, an old Concord printer, was manager, the two uniting as the firm of Bowe & Allison. The Republican was started as the organ of the party of that name but just organized. The health of Mr. Bowe was poor, and he was forced in the autumn of 1857 to give up business. He died of consumption the April following. Col- onel Allison continued the publication of the Republican until December, 1858, when the establishment was purchased by Henry O. Kent, and removed to Kent's building, Main street (a part of the time occupying rooms formerly used by the Coos County Dem- ocrat), where it remained until sold by Kent in October, 1870. After disposing of the paper Colonel Allison worked at type-set- ting, both at Concord, and at several offices in Maine, in which state he died some years later.
" Among the employés of the Republican, under its original management, were John L. Parker, later of Woburn, Mass., Budget Lane of Laconia, N. H., Richard O. Young, who died of disease while serving in the United States Army, and the three apprentices, Rowell, Smith, and Berry, who remained with the office after its transfer to me. For twelve years, from December, 1858, to Octo- ber, 1870, the paper was owned by me, and was under my direct control, save
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
during the period of my absence with my regiment, when it was leased to Daniel C. Pinkham, Esq., the clerk of the courts for the county.
"Levi W. Rowell, the senior apprentice, at the time of my purchase, was fore- man until May, 1859. Mr. Rowell was afterwards connected with the Gazette at Littleton, N. H., and the Times at St. Johnsbury, Vt.
"Charles W. Smith, to whom allusion has been made in the sketch of the Democrat, commenced with me as foreman in May, 1859, and continued in that position until April, 1870. Mr. Smith was a first-class printer, and in the man- agement of the office and business details he proved, during twelve consecutive years, an invaluable foreman.
" William H. Berry of Winthrop, Maine, had charge of the office, as foreman, for a short time after Mr. Smith left it.
" Richard H. C. Valentine, a Louisianian born, but at the time hailing from New York city, became foreman in July, 1870, and held that place while the paper was in my hands. He remained with the new management but a brief time, when he returned to New York. He was later in charge of the printers' warehouse, a branch of the business of George P. Rowell & Co., advertising agents of that city. Mr. Valentine was an accomplished printer.
" The different apprentices who served in the Republican office, during my ownership, were :
" Henry B. Berry, afterward in the army, and later a printer in Boston, Mass., George P. Smith of Gorham, N. H., Thomas Blake of Stratford, N. H., George H. Emerson of Lancaster, later senior member of the newspaper and job printing firm of Emerson, Hartshorn & Co. of Lancaster. Mr. Emerson had been for several years in the treasury department at Washington, but voluntarily retired to enter active business. He entered mercantile pursuits, but finally engaged in the printing and publishing business."
" Henry W. Denison of Lancaster, afterward for several years a clerk in the customs department at Washington, and subsequently connected with the consu- lar service in Japan, where he now is ; Richard H. Emerson of Lancaster ; John A. Smith of Lancaster, now resident of Akron, Iowa; Frank Foster Thomas of Lancaster, afterward journeyman at Portsmouth, N. H .; George H. Colby of Lancaster, afterward in the newspaper business, conducting a paper at Hono- lulu, Sandwich Islands, and again at Waterville, Me., and now engaged in the book trade at Lancaster; Harry C. Hartshorn of Lunenburg, Vt., who was later the partner of George H. Emerson, his brother-in-law, in the firm of Emerson, Hartshorn & Co. above referred to; Charles H. Rowell of Hunt's Hollow, Liv- ingston Co., N. Y., supposed to have been killed by the explosion of the mine, in the siege of Petersburg, Va. ; Charles E. Rowell of Littleton, N. H., now a physician at Stamford, Conn. ; Edward Hoogs of Boston, Mass. ; Robinson Y. Russell, later of the Lynn Transcript; William Oliver Burbeck of. Haverhill, N. H .; Nellie Rowell and Nellie Eastman, both of Lancaster, were frequently engaged upon the paper.
" The Republican was purchased of me by Chester B. Jordan, October, 1870, and removed to rooms over the post-office on Main street."
The Coös Republican Association was subsequently formed, and bought the paper of Chester B. Jordan. In August, 1870, the asso- ciation sold the paper to F. E. Shaw, who soon resold it to the association. When Mr. Jordan relinquished the editorial charge of the paper, Wesley W. Pasko of New York, a writer for the Press of that city, became editor. After him came Josiah H. Benton, Jr., B. F. Whidden, Jonathan Smith, F. W. Williams, W. C. Mahurin,
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THE NEWSPAPERS OF LANCASTER.
F. E. Shaw. From July, 1877, when Mr. Mahurin, for a second time, gave up editorial charge of the paper, a Mr. E. W. Kingsley was editor for the association until April, 1878, when the office was destroyed by fire.
In May, following the fire which destroyed the plant, James S. Peavey removed his printing office from Littleton, N. H., to Lancas- ter, and began the publication of the Republican, in a store building opposite the old American House on Elm street, until the following October, when he moved the office into the newly-finished Eagle block, where he continued the publication of the paper until the succeeding December, when he sold it to A. F. Rowell and C. D. Batchelder, who took C. L. Griffing into partnership with them, which partnership continued until June, 1882, when Rowell and Batchelder retired from it, leaving Griffing the publisher of the paper until September, 1883, when C. D. Phelps and J. H. Baird bought it. Mr. Baird soon bought out his partner, and conducted the business alone until 1884, when the publication ceased. Rowell, Batchelder & Griffing in 1881 changed the name of the paper from The Coos Republican to The Lancaster Republican.
In 1884, when the publication of The Lancaster Republican ceased, the press, type, and other material were sold at auction, and were bought by F. A. Kahew of Littleton, N. H., who began the re-publication of the Coös County Democrat, which latter paper now occupies an office in the new Odd Fellows' block on Main street.
The next publication in order in Lancaster was The Prohibition Herald. Its editors were the Rev. L. D. Barrows and Dr. John Blackmer. It was the state organ of the temperance party, and was published at the job printing office of Emerson, Hartshorn & Co., for one year from January, 1871. It was then moved to Concord, N. H.
The Independent Gazette .- This paper was started as an inde- pendent newspaper in January, 1872, by George H. Emerson and Harry C. Hartshorn as publishers. The editor was James S. Brackett for a time, after which Mr. Emerson became the editor, and contin- ued in that relation to the paper until August, 1877, when the paper was sold to I. W. Quimby and W. F. Burns. Mr. Burns soon sold his interest to Joseph Roby, Jr., who, after only a few months, sold out to Mr. Quimby, who continued the publication of it until Novem- ber 10, 1883, at which time he sold out to the Lancaster Printing Company, which was the name under which George P. Rowell, the well-known newspaper advertising agent of New York city, con- ducted the business in the publication of the Lancaster Gazette, to which name Mr. Quimby had changed the paper in 1879. Mr. Rowell conducted the paper successfully, until for some reason he saw fit to abolish it entirely in 1885. He sold the material out in job lots, here and there, hoping it was so effectually scattered as to
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
terminate its use together again; but, Phœnix-like, it arose by its scattered parts coming together at the behest of Mr. Quimby, its former owner, reappearing with the same headlines, form, and in every way the same Lancaster Gazette it had before been. This reappearance was on September 25, 1885. Mr. Quimby sold out the plant to James S. Peavey in 1887. Mr: Peavey conducted it only two years, when he, in turn, sold out to A. F. Rowell and Charles R. Bailey, who have made the paper a first-class local news- paper. In politics it has been Republican. On the Ist of July, 1896, Mr. Bailey sold his interest to his partner, leaving A. F. Rowell sole proprietor and publisher.
Several other publications of minor importance call for passing notice :
The Coos Herald .- In the winter of 1856 Charles N. Kent, then only thirteen years old, printed and published a little paper under the above title. It was a creditable enterprise for one so young. Mr. Kent was for many years connected with the firm of George P. Rowell & Co., New York.
7
The Northern News .- This little sheet, 8 x 12, edited and pub- lished by Fletcher Ladd and Edward Ray, at the age of eight years, was another juvenile enterprise in the printer's art that is remem- bered with pleasure by their friends. Mr. Ladd is now an attorney, practising in Lancaster, and Mr. Ray resides in Whitefield.
The Journal of Familiar Science .- During the year 1870 the firm of S. Randall & Co., druggists, published a quarterly under this name. It was another of the short-lived ventures, promising well, but failing to find support.
CHAPTER XII.
THE LEARNED PROFESSIONS.
THE LAWYERS-THE PHYSICIANS-THE DENTISTS-THE DRUGGISTS.
THE BENCH AND BAR.
From the settlement of New Hampshire, or rather the erection of its territory into a royal province by King Charles II, in 1679, until 1770, all New Hampshire, for judicial and financial purposes, com- prised a single court, the supreme judicial court, sitting at Ports- mouth, Dover, and Exeter. In 1771 the province was divided into five counties, and three courts of justice were established,-the superior court of judicature, the inferior court of common pleas, and the court of general sessions.
In 1855 the superior court of judicature was abolished, and the
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THE LEARNED PROFESSIONS.
supreme judicial court reëstablished, and continued in operation until 1874, when it was superseded by the superior court of judi- cature and the circuit court, the first being the law court and the latter the trial court, which continued to 1876, when they were abolished, and the present supreme court established in their stead.
The inferior court of common pleas continued from 1771 until 1820, when it was abolished for five years. From 1825 to 1859, it was again in force and operation. In 1859 it was abolished, and its business transferred to the supreme judicial court. In 1874 this court was revived, but only lasted two years, when its business passed to the supreme court.
The court of general sessions of the peace had for its judges all of the commissioned justices of the peace in the county, and was accompanied by grand and petit juries. This court had entire con- trol of the financial affairs of the county.
In 1794 the functions of this court were transferred to the court of common pleas. The side judges of this court attended to the financial affairs of the county. In 1855 a board of county commis- sioners was created, which did away with the side judges, as the financial affairs of the county passed under the jurisdiction of the county commissioners. All that remains of the court of general ses- sions to-day is the sessions docket, as a branch of the business of the supreme court, and relates only to entries for laying out high- ways.
Beside these courts there is the probate court, which has jurisdic- tion in the probate of wills, granting administration, and determining matters relating to the sale, settlement, and final disposition of estates of deceased persons. It also has original jurisdiction in relation to the adoption of children, assignment of dower and homestead in the estates of deceased persons ; and in the appointment and removal of guardians of minors, insane persons, and spendthrifts. It is also a court of insolvency, and has jurisdiction over petitions for partition of real estate when title is not in controversy, and grants changes in names of persons.
The law profession has always held a prominent place in Lan- caster because it was and is the shire town of the Upper Coos country, where the first court was held and where the first lawyers of the county resided. There have always been able men in the profes- sion, either residing or practising here. 'In the first years after the establishing of the county some of the local lawyers did but little before the law court. They prepared their cases and had them presented before the court by abler men, who made a practice of traveling from one court to another throughout the state. Among them were such lawyers as Bartlett, Bell, Cushman, Wilson, Daniel Webster, Jeremiah Smith, and Jeremiah Mason.
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
Richard Clair Everett was the first lawyer to reside in Lancaster: He was born in Attleboro, Mass., March 28, 1764, the year the first settlement of this town was made. At the age of fifteen Mr. Ever- ett entered the Revolutionary army from Westminster, Mass., and was retained by Gen. George Washington as a body servant for two years, at the end of which time he was discharged from service, and came to Lancaster as a pioneer. He was a young man of high aspirations, particularly in the direction of education. He had a strong desire to procure a good education, but as an orphan boy he found it difficult to accomplish much in that direction. He re- mained in Lancaster, working as a hired man until 1784. For- tunately, while struggling for an education, he came into posses- sion of some property through the death of a relative in Rhode Island, and at once set about to accomplish the plans he had laid to graduate from college. He at once entered with renewed courage into his plans. He accordingly fitted for college at Hanover, entered in 1786, and graduated from Dartmouth in 1790; and immediately began the study of law at Albany, N. Y. Having completed his professional studies he settled in Lancaster in 1793, for the practice of his profession, and there married Persis, daughter of Major Jonas Wilder, December 17, of the same year. During the following year he built the old house on the corner of Main and High streets, known now as the " Cross House," and lived there until his death in 1815.
As a lawyer Mr. Everett was successful, displaying tact and prac- tical judgment. In 1805 he became judge of the court of common pleas, which office he held until the time of his death. He also represented the town in the state legislature several terms with much ability. He also held the military commission of colonel. He was a tall man of commanding presence, and strict military bearing. He was of pleasant address, and an able speaker before the court or the public.
Mr. Everett was also quite extensively engaged in milling and cloth dressing. He built a large two-story mill on the site of the present grist-mill, in which were also carried on wool carding and cloth dressing. Being a public-spirited man he took an interest in many things outside of his professional business. He did much to start the educational, religious, and social interests of the town in the right direction.
Abram Hinds .- But little can be learned of Mr. Hinds as a law- yer beyond the fact that he practised here in the court of common pleas, and the superior court for some years. He was register of deeds soon after the organization of the county, but on account of the loss of the county records it is not certain whether he was the first register of deeds or not, but it seems from tradition that he was.
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THE LEARNED PROFESSIONS.
As early as 1807 he was appointed postmaster, which office he held four years.
Samuel A. Pearson .- Mr. Pearson graduated from Dartmouth college in 1803, and immediately opened a law office in Lancaster. He was a man of fine bearing, good address, and scholarly. He soon won a good share of the legal business of the community, and for some years had a good practice. In 1812 he was appointed post- master, and held that office seventeen years. During this time he continued active in the practice of his profession, but for some reason, probably the division of his time between his professional business and an office that exacted much time and yielded a small income, he lost most of his law business. In the later years of his practice he often yielded to the temptations bred, no doubt, of his impecunious circumstances, to resort to sharp practices to increase his income, from which he lost business and standing. He died poor, September 2, 1840, at the age of 56.
William Farrar .- Mr. Farrar, familiarly known as Squire or Deacon Farrar, was a lawyer of a wide practice. His justice docket was said to have been the second largest ever known in the county, added to which he had, and held, for many years a large clientage. He was a popular lawyer, and added to his able reputation he had the distinction of having been a classmate of Daniel Webster's, graduating from Dartmouth college in 1801. He was a man of genial man- ners. He was for many years the support of the choir in the old meeting-house on the hill with his bass viol, which instrument he played with ability. He died March 3, 1850, at the age of 69.
Levi Barnard was another early Lancaster lawyer who had a good practice for many years. He was noted for the manners and habits he affected, which were those of a gentleman of a generation preceding his time. He was an able and honorable man, and held in esteem by all who knew him. He died Oct. 12, 1832, at the age of 60.
Charles f. Stewart .- Mr. Stewart was a graduate of Dartmouth college in 1809. He was a classmate of the distinguished Levi Woodbury. Mr. Stewart was a man of fine address, and of con- vivial nature, too fond of drink to give his attention to his business. His death, at an early age, was hastened no doubt by intemperate habits. He lies interred in the old cemetery on Main street.
Fohn L. Sheafe .- Few men in the profession have added so much learning and exemplary qualities to it as John L. Sheafe. At an early age he opened an office at the North End in 1828, and contin- ued in practice here for some years. He left after a time to locate in New Orleans in the practice of his profession, and held very high rank there as a lawyer. He later returned to Portsmouth, his early home, where he died at a ripe old age.
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
Hubbard Wilson, a graduate of Harvard, a fine lawyer for so young a man, a most thorough scholar, died here in 1819, at the home of his father, aged 24.
Turner Stephenson .- Mr. Stephenson was born in Lyme, N. H., and came to Lancaster when quite a young man. He had been for a time a student at Dartmouth college, not graduating however. He was a man of honor and strict integrity, highly esteemed by all who knew him. He was successful in his profession and acquired con- siderable wealth. He was judge of the probate court from 1855 to 1865. He died Jan. 26, 1872. Although twice married he left no children.
Fared W. Williams .- Mr. Williams was born in West Wood- stock, Conn., in 1796. He graduated from Brown college (now Brown University) in 1818, and studied law at the noted law school of Litchfield, Conn. He came to Lancaster on some business soon after beginning his practice, and liking the town decided to return and locate here, which he did in 1822. He opened an office, and soon had a good practice. He returned to Connecticut in 1824, to bring as his wife Sarah Hawes Bacon, a most estimable lady. Mr. Williams received the honorary degree of A. M. from Dartmonth college in 1823, and the degree of LL. D. from Brown University in 1852.
As a lawyer Mr. Williams was very successful; but his taste for politics and his sociable and agreeable manners soon opened the way for him into public life. He held many offices with ability and . to the satisfaction of his constituents. In 1830 he was elected to rep- resent Lancaster in the state legislature, and reelected in 1831. From 1832 to 1837 he was register of probate. He was elected state senator in 1833, and reëlected twice during the next two years. During those last two years in the senate he was its president, and presided with dignity and satisfaction, that won him the credit of being an able representative of the people. In 1837 he was elected to congress from the old Sixth district, and reelected at the expira- tion of his first term. He filled this higher office with the same ability he had filled the lower ones in the legislature of his state. In 1847 he was elected governor of New Hampshire, and again in 1848. In 1852 he was appointed judge of the probate court. Upon the decease of Hon. C. G. Atherton, United States senator, in 1853, he was appointed to fill out the unexpired term. In 1864 he was delegate to the National Democratic Convention at Chicago, Ill. His death occurred Sept 29, 1864, at the age of 68.
Ira Young .- Gen. Ira Young was born in Lisbon, N. H., May 5, 1794. He was the son of Col. Samuel Young, an officer of New Hampshire troops in the Revolutionary War. Ira Young received the limited education of the common schools of his town,
JOHN SULLIVAN WELLS.
James M. Rif.
JOHN H. WHITE.
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THE LEARNED PROFESSIONS.
and at the age of twenty entered the law office of Samuel Swan, a noted lawyer of that time at Bath, N. H. After his admission to the bar Mr. Young became a partner of Mr. Swan, and remained associated with him until his death. After the death of his partner Mr. Young continued his practice in Bath, until burned out, losing his law library, and all the effects in his office. He then removed to Colebrook, where he remained in the practice of his profession until 1839, when he came to Lancaster and opened an office, and continued in practice until his death in 1845.
He was a brigadier-general in 1835, when the " Indian Stream War " broke out, and was ordered to the frontier to suppress a band of organized law-breakers, operating along the Canada line. He had but one slight engagement with the rebels, after which he cleared the county of them.
For his promptness and bravery in that short war the legislature of his state afterward made a public recognition.
Having become broken in health in 1845, he sailed for Cuba in the hope of restoration; but on the next day after he landed his death occurred. He was buried in the churchyard of the old cathe- dral and within a hundred yards of where the ashes of Columbus lay. He left a widow and three children, two sons and a daughter. The two sons did brave and faithful service in the War of the Rebel- lion. H. DeForest Young was captain in the famous Second reg- iment of New Hampshire, and served as chief of ordnance of the Third Corps, staff of Major General Sickles. Richard Otis, the other son, died in hospital.
John Sullivan Wells .- Mr. Wells was a prominent lawyer in Lancaster for some years. He was born in Durham, N. H., 1804, studied law with Hon. William Mattocks, Danville, Vt., and be- gan the practice of his profession at Guildhall, Vt., in 1828, where he remained for seven years. He removed to Bangor, Me., in 1835, but only remained there one year, when he came to Lancaster and opened an office. He practised here ten years, during which time he represented the town in the state legislature, and was the speaker of the house. He was also solicitor for Coos county, a portion of the time he resided here. He was what people are accustomed to call a " self-made man." What education he gained was through his own unaided efforts. He worked at the trade of cabinet-maker to earn money to enable him to attend school. He was an honest and industrious man, able and eloquent in the behalf of his client's interests. During his residence in Lancaster he did much for the improvement of the village. He moved to its present site the L part of the Kent block on Main street; but his best landmark in Lancaster is the stone house on Main street, now owned and occu- pied by I. W. Hopkinson. This remarkable structure was reared
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