History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 118

Author: Hazlett, Charles A
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold
Number of Pages: 1390

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REED P. CLARK

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Ninian Clark of Hillsborough County, N. H., but spent the greater part of his life in Londonderry. He was a man of much practical knowledge and force of character, and among his other accomplishments was an expert penman. As an agriculturist he gained fame by raising nursery stock and experimenting on vegetable culture. He was the originator of the celebrated Clark's No. I potato, which he produced on the farm now occupied by his son William, and gave to the world as propagated by Reed P. Clark and son. He was also an efficient horse trainer and a skilled worker in wood. Originally a whig in politics and later a republican, he took an active interest in public affairs and was largely instrumental in changing Londonderry from a demo- cratic to a republican town. He served as selectman, as representative to the legislature, and as a member of Governor Goodwin's and Governor Berry's councils. For a number of years he was a trustee of the New Hampshire State Reform School at Manchester. He married Elizabeth Perkins. A sketch of their son William, above mentioned, may be found on another page of this volume.

HON. EDWIN GAMAGE EASTMAN, attorney-general of New Hamp- shire from 1892 until February, 1912, ranks high among the leaders of his state by reason of his faithful and efficient performance of official duty, his notable success in the practice of his profession and his prominence as a public spirited citizen. Of New Hampshire birth, education and life-long residence, Mr. Eastman has been closely identified with the legal and political history of his state since early manhood and his name will meet very fre- quently the eye of any student of Granite State annals for the past three decades.

General Eastman's first American ancestor was Roger Eastman, born in Wales in 1611, who came across the water in 1638 and settled in Salisbury, Mass. Among his descendants in the seventh generation was Rev. William Henry Eastman, for more than half a century a New Hampshire clergy- man, who married in Grantham, Pauline Sibley Winter. Their only child, the subject of this sketch, was born in Grantham, November 22, 1847. He always has cherished warm affection for his native town, and there, upon one of the state's fine farms, he spends a large part of every year.

He was educated in the public schools, at Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, and at Dartmouth College. "Working his way" through prepara- tory school and college, General Eastman earned his education by hard toil and in the face of discouraging obstacles. But, as has been the case with so many others of our leaders, this experience was of the greatest value to him in that it formed his character at the same time that it trained his mind and brought him to the threshold of his life work a man of determined purpose and well-poised judgment as well as of academic learning and culture.

No Dartmouth class ever gave more distinguished lawyers to the world than did the class of 1874, its roll including, besides General Eastman such names as those of Chief Justice Frank N. Parsons of New Hampshire, Chief Justice John A. Aiken of Massachusetts, Congressman Samuel W. McCall, former Congressman Samuel L. Powers, General Frank S. Streeter of the International Boundary Commission, and many others. It is needless to say that General Eastman is proud of his class and his college and that they, in turn, are proud of him.

After leaving college Mr. Eastman read law at Bath with Hon. Alonzo P. Carpenter, afterward justice and chief justice of the supreme court of the

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state, and was admitted to the bar in 1876. The same year witnessed the formal opening of both his legal and political careers, for he represented his native town of Grantham in the legislature of 1876. On September 22d of the same centennial year he took up his residence in Exeter and there began the practice of law in the office of the late General Gilman Marston, one of the strongest men in New Hampshire history. General Marston was so well pleased with his young associate that in 1878 he entered with him into a partnership which continued until the death of the senior member of the firm in: 1890. It was recognized as one of the ablest combinations at the New Hampshire bar and its success was immediate and continuous.

After the death of General Marston, Mr. Eastman formed the new firm of Eastman, Young & O'Neill, the second member being Judge John E. Young, now of the state supreme bench. This partnership was dissolved in 1898 and for several years General Eastman and Henry F. Hollis, Esq., of Concord, joined in practice as Eastman & Hollis, with offices at Exeter and Concord. In 1902 the firm of Eastman, Scammon & Gardner was formed and still continues, the partners with General Eastman being Hon. John Scammon, former president of the state senate, and Perley Gardner, Esq.

From the beginning of his legal career Mr. Eastman's private practice had been large and lucrative. His thorough knowledge of the law and native good sense, combined with a wide and deserved reputation for ability and integrity have made him the favored counsellor of a large circle of clients. Always slow in advising litigation, when once a case has been entered upon he devotes to it the careful analysis of his keen and well trained mind. Patient and persevering in establishing the facts and the law bearing upon the points at issue, he marshals them logically and impressively, building up a case in which his opponent seeks in vain for flaws in method or error in authority. From his first experience as an advocate the sincerity of his manner has proved as great an asset for Mr. Eastman in winning cases as the direct simplicity of his style and the convincing clearness of his language and argument. General Eastman is never at a disadvantage before a New Hampshire jury. Its members look upon him as a man after their own heart and believe that he believes in his own case. At the same time Mr. Eastman has the respect of the judges before whom he practices, having so often thoroughly proved the soundness of his theories of the law and the breadth and depth of its application. Nor have occasions been lacking when these qualities of his stood the test of the appeal of cases, in which he has been interested. to the highest tribunal. the Supreme Court of the United States at Washington.

Because of the demands which public service has made upon him General Eastman has felt constrained to refuse to extend his private practice in certain profitable directions, a standard which has been appreciated by his fellow members of the bar and by the public in general.

His first period of such public service was a solicitor of Rockingham county from 1883 to 1888, and it was so marked with successful conduct of the office that when Attorney-General Daniel Barnard died in 1892 it was deemed very natural that Governor Hiram A. Tuttle should place at the head of the state's legal department Edwin G. Eastman of Exeter. That appoint- ment, then well received, has been amply justified in the score of years that have elapsed, during which, by successive reappointments, Mr. Eastman has continued to hold his high office.

The list of men who have held the high office of attorney-general of

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New Hampshire is a notable one: Samuel Livermore, Wyseman Claggett, John Sullivan, John Prentice, Joshua Atherton, William Gordon, Jeremiah Mason, George Sullivan, Samuel Bell, William K. Atkinson, Daniel French, Charles F. Gove, Lyman B. Walker, John S. Wells, the younger John Sulli- van, William C. Clark, Lewis W. Clarke, Mason W. Tappan, Daniel Barnard and Edwin G. Eastman, a score in all from 1778 to 1911, and the last name upon the list fully worthy to stand with the others.

Naturally, during his long service as attorney-general, Mr. Eastman has conducted many famous and important cases, the mere mention of which would overrun the limits of this article. The perpetrators of many murders and other high crimes against the person have been punished justly through his instrumentality ; and numerous civil cases of the highest importance have come within his jurisdiction, including those popularly known as the "oleo- margerine" case; the Percy Summer Club case, establishing the rights of the people in the public waters of the state; the railroad and express rate cases ; the railroad tax cases, etc.

One thing that shows General Eastman's standing in his profession is the fact that for twenty years he has been a member, by appointment of the Supreme Court, of the State Board of Bar Examiners, having charge of the examination and admission of candidates to practice law in New Hampshire.

General Eastman has given distinguished and valuable public service, also, in other capacities than those of an officer of the law. In young man- hood he was elected as representative from his native town of Grantham to the legislature of 1876. In the exceptionably able state senate of 1889 he represented with credit the twenty-first district; and in the convention of 1902 to propose amendments to the constitution of the state he rendered appreciated service as chairman of the committee on future mode of amend- ing the constitution.

As a legislator and political leader Mr. Eastman has shown himself, as in his profession, cool, clear-headed and sagacious. There is no trait of the demagogue in his make-up. He would no more stoop to "playing politics" than to legal trickery. But without seeking popularity he has attained it, throughout the state, and respect and esteem as well. His name has been frequently mentioned in connection with the governorship of his state, and with its representation at Washington, the national capital.

General Eastman is a director and vice president of the Exeter Banking Company ; a trustee and vice president of the Union Five Cents Savings Bank of Exeter ; a director and president of the Exeter Manufacturing Company ; and was a trustee of Robinson Seminary, Exeter, for fourteen years.

Mr. Eastman married in Newport, March 14, 1877, Elma E. Dodge, who died October 19, 1880. To them was born one daughter, Helen May. At Exeter, March 16, 1885, he married Morgieanna Follansby, and they have two children, Ella Follansby Eastman and Edwin Winter Eastman.

General Eastman has a beautiful and happy home at Exeter, where, with his family and large library he would like to spend more time than his public duties allow him for that purpose. A public-spirited citizen, he takes much interest in the welfare of that fine old town and can be counted upon to support heartily any forward movement there. In religious affiliations he is a Congregationalist.

Mr. Eastman takes much pride, also, in "Grey Ledges," his Grantham summer home, which he has created from the farm where he was born and which has been in the family for four generations. Located on a hill 1,200

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feet above the sea level, fifteen towns and as many mountain peaks can be seen from the house veranda. While the house has been gradually enlarged from the red cottage of 1820, when it was built, until it contains twenty rooms, it retains still many of the quaint features of its earliest days; the "landscape" painted walls, the great fire-places, with their brick ovens, etc.

The farm is of 750 acres and is well stocked with Ayrshire cattle and the remarkable yield of its carefully kept apple orchards has more than local fame. General Eastman is as successful a farmer as he is lawyer . and he takes real pleasure in not merely managing the estate, but in doing himself much of the real work of the place. And that is the keynote of Edwin G. Eastman's life and character. He is a worker, a successful worker, an honest worker upon right lines for good and great ends. And today, in the full maturity of his powers, his record of accomplishment, impressive as it is, is far from finished.

GEORGE M. HALL, a prosperous farmer residing on his estate of sixty acres in Stratham, Rockingham County, N. H., makes a specialty of Holstein cattle, and ships milk extensively to Boston. He comes of a Vermont family, and is a son of Merrill M. Hall, and a grandson of John Hall. He was born in Hyde Park, Vermont, October 21, 1866. Merrill M. Hall, father of the subject of this sketch, was a farmer and operated a saw mill in Ver- mont. He married Martha Moxley and they reared two children: George M .; and Hattie, who is wife of Charles Richardson.

George M. Hall attended the public schools of Hyde Park, Vt., and then worked in a shoe establishment six years. He next engaged in railroad work, and for two years had a run as fireman. At the end of that time he located in Stratham, Rockingham County, purchasing his present farm of Charles Piper. Mr. Hall was joined in the bonds of matrimony with Miss Nellie Dunbar of Portsmouth, N. H., a daughter of George and Mary (Knap) Dunbar. She has two brothers, William and Herbert Dunbar. The father was a railroad man throughout his active career. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have one daughter, Miss Eleanor Hall, who lives with her parents. Politically, he is an independent voter, but has upon occasion been called into public service. He was selectman of Stratham six years, and served one term as representative. He is affiliated with the Patrons of Husbandry. Religiously, the family attends the Congregational Church.

FRANK DANIEL WILSON, who has been successfully engaged in the grocery business at Salem Depot, New Hampshire, since 1905, was born February 15, 1857, in Salem, N. H. He is a son of A. G. and Abbie ( Bailey ) Wilson, the former, a native of Pelham, N. H., and the latter of Haverhill. They were parents of the following children: George, deceased; Alonzo G .; Arminta ; and Abbie J., who married Edmond Vittum. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are both deceased, the latter's death occurring July 4, 1912. The grand- parents of the subject of this record were David and Sarah ( Young) Wilson of Pelham, N. H.

Frank Daniel Wilson spent his early years in Salem, N. H., where he attended the public schools, and his first position was that of a clerk in a store at Salem Centre, where he remained three years. He then clerked in a store in Boston, Mass., until 1883, and subsequently came to Salem Depot, where he engaged in the grocery business with F. C. Buxton under the firm name of "Buxton & Wilson." Two years later Mr. Wilson sold his interest

REED PAIGE CLARK

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in the business and entered the employ of the F. C. Wilson Co. of Haverhill, with which firm he continued until March, 1890. He then returned to Salem and engaged in farming with his brother A. G. Wilson, until June, 1905, since which time he has been engaged in his present business at Salem Depot.

Mr. Wilson was married December 24, 1884, to Miss Etta L. Foster, who was born in Salem, N. H., in 1854. To them was born one daughter who died in infancy.

Politically, Mr. Wilson is a republican and takes an active interest in affairs pertaining to the community in which he resides. He was repre- sentative to the legislature two terms in 1895 and 1911. He served on the Republican Town Board of Selectmen for nine years, and was chairman of the board for eight years. He is fraternally affiliated with the Spicket Lodge' No. 85, St. George commandery ; Bell Royal Arch Chapter ; Mt. Nebo council and the Becktash Shrine.

JOHN D. RANDALL, proprietor of one of Portsmouth's largest and most complete printing establishments, located at No. 3 Congress street, was born in this city, January 10, 1856. His parents were William B. and Clara (Adams) Randall, of Portsmouth, N. H., the father following the trade o1 mechanic up to the time of his death in 1883. John D. Randall was educated in the common schools of his native town, and when a mere lad began his apprenticeship to the trade of printer. He subsequently worked as a jour- neyman in New York and Boston. In 1883 he established his present print- ing plant in Portsmouth, which he has since carried on with marked success. He employs regularly three compositors and by general consent is regarded as the leading printer in this city. In 1871 he joined the Portsmouth fire department and subsequently served as chief for fifteen years, his long term of service being good evidence of his ability as a fire fighter. He also served the city as councilman from Ward Two and was a member of the legislature in 1905-6. In politics he is a republican.

Mr. Randall married Ella M. Wiggin, a daughter of Thomas Wiggin, of Portsmouth. They have two children-Frank W., who is now superintend- ent of an Electric Lighting Co. in New York; and William I., who is an electrician. Mr. Randall and family affiliate with the Baptist church. He is a member of St. John's Lodge, No. I, A. F. & A. M., of which he is a past master ; and also belongs to Osgood Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 48. The family residence is at No. 699 Middle Street.

REED PAIGE CLARK, son of William and Alice W. ( McIntire) Clark, was born in Londonderry, Rockingham County, N. H., August 19, 1878. He attended the common schools of Londonderry and Derry, N. H., and then pursued his studies at Pinkerton Academy, Derry, 1890-1894, graduat- ing from the classical course in June, 1895. He was a student at Columbian College. now the George Washington University, at Washington, D. C., 1894-1898, receiving the degree of A. B. in May, 1898. From the Columbian Law School, Washington, which he attended from 1898 to 1901, he received the degree of LL. B. in May, 1901. In 1900-1901 he attended the Columbian Graduate school, Washington, receiving the degree of A. M. from that institu- tion in May, 1901.

Mr. Clark was assistant (one year) and instructor in French at the Columbian Scientific School, 1898-1901; instructor in German at National Park Seminary, Forest Glen, Md., 1899-1900; instructor in modern languages

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

(French and German) at Columbian College, 1900-1901; tutor at various times in Latin, French and German; private secretary to Hon. Henry E. Burnham, United States Senate, and clerk to the Senate Committees on Indus- trial Expositions, Cuban Relations, Claims, and Agriculture and Forestry, July 1, 1901, to November 30, 1911, general receiver of customs for the Republic of Liberia (commissioned) November 18, 1911. He was admitted to the New Hampshire bar, June 29, 1907.

Mr. Clark's society affiliations are as follows: Epsilon Chapter. Sigma Chi, Columbian University; St. Mark's Lodge, No. 44, F. & A. M., Bell Royal Arch Chapter, No. 25. Mt. Nebo Council, No. 15, and Ransford Chapter, No. 3. O. E. S., all of Derry, N. H .; Wildey Lodge, No. 45, I. O. O. F., Manchester, N. H .: The National Geographical Society, Wash- ington, D. C .: Calvary Baptist Church, Washington, D. C .; The New Hamp- shire Bar Association; The Derryfield Club, Manchester, N. H .; and The University Club, Washington, D. C.

Mr. Clark was awarded the Staughton Prize for excellence in Latin and the Elton Prize for excellence in Greek, at Columbian College, in May, 1898. He was president, senior class, Columbian College, 1898, and vice president, first year class, Columbian Law School, 1898-1899. Among his literary activities are the following : editor of a college edition of Rostand's "Cyrano de Ber- gerac," 1898; thesis on Cyrano de Bergerac for the degree of A. M., 1901; newspaper articles on Alaska, 1905; editor of an historical pamphlet, pub- lished by the District Number Eight Old Home Association, Londonderry, 1908. and newspaper articles on Mexico, 1910. He traveled in Europe, June to September, 1900: in Alaska. June to September, 1905: in Mexico and Yucatan, September to November, 1909, and in the Dominican Republic and Cuba, December, 191I.

DAVID JEWELL is a well known citizen of Stratham, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, and is the owner of a farm of forty-four acres. He follows general farming and dairying, and raises stock for his own use. He was born on his present farm March 30, 1839, and is a son of David and Rachel (Leavitt) Jewell, both deceased.

David Jewell, the father, was a carpenter and followed that trade in addition to farming. He was a democrat in politics, while in religious attach- ment he and his estimable wife were members of the Christian Church. They had the following children: Sarah, wife of Nathan E. Norton; Asa Elbridge: Rachel S., wife of John J. Scammon; Irena, wife of David J. French : David: Mary E., wife of Hezekiah Scammon; Levi; and Hannah M., widow of Levi Baker.

David Jewell, subject of this record, attended the common schools of his native town, and continued on the home farm in association with his father. Upon the death of the latter, he bought out the other heirs, and has been in possession of the farm continuously since. He is a democrat in pol- itics and has served as selectman and as a member of the school board.

Mr. Jewell was joined in marriage with Miss Catherine S. Burley, who was born in New Market, N. H., and is a daughter of Henry and Sarah (Alexander) Burley. She is one of a large family of children, of whom but one other is living, namely, Abbie, who is the wife of Levi Jewell. David Jewell and wife have three daughters: Vesta E .; Harriet L., who is teaching in the public schools in Massachusetts; and Sadie B., who is em- ployed in Boston. Religiously the family attends the Federated Church.

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JOSEPH ARTHUR BROWN, who operates a farm of 60 acres, sit- uated on the street car line in the town of Rye, has resided all his life in this town, having been born here, March 30, 1856, son of Charles J. and Mary L. (Drake) Brown. His paternal grandparents were Joseph W. and Emily (Parsons) Brown. His mother was a daughter of Cotton W. and Martha (Parsons) Drake. All, as well as our subject's great grandparents, were natives of Rye. Charles J. Brown, the father, was a school teacher and a very prominent citizen of Rye for a number of years. He and his wife were affiliated with the Congregational church. They had four children: Emily, wife of Charles M. Remick; Abbie, wife of Dr. Fred D. Parsons; Agnes, who is unmarried, and Joseph Arthur.

Joseph Arthur Brown was educated in the common schools and at Hamp- ton Academy. He then took up farm work in which he has since been en- gaged. Industrious and enterprising, he has been successful and is now one of the substantial and respected citizens of the town. A democrat in politics, he has served as selectman, town treasurer and as a member of the school board, showing ability in handling public business.

Mr. Brown married Olive A. Goos, a native of Rye and a daughter of Otis and Ann (Locke) Goos, a granddaughter of General Goos. She has a sister, Isabella, now living, another sister, Elzada, being deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of five children, namely: Carroll W., Bessie Marion, Edna O., Arthur Lawrence and William Goos. Carroll W., who is a graduate of the Institute of Technology, married Harriett Hoskins of Cleveland, O., in which city he is engaged in business as a civil engineer. He and his wife have two children, William H. and Mary Drake. Bessie Marion resides at home with her parents. She is a graduate of Simmons College and from Johns Hopkins University, and is a teacher of chemistry at Sim- mons College. Edna O., residing at home, is a graduate of the New Hamp- shire College of Agriculture and is also a florist. Arthur Lawrence is assist- ant instructor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at Boston, of which institution he is a graduate, and where his brother, William Goos, is now a student. The family are affiliated religiously with the Congregational church.

JOHN A. JANVRIN, lumber dealer of Hampton, Rockingham County, N. H., was born at Hampton Falls, this county September 26, 1876, son of Edwin and Anne (Thompson) Janvrin. The father, Edwin Janvrin, also a native of Hampton Falls, was engaged in the wholesale and retail lumber business. He was a prominent man in his locality and was elected on the republican ticket to the legislature. His wife was from Epping, N. H. They were members of the Baptist church. Both are now deceased and are buried at Hampton Falls. Their children were: Charles; Bertram T .; Mary L., who married Arthur Wakeman, general secretary of the Children's Aid Society at Brooklyn, N. Y .; John A., the subject of this sketch, and Edwin L. By a previous marriage Edwin Janvrin had two sons, Fred and Frank, who were twins.

John A. Janvrin was educated in the common schools and Kimball Union Academy at Meridan, N. H. He also attended Durham Agricultural School and later took a commercial course. He then worked for about two years in the shoe business and for three years subsequently was salesman for a gents furnishing store in Boston. After this he became associated with his father in the lumber business and was thus occupied until the latter's death. at which

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History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 118

Author: Hazlett, Charles A Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold Number of Pages: 1390

Author: Hazlett, Charles A
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold
Number of Pages: 1390