History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 85

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

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He whose life's work results not only in arresting the city's draft upon his own community but also wins for it an influx of self-support- ing people, performs a public service not to be reckoned lightly, nor dis- missed from thoughtful appreciation because of personal benefits he may have derived therefrom.

In Exeter, this state, a town of approximately five thousand inhabit- ants, there is a manufacturing establishment giving direct employment to from six to seven hundred persons, and indirectly contributing towards the employment of many others; to the general business prosperity of

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the town and to the material welfare of the surrounding agricultural population. Its pay roll disbursements are approximately three hundred thousand dollars a year, all from revenue drawn into Exeter by sales of product in outside markets, principally in the West and Southwest. The average wages paid are better than those earned in other occupations near by and the personnel of the employes compares favorably with that of persons otherwise engaged in that vicinity. The policy of the management of this establishment towards the employes is free from many of the restrictive features found in city factories which, while perhaps necessary there, tends towards sapping away that consciousness of personal independence so requisite to good citizenship. The esprit de corps among the employes calls for self-respecting manhood and womanhood and is sustained as well as is the general tone of the com- munity at large.

This, then, is the principal accomplishment of Gen. Stephen H. Gale, and it is one of which he is justly proud; toward which he has devoted the best years of his life and in which he has found that rare enjoyment which one experiences in the realization that while building well for himself he has also built well for others, and all this near the scenes of his early childhood, within six miles of where he was born.

Stephen Henry Gale was born in East Kingston, N. H., March 23, 1846, and is of the fifth generation from Jacob Gale, the first of the name to settle in that town nearly two hundred years ago, and whose descend- ants have been prominently identified with local history from that time to this. Jacob was the fourth in line of direct descent from Edmond Gale of Cambridge, Mass., the pioneer of the family to America. He came here early in 1600 from England, where the name is found recorded as among the "landed gentry" from before the time of William the Conqueror. It is supposed to be of Scotch-Irish origin.

A son of Jacob, also named Jacob, who was General Gale's great- grandfather, acquired considerable property in and around East Kings- ton. He was one of those strong, rugged men, thoroughly imbued with the "spirit of '76," to whose patriotic services both before and during the war, the independence of America is due. He was a delegate to the First Provincial Congress of New Hampshire, which met in Exeter, July 21, 1774, to take steps toward declaring New Hampshire free from British sovereignity and to provide for a constitutional form of gov- ernment. Afterwards he was lieutenant-colonel of a regiment of state troops under the command of the famous Josiah Bartlett, and later suc- ceeded him as colonel.

Colonel Jacob's son, Henry, married Mary Atkinson of Newbury- port, Mass., and their son, Elbridge Gerry Gale, was the father of Stephen H., the subject of this sketch. His mother was Ann Maria Barnes of Boscawen, N. H., to whom his father was married in 1837. She was the daughter of Josiah Barnes, a popular hotel keeper of New Hampshire, whose son, Amos, following in his father's footsteps, became the well-known proprietor of the Hotel Brunswick of Boston, which he managed for many years, until his death a short time ago.

General Gale's father was a farmer of moderate circumstances, mainly dependent upon his own exertions for the support of his family. He died in 1847, when Stephen was but 16 months old. Besides Stephen, he left a widow and two other children: Mary Ann, not then nine years

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of age, and John Elbridge, a boy between six and seven. The problem confronting the mother was a difficult one; but she met it bravely by selling the farm, retaining only the house with a little land around it, and devoting herself to the rearing of her children upon a very small in- come, supplemented by her own efforts. She so managed that each of them had such educational advantages as the schools of East Kingston provided and some instruction beyond; but hard as it was for her and for them, stern necessity compelled them to forego many of the pleas- urable experiences incidental to their years and devote such time as could be spared from their studies to work that would contribute towards the family support.

Money was scarce in rural New England in those days and oppor- tunities for acquiring it were few and far between; but the introduc- tion of shoemaking into farming communities offered a chance to the more energetic, which several of the East' Kingston farms acepted dur- ing the winter months and at such other times as they could devote to it. This work was brought to them from Haverhill, Mass., by "freight- ers," who gathered it up from shops about that city, where all parts of the shoe were cut and fitted ready to be sewn up and pegged by persons in the country districts, to whom they were distributed. The work was exacting and not especially remunerative, but it brought money in return and was a welcomed source of additional revenue.

It was at this work that John E. and Stephen began to earn money after school and in vacations, as soon as they were old enough to be of any assistance to those engaged in it near their home. They became interested in the work, and there learned the rudimentary principles of a business which since then, under entirely different conditions, has grown to be one of New England's greatest industries and in which they have both become singularly successful.

John E. left home when he was 14 years old and went to Ports- mouth, N. H., where he attended the grammar school and had three years' instruction in the high school. He was clerk in a store there for a short time and then went to Haverhill, Mass., where, after working a while in a grocery store, he found employment in a shoe factory and in 1862, started in the shoe manufacturing business for himself.

Stephen remained at home until nearly seventeen years old, at- tending the village schools and Kingston Academy. He also took a course in the Boston Commercial College, traveling to Boston and back daily. All this time he was working diligently at shoemaking, before and after school hours and in vacation periods. In 1863 he went to Haverhill, Mass., and secured employment in William 'M. Chase's shoe factory as an assistant bookkeeper. What time could be spared from his regular duties was devoted to other work around the factory and in acquiring further knowledge of the different processes employed in the manufacture of shoes. . About a year later he went to work in his brother's factory, who before long assisted him to start in business upon his own account, which he did by working early in the mornings and until late in the evenings before and after his regular day's work for his brother. He commenced in the basement of the building occupied by his brother, on a cash capital of $200, which he had managed to save. With that he bought small lots of leather at a time, cut them into the various parts of shoes himself, sent them into the country to be put

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together and sold the shoes when finished. Before long he was able to rent a small room upstairs and devote his entire time to a growing business, which soon was greater than he could attend to alone. He then began to employ others, working with them as assiduously as before.

Requiring more capital as his business expanded he formed a part- nership with Capt. Samuel L. Blaisdell, a former resident of East Kings- ton and a close friend of his father and mother. The captain gave no personal attention to the business, so in about a year's time the firm was dissolved, and Mr. Gale continued on alone. He allowed nothing to interfere with a steadfast determination to mount the ladder of industrial success, and, therefore, concentrated his whole attention upon his busi- ness, without allowing himself to be diverted from it by the many forms of recreation or amusement so attractive to young men of his age.

As a reward for such continued application he became sufficiently well established in the industrial world to warrant a partnership with his brother, John E., when their interests were consolidated in 1869, under the firm name of Gale Brothers. Their business continued grow- ing until in 1884 there was not room enough in their Haverhill factory to meet its increasing requirements and they decided to start a branch factory in Exeter. By November of that year a four-story brick build- ing, 150x40 feet, had been erected in that town, in which a modern plant was installed and Stephen went there to take charge of and develop that part of the business, while John E., and John H. Sanborn, a cousin, who had been admitted to the firm, remained in Haverhill in charge of the business there. At that time the sales of Gale Brothers amounted to about one million dollars annually, principally of medium- grade women's shoes.

Upon opening their branch factory in Exeter, part of the women's and all of the men's shoes were made there, the men's work being carried on under the name of the Exeter Boot and Shoe Company, for which all of the capital was supplied by Gale Brothers. Six years later the Exeter factory was enlarged by the extension of the buildings at the same height and width for 260 feet. When completed, the Haverhill business was transferred to Exeter, and John E. Gale practically retired from active participation in it in order to devote himself to banking matters in which he had become largely interested, and incidentally to the founding of a new shoe manufacturing enterprise, the Gale Shoe Manufacturing Company, for his son, Herbert E. John E. Gale is now president of the Haverhill National Bank and the Gale Shoe Manu- facturing Company has two factories in operation, one in Haverhill, Mass., and another at Portsmouth, N. H. General Gale has no financial interest in this company, and is not concerned in it except as one brother may be in the fortunes of another.

In 1902 the Exeter business was converted into a stock company under the name of Gale Brothers, Incorporated, and so it stands today. The stockholders and officers in 1902, were: Stephen H. Gale, president and treasurer; John E. Gale, vice-president ; John H. Sanborn, general manager; Charles A. McGreggor, secretary ; and John A. Towle, sell- ing agent. Messrs. McGreggor and Towle-the latter another cousin of the Messrs. Gale-were young men who had been with the firm for some time and had practically "grown up to the business." With

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the exception of Mr. Sanborn, who retired in May, 1901, the personnel of the company is the same today, for upon his retirement his stock was taken over by General Gale, Mr. McGreggor and Mr. Towle, and his duties divided between them.

The annual product of this factory amounts to approximately two million pairs of women's shoes; the manufacture of men's shoes having been discontinued several years ago. There has not been a time since its establishment in Exeter when it has been idle for lack of sufficient business to keep it in operation. It has an enviable reputation in shoe manufacturing circles for furnishing steady work to its employes and keeping them for years. Upon the company's books are the names of active customers who have been dealing with Gale Brothers ever since they started in business in Haverhill, nearly forty years ago. The com- pany's credit, resting on the reputation of its founders, and its own record, is unimpeachable in the financial world, for ever since John E. and Stephen began to do business they have discounted all their bills and, even in periods of financial and industrial depression, have never sought or received financial assistance to enable them to carry out this policy. This is to them one of the most cherished recollections of an active business life of nearly half a century's duration.

In 1866 Stephen H. Gale married Anna M. Brown of Haverhill, Mass., a daughter of Addison Brown, a prosperous shoe manufacturer of that place. She is a woman of charming personality and admirable poise, well fitted by education and cultivation to preside over their handsome home, or to grace any social gathering, wherever it may be. General Gale owes much to her and fully appreciates it. They have had three children, two sons and one daughter. The sons both died in infancy. The daughter, Alice C., is married to Arthur L. Hob- son and they have a delightful home in Boston, near the Brookline line, and a summer place at Little Boar's Head, Rye Beach. Mr. Hobson is a son of John L. Hobson of Haverhill, Mass., who was a large owner in the Glenn Manufacturing Company of Berlin, N. H., before it was merged into the International Paper Company. Mr. Arthur L. Hobson is treasurer of the St. Croix Paper Company, which is building a very large paper plant at Woodlands, near Calais, Me. Mr. and Mrs. Hob- son have had five children, two of whom were born in Berlin, where they lived for several years; one at Little Boar's Head and two in Boston. One died in infancy and of those remaining, two are boys and two are girls, all bright and lovable and exceedingly fond of "Grand- pa Gale," who in turn finds in their companionship and happy lives much to recompense him for the privations of his younger days.

General Gale's first introduction to political life was in 1874, when he was elected a member of the Haverhill city council, and was upon the Republican city committee ; but not enjoying political position he only served one term in the council and declined to entertain suggestions for further political advancement at that time.

After going to Exeter, in 1884, he became interested in local and state politics of New Hampshire, but for several years sought no place of political preferment, as the development of his business required so much of his attention that he could give no time to official duties and responsibilities. In 1892, however, the business being then well estab- lished, he entered heartily into campaign work and assisted considerably

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in the redemption of Rockingham County from Democratic control. The following year he was elected by the Legislature commissary-gen- eral of New Hampshire, and as such served upon the staff of Gov. John B. Smith.

In 1894 he was elected to the state Senate from District No. 21, receiving a larger plurality than had been given to a candidate for the Senate in that district for a number of years. In the Senate he was chairman of the committee on finance and a member of the judiciary committee. He was one of the most active members of that body in favor of the law then enacted establishing a state board of charities and providing for the support of dependent orphans under its direction. Another measure which had his hearty support passed the Senate, but failed of passage in the House of Representatives. It was to confer upon justices discretionary power to dismiss or suspend action under trustee process whenever satisfied that the defendant had been remiss because of illness or unfortunate circumstances, and that to enforce payment would prove undue hardship upon those dependent upon him for support.

In 1896 General Gale was elected an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention held in St. Louis, at which Mckinley was nominated for president. In 1898 he was elected from District No. 2, a member of Governor Rollins' council, receiving the largest plurality given any councilor at that election and running ahead of the state and congressional ticket at home and in the City of Manchester, which com- prises more than half the district. In the council he was a member of the finance committee and as such left a good record for economy and business sagacity in several important matters of state expenditure which were entrusted to his charge.

In 1902 he made a short but spirited campaign for the Republican gubernatorial nomination; but declined to allow his name to go before the convention, because the resolution of that body upon the liquor ques- tion was not consistent with his position during the campaign, in which he had advocated a straight-out declaration in favor of the stringent enforcement of the prohibitory law or, as an alternative, pledging the enactment of a local option license law of such character as would re- strict the liquor traffic, so far as public sentiment would permit, and thus end the disgraceful evasions and defiance of the prohibitory law. then prevalent all over the state.

He was elected a representative to the Legislature in 1905, having been unanimously nominated by the Republican caucus and afterwards endorsed by the Democrats. At the polls he received the largest vote ever given a candidate for that office in the history of the town of Exeter, and what pleased him especially was the loyalty of the employes in his. factory who were entitled to vote at that election. Practically all of them voted for him without solicitation or suggestion on his part, and with the knowledge from past experience that he would not attempt to influence their political action.

The line of public activity in which General Gale has become best known relates to the solution of the liquor problem in New Hampshire. Until a few years ago he believed in statutory prohibition, but became convinced that to cling to hopes of that ever proving efficacious in restraint of the liquor traffic, while public sentiment in the state con-

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tinues as it has been for many years, was to sacrifice best results to an illusory phantom of pure sentimentality. He, therefore, became a con- vert to local option, or at least believed it was time to turn to it as a possible remedy for many of the evils that had been engendered during 50 years' non-enforcement of the prohibitory laws. The present license law, enacted in 1903, does not meet his views because, while it recog- nizes local option sufficiently to masquerade under the name, it does not carry the principle to consistent completion. It permits cities and towns to vote for or against license, but empowers a board of state commissioners to grant licenses in towns where the vote has been against them, or to refuse licenses in places where the vote has been for them. It confers extraordinary discretionary powers upon a state board and denies to local authorities any voice in the naming of licensees or in the regulation of traffic carried on by them. The local communitiese are helpless under this law, and prohibition is impossible anywhere, even if public sentiment strongly favors it, unless the state commissioners so ordain.

When this law was being considered General Gale was one of its most active opponents, because under it no fair test can be made of the rela- tive merits of statutory prohibition and local option, and also because he did not believe the whole power over all the liquor traffic in the state should be entrusted to any three men who might, if so disposed, inaugurate a system of corruption or political domination as menacing to public morality and political integrity as were the evils existing under the prohibitory laws.

In the Legislature of 1905 he introduced a bill for the repeal of the law of 1903 and the substitution of one which would, in his opinion, be more appropriate to the New Hampshire situation. It placed the re- sponsibility for, and the control of, the liquor traffic directly upon the voters in each city or town. They could elect to have absolute prohibi- tion, or to permit liquor to be sold in such manner as they deemed best for the community and public sentiment would approve. In voting for or against license a ballot similar in form to the Australian ballot was to be used, on which the names of each kind of license would be desig- nated, as are the names of candidates for office on the regular ticket, so that each person could vote for or against any particular form of license and thus have a voice in determining not only whether or not licenses should be issued, but also in what manner liquor should be sold, if sold at all. Local license commissioners were to be elected by secret ballot, who were to issue licenses and direct in writing upon each the terms under which it could be exercised. The votes on license and for commissioners were to be in special meetings held for that purpose only, to prevent entanglement with local affairs. If the commissioners proved recreant to the trust imposed upon them, they could be dis- missed and their successors elected at a special meeting which could be called for that purpose. State supervision was to be entirely elimi- nated except for police purposes. Inspectors were to be appointed by the governor and council and travel about the state to see that licensees obeyed the conditions of their licenses, and that no illegal sales of liquor were made. Where violations of law were discovered they were to act as complainants, press the cases to trial, and report to the attorney- general any failure to act or unreasonable delay on the part of any pub- lic prosecuting officer.

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As may be inferred from the preceding sketch, General Gale is a man of strong personal characteristics. He is forceful, energetic and persistent to an unusual degree; always mentally alert, analytical and resourceful. Independence of thought and action are especially pre- dominating traits, and yet he is ever ready to receive advice and act upon it if convinced that it is sound. It would be practically useless to attempt to swerve him from a course of action after he is satisfied that it is the proper one to pursue, but he will often yield his own opinions in deference to others whose title to consideration may not be equal to his own.

He is a member of the Congregational Church, a Knight Templar, vice-president of the Republican Town Club of Exeter, director in the Haverhill National Bank, member of the Derryfield Club of Manches- ter, and of the New Hampshire Club of Boston .- Thos. J. Walker.

ELMER J. F. LITTLEFIELD, one of Portsmouth's most progres- sive business men, is sole owner and proprietor of the Littlefield Lum- ber Co., an enterprise with an established reputation throughout this region. Mr. Littlefield was born August 4, 1865, at Wells, Maine, where many of his relatives have long lived, there having been five gen- erations of the family there before him.

Oren H. Littlefield, father of Elmer, is a native of Wells, Maine, as is his wife, and farming has been his life work. He married Annie E. Thompson by whom he has four children: Elmer J. F .; Horton T .; Bertha E. ; and Helen, wife of Albert J. Talpey.

Elmer J. F. Littlefield received educational training in the district schools of Wells, and early learned the trade of a carpenter. This was to be his work during the succeeding twenty-seven years, the last eleven years of which time were employed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. With Mr. N. A. McKenney, he embarked in the lumber business in Portsmouth, their business being incorporated under the name of the McKenney-Littlefield Lumber Co. The enterprise flourished and the . business has been carried on since without interruption, although after an association of eleven years Mr. McKenney retired, leaving Mr. Lit- tlefield sole owner and proprietor.

August 2, 1892, the subject of this record married Helen Rowe, who was born in Berwick, Maine, and is a daughter of George W. and Jane (Robinson) Rowe. Her father was in his younger days a shoemaker by trade, but later took to farming which thereafter was his principal occu- pation. Mr. Rowe was a member of Company F, 4th Reg., N. H. Vol. Inf., and served throughout the entire Civil War. Mrs. Littlefield has the following brothers and sisters: George A .; Wallace J .; John A. ; Mabel F., wife of Harry Perkins; Frank; Jennie, wife of E. H. Corey ; Della ; and William. Helen was the fourth in order of birth. Mr. and Mrs. Littlefield have three children: Harold A., who in 1914 was grad- uated from Portsmouth High School ; E. Kenneth ; and Edith H. Relig- iously the family attends the First Congregational Church.

Mr. Littlefield is a Republican in politics, and is affiliated with the Order of Odd Fellows.

HON. CALVIN PAGE, of Portsmouth, has been for a long time a leader in the law, the business, the politics and the public affairs of New

Eng. by E. G. Williams & Bea. M.

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History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 85

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