USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > History of the city of Nashua, N.H. > Part 72
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diately formed a co-partnership with Edward H. Wason, under the firm name of Wason & Jackson. He was elected city solicitor in 1897.
GEORGE F. JACKSON.
Mr. Jackson is something more than a successful attor- ney. He is an active society man, being a member of John Hancock lodge, A. F. and A. M., Mount Vernon Royal Arch chapter, Roxbury Council of Royal and Select Masters and Joseph Warren commandery of Knights Templar of Boston. He is a member of Penni- chuck lodge, I. O. O. F., Evening Star lodge, K. of P. and Watananock Tribe of Red Men of Nashua, the Phi Delta Phi law fraternity and the Sigma Alpha Epsilon college fraternity and was for five years a member of the Roxbury City guards, Company D, First regiment, Mas- sachusetts volunteer militia, and is at present a member of the Roxbury Artillery Veteran association of Boston.
Mr. Jackson was united in marriage Dec. 31, 1888, with Mabel L. Alexander, daughter of Don P. and Martha (Clement) Alexander of Nashua.
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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
THE BENCH AND THE BAR.
BY E. S. CUTTER.
N THE early settlement of New England every town of any considerable importance, present or prospective, had among its inhabitants a member of the legal profession. The exigencies of the times seem to have demanded the aid of a resident lawyer immediately accessible for consulta- tion. The administration of the municipal affairs of the towns in those early times, the laying out and building of public highways, the settlement of disputed boundary lines between adjoining land owners, the conveyance of land titles among a people little accustomed to the rules and forms of law, and the enforcement of laws against criminal offences, taken in consideration of the lack of facilities for communication between one town and another, owing to the want of good roads, all combined to demand the presence and aid of a resident attorney; and throughout New Hampshire from Massachusetts to the borders of Canada in those early times and down to the present century, in every village of any considerable size, could be seen the lawyer's office located on some central street or square usually a small one-story wooden structure, in size about twenty by twenty-five feet, with a hipped roof, the door in front near one corner, with a lawyer's sign over it. Such was the typical lawyer's office in those early days. It was a center of influence and information for the country around, and thither came the farmers and the villagers with their questions of law, of politics, of economics and sometimes of theology, for the village " squire " was supposed to know almost every- thing on every subject, and "what he did not know" the old farmers used to say "wasn't worth knowing." The lawyers in those times were all or nearly all graduates of some one of our New England colleges,-in southern New Hampshire mostly of Harvard University,-gentlemen of culture for those times, of broad practical scholarship and knowledge of affairs.
They held the office of a justice of the peace at a time when that office was bestowed upon a few only and was considered an honor and a distinction, while at the present time, (1897), it is merely an office of business convenience. The influence of the legal profession in those formative times, scat- tered as were its members among the towns throughout the state in moulding and directing the municipal governments of the towns, those miniature republics which formed the bed-rock of the larger and more magnificent republics of the state and the nation, was salutary and invaluable; and the population of agricultural New England during the first half of the present century furnished the best population known in history for the support and maintenance of a republican form of government, the farmers residing on the hillsides and in the valleys owning the farms on which they lived, which with assiduous cultivation produced in abundance all the necessaries of life.
Soon after the early settlements became permanently established on the banks of the Nashtia river between Mine Falls and its confluence with the Merrimack river, constituting Indian Head village in Dunstable, as that village was first termed, before Nashua was incorporated, Daniel Abbot, a young lawyer who had for a short time been practising his profession at Londonderry, left that place and came to Dunstable and opened a law office. He was the first lawyer settled within the confines of Nashua. He was born in Andover, Mass., Feb. 25, 1777 and was a son of Timothy and Sarah (Abbot) Abbot, one of the leading and most ancient families in that town and a lineal descen- dant from George Abbot, one of its first settlers. He was a graduate of Harvard University in the class of 1797,-studied for his profession first in the office of Ichabod Tucker in Haverhill, Mass., and finished his student course in the office of Thomas W. Thompson in Salisbury at that time, one of the leading lawyers in New Hampshire, was admitted to the bar in 1802 and soon after opened a law office in Londonderry, where he remained till the next year, 1803, when he removed to Dunstable.
The first law office occupied by Mr. Abbot in Dunstable was in the south part of the village, south of the "Harbor " as now known and near where the old meeting-house stood. Subsequently he occupied an office in a new building standing where the Whiting now stands, called "The Tontine," and later on he built a dwelling-house for himself and family on the north side of the square which bears his name and an office immediately east of it on the same square, which he con- tinued to occupy as a law office until his death.
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In 1816 Benjamin F. French commenced the practice of law in Dunstable. He was the son of Frederick and Grace (Blanchard) French, born in Dunstable on the second day of October, 1791, a graduate of Dartmouth College in the class of 1812, studied law in the office of Charles H. Ath- erton in Amherst, was admitted to the bar in 1816 and immediately opened a law office in his native town. He was for many years a partner in the law practice with Daniel Abbot under the style of Abbot & French till 1831, when he received the appointment of agent of the Jackson company, then recently organized, which office he held for several years with great credit to himself and success to the manufacturing company. Afterwards he received the appointment of agent for the Boott Mills in Lowell, Mass., to which place he then removed and there resided till his death, May 16, 1853.
Nov. 15, 1819, he was united in marriage with Mary Southgate Leland, of Saco, Maine, daughter of Hon. Joseph Leland and sister of the wife of the late Dr. Nathan Lord of Hanover, for many years president of Dartmouth College.
Mr. French was a gentleman of scholarly attainments, literary taste and cultured manners, and was a leader in social life. As a lawyer he was well versed in his profession, and his opinions on questions of law and his excellent judgment in matters of business commanded universal respect among his townsmen. He was elected a representative from his native town to the General Court in 1825, 1826 and 1829.
Peter Clark, Jr., was in the practice of law in Nashua from 1833 to 1841. He was born in Lynde- borough April 29, 1810, son of Peter and Jane (Aiken) Clark, a graduate of Dartmouth College in the class of 1829 ; studied law in the office of Hon. Edmund Parker in Amherst and at the New Haven Law School, was admitted to the bar in 1832 and first opened an office for the practice of law in Frances- town, where he remained one year and then removed to Dunstable (Nashua). Mr. Clark was thoroughly versed in the law and took a high rank in his profession. He was a gentleman of fine lit- erary tasts, of popular address and superior business talent.
His talent for general business tended to withdraw him from the more immediate practice of his profession and turned his attention to more active business affairs. He took a very active part in the building of the Concord railroad, and for several years and at the time of his death was the treasurer of the corporation.
He was married on the twenty-eighth day of May, 1834, to Susan, the daughter of Nathaniel Lord of Kennebunkport, Maine, by whom he had four children. Mr. Clark died on the twenty-ninth day of May, 1841, at Nashua.
Hon. Charles F. Gove was born at Goffstown, May 13, 1793, died at Nashua Oct. 21, 1856. He was a son of Dr. Jonathan and Polly (Dow) Gove. He was graduated at Dartmouth college in the class of 1817, read law in the office of Josiah Forsaith in his native town and at the Dane law school, and was graduated at the Harvard law school in 1820 with the degree of LL.B. He practiced in Goffstown till 1839, when he removed to Nashua. During his residence in Goffstown he served the town as clerk two years, was assistant clerk of the house of representatives in 1829, representative in the legislature in 1830, 1831, 1832, 1833 and 1834, and was a member of the senate and its president in 1835. He was solicitor of Hillsborough county in 1834 and 1835, when he was appointed attorney- general of the state and served until 1842. He was circuit judge of the court of common pleas from 1842 to 1843, and then became superintendent of the Nashua & Lowell railroad, which position he held until his death. He was a man of great energy of mind but unfortunately possessed a feeble constitution. He married, Sept. 22, 1844, Mary Kennedy, daughter of Ziba Gay of Nashua.
General Aaron F. Stevens was born at Londonderry, now Derry, Aug. 9, 1819; died at Nashua May 10, 1887. He was the only son of Capt. John F. and Martha Stevens, both of whom were natives of Massachusetts. Captain Stevens, who had followed the sea for many years, settled at Londonderry shortly before the birth of his son. Here he remained until 1828, when he removed to Manchester. Three years later his parents removed to Peterborough, where they remained until 1838, when they settled in Nashua. At Peterborough he worked in a factory under the management of Governor Steele, and during his residence there alternated between the mill and the public school. In the meantime the savings of the family enabled him to return to his native place and attend the Pinkerton academy. About the time of his settlement in Nashua he learned the machinist's trade. He was, however, ambitious to fit himself for a profession, and one evening while attending the trial
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of a case in which the late Judge George Y. Sawyer was counsel, he made up his mind that the law offered him a field in which he could hope to succeed. Shortly after he called on Judge Sawyer and unbosomed himself. Judge Sawyer, who had a keen insight into character, was favorably impressed with him, and while encouraging him in his desire, urged the necessity of obtaining more of an education than he possessed.
For two or three years he toiled early and late at his trade, and, with the assistance of his sisters, attended the Nashua Literary institution, of which Prof. David Crosby, who fitted scores of young men for useful and honorable careers, was principal. After making satisfactory progress in his studies, and after entering the office of Judge Sawyer in 1842, he taught district school in several places. In 1845 he was admitted to the bar, and at once became a partner with Judge Sawyer. The young attorney, notwithstanding he was surrounded by giants in his profession-men who had the advantage of a collegiate education-rose rapidly in his profession, and was soon recognized as a man of learning, natural ability, and a lawyer capable to cope with the most successful members of the bar. His partnership continued until 1858, when, Judge Sawyer being debarred from practice by reason of being on the bench, he became a partner with the late Judge Aaron W. Sawyer, which continued until the war broke out, and was renewed at the close of the war, and again at the close of his congressional career. His last partner was Judge E. E. Parker, now of the court of probate.
General Stevens was engaged in the trial of many of the most intricate cases, both civil and criminal; he was county solicitor from 1856 to 1861, and held the position of city solicitor of Nashua at different times as many more years. He was always thoroughly prepared for battle and deeply in earnest for his client. Although tenacious, he never invoked the impatience of the court or resorted to tricks, subterfuge or cunning, and he had a happy faculty of placing himself on friendly relations with opposing witnesses and jurors. His pleas showed the skillful tuition of the elder Judge Sawyer, in that they were perfect in their oratorical delivery. Their honesty and freedom from cavil, and their courtesy to opponents always carried great weight with a jury. He invariably, like the elder Sawyer remained a respectful distance from the panel, never descending to familiarity, common- place talk or truckling. In this way he came to be admired. When he was arguing the most ordinary case, a crowded room was no uncommon event. So much for the lawyer.
As a soldier no man from New Hampshire civil life made a more honorable or patriotic record. When the cry to arms came he at once offered his services to the government, and was commissioned major in the First New Hampshire volunteers. His regiment took part in the movements at Harper's Ferry, but escaped battle. At the end of his enlistment, three months, he was honorably discharged. His patriotic impulses, however, would not allow him to remain at home, and so in the autumn of 1862 he accepted the colonelcy of the Thirteenth regiment New Hampshire volunteers, and followed the fortunes of that brave command until the close of the war. At Fredericksburg "he led his regiment into the vortex of death," says the New Hampshire reports, "moving forward in line of battle." Being repulsed, he and Colonel Donohoe of the Tenth New Hampshire regiment, re-formed their commands under a murderous fire with the intention of renewing the charge, but were ordered to retire. In the action at Suffolk he commanded a brigade that included his regiment and led the charge, "carrying the works at the point of the bayonet," capturing prisoners and guns. He was heavily engaged and performed heroic service at Walthall Road, at Swift Creek, at Kingsland Creek at Drury's Bluff, and was wounded in the hip by a spent ball in the desperate charge at Gaines farm, notwithstanding which he took part the two days following in the battle at Cold Harbor. In the attack on Petersburg, General Stevens was again a gallant, cautious and conspicuous leader. The Thirteenth captured the works, battery five and two hundred prisoners, and General Burnham said in his official report to General Brooks: "I desire, sir, particularly to bring to your favorable notice Colonel Aaron F. Stevens of the Thirteenth New Hampshire volunteers, both for his personal gallantry in charging the enemy's works and for the able manner in which he handled his regiment on that occasion. To him and his regiment the success which was achieved is due in a very great measure, and I take pleasure in recommending him for promotion." In the two days' movement that ended in the assault on Fort Harrison, Colonel Stevens commanded a brigade and was a conspicuous figure in the thickest of the fight, "receiving the attacks of the enemy in open ground." In the final movement, carrying the fort by storm, while moving forward at the head of his regiment and brigade, and when within a few yards of the fort, he fell severely wounded in the hip, and lay where
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he fell until the tattered colors of his command, which had been shot into shreds during the action, were planted upon the parapet and the victory was secure, when he was carried from the field. In December following he was, for gallant and meritorious service, breveted brigadier general. His wounds did not permit him to take part in the final movements about Richmond, although he was in every engagement of his command.
In this connection it is appropriate to mention that General Stevens was on the platform with his comrades of John G. Foster Post, G. A. R., of which he was a member, on Memorial day, 1885. George Bruce, major of the Thirteenth, was the orator. Said Major Bruce: "When we entered Richmond we missed at the head of his command one who should have been there to share our triumphs ; we missed one who in as gallant a charge as was made during the war, planted the tattered flag of his country nearer Richmond than it had been before during the four years' struggle, and who fell wounded in the fight. I need not name him here. You all know him. You all know him- General Stevens." Every eye was dimmed with tears, and the general bent forward and wept like a child. "It was a scene in its touching simplicity," says the reporter of the meeting, "that will never be effaced from the memories of those who witnessed it." On Memorial day, 1886, another touching scene was enacted. The procession made a detour, and upon approaching his residence the band played "Hail to the Chief," and halting, drew up in line, saluted the general, who stood upon his piazza and was so overcome with emotion that he was unable to speak. As he sank into his chair he said: "Let me take leave of my comrades," but his friends begged him not to speak, and told him that he would march with them many years. He saluted the veterans as they moved away. The Grand Army post of Peterborough is named in honor of him-Aaron F. Stevens.
General Stevens was for more than thirty years a conspicuous figure and trusted leader in the Republican party of New Hampshire. From the principles of this party he never for a moment de- parted. He believed in them, and whether in victory or defeat, whether in the ranks, in congress or smarting because of not reaching the station which he felt due him because of his service to the state, he was true as steel and ready to do yoman service by addressing the people on the issue. He was originally a Whig. He represented this party in the state legislature in 1849 and 1854, and as a dele- gate in 1852 to the convention at Baltimore that nominated General Scott for the presidency. In 1853 and 1854 he was president of the common council of Nashua. He enrolled in the Republican party at its inception, and was elected to the legislature by it in 1856 and 1857. In 1866, following his service in the field, he was unanimously nomina-ed for congress and was elected the following March. He was re-elected for a second term in March, 1868, and was nominated, but defeated at the polls by a few votes, in 1871. He served on the committee on Revolutionarp claims, on naval affairs, and on treatment of Union prisoners. He cook a prominent part in many important debates, made several exhaustive speeches relative to naval affairs, and in February, 1870, he addressed the house on "Grant's administration," in which he fully sustained the president and denounced repudiation and the expansion of the currency.
From 1876 to 1883-'84 he was a Republican member of every state legislature, and uniformly served on the committee on judiciary and other important debates and discussions. In 1879 he lacked but two votes of the nomination, which was equivalent to an election, for United States senator, and in a long and heated contest for senatorial honors in 1883, he was one of the candidates whose friends and admirers voted for to the last. In the winter of 1883, while at his winter home in Florida, he met with an accident which made it difficult for him to use his arm, and following the senatorial con- test his health failed, so that during the remainder of his life he was compelled to relinquish the ex- citement of political life. He was active in the courts, however, until December, 1885. His speeches, addresses and orations would fill volumes, while a page of this book print would hardly suffice to enumerate the important trusts which he has held. The Hillsboro bar, standing in solemn silence, passed a series of resolutions presented by Gen. Charles H. Burns, in which this eulogy appears :
" In the death of General Stevens the bar of New Hampshire has lost one of its most eminent mem- bers and the state one of her most gallant and patriotic sons. Kind, courteous, true, able and honest, his life has been one of great usefulness, his example worthy of imitation, and his departure to a bet- ter land is preceded by a long and distinguished record of manly and heroic deeds."
General Stevens was eminently a self-made man, a man of the people. He was below no man, and bore himself as above no man-from a society standpoint-who was clean and honest. He lived
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close to the pulse of the multitude, and was quick and accurate in judgment concerning what the masses were thinking about and whither public sentiment was drifting. In a word, he had certain and practical knowledge of men and things, where others had an impractical knowledge that comes of theorizing. He was a warm and generous friend, and if he had reason to distrust or dislike a man he treated him courteously and "let him alone." General Stevens attended the Congregational church, but was not a professing member. He was an honored member of Rising Sun lodge, A. F. and A. M., and of John G. Foster post, G. A. R. His last appearance at an important public meeting was at the General Grant memorial exercises at the City hall in Nashua. He prepared a series of elo- quent resolutions for that occasion, but, being in feeble health, they were read by one of his comrades, Dr. R. B. Prescott. The most fitting eulogy that can be spoken of him is the peroration of his last set oration, delivered before his comrades of the Grand Army on a Memorial day a few years before his death : "Sleep, brave and gallant dead ! Sleep in peace. Sleep in your graves of glory. Yours is the repose of the warrior and patriot. No matter where your ashes rest, whether with kindred dust or beneath the star-lit turf of southern fields whereon you fell, the benediction of comrades and country shall fall in bannered and flowery tribute upon the green and grassy mounds that tell us where you lie; your deeds and your memory embalmed in the hearts of the nation shall live in song and story. No matter in what sphere of life in the days of peace you moved, that country shall cherish the proud knowledge that in the days of war and danger your step was firm and steady to the great command, Forward ! and now hereafter yours shall be a national renown."
There were many touching scenes in the closing days of General Stevens' career. A few months before he died, and while at his winter home at Greylook, Florida, his mind wandered, but even in his weakness, his loyalty to his comrades and his loved New Hampshire dominated his dreams. Again and again he was heading his old command at Fort Harrison. In such hours his features were animated with the excitement of battle and his voice was pitched to the height of command: "Forward!" he would exclaim, "Forward !. Order up the reserve. Steady! The fight is stubborn, but we shall win!" and when the delirium had passed he would urge Mrs. Stevens to take him home to his native hills. His wish was gratified. Mrs. Stevens accompanied him home, and while passing away he often remarked that he had no misgivings. He felt that he had championed the right cause and fought a good fight. His body was buried in the Nashua cemetery with military honors.
General Stevens was united in marriage at the Methodist church at Nahant, Mass., May 19, 1861, to Adelaide M. Johnson of Boston, Mass. Mrs. Stevens, who survives the general, followed the for- tunes of her husband in all his campaigns, and when the battle was on was as near him as her safety would permit. She nursed him and his comrades in field and hospital, and few women are equally loved and honored by a wider circle of friends and acquaintances. There were no children by their marriage.
Benjamin F. Emerson was born in Hollis, July 3, 1806, died in Nashua, Sept. 6, 1884. He was a son of the Rev. Daniel and Esther (Frothingham) Emerson, and a descendant on the paternal side of Thomas Emerson, a baker, who came to Ipswich, Mass., before 1635 and was the ancestor of most of the name, many of whom have become well known in New England. His maternal ancestors, the Frothinghams, have been distinguished in Massachusetts in many generations.
Mr. Emerson obtained his primary education in the schools of his native place and fitted for col- lege in various academies. He entered Dartmouth college in 1826 and remained two years. He then went to Union college, N. Y., where he graduated in the class of 1830. Mr. Emerson then read law in the office of B. M. Farley in Hollis and attended lectures at Harvard law school. In 1836, shortly after his admission to the bar, he became a resident of Nashua and a partner of Aaron F. Sawyer. This partnership was dissolved in 1840 and from that time until his death he practiced by himself, his office being in the building on the north corner of Main and Fletcher streets. For more than a quar- ter of a century he gave his attention largely to matters before the probate court and had the largest and most successful practice in that line, (in which he was unsurpassed), of any man in the county. Mr. Emerson was an active man of affairs. He was one of the leading citizens in the town of Nash- ville, being a member of its board of selectmen in 1852, when the first iron bridge was built over the Nashua river to replace a wooden structure that was carried away in the freshet of that year. In 1859, he represented Ward One in the board of aldermen; in 1860, in the legislature; and in 1876, in
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