USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > History of the city of Nashua, N.H. > Part 73
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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
the constitutional convention. He was a useful and reliable citizen who enjoyed the confidence and respect of the community.
Mr. Emerson was twice married : first, with Eliza Kendall of Bedford, who died Sept. 26, 1870 ; second, with Mrs. Caroline C. Morse of Nashua, who died March 1, 1886. His children, two sons, were by his first marriage : Benjamin K., born Dec. 20, 1843, professor of geology at Amherst college ; Charles E., born Oct. 11, 1846, civil engineer, Nashua.
Aaron P. Hughes was born in Windham May 7, 1815; died suddenly at Worcester, Mass., when returning from Washington to his home in Nashua, Feb. 23, 1864. His grandfather was a Scotch Presbyterian and emigrated to this country from England in the middle of the last century. His father was Capt. Barnet Hughes, a carpenter and widely known in Rockingham county. Both of his parents were members of the Presbyterian church and were remarkable for their native talents, and were well known and much respected in the community where they resided.
Mr. Hughes obtained a common school education and learned the carpenter's trade of his father. He obtained a situation at Methuen, Mass., in the employ of David Gillis, afterwards a prominent cotton manufacturer and resident of Nashua, and while employed in his trade unfortunately cut his arm with a chisel or some other tool. The wound proved serious and he lost his arm. Being thus incapacitated to obtain a livelihood at mechanical pursuits, he turned his attention to letters as a profession. He attended schools at the academies in Derry and Hancock. He early distinguished himself as a declaimer, and while at Hancock was always at the head of his class. Completing his education at the last named place he entered the law office of Aaron F. Sawyer in Nashua in 1842, and in 1846 was admitted to the bar. He then opened an office in Nashua, and, with occasional intervals, practiced in his profession until his death. He was a lawyer of acknowledged ability, and distinguished eminence as an advocate.
In the first year of his political career he was an active and influential Whig, and as such was elected to represent the town of Nashua in the legislature. From 1848 to 1852 he held the office of postmaster under Taylor's and Fillmore's administrations. Subsequently he dissolved his affiliation with the Whig party and joined the Democratic party, by which he was elected to represent Ward one in the legislature. Mr. Hughes was the Democratic candidate for mayor against his brother-in- law, Aaron W. Sawyer, in 1860, and was defeated by a few votes. He had an active, shrewd and far-seeing mind and with all was a public speaker of force, argumentative ability and persuasive eloquence. But life to Mr. Hughes was not made of law and politics. These were secondary considerations. He was an earnest and sincere Presbyterian, like his ancestors before him, a teacher in the Sunday school and a man in whom philanthropy was a leading characteristic. His friends and acquaintances recognized this fact, and because of it he had no enemies among those who were politically opposed to him.
Mr. Hughes devoted a good share of his time to promoting the interests of plain, everyday people, and to freemasonry. He was a director in the Pennichuck State bank of Nashua, first city solicitor of Nashua in 1853 and 1854, held many positions of trust and procured the charter and founded the Nashua Savings bank, of which he was the treasurer from its organization until the time of his death. He was made a Mason in Rising Sun lodge, and was its worshipful master in 1851, 1852 and 1853, was a member of Meridian Sun Royal Arch chapter, a select master and knights templar, and by his worthiness had attained the highest eminence in the order, being a Scottish rite Mason of the thirty-second degree, and having one of the bodies of the consistory-Aaron P. Hughes lodge of perfection-named in honor of him. At the time of his death he was grand-commander of the grand consistory of New Hampshire, and illustrious second-lieutenant of the grand commandery of the grand consistory of the supreme chiefs of exalted masonry for the United States, their territories and dependencies.
His funeral, which was held in the first edifice of the First Congregational church, was attended by the officers of all the grand bodies of Masonry in the state, by the commanderies of Manchester and other places, by the blue lodges of southern New Hampshire, and representatives from masonic bodies in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Edward A. Raymond, whose name is borne by the consistory of the valley of Nashua, the only consistory in the state, being among those present. The religious service, which was of a very impressive character, was conducted by Rev. Charles J. Hill, and the burial rite of the order was feelingly performed by William W. Bailey, worshipful
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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
master of Rising Sun lodge. The body was buried in the Nashua cemetery, and all the members of the ancient order cast a sprig of the acacia upon the casket, the symbol of their faith, and the tomb was closed.
Mr. Hughes was united in marriage Nov. 17, 1845, with Charlotte L. Sawyer, daughter of Aaron F. and Hannah (Locke) Sawyer. (For ancestors see sketch of her father). The children of their marriage are James A. D., born Sept. 6, 1846, graduated at Dartmouth college, 1868, and at West Philadelphia Divinity school, 1874, ordained in the ministry and pastor of the St. Andrews church, Philadelphia, married Emma A. Mieninger, 1884; Aaron Porter, born Feb. 20, 1849, graduated at Dartmouth college, 1870; civil engineer, resides in Nashua.
Hon. Bernard B. Whittemore, son of Bernard and Jane (Holmes) Whittemore, was born in Boston, May 15, 1817, died at Cambridgeport, Mass., March 5, 1893. His paternal ancestors were natives of Hitchen, Hertfort county, Eng., Thomas Whittemore being the first to settle in this coun- try, at Malden, Mass., in 1641. His grandfather, Nathan Whittemore, a Revolutionary soldier, set- tled at Peterboro' in 1781, at which place both his parents were born. On the maternal side his ancestors came from Londonderry in the north'of Ireland in 1740 and settled at Londonderry in this state. His grandfather, Nathan Holmes of Peterboro', was a Revolutionary soldier and a prominent man in affairs of his town.
Mr. Whittemore attended the public schools of his native town and Mont Vernon academy. He fitted for college at Phillips' Exeter academy and entered Harvard college in the class of 1832, E. E. Hale, D. D., and Nathaniel E. Baker, afterwards governor of New Hampshire, being among his classmates. Mr. Whittemore graduated in 1839 and then read law in the law school of the same col- lege. He was admitted to the Hillsboro' bar in 1842, practiced a few years at Palmer, Mass., and Amherst, and then, in 1846, in connection with his brother, Francis P. Whittemore, purchased the Nashua Weekly Gazette, which he edited from that time to July 1, 1889, meantime, in 1872, founding and editing the Nashua Daily Gazette. Mr. Whittemore represented the district in the state senate in 1852 and 1853, and was the first Democratic candidate for mayor in 1853. He was the mayoralty candidate of his party in 1854, 1864 and 1865. In 1860 he represented his ward in the board of alder- men, and in 1861 was city treasurer. He served the county two or three terms of five years each as coroner, was a trustee in the public library a good many years, and from 1874 to 1877 associate jus- tice of the Nashua police court. Although bred to the law and serving a clientage during his active years, the great work of his life was performed in the newspaper profession. As a lawyer he was a safe adviser who seldom or never prosecuted in open court ; as an editor sharp, incisive and plain spoken. He served a generation in which more of personal controversy was expected and demanded by party constituency than is admissable at the present time and served it faithfully from the stand- point of his reasoning. Mr. Whittemore was a modest man and in his intercourse with his fellow- citizens kind, obliging and considerate. He was a Unitarian and a bachelor.
Hon. Samuel T. Worcester, born in Hollis, Aug. 30, 1804, died in Nashua, Dec. 5, 1882. He was a son of Jesse and Sarah (Parker) Worcester and brother of Joseph E. Worcester, author of Worcester's dictionary. The Worcesters came of an old and distinguished family ; men who made their impress upon the laws of the land, who distinguished themselves in all the wars of the country, who have graced bench, bar and pulpit and walked in paths of honor in the mercantile and agricul- tural world.
Judge Worcester was educated in the public schools of Hollis, in Pembroke and Andover acade- mies, and was graduated in Harvard college in 1830. After leaving school he was principal for one year of an academy at Weymouth, Mass. He read law in the office of B. M. Farley at Hollis, was graduated at the Harvard law school in Cambridge, Mass., settled in Norwalk, Ohio, in 1835, and continued the practice of law there until 1867, when he removed to Nashua.
Judge Worcester was a member of the Ohio senate in 1849 and 1850. In 1859 he was elected dis- trict judge of the Tenth Ohio judicial district, and, in 1861, while holding that office, was elected a member of congress, in which body he served at a critical period in the history of the country, and with credit to his constituents. In Nashua he was looked up to as one of the most distinguished of her citizens. He practiced his profession but little, being city solicitor in 1869 and 1870, but, on the other hand, found pleasure and contentment in efforts to advance the cause of education by serving
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the city as a member of the board of education. His publications were : 1831, "Sequel to the Spell- ing Book; " 1833, "American Primary Spelling Book ;" 1871, "Revised edition of Worcester's Com- prehensive and Primary Dictionary ; " 1871, "Old and New, or the School System of Ohio and New Hampshire Compared ; " 1872, oration, "Bi-Centennial of Old Dunstable and Nashua." This was a masterly production, of finished rhetorical language, and permeated with eloquent sentiment. His last publication-a monument to his memory-was "The History of Hollis." Among his posthumous papers, now in possession of the New Hampshire Historical society, is an exhaustive article conclu- sively showing that a majority of the troops engaged in the battle of Bunker Hill were furnished by New Hampshire. Judge Worcester, in religious matters, was a Swedenborgian.
Judge Worcester was married May 13, 1835, to Mary F. C., daughter of Samuel Wales of Stough- ton, Mass. Mrs. Worcester was a finely educated woman, and here, as in Ohio, was among the foremost in inaugurating and successfully carrying forward lecture courses and in contributing time and money to all charitable objects. She died in Nashua, April 29, 1874. There were no children by their marriage.
Hon. Charles W. Hoitt was born in Newmarket, Oct. 26, 1847. He is a son of William K. A. and Sarah C. (Swain) Hoitt, and a descendant of John Hoyt, one of the original settlers of Salis- bury, Mass., who was born about 1610 in England. On the maternal side he is a descendant of Phineas Swain who served at Bunker Hill on the American side.
Judge Hoitt attended the public schools at Dover and was fitted for college at Franklin academy in that city, and by a private tutor. He entered Dartmouth college in 1867, and was graduated in the class of 1871. During the autumn and winter of 1871 and 1872 he taught school at Sherborn, Mass. He read law in the office of Samuel M. Wheeler at Dover from February, 1872 to the latter part of August following, when he came to Nashua as master of the Mt. Pleasant school. While under his care the school reached a high standard of scholarship, and at the same time he introduced and enforced discipline-which before his time had not been satisfactory to the board of education or the parents of the district-that made the school one of the model ones of New England. In 1874 the board of education reluctantly accepted his resignation, and he became an usher in the Lincoln grammar school in Boston.
Judge Hoitt had reason to believe that he had made a success of teaching, but having made up his mind some years before to enter the legal profession, and believing that procrastination was detri- mental to his interests in that direction, he resigned his ushership in Boston in October, 1875, and re- turned to Nashua and entered upon the study of law in the office of Stevens & Parker. He was admitted to the Hillsboro bar at the September term, 1877, of the supreme court sitting at Nashua. He was appointed clerk of the Nashua police court July 18, 1876, and held that position till Oct. I, 1881, when he resigned. He was city solicitor in 1885, 1886, 1887 and 1888, and April 25, 1889, he was appointed justice of the Nashua police court, which position he now holds. As an advocate, Judge Hoitt has taken high rank in his profession. His briefs and arguments are clearly drawn, and his summing up before a jury is earnest and persuasive. As justice of the municipal court, he evinces familiarity with the statute laws, impartiality in its application and has a decided leaning to mercy. With all else he is a pleasing public speaker on political and secular themes.
Judge Hoitt, however, has not given his attention wholly to teaching, the law and politics. He has been active in many directions. In 1872 and 1873 he was engrossing clerk of the legislature, and during eight yeras he served the people on the board of education, of which body he was the official clerk. He is a York rite mason and a member of St. George commandery, K. T., a Scottish rite mason and a member of Edward A. Raymond consistory, thirty-second degree, a member of Penni- chuck lodge and Indian Head encampment, I. O. O. F., Watananock tribe of Red Men, in which order he has held the office of great sachem of the state, Governor Wentworth colony of Pilgrim Fathers, Lowell lodge of Elks, at Lowell, Mass., and the City Guards' Veteran association. Judge Hoitt is an Episcopalian.
He was united in marriage Jan. 14, 1875, with Harriet Louise Gilman, daughter of Virgil C. and Sarah L. Gilman of Nashua. (For ancestors see sketch of her father.) Two children were born of their marriage: Richard Gilman, born Nov. 1, 1875. died Oct. 1, 1880; Robert Virgil, born Nov. 19, 1882, died Aug. 22, 1889.
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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
Eugene M. Bowman was born in Manchester, July 23, 1838. He is a son of Jonas B. and Ase- nath L. Bowman, and on the paternal side is ninth in descent from Nathaniel Bowman of Watertown, Mass., who came to America in 1636 from England, and on the maternal side seventh in descent from Daniel Ladd who came to this country from England in 1633 and settled at Salisbury, Mass., in 1837.
Mr. Bowman received his education in the public schools of Manchester and at New Ipswich academy and Merrimack normal institute. He is a graduate of Albany law school, studied law with Herman Foster and was admitted to the bar in 1859 in Hillsborough county.
He married Sarah E. Parker in July, 1858. Mrs. Bowman is a daughter of Elkanah Phillips and Sarah (Corning) Parker of Merrimack, N. H., and is seventh in line of descent from Capt. James Parker who came to America from England in 1638 and died in Groton, Mass., in 1701. Mr. Bow- man came to Nashua in 1873, where he has ever since resided. Although a lawyer by profession he has never practiced here, his time having been well occupied in other pursuits. He has held the position of city clerk for fifteen years, and other positions of trust, with honor and credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his fellow citizens. He has always taken a great interest in Nashua's wel- fare and is highly respected and esteemed as a citizen. Mr. Bowman is a veteran of the war of the Rebellion, having served in the Army of the Potomac, and participated in all the battles in Virginia in 1862 and 1863; he was slightly wounded at the battle of Cedar Mountain in 1862. He attends the Pilgrim church.
Lillian M., only child of Mr. and Mrs. Bowman, was born in 1859, and married Phineas Adams Hammond, son of Dr. E. B. Hammond, of this city in 1884. One son, Roland Bowman, born July 26, 1887, is the result of their marriage.
Edwin B. Gould was born in Hillsborough, Jan. 24, 1839. He is a son of Jonathan S. and Sabra (Booth) Gould. Mr. Gould is of Scotch descent on the paternal side and traces his lineage to the Goulds who settled in Topsfield, Mass., in 1620. On the maternal side he is a descendant of the Booths who were among the first settlers of his native place, people of industrious habits and sterling worth.
Mr. Gould was educated in the public schools of Hillsborough, at Appleton academy in Mont Ver- non, where he graduated in the class of 1858, and at Kimball Union academy in Meriden, where he was a scholar in 1859. After graduating in Mont Vernon he taught school. Mr. Gould commenced reading law in the office of James F. Briggs at Hillsborough Bridge in 1860, and concluded in the office of Francis M. Blood at Hillsborough Lower Village. He was admitted to the bar at the term of the supreme court held at Manchester in January, 1864, and shortly afterwards entered upon the practice of his profession at Suncook, where he remained nine years. He moved to Lebanon in 1873, and in 1876 came to Nashua where he still continues in practice and to meet with good success. Mr. Gould has held a commission for several years as notary public and has been identified with affairs for the public weal. He attends the services of the Pilgrim church, is a member of Howard lodge, I. O. O. F., at Suncook, and Indian Head encampment of the same order at Nashua. He is also a chevalier in the uniformed rank of the order.
Mr. Gould was united in marriage Nov. 18, 1868, with Eliza J. Kelsey of Nottingham, daughter of John and Elizabeth Kelsey of that place. There are no children by their marriage.
Royal Dexter Barnes was born at Northfield, Mass., June 18, 1855. He was a son of Warren M. and Mary (Blodgett) Barnes of Litchfield, who removed to Litchfield when the subject of this sketch was a lad. Mr. Barnes was educated in the public schools of Litchfield and at Crosby's literary institute, Nashua. He read law in the office of Sawyer & Sawyer, Jr., was admitted to the bar of Hillsborough county, and practiced in Nashua until his death, which occurred Aug. 28, 1891.
Mr. Barnes was a man of considerable natural ability, a well read lawyer, and had a large and lucrative practice at one time. He was a man of very generous impulses, with a large circle of friends. He was city solicitor for several years.
Mr. Barnes married Idella E. Prescott, a daughter of Nathan O. and Lucy A. (Richardson) Prescott, March 13, 1878. Three children were born of their marriage: Royal Sumner, born June 19, 1879; Mabel Prescott, born Aug. 23, 1883; Alfred Dexter, born Sept. 8, 1889.
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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
Charles D. Parker was born in Nashua, Dec. 17, 1861. He was educated in the schools of his native city and graduated from the Nashua Literary institute, of which Prof. David Crosby was principal. Mr. Parker attended French's commercial college in Boston and finally settled down to the study of law in the office of George Y. Sawyer & Sawyer Junior. He completed his reading in the office of Judge E. E. Parker, and was graduated at the Boston university of law and admitted to the bar in 1886. Mr. Parker has made a gratifying success in his profession and has a bright outlook for the future.
He was united in marriage Oct. 16, 1889, with Jennie A. Norris, daughter of William H. Norris of Holyoke, and has one child, Charles N., born May 23, 1891. He represented his ward in the con- stitutional convention in 1889, and in the legislature in 1890 and 1891. Mr. Parker is a member of the Manchester lodge, No. 146, Elks; Granite lodge, I. O. O. F .; Evening Star lodge, K. of P., of which he is keeper of records and seals, and of Watananock tribe of Red Men in which he is a past sachem and an officer in the great council. His cheerful deportment among his fellow citizens is of a character that makes everybody his friend.
Jeremiah J. Doyle was born in New Boston, June 23, 1861. He is a son of John and Julia (O'Neil) Doyle.
Mr. Doyle obtained his education in the schools of Milford and Amherst, and be it said to his credit, there is no man in Hillsboro county who made a more manly struggle to better his condition or whose career more completely illustrates the possibilities within the reach of those who have courage and perseverance. He labored days and studied nights. He attended school when he could but he never for a day gave up his books, often poring over them by a dim light far into the night. At the age of eighteen he commenced teaching in a district school and for the next two years he was a schoolmaster of ability and popularity.
Having made up his mind to study law he entered the office of George B. French in Nashua in 1881, and here he applied himself to his task with the same earnestness and determination to succeed that had characterized his previous career. By practicing self-denial he was able to take a three years' course at the Boston university of law, and Aug. 28, 1884, a full month before he had com- pleted his last term in the institution, he took an examination at the law term of the supreme court at Concord and was admitted to the bar. He then opened an office in Nashua and by strict attention to the affairs of his clients, by continued study and industry he has forged his way to the front ranks of the profession and to recognition among the attorneys of the county as a foeman worthy of their steel.
Mr. Doyle has also made an enviable record for himself outside of the legal profession. He has proved himself an earnest debater, a man of original ideas, as well as a clear and forcible advocate, and an able and energetic speaker on public occasions. Mr. Doyle represented Ward Five in the board of alderman in 1886 and 1887, and served two years as city solicitor. He was a member of the legis- lature in 1887 and 1889, and in 1894, and was elected to represent Ward Nine in the same branch of the government in 1895 and 1896. As a member of this body, as when in the board of aldermen, he had an active and intelligent part.
With all else Mr. Doyle is a society man. He has served division No. 2, Ancient Order of Hibernians, as president; has been one of the foremost temperance advocates in the city ; was a char- ter member and the first chief ranger of Court Indian Head, A. O. F., also was grand chief ranger of the Grand Court of New Hampshire ; state president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and dele- gate to the Omaha convention in 1892; member of the Granite State club (Manchester), and active in the affairs of the Church of St. Louis de Gonzague; first delegate of Foresters to Brooklyn con- vention, 1891.
Mr. Doyle was united in marriage Nov. 8, 1886, with Luella J. Lucier, daughter of Paul, Jr., and Elizabeth (Brennan) Lucier. The children of their marriage are Lillian Elizabeth, born Aug. 16, 1887; Paul Jeremiah, born Feb. 19, 1891 ; Robert James, born March 11, 1894, and Mary Julia. born Dec. 26, 1895.
Stephen L. Hallinan was born at Fairfield, Vt., July 26, 1862. He is a son of Stephen and Nancy (Mellen) Hallinan, both of whom are dead. Mr. Hallinan obtained a common school educa- tion in his native town, and at the age of sixteen years went to Brigham academy in Bakersfield, Vt.
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HISTORY OF NASIIUA, N. H.
In 1882 he commenced the study of law under Henry R. Start, Bakersfield, Vt., and was admitted to the bar Oct. 30, 1884. He practiced at Highgate, Vt., until December, 1886, and at St. Albans from 1886 to February, 1889, and in the spring of that year settled in Nashua, and still remains in the same profession. While residing in Vermont he was state's attorney of Franklin county to the inter- est of his clients. He is a member of the Church of the Immaculate Conception and the Clover club. Mr. Hallinan was a member of the legislature of 1895 and 1896 from Ward Five. Mr. Hallinan is unmarried.
Bertis A. Pease was born at Wilton, Me., Oct. 31, 1854. He was graduated at Wilton academy in 1878, and at Colby university in 1882. He was principal of high school at Milford from 1882 to 1885. In 1886 he became a resident of Nashua and principal of the Mt. Pleasant school, where he remained until 1888, being one of the most thorough and satisfactory masters in New Hampshire. Mr. Pease studied law in the office of Charles H. Burns, was graduated at the Boston university school of law in 1889, and admitted to the Hillsboro' bar in the same year. He entered upon the practice of his profession immediately after his admission, and although he has given a share of his time to the affairs of the Nashua Building and Loan association, of which he is secretary and attor- ney, he has had a large and successful practice. He is energetic and earnest in his advocacy of a client's cause and popular with all with whom he is associated.
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