USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Haverhill > History of the town of Haverhill, New Hampshire > Part 35
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DANIEL BLAISDELL, after his admission to the bar in 1830 from the office of Joseph Bell, began practice in Haverhill as an associate of John Nelson. In 1832, he removed to Lebanon, and later in 1835 to Hanover, where, aside from his duties as treasurer of Dartmouth College, he con- tinued in the practice of his profession till his death in 1875. A gentle- man of the old school, courteous and refined in manners, he was well read, painstaking and judicious as lawyer and counsellor. He was a son of Elijah B. and Nancy (Fogg) Blaisdell, born in Pittsfield in 1806. He fitted for college at Kimball Union Academy and graduated at Dart- mouth in 1827. He married Charlotte, a daughter of John Osgood, the famous clockmaker and silversmith of Haverhill.
EDWARD R. OLCOTT, son of Mills Olcott of Hanover, was admitted to the bar in 1828, but came to Haverhill in 1830 where he was associated for a short time with Joseph Bell, but removed to Louisiana where he won distinction at the bar and was raised to the bench.
JONATHAN BLISS was a native of Randolph, Vt., born in 1799, the son of Jonathan and Maria (Martin) Bliss. He graduated at Dartmouth in 1824, read law with Joseph Bell, and William C. Thompson of Plymouth and began practice of the law at Plymouth in 1828. Two years later he came to Haverhill, and was in active practice for four years when he went to Gainesville, Ala., where he remained in practice, a successful advocate, and an able lawyer, till his death in 1879. He married, first, Lucretia, daughter of William Leverett of Windsor, Vt .; second, Mary, daughter of Dr. Samuel Kidder of Charlestown, Mass., and third, Maria Kidder of Medfield, Mass.
WILLIAM H. DUNCAN, whose later years were spent in Hanover, was in practice a year or two in Haverhill. He was born in Candia, then a part of Londonderry, in 1807, and graduated at Dartmouth in 1830. He was a man of brilliant talents, of fascinating manner, a great favorite with the ladies of Hanover, one of the most beautiful and accomplished of whom-Sarah, the daughter of Mills Olcott-he afterwards married. Two of Mr. Olcott's daughters were already married, one to Rufus Choate and the other to Joseph Bell, and Mr. Duncan, after teaching in the South for three or four years, reading law in the meantime, was admitted to the bar and began practice in Haverhill, with promise of success equal to
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that of his two distinguished brothers-in-law. The failing health of Mr. Olcott led to the removal of Mr. Duncan to Hanover to assist his father-in-law in his large and important business concerns. He soon acquired a large and lucrative practice, which was later interrupted by the necessity of spending his winters in the South on account of the health of Mrs. Duncan, and this interruption was increased by the death of Mr. Olcott in 1845, and Mrs. Olcott in 1848, the settlement of their estates falling into his hands. The death of Mrs. Duncan in 1850 was a blow from which he never recovered, and he soon withdrew from active participation in professional or business affairs. In politics he was a conservative Democrat, in religion a devout Episcopalian. Though his residence in Haverhill was brief, he left a lasting impression of a lawyer of especially brilliant promise, of graceful and elegant deportment, and of a social charm rarely equalled.
SAMUEL C. WEBSTER could hardly be called a Haverhill lawyer, though the year of his death, 1835, he practiced in Haverhill, coming from Ply- mouth where he had been in practice since 1815. At the time of his death he was sheriff. He was an able lawyer, active in politics, and was speaker of the New Hampshire House in 1830.
Few if any of the Haverhill lawyers enjoyed more thoroughly the re- spect and confidence of his townsmen, were more thoroughly trusted by members of the bar, for soundness of judgment and rigid integrity, than NATHAN B. FELTON. He was born in Pelham, Mass., in 1798, grad- uated at Middlebury College, studied law with Gen. Charles W. Field at Newfane, Vt., and was admitted to the bar in 1824. He began prac- tice at Lebanon that same year where he remained for about ten years, the latter part of which time he was postmaster. Appointed clerk of the court in 1834, he came to Haverhill, and remained until his death in 1876, the most of the time in full practice of law. He was clerk for ten years, and register of probate, five years from 1852, town clerk in 1837 and 1843, and representative in 1842 and 1853. "Squire" Felton was a careful, painstaking and learned lawyer. His mind was eminently judicial, and in knowledge of court procedure he had no superior in the state. Few men were endowed with a larger capacity of acquisition. He fitted for the junior class in college in eighteen months from the time he began the study of Latin and Greek, at a time when Latin, Greek and mathematics constituted almost the entire college curriculum. Quiet and retiring in manners, he was not a great trial lawyer, but his opinions in matters of law, always trustworthy and valuable were constantly sought in cases of large importance. His unpaid services for the poor and dependent freely given were no small part of his professional work. In his forty-two years' residence in Haverhill, his integrity of character was never questioned, and though in his political affiliations he was a
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lifelong uncompromising Democrat, he had always the respect of his political opponents. He probably never used a stub pen, typewriters were unknown in his day, but his papers, legal documents, and records, all written with the quill, were models of neatness, exactness, and-what could not be said even of Choate-were always legible. Joseph Bell was Haverhill's most distinguished lawyer; Nathan B. Felton, Haverhill's most useful lawyer.
DAVID DICKEY, a member of the bar, graduate of Dartmouth in 1835, son-in-law of John Nelson, was in Haverhill 1838-40, but was devoted rather to speculative enterprises than to the practice of his profession.
DAVID H. COLLINS, born in Deerfield, a graduate of Dartmouth in 1835, was in practice in Haverhill in 1839 to 1843. He was register of probate for three years, but resigned on account of failing health. He returned to his native town, and died of consumption at the early age of 31. While register of probate, he put the papers and records of the office, which he found in much confusion, in order and made an index, a service of great value to the county. A brilliant scholar, well read as a lawyer, a devout Episcopalian, he showed great promise of professional success, the fulfillment of which was prevented by his early death. He left the larger part of a considerable property for religious purposes.
JONAS D. SLEEPER spent twelve years in Haverhill, from 1848 to 1860, as clerk of court, and was not in active practice as a lawyer. He was born in Gilford in 1814, a son of Jonas and Sally (Bean) Sleeper. He fitted for college at Gilmanton Academy and graduated at Brown Uni- versity in 1836. He read law in the office of Josiah Quincy of Rumney and was admitted to the bar in 1842, and entered on the practice of his profession in Hill where he remained till appointed clerk of the court for Grafton County in 1848. Courteous and gentlemanly in manners, he made friends of all with whom he sustained professional or business rela- tions and in the discharge of the duties of the important positions he occupied he was punctiliously faithful and trustworthy. A Democrat in his political affiliations he never gave offence by unfair partisanship. In 1854 and 1855, he represented the Grafton and Coös district in the state senate. In 1860 he accepted the position of cashier of the state Capital Bank at Concord, but only remained one year when he was appointed clerk of court for Merrimack County which office he held until his death which occurred in 1868 at Plymouth, while engaged in a reference case. He was married in 1845 to Martha Grace, daughter of Josiah Quincy of Rumney.
JOHN S. BRYANT was a native of Meredith born in 1800, and before coming to Haverhill in 1839 lived in Bristol. He was a deputy sheriff. for a number of years and was engaged in what was known as "running lines" and surveying land. For several years he employed his leisure in
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the study of the law, and was admitted to the bar in 1846, as what was known as "a statute lawyer." Section 2, chapter 177, Revised Statutes, 1830, provided that "any citizen of the age of twenty-one years of good moral character, on application to the superior court shall be admitted to practice as an attorney." This provided a somewhat short cut for admission to the bar and Mr. Bryant availed himself of the opportunity offered. He was a man of more than usual natural ability, of untiring energy, industry and perseverance, which brought him a profitable practice until his death in 1873.
DAVID PAGE was another "statute lawyer," admitted to the bar in 1845. He had previously been a teacher and clerk in a store. He was engaged in mercantile business, abandoning his practice for a time, but returned to practice in 1857, and did a large business in procuring pen- sions subsequent to the War of the Rebellion.
It hardly need be said that these "statute lawyers" were not in high favor with the court. In 1850 a petition addressed to the Court of Common Pleas asked for the disbarment of John S. Bryant for certain alleged unprofessional practices, which allegations seem to have been fully sustained by the investigation ordered by the court, but the case was transferred to the Superior Court for the reason that the Court of Common Pleas doubted whether it could "exercise authority over attor- neys who appear by virtue of an admission to the bar of the Superior Court upon the ground that they are persons of good moral character." At the December term, in the opinion of the Superior Court rendered by Chief Justice Gilchrist, he took occasion to say some things concerning the policy of creating lawyers by statute, which made an interesting page in Volume 24 of the New Hampshire Reports. In commenting on the action of Attorney Bryant in the case which gave rise to the petition for his disbarment he said:
Almost any course would have been better than the one he pursued: for the positions he took were inconsistent with each other, and all his statements could not have been true. In looking after his interest and fixing his eyes constantly upon that he lost sight of the truth, and that is, in great measure, the cause of his present difficulty. But he was ignorant of the law and the practice, and being thus ignorant, and perhaps embarrassed and uncertain what course to pursue, he did whatever he thought would answer the immediate purpose, without looking beyond it. This course may fairly enough be presumed to have resulted from his ignorance of the law, and not to have proceeded from any corrupt and fraudulent motive.
In dismissing the petition for Mr. Bryant's disbarment, Judge Gilchrist took occasion to say some things concerning the statute, the keen and biting sarcasm of which doubtless had some influence in securing the re- peal of the statute machinery for the manufacture of lawyers:
This brings us to the question whether, in the present state of the law, mere ignorance of the law, however gross, can authorize the court to remove an attorney from practice.
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But how can the court possess this power, when the statute declares that any citizen, twenty-one years of age and of good moral character, shall, on application, be admitted to practice as an attorney? The statute requires no knowledge of the law, no acquaintance with the practice, and no education whatever. The applicant may be destitute of even the rudiments of an education. He may be unable to read or write. He may subscribe the oaths to the constitution and of office, by making his mark. But if he comes within the statute he must be admitted. It has been sometimes thought that if attorneys, who take such an important part in the administration of justice, should be reasonably familiar with those great principles, which for some hundreds of years have formed the foundation of government, have selected domestic relations, have fixed the construction of contracts and have secured the rights of persons and property to all who speak the English language. If these could be dispensed with, some knowledge of the ordinary rules of practice, or, at least of the distinction between forms of action, has been supposed to be necessary. But the statute dispenses with all this. It does not require so much education in an attorney, to whom such momentous interests are entrusted, as it requires in the teacher of a district school. A school mistress must be qualified to teach the English language grammatically, and the rudiments of arithmetic and geography. But the statute does not require that the studies of an attorney should have been prosecuted so far. Anything that tends to lower the standard of professional acquirements among those whose duty it is to investigate and defend the rights of others is to be lamented. And it is with a full conviction of the importance of preserving the standard of professional qualifications, that we have been, nevertheless, constrained to come to the result, that ignorance of the law in an attorney does not authorize the court to suspend or remove him from office, as a contrary doctrine would render it necessary that an attorney should possess some knowledge of the law-a condition which the statute does not require.
CHARLES E. THOMPSON born in 1802, a graduate of Dartmouth, class of 1828, was in practice in Haverhill till 1855, when he went to Chicago. He married Mary, a daughter of Mills Olcott of Hanover. He was a man of brilliant accomplishments but unfortunate habits interfered with his professional success. He died in 1882 at the home of his daughter in New Jersey.
GEORGE W. CHAPMAN came to Haverhill from Hill where he had been in practice for three or four years, in 1853, and enjoyed a successful practice, accumulating ample fortune. He married Eleanor H. Towle (see Genealogy) and their home was a hospitable one, Mr. and Mrs. Chapman being social favorites. He read law at first in Cleveland, Ohio, later with Jonas D. Sleeper in Hill, and with Judge Nesmith and A. F. Pike in Franklin. He was a native of Hollis, born in 1827, and died in 1896. He was admitted to the bar at Plymouth in 1849. He was public spirited, interested in the cause of education, serving as a trustee of Haverhill Academy, and superintendent of the town schools.
CHARLES R. MORRISON was born in Bath on January 22, 1819 (see Gen- ealogy), educated at Newbury (Vt.) Seminary, was admitted to the bar in 1842, from the office of Goodall & Woods, and remained in Bath for a time in partnership with Mr. Goodall. In 1845 he came to Haverhill and practiced his profession till the summer of 1851, when he was ap-
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pointed "Circuit Justice of the Court of Common Pleas," holding this position until the Know Nothing ascendancy of 1855. In 1856, he re- moved to Nashua, and his later practice was in Manchester and Concord. During the War of the Rebellion, he served as adjutant of the Eleventh New Hampshire Volunteers for nearly two years, when he resigned and returned to the practice of his profession. He was an able, learned lawyer, endowed with an acute, critical mind. He rendered his state and pro- fession valuable service by his "A Digest of the New Hampshire Reports," "Town Officer," "Justice and Sheriff and Attorneys Assistants," "Probate Directory," and "Digest of School Laws."
NATHANIEL W. WESTGATE was born in Plainfield January 26, 1801 (see Genealogy). He received his academic education at Kimball Union Academy, read law with Charles Flanders, and was admitted to the bar at Newport in 1827. He located at Enfield, and continued in the prac- tice of his profession there until 1856, when he was elected register of probate and removed to Haverhill where he made his home, an honored and respected citizen, until his death in 1890. He was appointed judge of probate in 1861, succeeding Judge Berry, who had been elected governor, and served until 1871, when he retired under the statute age limitation. His life was a useful one, his personal character stainless and his record was one of a safe and valued counsellor to the hundreds who, relying on his integrity and sound judgment, sought advice and counsel. His early political affiliations were with the Whig party, and on the organization of the Republican party, he cordially espoused its principles. Such men as Judge Westgate made it "the Grand Old Party."
GEORGE FREDERICK PUTNAM, born in Croydon (see Genealogy), grad- uate of Thetford (Vt.) Academy and of Norwich University, read law with Nathan B. Felton, and with Charles R. Morrison in Manchester where he was admitted to the bar in that city in 1867, and began practice in Haver- hill. He removed to Warren in 1870, returning to Haverhill in 1877, taking the office of Mr. Felton after the death of the latter in 1876, and continued in successful practice until 1882 when he removed to Kansas City, Mo., where he took a leading position at the bar of that city, and was prominent in financial circles until his sudden death in 1899.
LUTHER C. MORSE, was a native of Haverhill, born in 1834, the son of Daniel and L. (Colby) Morse (see Morse, Genealogy). He graduated at Dartmouth in 1860, and read law with O. W. Lull, and Nathaniel W. Westgate, and was admitted to the bar in 1863. He succeeded Judge Westgate as register of probate in July 1861, and in April 1871, was succeeded by Tyler Westgate. He went West soon after, and in recent years has been engaged in the management of mining properties in California.
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SAMUEL T. PAGE is also a native of Haverhill son of Daniel and Marga- ret (Taylor) Page, born in 1849 (see Genealogy). He graduated at Dart- mouth in 1871, read law with Cross & Burnham in Manchester, and was admitted to the bar in Amherst. His professional practice has been for the most part in Haverhill. In the meantime he has held various official positions; has been superintendent of schools, and was register of probate in 1874-76, and again in 1881-85. He represented Haverhill in the legislature in 1877-78, and again in the prolonged session of 1887. He was private secretary to Governor Weston in 1874, and was for some time general business manager of the New Hampshire Democratic Press Company at Concord. It may be safely inferred that Mr. Page is in his political affiliations a Democrat.
WILLIAM F. WESTGATE, son of Nathaniel W., was born in Enfield in 1852, and completed his academic education at the Chandler Scientific School, Dartmouth College. He read law with his father and G. F. Put- nam and was admitted to the bar in 1880. Besides his professional practice he was also engaged quite extensively as civil engineer and land surveyor. In 1882 he represented Haverhill in the legislature, and was twice elected register of probate. A Republican in politics he was active in the councils of his party.
SAMUEL B. PAGE, the last years of whose professional life was spent in- Haverhill (Woodsville) was a native of Littleton, born in 1838 (see Genealogy). He read law with Woods & Bingham of Bath, attended the Albany (N. Y.) Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1861 in Ver- mont, and to practice in the United States courts in 1869. He began practice at Wells River, Vt., but soon afterward went to Warren, subse- quently to Concord and later to Woodsville where he continued in practice till his death in 1912. He was not a great lawyer, but was a man of wonderful versatility, and was effective before juries. He was active in politics, which activity undoubtedly militated against his professional eminence and success. A born parliamentarian, ready in debate, never at a loss for the correct word, a brilliant rhetorician, he was a power in the New Hampshire legislature, from 1863 to 1869, from the town of Warren, in 1874 from Concord, and in 1887, 1889, and 1893 from Haver- hill. His services on the stump in political campaigns were always in demand, and in the Democratic party councils he was, for more than a quarter of a century, influential and prominent, and few New Hampshire men were better known in every section of the state. He was a member of the constitutional convention of 1876. In Haverhill he was active in town affairs, was superintendent of schools and moderator for several years. He was prominent in several fraternal organizations, especially the Odd Fellows, Masons and Elks, having served as grand master of the former organization. Versatility and its accompaniments interfered,
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however, with his success. He was a genius, and genius ofttimes exacts penalties.
EDGAR W. SMITH may not perhaps be properly classed as a Haverhill lawyer, since his office and residence have been in Wells River, Vt., but during his partnership with Scott Sloane and later with his son, Raymond U. Smith, he maintained with them an office in Woodsville, and he has enjoyed a large and important practice in the Grafton County courts. He is an able, learned and successful lawyer of sound and reliable judg- ment as a counsellor, and exceptionally effective in the trial of causes.
SCOTT SLOANE (see Genealogy), who was associated with Mr. Smith for a time in Wells River, and for several years when the firm opened its office, in Woodsville, is of an old Haverhill family, the grandson of David Sloane one of the early lawyers of the town, is still in successful practice of his profession at Lebanon, whither he removed from Woodsville in 1904. While in Haverhill he was an active worker in the Republican party, a member of the constitutional convention of 1902, and prominent in the affairs of the community. As a lawyer he is painstaking and persistent and in the trial of causes before either court or jury, he meets with a marked degree of success.
RAYMOND U. SMITH, on his graduation from Norwich University in 1894, began the study of law, and on his admission to the bar entered into partnership with his father, having charge of the office in Woodsville and taking up his residence in Haverhill. In 1911, the partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Smith has continued in practice since that time alone. He has a rapidly growing practice and is winning an enviable reputation as a lawyer. Elected solicitor of Grafton County in 1914 and held office four years; appointed Major on staff of Governor Keyes in January, 1917; acted as Government Appeal Agent during war in connection with Local Board for Grafton County; moderator of town 1917-18-19.
CHARLES H. HOSFORD, though maintaining his legal residence in Monroe, has been in the active practice of his profession in Woodsville since 1899. He is also largely interested in real estate, which with his law practice has won him financial success. He represented the second senatorial district in the legislature of 1911, and has been active in the counsels of his party. While having a voting residence in Monroe, he has been in all other respects active in all the affairs of Woodsville where he takes a leading part.
DEXTER D. Dow maintains his voting residence in Littleton, but, as clerk of the court for the County of Grafton since 1897, he has resided in Woodsville, where he has become one of the leading factors in its social and business life. Debarred by the nature of his office from the active practice of his profession, he serves as commissioner in taking testimony,
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as referee in important civil actions, master in taking testimony in equity cases, and holds many positions as trustee or administrator of estates. He is also justice of the Police Court of the Haverhill district. Careful, methodical, painstaking, he is recognized both by court and bar as a model clerk. He graduated from Dartmouth in the class of 1889, and was admitted to the bar from the office of Bingham, Mitchell & Batchellor of Littleton.
FRED S. WRIGHT, a graduate of the University of Vermont, studied law at the Yale Law School, and shortly after his admission to the bar entered into partnership, in 1901, with C. H. Hosford under the firm name of Hosford & Wright. This continued until January 1, 1909, when, Mr. Wright having been elected to the office of county solicitor, the partnership was dissolved, and he entered on practice by himself. He served four years as solicitor and has since been engaged in a general practice which is becoming yearly more important.
FRED B. LANG has had offices both in Newbury and Woodsville since 1899, but has not been largely engaged in court practice, business affairs outside his profession occupying his time and claiming his attention to a large extent. Some of his business ventures have proven successful in a marked degree. In the autumn of 1915, he disposed of his business and professional interests and removed to the province of Alberta, Canada.
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