USA > New Hampshire > Sketches of successful New Hampshire men > Part 29
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He was chairman of the New Hampshire delegation in the Republican na- tional convention at Chicago, in 1860, having been chosen a delegate at large by the state convention, with but a single vote in opposition. In the close contest between the friends of Lincoln and Seward in that convention, the New Hamp- shire delegation, under his lead, supported Lincoln from the first, and was strongly instrumental in securing his nomination.
In 1861, Mr. Rollins was elected to congress from the second district, over the Democratic candidate, the late Chief-Justice Samuel D. Bell. He was re- elected in 1863, over Col. John H. George, and in 1865 over Hon. Lewis W. Clark, now associate justice of the supreme court. Mr. Rollins's congressional career covered the exciting period of the late civil war, and subsequent recon- struction, and he was throughout a zealous supporter of the most advanced Re- publican measures, such as the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, and the thirteenth and fourteenth amendments to the constitution, abolishing slavery throughout the Union, conferring citizenship and civil rights upon col- ored men, fixing the basis of representation in congress upon all citizens, without regard to color or previous condition, imposing political disabilities upon such civil and military officers of the government as had violated their oaths by en- gaging in the rebellion, declaring the inviolability of the public debt, and pro- hibiting forever the payment of that incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States. To this entire policy Mr. Rollins gave a most earnest support, and took part zealously and efficiently in all the important legislation of those days. He was an industrious member of the committees to which he was assigned, serving on the committee on the District of Columbia, as chairman of the committee on Accounts, and a member of the committee on Public Expendi- tures, by which latter committee, during his service, a vast amount of labor was performed, especially in the investigation of the management of the New York and Boston custom-houses, involving the operations of the " blockade runners " during the war. He was also, on account of his well known parliamentary knowledge and skill, frequently called to the chair to preside over the house on turbulent occasions.
In view of Mr. Rollins's subsequent intimate connection with the Union Pacific Railroad Company, it is proper to remark that in congress he was a firm opponent of, and voted against, the measure adopted in July, 1864, doubling the land grant of this company, and making the government security a second instead of a first mortgage upon the road. In 1869 he was chosen secretary and assistant treasurer of the Union Pacific Railroad, having for some time previous, after the expiration of his congressional service, acted as agent of the company at Washington in the transaction of business with the government, especially in receiving the subsidy bonds. In 1871 he was elected secretary and treasurer, and officiated as such in the office of the company at Boston until March, 1877, though retaining his residence at Concord, and devoting considerable attention to New Hampshire politics. He had, after retiring from congress, been again called to the chairmanship of the state committee, and served from 1868 to 1871,
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inclusive, with his usual ability and success. As chairman of the committee, and ex officio commander-in-chief of the Republican forces in New Hampshire for ten years, he was a tireless worker, -the very incarnation of energy and per- sistent industry. He had a genius for political organization and warfare. His vigor and magnetism surmounted all obstacles and swept away all opposition. His enthusiasm was contagious. Undaunted by suggestions of danger or defeat, he inspired all around him with his own indomitable courage and spirit. This was the secret of his extraordinary power, as it ever is in the world's affairs, and made hini master of every field where he contended.
Mr. Rollins's name was presented by his friends for United States senator in 1866, when Hon. James W. Patterson was nominated and elected ; in 1870, when Senator Cragin was re-elected ; and again, in 1873, when the choice fell upon Hon. Bainbridge Wadleigh. At the expiration of Senator Cragin's second term, in 1879, Mr. Rollins was nominated by the Republican caucus, and elected as his successor for the full term of six years, commencing in March, 1877. He took his seat in the senate at the extra session, in the spring of 1877, and was as- signed to the committees on the District of Columbia, Contingent Expenses, and Manufactures, being for a time chairman of the latter. He is now a member of the committee on Naval Affairs, on the District of Columbia, on Retrenchnient and Reform in the Civil Service, on Enrolled Bills, and is chairman of the com- mittee on Public Buildings and Grounds. As a senator, he has exhibited con- stantly his peculiar traits of industry, energy, and fidelity to duty. Engaging in debate less than some other senators, and never parading before the country for effect, he yet speaks on all proper occasions, and always to the business in hand, and with characteristic force, point, and effectiveness. He is seldom absent from his seat, responds to every roll-call, and but few questions have arisen since his service began on which his vote is not recorded. It is a noteworthy fact, that during more than five years' service in the senate he has been absent but two days when both branches of congress were in session, and then was sick in bed with malarial fever. No senator has a clearer or cleaner record in this respect. His devotion to his state and constituents is very marked. Every letter is answered, every call responded to, and every New Hampshire man dwelling in or visiting Washington is treated by him with courtesy, and his business with the government carefully attended to and furthered by his active assistance. Among the measures of special interest to the people of New Hampshire, in which he has taken a leading part, are those for the relief of savings banks front national taxation, and appropriations for the improvement of Cochecho, Exeter, and Lamprey rivers. No senator in the chamber gives more assiduous attention to the work of the committees, where measures are matured, or has a more useful influence upon general legislation ; and his friends feel a just pride in the fact that in a somewhat venal and very suspicious age his name is untainted by any schemes of corruption or jobbery, or scandals touching the use of public money.
Such are the outlines of Mr. Rollins's conspicuous public career. His influ- ence may be truly summarized by saying that during the last twenty-five years no man in New Hampshire has been more prominently known in the politics of the state, and well informed men in all parties concede that the Republican party owes more, for its almost unbroken successes in the closely contested elections from 1856 to the present time, to his labors, in the committee; in congress, and before the people, than to those of any other man.
Mr. Rollins was active in the organization of the First National Bank at Concord, a large stockholder, and a member of the first board of directors, but withdrew and disposed of his stock some time since. He sold his drug busi- ness at Concord to his brother, John F. Rollins, many years ago, when his
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congressional and other duties required his entire attention. The latter, also, has since disposed of the business, and now resides upon Fort George island, at the mouth of St. John's river, on the coast of Florida, of which Senator Rollins is the proprietor. This island is a most romantic locality, and is the subject of a very interesting illustrated sketch in Scribner's Magazine, by Julia B. Dodge. It embraces twelve hundred acres of land, and is admirably adapted to orange-raising, and is under cultivation for that purpose. The climate is delightful, far superior to that of the main land, and Mr. John F. Rollins, by a long residence there, finds his health much improved.
Mr. Rollins was united in marriage, February 13, 1849, with Miss Ellen E. West, daughter of John West, of Concord. Her mother, Mrs. West, was the daughter of Gen. John Montgomery, a prominent citizen of Haverhill, well known in public affairs. To this union there have been born five children : Edward W., born November 25, 1850; Mary Helen, September 4, 1853; Charles Montgomery, February 27, 1856; Frank West, February 24, 1860 ; Montgomery, August 25, 1867. The second son, Charles Montgomery, died at the age of five years. The other children survive. The eldest son, Edward W., is a graduate of the Institute of Technology at Boston, and was for five years the engineer and cashier of the Colorado Central Railroad. He is married, and now engaged in business as a banker in Denver, Col. Mary Helen, the only daughter, is married to Henry Robinson, a lawyer, and prominent member of the present legislature, and resides in Concord. Frank W., the second surviving son, after prosecuting a three years' course at the Institute of Technology, attended the Harvard Law School, and is now about completing his legal studies in the office of Hon. John Y. Mugridge, at Concord. Montgomery, the young- est son, is fitting for college. It will thus be seen that Mr. Rollins believes in practical education for his sons.
Retaining his home in Consord, where he has always lived the greater portion of the year, Mr. Rollins has for several years past had his summer home at the old place in Rollinsford, where he was reared, and which came into his possession after the death of his father in 1864. Here he has made many improvements, and brought the land into a superior state of cultivation. He thoroughly repaired and remodeled the house some six years ago, and made it a very attractive sum- mer residence. In the spring of 1881, however, while he was absent in Wash- ington, the house and all the buildings on the farm, with most of their contents, were completely destroyed by fire. Without delay, Mr. Rollins proceeded to rebuild, and has erected a very large and finely appointed barn and stable, with carriage-house, ice-house, and other buildings ; and a fine house. on the old site, is very near completion. The house is in the Queen Anne style, most conven- iently arranged, and finished principally in hard native woods, with ornamental fire-places, elaborately carved fire-frames, and frescoed ceilings. It is heated by steam and lighted by gas, has hot and cold water conveniences, spacious halls, and is fitted up with every modern improvement. In a few weeks it will be ready for occupation, and will be one of the most beautiful dwellings in this region, combining all the substantial conveniences of a farm-house, and an elegant home for summer and' winter, also. The place is located but little more than a mile from the city of Dover, where Mr. Rollins goes for post-office and other business accommodations, so that in the summer time he is regarded as a Dover citizen. Telephonic communication has been established between his house and the tele- graph office in Dover. Mr. Rollins's mother is still living, at an advanced age, at her old home, and her youngest daughter, Miss Elizabeth W. Rollins, resides with her.
In religious faith, Mr. Rollins was reared a Congregationalist, and when in
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Rollinsford he attends worship at the old First Parish church in Dover, where Rev. Dr. Spalding officiates. Mrs. Rollins is an Episcopalian, and in Concord the family attend upon the services of the St. Paul's Episcopal church.
He has long been a member of the Masonic fraternity, of the Blazing Star Lodge, Trinity Chapter, and Mt. Horeb Commandry, at Concord, of which he has been eminent commander.
Mr. Rollins is very fond of agricultural pursuits, and works on his farm in the haying and harvesting seasons, with great benefit to himself physically. Though constitutionally not very strong, and of a highly nervous temperament, his excel- lent personal habits, his rural tastes and simplicity of life, have enabled him to do a prodigious amount of work without suffering anything beyond an occasional derangement of health, always restored by relaxation from official duties, and physical labor on the farm, where he was wont to take similar exercise in boyhood. He is now in the full vigor and strength of his powers, and may reasonably look forward to many years more of active usefulness to the state and nation.
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GOV. NATT HEAD.
NATT HEAD is of Welsh and Scotch ancestry. John and Nathaniel Head, brothers, emigrated from Wales and settled in Bradford, Mass. Subsequently they removed to Pembroke. Although of Welsh birth, they were thoroughly English in their views and general characteristics, as tradition and other testi- mony amply prove. Nathaniel, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, became an influential and patriotic citizen of his adopted town. Early in the period of trouble with the mother country he was selected by the members of the committee of safety in Pembroke to go through that town and hunt up and make a list of the Tories. Hostilities having been inaugurated, he enlisted in the military service, and served with fidelity and bravery throughout the war. After the return of peace he became actively identified with the state militia, and rose to the command of the third brigade. He represented the town of Pembroke in the legislature.
Gen. Head had three sons, of whom Nathaniel, born in Bradford, Mass., March 6, 1754, was the grandfather of Gov. Natt Head. When a young man the son paid his addresses to Miss Anna Knox, daughter of Timothy Knox, of Pembroke. She was of Scotch-Irish blood, and one day, as the father and son were plowing, the former remarked, " Nathaniel, do you intend to marry that Irish girl ?" The son respectfully but emphatically answered in the affirmative ; whereupon the father added, " Then, understand, you can never share in my myself."
property." Young Nathaniel's answer was: " Very well; I will take care of And, in accordance with his declaration, he dropped the goad-stick, and in a few hours left the paternal roof to take up a farm in the wilderness and build a home. The father made good his threat, and at his death Nathaniel received one dollar and his brothers the remainder of the property. Nathaniel located in that portion of Chester now Hooksett, and, building a log house, car- ried to it Anna Knox, his wife. The site of the primitive cabin was the iden- tical spot where Gov. Head's beautiful residence now stands. As would be expected, the young man, who with no fortune but strong arms and a stout heart had the bravery and determination to establish his forest home, soon rose to position and influence. The report of the battle of Lexington made him a soldier at once, and the record shows him to have been a second lieutenant in the ninth company of volunteers from New Hampshire at Winter Hill, in the cold season of 1775-76; ensign in Capt. Sias's company, Col. Nichols's regiment, in the expedition to Rhode Island in 1778; and captain in Col. Reynold's regi- ment in 1781. Returning to his home, he added to the pursuit of agriculture the establishment and operation of a lumber-mill. He was early commissioned a justice of the peace, and held frequent courts, at the same time performing a large amount of probate business, including the settling of many estates, while his acknowledged sense of justice and marked integrity often caused him to be chosen arbiter in important questions of dispute in the neighborhood. With the close of the war, his martial ardor was not extinguished, and he became
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prominently connected with the state troops, -the old roster showing him to have been a brigade inspector, and also colonel of the Eleventh Regiment.
Col. Nathaniel Head, Jr., had nine children, the seventh, John, born May 30, 1791, being the father of the subject of this sketch. He remained at the old homestead, and after arriving at manhood was associated with his father in the work of the farm and the mill, and after his death succeeded to the estate by purchasing the interests of the other heirs. The military spirit again appears in John Head, who rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel of the Seventeenth Regiment.
Col. Head married Miss Anna Brown, whose home was near his. Before her union with him she was a school-teacher, and a woman of great energy and executive ability. She was a member of the Pembroke Congregational church, and took a deep interest in the religious and educational affairs of her neighbor- hood. She was a grand-daughter of William Brown, one of the three brothers who came from Scotland and settled in the upper part of Chester, near what is now Suncook. Her father, William Brown, was a sea captain, who made numer- ous voyages around the world. Captain Brown's sister married Ezekiel Straw, grandfather of Gov. Ezekiel A. Straw, of Manchester, making the latter a second cousin of Gov. Head. The three Brown brothers already mentioned were men of ability, and had high family connections across the Atlantic. Their English coat of arms was the " hawk and the bird" the design showing the former diving towards, and in the act of catching, the latter. On the maternal side, Gov. Head's great-aunt, Betsey Brown, daughter of Rev. Joseph Brown, M. D., of the Church of England, married the distinguished Hon. Samuel Livermore, of Holderness, who was chief-justice of the superior court of judicature.
Mrs. John Head had four brothers, one of whom, Hon. Hiram Brown, was the first mayor of Manchester, and now resides at Falls Church, Va. By the death of Col. Head, August 7, 1835, the widow was left in the management of a large and valuable property, to which was added the care of her family. All those responsible duties she discharged with great fidelity and conscientiousness until her death, which occurred April 3, 1849. She left five children, of whom four are now living. They are Mrs. Hannah A., widow of the late Col. Josiah Stevens, Jr., of Manchester; Natt, born May 20, 1828, John A., of Boone county, Io., and William F., - the latter the business partner of Gov. Head.
The picturesquely located home farm of three hundred acres is owned by Natt and William F. Head. It extends from the house to the Merrimack river, and follows the same for the distance of half a mile, embracing many acres of the fertile intervale lands of that stream. The farm is particularly adapted to grass, and yields about two hundred and fifty tons of hay annually. There are kept on it one hundred head of neat stock and thirty horses. In addition to the homestead, the brothers own large tracts of outlying wood and pasture lands. The lumber operations which were begun by Col. Nathaniel Head have assumed large proportions in the hands of his descendants. Under the firm name of Head & Dowst, in Manchester, the brothers do a heavy lumber and building business. On the home farm are the famous Head clay banks, where some eight million or more of brick are produced each year. The firm employs, in Hooksett, from seventy-five to one hundred men.
Gov. Head had the advantages of the common school and of the Pembroke Academy. His room-mate at the latter was Mark Bailey, now a professor at Yale College, and between whom a close friendship has since existed. Being only seven years of age when his father died, he soon learned to assist his mother in managing the work of the farm and the mill; and to such an experience, joined with her kindly influence, may be attributed the formation of those
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principles of character which led to the eminent success that he achieved in later years in business and in political life. After the death of his mother, he settled the estate, and with his brother William bought out the other heirs and formed a joint partnership, under the firm name of Natt & W. F. Head, that has con- tinued to the present time, -there never having been any division of their income, or of the large amount of property that they own. On the score of integrity and promptness in meeting every business obligation, it will not be invidious to say that no firm in the state has a higher standing.
From boyhood allied to agriculture, Gov. Head's interest in it has never diminished, notwithstanding the many military and civil honors that came to him in later life. For five years he was a director, and for eleven years the president, of the New Hampshire State Agricultural Society, an officer of the Merrimack County Association, a trustee of the New England society since its organization, and an ex-trustee of the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts at Hanover. For many years he has been a popular speaker at agricultural fairs and farmers' meetings. While president of the state society he inaugurated the first farmers' convention ever held in New England, and which called out many of the ablest agricultural speakers in the country.
Inheriting military taste and enthusiasm from three generations, we find him following in the footsteps of patriotic and distinguished ancestors. He was one of the active spirits in the formation, and was one of the first members, of the famous Hooksett Light Infantry, which was a crack company in the old state forces. September 1, 1847, he was commissioned drum-major of the Eleventh Regiment, third brigade, first division, of the state militia, and served four years. He was an original member of the famous Governor's Horse-Guards, and drum- major and chief bugler during the existence of the corps. He was a charter member and four years commander of the Amoskeag Veterans, of Manchester ; is an honorary member of the Boston Lancers, and is a member, an ex-sergeant, of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery, of Boston. He was chief on the staff of Gov. Joseph A. Gilmore, and is an honorary member of several other military or- ganizations. The Head Guards, of Manchester, one of the oldest companies under the present militia system, was named in his honor.
In this connection it may be stated that when the Soldiers' Asylum near Augusta, Me., was burned, Gov. Head was appointed to the charge of that in- stitution during the illness of the deputy-governor, and subsequently rebuilt the establishment. He had previously, as a contractor, built several miles of the Concord & Portsmouth Railroad between Suncook and Candia, and also the road-bed and bridges from Suncook to Hooksett, and the branch line from Suncook to Pittsfield.
In early life he was elected to various town offices; was commissioned a deputy-sheriff, and was a representative in the legislature from Hooksett in 1861 and 1862.
The appointment which brought him most conspicuously before the public ·was that of adjutant, inspector, and quartermaster general of the state, which he received from Gov. Gilmore, March 26, 1864. He was called to that office at a period when the republic was in one of the most serious crises of the great civil war, and when the loyal people of New Hampshire were putting forth every effort to enlist the men called for under the President's proclamation of the preceding month. On entering the office he found every department lamentably incom- plete, but little matter having been collated in relation to the equipping of the troops or their achievements in the field, although the state had, up to that time, furnished twenty-six thousand soldiers. In truth, not a full set of muster-in rolls of any regiment was found in the office. Notwithstanding these obstacles,
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and with no appropriation to draw upon, Gen. Head promptly entered upon the duties of his position, procuring the necessary outfit for the office, and upon his own responsibility employing clerks. He did this trusting in the legislature for re-imbursement, which it not only cheerfully made, but made all additional appro- priations that were called for. The faithful manner in which all the clerical work was performed, the method and persistency shown in hunting up and plac- ing on file the records of our soldiers, and the system exhibited in preserving and filing the valuable and extensive correspondence, - were all worthy of the greatest praise. The reports issued during Gen. Head's administration not only give the name and history of every officer and soldier who went into the service from our state, but they embrace biographical sketches of all the field officers who fell in battle or who died of disease during the war, together with a brief history of all the organizations, giving their principal movements from their departure. to their return home. These books also include the military history of New Hampshire from 1623 to 1861, the data for which were gathered with great per- severance and under many discouragements from various sources in this and other states and from the rolls in the war department at Washington, thus mak- ing the united reports a work of inestimable value to the present and coming generations, and, at the same time, constituting an invaluable contribution to the martial history of the nation. He was the first adjutant-general in our country who conceived the idea of having handsomely engraved on steel, with attractive and appropriate symbols and of a size adapted to framing, a memorial certificate to be presented to all surviving officers and soldiers from our state, and to the widows or nearest relatives of those who gave their lives in the great struggle for the preservation of the republic. This testimonial was filled up with the name and rank, and also the regiment and company with which the men were connected, and the nature and length of their services. It will not be invidious to say that no other state had during the war an abler or more efficient and pa- triotic adjutant-general than New Hampshire, or one who was more devoted to the men on their way to the field, while there, or on their return after peace was declared. Many a veteran will remember with gratitude his fatherly care of them after their discharge, and his good counsel and assistance in saving them from the hands of sharpers who were always in waiting to take advantage of the necessi- ties of soldiers. From his own private means Gen. Head extended aid to all sol- diers needing it; and to the credit of New Hampshire "boys in blue" it should be recorded that he never lost a dollar by such confidence and generosity. It . seems almost unnecessary to add that his constant and unwearied devotion to them secured for him not only their highest respect and warmest esteem, but won for him the enduring title of " the soldier's friend."
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