USA > New Hampshire > State builders; an illustrated historical and biographical record of the state of New Hampshire at the beginning of the twentieth century > Part 16
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From 1876 to 1879 he acceptably filled the office of judge of probate for Hillsborough county, but the temp- tations of lucrative private practice caused his resigna- tion from the bench. In 1873 and 1874 he was a mem-
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HENRY E. BURNHAM, United States Senator from New Hampshire, 1903
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ber of the New Hampshire legislature, and in 1889 he sat in the convention called for the revision of the state constitution. In 1900 he was again elected to the legis- lature, and in that same year became a candidate for United States senator. After a long and taxing canvass his candidacy was crowned with success and he took his seat in the United States Senate on the 4th of March, 1901, where, although a new member, he has already shown marked qualifications as a safe and reliable and industrious legislator.
Judge Burnham is a member of the Masonic order and has taken a deep interest in the affairs of the fraternity, having filled all the offices. In Washington lodge at Manchester he became an officer of the Grand Lodge of the state in 1885, and was elected Grand Master of that body. He is also a prominent member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.
In 1874 he married Miss Elizabeth H. Patterson of Manchester, and they have three daughters.
Senator Burnham's gifts of oratory are widely recog- nized. A clear, logical, eloquent, convincing speaker, possessed of fine presence and rich voice, choice diction and an effective manner, he won his widest fame in his profession as an advocate, swaying juries almost invari- ably at his will. In public life this ability has served him in good stead, and both on the stump and in the forum of state and national legislative action he has be- come a commanding figure.
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WINSTON CHURCHILL.
A recent addition to the ranks of New Hampshire citizenship, attracted hither by the unrivalled beauties of our scenery, is Winston Churchill, the distinguished novelist, who was born in St. Louis, Mo., November JO, 1871. Receiving his preliminary education in the Smith Academy in his native state, he was appointed a cadet at the United States Naval Academy at Anna- polis, Md., whence he was graduated in 1894. The lit- erary bent, however, was too strong upon him to per- mit a divided duty, and resigning from the navy, Mr. Churchill entered upon a writer's career and attached himself to the editorial staff of a well-known periodical. His first published novel, "The Celebrity," met with no inconsiderable success, and bore the signs of that prom- ise which his later work has so well fulfilled, and the first permanent result of his emancipation from the edi- torial desk was that stirring novel of American patriot- ism, "Richard Carvel," the first of a trilogy upon Ameri- can historical subjects, the second of which, "The Crisis," dealing with the Civil War in the same bril- liant spirit in which its forerunner had treated the Revo- lution, engenders the hope that the completing novel of the series will still further advance the fame of its author.
Taking up his residence in the beautiful town of Cor- nish, in the midst of that distinguished colony of writ- ers, painters, sculptors and professional workers who have made their summer homes there, Mr. Churchill's
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attachment to the beautiful scenes of New Hampshire has caused him to cast his lot permanently with that of the state and he has enrolled himself in the list of her citizens with a firm desire to act well his part in advanc- ing all the elements of the welfare of the community. In line with this notion Mr. Churchill accepted an elec- tion as member of the legislature from Cornish, and by liis active espousal of measures designed to promote the prosperity of the state has shown himself to be one of her sons most surely to be counted upon to co-operate in movements looking to a wider and better future for the commonwealth. At his beautiful estate in Cornish Mr. Churchill dispenses a charming and liberal hospitality. Aside from his literary affiliations Mr. Churchill has wide social relations and is a member of the Union club, Boston; of the Century club, New York; of the Univer- sity club, St. Louis; of the Blue Mountain Forest Game club, Newport, New Hampshire; an honorary member of the Vermont Fish and Game league; member of the executive committee of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and a vice-president of the New Hampshire Exchange club.
2II
CHESTER B. JORDAN.
No man of this generation in New Hampshire has pos- sessed the confidence, esteem, love and admiration of his fellow citizens to a greater degree than Chester B. Jordan, governor of the state in the years 1901 and 1902.
He was born in Colebrook October 15, 1839, and there passed his boyhood and youth in hard and almost inces- sant labor upon the farm. In 1860 he entered upon his long cherished desire to gain an education and worked his way through Colebrook academy and Kimball Union academy at Meriden, graduating from the latter institu- tion in 1866.
He was elected superintending school committee of the town of Colebrook 1865-7 and was selectman in 1867. In 1868 he was appointed clerk of the court for Coos county, a position which he filled very satisfactorily, until the Democratic overturn of 1874.
Meanwhile he was studying law and in 1875 he was admitted to the bar, a profession which he has followed ever since with distinguished success. At this writing and for many years past the firm of Drew, Jordan & Buckley has been recognized as one of the ablest in the state. Governor Jordan has been a close student of the law and has won fame both as a counsellor and in the drafting of legal papers.
Outside of the law his scope of usefulness has been wide. In 1870 he purchased the Coos Republican and edited it ably and fearlessly. For forty years he has written for the newspapers. Besides he has written much
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CHESTER B. JORDAN, Governor of New Hampshire, 1901-1902
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for historical societies, and for the Bar Association. In 1880 he was elected to the state legislature and in 1881 was its speaker, presiding with impartiality, dignity and honor. In 1896 he repeated this success as president of the state senate; and in 1900 his election to the chief mag- istracy of the state followed as a natural sequence to his splendid showing in the other offices filled by him. His administration as governor will live in the records of the state as a period of happiness and prosperity in a well- governed commonwealth.
Meanwhile he had served upon the staff of Governor Straw in 1872; had received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth college in 1881; that of B. S. from N. H. college of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1901, and the same year LI .. D. from Dartmouth college. He presided over the Republican state convention in 1882.
Governor Jordan is prominent in Masonry and is a member of many historical and other societies, bar asso- ciations, etc. He loves almost equally his library and his camp in the woods and counts those hours golden spent in either. He is in the directorship of two banks in his home town.
Strong in body and mind, loving and well-beloved, Chester B. Jordan represents the best type of the citizen- ship of the state whose destinies he so ably guided as gov- ernor.
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FRANK WEST ROLLINS.
Frank West Rollins, forty-fifth governor of New Hampshire and father of Old Home Week, was born in Concord, Feb. 24, 1860, the son of Senator Edward H. and Ellen (West) Rollins. He was prepared for col- lege in the public schools of the city, supplemented by private tutoring with Prof. Moses Woolson, and entered the class of 1881 at the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology, Boston. Later he studied at the Harvard Law school and in the law office of Hon. John Y. Mugridge, and was admitted to the bar in 1882.
He practised his profession but a short time, however, finding his life work in the business of banking. He entered the firm of E. H. Rollins & Sons, becoming the manager of its Boston branch, and to it he has given the best fruits of his ability, sagacity, experience and enter- prise. It has steadily grown in importance and success until to-day it ranks with the best known and most firmly established institutions of the kind in New England.
Into that portion of his time not taken up by business demands and responsibilities Mr. Rollins has crowded a variety of accomplishments and achievements almost in- credible in number and extent.
Always devoted to literature he has made for himself a reputation as a translator from the French; as a novel- ist; as an orator of occasion; and as the author of a guide book to New Hampshire which has been characterized as more nearly approaching the completeness and reli-
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FRANK WEST ROLLINS, Governor of New Hampshire, 1899-1900
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ability of a Baedeker than any other similar publication in this country.
In the New Hampshire National Guard he has served in all grades from private in the ranks through line and staff to commander in chief.
The success of former Governor Rollins is as remark- able in politics as in other branches of his life interest. The first office for which he was a candidate was state senator, and he was elected from the Concord district in November, 1894. Upon the assembling of the legislature he was chosen president of the upper branch. In Novem- ber, 1898, he was triumphantly elected governor of the state and as such chief executive his fame spread from ocean to ocean and even beyond the seas.
His greatest achievement, perhaps, was the institution of Old Home Week, now a fixture on the calendar of the state, and a festival whose significance and success will go on increasing as the years roll by.
Retirement from the position of chief executive has apparently made Mr. Rollins only the more active in his endeavors for the welfare of his state. For good roads and for forest preservation he is working with able ardor, and already great results are in prospect.
It is not too much to say that Governor Rollins, still a young man, is to-day the best-known citizen of New Hampshire; and that he deserves to be.
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GEORGE A. RAMSDELL.
George A. Ramsdell, governor of New Hampshire in 1897 and 1898, was born in Milford, March II, 1834, and died in Nashua, November 16, 1900.
His earliest ancestors in America on both sides were English .emigrants and among the first settlers of Massa- chusetts. In 1815 his grandfather, Captain William Ramsdell, purchased the farm in Milford which was the home of the family for more than seventy-five years. His mother was the eldest daughter of Rev. Humphrey Moore, D. D., pastor of the Congregational church in Milford for a third of a century.
After a course at Appleton academy, now McCollom institute, Mont Vernon, Mr. Ramsdell completed a year at Amherst college, but was unable by reason of ill health to finish the course. He continued his studies inde- pendently, however, and in 1857 he was admitted to the Hillsborough county bar.
Soon after he located at Peterborough where he prac- tised for six years until, in 1864, he was appointed clerk of the supreme court for Hillsborough county and removed to Amherst. In 1866 he went with the court records to Nashua and there resided the remainder of his life. In 1887 he resigned the office he had filled so long and faithfully and resumed the practice of his profession.
His honorable record was recognized by Governor John B. Smith, who, on the death of Judge Allen in 1893,
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GEORGE A. RAMSDELL, Governor of New Hampshire, 1897-1898
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tendered Mr. Ramsdell a seat on the supreme bench; and by Dartmouth college, which conferred on him the honorary degree of Master of Arts.
Mr. Ramsdell's public career included ten years' service on the board of education, twenty years as trustee of the public library and many other places of trust and responsibility in Nashua. In 1870-1-2 he was a member of the legislature, where he won an enviable reputation as a debater. He was a working member of the constitu- tional convention of 1876 and represented the third dis- trict in the governor's council in 1891-2. In the Repub- lican gubernatorial convention of 1894 he received a flattering vote, and in 1896 the distinguished honor was bestowed upon him of a nomination by acclamation. In the election that followed he received the largest plurality of any candidate for governor in the history of the state; and by his administration proved that this trust of his fellow citizens was well founded.
Governor Ramsdell was prominent in the business af- fairs of Nashua as a banker and as a director in railroad and manufacturing companies. He was one of the leaders of the laymen in the Congregational denomination in New Hampshire and was a 32nd degree Mason. A thor- ough student and facile writer, his history of Milford, the last important work of his life, is a valuable contribution to the annals of the state.
He married, November 29, 1860, Eliza D. Wilson of Deering, and to them three sons and a daughter were given; Harry W., born February 1, 1862; Arthur D., born August 2, 1863; Charles T., born July 7, 1865; and Annie M., born December 8, 1873.
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BISHOP DENIS M. BRADLEY.
Rt. Rev. Denis M. Bradley, first Catholic bishop of Manchester, was born in Ireland, February 25, 1846. When he was eight years of age his mother came to America with her five children and settled in Manches- 1er. There the future bishop attended the Catholic schools of the city and later was sent to the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Mass., from which he gradu- ated. He then entered upon the study of theology in the St. Joseph's Provincial seminary at Troy, N. Y., and was there ordained to the priesthood June 3, 1871, by Rt. Rev. Bishop McQuaid of Rochester.
Manchester at that time belonged to the diocese of Portland, and Bishop Bacon appointed the young priest to the cathedral in the latter city, where he remained during the lifetime of that prelate, serving during the last two years as rector of the cathedral and chancellor of the diocese. He continued to discharge the same duties under Bishop Healey until June 16, 1880, when he was appointed pastor of St. Joseph's Church, Man- chester.
Upon the erection of the state of New Hampshire into a separate diocese in 1884 Father Bradley was recom- mended for the new see by the bishops of New England on account of his zeal and services in parochial duties and his experience in diocesan affairs, gained at Port- land. He was accordingly apointed by Pope Leo XIII and consecrated June II, 1884.
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RT. REV. DENIS M. BRADLEY, Roman Catholic Bishop of New Hampshire
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Under his wise administration the cause of Catholicity has prospered wonderfully in New Hampshire. He combines the rare qualities of leadership with great ex- ecutive ability and personal traits that have endeared him to hosts of non-Catholics, thus enabling him to do much towards allaying prejudice against his church.
The first Catholic church in New Hampshire was built in 1823 by Rev. Virgil H. Barber, a convert. Ten years later another church was erected at Dover, and for twenty years these were the only Catholic churches in the state. In 1847 Rev. John B. Daley, a Franciscan father, began a church in Manchester, the Rev. William McDonald coming one year later, as the first pastor, completed the first Catholic church built in Manchester. The Sisters of Mercy, the first religious community es- tablished in New Hampshire, came to Manchester under Mother Francis Warde, at the request of Rev. William McDonald, in 1860. At the time of Bishop Bradley's consecration in St. Joseph's church, which is now his cathedral, there were thirty-seven churches and chapels. in the state and thirty-eight priests. The Catholic popu- lation of New Hampshire was about 50,000 and there were 3,500 pupils in the Catholic schools.
These figures have now been doubled and in some cases trebled; in fact it is doubtful if any other denomination can point to such a record of rapid growth and progress in so short a time. To the parochial schools for boys and girls there have been added high schools for boys, acade- mies for girls and one college. Orphan asylums, infant asylums, hospitals, homes for aged women and homes for working girls are maintained. There are several con- vents of brothers and a score of convents of sisters.
And to Bishop Bradley a great share of the credit for this swift but solid growth and prosperity is due and is freely accorded.
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JOHN BUTLER SMITH.
John Butler Smith, former governor of New Hamp- shire, was born in Saxton's River village, Vermont, April 12, 1838. His parents moved to Hillsborough, N. H., in 1847, where as boy and man he has since chiefly lived. Educated in the public schools of Hillsborough, and at Francestown academy. Has followed the business of woollen manufacturing, which was his father's occupa- tion. Is now president and chief owner of the Contoo- cook Mills company, manufacturing knit goods, employ- ing two hundred and fifty hands, having stores in Boston and New York for the sale of its products, which have attained an enviable reputation. Such establishments as. this in the hands of such men, of whom Mr. Smith may be said to be a type, have done much to build up our state," and to offset the shrinkage in population and values in the farming districts, by the growth of the factory villages. Mr. Smith is president of the Hillsborough guaranty sav- ings bank.
In religion he is a Congregationalist, of which church he is a devout member. He married Emma Lavender. of Boston, Mass., an accomplished Christian lady, with agreeable and winning manners, whose affability and womanly tact have been eminently useful to her husband in all the course of his business and official life. Of three children born to them, Butler Lavender, the first- born, died at the age of two years. Archibald Lavender and Norman are still living.
Besides his manufacturing and mercantile interests
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JOHN B. SMITH, Governor of New Hampshire, 1893-1894
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Mr. Smith is a considerable owner of real estate in Bos- ton and in various cities and towns of New Hampshire. He has, however, attained his prominence chiefly in po- litical and official life. In 1884 was alternate to the Chi- cago national Republican convention. Same year an elector on the Republican ticket. In 1887-9 member of the Governor's council. In 1890 chairman of state central committee. In 1888 Mr. Smith was prominent in the republican state convention for nomination to the governorship, but was defeated, Hon. D. H. Goodell, of Antrim, being the successful contestant. Urged to enter the lists again in 1890 he declined in favor of his warm friend and the more "logical candidate" Hon. Hiram A. Tuttle. In 1892, however, the "logic of politics" pointed very strongly to Mr. Smith as the coming man; indeed in the months immediately preceding the convention hardly any other name was mentioned in con- nection with the nomination to the governorship on the part of the republicans. And so it happened in the state convention of the party in September, Mr. Smith was greatly honored by a unanimous nomination by acclama- tion. The campaign which followed was a very warm and spirited one: almost we might say the last of its kind in this state, a kind which began with "Tippecanoe and Tyler too," and continued through such campaigns as Fremont's, Grant's and the last Harrison's. Although the campaign of '92 had plenty of accessories of the torch-light and the drum, it was pre-eminently a speech- making canvass. Large and enthusiastic meetings were held in all the considerable towns of the state, and in all the cities,-and to such good purpose that although in many states where the republicans had been uniformly victorious they suffered miserable defeat, and in the nation the loss of the presidency and congress in both branches, yet New Hampshire made substantial gains for the Republicans. Mr. Smith was elected by the vote of
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the people at the polls, and the state legislature was re- publican, in both houses by an overwhelming majority.
Governor Smith served in this high office the cus- tomary two years, '93-'95, with credit and distinction. Since that time he has held no public office, although several times named in connection with high and honor- able places.
The real builders of our good state are men like the subject of this brief sketch, who have risen by sheer force of genius and character, from humble yet honorable con- ditions to prominence and influence in the community.
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HIRAM A. TUTTLE, Governor of New Hampshire, 1891-1892
HIRAM A. TUTTLE.
Hiram A. Tuttle, former governor of the state of New Hampshire and one of her most successful and sub- stantial business men, was born in the town of Barn- stead in 1837. From boyhood he earned his own living and made his own way in the world, beginning as a farmer and shoemaker. At the age of 17 he entered the employ of a clothing house, soon became the manager of its branch establishment in Pittsfield and not long afterwards the proprietor. For two score years and more he has continued this business, constantly in- creasing its volume and scope and earning far and wide the reputation of being as honest as he is affable, as enterprising as he is sagacious. Mr. Tuttle has also engaged very successfully in other lines of business, bank- ing, lumbering, etc. His wealth, his influence and his business ability and experience are always ready to serve the development of new industries, the increase of the material resources of his town, county and state. In Pittsfield he is a trustee of the savings bank, a director in the National bank and a trustee of the academy. The great success of a recent Old Home Day celebration in the town was largely due to his efforts and backing.
In 1873 and 1874 Mr. Tuttle was elected a member of the legislature from the town of Pittsfield; in 1876 he served on the staff of Governor Person C. Cheney, with the rank of colonel; in 1878 he was a member of the governor's council, and a year later was re-elected under
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the new constitution for a term of two years. Proving himself in all these capacities a valuable public servant. his name was presented to the state convention of the Republican party in 1888 as a candidate for the guber- natorial nomination. This he did not receive at the hands of that convention, but in 1890 the honor was given him almost unanimously, followed by a spirited and successful campaign at the polls.
Taking his seat in January, 1891, as governor of the commonwealth of New Hampshire Mr. Tuttle discharged the important duties of that position so faithfully and well that his administration will always be of good repute in the history of the state. Since its close he has devoted himself just as sincerely as a private citizen as when the chief executive to the best interests of New Hampshire. Many positions demanding fidelity and ability of the highest order he has filled and is still filling in both public and private life.
In very truth one of the bulwarks of the community is Hiram A. Tuttle of Pittsfield, type of the best as kind friend, good citizen, public-spirited and successful man of affairs.
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FRANK P. CARPENTER
FRANK P. CARPENTER.
There are in every community men who never pose in the public eye; who attend steadfastly and successfully to their own affairs and expect others to do likewise; but who in any public need or emergency, on the occa- sion of any unusual demand for individual or civic action, can be counted upon as in the forefront of those willing to do their part and to do it well. Such men as these command the heartiest respect and admiration of their fellow citizens. They are the bulwarks of munici- pal, state and national prosperity; the great leavening force that makes the heterogeneous units of our United States into the world's greatest power for good.
The city of Manchester, the metropolis of New Hamp- shire, has fully her share of such men; and one of them whose name wili spring at once to the lips of those ac- quainted with her municipal life is that of Frank P. Carpenter, successful manufacturer, public-spirited citi- zen, faithful occupant of positions of responsibility and trust.
Mr. Carpenter was born October 28, 1845, and is therefore to-day in the very prime of life. He was edu- cated in the schools of the city of Concord, and to the foundation of learning there gained he has added those fruits of culture which can come only from wide travel, cultured intercourse and personal investigation.
In 1872 Mr. Carpenter married Elenora Blood, daughter of the late Aretas Blood, whose name stands
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among the highest for honor and usefulness in the annals of the city of Manchester. To Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter two children have been born, Aretas B. and Mary E. Carpenter.
For more than a quarter of a century, or since 1876, Mr. Carpenter has been adding substantially to the ma- terial wealth and magnificent sum total of products of the city of Manchester, as a paper manufacturer.
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