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 23
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Almost immediately after, by an act approved April IO, 1891, the legislature ordered the removal of the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Me- chanic Arts from Hanover to Durham, and provided for the independent government of the college by a board of trustees appointed by the governor with the consent of the council; and the sum of one hundred thousand dollars was appropriated for this purpose.
One other item of importance is the establishment of an experiment station, in accordance with the act of con- gress approved March 2, 1887. The preamble of this act reads as follows: "That in order to aid in diffusing among the people of the United States useful and prac- tical information on subjects connected with agriculture, and to promote scientific investigation and experiment respecting the principles and applications of agricultural science, there shall be established, under the direction of
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the college or colleges, or agricultural department of the colleges, in each state or territory, established or which may be established in accordance with an act approved July 2, 1882, entitled 'An act donating public lands to the several states and territories, which may provide col- leges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts,' or any supplement to said act, a department to be known and designated as 'Agricultural experiment sta- tion.'" For the maintenance of this experiment station the sum of fifteen thousand dollars annually was appro- priated, for the benefit of each state. In accordance with this act an experiment station was established in con- nection with this institution, and is at present so main- tained.
From the first it was evident that the design of the several acts of congress and of the legislature was to establish an institution of a technical character. The rapid development of manufacturing industries of all kinds, and the progressive application of scientific prin- ciples to practical affairs of life had already given an immense impulse to technical education. Recognizing the obligation imposed by the several congressional and legislative enactments, the trustees of this college con- formed, not only to the letter, but to the spirit of their instructions. Provision was made for full collegiate courses in agriculture, in mechanical engineering, in elec- trical engineering, and in technical chemistry. It was not deemed expedient to establish a department of civil engineering, in as much as there was a school of civil engineering already existing in the state.
In accordance with more recent legislative provisions some shorter courses in agriculture have been added. These are more immediately practical and are less ex- acting in their preliminary requirements than are the four-year courses.
The most recent catalogue of the college gives a list
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of eighteen members of the faculty, and during the cur- rent year it is probable that this number will be increased to twenty. The catalogue, which may be had upon ap- plication to the college, also contains a condensed de- scription of the plant at large. This consists of the main building (Thompson hall) ; the science building (Conant hall); the shop building, engine and boiler room; the agricultural experiment station (Nesmith hall); the dairy building; a farm of three hundred and forty-two acres; three barns and two greenhouses. The shop building is well equipped with the requisites for instruc- tion in iron working and wood working, and with vari- ous pieces of scientific apparatus for the investigation of mechanical problems and for scientific research. The forge shop, which has recently been added, is fully equipped with down-draft forges, with anvils, and the necessary tools.
The lower floor of the science building is devoted to physics and electrical engineering. The upper floor is divided into chemical laboratories.
There is in process of construction a brick building for the use of the departments of agriculture and horti- culture. When this building is finished and fully equipped with the required apparatus, it will afford a place for the departments indicated, and will thus greatly relieve the pressure upon the other departments.
The college has grown constantly since its removal to Durham, the enrolment each year showing a marked increase over preceding years, although there has been from year to year a very decided advance in the stand- ard of the required scholarship. The entrance require- ments for the four-year course at present are equivalent to a full high school course. Entrance requirements for the two-year course are less exacting and may be met by a student who has had an ordinary common school education.
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One marked feature of the life of the college is its sim- plicity and economy. The average total outlay of the stu- dent is hardly in excess of two hundred and fifty dollars for the year. Many of the students earn enough to help them appreciably in meeting necessary expenses. In some cases students who have been well prepared and have had a fair amount of time at their disposal have been able to pay practically all their expenses at Durham. But these are exceptional cases.
The outlook for the college is exceedingly bright. With an increasing constituency, both of students and of those who are interested in the educational interests of the state of New Hampshire, and with its undeviating purpose to advance the cause of technical education in the state, the college has gained a firm standing in the public confidence and esteem, finding a constant demand for its graduates in the abundant opportunities of indus- trial life.
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CHARLES FRANCIS PIPER
CHARLES FRANCIS PIPER.
Charles Francis Piper was born May 22d, 1849, at Lee, but has spent nearly all of his active life in Wolfe- borough, where he is now easily in the first rank of active and influential citizens. He first came to Wolfeborough as a student at the old Academy, and at the conclusion of his studies he went to Boston and entered the employ of a wholesale dry goods house. The great Boston fire of 1872 put an end to this and he then entered the railway mail service for a run between Boston and Bangor. He continued in this employment until 1876, although in the meantime he had purchased a clothing business in Wolfe- borough, to which upon his retirement from the mail service he devoted his entire attention, and with which he was identified until recently. Mr. Piper's identifi- cation with the life of Wolfeborough is very com- plete. During the administrations of Hayes, Garfield and Arthur, he was postmaster of the town, having previous- ly served as town clerk. He has been town treasurer for seventeen years, has represented the town on the Republican State Committee for twenty-four years, and is now county member of the executive committee of that body. He has been a delegate from Wolfeborough to every state convention of his party since 1880. In 1887 he represented Wolfeborough in the legislature. In 1896 he was nominated for member of the Governor's council and was elected in a nominally Democratic district by a phenomenal majority. In 1890 he was elected the first
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cashier of the Wolfeborough Loan & Banking co. and still holds that position. Mr. Piper has been instrumen- tal in the development of many enterprises in his town and its vicinity, and has operated extensively in lumber and real estate. He is a member of the firm of S. W. Clow & Co., and in association with other gentlemen con- trols a long line of water front on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee and Lake Wentworth, which is rapidly being developed for summer resort purposes. Mr. Piper is a trustee of the Brewster free academy, a munificently endowed secondary school at Wolfeborough, and is in every way in touch with all that goes to advance the in- terests of the community in which he lives. He was prac- tically instrumental in formulating the progressive and liberal policy with which the summer resort industry has been developed in Wolfeborough and vicinity, and the great volume of business of this sort which centres there may be fairly said to be largely due to his wise and pru- dent, yet generous and hospitable methods in inviting both the transient and the permanent summer guests. Mr. Piper is a member of Morning Star lodge, Carroll chap- ter, Orphan council, and St. Paul's commandery in the Masonic orders; of the Red Men; of the Patrons of Husbandry. He married, Dec. 10th, 1874, Ida E. Dur- gin, a member of a thoroughly representative Wolfe- borough family, and they have one child, a son, Carroll D., born May 19, 1880, who was graduated from Har- vard with the class of 1902. Mr. Piper's home is a beautiful estate on the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, where he delights to dispense that genial hospitality which is so characteristic of the man.
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FERDINAND A. STILLINGS, M.D.
FERDINAND A. STILLINGS, M. D.
At Jefferson, March 30, 1849, was born Ferdinand Anson Stillings, the son of Anson Stillings and Phoebe De Forest Keniston. He was educated in the schools of Jef- ferson and at Lancaster Academy, and choosing medicine for his profession, attended lectures at Dartmouth Medi- cal school, where he received his degre in 1870. In that year he was appointed assistant physician at the McLean Asylum in Somerville, Mass., where he remained for three years, after which he pursued his studies in the hos- pitals of London, Paris and Dublin. Returning to America in 1874, he settled in Concord, where he soon built up a practice which is now recognized as one of the largest in the state and from which he is frequently called to other points as a surgeon and consultant.
In the field of surgery, Dr. Stillings has been especial- ly conspicuous and successful, and he is at the head of the surgical staff of the Margaret Pillsbury general hos- pital in Concord, and of the Memorial Hospital for women in the same city.
Dr. Stillings is also the chief surgeon for the south- ern division of the Boston & Maine railroad, and he has served as surgeon-general upon the staff of Gov. Hiram A. Tuttle and of Gov. Frank W. Rollins. While in this capacity he greatly raised the standing of the medical department of the National guard by reorganizing the hospital corps and by establishing drills for its members with a view to enhancing their efficiency in time of need.
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As a result of these efforts during the Spanish war the first New Hampshire regiment went into the field with a hospital corps competent to care for its sick and injured.
In 1899, Dr. Stillings was chosen to represent Ward five, Concord, in the legislature, and served as chairman of the committee on banks. He was re-elected to the legislature in 1901, and served as head of the committee on insane asylum, in which capacity he was successful in securing an appropriation for much-needed repairs and additions to the state hospital. During this session also Dr. Stillings made a profound study of tuberculosis, and realizing the great danger to the public health from the effects of this disease and knowing, too, the ameliorative and remedial agencies which had been successfully em- ployed in other states to curtail the disastrous results of this dread malady, introduced and caused to be passed a joint resolution creating a commission to investigate as to the advisability of establishing a state sanatorium for consumptives. This commission has prepared and pre- sented to the legislature of the current year a report heartily advocating the establishment of such a sanatori- um, and Dr. Stillings, who in the meantime has been chosen a member of the state senate from the 10th Dis- trict, is one of its strongest advocates in the legislature.
Dr. Stillings's professional affiliations are numerous and important. He is an active and prominent member of the New Hampshire Medical society, the New Hamp- shire Surgical club, of the Center District Medi-
cal society, of the International Association of railway surgeons, and of the surgical section of the New York Medico-Legal association. He is an hon- orary member of the New York Association of railway surgeons and of numerous other professional bodies. He has also wide business connections, being a director in the Mechanics' National Bank, and a member of the govern- ing board of numerous other financial and business
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bodies. He is a member of the Wonolancet club and served several terms as president of the Passaconaway outing club.
In 1878 Dr. Stillings married Grace M. Minot, second daughter of the late Josiah Minot, and has two daugh- ters. Their home on Pleasant street, shaded by the ven- erable and graceful Lafayette elm, is one of the most charmingly hospitable in Concord.
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REV. D. C. BABCOCK, D. D.
Daniel Clark Babcock was born in Blandford, Mass., May 31, 1835, the second of four sons of Russell and Susan A. (Clark) Babcock, of whom he alone is the sur- vivor. He received his early education in the public schools of Blandford.
He was converted in Milford, Mass., in March, 1852, and joined the M. E. church in that place. In 1854 he transferred his membership to Sutton, Mass., and in the spring following was given an Exhorter's License, after which he conducted Sunday services most of the time.
The first of January, 1857, he moved to Oakdale, Mass., where he was given a Local Preacher's License, and upon invitation filled a vacancy as preacher at Sud- bury till the following session of the Conference.
After the Conference at Lowell, in April, 1857, he was placed in charge of a Mission in Somerville, Mass.
In April of the following year ( 1858) he went to school at the East Greenwich, R. I. Academy, and supplied a pulpit at Wickford, R. I., to meet school expenses.
In February, 1859, he accepted a call to take the place of Rev. E. W. Parker, at Lunenburg, Vt., he, having been appointed a missionary to India. Late in April of the same year he was given a Charge at McIndoes Falls, Vt., that he might attend the school at Newbury. There he remained two years.
In April, 1861, he joined the New Hampshire Con- ference, at Concord, and held the following appoint-
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REV. D. C. BABCOCK, D.D.
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ments :- Bow, 1861; Fisherville (Penacook), 1862; Pleasant Street, Salem, 1863-4; Great Falls, High Street, 1865-6; Claremont, 1867; Manchester, St. Paul's, 1868-9; Nashua, Chestnut Street, 1870.
While stationed at Bow he entered the Theological Seminary at Concord, from which he graduated in June, [864.
In 1871 he received the appointment as Corresponding Secretary of the N. H. Temperance Alliance. From 1872 to 1887 he was Corresponding Secretary of the State Temperance Union of Pennsylvania. From 1880 to 1888 he was also one of the secretaries of the National Temperance Society. For two years he was at the head of the Grand Lodge, I. O. G. T., of Pennsylvania, and editor of the "Lodge Visitor"; and for several years published the "Pennsylvania Temperance Union," both of which were monthly journals.
During the sixteen years devoted to this special work, he averaged eighteen sermons and addresss a month, and fifteen thousand miles of travel a year. He also conducted about forty Temperance Camp Meetings at various summer resorts.
Returning to the regular pastorate in New Hampshire, in 1888, he was appointed to the following Charges :- Claremont, 1888-9; Lancaster, 1890-2; Whitefield, 1893-5.
In 1896 he was appointed to the special work as Sec- retary of the N. H. Law and Order League, with head- quarters at Concord.
The following year he returned to the pastorate, and has held the following Charges: Dover, 1897-9; Derry, St. Luke's, 1900-03.
In April, 1860, he was united in marriage to Miss Clara Albee Parkman of Sutton, Mass. Two daughters came to cheer and bless their home life; Susie P., who lives at home, and Mary A., who, in 1894, was married
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to J. Roy Dinsmore, a member of the New Hampshire Conference.
In 1896, the American Temperance University of Harriman, Tenn., conferred the honorary title, D. D., upon him in grateful acknowledgment of his effective and wide spread work in the temperance cause.
Mr. Babcock is well and favorably known throughout the state as a strong Gospel Preacher, and a fearless and ardent supporter of the temperance cause. His long experience upon the public platform throughout the country has well fitted him as a leader in this special branch of reform.
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WILLIAM HENRY WEED HINDS, M.D.
WILLIAM HENRY WEED HINDS, M. D.
A young physician, well schooled, and already firmly established in the practice of his profession, is Dr. Will- iam Henry Weed Hinds of Milford, who was born in that town July 22nd, 1867. He bears his father's name and follows his father's profession. The elder Hinds was a graduate of Harvard and a veteran of the Civil war. His son was educated in the public schools of his native town, graduating at the High school, with a special course at
ยท Cushing academy, Ashburnham, Mass. He studied his profession at the Boston University School of Medicine, and received his degree in 1895. He entered upon prac- tice at Milford, occupying the office in which his father practised for so many years, and has from the outset en- joyed a practice lucrative and full of promise. For five years he has been secretary of the Milford board of health, and is medical examiner for several of the leading life insurance companies. He married Miss K. Maude Ken- ney, of Milford, and they have one son, who bears in the third generation the name of his father and grandfather. Dr. Hinds is a member of the New Hampshire Homeo- pathic Medical society, and of the American Institute of Homeopathy. In politics he is a Republican and in re- ligion a Unitarian. He is a Mason, and a Past Master of Benevolent lodge No. 7 of Milford.
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CHARLES RUMFORD WALKER, M. D.
Charles. Rumford Walker, M. D., descendant in the fourth generation from the Rev. Timothy Walker, the first minister of Concord, was born in that city February 13, 1852, and was fitted for college at the Phillips-Exeter Academy, where he graduated in 1870. Four years later he received his degree from Yale college, and immediately entered upon the study of medicine at the Harvard Medi- cal school, being graduated from that institution in 1878. Soon after he was appointed member of the house staff at the Boston city hospital, where he served as surgical intern until January, 1879. In February of the same year he went abroad in the further pursuit of his profes- sional studies, and was matriculated in the foremost insti- tutions of Dublin, London, Vienna and Strasburg, his European studies occupying more than two years. In March, 1881, he returned to Concord and established himself in a practice which has now grown to be one of the largest in the city.
In addition to his general practice, Dr. Walker is a member of the staff of the Margaret Pillsbury general hospital, where he has served since the institution was es- tablished, and is also the physician of St. Paul's school. He also served a term as surgeon in the National guard.
In 1899, Dr. Walker was elected president of the New Hampshire Medical society, and held that position during the constitutional term. He is a member of the Ameri- can medical association and of the national board of health.
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CHARLES RUMFORD WALKER, M.D.
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Dr. Walker is a trustee of the New Hampshire savings bank, and is a trustee and treasurer of the Rolfe and Rumford Asylum, a Concord institution endowed by the will of the late Countess Rumford and supporting or- phaned female children. He is also one of the trustees and treasurer of the Timothy and Abigail B. Walker free lecture fund, an endowment of thirty thousand dollars bequeathed in trust for the benefit of the people of Con- cord, and principally administered by Dr. Walker.
Dr. Walker's interest in public affairs has brought him into official positions in the city and state governments, and in 1892 he was elected member of the board of alder- men of Concord from Ward 5. In 1894 he was chosen to represent his ward in the legislature, where he served as a member of the committees on public health and on the state library, of the latter committee being chairman.
Dr. Walker was married January 18, 1888, to Miss " Frances Sheafe of Boston, and has two children, Sheafe Walker and Charles R. Walker, Jr.
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JOSEPH E. A. LANOUETTE, M. D.
Joseph Edouard Adolphe Lanouette is a distinguished appearing medical practitioner of over a score of years' standing in Manchester, having come to the city Jan. 31, 1881. He is in the prime of life, being 53 years of age, having been born Jan. 7, 1850, at Champlain, Que., a place named after the founder of the capital of lower Canada.
He is the son of Capt. Edouard Adolphe and Leocadie ( Hamel) Lanouette, grandson of Col. Joseph Edouard Lanouette. He was educated in the common schools of his native town until 10 years of age; then attended St. Joseph's college, Three Rivers, P. Q .; commenced the study of medicine in 1868, under Drs. C. E. Lemieux, S. Larue, Quebec, and A. H. David, Montreal, Canada; attended three courses of lectures at Laval university, medical department, Quebec, and one course at the Uni- versity of Bishop's Medical college, faculty of medicine, Montreal, P. Q., receiving his degree from the latter April 10, 1872.
Dr. Lanouette practised medicine at Gentilly, Canada, from May, 1872, to January, 1881; and was a surgeon in the Ninety-second battalion of the Canadian militia from 1873-'91; and since the latter year has been a resi- dent of and practitioner in Manchester. He is a member of the New Hampshire Medical society; of the Ameri- can Public Health association; of the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons of the Province of Quebec; of the
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JOSEPH E. A. LANOUETTE, M.D.
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Medical Graduates' society of the University of Bishop's college; vice-president, 1872-'73, of the alumni of Bishop's university; of the American Medical associa- tion; of the Manchester Medical association; of the New Hampshire French Medical society; has been consulting surgeon to the hospital of the Sacred Heart, Manchester, since 1892; public vaccinator for the city of Manchester, 1885-94; was in charge of the smallpox hospital, Man- chester, during the Montreal epidemic of smallpox, 1885; and is medical examiner for several of the old-time insu- rance companies.
On January 30, 1903, he was appointed by Mayor Eugene E. Reed a member of the Manchester Board of Health.
Dr. Lanouette was married November 25, 1872, to Camilla, daughter of B. Maurault, N. P., of Gentilly, P. Q. Their children are: Eva, Adolphe, Gaston and Alice Lanouette. He was married again in 1898 to Pa- mela Maurault, and they have one child, Joseph Edward. The family residence is No. 224 Laurel street.
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JOHN C. FRENCH.
The late John C. French of Manchester, who for thirty years was recognized as the leading member of the fire insurance business in New Hampshire, was born at Pittsfield, March Ist, 1832, the son of Enoch and Eliza (Cate) French. His early advantages were scanty, but by diligent use of the town schools he soon fitted himself to teach in the district school, and with the money thus earned, together with that received for labor on the farm in summer time, he was enabled to pursue his studies at the academies in Pittsfield, Gilmanton and Pembroke. At twenty-one he was engaged by J. C. Colton & co. as an agent and his success was so marked that he was given charge of the Boston agency of the house. In 1855 he was appointed New England agent for the sale of Col- ton's text books and for the next eleven years was en- gaged in this business with them, and with Brown, Tag- gart & Chase, and Charles Scribner & co. In 1866 Mr. French established himself in Manchester as state agent for the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance company. Three years later, having in the meantime assiduously studied the insurance business in all its bearings, Mr. French organized the New Hampshire Fire Insurance company, which proved to be his life work. He was appointed general agent of the company and during the thirty years that he was connected with it in all capaci- ties, from that of agent to that of president, he had the satisfaction of seeing its business mount from almost
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JOHN C. FRENCH
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nothing to assets of more than three million dollars, and to the ownership of a net surplus amounting to one-third of that sum. From a modest office with one clerk he saw its business extend from his native state to nearly every state in the union, employing experienced help in all sections of the country, and writing more than a million and a half of business yearly. In 1895 Mr. French was elected president of the company and held that office until the time of his death, Jan. 8, 1900, which was hastened by a deplorable carriage accident some eight months previously. In addition to his business sagacity he had a marked taste and capacity for matters of his- tory, genealogy and general literature. He was a mem- ber of the New Hampshire Historical society, one of the founders and president of the Manchester Historical as- sociation, a trustee of the Manchester public library and of the N. H. insane asylum. He was an authority on matters of early New Hampshire history and his knowl- edge of bibliography, especially in its historical and gene- alogical branches was wide and accurate. Matters per- taining to the public good always commanded his atten- tion.
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