USA > New Hampshire > The bench and bar of New Hampshire : including biographical notices of deceased judges of the highest court, and lawyers of the province and state, and a list of names of those now living > Part 48
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He was a tall, muscular man, and in his youth was renowned as a wrestler. While he was in college he was called forth to sustain the honor of the institution in a bout with the champion wrestler of the vicinity, and in five minutes' time despoiled him of his laurels. Among his fellow collegians he was thought worthy from that time forth to be ranked with the athletes of classical story.
Like most men of great physical powers, he was extremely good- natured. He was one of the most industrious of lawyers, and gave his days and nights to his causes. Politics he cared little for, and never accepted office. He was especially adapted to the work of the court-room, and it is stated that while he was in prac- tice in Massachusetts no member of the bar there for several years was engaged in as large a number of jury trials as he. In
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this State his practice was scarcely less extensive. As an advo- cate he was eminently successful.
He was married, in 1846, to Olive Wallace of Dover. They had ten children, nine of whom survived him. His eldest son, Arthur F. Norris, is a lawyer of Boston, Massachusetts.
MOSES NORRIS.
Son of Moses and Comfort (Leavitt) Norris ; born, Pittsfield, September 16, 1799 ; Dartmouth College, 1828 ; practiced, Barnstead, Pittsfield, and Manchester ; died, Washington, District of Columbia, January 11, 1855.
This gentleman studied law with Isaac O. Barnes of Barnstead, and began practice and was appointed postmaster in that place in 1832. Three years afterward he decided to remove to Pittsfield, and there became prominent in political affairs, which occupied a large share of his attention during his remaining life.
He was chosen representative in the General Court from Pitts- field from 1837 to 1840, and was honored with the speakership the last two years. In 1838 he was appointed solicitor for the county of Merrimac, and served five years. In 1841 he was a member of the Executive Council. He was elected a representa- tive in Congress in 1843 and in 1845. In 1847 he was again returned to the state legislature, and was a third time chosen Speaker ; and in 1849 he was elected United States senator for the term of six years. He did not live, however, to complete the full period.
Mr. Norris possessed exceptional abilities, and the power of inspiring confidence in a marked degree. His attractive personal qualities gained him many and warm friends. Though in early life he was diffident and unambitious, and somewhat slack in his business habits, he acquired a large practice and an influential position at the bar. He was honest and generous in his dealings, and inclined to promote the settlement of disputes rather than to push them to a judicial determination. Had he abstained from political employments, he might have attained even greater emi- nence as a jurist. It was understood, however, that President Pierce, who was acquainted with his qualifications, was intending to give him a judicial appointment, had he lived to complete his senatorial term.
Mr. Norris was a thorough partisan, and took a leading part in
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the prosecution and trial of Rev. George Storrs for conducting an abolition meeting in Pittsfield in 1835. No doubt this contrib- uted to his popularity with the mass of his own party, at least at that time, difficult as it is for the people of the present day to share or even to comprehend the reason of the feeling.
He married, about 1834, Abigail, daughter of Captain Walter A. Todd of Portsmouth, and had six children, three of each sex.
WILLIAM TAYLOR NORRIS.
Son of William C. and Sallie (Elliott) Norris ; born, Danbury, April 1, 1820 ; admitted, 1849; practiced, Danbury and Concord ; died, Danbury, March 30, 1889.
The youth of Mr. Norris was passed upon a farm. At the age of twenty he began preparation for college at Canaan Academy, and took a partial course at Norwich University, Vermont. After some study of theology, he read law with Weeks and Sargent at Canaan, and with Crofoot and Brodhead at Pontiac, Michigan, and was in that State admitted an attorney, and practiced about a year. His wife's health induced him to return to New Hamp- 1 shire.
He then sought his fortune in California, but, failing to find it, came back to his practice in Danbury in 1854. In 1856 and 1857 he was a representative in the legislature. He entered into partnership with Samuel B. Page in 1875, their office being in Concord. They were counsel for Joseph Le Page, indicted for the murder of Josie A. Langmaid at Pembroke, and on the sec- ond trial Mr. Norris made the closing argument to the jury. About 1883 he returned to Danbury.
He is described. as a sincere, careful, painstaking counselor, standing well among the members of the profession, and esteemed by the Court. " Rather a brilliant man, but not pushing." Dart- mouth College gave him the degree of A. M. in 1857.
He was married, and left a son and a daughter.
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PARKER NOYES.
Son of Rev. Nathaniel and Sarah (Noyes) Noyes ; born, South Hampton, November 18, 1776 ; Dartmouth College, 1796 ; admitted, 1801 ; practiced, Warner and Salisbury ; died, Franklin, August 18, 1852.
Mr. Noyes is described by Moody Kent as in his youth "a staid, sober lad, apt to learn." Such he continued in his man- hood. Upon quitting college he had some experience as a teacher, and then entered the law office of Thomas W. Thompson of Salis- bury as a student. After two years' practice in Warner, he returned as a partner of Mr. Thompson in that part of Salisbury which is now Franklin. He never moved away.
He had a good mind and plenty of disposition for work. He kept up his familiarity with the Latin and French tongues, and transcribed all of Saunders's Pleadings which were applicable to this country, changing the Norman-French into English ; and also translated a portion of Bracton from the Latin. After he was seventy he read the poems of Horace in the original. Lord Coke was one of his favorite authors.
He was an accurate and learned lawyer, more distinguished for strength than for quickness. Cool and deliberate under all cir- cumstances, " cantharides," said the witty N. P. Rogers, " would not hurry him." His mere statement of a case was so candid and impressive that it was equal to another man's argument. He was highly successful as an advocate, and not less so because he was known never to advise a suit on doubtful grounds. To one who came to him with a claim against his neighbor for damage just done by his cattle, he wisely replied, " Go home, and at the end of a year present him your bill." The advice was taken, and the bill cheerfully paid.
In 1812 Mr. Noyes was appointed county solicitor, and per- formed his duties for five years ; but in 1823, when the commis- sion of Judge of the Superior Court was tendered him, he declined it. He served as a representative in the legislature in 1829, but refused to be a candidate a second time. He was essentially modest and retiring, and honestly preferred " the private station." He bade adieu to the law before he became old, and passed the rest of his life in the cultivation of his land, in the companion- ship of his books, and in doing good offices to his neighbors and
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townsmen. Daniel Webster greatly esteemed him, and never visited Elms Farm without seeing him. He valued his old friend no less for his high honorable character than for his superior abilities, his wide learning, and his eminent professional standing.
Mr. Noyes's first wife, Ellen, daughter of Deacon Thompson of Newbury, Massachusetts, died in middle life, and he married, in 1828, Anne, daughter of Greenleaf Clark of Newburyport. He had three children.
WILLIAM H. NUTT.
Born, Nashua, January 8, 1838 ; practiced, Nashua ; died there, September 19, 1886.
In the schools of Nashua Mr. Nutt was educated, and there he studied law with Charles R. Morrison, whose partner he became about the year 1860, and continued two years. He was not par- ticularly successful in the law, and after Mr. Morrison went into the army ceased practice, and afterwards engaged in other busi- ness of various kinds.
He was twice married.
FLETCHER ODELL.
Son of Hon. Richard and Molly Eastman Odell ; born, Conway, April 1, 1812 ; practiced, Shelburne ; died there, June 27, 1882.
The stimulus of need, which contributes so largely to human success, was wanting to Mr. Odell. He read law with Fessenden and Deblois in Portland, Maine, and was probably there admitted an attorney. It is said he was an unusually bright student. He came to Shelburne about the year 1840, and though abundantly qualified for practice, he never made any effort to obtain it, and did nothing beyond some office or justice work. He was eccen- tric, and spent the greater part of his time in fishing and farming. " While at times intemperate, he had an honorable character, was just in his dealings with all, liberal, and honest."
He was unmarried.
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LORY ODELL.
Son of Hon. Richard and Molly (Eastman) Odell ; born, Conway, Septem- ber 16, 1801 ; Bowdoin College, 1823 ; practiced, Portsmouth and Hampton ; died, Portland, Maine, March 23, 1883.
The subject of this notice read law one year with Judah Dana of Fryeburg, Maine, and finished his studies in the office of Jere- miah Mason at Portsmouth. In that place he began practice, about 1827, as a partner of Charles W. Cutter, and did a good share of business, especially in writ making, which was then abundant and tolerably profitable. Mr. Odell became a little affected by the mania for land speculation, and went to Georgia and invested some money there. Perhaps fortunately, he lost his venture and returned. Two or three years he had his office in Hampton, but he never did much in the practice of the law after that, though he attended the courts, and never gave up his profes- sion. He twice held the office of collector of the port of Ports- mouth, first in 1844, less than a year, and again in 1849, nearly four years. In July, 1855, he received the commission of Judge of the Police Court of Portsmouth, and acceptably filled the posi- tion until 1871. His knowledge of the law, his pride in the correct performance of his duties, and his entire independence made him a model magistrate. It was while he occupied this position that he is said to have judicially decided that the word " damn " is not legally profane. Probably he meant that the question of its profanity was to be determined by the context.
Judge Odell was a tall, slender, erect man, of prominent features and striking figure. He habitually wore a blue dress- coat with bright buttons, a stiff neck-stock, and gold spectacles, and was altogether a man to attract attention anywhere. A cur- rent but probably exaggerated story represents that after inspect- ing himself in a mirror one day, he pronounced judgment as follows : " Not handsome, but devilish genteel."
In this connection it is not out of place to quote a scrap from a doggerel rhyme that some wag of Portsmouth composed, in which in allusion to Mr. Odell's facetious qualities, and the slender- ness and uprightness of his figure, he described him as -
" Lory the joker,
Whom some call the tongs and others the poker."
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In his later years Judge Odell was a great reader, and passed much of his time in the library of the Portsmouth Athenæum. There he might be found at almost any hour, with elevated feet and a substantial volume in his hand, poring over the lucubra- tions of some author of the olden time. But he was always ready to lay down his book and bid a friend welcome, in his brisk, decided tones. For he was as fond of social intercourse as he was of reading, and was a most genial companion, full of anecdote and pleasant talk.
He never married.
EDWARD RUFUS OLCOTT.
Son of Hon. Mills and Sarah (Porter) Olcott ; born, Hanover, August 9, 1805 ; Dartmouth College, 1825; admitted, 1828 ; practiced, Hanover and Haverhill ; died, Louisiana, 1869.
It was in the office of his brother-in-law, Joseph Bell of Haver- hill, that Mr. Olcott qualified himself for his profession. He began to practice in Hanover in 1828, and moved to Haverhill in 1830. His connection with the bar of New Hampshire was soon ended by his removal to the South in 1834. He settled in Lou- isiana, and received the appointment of a Judge in that State.
He was thrice married; first, to Charlotte A., daughter of Thomas Burns of Gilmanton, June 17, 1829; second, to Lucia, daughter of Rev. Thomas J. Murdock of Canterbury, Connecti- cut ; third, to Mrs. Elizabeth Gosman, daughter of John Van Valkenburg of Cincinnati, Ohio, July 13, 1852.
GEORGE OLCOTT.
Son of Hon. Simeon and Tryphena (Terry) Olcott ; born, Charlestown, November 22, 1785 ; Yale College, 1805 ; admitted, 1808 ; practiced, Charles- town ; died there, February 4, 1864.
Mr. Olcott was prepared for college at the Phillips Exeter Academy, and prosecuted his law studies in the office of Benjamin West in his native town. It was there that he practiced from 1810 to 1824. Then upon the incorporation of the Connecticut River Bank in Charlestown he was chosen its cashier, and filled the situation during forty years, until the day of his death.
He was a discreet, careful lawyer, with no ambition for display,
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but satisfied to do conscientious service for his clients. His townsmen availed themselves frequently of his services in the per- formance of public duties which did not take him away from his daily vocation. Five years, beginning in 1819, he was town clerk, and four of them a selectman ; three years, beginning in 1842, he was moderator; and twenty-six years he was treasurer of the town, from 1837 to his decease. But, though urged, he would never consent to serve in the legislature.
As an officer of a banking institution he was a model for imita- tion, - prudent, careful, thorough, and exact.
He is said to have been a peculiarly unselfish man. He had a ready sympathy for the joys and sorrows of the young and old ; and as a citizen "was generous and public-spirited, and always lent his influence and used his means in a right direction."
Mr. Olcott's first marriage, which occurred in 1831, was with Mrs. Charity, widow of Deacon Benjamin West. His second wife was Emily A., daughter of Isaac Silsby of Charlestown, and was the mother of his three children, all sons.
MILLS OLCOTT.
Son of Hon. Peter and Sarah (Mills) Olcott ; born, Norwich, Vermont, May 21, 1774 ; Dartmouth College, 1790 ; admitted, 1798 ; practiced, Hano- ver ; died there, July 11, 1845.
Mills Olcott was a precocious lad, fitted for college at twelve. Four years after his graduation he spent chiefly in his father's service, and then studied law with Stephen Jacob of Windsor, Vermont, and with Benjamin West of Charlestown. He began to practice in Hanover in 1800. His natural gifts, his experience in transacting business under his father's eye, his social position, and his popular qualities, all combined to make his counsel sought and his opinions respected. He was for many years a lawyer of the highest standing and a leading and influential citizen. He was modest, benevolent, and just on principle. He repeatedly represented the town in the legislature; in 1814 he was sent by his political friends of Grafton County a delegate to the Hartford convention ; in 1816 he was made treasurer of Dartmouth Col- lege, and in 1821 a trustee. He was president of the Grafton Bank and a director more than twenty years, and president of the county Bible Society. On important public occasions his in-
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fluence, his commanding presence, and his personal accomplish- ments designated him as the fitting presiding officer. His leading attributes have been summarized as "modesty, judgment, integ- rity, benevolence, urbanity, and great moral worth."
His humor gave a pleasant zest to his conversation. To some one who condoled with him for his loss of the sense of smell,1 he replied "I don't look upon it as a misfortune. There are nine bad smells in the world to one good one, and I congratulate myself on having escaped them."
Mr. Olcott married, in November, 1800, Sarah, daughter of Colonel Asa Porter of Haverhill. Nine children were the issue of the marriage, of whom two sons were lawyers, and the five daughters became the wives respectively of Joseph Bell, Rufus Choate, William T. Heydock, William H. Duncan, and Charles E. Thompson, constituting a family circle perhaps unexampled in point of talents and learning.
WILLIAM OLCOTT.
Son of Hon. Mills and Sarah (Porter) Olcott ; born, Hanover, September 19, 1806 ; Dartmouth College, 1827 ; admitted, 1830; practiced, Hanover ; died, Shreveport, Louisiana, April 1, 1851.
Mr. Olcott was prepared for college in Moor's school in Hano- ver. Two years of his collegiate course he was in Yale, and was then transferred to Dartmouth. He carried on his professional studies in the office of his brother-in-law, Joseph Bell of Haver- hill, and began to practice in Hanover in 1830. He was dissatis- fied with the results of the labors of a country lawyer, and in 1835 abandoned the profession and engaged in mercantile busi- ness in Rochester, New York. In 1843 he proceeded to Buffalo, and in 1846 to Shreveport, Louisiana, but was never very success- ful in acquiring property.
His wife was Harriette A., daughter of John Hinsdale of Mid- dletown, Connecticut, and of their five children three survived him.
1 William Wordsworth lacked the sense of smell also. But on one occasion he is said to have enjoyed it in a remarkable fashion, - " He smelled a bean- field, and thought it heaven !"
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NATHANIEL KEMBLE GREENWOOD OLIVER.
Son of Rev. Daniel and Elizabeth (Kemble) Oliver ; born, Beverly, Massa- chusetts, October 5, 1790 ; Harvard College, 1809 ; practiced, Cornish and Rindge ; died on board United States ship Potomac, May 1, 1832.
Mr. Oliver was prepared for college at the Phillips Exeter Academy. On taking his degree of M. A. at Harvard in 1812, he delivered a poem entitled "Ode on Fancy." In the midst of it his classmate, Horace Bigelow, appeared upon the stage, with his head bandaged on account of a wound received by him a few days previously in defending General James M. Lingan and others from the attack of a "war party " mob in Baltimore. Political feeling ran high at that time, and the audience were evi- dently in full sympathy with Bigelow, and applauded him to the echo. Mr. Oliver's exercise was interrupted by it for a moment, but with wonderful readiness and presence of mind he improvised these lines : -
" Hail, Bigelow ! hail, fair Harvard's worthy son,
Thy country greets thee with a warm ' Well done !'"
Mr. Oliver studied law, and opened an office in Cornish in 1817 ; but changed his location to Weathersfield, Vermont, soon after, and about 1822 to Rindge. Apparently he did not take to the law, for it was not long before he removed to Boston, and was there employed as a teacher.
Being appointed secretary of the commodore on the United States ship Potomac, he died on board of her, of consumption.
He was distinguished as a scholar, and appears to have been valued and beloved by all his associates. On the day following his death, two thousand and eighty dollars were subscribed by the officers and men of the ship for his bereaved family.
His wife was Ann T. Hunt, and he had children.
HENRY HARVEY ORNE.
Son of Isaiah and Mary (Rust) Orne ; born, Wolfeborough, February 23, 1786 ; Dartmouth College, 1812 ; practiced, Meredith and Wolfeborough ; died, Wolfeborough, December 12, 1861.
The name of this gentleman's family is said by Farmer to have been originally Horn. He studied his profession with John P. Hale of Rochester, and John Holmes of Alfred, Maine. He
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began to practice in Meredith Bridge, now Laconia, in 1816, and continued there about twenty years, with the exception of four years, from 1819 to 1823, when he was in Wolfeborough. Not far from the year 1836 he again returned to his native town, and settled on a farm, where he did little, if any, law business, and ended his days.
Mr. Orne was noted for a lively sense of humor, and occasion- ally made amusing remarks. For some years he was treasurer of the old county of Strafford. While he was in office the Court of Sessions was abolished and the Court of Common Pleas established in its place. Still the Court of Sessions continued to sit and to send out orders to the county treasurer. Orne refused to pay the orders. " When these little judges die," said he, " let them find the money for their own funeral!" Though eccentric, he pos- sessed a good deal of ability ; he was well meaning, and the people had faith in him and liked him. He was something of a writer, though he did not often turn his hand to authorship.
His wife was Caroline, daughter of Solomon Chaplin of George- town, Massachusetts. She was well known to the readers of the last generation as Mrs. Caroline Orne, the author of many grace- ful and pleasant poems in the magazines and journals of the time.
HIRAM OSGOOD.
Born, Loudon, c. 1795 ; admitted, 1823 ; practiced, Epping ; died, Grand- ville, Michigan, November 29, 1840.
Mr. Osgood studied his profession under the direction of Josiah Butler and Ira St. Clair of Deerfield ; was originally admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, and afterwards in the Superior Court of this State in 1823. He established himself in Epping, and remained in practice there nearly fifteen years, and then removed to Michigan, where he was in extensive business, professional and mercantile.
He is described as a fair and respectable practitioner. The bar of his county in Michigan, after his decease, passed resolu- tions expressive of their high sense of his worth.
His wife was a Miss Lawrence of Epping.
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DAVID PAGE.
Son of Samuel Page ; born, Haverhill, Massachusetts, August 6, 1809 ; ad- mitted, 1845 ; practiced, Haverhill ; died there, July 1, 1881.
Mr. Page's parents made their home in Benton, when their son was but four years of age. As he grew up to manhood he assisted in doing the farm work, with only the limited advantages of a country district school. When he reached his majority he attended the Haverhill Academy several terms, supporting him- self the while, and thus prepared himself for school-teaching, which he followed for some winters at Grafton and elsewhere. Somewhere about 1840 he took up his residence in Haverhill, and there practiced his profession from 1845, most of the time, to the date of his decease. A few years he was engaged in mercantile business. After the close of the Civil War he was extensively occupied in procuring pensions.
Mr. Page seems to have been an unassuming man, who at- tended faithfully to business, and had the respect and good opinion of all. He was repeatedly chosen to positions of respon- sibility in the places of his residence.
His wife was Margaret Taylor of Derry. They were married December 31, 1844, at Groton. Of their five children, Samuel T. Page is a lawyer in Haverhill, and Elvira Page became the wife of Hon. Alvin Burleigh of Plymouth.
GEORGE PAINE.
Son of Hon. Elijah and Sarah (Porter) Paine ; born, Williamstown, Ver- mont, January 2, 1807 ; Dartmouth College, 1827 ; practiced, Northumber- land ; died, Massillon, Ohio, October 3, 1836.
Young Paine enjoyed the best advantages in social position and in early training. He prepared himself for college in the Phillips Exeter Academy, and pursued his law studies first with Chancel- lor James Kent in New York, and afterwards with Joseph Bell in Haverhill. He was admitted in 1830, and began practice in Northumberland. In 1833 he removed to Providence, Rhode Island, and became the editor and one of the proprietors of the "Journal " newspaper of that city. Continuing there but three years, and having purchased a tract of land in Massillon, Ohio, he
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removed to that place, and opened a law office there. But he sur- vived the change of residence less than five months. He was seized with congestive fever, which terminated his career, after a brief illness.
Thus at the early age of twenty-nine disappeared from the scenes of active life one of whose future distinction his many friends had formed the most sanguine hopes. Physically, men- tally, and morally he was generously endowed.
He married, May 12, 1829, Martha Olcott, daughter of Benja- min Porter of Newbury, Vermont, and left her with two sons, one of whom is still living.
AMOS ANDREW PARKER.
Son of Hon. Nahum and Mary (Deeth) Parker ; born, Fitzwilliam, October 8, 1791 ; University of Vermont, 1813 ; admitted, 1821 ; practiced, Epping, Concord, Newmarket, Exeter, Kingston, and Fitzwilliam ; died, Fitzwilliam, May 12, 1893.
This was the Nestor of the bar of New Hampshire. He was a teacher some years before he began the study of the law, which he pursued under James Wilson of Keene, and Levi Chamberlain of Fitzwilliam. He began practice in Epping, and remained there till 1823, when he removed to Concord, and became the editor and proprietor of the "New Hampshire Statesman," to October, 1825. In 1826 he opened a law office in Newmarket, until 1831, and then resided for a year or two in Amesbury, Massachusetts. Exeter became his next place of residence, in 1833, and while there he made a tour to "the West and Texas," an account of which, after his return, at the suggestion of Jo- tham Lawrence, he prepared for publication under the foregoing title. It was well received, and ran through two editions in 1836. From Exeter Mr. Parker went to Kingston, and in 1836 returned to practice in Fitzwilliam. There he continued to attend to his business in a quiet and satisfactory way till after he had passed the allotted age of man. His life was prolonged considerably beyond a century, not to a mere negative existence, for he still enjoyed health and reasonable vigor.
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