USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Canaan > The history of Canaan, New Hampshire > Part 31
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Mr. Weeks, in the earlier years of his practice, was not always scrupulous of the means he used against his adversaries, and was unmerciful to debtors. Like many other young lawyers, his first rule of practice, was fees, costs and charges, and his second rule was to collect them. He had for a deputy for many - years S. P. Cobb, whose levies were like the marches of the legions of Attila, the grass disappeared behind him. During the early days, and before the Northern Railroad was built, it was customary for the merchants in town to go to Boston to buy their goods. Before making this yearly trip it was neces- sary for them to have money to pay for what they wished to buy. All the merchants with the exception of Jesse Martin never had money enough ahead to pay for their goods, so that just before starting they would take their ledgers to Mr. Weeks and ask the loan of money upon their accounts. Mr. Weeks always loaned them, never charging more than $10 on a hundred dollars. The next day he would set his partner or clerk to writ- ing letters to those whose names appeared as debtors on those books, asking them to call the next day and settle. These letters were not mailed, but were placed in the post-office in plain sight behind a string which held them up to the sight of every one. Very few failed to appear the next day if they received the letter, but as sometimes happened the debtor did not go to the office or hear of his having a letter, for some days, but when he did and hastened to Mr. Weeks' office he was told, "I waited twenty-four hours, and a writ has been made out, but I did not
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have it served, so I saved you that much. It will cost you about three dollars for the writ." Mr. Weeks was known to have had as many as 100 writs returnable at a single term of court, and not one of them contested, upon all of which he collected costs.
In the course of his forty years' practice he accumulated a
large property, all of which descended to his children. His habits were all close. His sympathies were with the Methodist Church, but he seldom attended the service after their clergy began to pray for the slaves. He always read the New Hamp- shire Patriot and conformed to all the legends of the Democratic party. He never expressed sympathy for the Union cause dur- ing the war, but always maintained with Mr. Buchanan that the government had no right to coerce a state. In business his writs and summonses were always profitable; here he had no weak- nesses. His liberality was not profuse. With all his success in business, his gains multiplying year by year for the long period he resided here, his name does not appear as a patron either of religion, learning or arts, and the only monument erected to record his virtues is that which stands above his grave.
In his later years he became in reality a banker, and his loans .were great accommodations to persons in need of money, and it is only just to say that in his transactions as a banker he was lenient and honorable with his clients. He was a great lover of sheep and cattle and spent much time caressing his nice flocks. There were times during his practice here when he formed co- partnerships. The first has already been referred to, the other two were with young gentlemen who had been students in his office, both of whom have risen to eminence in their profession, first at the bar, and then upon the bench of the state courts. These young men were J. Everett Sargent and Isaac N. Blodgett.
Mr. Weeks died suddenly, on January 8, 1870, by hanging himself from a beam in his barn, aged 66 years. He was a social and genial man and good story-teller.
Old Uncle Sam Whitcher carried the mail on horseback from Lebanon to Plymouth and return weekly for many years. After the postoffice department at Washington was burned, about 1838, the old man came into Mr. Weeks' office with a bundle of papers and asked him to look them over and collect what was due upon them. Upon examination they were found to be quarterly bills for carrying the mail for the entire period the old man had been
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in service. "Have you never received any pay for your services in carrying the mail, Mr. Whitcher ?" asked the lawyer. "No - them's the bills," stuttered the old man. Mr. Weeks took off his spectacles and looking the old man straight in the eye, said very deliberately, "Mr. Whitcher, the vouchers in the postoffice department at Washington were not burned, as was at first re- ported; they are found to be all safe. Shall I collect these bills ?" The old man listened awhile for something more to be said, then slowly gathered up his papers and as he opened the door to depart, turned and said, "I-I guess you needn't do nothing about these papers till I come again." But he never came.
Jonathan Everett Sargent, son of Ebenezer and Prudence (Chase) Sargent, the youngest of ten children, was born in New London August 23, 1816. The father was a poor farmer and the children had early in life to strike out for themselves. He worked upon his father's farm until he was seventeen. This was in 1833. His desire for knowledge grew upon him, and he arranged with his father that the remaining four years of his minority should be his own, to board by teaching school and any other labor that would pay, and clothe himself and call for nothing more from his father.
Mr. Sargent first came to Canaan as a teacher in Noyes Acad- emy in 1838. He was the last teacher in the old building and the first in the new Canaan Union Academy. He was then an undergraduate at Dartmouth College of the class of 1840. At the opening term of this school there were 123 pupils. The fol- lowing is in Mr. Sargent's own language :
I first went to Canaan in September, 1838, and taught that fall in the old academy building, Mr. Hobart, a classmate of mine, teaching in a hall at the north end of the Street the same term. I also taught in the old Academy the next winter. Three months after my return to Hanover, the latter part of February, 1839, the old academy building burned. A Mr. James Richardson, another classmate of mine, taught school during the spring term of 1839 in Martin's Hall, over the store of E. & J. Martin, at the south end of the Street, and during that spring and summer the new academy building was erected and was in readi- ness the first of September. I was employed to teach the first term at $40 per month for three months. I returned to Hanover that winter and remained till Commencement, 1840.
Mr. Sargent then entered the law office of Mr. Weeks and re- mained there until 1841, when he went South and taught there
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until the summer of 1842; then he returned to Canaan and formed a partnership with Mr. Weeks. He had been admitted to the bar in Washington, D. C., in April, 1842. In July, 1843, he was admitted to the bar of Sullivan County. During the season of 1843 he built the house now occupied by George E. Cobb, married Miss Mary C. Jones, daughter of John Jones of Enfield, and moved into the new house on Thanksgiving Day of that year. Here he lived until the summer of 1847, in partner- ship with Mr. Weeks. In a letter to me he says: "I recollect very well the first case I ever tried. It was in Mr. Weeks' office, before Eleazer Martin as justice. It was a complaint for assault and battery by a Mr. Sanborn against a Mr. Whittier. They lived at what is now East Canaan, not far from where the depot stands. It was before the railroad was built. I appeared for Sanborn, the plaintiff, and Mr. Kittredge appeared for the de- fendant. I succeeded in getting the defendant fined $3 and costs, which was a great success for my first effort. In the sum- mer of 1847 I moved to Wentworth, where I lived and prac- ticed law twenty-two years; since that time my residence has been in Concord."
During his residence in Wentworth he achieved all the judi- cial honors which the state could confer. During his residence in this town he was not unlike other young lawyers who have started out in their life career with ambitions first to gain money then to win honors. Lawyers are not much different from other classes of money-getters, except in the value they put upon their services. With them the making of the fee bill is reduced to an exact science, and the facility with which his work is itemized proves that in the study of the law this department of jurispru- dence is seldom overlooked. He had a proficient teacher, and he was too apt a pupil not to take advantage of all his opportun- ities. He taught school here; he studied law here; be built a house and married here ; he was an active politician and as such became postmaster, and he took a deep personal interest in the success of his party, which being the only party which could point a moral in its platform, was always to be successful. It seems here that wealth and its comforts began to pile up around him, but the blushing honors which he sought did not envelop him until after his departure, and then he had his fill,- a pleas- ant neighbor and intelligent gentleman.
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In 1844 he was appointed solicitor of Grafton County. He was sent as representative from Wentworth in 1851, 1852 and 1853, and the last year was speaker of the House. He was translated to the Senate and became its president in 1854. In 1855 the Know-nothings swept the state like a cyclone, and every Democrat was swept overboard in the whirl. The same year Governor Metcalf generously offered him a seat on the bench of the court of common pleas. He held this office four years, when his court was abolished and he was translated to the bench of the Supreme Court, and became chief justice in 1873. In 1874 the Democrats elected the Legislature and that court was immediately abolished for the benefit of the party. Mr. Sargent then became simply an attorney, in partnership with William M. Chase of Concord. He held various other of- fices and trusts, and among them he worked up through all the secret mysteries of Masonry and was elected grand master of Masons in New Hampshire, a position as honorable, as exalted and desirable as any other he ever held. Then he retired from active business, and sat serenely back to enjoy the comforts and honors which long years of economy and study had showered upon him, a beneficent, courteous old gentleman, the most dis- tinguished of all the great names which Canaan has furnished to adorn the bar of the state.
George W. Murray, son of John and Ruhannah (Wells) Mur- ray, was born in Hill, July 31, 1830. He was educated at Andover Academy, taught school in Bristol and Wilmot; read law in the office of Nesmith and Pike at Franklin, and was ad- mitted to the bar at the April term at Concord in 1855. In the same year he opened an office at East Canaan, being led to Canaan because of the appointment of Mr. Kittredge to the court of common pleas, thereby removing the most prominent lawyer in town at that time. That village grew up around him and during his thirty-five years' practice he won an enviable reputation as a sound lawyer. In 1857 he married Jeanette F. Barnes of East Lebanon, and six children were born to them. His advice and assistance was sought by all who could afford his charges, because it was believed his opinions were founded upon an absolute knowledge of the law. Like William P. Weeks, he became a sort of banker in the town, loaning much money to those who had security.
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He was a Democrat until Fremont's campaign in 1856 and ever afterwards was a Republican. He served two terms in the Legislature, but although many men were his debtors whom he had helped out in tight places, he was not popular among the voters. He rarely sought office, knowing that the prejudice against a man with a little money was not favorable to political advancement unless some of that money was used. Mr. Murray was a Methodist and the most generous contributor to the sup- port of that church at East Canaan. He was liberal in many ways where he saw that it was for the benefit of the town, but more particularly for his own village; his love for that led him at times to oppose everything that seemed to be for the benefit of any other part of the town. It is said of him that he has been the only lawyer in the state of New Hampshire who acquired as large a fortune by the practice of the law solely. His business transactions, however, always netted him a profit. Very careful, he never loaned money unless he knew where he was to get it back; this also made him enemies, for there are plenty of people who remain one's friends until they borrow money of you, then upon the first demand to pay they become more bitter enemies than they were friends. As has been said, "if you loan your friend money you will lose your money as well as your friend."
He died January 5, 1900.
Joseph D. Weeks, son of William P. Weeks, was born October 27, 1837, graduated from Dartmouth College in 1861, studied law with Daniel M. Christie of Dover with whom he practised for a short time; was admitted to the bar in 1864. At the request of his father he returned home, and was a resident in Canaan all the rest of his life. It was hinted at the time that the real reason for his being called home, was that his intercourse with the loyal men of Dover begat a desire to enlist in the Union army, but his father used such arguments as induced him to abandon his design, and he was discharged. He was a victim of the draft of '63 but paid John Moriarty $300 to go as his sub- stitute. In the years of his practice here he ever manifested a disposition to bestow favors upon friends and other needy per- sons. He entered with enthusiasm into all schemes for the suc- cess of the Democracy, to which he bore unswerving allegiance. His legal attainments, although not profound, were equal to all his needs. And he devoted more time to cattle, horses and farm-
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ing than to books. He was generous and friendly and was never charged with oppressing any poor wretch who happened to fall into the fangs of the law. This trait gave him great power in politics and he seldom met with defeat. Three times he was sent as representative from this town, in 1869, 1870 and 1880, and twice to the Senate, in 1875 and 1878. It was in the latter rôle that he distinguished himself under the Weston régime, by plant- ing old John Proctor in Natt Head's seat, thereby making that body Democratic to the great disgust of the Republicans, who called it a fraud, and perhaps it was, but his party liked him all the better for it.
He was quite regular in attendance on Methodist preaching and often held a handkerchief to his eyes - to protect them from strong rays of light. He claimed that his attendance upon Sun- day service was to set a good example; it was not often that he · could repeat the text, or the substance of the preacher's remarks unless he involved himself in natural history. He was a liberal contributor to the church and paid it in such a free manner as to make one think it was doing him a favor in accepting it. Either as a lawyer or as a man, he was large of heart, sympathetic and friendly. He was very genial and entered heartily into all schemes to "drive dull care away."
He contributed willingly to everything that in any way af- fected the Street, not only in money, but with his influence. Every one called him "Joe." A good story-teller, and the story lost nothing in the telling if it could be made better by any addi- tions. He never married, but was often suspected of having tender sentiments. It is not too much to assert that no man in Canaan ever won a stronger grip upon the respect and esteem of our people than he. With education and wealth, both of which give men high standing, the uses he made of these gifts won the hearts of men. Seldom a man applied to him in vain for help financially or otherwise. He lived among the people on the Street fifty-three years and died of apoplexy December 1, 1890.
William B. Weeks, a brother of Joseph D. Weeks, was born in 1839; educated in Canaan Union Academy, and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1861, read law with his father, and was admitted to the bar; practised in Canaan a short time and
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then emigrated to West Virginia, with the intention of making a home there, but the war was raging everywhere and northern men were not welcome. The people were not at all friendly and in a few months he wandered back to his native hills, and became an attorney in Lebanon, where he continued to reside. He married Miss Henrietta Bridgeman of Hanover in 1866.
Isaac Newton Blodgett was the son of Caleb and Charlotte (Piper) Blodgett. Caleb Blodget was born in Hudson in 1793, and moved from Dorchester to Canaan in 1833, and for a time lived in the old house torn down by O. H. Perry across the Street from H. P. Burleigh's, where Isaac was born March 6, 1838. Caleb Blodgett was sheriff of Grafton County for many years, a clear-headed man whose advice was worth attention. He represented Canaan in the Legislature of 1841 and 1842, was a selectman from 1838 to 1841 and in 1849. He died Octo- ber 5, 1872. Isaac N. was educated in Canaan Union Academy and was tutored for a time by his brother Caleb, at Leominster, Mass .; read law in the office of William P. Weeks and Anson S. Marshall, and was admitted to the bar in April, 1861. On May 24, 1861, he married Sarah A., daughter of Rev. Moses and Cynthia (Locke) Gerould of Canaan. For six months after the date of his admission to the bar he was a partner with Mr. Weeks, when he bought out the business and continued to prac- tice in the same office until 1867. The building stood until the winter of 1906 just south of Miss Emma Bell's and was moved by H. P. Burleigh to be used by him for a carpenter's shop. In 1867, receiving an offer of partnership from Hon. Austin F. Pike of Franklin, he moved there, and under the firm name of Pike & Blodgett continued the practice of the law until 1878, when on November 19th he was appointed associate justice of the Supreme Court. On August 18, 1898, he became chief justice and held that position until his resignation in 1901. He was always a politician and a Democrat. He represented Frank- lin in the Legislature in 1871, '73, '74 and '78; was a member of the state Senate in 1879 and 1880; and of the Constitutional Convention of 1876, 1889 and 1903. He was chairman of the Democratic committee in the disastrous campaign of 1875, when the Senate "fraud" in favor of old John Proctor of 1874 re- acted upon his labors and all the bright dreams of his party
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vanished into thin air. He was several years town treasurer of Franklin and proved himself a successful financier. He was successful as a lawyer and the conduct of his cases won for him respect and esteem from all parties. After retiring from the bench it was his wish to pass the remainder of his life in the quiet enjoyment of his last days. He did not wish to die in the harness, like his brother Caleb. But his fellow citizens would not leave him alone. He served two terms as mayor of Franklin without opposition, and he was called in consultation and as counsel by the brother members of his profession. He died at his home in Franklin, November 27, 1905.
Frank Dunklee Currier, son of Horace S. and Emma (Plas- tridge) Currier, was born in Canaan October 30, 1853; read law with Mr. Pike of Franklin and was admitted to the bar at Concord in April, 1874; spent one year with Mr. Murray at East Canaan, and then opened an office for himself in the same place. At the start he was fortunate in having a friend in Mr. Murray, who being ill was advised to take a two years' vacation from business. He turned many of his clients over to his young friend. Before entering seriously upon the labors of his pro- fession, he took a look at the marvels and natural wonders of the country to the Pacific, including the mountain region. He was studious and energetic and managed his cases with a skill that gave him good standing as a lawyer, and his conduct was such as to give his friends confidence in his future success ; but his ambitions lay in politics ; its fascinations were more attractive than the abstruse themes of law. There was a Greenback craze and he was seized with it and was only rescued from being swallowed up in its vortex by a promise from his friends that he should be sent to Concord. He went to Concord one term, in 1879, and like other young men became conspicuous for much speaking. His ambition was to be conversant with all subjects, wise or otherwise. He asked for another trip to Concord, but the favor of the people was always uncertain; a breath of air, or a five-dollar bill has made and unmade many a reputation ; he was defeated, but not discouraged. He still believed in po- litical advancement, but had lost some confidence in popular favor; the same man is not always the favorite. Heroes of today are often laid upon the shelf tomorrow. He was secre- tary of the Republican State Committee from 1882 to 1890.
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His quick memory, wit and knowledge of men and localities was of great service in closing out the campaign. He was clerk of the New Hampshire Senate from 1883 to 1887, exhibiting an active intelligence and knowledge of legislative matters that greatly facilitated business and gave him favor among the senators; was delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1884. He was elected senator in 1886 and was the president of that body ; was naval officer at the port of Boston from 1890 to 1894. He was elected again in 1898 to the House of Repre- sentatives and was chosen speaker of that body. In 1901 Dart- mouth College gave him the honorary degree of A. M. He was elected congressman from the Second District to the Fifty- Seventh, Firty-Eighth, Fifty-Ninth, Sixtieth, and Sixty-First Congresses. As a presiding officer his ability is recognized by the speaker of the House, who calls him oftener to the chair than any other congressman.
Irving C. George, son of Henry C. and Eleanor H. George, was born in Canaan in 1855; was educated at Canaan, Tilton and Meriden; read law with Mr. Mugridge of Concord; was ad- mitted to the bar at Plymouth in November, 1877, and located at Newmarket. He married at Newmarket, in 1878, Miss Nellie A. Palmer, and had six children. At the request of his father he returned to Canaan and opened an office here; upon the death of his father he returned to Newmarket, where he now is.
Joseph Clement Story, son of Otis J. and Harriet (Clement) Story, was born August 20, 1855. His education was obtained from the schools of this town, Kimball Union Academy and Phillips Andover Academy in Massachusetts. He taught school at Canaan in the old academy on the Street, in 1876; his rule was strict, his ruler was stricter and many of us can remember being obliged to stand on the tops of the desks when we did not have our grammar lesson, or helping one another to hold a slab or a book at arm's length in the middle of the floor, when some of us did not return at recess or when the bell rang. He studied law in the office of George W. Murray, Pike & Blodgett at Franklin and E. B. S. Sanborn of Franklin; he attended Boston University Law School in 1879, and was admitted to the bar of this state in 1880; commenced the practice of law at Wentworth in 1880, where he remained for three years, when he went to Plymouth, where he continued the practice of his profession.
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He married in March, 1881, Helen Smith. He died January 27, 1895, in Burlington, Vt.
William A. Flanders, son of Sylvester and Lois Flanders, born in Canaan, February 26, 1835; educated at Canaan Union Academy; read law in the office of G. W. Murray, and at that time was a much better scholar than his teacher ; admitted to the bar in 1861 and opened an office in Wentworth, where he was not successful. He was a famous mathematician, good memory, well stored with knowledge, but his wisdom was all vanity,- one of those unfortunates who for lack of good advice fall by the wayside and are lost in the rubbish that falls over them. In 1866 he married Miss Angelina M., daughter of Prescott Clark of Canaan. He died in Wentworth in July, 1909.
Caleb Blodgett, elder brother of Isaac N. Blodgett, was born in Dorchester on June 3, 1832. He came to Canaan in 1833 with his parents; he was educated at Canaan Union Academy, and was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1856.
After graduation he taught in Leominster, Mass., with the intention of making this his life work, but after a few years he became tired of it and returned to Canaan, where he began the study of law. He completed his studies in the office of Barton & Bacon in Worcester, Mass., where he opened an office. He also practised in Stoughton, Mass., and in 1860 opened an office in Boston, Mass., where he practised success- fully twenty years. In 1882 Governor Long appointed him to the bench of the Superior Court. Governor Russell offered him a place on the bench of the Supreme Court, which he refused, believing that his health and ability were better fitted for the trial and decision of jury cases, in which he held a unique posi- tion. Not a jury lawyer during his practice, when elevated to the bench where those cases were the principal ones tried, he became and was recognized as the ablest trier of civil cases with a jury on the bench. He married Miss Roxalina B. Martin, daughter of Jesse Martin of Canaan in 1866. Owing to failing health, he resigned from the bench September 1, 1900, and died on December 11, 1901, at his residence on Canaan Street, where he had spent his summers for many years. His love for his native village was great; no suggestions were ever made to him for its benefit but he was always ready to contribute, not only
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