History of New Hampshire United States of America

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Local History Notes:

NEW HAMPSHIRE, one of the New-England States, and one of the original members of the American confederacy, is bounded on the N, by Canada East; E. by Maine and the Atlantic; S. by Massachusetts, and W. by Vermont, from which it is separated by the Connecticut river. It lies between 42° 40' and 45° 25' N. lat., and 70° 40' and 72° 35' W. lon., being nearly triangular in shape, having its base on the S., where it is about 90 miles in breadth, from whence it gradually tapers to the N., with an average breadth of about 45 miles; its extreme length from N. to S. is near 185 miles, and its area 9280 square miles, or 5,939,200 acres, of which 2,251,488 only were improved in 1850.

Population: The original population of New Hampshire was almost exclusively of English descent, and the rural districts still remain without much intermixture; but in the large towns foreigners are creeping in to some extent. This state had 141,899 inhabitants in 1790; 183,762 in 1800; 214,360 in 1810; 244,161 in 1820; 269,328 in 1830; 284,574 in 1840, and 317,964 in 1850, of whom 155,902 were white males; 161,487 females; 243 colored males, and 232 females. There were, in 1850, 62,287 families, occupying 57,339 dwellings. Of the entire population, 261,591 were born in the state; 42,636 in other states; 1469 in England; 8811 in Ireland; 478 in Scotland and Wales; 2501 in British America; 147 in Germany; 69 in France; 96 in other countries, and 178 whose places of birth were unknown--giving about 4 1/2 per cent. of foreign birth. In the year ending June 1, 1850, there occurred 4268 deaths, or about 13 in every 1000 persons. In the same period, 3600 paupers received aid, of whom 747 were foreigners, at an expense of nearly $44 to the individual. Of deaf and dumb there were 163, all white; of blind, 136, two of whom were colored persons; 385 insane, all white, and 352 idiotic, 4 of whom were colored.

Counties: This state is divided into 10 counties, viz. Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Stratford, and Sullivan. Capital, Concord.

Cities and Towns: The principal towns are Manchester, population in 1850, 13,932; [p.776] Portsmouth, 9738; Concord, 8576; Dover, 8196; Nashua, 5820; and Exeter, Nashville, Keens, Winchester, and Rochester, each containing more than 3000 inhabitants. (The population mostly includes the township in which each town or village is situated.)

Face of the Country: New Hampshire, with one exception, contains the most elevated land E. of the Mississippi; Mount Washington, the highest peak of the White mountains, rises 6226 feet above the level of the sea. The White mountains proper extend only from 14 to 20 miles, but isolated and detached groups of the chain extend from the N. of New Hampshire even into Connecticut. The White mountains, which, on account of their sublimity and grandeur, have given to this region the cognomen of the "Switzerland of America," lie in Coos county, N. E. from the centre of the state. There are several peaks in this group, viz. Mount Jefferson, 5657 feet; Mount Adams, 5759, and Mount Madison, 5415 feet--N. E. from Mount Washington; and Mount Monroe, 5349 feet; Mount Franklin, 4850 feet; and Mount Pleasant, 4712; besides several neighboring peaks little inferior in altitude. In another group 20 miles S.W. of Mount Washington, is Mount Lafayette, about 5500 feet high, the second in point of interest in the White mountain range. The whole state may be said to be mountainous, hilly and broken, with the exception of a small portion in the S. E., which extends from 20 to 30 miles from the sea, and is either level or gently undulating. Of the mountains outlying from the great central nucleus, there are the Blue Hills, in the S. E., 1151 feet above the sea; Chocorua, in Carroll county, 3358 feet; Carrs, in Grafton county, 1381 feet; Kearsarge, in Hillsborough county, 3067 feet; Monadnock, in Cheshire county, 3718 feet; Andover, in Merrimack county, 2000 feet; Pequaquet, 3367 feet, and Moosehillock, 4636 feet.

Geology: The mountainous portions of New Hampshire are mostly composed of granite and mica slate rocks. Granite predominates in the White mountains proper, and mica slate in the southern mountains, particularly in the Great Monadnock and the neighboring summits. According to Goodrich, "Porphyritic granite occurs also in boulder, and in rolled masses E. of the southern ridge. A beautiful fine-grained granite is found in many places, as at Concord, Boscawen, and Hopkinton, and affords admirable building stone. East of this great ridge, mica slate, gneiss, and greenstone occur. In passing from Concord easterly to Portsmouth, the following succession of rocks may be observed: granite, 4 miles; gneiss, 11 miles; mica slate, 14 miles; granite, 15 miles; then gneiss, and lastly greenstone. The direction of the strata is nearly N. E. and S. W. There is a remarkable alluvion formation through which the Merrimack passes, and which embraces all the sandy plains, which are covered with pine and black timber, in the neighborhood of the river. This formation extends through Chelmsford to Cambridge and Boston on the one hand, and on the other it follows the course of the river quite to the ocean, embracing large tracts of land on either side. Rocks in some places break through this alluvial deposit, but they form no very high hills."

Minerals: Of the metallic ores, iron abounds, especially at Lisbon; the other ores are copper, lead, zinc, and graphite or plumbago. The non-metallic minerals are a fine building granite, gneiss, crystallized quartz, talc, steatite, tourmalins, ochres, limestone, different kinds of spar, terra sienna, sulphur, magnesia, beryls, garnets, jasper, manganese, asbestus, and amethysts. There are mineral springs of some note in several parts of the state.

Rivers and Lakes: The great river of New Hampshire, as of all New England, is the Connecticut, which rises in the extreme N., and forms nearly the whole western boundary of the state. The Merrimack rises in the White mountains, and runs S. through the middle of New Hampshire into Massachusetts, furnishing an abundant supply of water-power to Manchester and other manufacturing towns on its banks. The Salmon Falls and the Piscataqua (which is a mere widening of the former river near its mouth) form part of the boundary between Maine and New Hampshire, and empty into the Atlantic ocean. The Androscoggin has a small part of its course in the N. E. of this state, and the Saco also has its source among the White mountains, and runs S. E, into Maine. The passage of the Saco near its head waters, through the mountains, forms the celebrated Notch. The Upper and Lower Amonoosuc in the N., and the Ashuelot in the S., are the principal tributaries of the Connecticut from this state. The Margalloway, a feeder of Lake Umbagog, has part of its course in the N. E. of New Hampshire. The Contoocook, Souhegan, and Nashua are tributaries of the Merrimack from the W. The last two have their origin in Massachusetts. The Winnepiseogee (the outlet of the lake of that name) and the Pemigewasset are the chief sources of the Merrimack. The Cocheco is a branch of the Salmon Falls. The Lamprey and Exeter discharge their waters into the Piscataqua proper. The Merrimack and its branches and the Salmon Falls abound in cataracts that furnish great water-power, which has been extensively applied to manufacturing purposes at Manchester, Dover, Nashua, and other towns on their banks.

Prominent among the lakes of New Hampshire is Lake Winnipiseogee, the largest and most picturesque in the state. It is very irregular in its shape, being indented with numerous bays. It is about 25 miles long by [p.777] from 1 to 10 in width. It lies E. of the middle of the state, is very deep, has very pure and clear water, and is thought by some to rival Loch Lomond in picturesque beauty. Umbagog lake, about 18 miles long by 10 wide, the source of the Androscoggin, on the boundary between New Hampshire and Maine; Connecticut, the source of the river of that name, in the N.; Squam lake, a tributary of the Merrimack, in the middle; Sunapee, an affluent of the Connecticut, in the S.W. of the state, and Ossipee, discharging itself into the Saco, are the other principal lakes in New Hampshire.

The widening of the Piscataqua, and a sheet of water connected with it, are the only bays of importance.

Islands: A group of small islands in the Atlantic, about 18 miles from the shore, called the Isles of Shoals, belong to New Hampshire.

Objects of Interest to Tourists: New Hampshire stands pro-eminent in this respect among the states E. of the Mississippi river. The White mountains, already referred to, attract more tourists than any other natural object in the United States, excepting only Niagara Falls. The traveller may journey for weeks through its wild scenery, with a constant succession of grand objects to interest his mind. The fashionable route is to enter New Hampshire by the Boston and Montreal railways, (which coasts the picturesque shores of the Merrimack, with rugged hills in the foreground, and mountains in the distance,) and proceed to Weir's, on Lake Winnipiseogee; then take the steamboat; and, having made the circuit of the lake, enter the stage for Conway, on the E. side of the White mountains, and from thence, by another stage, through the celebrated Notch, to the Notch House, which stands in the very jaws of the pass. The return is by the, Franconia Notch, (about 26 miles S.W. of the White Mountain Notch,) and S. down the valley of the Pemigewasset, to Plymouth, or back to Lake Winnipiseogee, according as the tourist wishes to direct his steps thereafter. This journey may be reversed, with about an equal amount of pleasure, though the route indicated above is the one more commonly taken. The White Mountain Notch is a pass of great celebrity. Coming from the N. or W., you enter it by an opening only 22 feet in width, between two perpendicular rocks, one 20 and the other 12 feet high. The infant Saco trickles its way through this narrow opening, gradually expanding as it proceeds down the pass, and receiving other tributaries from the mountain-sides, which form the walls of the gorge, and which tower to the height of about 2000 feet above the bed of the Saco. In this pass occurred, in 1826, the landslide which destroyed the Willey family. The more wild and abrupt parts of the Notch extend for 2 or 3 miles from its entrance at the Notch House. Mount Washington is ascended on horseback from the Notch House, by a bridle path, first climbing Mount Clinton--in immediate proximity to the hotel--for 2 1/2 miles, and then coasting the E. side of the peaks of Mount Pleasant, Mount Franklin, and Mount Monroe, for 4 miles farther, occasionally ascending a rough, steep ridge, and again descending, now riding on the verge of a vast ravine of several hundred feet in depth, and now on the crest of a ridge commanding a view of both sides of the chain--we arrive at the foot of Mount Washington, 1500 feet in perpendicular, and about one mile in inclined ascent, above the base of the cone or peak, and 6226 feet above the sea. This is the most difficult, though scarcely dangerous part of the ascent, as it is little else than riding on horseback over a pile of rocks of every variety of size, cast together as if hurled there by the Titans, in war or at play. From the summit, if the day be clear, is afforded a view unequalled, perhaps, on the eastern side of the North American continent. Around you, in every direction, are confused masses of mountains, bearing the appearance of a sea of molten lava suddenly cooled whilst its ponderous waves were yet in commotion. On the S. E. horizon gleams a rim of silver light--it is. the Atlantic ocean, 65 miles distant--having the shores of Maine. "Lakes--of all sizes, from Lake Winnipiseogee to mere mountain ponds--and mountains beneath you gleam misty and wide." Far off to the N. E. is Mount Katahdin. In the western horizon are the Green Mountains of Vermont, and to the S. and S. W. are Mount Monadnock and Kearsarge or Kiarsage, while the space between is filled up with every variety of landscape, mountain and hill, plain and valley, lake and river.

Those to whom it is an object to reach Mount Washington with as little stage-riding as possible, may be landed at Gorham by the Portland and Montreal railway cars, within 5 miles of the base of the mountain. The Franconia Notoh is deemed by many quite as interesting as the White Mountain Notch. Near it are many agreeable accessories not to be found in the latter; among which are Echo lake, just at the northern entrance of the gorge, and the "Old Man of the Mountain," a well-defined profile of a human face, 1000 feet above the level of the pass. The Basin, (with a rock worn into an exact resemblance of the lower joint of the thigh-bone,) 4 miles S. of the Notch, is a pool of beautifully transparent water. One mile below this, again, in the vicinity of the Flume House, is the celebrated Flume, a narrow gorge or opening in the rocks, only a few feet in width, and from 70 to 120 in height, through which flows a small tributary of the Pemigewasset; below this is a cascade of 616 feet in length, which in the spring and fall freshets is an object of great interest. In 777 [p.778] the same neighborhood is the Pool, (a basin formed by a small fall in the Pemigewasset,) which is about 60 feet in diameter, and 40 feet deep, surrounded by mural precipices 150 feet in height. The clear water, rendering the gravelly bottom perfectly visible, and the surrounding accompaniments of scenery, make this a delightful place of resort to those staying at the Flume House, the largest and one of the best-appointed houses among the mountains. The Flume, the Basin, and the Pool, are all within an agreeable walking distance from this hotel. Mount Lafayette--only 700 feet inferior in altitude to Mount Washington--is also ascended from the same house, which has the further advantage of being within a five-mile ride of the Franconia Notch, and of a view of more than 30 miles in extent down the valley of the Pemigewasset, which is hemmed in on each side by lofty hills and mountains. The other detached mountains scattered over New Hampshire, would in any other state, not overshadowed by Mount Washington and his court, merit conspicuous notice. Dixville Notch, about 46 miles N. of Lancaster, is said to be but little inferior to the two great passes already described. New Hampshire shares with Vermont the beautiful river Connecticut, whose shores are often grand, and seldom tame. Bellows Falls, in this river, on the S. W. border of the state, are formed by the contraction of the river bed to about 20 feet on the W. side at low water, through which the stream rushes with great violence. At high water it flows in the eastern as well as western channel. These beds are separated by a huge rock. The entire descent in half a mile is 42 feet. At Amoskeag, the Merimack descends 50 feet in three successive pitches. In the White Mountain Notch is a cascade which winds down the face of the mountain, through a fall of 800 feet, giving, after copious rains, an additional interest to the scene as it glides or leaps over the different stages of its descent. There are two interesting falls in the Amonoosuc, within a pleasant drive from the Notch House.

Climate: The climate of New Hampshire is severe, and the winters long, but less subject to frequent changes than in other Northern States of a lower latitude. The snow lies late among the mountains, and exercises some effect on the temperature of other parts of the state. In the higher gorges it may be found in patches of half an acre's extent in July. The snow begins to fall and the rivers to freeze in November. The snow lies into April in the S., and often till May in the N. The springs are damp and foggy, but the state enjoys a bracing and healthy air, and is remarkably free from epidemics.

Soil and Productions: The soil of this state generally is not of a highly fertile character, though New-England industry and economy have wrung from its stony bosom valuable products. The best lands are in the valleys of the rivers, which are occasionally over-flowed, especially in the valley of the Connecticut. The northern portion is but little cultivated. The hills afford valuable pasturage for cattle and sheep. Wheat, rye, oats, Indian corn, barley, buckwheat, Irish potatoes, peas, beans, fruits, butter, cheese, hay, hops, wool, maple sugar, beeswax, and honey are produced in considerable quantities, and some tobacco, wine, grass-seeds, flax, silk, and molasses. In 1850 there were in New Hampshire 29,229 farms, containing 251,488 acres of improved land, (or about 75 acres to each farm,) yielding 185,658 bushels of wheat; 183,117 of rye; 1,573,670 of Indian corn; 70,856 of peas and beans; 4,304,919 of Irish potatoes, (the greatest yield, in proportion to population, in the Union, except Vermont ;) 70,256 of barley; 65,265 of buckwheat; 1,108,476 pounds of wool; 6,977,056 of butter; 3,196,563 of cheese; 257,174 of hops; 1,294,863 of maple sugar; 117,140 of beeswax and honey; value of market products, $56,810; orchard products, $248,563; live stock, $8,871,901; and slaughtered animals, $1,522,873.

Forest Trees: There is a dense growth of forest-trees on the lower slopes of the mountains, consisting of oak, white pine, fir, hemlock, beech, maple, walnut, &c.; while on the lowlands grow elm, birch, poplar, ash, cherry, locust, hornbeam, &c. The rock maple yields abundance of sugar, and the pine, of which there are several varieties, furnishes an ample supply of lumber. The latter tree often attains the height of 200 feet.

Manufactures: New Hampshire is largely engaged in manufactures, great water-power being furnished by the Merrimack, Cocheco, and other rivers, on whose banks are the flourishing manufacturing towns of Manchester, Dover, Nashua, Nashville, and others. By the census of 1850, there were 3301 manufactories, each producing $500 and upwards annually, of which 44 were engaged in cotton manufactures, employing 2911 male, and 9211 female hands, and $10,950,000 capital, consuming raw material worth $4,839,429, and producing 113,106,247 yards of stuffs, and 140,700 pounds of yarn, valued at $8,830,619; 61 woollen factories, employing 926 male, and 1201 female hands, $2,437,700 capital, consuming raw material worth $1,267,329, and producing $9,712,840 yards of stuffs, and 165,200 pounds of yarn, valued at $2,127,745; 29 iron foundries, furnaces, &c., employing 390 male hands, $238,700 capital, consuming raw material worth $187,560, and producing 6074 tons of pig, cast, and wrought iron, valued at $388,100, and 163 tanneries, employing $441,975 capital , consuming raw materials worth $543,779, and producing leather valued at $900,421.

Internal Improvements: New Hampshire is crossed by railroads in all directions, by lines [p.779] uniting Boston with Montreal and Portland, and Portland again with Montreal. Some connect with railroads to New York city and Albany, giving the citizens of New Hampshire access to all the intermediate towns of importance in Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, while others interlock with iron roads leading to most of the important places in New England. In January, 1853, there were in this state 624 3/4 miles of railroad completed, and 41 in course of construction: See Table of Railroads and Canals, APPENDIX.

Commerce: Though New Hampshire has one of the best harbors in the United States, she has but little foreign commerce--less indeed than in former years. Nor has she any river favoring internal navigation in vessels larger than keel-boats for any considerable distance. The Connecticut and Merrimack, by aid of locks, may be ascended, the former for 270 miles from Long Island sound, and the latter for 40 miles within the state. The foreign exports from New Hampshire in 1852, amounted only to $69,458, and imports to $83,319. Of course this only includes the imports and exports of her own ports, but a much larger amount doubtless passes through the ports of neighboring states. This state, however, possesses a considerable amount of shipping, and builds and sends forth a large number of vessels that are owned elsewhere. The tonnage owned in the state in the year above named was 24,891 27/95, of which 2283 10/95 were engaged in the cod and mackerel fisheries. The number of vessels built was 14, having an aggregate capacity of 9515 22/95 tons. The principal articles of export are lumber live stock, wool, fish, beef, pork, pot and pearl ashes, and granite.

Education: Popular education is under the direction of county school commissioners, who form a state board of education. In 1852, 71,232 pupils attended the winter schools, and 58,805 the summer schools. In the same year there was raised by taxation for the support of common schools, $150,527.76, and from other sources, $39,398.03. A building is now being erected at Concord by the state for a manual labor school, capable of accommodating 300 boys. There were in 1852, 1 college in New Hampshire, with 237 students and 25,000 volumes in its library; 3 theological schools, with an aggregate of 99 students and 8300 volumes, and 1 medical school with 45 students: See Table of Colleges, APPENDIX.

Religious Denominations: Of 602 churches in New Hampshire in 1850, the Baptists of different sects owned 180; Christians, 23; Congregationalists, 172; Episcopalians, 11; Friends, 15; Methodists, 99; Presbyterians, 13; Union Church, 32; Unitarians, 13; Universalists, 36; Free Church, 2; Roman Catholic, 2; Second Advent, 4; giving l church to every 528 persons. Value of church property, $1,401,586: See Table of Religions, APPENDIX.

Institutions: New Hampshire Asylum for the Insane at Concord has been (1853) in existence about ten years, during which it has received 923 patients, of whom 118 now remain in the asylum, 107 were admitted during the year, and 106 dismissed, 66 of whom were cured. The state penitentiary at Concord had 111 inmates in May, 1852, three only of whom were females. There is a library for the use of the prisoners of 600 volumes. The receipts of 1852 exceeded the expenditures by $1484.51. For manual labor school, see EDUCATION. This state contributed $550 for educating the blind, and $2162 for the deaf and dumb, in institutions of other states.

Government, Finances, &c: The governor is elected by the people annually, and receives a salary of $1000 per annum. The senate consists of 12, and the house of representatives of 286 members, also chosen annually by the people.

The judiciary consists: 1. Of a supreme court, composed of one chief and four associate judges, which holds its sessions twice a year at Concord. 2. Of courts of common pleas and courts of probate. The chief justice of the supreme court receives $1400; and each of the others and the circuit justices of the common pleas, $1200 per annum. The judges of the common pleas receive $3 per day during the session of the courts, and ten cents per mile for travel. The superior court has chancery powers, and determines questions of law, and receives petitions for divorce. Two judges of this court, or one superior and one circuit judge, must be present at the trial of capital cases. The assessed value of property in 1850 was $92,177,959; public debt in 1852, $75,732; ordinary expenses, exclusive of debt and schools, $80,000. In January, 1853, New Hampshire had 31 banking institutions, with an aggregate capital of $3,076,000; a circulation of $2,625,707, and $175,156 in coin. The aggregate capital of the savings' institutions was $2,132,218.

History: New Hampshire was first settled near Portsmouth in 1623, and was several times connected with Massachusetts up to 1679, when it became a royal province, but renewed its connection with Massachusetts in 1689, and was for a short time attached to New York; but finally, in 1741, became an entirely separate province, and so remained till the Revolution. New Hampshire was much harassed by the Indians, and in 1689 a party of them attacked Dover, (in revenge for some executions of part of their number 13 years before,) killed many of the whites. and burnt the town. No important action took place on the soil of this state, either in the war of the Revolution or that of 1812.

Biographies:

Person C. Cheney, governor of New Hampshire, was born in Holderness, N.H., Feb. 25, 1828; son of Moses and Abigail (Morrison) Cheney. He received an academic education, and when seventeen years old was placed in charge of his father's paper-mill at Manchester. In 1853 he was a member of the state legislature; in 1862 quartermaster of the 13th New York volunteers, and was forced to resign because of illness caused by exposure at Fredericksburg. In 1864-67 he was a state railroad commissioner; in 1871 mayor of Manchester; and governor of New Hampshire, 1875-77. He became U.S. senator on the death of Austin F. Pike, serving 1886-87; was U.S. minister to Switzerland, 1892-93, and a member of the Republican National Convention in 1892 and 1900. He received the honorary degree A.M. from Dartmouth in 1876. He devoted himself to manufacturing, stock raising and travel. He died in Dover, N.H., June 19, 1901.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Cult, governor of New Hampshire, was born in England in 1625. He immigrated to America sometime previous to 1645, and settled in Portsmouth, N.H., where he engaged in trade and became very wealthy. His two brothers Richard and Robert came to America with him and settled respectively in Portsmouth, N.H., and Kittery, Maine, both places being then a part of Massachusetts. In 1679 John Curt was appointed colonial governor of New Hampshire. He died in office, in Portsmouth, N.H., March 27, 1681.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Samuel Dinsmoor, governor of New Hampshire, was born in Londonderry, N.H., July 1, 1766; son of William and Elizabeth (Cochran) Dinsmoor. He was graduated at Dartmouth in 1789, taught school for a few years and was admitted to practice in the court of common pleas in 1795. He settled in Keene, N.H., where he helped to organize a light infantry company which he commanded. He rose in rank in the militia to be a major-general. He was appointed postmaster of the town in 1808 and was a representative in the 12th congress, 1811-13, voting in favor of a war with England. He was afterward collector of the direct tax and in 1821 was a member of the executive council. He was unsuccessful candidate for governor of New Hampshire in 1823, was appointed judge of probate for the county of Cheshire in the same year, and was governor of New Hampshire, 1831-34. He was married to Mary Boyd, daughter of Gen. George Reid of Londonderry, N.H. He died in Keene, N.H., March 15, 1835.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Natt Head, governor of New Hampshire, was born in Hooksett, N.H., May 20, 1828; son of John and Anna (Brown) Head; grandson of Nathanael and Anna (Knox) Head, and of William Brown, a sea captain, who made several voyages around the world; and a great grandson of Nathanael Head, who, with his brother, John, emigrated from Wales and settled in Bradford, Mass. His grandfather, Nathanael Head, was one of the pioneer settlers of Hooksett and a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serving successively as 2d lieutenant, ensign and captain. His father, John Head (1791-1835), was lieutenant-colonel of the 17th regiment. Natt was educated at the common schools, and at Pembroke academy, and after the death of his parents he engaged with his brother, William F. Head, in farming, stock raising and brick making. Under the firm name of Head & Dowst, the brothers engaged extensively in the lumber and building business at Manchester, N.H. Mr. Head was married Nov. 18, 1863, to Abbie M. Sanford of Lowell, Mass. He was an officer in the state militia and a prominent member of several other military organizations; was a representative in the state legislature, 1861-62; and adjutant, inspector and quartermaser-general of the state , 1864-70. He was elected to the state senate in 1875, but upon the technicality of the misspelling of his name his votes were thrown out,and he was elected to tile state senate in 1876, re-elected in 1877 and was president of the senate in 1877. In the fall of 1878 Senator Head received the Republican nomination for governor of New Hampshire and at the election, Nov. 5. 1878, he received 88,175 votes; Frank A. McKean, Democrat, 31,135; Warren G. Brown, National, 6,507; Asa S. Kenlull, Prohibition, 91; and scattering 51. He published, while adjutant-general of the state, a record of the career of every officer and enlisted man who served from New Hampshire during the civil war, embracing biographical sketches of all the field officers who died in the service, and including a military history of New Hampshire from 1623 to 1661 (4 vols. 1865-66). He was a director and for eleven years the president of the New Hampshire agricultural society; an officer of the Merrimac county agricultural association; a trustee of the New Hampshire college of agriculture and mechanical arts, 1869-71, and a trustee of Dartmouth college, 1879-81. He received the degree of A.M. from Dartmouth in 1879. He died in Hooksett, N.H., Nov. 12, 1883.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

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