THE GRANITE MONTHLY. A NEW HAMPSHIRE MAGAZINE. Devoted to Literature, Biography, History, and State Progress. VOL. IX. JULY, 1886. HON. THOMAS COGSWELL. BY JOHN N. MCCLINTOCK, A. M. It has been suggested that Colonel Thomas Cogswell, the Democratic candidate for Governor of New Hampshire, is a blue-blooded aristocrat. If having a long line of honorable, Christian ancestors, the record of whom extends back to the old country, to the days when the Stuarts ruled England and Cromwell was unheard of, if pious, patriotic, and sagacious forefathers give a man blue blood, the Colonel is really afflicted with blue blood. If being a hard working and practical lawyer, a farmer who personally superintends the cultivation of five hundred acres of land, a scholar who tries to keep up with the literature of the period, a kind and considerate neighbor, a citizen always at the command of his fellowcitizens, a brave soldier in the late war, an easy and graceful public speaker, a man with a multitude of personal friends, if these are the characteristics of an aristocrat, then is Colonel Cogswell an aristocrat. If in his veins flows the best New England blood, if his character for honor and integrity is as established as the granite hills which hem in his paternal farm, there is no doubt that his ancestors are in part responsible. If a man's sins will live after him for generations so also will the noble actions No. 7. of a man's ancestors be reflected in him and help him in the race. The Colonel's ancestors were among the first settlers who planted the Massachusetts Bay Colony early in the seventeenth century. In every generation they have been law-abiding, God-fearing, and patriotic citizens, ready to serve their country in war or peace. BOYHOOD. HON. THOMAS COGSWELL, son of Hon. Thomas and Mary (Noyes) Cogswell, was born February 8, 1841, in Gilmanton, in the house which in the early part of this century was the homestead of his great grandfather, General Joseph Badger, and which stood a few rods east of the Colonel's present residence, under the shade of a great elm tree lately injured by lightning. The frame of the old house was taken and used in the construction of the residence of James W. Cogswell, another son of Hon. Thomas and Mary (Noyes) Cogswell, who lives a quarter of a mile away on the main highway from Gilmanton Iron Works to Laconia. The present residence was built in 1784 by Colonel Thomas Cogswell, of the Continental Army, his father's uncle, and came into his father's possession over forty years ago, reuniting the old General Badger term of school. Here young Cogswell estate. It is a large, square, two-story, old-fashioned mansion, built in the substantial manner in vogue about the time of the American Revolution, and as serviceable to-day as when erected by the old patriot. Here was passed the boyhood and youth of our friend, Colonel Cogswell. Here on his father's farm of a thousand acres he acquired a practical knowledge of farming, of stock raising, and of the many duties and obligations of a successful farmer's career. Here he was surrounded by scenery unsurpassed in the hill country of New Hampshire. The farm occupies the summit and sides of a hill; and the house, not far from the highest ground, commands a very extended view of hill and mountain, valley, stream and lake, woodland and cultivated field, reaching to the horizon formed by distant elevations. EDUCATION. With the boys of the neighborhood he received the first rudiments of an education at the little red school-house of the district. Here he developed a fondness not only for boyish sports but for books, and at an early age determined to acquire a classical education with a view to becoming a lawyer. He entered Gilmanton Academy in 1857, and continued his studies there two under the instruction of Professor years Chase Parsons and of Professor Andrew Marshall. The Cogswell family have always been actively interested in maintaining this venerable institution, founded in 1794; and it is a noteworthy fact that in its board of directors the name of Thomas Cogswell has appeared every year since its charter was granted. It is also remarkable that since 1794 Gilmanton Academy has never missed a formed a close friendship with his roommate and classmate, John B. Peaslee, with whom he went to Hanover in 1859, and entered the Freshman class of Dartmouth College. Of that class of eighty-nine members, forty-eight were living three years ago who graduated with their class in 1863. The class has given to the world fourteen lawyers, ten physicians, seven clergymen, ten teachers, besides nine patriots who laid down their lives for the good of their country. In his class was Alfred K. Hamilton, of Milwaukee, Charles C. Pearson, of Concord, Charles A. Pillsbury, of Minneapolis, John Scales, of Dover, Isaac Walker, of Pembroke, Evarts W. Farr, of Littleton, Stephen B. Kenrick, of Fort Madison, Iowa, and Hon. W. H. Clement, of Brooklyn, New York. Young Cogswell was a good scholar, ranking well in his class, and excelling as a speaker and debater. He was out all of the Senior year but graduated with his class. Before and during his college course young Cogswell taught school, first in Alton, when he was sixteen years of age, and afterwards in Deerfield, East Concord, and Laconia. Frequently he had scholars older than himself, and during one term of school he "boarded round." ARMY LIFE. At the end of his Junior year in Dartmouth College the fate of the Republic was in doubt. Those were the darkest days of the Great Rebellion. More soldiers were needed to fill the ranks of veteran regiments, and new regiments were needed at the front. The herculean task of suppressing treason began to be realized by the loyal North, and in the summer of 1862 300,000 more volunteers were called for. Twenty boys from the class of in Concord, August 8, 1863. He was then twenty-two years old and wore the epaulets of a captain gained by gallant service before the enemy. 1863 responded to the call, among whom was Thomas Cogswell. He enlisted in that summer as a private in Company A, Fifteenth Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers, a company recruited in Gilmanton, Guilford, Alton, and Belmont, and entered the service for nine months. He was chosen by his company first lieutenant and was presented by his command with sword and equipments. For the ensuing year his history and that of the regiment are identical. In October, 1862, the regiment was in camp in Concord, going to Long Island, New York, in November of the same year. The regiment was destined to join the expedition of General Banks and proceeded to Louisiana, where in the following spring Lieutenant Cogswell was taken sick with the chills and fever. He lost twenty-five pounds in weight in one week. He recovered sufficiently to join his company, of which he was commissioned captain April 8, 1863, before Port Hudson, and participated in the memorable attack. For a day and a half during the siege his command were without food. His weakened constitution could not withstand such exposure and deprivation, and again he was sent to the hospital. When the regiment was embarking to return north, after their term of service had expired, the physicians forbade his being moved, but he ordered four of his men, who came to see him, to carry him upon the boat with the regiment. This they did and he was brought home with them almost a physical wreck. When he entered the service he was a strong, rugged, healthy boy of twentyone, weighing one hundred and eightyfive pounds; he weighed one hundred and six when he arrived at Gass' hotel It is unnecessary to add that Captain Cogswell was a brave soldier. He left a sick bed to join his regiment on the eve of a great battle. He was a good executive officer, kind and considerate to his men, and thoughtful of their needs and interests. When the regiment was ordered from Long Island to embark on a transport for the Gulf of Mexico, he joined with his captain in refusing to march his company on board of a boat manifestly unsafe and overloaded. This refusal led to a courtmartial, by which the young officers were exonerated from blame. He never wanted his men exposed to danger in which he could not share, and looked after them like younger brothers. For a year after his return from the south he was recuperating and regaining his lost health, six months of the time being confined to his house and room. In the fall of 1864 Captain Cogswell was employed as a clerk in the commissary department and reported to Captain John R. Hynes, but saw no more active service. LAW. Mr. Cogswell commenced to read law in the office of Stevens & Vaughan, of Laconia, and afterwards studied at the Harvard Law School. He was admitted to the Belknap County bar during the September term, 1866. In December of the same year he opened a law office in the village of Gilmanton Iron Works, where no lawyer had been settled for the previous twenty years. Formerly some noted lawyers had practiced law there, among whom may be mentioned James Bell, George Minot, Arthur St. Loe Livermore and his brother, William Butterfield, George G. Fogg, and O. A. J. Vaughan. Here for twenty years has Mr. Cogswell practiced law, doing the legal business for all the country round. He enjoys an excellent standing at the bar, not only with his clients and the people generally, but with his brother lawyers and with the court. It has always been his policy to discourage litigation, and many a promising lawsuit has been nipped in the bud by his advice. He has had the confidence of his neighbors and townsmen, and has done a large probate business, written many wills, settled many estates and accepted many fiduciary trusts. He has had no specialty but has done a general law business in Belknap and in Strafford counties, and in the United States Courts, to which he has been admitted to practice. He is bold and aggressive in the trial of causes and is a strong advocate before a jury. He is generally considered a well educated, well read, and safe lawyer, careful in giving advice, and careful not to be drawn into a suit when his client is in the wrong. A compromise with him is a very common and effective mode of procedure. Possibly had he been more dependent upon his profession for a livelihood, he might have been more industrious, but he could not have been more consciencious or more careful of the interests of his clients. In 1884 he was elected solicitor of Belknap County, running ahead of his party ticket, which office he now holds. POLITICS. The town of Gilmanton was divided in 1859, when Belmont was set off; but as it was against the will of the people of that section, they retained the old organization and the records, while the new town kept the old name. Of Gilmanton Mr. Cogswell was chosen representative to the General Court in 1871 and 1872, although the town was Republican. (The first office to which he was elected was that of superintending school committee, which office he held for one year.) During the latter term he received the nomination of his party for speaker of the House of Representatives. He was elected Senator from the old district, Number Six, in 1878, and was the candidate the following year for re-election in the new district, Number Six. In this election there was no choice by the people and he lost his election in the Senate. In 1880 he was candidate for councillor in the Second Councillor District, but found it impossible to overcome a Republican majority of from sixteen to eighteen hundred. In June, 1886, he received of the Democratic State Convention the nomination for Governor. Mr. Cogswell is a Democrat. His father before him was a Democrat, a loyal supporter of the administration during the Rebellion, and a firm believer in the great underlying principles of the Democratic party. He believes in the sacredness of the Constitution which forms the union of the States, in maintaining our national honor at home and abroad, in the equality of American citizens, and, with President Cleveland, heartily endorses the doctrine that public office is a public trust. He is, and has always been, a conservative Democrat. Although he was defeated for councillor in 1880, that was the year he was elected by his fellow-citizens of Gilmanton to the office of selectman, succeeding in raising that most important office out of the realm of party politics and inaugurating a non-partisan board, which the town has continued to this day. At that time the town was then, as it is now, strongly Republican, and this overturn was only accomplished after a hard fight. He was re-elected in 1881, and 1882, during both of which years he served as chairman of the board. During his term of office the financial affairs of the town were straightened out and a system of reform inaugurated which saved money to the town and benefited everybody. For many years he has been a delegate to the State Conventions and other conventions of his party, and has always been ready and willing to serve his party on the stump. His own nomination in June, 1886, although given by a very large inajority on the first ballot, came unsolicited and apparently spontaneously. This result was brought about by his very large circle of personal friends, men who know him, who believe in him, who want to vote for him and who hope to elect him. They know his strength as a speaker, as an executive, as a man of affairs, and his great personal popularity. EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS. For many years Mr. Cogswell has been interested in educational affairs. Mention has been made of his service one year as superintending school committee of Gilmanton. Since 1868 he has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Gilmanton Academy. He has been President of the Board since the death of Judge Eastman, and is now its Treasurer. To the affairs of the institution he has given a great deal of time and attention. In no small degree is its increasing reputation owing to his interest in it. At all times he has been generous in helping students who are seeking an education. FARM. Since the death of his father in 1868 he has had the charge of a farm of over four hundred acres, now increased to five hundred acres, and this he has steadily improved, not only in its capacity for yielding crops, but in its buildings, fences, and orchards. Its chief crop is hay, of which he cuts from seventy-five to one hundred tons annually. He winters from forty to sixty head of cattle, and keeps from six to ten horses. His cattle are Durham and Devon grades, well adapted to his hillside flock. farm. His horses are of the Wilkes stock. Only a few sheep remain at present of what was formerly a large For sixty-five years the farm has produced a crop of wheat, sometimes amounting to one hundred bushels; and in 1869 he received a silver medal for the best wheat from the New Hampshire Agricultural Society. Corn, beans, potatoes, and vegetables enough are raised on the farm for home consumption. There is much valuable wood and timber land on the estate. Mr. Cogswell requires the services of two assistants through the whole year, and during the haying and harvest seasons of as many as are available. There is a system in all his farm operations, and for the last ten years that of calling ten hours' labor a day's work on his farm has been in force. even in haying weather. His men are always well treated, and, as a matter of course, it is considered very desirable to obtain work on the Cogswell farm. This is true Mr. Cogswell was one of the first members of the Board of Agriculture, |