VOL. IX.

Hon. Jesse Gault was born in Hooksett, N. H., September 20, 1823, and is a direct descendant, in the fifth gen eration, of Samuel Gault, who was born in Scotland and emigrated to the northern part of Chester, now included in Hooksett, and settled on the "Suncook Grant," so called. Matthew Gault, who was born in 1755 on the old Gault homestead in Chester, and who married Elizabeth Bunton, was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. They had twelve children, nine living to be married, of whom Jesse, the second son, who was born October 22, 1790, while the family was temporarily residing in Springfield, N. H., and who died in Hooksett September 25, 1855, aged sixty-five, was the father of Hon. Jesse Gault. He was a successful farmer and a man of property, his homestead was one of the finest in his town or county. He married Dolly Clement, who was born in Pembroke April 21, 1794, and died March 30, 1873, her father being Joshua Clement, who was born in Goshen June 12, 1764, and died in Concord December 26, 1840. Mr. Clement was a clothier, and was many years in business in what is now Suncook, where he was a large owner of real estate, including considerable water power.

Nos. III., IV.

He married Abbie Head, daughter of General Nathaniel Head, of Pembroke, September 26, 1790, and on the maternal side was of English descent.

Of

Jesse Gault, Sr., had four children, two sons and two daughters. Matthew, the elder son, was born September 23, 1817, and died December 2, 1846. the daughters, Almira C., born December 2, 1819, and died February 20, 1853, married Harlon P. Gerrish, of Boscawen. She left a son, John C. Gerrish, now living in Missouri. The remaining sister, Martha H., was born July 3, 1828, and died April 23, 1853.

Hon. Jesse Gault was brought up on his father's farm, and his opportunities for obtaining an education were the public school and Pembroke Academy. At the age of sixteen he began teach'ing in his own district, where he taught the winter school for four consecutive years, working on the farm in summer. Subsequently he was an instructor in Suncook and Hooksett village. On reaching twenty-two he left home to commence life's work for himself and went to Baltimore, Md., where he engaged as book-keeper and surveyor for Messrs. Abbott & Jones, ship lumber merchants. His health becoming impaired, he was forced in less than a

year to relinquish his situation, which had already become a most promising one, and returned home. After regaining his strength he, upon the solicitation of his aged parents, consented to remain in Hooksett. April 3, 1846, he married Miss Martha A., daughter of Isaac C. Otterson, of Hooksett, whose wife was Margaret Head, an aunt of exGovernor Nathaniel Head. The same year Mr. Gault opened a brick yard in Hooksett on a small scale which he has developed until its production is about six millions yearly, affording employment to sixty men. This extensive bus This extensive bus iness necessitates the purchase of large tracts of woodland for obtaining fuel, while the lumber is sold in the market. In this way he has bought some three thousand acres of forest domain. In addition, he owns several farms, the one upon which he lives cutting seventy-five tons of hay annually, and producing largely of other crops. His residence, on the old stage road from Concord to Haverhill, Mass., was built some five years ago, and is one of the most expensive in that section.

Mr. Gault was early active in civil affairs. After filling various local positions, including chairman of the board of selectmen for many years, he was chosen delegate from Hooksett to the Constitutional Convention of 1851, being the youngest member of that body. Mr. Gault was then a Whig, and Hooksett was at that time Democratic by more than two to one. In 1857 and 1858 he represented his town in the lower branch of the legislature, and in 1867 was elected a railroad commissioner for a triennial term, being chair

man of the board the last year. In 1876 he was delegate to the Republican National Convention at Cincinnati, and has for many years been a member of the Republican State Committee. He was chosen from the Londonderry District to the State Senate in 1885, and was chairman of the committee on claims, and a member of those on the revision of the statutes and the Asylum for the Insane. Mr. Gault, by great industry and perseverance, has accumulated a large property, and is extensively interested in ownership and officially in railway, banking, and other corporations. He is a regular attendant at the Union church in Hooksett, is universally respected in private life for the purity and uprightness of his character, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Of the five children, two sons and three daughters, born to Mr. and Mrs. Gault, four have died, the oldest, a son, reaching sixteen. The surviving child is the wife of Frank C. Towle, a young business man of Suncook. Senator Gault is a gentleman of commanding personal presence, is a fine speaker, and often presides over public assemblages. Possessing executive abilities of the highest order and excellent judgment, his opinion upon important matters, both private and public, is often sought. Although, as will be seen above, he has already filled many responsible civil offices, yet his host of friends are confident that higher political honors will hereafter be bestowed upon him. His house, presided over by his refined and accomplished wife, is widely known, no less for its elegance than for its generous hospitality, and attracts many visitors.