Sketches of Successful New Hampshire Men
died in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, October 3, 1870, just as he was ready to
commence the practice of the law. The second, Everett Foster, died
young. For his second wife, he married Louisa Jennie Paige, daughter of
Dea. James K. Paige, of Wentworth, September 5, 1853, by whom he has had
three children,--Maria Louise, Annie Lawrie, and George Lincoln. The
second died young; the eldest and youngest survive.
Judge Sargent is a leading member of the South Congregational church in
Concord, and, while decided in his own opinions, he is liberal and
tolerant in judging of the faith, and charitable in judging of the
conduct, of others. As a lawyer, he was always faithful and true to his
clients, a wise counselor and an able advocate. As a legislator, he has
been conservative and safe. As a judge, he always studied to get at the
right of the case, to hold the scales of justice evenly, to rule the law
plainly, and to get the questions of fact, and the evidence as it bore
upon them, clearly and distinctly before the jury. Any one who attended
the courts where he presided as a judge could see at once that he was
patient and painstaking, industrious and persevering, vigilant and
discriminating, impartial and fearless; and any one who reads his
written opinions will see that they exhibit great research, learning,
and ability.
JOHN HATCH GEORGE.
BY H. H. METCALF.
The man who makes his way to the front rank at the bar and in politics,
and holds his position without dispute for more than a quarter of a
century, must be a person of ability, energy, and sagacity. Especially
is this true in New Hampshire, which, from the earliest period of our
national history, has produced some of the ablest lawyers and the
keenest politicians known to the country. Such a man is Col. JOHN HATCH
GEORGE, of Concord, whose name has long been a household word at every
Democratic fireside in the state, and whose eminent legal position is
recognized throughout New England.
Born in Concord, where he has ever since resided, November 20, 1824,
Col. George is now fifty-seven years of age. His parents were John and
Mary (Hatch) George, the former a prominent, respected, and energetic
citizen, who, though a native of Hopkinton, located in Concord in early
manhood; the latter, a daughter of Samuel Hatch, a leading citizen of
the town of Greenland, among whose grandchildren are included the Hon.
Albert R. Hatch and John S. H. Frink, Esq., both also known as eminent
lawyers and leading Democrats.
Gaining his preliminary education in the excellent public schools of his
native town and in the old Concord Academy, Col. George entered
Dartmouth College in 1840, being then fifteen years of age, where he
diligently pursued his studies for about three years, until the death of
his father compelled his return home and the non-completion of his
college course. The faculty subsequently conferred upon him his
graduating degree, which was followed by that of Master of Arts. Among
his classmates at Dartmouth were several who became prominent at the bar
and in public life, including the late Hon. Harvey Jewell, and Hons. A.
A. Ranney and Horatio G. Parker, of Boston, and the present governor of
this state, Hon. Charles H. Bell.
If young George was unfortunate in the loss of his father, and in the
failure to complete the college course consequent thereon, he was
especially fortunate in being favored with the kindly regard of that
brilliant son of New Hampshire, Gen. Franklin Pierce, who, as a friend
of the family, had become conversant with his qualities and
characteristics, and readily discerned the line of action best
calculated for the development and successful exercise of his powers.
Fortunate as he was, however, in the enjoyment of the friendship of Gen.
Pierce at this time, it may safely be assumed that he never would have
been the recipient of such favor had he not given evidence of the
possession of abilities above the common order. The really great lawyer
has a lofty regard for his profession, and will never be found
influencing any one to enter upon its pursuit who is not likely to honor
the profession and bring credit to himself. When, therefore, upon the
invitation of Gen. Pierce, young George entered upon the study of the
law in the office of the former,--as he did soon after leaving college,
and at the time when that distinguished man was in active practice,--it
was under circumstances every way propitious to that ultimate success
creditable alike to each. During his three years of legal study under
such tutelage, he made that rapid progress which characterizes the
advance of the ambitious and enthusiastic young man, well equipped,
mentally and physically, for the work in hand, thoroughly in love
therewith, guided by wise counsel and inspired by brilliant example; and
when, in 1846, he was admitted to the bar, and entered upon the practice
of his profession in his native city, it was with unusual thoroughness
of preparation.
At the opening of his professional career, Col. George was again
particularly fortunate. Gen. Charles H. Peaslee had long ranked among
the most careful lawyers of the state, and had acquired an extensive
practice. He was a warm friend of Gen. Pierce, professionally and
politically, and, like him, an intimate friend of the George family.
Entering largely into public life, its engrossing duties withdrew his
attention more and more from professional engagements, rendering
desirable a partnership alliance with some active and competent young
man. Such alliance was offered to and promptly accepted by young George,
who thus auspiciously commenced his professional career.
The limits of this sketch will not permit a detailed account of the
progress and success of its subject; but it may be stated, that from his
entrance upon legal practice to the present time all his energies and
faculties have been heartily devoted to the labors and duties of his
profession, in whose performance he has won a high measure of fame, as
well as a fair amount of that substantial reward which the world largely
regards as the prime object of human effort. His connection with Gen.
Peaslee continued about five years, and was followed by a professional
alliance of a similar character with Sidney Webster, Esq., then a young
lawyer of fine abilities and brilliant promise, who has since become
distinguished in legal and diplomatic circles. This partnership
continued till Mr. Webster left Concord to become private secretary to
Gen. Pierce, upon the accession of the latter to the presidency in 1853.
Soon afterward, Col. George formed partnership relations with Hon.
William L. Foster, who subsequently became and long remained a judge of
the supreme court of the state, and with them Hon. Charles P. Sanborn
was also for a time associated. Since the recent resignation of Judge
Foster, his connection with Col. George has been resumed.
Not only in behalf of an extensive private clientage have the
professional services of Col. George been employed, but for many years,
also, in behalf of the public,--he having been appointed solicitor for
Merrimack county in 1849, and re-appointed in 1854, discharging the
duties of the office until 1856, when he was removed for partisan
reasons, the Republican party signalizing its ascendency by a clean
sweep of all Democratic officials. From 1853 to 1858, he was U. S.
attorney for the district of New Hampshire, appointed by President
Pierce.
There are, undoubtedly, many men at the bar, in this and other states,
as well grounded in legal principles as Col. George, and even more
familiar with the text-books, who have fallen far short of the success
he has attained. It is one thing to be able to state abstract legal
principles, and quite another correctly to apply those principles to the
facts in any given case. It has ever been the habit of Col. George, in
the conduct of a cause, to thoroughly familiarize himself with all the
facts and circumstances connected therewith. The mastery of the cause
itself leaves little difficulty in the determination of the law bearing
thereon, and is the strongest guaranty of success in its management
before a jury; and it is in the conduct of jury causes that Col. George
has won the greater measure of his success. Gifted with great perceptive
powers and a ready knowledge of men, and familiar as he ever is with the
cause in hand, in all its bearings, he is never taken at a disadvantage,
no matter how able or alert the opposing counsel. In handling witnesses,
and especially in cross-examination, he has shown unusual tact and
ability. He reads the mind of a witness almost intuitively, and
understands how to bring out the essential facts even from the most
reluctant, and to do so in the manner best calculated to make the
desired impression upon the minds of the jury. As an advocate, he is
equaled by few and excelled by none of our New Hampshire lawyers; yet
his power in this regard consists in the systematic, logical, and
intensely earnest presentation of all the facts which go to make up and
strengthen his cause, and to destroy or weaken that of his opponents,
rather than in the oratory which abounds in eloquently rounded periods
and impassioned appeals. In this connection may well be quoted the words
of one who, knowing Col. George from youth, has written of him as
follows:--
"Intense earnestness, and a faculty of an immediate and powerful
concentration of all his mental faculties on any subject which
interested him, were the predominant peculiarities of the early
manhood of Mr. George. When he came to the bar, he manifested a
power of felicitous language, and a largeness of vocabulary,
which were rarely to be seen even in the most practiced
speakers. He never prepared beforehand the words of his spoken
utterances, either at the bar, in the committee-room, or on the
stump. Whatever he could see and understand at all, he saw and
understood clearly. The strength of his feelings, the enormous
power and range of his vocabulary, added to this clearness of
vision, made mere verbal preparation unnecessary for him. His
speaking was made up of a clear perception of the turning-point
of his case, and then of pungent epigram, sparkling paradox,
rattling attack, vivid repartee, hearty humor, and, when
occasion called for, of a fearlessness of denunciation of what
he believed to be wrong or unjust or unfair, which made him,
even at the outset of his brilliant career, a dangerous
antagonist for the most practiced and powerful members of the
New Hampshire bar."
Though not retiring from general practice, Col. George has devoted his
attention largely to railroad law for many years past, having accepted,
in 1867, the position of solicitor for the Boston & Lowell Railroad, and
established an office in Boston for the transaction of business in
connection with that position. For nearly twenty years previous to that
date he had served as clerk and counsel of the Concord Railroad
corporation, and had already become familiar with the law of railways
and their general relations to the public. To-day there is no higher
living authority upon railroad law in New England than Col. George,--no
man who understands more thoroughly or can state more clearly the
respective rights, duties, and obligations of railroad corporations and
the people, in relation to each other, a general understanding of which
is becoming more and more essential to the fullest measure of our
national prosperity. His public addresses upon the subject, his
arguments before legislative committees, courts, and juries, are models
of clearness and cogency, admirable in construction and convincing in
effect.