Sketches of Successful New Hampshire Men

River Bank from 1857 to 1860, the same in the Manchester National Bank from 1865 to the present time; and as a trustee in the Manchester Savings Bank nearly all the time since it obtained its charter. Since the decease of Hon. Herman Foster, Mr. Adams has been one of the committee on loans for the latter institution. He is one of the directors of the Gas-Light Company, and was for many years a trustee of the public library. He was elected, in 1865, one of the original directors of the New England Cotton Manufacturers' Association. For many years, Mr. Adams has been engaged, as opportunity occurred, in procuring rare coins and medals. Of the former, he now possesses very complete collections of the various denominations in gold, silver, nickel, and copper; and he has a great number of valuable medals. Many of these antiquities command a very high price in the market, their numbers being absolutely limited, and the demand for them steadily increasing. During the administration of Colonel Adams, which covered a long series of eventful years, a great many changes occurred. In what may be called, more particularly, the manufacturing world is this especially true. He is the oldest agent and the longest in such position in the city,--nay, more, in the entire Merrimack valley; and most of those holding similar positions thirty-two years ago are now passed from this life. That fine old estate on Hanover street, for a long time known as the "Harris estate," was formerly owned by the Stark company, who built the commodious mansion now converted into a charitable institution,--the "Orphans' Home,"--for the use of their agents. John A. Burnham was its first occupant; and next, Mr. Adams, who resided there nine years, beginning with 1847. When Baldwin & Co.'s steam mill on Manchester street, where D. B. Varney's brass foundry is located, was, with other structures, burned on the 5th of July, 1852, that house, then occupied by Mr. Adams, was set on fire by the flying sparks; but the fire was speedily extinguished. Mr. Adams was at the time attending to his duties as engineer where the fire raged the fiercest. Thus Mrs. Adams and those of her household were without protection of the sterner sex in the early part of their peril. Soon, however, aid was proffered by several men, of whom Mrs. Adams admitted Mr. Walter Adriance and three others, friends of the family, whereupon she securely barricaded the doors. The work of passing water to the roof was very lively for a while. In 1856, Mr. Adams moved into the house No. 2 Water street, where he lived about nine years, when he purchased his present fine residence, No. 18 Brook Street. On the 24th of September, 1839, Mr. Adams was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth P. Simpson, daughter of the late Deacon Samuel Simpson, of Deerfield, a veteran in the war of 1812. Mrs. Adams's paternal grandfather, Major John Simpson, participated in the battle of Bunker Hill, and, it is said upon good authority, fired the first shot, on the American side, of that famous engagement. It occurred in this wise: The men in his line were instructed by their commander, Colonel Stark, not to fire a gun until the British had arrived at a certain point, forty paces distant from the American works. When the red-coated invaders had advanced to within that distance, the major (who was then a private), an excellent marksman, being unable to withstand so good an opportunity, fired before the order was given, and dropped his man. The fire was then opened along the whole line. On being reproved for disobeying orders, Mr. Simpson replied, "I never could help firing when game which I was after came within gun-shot." He died October 28, 1825. From this happy union of Mr. Adams with Miss Simpson two children have sprung: Elizabeth, born June 15, 1842, and Phinehas Adams, Jr., born December 26, 1844,--both being born in the same house in the city of Lowell. The former is the wife of Daniel C. Gould, paymaster of the Stark Mills, and the popular tenor singer at the Franklin-street church, to whom she was married the 10th of September, 1868. Mr. Gould is the son of Deacon Daniel Gould, who was the first railroad-station agent in Manchester, a position he held until succeeded by the late Henry Hurlburt. Mr. Phinehas Adams, Jr., married Miss Anna P. Morrison, of Belfast, Maine. About a year after being married, Phinehas Adams joined the First Congregational church in Lowell. Mrs. Adams was a member of the same church. On removing to Manchester, both had their relation transferred to the Franklin-street Congregational church. At a business meeting of the Stark Corporation directors, in 1879, on the suggestion of Edmund Dwight, it was voted to present Colonel Adams with a suitable token, bearing testimony of the high respect in which he is held by them. Therefore, on the 17th of November, 1879, that being the date completing his thirty-two years of service as agent of that corporation, they presented him with one of the most valuable gold watches made by the Waltham company, together with a massive gold chain and an elegant seal. Inside the watch-case is engraved the following: "The Stark Mills to Phinehas Adams, November 17, 1847-1879. William Amory. Edmund Dwight, treasurer." Accompanying these superb gifts was the following letter, expressive of sentiments that any honorable man would be justly proud to merit:-- "BOSTON, November 15, 1879. "_My Dear Sir_,--I send you a watch and chain by request of the directors of the Stark Mills. It will reach you on the anniversary of the day on which you entered their service, thirty-two years ago. Will you receive it as an expression of their great respect for your character, and their high appreciation of the service you have rendered the corporation during the third part of a century? "It is their sincere hope that the connection which has lasted so long may long continue. "With great regard, yours sincerely, "EDMUND DWIGHT, _Treasurer_." "PHINEHAS ADAMS, ESQ." This testimonial was eminently deserved, as no one is held in greater or more universal respect than is the upright, courteous, and genial recipient. Right here it may be as well to put on record the fact that Mr. Adams has never used tobacco or intoxicating liquors during his life. The life of Mr. Adams proves that tireless persistence and devotion to duty accomplish much. The influence exerted by his life is far greater than is commonly supposed or realized. It can hardly fail to stimulate young men to honorable exertions, and to teach them that extensive notoriety is not necessarily indicative of true greatness, and also that too eager grasping after mere political distinction or after temporal riches is far less desirable than linking their lives to immortal principles. No sermon could be more potent than such a life as this, illustrating the fact that exalted character is the choicest of all possessions, bearing ever large interest in this life, and likewise in the life hereafter. GENEALOGY. _The "Phinehas Adams" Branch of the Adams Family, copied from the Original Chart prepared by Elijah Adams, and dated Medfield, May 2, 1798._ HENRY ADAMS, Devonshire. | --------+-----+--------- | PETER, JOSEPH, HENRY, ----, EDWARD, SAMUEL, JONATHAN. | ----------------------------+------------------ | JONATHAN, HENRY, JAMES, JOHN, ELISHA, EDWARD, ELISHAB. | ------------------------+----+--------------------------------- | OBADIAH, JOHN, THOMAS, JEREMIAH, ELEAZER, ABRAHAM, DANIEL, PHINEHAS, EDWARD. | ----------+-----+--------- | BENJAMIN, JOHN, ELEAZER, SETH. | --------------------+------+---------------------------- | JOHN, JUDE, JOEL, PHINEHAS, JAMES, ELIAS, HEZEKIAH, ELEAZER. | --------------+-----+------------------ | ASAHEL, BARZILLAI, PHINEHAS, WILLIAM, LOWELL. | ----------------+-+---------- | ASAHEL, ASAHEL, PHINEHAS, ASAHEL. | ---+---+ | PHINEHAS. NATHANIEL WHITE. The ancestors of NATHANIEL WHITE were among the hardy pioneers who settled New England two hundred and fifty years ago, William White, the founder of the family in this country, having come from England and landed at Ipswich, Mass., in 1635. The descendants of William were among the earliest settlers of northern New Hampshire. Nathaniel White, the subject of this sketch, the oldest child of Samuel and Sarah (Freeman) White, was born in Lancaster, February 7, 1811. His childhood was passed under a tender mother's care; and to her strict religious training he was indebted for the noble character which led him untainted amid the temptations of youth, and unspotted through a long career of usefulness. At home were those principles of integrity, honesty, temperance, philanthropy, and generosity inculcated which led to a long life rounded by Christian virtues, adorned by humanitarian graces, and free from vices. At the age of fourteen he went into the employ of a merchant of Lunenburg, Vt., with whom he remained about one year, when he accepted employment with Gen. John Wilson, of Lancaster, who was just entering upon his duties as landlord of the Columbian hotel in Concord. His parents more readily consented to his taking this step on account of the many noble qualities of Mrs. Wilson. To her care he was intrusted by his solicitous mother. In the employ of Gen. Wilson, Nathaniel White commenced life in Concord at the foot of the ladder. He arrived in Concord, August 25, 1826, with one shilling in his pocket. For five years, or until he came of age, he continued at the Columbian, rendering a strict account of his wages to his father, and saving the dimes and quarters which came as perquisites, until by his twenty-first birthday he had a fund of two hundred and fifty dollars. In 1832 he made his first business venture, negotiating the first and last business loan of his life, and purchased a part interest in the stage route between Concord and Hanover, and occupying the "box" himself for a few years. In one year he was free from debt. Soon after, he bought into the stage route between Concord and Lowell. In 1838, in company with Capt. William Walker, he initiated the express business, making three trips weekly to Boston, and personally attending to the delivery of packages, goods, or money, and other business intrusted to him. He was ever punctual; he never forgot. In 1842, upon the opening of the Concord Railroad, he was one of the original partners of the express company which was then organized to deliver goods throughout New Hampshire and Canada. The company, under various names, has continued in successful operation to the present day; and to Nathaniel White's business capacity has it been greatly indebted for its remarkable financial success. In 1846, Mr. White purchased his farm, and has cultivated it since that date. It lies in the southwestern section of the city, two miles from