Sketches of Successful New Hampshire Men
common school, sent him to Hancock Academy several terms, and then to
New Hampton, and he graduated at Francestown in the summer of 1852, and
in the fall entered Brown University. Here he took high rank as a
scholar, winning a prize in mathematics, and marking within one degree
of perfect in Latin; but his health failed him during the sophomore
year, and he was compelled to return to his home. The next year and a
half he spent upon his father's farm, and, having recovered his health,
resumed work as a teacher, in which he was engaged two terms at
Hubbardston, Mass., one at New London Literary and Scientific
Institution, and one at Leominster, Mass.
A sedentary life did not agree with Mr. Goodell, however, and he again
went to Antrim with the intention of making farming his permanent
business. Soon after, the Antrim Shovel Company was organised, and he
was called from the farm to act as its treasurer and book-keeper. A year
later, in 1858, he was appointed general agent of the company, and
served in this capacity six years, the three last as the agent of
Treadwell & Co., of Boston, who had purchased the business of the
original company. In 1864, Oakes Ames bought the business, including the
patents covering the now famous Antrim shovel, and moved it to North
Easton, Mass., and Mr. Goodell in company with George R. Carter, one of
the firm of Treadwell & Co., began in a small way the manufacture of
apple-parers. He invented what is known as the "lightning apple-parer,"
and put it upon the market through a New York house, which sold the
first two years a few hundred dozen. This they considered a good
business; but Mr. Goodell was not satisfied, and the next year took the
road himself, and in three weeks' time he sold two thousand dozen, and
made the invention known throughout the country.
In 1867 the factory was burned, and, as the firm carried no insurance,
it lost everything; but in six weeks it had a new shop in operation, and
was able to supply the demand for the next year, which rose to five
thousand dozen. In 1870 another calamity overtook the enterprise. The
firm of Goodell & Co. owed at that time seven hundred and sixty-one
dollars, but it had indorsed, to accommodate one of the partners, the
notes of Treadwell & Co. to the amount of fifty thousand dollars, and
the failure of this firm sent both into bankruptcy. The result of this
trouble was that Mr. Goodell bought the property himself, borrowed money
and paid its debts, paid for it out of his first year's profits, and has
since been able to greatly enlarge the business without signing a note
for himself or anybody else, or accepting any of the pecuniary help
which has been freely offered him.
Up to 1872 he directed his energies mainly to the manufacture and sale
of parers; but in that year he helped organize the Wood Cutlery Company
at Bennington, and in 1875 united it with his private business and
transferred the whole to the Goodell Company, of which he owns a large
share of the stock and is the manager and controlling spirit. The
business of this company has steadily increased until it employs one
hundred and fifty hands, and pays for labor more than fifty thousand
dollars annually. It manufactures all kinds of table cutlery, Cahoon
seed-sowers, apple and potato-parers, and cherry-stoners.
While giving his closest attention to these manufacturing enterprises,
Mr. Goodell has taken a warm interest in agriculture, and for many years
has managed the large farm that formerly belonged to his father, which
came into his possession some time since, and upon which he resides.
Here he demonstrates the principles of progressive and profitable
husbandry and stock-raising, extends a hearty welcome to his friends,
and enjoys the peace and plenty which are reserved for the gentleman
farmer. He has been one of the trustees of the New England Agricultural
Society for several years, and organized and was for a time president of
the Oak Park Association, and is an active member of the New Hampshire
board of agriculture.
Mr. Goodell has always been an ardent, wide-awake, and working
Republican, and when the party, under his leadership, wrested the town
from the opposition in 1876, he became its representative in the
legislature, to which position he was re-elected in 1877-78. In the
house he established and maintained a reputation as one of the most
judicious counselors and most effective speakers in the state, and
commanded the confidence of his colleagues to such an extent that no
measure which he advocated was defeated, and none that he opposed was
successful. Among the important bills which were carried through largely
by his judicious and earnest support was that for the erection of a new
state-prison.
Mr. Goodell's wife was Hannah Jane Plumer, a daughter of Jesse T.
Plumer, of Goffstown. He has two children,--Dura Dana Goodell, born
September 6, 1858, and Richard C. Goodell, born August 10, 1868. The
family are members of the Baptist church of Antrim, as were the father
and mother of Mr. Goodell.
These facts justify the claim of a wide circle of friends and
acquaintances, who look upon him as one of the strongest men of the
state, and one for whom high honors are in reserve. Though still in his
prime, he has won a position of which any man should be proud. His large
manufacturing business, which has given the town new life and
prosperity, is of his own creation; his farm is a model which invites
healthy progress; his private character is without a blemish; his
business credit above suspicion; his reputation as a citizen, neighbor,
and friend is of the best; and his ability to fill any public position
creditably and well is universally acknowledged.
JOSIAH G. GRAVES, M. D.
BY B. B. WHITTEMORE.
The subject of this sketch, JOSIAH GRISWOLD GRAVES, was born July 13,
1811, in Walpole, N. H., one of the loveliest villages in the valley of
the Connecticut. His father was a well-to-do farmer, and his mother a
woman of the olden time, who looked well to the ways of her
household,--a woman of superior mind and excellent judgment.
Not having a fancy for farming--and thus acting contrary to the wishes
of his father--he left home at the age of eighteen, with his mother's
blessing and one dollar in money, determined upon securing an education
and fitting himself for the medical profession. He defrayed the expenses
of his education by his own individual efforts and native energy of will
and industry, by teaching both day and evening, and was remarkably
successful in his labors. Being a natural penman, he also gave
instruction in the art of penmanship.
He commenced the study of his profession in 1829. He was a student in
medicine in the office of Drs. Adams and Twitchell, of Keene, and
subsequently attended medical lectures at Pittsfield, Mass., and
graduated at Williamstown Medical College in 1834. Afterwards he spent
six months in the office of Drs. Huntington and Graves in Lowell.
Dr. Graves commenced the practice of medicine in Nashua, N. H.,
September 15, 1834. At this time Nashua was a comparatively young town,
the compact part of the present city having then had but ten years'
growth. He went up the Merrimack river on the old steamboat then plying
on the Merrimack, landing a little below what was then the Taylor's
Falls bridge. His first patient was a pauper, who was badly injured
accidentally. After adequate treatment the man was placed on his feet
again, a well man. Such a patient was not very remunerative, and did not
tend to fill an empty pocket. This was evidenced by the fact that a
carpenter who was applied to for the purpose of procuring a wood-box
declined the job and refused to trust the young doctor. Necessity being
the mother of invention, the doctor was obliged to construct that useful
article himself. It was but a brief period, however, before energy,
determination, and superior medical and surgical skill carved out for
him an extensive practice. For forty years he followed his profession in
Nashua and the adjoining region with untiring assiduity, and with a
success that has but few parallels. He loved his profession and gave to
it his best powers. He was gifted in a remarkable degree with a keen
insight into the nature of disease, and of course his success was in
proportion to his fitness for his calling. He did not need to be told
symptoms; he knew, by intuition where the break in the constitution was,
and how to rebuild and give new life. He was made for his profession,
and not his profession for him, which is too often the case.
After several years' practice, desirous of further improvement, he took
a degree at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. At the time of the
rebellion the governor and council of New Hampshire appointed him a
member of the Medical Board of Examiners.
For the past few years Dr. Graves has been much interested in railroads,
East and West; has been a director in the Nashua & Lowell Railroad and
other roads, and is now president of the Texas Trunk Railroad. He is a
director in the Faneuil Hall Insurance Company, and in the Metropolitan
steamship line; and is also connected with many other financial
interests of a comprehensive character.
A few years ago Dr. Graves made an extensive land purchase at Scituate,
Mass., containing two hundred acres or more, which he calls his "Mound
Farm." It lies on an elevation, bordering on the ocean, and is
considered by those familiar with the "South Shore" as the most eligible
location, and as commanding the finest prospect oceanwards, of any in
that popular and beautiful summer resort. Here the doctor has erected a
few dwelling-houses, and has sold lots to others who have erected summer
residences. These houses are elegantly and conveniently constructed, and
so located as to enable their owners to enjoy an unobstructed ocean
view, as well as the ocean breezes. In one word, it is, in and of
itself, a villa of extensive proportions, and is destined to become
still more extensive in the future. The doctor has recently made large
purchases of adjoining lands, and is already engaged in farming on a
large scale, and introducing improved modes of cultivation. Here, with
his family, he spends his summers, residing in Nashua or at the South
during the winter.
At the age of seventy, Dr. Graves is still active and remarkably well
preserved, and much more active than many younger men. He has a business
office in Boston, and manages his large estate with as much foresight
and sagacity as when in the prime of life and engaged in accumulating
his fortune.
Dr. Graves was married to Mary W. Boardman, daughter of the late Col.
William Boardman, of Nashua, in 1846.
As a man, Dr. Graves is distinguished for his firmness. His opinions he
maintains with resoluteness until good reasons induce him to change
them. He means _yes_ when he says "yes," and _no_ when he says "no." He
is a man of a positive character. It is needless to say, that, while
such a man always has enemies, (as what man of ability and energetic
character has not?) he has firm and lasting friends,--friends from the
fact that they always know where to find him. Among the many self-made
men whom New Hampshire has produced, he takes rank among the first; and
by his indomitable energy, industry, and enterprise has not only made
his mark in the world, but has achieved a reputation in his profession
and business on which himself and friends may reflect with just pride.
HON. WARREN F. DANIELL.
In almost every instance, those who, during the first half of the
present century, laid about the waterfalls of New Hampshire the
foundations of our manufacturing villages, builded better than they