Sketches of Successful New Hampshire Men
passing from the district to the private school in the town of Wayne,
and to other schools and seminaries in the circuit where his father's
appointments were made. During some portion of the season, for a few
years he assisted the older brothers in cultivating the homestead farm,
but at the age of sixteen he went to Wilton, Me., and engaged in
learning the tailor's trade. He remained there about three years; then
went to Waltham, Mass., staying there about one year and a half; then to
Lowell, Mass., where he remained until 1851, when he came to Manchester,
N. H., and entered the employ of B. F. Manning, then doing business in
the store occupied in later years by the firm of Cumner & Company.
In January, 1854, Mr. Cumner became a partner in the business of
merchant tailors and clothiers, the firm name being Manning & Cumner.
This arrangement continued until August, 1857. Mr. Cumner then withdrew
and went to Washington, D. C., as a member of the firm of F. Tenney &
Co., proprietors of the National Hotel. In August, 1859, he returned to
Manchester and purchased the stock and "good will" of the Manning store,
and entered at once into business, in which he continued as the sole
proprietor until 1865, when his brother Benjamin G. Cumner became
associated with him, forming the copartnership of Cumner & Company. At
this time Mr. Cumner became also a member of the well known wholesale
house of Sibley, Cumner, & Co., in Boston, having purchased an interest
in the old house of Foster & Sibley, and devoted his attention largely
to the wholesale trade. In 1868, Lyman E. Sibley retired and Mr. Cumner
became the senior member, the name of the firm remaining the same.
In the great fire of November 9, 1872, their establishment was among the
first to be burned, and the firm suffered a total loss of their immense
stock; but their credit was so strong, and their energy and ability so
widely recognized, that their business received no check, and the
transactions of the house proceeded even upon a more extensive scale
than before. In 1879 the firm became Cumner, Jones, & Co., which is the
present style of the business. In 1881 he sold his interest in the
business of Cumner & Co. in Manchester, which had enjoyed unvarying
success and great prosperity from the beginning; and from that time
devoted himself entirely to the Boston house. The business had so
largely increased that it became necessary to give it his constant
personal attention. The reputation of Cumner, Jones, & Co., in
commercial circles, has become widely known, and its remarkable success
an acknowledged fact.
Mr. Cumner has been eminently successful as a business man. Possessing
in a large degree self-reliance and confidence in his own judgment, he
selected an honorable calling and devoted himself to its duties and
demands. He believed that industry and perseverance, with well matured
plans, were certain to produce the most desirable results. He knew the
energy and fidelity of his own character, and trusted to the safety of
sound principle; and he has proved that his plans were wisely laid and
his ways well chosen. At a comparatively early age he has acquired a
competence, and in his position of senior member of one of the soundest
and most prosperous, and at the same time conservative, wholesale houses
in New England, his influence is always in favor of that healthy and
reliable condition of trade which establishes public confidence and
guarantees general prosperity.
And not only in connection with his partnership associations is Mr.
Cumner known as a business man. In the circles where the leading
merchants and importers of our New England metropolis are accustomed to
meet and discuss the laws of trade and canvass the prospects of the
future, his judgment is greatly respected, and the intelligence and
foresight with which he is able to advise are highly regarded. He bears
an unblemished reputation as a man of honor and fairness, in all ways
commanding universal respect and esteem,--a gentleman in the true
significance of the term. In the wide range of personal distinction,
among all the marks of honor and renown which the world affords, the
title of a true gentleman stands first, and he who bears it worthily
need envy neither prince nor potentate.
As a citizen, Mr. Cumner has taken an earnest and unvarying interest in
public affairs. Politically, his associations have been with the
Democratic party; but his views have been conservative, looking to the
real purposes of the government rather than the aims and desires of
party politicians. While residing in Manchester he held important
offices in the municipal government, was a faithful public servant,
working zealously to promote the general interests and the common good
of his constituents, of whom he deserved well.
Mr. Cumner became a member of the celebrated military organization, the
Amoskeag Veterans, in the days of its origin, and has continued to do
active duty through the entire term of its existence. He held the office
of captain in 1870, and commander of the battalion, with the rank of
major, in 1879 and 1880. During his membership he has served in
countless capacities incident to the general management of the
organization, and while commander did very effective service in
promoting harmony and unity of purpose, and increased in a great degree
the interest and efficiency of the corps.
Mr. Cumner's connection with the Masonic fraternity has been a very
prominent feature of his life. He became a Mason in Lafayette Lodge,
Manchester. May, 1850, and was one of the petitioners and charter
members of Washington Lodge in 1857. He held many subordinate offices,
and was the Worshipful Master in 1862 and 1863, and has been treasurer
nearly all the time since. His keen scrutiny of its business affairs and
careful management of its accounts have done much to keep his lodge in
sound financial condition. In 1856 he received the capitular degrees in
Mt. Horeb Royal Arch Chapter, and, after serving at almost every post in
that body, became its High Priest from 1862 to 1864. He took the cryptic
degrees in Adoniram Council, in May, 1857, and soon after the orders of
knighthood were conferred upon him in Trinity Commandry, Knights
Templar. In all these subordinate bodies he sustained an ardent and
zealous membership, contributing freely to their support and aiding
materially in their prosperity. In 1802 he was admitted to the degree of
High Priesthood, and in 1803 received the degrees of the Ancient and
Accepted Rite to the 32d, inclusive, in Boston, and in September, 1881,
was elected to the 33rd and last grade in Masonry. In the Grand Masonic
bodies of New Hampshire he has been equally prominent, and his earnest
labors and sincere devotion to their interests have been recognized and
appreciated. After holding several offices in the M. E. Grand Royal Arch
Chapter of New Hampshire, he was elected Grand High Priest in 1867 and
1868, and gave eminent satisfaction by his management of affairs. In the
Grand Lodge of New Hampshire he held nearly all the subordinate
positions, and was elected Most Worshipful Grand Master in 1872, 1873,
and 1874. As the presiding officer in these grand bodies, whose duties
are mostly legislative, he commanded the respect of the fraternity for
fairness and impartiality, and was highly esteemed for his graceful and
courteous bearing. His addresses and official papers were regarded as
sound and creditable documents by the fraternity in other jurisdictions.
If Mr. Cumner has been prosperous and successful in other departments of
life, he has been remarkably happy and fortunate in his family and
social relations. He married Miss Harriet Elizabeth Wadley, daughter of
Moses D. Wadley, of Bradford, N. H., January 24, 1856. They have two
sons,--Harry Wadley Cumner, born July 18, 1860, and Arthur Bartlett
Cumner, born July 30, 1871. Harry Wadley graduated from the Manchester
high school in 1879, with high standing in his class and the reputation
of a faithful and efficient student. He entered the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, in Boston, in 1879, as a special student,
remaining two years. In 1881 he engaged in mercantile life; and having
integrity and the capacity to make the best use of his privileges and
attainments, he has certainly the earnest of a prosperous and honorable
life. Arthur Bartlett, a bright and beautiful boy of uncommon
intelligence, has yet to climb the pathway of youth; but if aught can be
predicted from such tender years he is not likely to disappoint the fond
hopes of parents and friends.
In the common judgment of mankind, woman receives very little credit for
the success of man in the struggles and achievements of this life. The
intuitive judgment and unfaltering support with which the faithful and
devoted wife aids her husband are unseen influences, the force and
importance of which never have been and probably never will be
understood or appreciated; and, although the remarkable success which
the subject of this sketch has gained may be attributed to his ability
and integrity, still the high social position to which the family have
attained, and the important and very creditable purposes which they have
accomplished, are equally due to the clear and well trained judgment,
the watchful care and oversight of domestic affairs, and the amiable
companionship of his estimable and accomplished wife. While in their
relative spheres, either in the busy marts of trade or the domestic
departments of life, "on change" or in the drawing-room, each to a
certain extent must be judged independently, in all the economy of life
her individuality and influence will be seen to have done their full
share in molding the fortunes of the family.
Anxiously we strive to look behind the "cloud curtains" that veil the
future and hide from view what lies in the untried ways beyond. Vainly
through the shadows which the sorrows of real life cast far in advance,
and into the misty lands "whence come the troops of good and evil
forces," so strangely and mysteriously mingled, we gaze and endeavor to
discern the hastening events upon which our happiness and success so
largely depend. But if we may predict of the future by the past, if we
can anticipate what is to come by what has been accomplished, then shall
the members of this family be blessed with the enjoyment of their full
share of all that is happiest and best.
COL. CHANDLER E. POTTER.
Col. CHANDLER EASTMAN POTTER was a native of East Concord, N. H., born
March 7, 1807, son of Joseph and Anna (Drake) Potter. He graduated at
Dartmouth College in 1831, taught high schools in Concord and Portsmouth
several years, read law, and was admitted to the bar and practiced in
Concord. In 1814 he moved to Manchester, where he owned and edited the
_Manchester Democrat_ until the fall of 1848, when he sold the paper.
From 1852 to 1856 he was editor of the _Monthly Visitor_ and _Granite
Farmer_. In June, 1848, he was appointed justice of the Manchester
police court, succeeding Hon. Samuel D. Bell, which office he filled
seven years, with honor and credit to himself. He was an able and
efficient member of the Historical Society in New Hampshire, and other
societies, and author of a very elaborate and correct history of
Manchester. His ennobling views of man and nature, and of sound, true
principles were always heard with profound attention and delight. He had
copiousness of ideas, and his writings were always filled with the
thoughts of a comprehensive mind, instructing all who read what he wrote
with a ready pen. He was interested in the study of the Indian language,
and has written many sketches of Indian character, and was a contributor
to Schoolcraft's Indian work. "Col. Potter was probably the best