Sketches of Successful New Hampshire Men

The Story

The narratives presented here follow a consistent, almost rhythmic progression. They begin with the subject’s birth in the early-to-mid nineteenth century, usually on a New Hampshire farm, and trace their movement through local academies and into the practical, grueling world of trade, law, or manufacturing. These men are rarely stationary. We see them leave the family homestead—often at an early age—to seek their fortunes in regional hubs like Manchester, Concord, or even Boston. Whether they become merchant princes, legal minds, or industrial magnates, their paths are defined by a departure from the rural life of their fathers toward the structured, professionalized world of the post-Civil War era.

The middle chapters of their lives often involve the rapid accumulation of responsibility. For many, this takes the form of management in the burgeoning textile mills of the Merrimack Valley or the navigation of complex political waters. The arc of these careers is rarely smooth; these men weather financial crises, the volatility of regional politics, and the profound upheaval of the Civil War. They serve as state legislators, bank directors, and civic pillars, moving from the specific, localized work of a deputy sheriff or a clerk to the broader, more abstract influence of a state attorney-general or the treasurer of a massive manufacturing corporation.

The climax of these lives is not a singular, dramatic event, but the attainment of a "competency"—a comfortable, settled state of existence marked by professional retirement, civic honors, and the accumulation of a fine residence. As they reach their later years, the focus shifts from the acquisition of wealth to the cultivation of legacy. We see them engaging in extensive travel through Europe, pursuing intellectual interests like local history or horticulture, and serving as elder statesmen for their communities. They become stewards of the institutions they helped build, sitting on the boards of hospitals, historical societies, and savings banks.

Finally, the stories close with a quiet, dignified transition. Death is treated with solemnity, followed by a retrospective assessment of the subject’s character. The writers take pains to emphasize that these men remained tethered to their early upbringing. Even those who found great success in distant cities frequently returned to their native towns to renovate old churches, preserve local histories, or retire to the "sunny slopes" of their family estates. The ending of each sketch is a testament to the idea that a "successful" life is one that reconciles early ambition with the eventual, tranquil embrace of home, duty, and community.

The People

• Marshall Wilder: A man of immense energy who transitioned from a farmer’s son to the oldest commission merchant in Boston. He sought to harmonize commerce with the natural world, spending decades as a dedicated horticulturist, proving that one could command a boardroom while simultaneously tending to the growth of fruit trees.
• Simon G. Griffin: A soldier of the highest caliber who led troops through twenty-two major battles during the Civil War. Despite his martial success, he lacked any desire for a career in the military once peace returned, choosing instead to serve his state as a speaker of the house and a thoughtful orator.
• Josiah Crosby: A physician who rose to the top of his profession in Manchester. His life was defined by the invention of surgical tools and a profound, lifelong devotion to the practice of medicine, which he viewed not as a trade, but as a calling to which he gave his heart.
• William Amory: A business pioneer who arrived in New Hampshire to manage the Jackson and Amoskeag companies. He serves as the archetype of the industrial manager, taking on the responsibility of not just a company’s financial ledger, but the physical creation and expansion of an entire city.
• Phinehas Adams: A model of consistency and temperance. His thirty-two-year tenure at the Stark Mills is framed as a moral triumph, illustrating that true greatness lies in steady, quiet devotion to duty rather than a frantic pursuit of fame or political office.

In Its Own Voice

When describing the transformation of the state’s early wilderness into settled, productive land, the author highlights the practical, sometimes whimsical nature of the early pioneers.

"In 1703, Gen. Jonathan Moulton, of Hampton, having an ox weighing one thousand four hundred pounds, fattened for the purpose, hoisted a flag upon his horns, and drove him to Portsmouth as a present to Gov. Wentworth."

In considering the legacy of professional men like Dr. Josiah Crosby, the text emphasizes the vital connection between a man’s chosen labor and his personal character.

"Few men love their life-work as he did. The practice of medicine to him was no mere trade, no secondary means of obtaining something else that outranked it, but the chosen calling of his life."

Regarding the moral philosophy underpinning these successful lives, the book posits that the most lasting rewards are not those of political or financial accumulation, but of personal virtue.

"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."

What It's Really About

At its core, this volume is an argument for the "cult of the self-made man" as it was understood in late nineteenth-century New England. It posits that there is a specific, identifiable moral anatomy common to those who succeed. The recurring themes are industry, temperance, and a stubborn, quiet devotion to duty. The book functions as a guidebook for the reader, suggesting that success is not the result of luck or inheritance, but of a temperament that can be cultivated.

The text also wrestles with the tension between the rural, agrarian past and the industrial, urban future. It portrays New Hampshire not as a place to be left behind, but as a crucible that tempers the spirit. The men featured are successful precisely because they possess the "rocks and the hills" of their childhood in their character. The book argues that professional success is validated only when it is eventually turned back toward the public good—through charity, the support of local institutions, or the writing of history.

There is a distinct preoccupation with the concept of "blood" and heritage. While the men are self-made, the text frequently draws a line from their ancestors' "vigorous constitutions" to their own professional achievements. This creates a paradox: the book celebrates individual agency and hard work while simultaneously grounding that success in hereditary traits and the stability of the family line. It asks the reader to consider what it means to be a "successful" man in a rapidly changing world. The answer it provides is conservative and rooted in place: success is the ability to remain an upright, honest, and useful member of a community, regardless of how far one’s commercial influence may extend. It is a defense of the local over the national, and the permanent over the fleeting. Ultimately, the book is a meditation on the idea of the "good citizen." It suggests that the health of the state depends on the character of its men, and that if a man is "good enough," he will inevitably be recognized by his peers and called to lead.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of New England will find this book a valuable, if highly idealized, window into the Victorian era’s professional class. It is a deeply earnest work, written with a sense of moral purpose that is entirely characteristic of its time. To read these pages is to enter a world where the "gold watch" was the ultimate, sincere token of a life well-lived, and where the most honorable ambition was to be a respected pillar of one’s own town.

The primary difficulty for the modern reader lies in the book's unrelenting praise. Because it intends to serve as an inspirational text for the youth of 1882, it lacks critical distance; the subjects are almost uniformly portrayed as men of unassailable character, temperate habits, and brilliant intellects. There is no room here for failure, doubt, or complexity. The prose is functional and formal, occasionally descending into the repetitive structure of a genealogical record.

However, for those who can navigate the period-specific sentimentality, there is a genuine, quiet beauty to be found. The book records the vanished details of a specific time—the importance of the local academy, the transition from the farm to the counting-house, and the profound, almost religious significance of industrial development. It captures the rhythm of a life that begins in the "rocky" soil of New Hampshire and moves through the world, only to turn back toward the quiet, "restful evening" of a domestic home. It stays with you as a portrait of a generation that believed, with total conviction, that the path to a life of consequence was paved with simple, relentless persistence. If you enjoy biographical sketches that reveal the social fabric of a bygone era, you will find this a steady, thoughtful, and deeply curious companion.