Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 1.djvu/331

 HON. JOSHUA G

tion of the city government, throughout, was distinguished by a thorough devo- tion to the public interests, regardless of the schemes of individuals or combina- tions, thereby securing and retaining the confidence of the citizens, irrespective of party.

In 1871 he was elected by the Republi- cans of his District (No. 5) to the State Senate, and was re-elected the following year. He served as a member of the Ju- diciary Committee and was also Chair- man of the Committee on Education, and, although one of the minority during the first year of his service, he was recog- nized from the first as one of the ablest and most sagacious members of the sen- atorial body, and contributed as largely as any other, at least, in shaping and di- recting the practical legislation of each session. In 1874 he was chosen a mem- ber of the House of Representatives from his Ward, and from his known abil- ity, as well as his pervious service in the Senate, was accorded a position among the leaders of his party in that body. Yet, in the House, as in the Senate, he was never so zealous a partisan as to sub- ordinate the public welfare to mere par- ty interests, so that while known as an earnest supporter of Republican princi- ples, he secured and has retained the re- tained of the public at large, as a faith- ful servant of the people.

Mr. Hall was appointed Solicitor for Strafford County in June, 1862. and was twice reappointed, serving in that capac- ity until June 1874, when the Democratic party secured full control of the State government and there was a general change of officials, on partisan grounds. He was also City Solicitor for the City of Dover for the years 1868, 1869 and 1870. In April. 1874, he was appointed by Gen. Grant, Attorney of the United States for the District of New Hampshire, succeed- ing Hon. Henry P. Rolfeof Concord, and upon the recent expiration of his com- mission, was reappointed by Mr. Hayes for another term. In the different posi- sitions which he has occupied as attor- ney for the people Mr. Hall has zealously

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��defended the public interests, and faith- fully labored for the impartial adminis- tration of justice, with what success his various reappointments, meeting, as they have, general public approbation, sufficiently demonstrate.

Mr. Hall has been for many years con- nected with the banking interests of the city of Dover— was one of the Directors of the old Dover Bank, for a time a Di- rector of the Cocheco National Bank, and has been since 1874 a Director of the Dover National Bank. He is also one of the Trustees of the Franklin Academy, and has been, for the past twelve years, attorney for the Boston & Maine Rail- road.

As a lawyer Mr. Hall has long taken rank among the foremost members of the bar in his section of the Slate. A pru- dent and cautious counselor, an adroit and sagacious manager of causes, a close and logical reasoner in argument to the jury, he is eminently a safe man for his client, and a correspondingly dangerous one for his opponent. While never re- sorting to any questionable expedients to promote his cause, by his skillful man- agement — never betraying his own pur- poses in advance and adroitly unmask- ing the plans of the opposition— he often gains success where others would sig- nally have failed.

As a citizen he is public spirited, and sustains, heartily, all measures calculated to promote the welfare of the communi- ty, in all directions, moral, social, educa- tional and material. His religious as- sociation are with the Congregational Church, although he is not a member of the organization. With his family he worships at the First Parish Church in Dover, with which his ancestors were prominently connected.

Mr. Hall was married, Nov. 16, 1861, to Susan Elisabeth Bigelow, daughter of Isaac and Harriet (Warren) Bigelow of Boston — a relative of the late Chief Jns- tice Bigelow — by whom he has three children, — Grace Bigelow, born Sept. 9, 1862; Susau Gertrude, born Oct. 28, 1S66, and D wight, born April 13, 1871.

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