Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 2.djvu/109

 GEN. NATT. HEAD.

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��building material, for the manufacture of which the extensive beds of superior clay along the river at this point afford superior facilities. They manu- facture from three to six millions of brick per annum, selling the same in all parts of New England. Ten millions were furnished by them for the construc- tion of the new Massachusetts State Prison at Concord, and several millions for the Lawrence Water Works. In their extensive operations of farming, lumbering and brick-making, altogether, the brothers Head give .constant employ- ment to nearly two hundred men, with thirty horses and several yokes of oxen, all of which are kept on the farm, upon which there are also more than a dozen dwellings, occupied by the families of those of their workmen who have been long in their employ.

Aside from, or supplementary to, the extensive business already mentioned, Gen. Head has been largely engaged upon contracts for the construction of railroads and of buildings. A large por- tion of the work on the Suncook Val- ley railroad was done by him, as well as much upon other roads. The firm of Head & Dowst, contractors and builders, of Manchester, well known as among the most extensive building firms of the city, embraces the General and his brother, whose enterprise, energy, and ample re- sources have contributed largely to the success of the firm.

Gen. Head inherited from his ancestors a strong taste for military affairs, which, with musical talents of high order, early led him into prominence as a military musician. He became leader of the Hooksett Brass Band at sixteen years of age. This, by the way, was the first band that ever played in the city of Man- chester, its first visit being on the occa- sion of a grand Fourth of July celebra- tion at Amoskeag in 1844, the first year of his leadership. He was subsequently, for a number of years, a member of the Manchester Cornet Band. In 1847 he be- came fife major in the Eleventh Regi- ment of the State Militia, and served four years in that capacity. He was also chief bugler in the celebrated organiza-

��tion known as the Governor's Horse Guards. He has been many years an ac- tive member of the Amoskeag Veterans , and commanded that famous battalion four years, from 1869 to 1872, inclusive. He is also a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery of Boston, and an honorary member of the Boston Lancers. In the position of Adjutant General of the State, to which he was appointed by Gov. Gilmore in 1864, and which he held until 1870. Gen. Head may truly be said to have won his greatest reputation, as well as the lasting regard of a large por- tion of our people, especially the soldier element. He came iuto the administra- tion of this office at a time when its du- ties were manifold and great, and to their proper fulfilment constant and varied ef- fort and executive ability of high order were absolutely essential. It is but just to say that he gave his best energies to the work of the office, and although find- ing its affairs in a most unsatisfactory and perplexing condition, by constant and persevering effort he placed the same in systematic order. In Waite's "New Hampshire in the Rebellion," it is said of Gen. Head, referring to his ad- ministration of this office, "that on as- suming its duties he found the department very incomplete, but little matter having been collected relating to the outfit of the troops and their achievements in the field, although New Hampshire had, up to that time, sent to the war twenty-six thousand soldiers. In fact, not a complete set of muster-in rolls of any regiment could be found in the office. In the face of these obstacles and discouragements, and with no appropriation to draw from, Gen. Head at once entered upon the du- ties of his position, employing upon his own responsibility three clerks, and pro- curing the necessary outfit of the office, trusting in the Legislature totreimburse him, which it not only promptly and cheerfully did, but made all additional appropriations for the department that were asked for. During the remainder of the war no State in the Union had a more faithful, efficient and popular Ad- jutant General than New Hampshire. The clerical duties of the office were per-

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