Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 5.djvu/381

 SAMUEL HART EDES. 345

scious of his opportunity, he has in no vvise done discredit to the quahty of this inheritance, or to his progenitor. His law offices occupy a new, one story brick addition to Eagle Block, on the Central street side. In one of these rooms the old "' Newport Social Library," founded in 1803, thoroughly renewed and refreshed with new works, has found a home.

Among the able lawyers of Newport, no one has been more successful in his practice than Mr. Edes. His mental characteristics are admirably adapted to the work of his profession. His quickness of perception, and decision of character, often enable him to occupy and command situations in the presence of an adversary that give him great advantage. But his strength as a lawyer hes in his great common sense as adjusted to legal attamments of a high order. Eloquence is not as potent a power before a New England court and jury as well-arranged testimony and a distinct presentation of the facts m the case. Mr. Edes held the position of county solicitor in 1S54, and again in 1874, and most faithfully discharged the duties incumbent upon him in connection with that office.

In politics Mr. Edes has ever been a constitutional Democrat. He will bear this interpretation in a dual sense ; first, from his quality of mind, which places him in sympathy with the people and gives him faith in the sovereignty of the people ; and in the second place, because he regards the constitution of our country as the great charter of our civil and political rights and life, and in the conduct of our state and national affairs, believes in the necessity of its strict ob- servance. He ably rejiresented the town of Newport in the state legislature in the year i860. He has not been much in political affairs since, as the Repub- lican party has dominated in our state for some twenty years, and he is not a man to change front, or toady to any party for preferment or office.

The Edes family are attendants of the Congregational church ; but so far as Mr. Edes is individually concerned, we are not aware that he is a member of any church organization. We find it stated, in the Edes genealogy, that their ancestor, some three hundred years ago, was " ejected " from a "living" in the church of England for •' non-conformity," and it is possible that this dispo- sition of thought, and uidependence of creeds, may be an inheritance of the family. In the establishment of local institutions, libraries, reading-rooms, and lectures, for the pleasure or benefit of this community, our people have ip Mr. Edes a willing and liberal coadjutor. He was one of the founders of the Newport Savings Bank, chartered in 1868, and a member of its first board of directors. In all matters of village improvement, the arrangement of the park, and streets, and sidewalks, and the planting of tr^es, he takes a hearty interest. Aside from his pleasant house, and garden, and grounds in Newport village, the family have a delightful cottage on the borders of Lake Sunapee, to which they resort in the warm season for health, recreation, and change.

To Samuel Hart and Julia (Nourse) Edes, were born four children, two of whom, the eldest and the youngest, survive, — George C, born xApr. 23, 1849, and Marcia J., born Sept. 5, 1S59, and resident of Newport.

We are not able to i)resent the Granite Momfhly with the sketch of a more comprehensive man, or better citizen, in the .own of Newport or the county of Sullivan, than Samuel H. Edes, and are glad to put him on record in this magazine. In so doing we are impressed with the idea that had the earlier generations of Ei>glish settlers in New England, possessed the means you afford of recording and preserving historical and notable local events and incidents connected with the first settlement of our towns and villages, and per- sonal sketches of the men and women concerned in all these regards, a vast amount of interesting detail would have come to this generation, the loss of which is only partially suppUed by vague and desultory traditions.

�� �