Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 5.djvu/415

 GRANITE MONTHLY,

A NEW IIAMFSHIHE MAGAZINE

Devoted to Literature, Biography, History, and State Progress.

��YoL. Y. SEPTEMBER, 1882. ^o. 12.

��cor.. I! 'IL L I A M S. PILLSB UR Y.

��BY GF.ORGE E. F.MERV.

THE career of genius dazzles the public eye at intervals, but its uncertain methods and fre(iuently (luestionable results forbid hearty sympathy, or complete approval. Conmion sense men however always win solid favor and enduring approbation. While ever ready to consider the special splendor of oratorical, artistic or literary talent, we Americans rightly reserve our most earnest admiration for those men whose practical sagacity, enterprise, persever- ance and integrity, crowned by action, develop the various fields of production, furnisli the people with remunerative labor, enhance the welfare of communi- ties and serve in a thousand ways to imnrove and elevate societv.

Steady-going men, workers with plans and aims, — are men of uprightness and system in doing things, — are the men for the times. Upon these practical men every community relies for its prosperity. They hold the reins of national destiny, for they build and enlarge manufacturing establishments, construct railways, develop the agricultural and mining resources of our states, increase the facilities for education and promote not only literary and artistic culture, but the numberless graces of a progressive civilization. Especially to be com- mended seem those men who outgrow the mania to migrate westward, and by a noble force of character command success and honor at home. Among the well-known and honorably prominent New Hampshire men whose example in industry, ])atriotism, and efirtcient executive and business ability, with high general intelligence, shows what practical talent or common sense duly applied may do for the general public, as well as a particular community, stands ("ol. William S. Pillsbury of Londonderry,

He is .the son of Rev. Stephen Pillsbury, a Baptist clergyman, who died at Londonderry after a life devoted to the faithful service of his fellow-men as a minister of Christ. The English ancestor of Col. William Staughton Pillsbury was William Pillsbury, born in 1615, who came to America '"'oni Essex, or Staffordshire, and settled at Dorchester, in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, in 1641. William Pillsbury the first married I^orothy Crosby in 1641. He was a freeman, or church member, and voter in 1668, at Newbury, Mass., within the present city of Newburyport area, where he settled soon after his marriage. His family name was sometimes spelled Pillesburg and occasionally Pilsbaugh, 'I'he Pillsbury family in England, from which William came to the new world, have a coat of arms. It is described in heraldic term<; thus : " Per fesse sable and azure, on an eagle displayed argent ; three griffins' heads erased of the second." Crest, an esquires helmet. Motto, — '' Labor omnia vincity

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