Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 6.djvu/120

102 THE GRANITE MONTHLY. and charitable work, and her many attractive traits of character.

Harvey's thirst for knowledge began at the very earliest period of his boy-hood. When a small child he first saw the moon and stars, and was told by his mother that they were the work of a divine creator, and that they all obeyed his laws, he fairly danced with delight at the acquired knowledge. After his studies at Keene he entered Dartmouth college, and, as have others, whose desire for learning was not limited by the means at command, paid a portion of his college expenses from the proceeds of teaching school at Pembroke and other places. Here was seen the peculiar traits of his character, a constant labor in the acquisition of knowledge, a kind disposition, cordial toward his classmates and college acquaintances, social alike with his seniors and growing respected and beloved by all, with nothing in his collegiate career to regret, and as has been said by a classmate in academy and college "loved by all, beyond every other member of his class."

Graduated in 1844, he went to Boston, and by the friendly aid of the Hon. John D. Philbrick, then a teacher, and afterward Superintendent of Public Schools in that city, he obtained a situation as Usher in the Mayhew school. During hours not devoted to school duties, he studied law, and continued assiduously in the pursuit, studying with Lyman Mason, Esq., until he was prepared for admission to the Suffolk bar, October 1, 1847.

During this time he manifested an interest in politics, and was chosen President of the Young Men's Whig Club, in Boston. He was a proficient in vocal music, — indeed while in New Hampshire he had taught, what were in vogue in the country towns in those days, evening singing schools, and began to make large personal acquaintance. His agreeable manners, frank disposition and the easy adaptability to positions in which he was from time to time placed, won him hosts of friends.

Admitted to the bar, he formed a business connection with the late David A. Simmons, whose office was then in Court street. After Mr. Simmons's death, there were associated with him ex-Governor Gaston, Hon. Walbridge A. Field, now Judge of the Supreme Court, and after Judge Field's appointment to the Supreme bench, with E. O. Shepard, Esq.

He was a safe counselor, — one who combined unquestioned integrity and professional capacity with diligence in studies, and was noted for his skill in drafting legal papers.

One of the early important cases in which he was engaged, required the preparation of a long and somewhat complicated bill in equity. Mr. Jewell drew the bill, and went to Cambridge, and submitted it to that able jurist, the ex-Chief Justice of New Hampshire, Joel Parker, then Royal Professor at the Cambridge Law School, for his opinion as to its sufficiency. Judge Parker, after a careful examination, returned the bill to Mr. Jewell without a suggestion of any modification, regarding it to be as near perfect in the draft of the young lawyer as need be.

In this branch of his profession, as counsel in the preparation of important cases and drafting contracts, charters of incorporations and office work of this nature, Mr. Jewell had few equals. He was a man who made no mistakes, and a lawyer who was guilty of no omissions. His career as a member of the bar, his retainers in important causes, the clientage of leading corporations and large trusts, were of course the result of his acknowledged legal ability, and the tribute of respect shown by his brethren of the Boston bar in December last, show their high appreciation of his character, worth, and legal attainments.

Mr. Jewell married, December 26, 1849, Susan Bradley, daughter of Hon. Richard Bradley, late of Concord, one of the leading men of that city, concerning whom an admirably written sketch was read before