Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 7.djvu/189

 HON. JAMES K. LOl'HROP.

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��ness they built up a good jobbing trade, and did a little in ])ublish- ing. In a few years, however, the ambition of the house wanted a broader Held ; they sold the Dover book business, and Daniel Lothrop went to Ijoston and opened a store — D. Lothrop & Co. — at Nos. 38 and 40 Cornhill. These were fine quarters, and the business was a success.

In February, 1876, they took the superb apartments of the whole four- story double store on Franklin Street, corner of Hawley, and fitted up a store running the whole depth with an ele- gance unsurpassed. A very large busi- ness has been built up, and the great success of their publishing work has required them, the present year, to lease additional a five-storv building on Pur- chase Street, for manufacturing pur- poses. Besides their books, a class which for beauty of design and excjuis- iteness of illustration are nowhere sur- passed, four periodicals have a world- wide fame, — Baby- Land, Pansy, Little Men snd ^Vomen, and Wide-Awake.

The immediate direction of the Boston business is of course in that city. But there the sagacity of the elder brother in Dover is often of great help. The general financial care also rests with him. The Boston manager can draw on James E. Lothrop at sight. The entire supervision of the Dover business is of course in his care. Never disturbed by fluctuations in busi- ness, apparently never busy, never ruf- fled in temper, keen in judgment, fertile in resources, the senior partner seems never to have a care resting upon him.

At the same time. Dr. Lothrop has the entire care of real estate, compris- ing fifteen stores and fifty-seven tene- ments, including the Morrill estate. He has been a director in the Cochechp National Bank from 1858, was chosen Vice-President in 1873, and has been its President since 1876. That his ad- ministration in that capacity has been particularly successful, is evidenced by the former and present standing of that institution. In 1871 he became a di- rector in the Cochecho .Aqueduct Asso-

��ciation, its clerk in 1872, and from 1875 its i^resident. He is also a di- rector in the Portsmouth & Dover R. R., in the Eliot Bridge Company, and in the Dover Horse Railroad ; and has been president of the Dover Board of Trade. To carry all these interests so successfully and satisfactorily requires skill, energy and public confidence.

In the year 1872, Mr. Lothrop was representative in the legislature. But his main public office has been and is, that of mayor of the city of Dover. LIpon this office he entered in January, 1883, and he gave himself heartily and carefully to the work of its duties. He began by establishing daily office hours, when he could always be found in the mayor's office. This ensured a close attention to business in all directions. The care of a great business of his own, and with uniform success due to good organization, prudent forethought, known integrity and energetic action, fitted him for the work of the city, — which is simply a business to be con- ducted on business principles. As that he recognized it, and he attended to its concerns precisely as he would at- tend to his own private business.

The prominent points in his admin- istration for the first year, were more than usually important.

r. What was cabled the Knibb's valve case, a suit for damages for al- leged infringement of patent upon some device in the fire steamers of the Amoskeag company. Suits were to be brought all over the country. Troy, N. Y., it was said, had acknowledged the claim. The complainant had begun with New Hampshire, as precedent to attacking Boston ; and in our state it began with Dover. An agreement was made be- tween the New Hampshire cities. The complainant demanded of Dover, $65,000 ; he gradually lowered his de- mand until, the trial coming on, Dover could settle for (say) $900, if she would acknowledge the claim and thus give the plaintiff the benefit of a verdict. It is not too much to say that Mr. Lothrop's inflexible determination to fight what he believed to be an out-

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