Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 8.djvu/352

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��Col. Enoch Q. Fclloxvs.

��reason for his entering West Point. 1 1 is education there, combined with his natural tendencies, made him one of the best drill-officers in the State.

While in West Point he became deaf, and has been so ever since. He could never hear commands, but always de- pended upon his knowledge and eyes to execute them at the proper moment.

Although his deafness did not injure him as a soldier, it has been a great affliction to him otherwise.

The embarrassment deafness causes to nearly every one is felt by him to an excessive extent, and he has never been able to conquer it. With a few friends he feels at ease, but in a com- pany where there are strangers he experiences almost torture. For this reason he can never be persuaded to attend public gatherings of any kind ; and, although he retains his affections for his old soldiers, he cannot bring himself to attend their re-unions.

Partially for this reason, too, he makes it his home in Sandwich, and, when not away on business, spends his time among his books.

In 1863 he first went West on busi- ness. For a few years after, he was interested in the Carroll County Bank of Sandwich, and together with Col. Joseph Wentworth bought the same ; then sold his share to Col. Went- worth.

In 1869 he became interested in a private banking-business in Minnesota ; and, having a partner there, he spent most of his time in New Hampshire. From 1869 to 1873 he was assistant assessor, and deputy collector of internal revenue, in both Carroll and Belknap Counties.

He was member of the Legislature from Sandwich in 1868, 1869, and 1877.

��\\\ the two former years he strongly urged the adoption by the State of a militia system like the present, but it was not adopted till a few years later. He was then a member of the military committee, and in 1877 of the railroad committee.

Having nearly closed his business in Minnesota, he turned his attention to Kansas in 1879. He went to a new town just starting, Wa-Keeney on the Kansas Pacific Railroad, and invested in buildings and land. He is still inter- ested there, as well as in other sections of the State. He has spent two winters in Kansas, and is there for a month or two each year.

The one predominant trait in his character is strict honesty, both legal and moral. If in selling property to a person it has afterwards depreciated in value, it has been his custom to bear that loss. Had he been a scheming man, or desirous of riches, he might have been wealthy.

His endeavor has been to support his family, have enough for his old age, and educate his children. He has three children, a son and two daughters. The former he has given a collegiate educa- tion, and fitted him for the bar. One of the latter has been through the semi- nary, and the other is still there.

He has never sought political honors, but as a Republican has labored zeal- ously for the party.

His life contains no startling episode, but is the story of a self-made, upright man, and, like that of many others, is best known by his soldier comrades.

He treated all his soldiers well. He was willing to listen to any proper com- plaint, and right any wrong ; and the soldier is yet to be found who cherished a grievance against him.

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