Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 8.djvu/371

 Hon. Josiah Qiiincy.

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��by George L. Merrill ; but after he was married he occupied an office, built by himself, near the house where he lived ever after.

At the time of Mr. Oliver Weld's death, he owned a store, situated on the ground where the old Baptist meeting- house now stands, where he had done business many years, and which at the time of his decease was filled with goods. Mr. Quincy took the goods at the appraisal, sold one -half to Mr. Brainard Ramsey, who had been clerk for Mr. Weld for some time, and was then doing Mr. Quincy's business as deputy-sheriff. They formed a copart- nership, and did a good business for more than a year, Ramsey being the active partner. One day they had got a new supply of goods, costing eleven hundred dollars, into the store, which were lying unpacked on the counter and on the floor. In the evening Ram- sey was passing with his lamp near a large jar of ether (which accidentally was uncorked) on the shelf, when it took fire, exploded, and at once filled the building with -flames. Ramsey escaped at the door, badly burned. The store and all its contents, including notes and books of account, were consumed. They had taken off a list of the accounts due at the end of the first year's busi- ness, which were in Mr. Quincy's office. Aside from these, they had to settle with their debtors for such sums as they were willing to admit. They lost largely on the debts, besides the whole stock of goods. This occurred on Sat- urday evening ; and Mr. Quincy remarks, " I remember that I had made fifteen dollars that afternoon, before a justice court." By this occurrence he lost all he was then worth, and had to start anew in the world. He felt this the more keenly, as, at the time of the loss,

��he was but recently married ; but it did not in the least check his efforts to get ahead in the world, and establish him- self as one of the leading members of the bar in that county. He and Ram- sey after a while sold out, and dissolved their co-partnership.

Joseph Weld, a son of Jabez H., and a brother-in-law of Quincy, was trading in a new store which stood where the Methodist church now stands. Quincy became interested with him in this store. Abraham Ward was a clerk for them there ; and they made arrangements for him to open a store in New Hampton, where he and Mr. Qu'ncy were en- gaged as partners several years, until Mr. Quincy bought the store in Rum- ney on the opposite side of the river, and they went into business together there as " Ward & Quincy," where they continued several years, until they were succeeded by their sons^ D. S. Ward and S. H. Quincy, who continued the business there for many years. Mr. Quincy was connected with Mr. Abra- ham Ward in business some twenty- five years in all ; and he bears testimony to his faithfulness, his integrity, and good Christian character.

For a few years, at first, Mr. Brainard Ramsey did his business as deputy- sheriff; but later he had William D. McQuesten of Wentworth for his depu- ty-sheriff, who did his business for more than twenty-five years, whom he re- garded as a very faithful and capable officer, and worthy man.

Though Mr. Quincy was thus engaged for a large part of his life in mercantile business, yet he never let that interfere with his devotion to his chosen profes- sion, the law. He looked after the finances of the firm and the collection of the debts, and had a general super- vision of its affairs, but never confined

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