Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 9.djvu/86

72 year to relinquish his situation, which had already become a most promising one, and returned home. After regaining his strength he, upon the solicitation of his aged parents, consented to remain in Hooksett. April 3, 1846, he married Miss Martha A., daughter of Isaac C. Otterson, of Hooksett, whose wife was Margaret Head, an aunt of ex-Governor Nathaniel Head. The same year Mr. Gault opened a brick yard in Hooksett on a small scale which he has developed until its production is about six millions yearly, affording employment to sixty men. This extensive business necessitates the purchase of large tracts of woodland for obtaining fuel, while the lumber is sold in the market. In this way he has bought some three thousand acres of forest domain. In addition, he owns several farms, the one upon which he lives cutting seventy-five tons of hay annually, and producing largely of other crops. His residence, on the old stage road from Concord to Haverhill, Mass., was built some five years ago, and is one of the most expensive in that section.

Mr. Gault was early active in civil affairs. After filling various local positions, including chairman of the board of selectmen for many years, he was chosen delegate from Hooksett to the Constitutional Convention of 1851, being the youngest member of that body. Mr. Gault was then a Whig, and Hooksett was at that time Democratic by more than two to one. In 1857 and 1858 he represented his town in the lower branch of the legislature, and in 1867 was elected a railroad commissioner for a triennial term, being chairman of the board the last year. In 1876 he was delegate to the Republican National Convention at Cincinnati, and has for many years been a member of the Republican State Committee. He was chosen from the Londonderry District to the State Senate in 1885, and was chairman of the committee on claims, and a member of those on the revision of the statutes and the Asylum for the Insane. Mr. Gault, by great industry and perseverance, has accumulated a large property, and is extensively interested in ownership and officially in railway, banking, and other corporations. He is a regular attendant at the Union church in Hooksett, is universally respected in private life for the purity and uprightness of his character, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Of the five children, two sons and three daughters, born to Mr. and Mrs. Gault, four have died, the oldest, a son, reaching sixteen. The surviving child is the wife of Frank C. Towle, a young business man of Suncook. Senator Gault is gentleman of commanding personal presence, is a fine speaker, and often presides over public assemblages. Possessing executive abilities of the highest order and excellent judgment, his opinion upon important matters, both private and public, is often sought. Although, as will be seen above, he has already filled many responsible civil offices, yet his host of friends are confident that higher political honors will hereafter be bestowed upon him. His house, presided over by his refined and accomplished wife, is widely known, no less for its elegance than for its generous hospitality, and attracts many visitors.