Nor yet monopolistic power gain sway,

But equal right maintain her even way.

Let church and school and speech and press, all free,

In this fair mountain land forever be,

And Home and Grange their influence ever lend
To best promote such glorious aim and end!

Then lift your heads, O mountains!
O silver lakes, shine bright!

Send forth your streams, O fountains,
In crystalline delight!

Proclaim the HONOR of our Granite Land-
HONOR and BEAUTY shall together stand!

NEW HAMPSHIRE MEN IN FITCHBURG, MASS.

BY MARION HOWARD.

In almost every city and important town in the country the sons of the Granite State are found among the foremost in every profession and avocation. In the thriving young city of Fitchburg, Mass., there is found no exception to the rule. Among New Hampshire men living and laboring there, a few are briefly sketched, as follows:

HON. AMASA NORCROSS.

The first mayor of the city of Fitchburg was the Hon. Amasa Norcross, a man widely known beyond the confines of New England. It was in 1873 that the honor was conferred upon him, and wisely, too, as events proved.

Mr. Norcross is a native of Rindge, born June 26, 1824, a descendant of Jeremiah Norcross, who came to America in 1642. His father, Daniel Norcross, was a thriving New Hampshire farmer, and his mother, Mary (Jones), was also a Granite State woman. He received an excellent education in the schools of his native town and at the Appleton Academy of New Ipswich. In 1844 he became a student in the law offices of Torrey & Wood of Fitchburg, and, in 1847, he was admitted to the bar.

A residence was taken up in the city of Fitchburg, and the practice of law commenced and successfully continued

until he now stands at the head of the legal fraternity in his section of the state.

Mr. Norcross has been especially prominent in public life, having held responsible offices for nearly a quarter of a century. Three times he was elected upon the Republican ticket as a member of the Massachusetts house of representatives, and served on important committees during the administration of Massachusetts' "War Governor," John A. Andrew. In 1862 he was appointed by President Lincoln United States Assessor for the ninth district of Massachusetts, comprising seventy-two townships, and held the office until its abolishment, in 1872. For three times, also, he was elected to Congress, serving his first term in 1876.

Local matters have always interested him, and in the administration of the city's affairs his rare executive ability has been strongly manifested. Educational advancement is what he has sought to gain, and well has he labored in the good cause. An active part was taken by him in the formation of the Fitchburg Benevolent Union, of which he was the first president, and of which he is now a life member. The degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon Mr. Norcross by Dartmouth College, in 1862.

Of the several offices now held by ex-Mayor Norcross, the most important are these: trustee of Lawrence Academy, Groton; president of the trustees of Cushing Academy, Ashburnham, of the Fitchburg Mutual Fire Insurance Company and the Worcester North Savings Institution, and director of the Rollstone National Bank.

For the past eight years most of his time has been spent in extensive travel abroad. Although he has led a very active life, he is still vigorous and a fine specimen of wellpreserved manhood.

JOSEPH G. EDGERLY.

Prominent among those who have honored their native state by thorough service in the cause of education is Joseph G. Edgerly, who for a quarter of a century has filled the important position of superintendent of public schools, eight years of which were passed in Manchester, and the past seventeen in Fitchburg, Mass. He is a typical selfmade man, and comes of old Puritan stock.

Mr. Edgerly was born October 12, 1838, in the town of Barnstead, and is the son of Samuel Johnson and Eliza

(Bickford) Edgerly. He is a descendant of Col. Samuel Johnson, the first settler of the town of Northwood. The family moved to Manchester in 1844. When Mr. Edgerly was a lad of ten he entered the mills in Manchester, and, two years later, he went to Dunbarton, on a farm, doing chores, attending the district school at the same time. He very early displayed marked proficiency as well as ambition to learn, and every spare moment was utilized in study. We find him teaching school, at the age of nineteen, in New Boston, and, later, in Manchester, after having taken a high-school course. Then came the Civil War, when he entered the government postal service at Fortress Monroe, during McClellan's Peninsula campaign. Ill health overtook him, forcing him to return home, where he renewed his teaching and studying, in order to enter Dartmouth College, from which he was graduated in 1867. He was immediately elected superintendent of schools at Manchester. The call to Fitchburg came in 1875, where he then went to reside.

Mr. Edgerly was married, in 1877, to Mary J. Graves of Groton, a sister to the present mayor of Fitchburg, and has one daughter, a bright little girl of thirteen. Mr. Edgerly has two brothers, Col. M. V. B. Edgerly of Springfield, and Clarence M. Edgerly of Manchester. Mr. Julian C. Edgerly, on the staff of the Boston Globe, is a nephew-a son of the eldest brother, Gen. Andrew J. Edgerly, who died in 1890.

He is a thirty-second degree Mason, and also prominent in Odd Fellowship, being a charter member of Apollo Lodge and its first Noble Grand. Mr. Edgerly is universally liked and respected. As a teacher he has given most faithful service. He is a man of most genial manners, and is popular personally and socially.

EDWIN R. LOCKE.

Certain peculiar qualities are necessary to him who properly fills the position of chief of police. That the subject of this sketch possesses them is apparent at a glance. His face indicates in his make-up a combination of kindness, firmness and integrity, and his brow shows fine perceptive faculties and strong individuality.

Edwin R. Locke is a native of Stoddard, born September 18, 1832, and his sixty years sit very lightly on him, indeed.

His parents, Enos and Harriet Locke, were farming people, and his early schooling was attained in the public schools and at Marlow Academy. At eighteen he began teaching, and continued for five years, when he entered a large wholesale millinery house in Boston. With six years' experience he then returned to his native state, and started in business for himself, in Keene, as a dry goods dealer, and met with success. He also held positions of trust, and served on the board of selectmen and as chief of police before Keene was made a city, and city marshal for nearly ten years after, besides serving for many years as United States gauger.

When Mayor Graves of Fitchburg looked about for a suitable man for chief of police, he very wisely called on Edwin R. Locke, because of the excellent qualifications he possessed. He responded to the call and removed to Fitchburg.

Mr. Locke is married, and has three children-Ida M., Hattie E. and Edward E., the latter already a noted musician. He is a brother to "Father Locke," that dear old war songster, who resides under the shadow of the Soldiers' Home in Chelsea, Mass. "Father Locke" is now seventyfive years old, yet within a week it has been our privilege to hear him sing. When the war broke out, this soldier at heart, being disabled, went to President Lincoln and said, "What can I do for the cause; they won't let me fight?” The reply came, "Go down and sing to the boys." went, and for three years he remained and sang his patriotism. Chief Locke is a man who will never fail to do credit to his native state.

SULLIVAN W. HUNTLEY.

He

The very popular and distinguished-looking gentleman who occupies the position of agent of the Old Colony Railroad in Fitchburg is Sullivan W. Huntley, born in Marlow, September 30, 1837. He, too, has an ancestry worthy of mention. In the genealogical record it is said that John Huntley and wife came to Boston in 1652. Of their descendants (of whom the subject of this sketch is a direct one) many migrated to other places. Nathan Huntley, a great grandson, moved up the Connecticut river to Walpole, then into the wilderness, and was one of the early settlers of the town of Marlow.

Mr. Huntley's father was Rufus M.; his mother, Edna M. Huntley. His parents removed to Fitchburg in 1847, and the boy's schooling was attained in the public schools of that city. It was intended by his father that he should enter Tufts College and be fitted for the ministry, but fate willed it otherwise. On his majority he entered the employ of the Fitchburg Railroad, as clerk, and served faithfully for fifteen years. He became treasurer of the Boston, Clinton & Fitchburg Railroad, and held that position until circumstances resulted in leasing the road to the Old Colony Company. Mr. Huntley was then offered the position. of purser for the Boston and Azorean Steamship Company, and made four voyages to the western islands. Not caring for a life on the ocean wave," he returned to Fitchburg and assumed his present position. He is a Mason and a member of Aleppo Temple of Boston. He has served in the common council, and is a working Republican in the ranks. He has been for six years secretary of the Worcester North Agricultural Society, and is associated in partnership with Mr. J. W. Wilder of the Butterick Publishing Company.

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Mr. Huntley was married, in 1860, to Lucy Jane Pond, and has two sons, Henry W. and Fred S. Huntley. He is identified with the social element of Fitchburg, and is personally popular with all.

JOHN ADDISON JOSLIN.

Of the various callings so ably represented by New Hampshire's sons in Fitchburg, none is more so than that of the grocery trade in the person of John A. Joslin, a young man of sterling qualifications, who for twenty years has been one of Fitchburg's most active citizens.

Mr. Joslin was born in Stoddard, April 29, 1848, and is the son of Stephen and Hannah (Towne) Joslin.

He is justly proud of his ancestors, as they were of good, sturdy stock, and helped to form the backbone of more than one town in New England. His grandfather was an early settler of Leominster, Mass. He later went across the border into the Granite State, entered the woods, and there named the place Leominster Corner, now a part of Stoddard. It was here that his son and nine grandchildren were born, one of whom is the subject of this sketch.