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��Hon. William Dennis Weeks.
��had become somewhat disjointed, the Democracy, which was the dominant party, having on some local issue broken into two factions. In the can- vass for representative the Whigs nominated JMr. Weeks, with which party he had identified himself, and in a liotly contested election he was the successful candidate. In the one session of the legislature whicii he at- tended, he fully satisfied the expecta- tions of his friends and constituents, and won the respect and esteem of his fellow-legislators by his sound judgment, dignity, and integrity. He early became interested in military affairs, and rose rapidly by promotion to the rank of Lieut. Colonel, and there was no officer upon parade who had a more soldieily beaiing than he.
In 1845 he went to 8t. Johnsbury, Vt., at the solicitation and in the em- ploy of the Messrs. Fairbanks, as su- perintendent of their farms and gen- eral out-door work. He also became interested in manufacturing opera- tions there; but in 1854 he purchased the farm in Lancaster, on which his grandfather first settled in 178G, and which was the homestead of Hon. John W. Weeks. Here he devoted himself to his favorite pursuit, caring for his farm and stock, and attending to such duties as his townsmen im- posed upon him. In 186.'3 he received the appointment of assistant assessor for the 3d Revenue District of New Hampshire ; and here, as everywhere in official capacity, his career was marked by the same integrity and sound judgment that characterized him in home life. He was an active and efficient worker in the Coos and Essex Counties Agricultural Society, prominent at all times in directing its
��affairs, and helping to bring it to a marked degree of success.
In July, 1876, Mr. Weeks received the appointment of judge of probate for Coos county. Previous to this he had received in the Republican State Convention the vote of the entire Coos delegation as candidate for gov- ernor. 'J'he appointment as judge of probate was one of fitness ; it was such a one as could not have been bettered, and duiing the time he serv- ed, which was until his death, the po- sition was honored by the man. In all his official course he was dispas- sionate, and brought to bear his strong common-sense and the endeav- or to do right. He was in fact a " most upright judge," and probably no one who has ever occui)ied the same position in our county has given greater satisfaction to all parties with , whom the court had to do than he.
In his theological views he was lib- eral, in life and conduct a religious man, fully living up to the standard set by St. James : " Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."
He was very constant in attendance upon the Sunday services at the Uni- tarian church, and observed Sunday, not with austere formality, but as a day of rest and quiet cheerfulness, and in doing good. His home life was cheerful and happy. He mariied, in 1848. Miss Mary Helen Fowler, of Woodstock, Connecticut, a niece of the late Gov. Jared W. Williams. To them were born three children, — Em- ma F., who married Burleigh Roberts, Esq., of the firm of Kent & Roberts, in Lancaster ; John Wiugate Weeks,
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