LEVI W. BARTON.
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��seems to entitle her, he will doubtless be the man. "
Not less complimentary to Mr. Bar- ton is the following truthful notice of his labors at that time, which appeared in the Statesman :
" One of the best men in the House was Barton of Newport. Suave and considerate at all times, and willing to take a hand in any discussion affecting the public weal, his cheerful, hearty voice striking in upon a dull or an ac- rimonious debate, had a pleasing and mollifying effect. Although careful and cautious, he has positive ideas, and while he respects the saying that " harsh words butter no parsnips," it cannot be assumed that he is not suffi- ciently aggressive in the maintenance of his convictions when they are assail- ed. Sometimes sharp in his personal sallies, they were singularly free from bitterness or malice, and no one, how- ever much aggrieved at first, could hold resentment against him. Few members had more influence in the House, and his advocacy of any meas- ure gave it strength. He made no long or labored speeches, nor did he attempt any learned expositions. Know- ing the caliber of the average legislator in an unwieldy body of nearly four hundred men, his remarks were couch- ed in off hand phrase more effective with the bucolic element than the most polished rhetoric or the severest logic. Perhaps, also, the secret of his influence with the House, was due in part to the fact that he seldom got on the wrong side of a question. On all moral ques- tions, also, he was sound, foremost with voice and influence and vote. "
In the legislative caucus, which nominated Hon. E. H. Rollins, for U. S. Sentor, Mr. Barton received a hand- some complimentary vote.
Thus it will be seen that Mr. Barton is a man of large experience in the duties of a legislator ; and it may be added that through all of these years of political life he presents a record without a blemish.
In private as well as public life he has ever been upright and honorable. He is a self-made man, and we venture to
��say that few men have, unaided, sur- mounted greater difficulties. He does not claim to belong to the class of re- formed men, as he never lapsed into bad habits, never having indulged in the use of intoxicating liquor, or of tobacco in any form. It was said of him, in 1877, that he was the "best preserved man in the House." We know not how this may have been, but it is true, that judging from his looks and appearance, one would say that he was at least ten years the junior of men of his age.
In 1852, he was married to Miss Lizzie F. Jewett, of Hollis, a young lady of culture, learning, and good sense. They have three sons and one daughter now living. The eldest, Her- bert J. Barton, is a young man of great promise. He graduated at Dartmouth in the Class of 1876, among the first in a class of 69 students. He has since had charge of the Union School in Newport for two years, and now has charge of a school in Waukegan, 111. His labors as a teacher have been at- tended with marked success.
Mr. Barton is highly esteemed as a citizen ; he is kind as a neighbor, is strongly attached to his friends, gener- ous to his opponents, and social with all.
In religious belief he is a Methodist, though reared in the Universalist faith. He is no bigot. He has always taken a strong interest in whatever affects the moral, social, or material prosperity of of those around him, and is always ready to lend a helping hand to every good work.
In conclusion,' it may be stated that Croydon, though little in wealth and population, is great in the number and character of the men whom she has produced and sent abroad. The limits of this sketch forbid the mention of but few of them. The late William Powers and Gershom Powers, brothers, of Auburn, N. Y., were both self-edu- cated and self-made men ; William was Deputy Agent of the Auburn Peniten- tiary and Superintendent in the erection of a prison at Kingston, in Canada, and, for some years after, Warden of the same ; and Gershom was a teacher,
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