14 THE GRANITE MONTHLY.
��THE JOWNE MEMORIAL.
��BY FRANK W. HACKEIT.
WE sometimes smile at the efforts a man makes to render his wealth useful after he has passed away, the pains he is at to guard against contingen- cies that somehow never happen, and the minute directions he lays down for meet- ing results, which turn out when reached to be just the reverse of his anticipations. Perhaps it is due to the frequency of these failures, that the pleasure is height- ened with which we note an occasional instance where a wise forethought has brought the cherished object into at least partial accomplishment. My purpose in this article is to chronicle such an instance.
To the good sense and liberality of one who was a native and (at the time of his death) a citizen of New Hampshire, are due the grateful acknowledg- ment of that large and increasing circle of readers who are interested in American biography. It was a happy thought of the late William Blanchard TowNE, to establish a fund and place it at the disposal of the New England Historic, Genealogical Society, the income to be applied, from time to time, to the publication of biograjihies of its deceased members. The first volume of the projected series has recently been given to the public. It deserves more than passing allusion in these pages, for the further reason that of those whose lives are here recorded a fair proportion comes of New Hampshire stock.
Those of my readers to whom the name of the founder of this trust is unfa- miHar, will gladly learn, I am sure, something of the man. A sketch of his life appeared in the Historical and Genealogical Register, in January, 1878, written by the accomplished and industrious editor of that pubhcation, John Ward Dean, Esq., of Boston. An introduction to this initial volume also gives us information, chiefly touching his efficient labors as amember of the society. From these sources, we gather that this excellent man was born in Bow, in this State, October 12, 18 10, and was a descendant of William Towne, of Yarmouth, England, who, after emigrating to this country, lived for a while at Salem, Mass., and afterwards at Topsfield, where he died, about 1672. Mr. Towne's mother was Clarissa, daughter of Captain John Hoyt. At the age of sixteen, he went to Concord, in the employ of Dr. Josiah Crosby, to take care of the Doctor's horse and run errands. He was self-reliant and studious in getting a fair school 'education. From 1829 to 1834, we find him tending as a clerk in various stores in Concord. He was a member of the First Congregational Church, the pastor of which, the late Rev. Dr. Bouton, was his life-long friend.
In 1834, Mr. Towne removed to Boston, where for many years he engaged in mercantile pursuits, latterly in connection with the well-known firm of James M. Beebe and Company. In 1842, he was married to Nancy French, daughter of Jeremiah Hill, a commission merchant of Boston ; she died in 1858. A second wife was Jennie S., daughter of Daniel Putnam, of Milford, N. H., a sister of the lady whose recent death has been so deeply deplored — the wife ot Hon. Bainbridge Wadleigh. Upon the occurrence of this union, in 1867, Mr. Towne removed to Milford, where he resided until his death, in 1876. He was a prominent and useful citizen of that thriving community, and represented the town in the legislature, in 1873 ^"^^ i^74- He held the position of Presi- dent of the Milford Five Cent Savings Institution, and a similar office in the
♦Memorial Biogi-iipliies of tlie New Englaiirl HUtoric, Genealogical Society (Towne Memorial Fund) Vol. I., 1845-1852. Uoston, published by the Society, 18 Somerset Street, 1880. pp. 533.
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