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��COL. JOHN HATCH GEORGE.
��hand expert, published and extensively- circulated, and is held as reliable au- thority regarding the theory of railroad management. His connection with railroads has been intimate and extend- ed. He is director of the Mount Washington, the Profile and Franconia, and also of the Peterborough railways. He was one of the originators and ear- liest advocates of the Concord and Claremont and Contoocook Valley roads, and has aided largely in the construction of the various lines which have conserved to Concord its central- ity. There are ways and means whereby men receive much popular reputation and credit for services as hollow and objectless as those of Col. George were substantial and valuable ; yet it is but just to say in behalf of the wise and discriminating among our people that they put the genuine patriotic value on his efforts and esteem the man accord- ingly as a people's friend.
Last year Col. George was appointed a Trustee for the N. H. Asylum for the Insane. Lie has largely and influen- tially participated in local affairs in Concord. For many years he labored earnestly in the improvement of the public schools, and took deep interest in the elevation of the standard of edu- cation taught therein. He invariably upheld that the perfection of the school buildings was essential, as a pre- cursor of the required improvement in the educational course. Because of this sentiment, he was employed on building committees chosen to manage the erection of several of our school buildings, which, for completeness and adaptability to their uses, Concord is so justly noted. In 1877 he was chosen a member of the Board of Education of the Union District. In course of his very active service in these relations, he has never made pecuniary charge on his fellow citizens for his labors, whether* rendered as a lawyer or as a citizen. If the city records bear any evidence of such charge having been recognized, whatever it may be, the amount was never received by the col- onel, but went back to the city schools in some shape or another, useful and
��necessary. When the effort 'to re- move the State Capitol was made, he exerted every energy in his power to prevent the success of this design, and labored with great dilgence and selt sacrifice in that direction.
As previously stated, Col. George entered the arena of politics almost at the outset of his active life. Nature and mental acquirements combined to give him prominence in politics while yet almost a youth. His recognized energy and executive skill gave him the chairmanship of the committee appointed to receive President Franklin Pierce on his visit to his native State and home in 1854, and many will re- collect the success attending that great event. In 1859 he was the Demo- cratic nominee as candidate to represent the Second District in the House of Representatives of the United States, but failed of an election. In 1863 he was again nominated for that office, and made a vigorous canvass of the district — making twelve addresses per week during a month or more — but was again defeated after a very close vote. In 1866 he was the nominee of the Democratic members of the legis- lature of that year as candidate for the United States Senate. His fellow Democrats gave him the -full strength of their vote, but the Republicans were largely in the majority against him.
A man may be mistaken in his no- tions, and be very earnest and persistent in their assertion, but he will be always respected when his views are believed to be honestly entertained and pro- nounced. The people only hold in contempt a man who has convictions, and who is afraid to express them when circumstances demand their explana- tion. Col. George is no such man. He is credited with thinking profoundly of what he says, and saying firmly what he has thought. He may offend men's opinions or prejudices by what he says, but he seldom or ever loses their respect, because of their conviction of his rigid honesty of argument or purpose. Socially speaking, and notwithstanding his variance in political opinion with the majority of his fellow citizens of
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