Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 2.djvu/312

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290
THE STATE SENATE OF 1879–80.

have quailed and fallen back. He is emphatically a self-made man, and his success is due to a tireless energy and an ability of a high order. Commencing life as a farmer's boy, he has successively risen to the position of a printer, an editor, a physician, and a successful politician. In the Independent Statesman of February 28, 1878, appeared a lengthy sketch of Dr. Gallinger's eventful life, from which the following facts are gleaned:

"Dr. Gallinger is of German descent, and was born in the town of Cornwall, Province of Ontario, March 28, 1837, being the fourth son of a farmer, and one of a family of twelve children. At the age of thirteen, he entered that poor boy's college, a printing office, and served an apprenticeship of nearly four years. At the expiration of his term as an apprentice, he went to Ogdensburg, N. Y., where he labored one year as a journeyman printer. Returning to Cornwall, he took charge of the paper on which he served his apprenticeship, and during the next year he labored as a printer and editor, and was also under private instruction from a competent teacher. In 1855, he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and began the study of medicine, graduating in May, 1858, having the honors of valedictorian. Between lecture terms he either worked in the office of the Cincinnati Gazette (as reporter, proof-reader or compositor), or was engaged in literary labor. After a year's practice in Cincinnati, the doctor travelled and studied for a year, and then in July, 1860, came to New Hampshire, and in the fall of 1861, he became associated in practice with Dr. W. B. Chamberlain of Keene, now of Worcester, Mass., at which time he became a convert to the doctrines of the Homœopathic school. In the spring of 1862, Dr. Gallinger removed to Concord, opened an office, and became a permanent resident. During his citizenship here he has built up an extensive medical practice, and taken a front rank as a physician and an enterprising, public spirited citizen. He has contributed frequently to medical journals, has lectured extensively before lyceums, besides writing more or less for the daily press. For seven years he held the office of President of the New Hampshire Homœopathic Medical Society, and in 1868 he received an honorary degree from the New York Homœopathic Medical College and has been elected an honorary member of several medical societies."

Dr. Gallinger's first political office was that of Moderator of Ward 4, Concord, which he held for two years. In 1872 he was elected to the Legislature, and served as chairman of the Committee on Insurance, and was re-elected in 1873, and served as chairman of the Committee on Banks. He was a prominent member of the Constitutional Convention of 1876, and his plan for the reorganization of the House of Representatives, on the basis of representation by population, was adopted by a very large majority, although it was opposed by some of the ablest men in the convention. In March, 1878, he was elected to the State Senate, where he served as chairman of the Committee on Education, and took a front rank as a skilful parliamentarian and successful debater. In November, 1879, notwithstanding a strong effort was made to defeat him, there being three tickets in the field, he was handsomely re-elected, and when the Senate organized he was chosen President, a position that he has filled to the entire acceptance of Democrats and Republicans alike.

In addition to filling the offices named, the doctor has done a vast amount of work for the party, having served for several years as a member of the Republican State Central Committee, and chairman of the Merrimack County Committee, and, during the last political campaign he did effective service on the stump. He has been a frequent delegate to political conventions usually serving on the Committee on Resolutions, where his ready pen has been of great service to his party. That his political career is not yet ended is evident from the fact that he was never so popular as to-day, and although it is understood that his personal prefer-