Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 1.djvu/142

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134

��HON. EDWARD H. ROLLINS.

��February 13, 1849, with Miss Ellen E. West, daughter of John West of Con- cord. Her mother, Mrs. West, was a daughter of Gen. John Montgomery, a prominent citizen of Haverhill, well known in public affairs. To this union there have been born five children — four sons and one daughter — Edward W., born November 25, 1850; Mary Helen, Sep- tember 4, 1853; Charles Montgomery, February 27, 1856 ; Frank West, Febru- ary 24, 1860; Montgomery, August 25, 1867. The second son, Charles Mont- gomery, died at the age of five years. The other children survive. The eldest son, Edward W., is a graduate of the In- stitute of Technology at Boston, and was for five years the engineer and cashier of the Colorado Central Railroad. He is now engaged in business as a broker in Denver, Colorado. Frank W., the sec- ond surviving son, now seventeen years of age, has, this month, entered the In- stitute from which his elder brother grad- uated. It will thus be seen that Mr. Rol- lins believes in practical education for his sons. The daughter is unmarried, and remains at home with her parents and younger brother. Retaining his home in Concord, where he owns a resi- dence, and has always lived the greater portion of the year, Mr. Rollins has for some time past had his summer home upon the old place in Rollinsford, where he was reared, and which came into his possession after the death of his father in 1864. Here he has made many im- provements, bringing the land into a superior state of cultivation, and thor- oughly remodeling and repairing the house a year or two since, making it one of the most attractive summer residences in this region. The place is located but little over a mile from the city of Dover, where Mr. Rollins goes for post office and general business accommodations, so that in the summer time he is almost regarded as a Dover citizen. This sea- son he has established telephonic com- munication between his house and the office of the Atlantic and Pacific Tele- graph Company in Dover. Mr. Rollins' mother is still living in her old home, and her youngest daughter, unmarried, re- mains with her.

��In religious faith Mr. Rollins was rear- ed a Congregationalist, and when in Rol- linsford, he attends worship at the First Parish or " Corner" church, in Dover, where Rev. Dr. Spalding officiates. Mrs. Rollins is an Episcopalian, and in Concord the family attend upon the services of St. Paul's Episcopal church. He has long been a member of the Masonic fraternity, of the Blazing Star Lodge, Trinity Chap- ter, and Mt. Horeb Commandery at Con- cord, having holden the position of Emi- nent Commander in the latter.

Mr. Rollins was one of the moving spirits in the organization of the First National Bank at Concord, a large stock- holder, and a member of the First Board of Directors, but withdrew, and disposed of his stock some time since. He sold his drug business at Concord to his broth- er, John F. Rollins, manjr years ago, when his Congressional and other duties required his entire attention. The latter has also since disposed of the business, and now resides upon Ft. George Island at the mouth of St. John's River on the coast of Florida, of which he and Sena- tor Rollins are the principal owners. This island is a most romantic locality, and is the subject of a very interesting illustrated sketch in a recent number of Scribner's Magazine, by Julia B. Dodge. It embraces about twelve hundred acres of land, and seems to be excellently adapt- ed to orange culture, in which its pro- prietors have engaged. The climate is delightful, and far superior to that of the mainland, so that Mr. Rollins, (John F.) who went south for the benefit of his health, finds it a most agreeable as well as romantic residence.

From intense and continued applica- tion to business, Senator Rollins found himself, last spring, in very poor health. Finding medicines of little avail, by the advice of physicians he has engaged dur- ing the present season, in physical labor upon his farm, where he was wont to take similar exercise in his boyhood days, and he finds the change not without the desired result. His health is greatly im- proved, and he will take his place in the Senate at the coming session with that renewed bodily and mental vigor which will enable him efficiently to discharge the duties of his high position.

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