90
��THE GRANITE MONTHLY.
��HON. DAVID AT WOOD.
��nv C. \V. WALLACE.
��The name Atwood appears as early as 1638, on the records of Plymouth colony. The subject of this sketch traces his ancestors on his father's side (six generations in America), to Herman Atwood, who immigrated from Sanderstead, about fifteen miles from r.ondon, and settled in I3oston, Mass., in 1 642. The family was of pure Eng- lish descent. More than a century later Isaac Atwood, a descendant of Herman, came to Bedford, N. H., with his wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Chubbuck, and from whose family Mrs. Adoniram Judson, the last wife of the misssonary of that name de- scended. Of theirnine children David, the father of David, junior, was one._ His mother was Mary Bell, a descend- ant of John Bell, who was born in Ire- land, came to this country, and settled in Bedford, N. H., in 1736. It may be of interest to the many families of that name in the country, to be in- formed of its origin. The legend runs thus : "John Austin, of pure Norman extraction, a native of Glasgow, Scot- land, invented the tulip-shaped bell, for which he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, and took the name of "Bell." He was a staunch Presbyterian, and during the religious controversy of that period was obliged to flee, and went to the north of Ireland. From thence a large family of brothers immigrated to the United States, one of whom came to New Hanpshire. David Atwood. senior, and Mary Bell, were both born in Bedford, the former, March 24th. 1779, the latter, April 12th. 1781. They married, Sept. 21st, 1802, and settled at once on the farm where they remained through their long, quiet and useful lives.
David, whoreceiveil the name of his father, was the seventh child and fourth son. He was born in Bedford, Dec. 15th, 1815, and was brought ui) on the farm. As soon as he was old enough
��he went to the lield to perform such labor as his slight and delicate frame would permit. He was not a strong boy (one of those who spring to man's estate before they pass half through their teens), yet he was no shirk. One more willing and industrious never toiled on our New Hampshire hills. David, in his early youth, enjoyed such privileges of education as the common schools of his native town afforded. In his district, however, the advantages were very meager. Before he was old enough to be of service in the field, he might have attended a i^w weeks ia the summer ; but after that, it was only- the winter school, a term of ten or twelve weeks, that afforded him any educational advantages. This contin- ued until he was sixteen years of age. He then graduated from the same old school-house, guiltless of paint or shade tree, standing by the common high- way, where Horace Cireeley had just before studied and graduated. With- out the privilege of a single day's study in an academy or high school he went forth to engage in the work of life and carve for himself a name among those of his generation.
\Ve may add, he was no more git'ted with gold or influential friends to aid him in winning the favor of the public, than he was with classical lore. He literally went forth alone, with none to help, none but his equals to cheer, as he toiled with other laborers in life's great battle-tlelcl.
At the age ofsixteen, in 1832, he ac- companied an older brother to Ham- ilton, N. Y., where he at once entered upon a five years' apprenticeshi}) te the printing business, in an office ex- clusi\ely devoted to the printing of law books, and not until he had at- tained his majority did he return to the home of his chilhood to behold his parents, then passing into the vale of years, and atrain meet his brothers and
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