his successor. Mr. Stark held the position continuously about fifteen years until 1837. During this period his correspondence shows him to have been in active communication with the Boston agents of the proprietors of the Middlesex canal, who also owned or controlled the river canals, and he appears to have at all times enjoyed their full confidence.
In summer, matters connected with the river navigation and trade absorbed his attentton. In winter there was leisure for public affairs. So prominent and active a man, possessing such keen abilities, could not fail to become identified with the business affairs of the town. We accordingly find that from 1819 to 1837, he held some town office almost every year. From 1819 to 1823, inclusive, he was town-clerk. He was on the board of selectmen in 1826-7-9, 1831-2-4-5-6, and as modderator in 1830-1-2-7. He represented the town in the lower branch of the legislature in 1824-5-6, and was a member of the state senate in 1830 and 1831. Most of the small quarrels of the neighborhood were brought before him, as justice of the peace, for trial or adjustment. His record-book of trials is carefully written out, and indicates discreet judgment in his decisions. The river community had many rough members, and naturally a considerable proportion of the cases tried before his justice court were for assault and battery. It appears that the expense of giving a man a sound beating was, generally, about four dollars and costs.
In 1833 Mr. Stark was appointed one of the side judges of the court of common pleas for Hillsborough county. A position—since abolished in 1855—for which his business qualifications and knowledge of the county eminently fitted him. He retained the place about three years. Geo, A. Ramsdell, Esq., says, in his history of the Hillsborough bench and bar, "It is generally supposed that these judges were but ornamental appendages to the learned judge who actively presided in court; but in addition to the discharge of the duties now substantially performed by the county commissioners, they often aided the court by their sterling commonsense, in matters requiring not legal learning merely, but an acquaintance with men and the ordinary concerns of life, which is not always possessed by learned lawyers."
The commencement of the present manufacturing establishments of Manchester dates from 1836. In that year the Amoskeag Company began to purchase the land adjacent to the falls, with a view of constructing canals and factories and building up a manufacturing town. Mr. Stark sold to them such of his real estate as they desired, including the residence at the old Blodgett mansion, and at once commenced to build him a new dwelling in the neighboring village of Piscataquog,—then in Bedford, but since annexed to Manchester,—where he took up his residence the next year, and from which he never removed. From this period (1837) to 1847, or later, he continued his mercantile business in the village of Piscataquog. He also held the office of high sheriff of the county for five years,—from 1837 to 1842. Subsequently his attention was absorbed in the care and management of his investments, especially his landed property, which, being situated in and near the growing city of Manchester, had become valuable. Thus passed his dedeclining years. Identified with the local projects of his vicinity, in good
