Ichabod Bartlett. Illinois; Joseph was also a physician; James, a lawyer at Durham and Dover. The father of the subject of this sketch enjoyed a large practice, and stood deservedly high as an accomplished and skillful physician. Like his uncle Josiah, he took a lively interest in public matters, chiefly in town affairs; and he showed himself to be a stirring, active and useful citizen. He died in 1800, when Ichabod was fourteen years old. The town of Salisbury, N. H., took its name from Salisbury, Mass., from which neighbor hood had come many of the first settlers, the Bartletts among the number. These settlers were a sturdy, self-reliant class of men, as the character of their descendants abundantly testifies. Salisbury Academy could number upon its roll of pupils such names as the two Websters (Ezekiel and Daniel), Ichabod Bartlett, John A. Dix, Charles B. Haddock, and Joel Eastman. Young Bartlett was ready for college in 1804, when at the age of eighteen he entered Dartmouth as a freshman.1 During the winter vacation of his first year at college, the young student taught school at the Academy in his native town, a fact that indicates in what esteem as a scholar he was held by those who best knew him. In 1808, while a senior at college, he delivered a Fourth of July oration at Salis bury. This early display of his oratorical powers proved so acceptable to his towns men, that the oration attained to the honor, somewhat unusual at that day, of being printed in pamphlet form. Immediately upon graduation, Mr. Bart lett applied himself to the study of the law. He entered the law office of Moses Kastman, 1 Among his classmates who afterward became widely known, may be mentioned Governor Grenwel!, of Massa chusetts; Isaac Fletcher, of Vermont; Ichabod R. Chadbourne, of Eastport, Me.; Samuel Osgood, of New York; Leonard M. Parker, of Charlestown; and William Claggett, of Portsmouth. Others of note who at that period were students at Dartmouth, are General Fessenden and Albion K. Parris, Richard Fletcher, Matthew Harvey, Levi Woodbury, Joseph Bell and Amos Kendall.
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and later that of Parker Noyes, both gradu ates of Dartmouth who were in practice at Salisbury. In 1811 he was admitted to the Bar ' He went to Durham and there opened a law office. This thriving village, about seven miles from Dover, was then thought destined in its growth to outstrip Dover. Situated on the main highway be tween tide-water, at Portsmouth, and the country lying north of Concord, a great part of the teaming ran through its streets. There were already several gentlemen in practice at Durham when young Bartlett arrived there. The young attorney, however, did not remain long in this little village, for the su perior attractions of Portsmouth, the business capital of the State, invited him to a new scene of action, and in 18 16 he removed to that delightful town. He soon commanded a large and lucrative practice.1 In 18 19 he was chosen solicitor for Rockingham County. Mr. Bartlett was gifted with a remarkable fluency, and being bright and quick upon his feet, he had a most captivating manner with an audience. No young man at that day gained wider popularity as a public speaker. Love of law, and success at the Bar, however, did not prevent his coming forward rapidly into political station. No doubt he had a taste for public life, for as early as 181 7 we find him filling the office 1 Mr. Bartlett was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Judicial Court at Dover, September 8, 1813, on motion of John P. Hale. This fact implies that he had already become a member of the Bar of the court of common pleas, and had "practiced two years with reputation" in that court. That he began practice in Durham in 1811, and was taxed there as late as 181 6, we know from the records of that town. These records also impart the quaint information that Ichabod Bartlett paid one dollar admission fee to the Old Hundred Sacred Music Society. 2The other lawyers then at Portsmouth were : Daniel Humphries, Jeremiah Mason, Edward Cutts, Jr., John P. Lord, Joseph Bartlett, Nathaniel A. Haven, Jr., William Claggett, Timothy Farrar, Nathaniel P. Hoar, Peyton R. Freeman, John Pitman and William Plumer, Jr.; Levi Woodbury had just gone upon the Bench, and Daniel Webster had but lately removed to Boston.
