History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

398 HISTORY OF AMESBURY.
ially devoted to the election of Andrew Jackson to the presidency
and Mr. Osgood to Congress. He soon retired from the edi-
torial department of that paper and took the stump for his
party. In 1836 he was elected to the legislature, being but
twenty-seven years of age and the youngest member of the
House. In 1852 he was again elected, and by his devotion to
the interests of the laboring classes gained the hearty approval
of his fellow citizens, who subsequently elected him to the constitu-
tional convention, of which he became a prominent member.
He was twice called to the chair and was, also, placed on
important committees.
Under Pierce's administration he was appointed weigher and
gauger in the Boston custom house and served in that capacity
till the close of Buchanan's term of office. He served a short
time as assessor of internal revenue in this district and, also, on
the board of selectmen several years. To those too poor to
employ a lawyer, he frequently volunteered his services and
was well posted in legal affairs. He, also, held the office of
postmaster under Van Buren's administration.
On the 3d of May Dr. Thomas McAllister died at the age
of thirty-two years. He was born in Londonderry, N. H.,
where he attended the common schools until entering the Derry
academy, where he qualified himself for his medical studies at
Bowdoin college, Maine, from which he graduated in 1872.
Soon after that date he commenced to practice in this town
and his strict devotion to his professional duties gained for him
a large share of public patronage.
At the close of the year the business prospects of the town
have very much improved and few people are idle from necessity.
On the 1 6th of last March the Essex mills, including the
entire property, were sold for $300,000 to the Hamilton Com-
pany. This event was hailed with joy by all, as being the
forerunner of more prosperous times. Nor was the public dis-
appointed, for a large number of hands were at once set to
work making thorough repairs and getting ready as fast as pos-
sible to commence operations. Under the careful and skillful
management of M. D. F. Steere, Esq., who for more than