Daniel W. Badger of Portsmouth, NH Biography from A History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire (1915)

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Source: A History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens
         by Charles A. Hazlett, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill, 1915

Page 879

     DANIEL W. BADGER, owner of one hundred acres of good agri-
cultural land in the town of Portsmouth, which he devotes to general
farming and dairying, is also a man who has made his mark in public
life.  He was born in the city of Portsmouth, N. H., August 18, 1865,
a son of David D. and Nancy S. (Campbell) Badger.  He was educated
in the Portsmouth and Newington schools and in early manhood en-
gaged in dairy farming in the town of Newington.  He was successful
in business and also speedily gained the esteem and confidence of his
fellow citizens, who honored him with the various offices within their
gift, those of selectman, member of the school board, town treasurer
for nine years in succession and that of representative in the legisla-
ture of 1903.  During the session of that year he distinguished himself
by holding up and opposing a unanimous report of the railroad com-
mittee-the all-powerful committee at that time--and openly denounc-
ing the domination of the railroad and corporation power in the leg-
islative affairs of the state.
      Six years ago Mr. Badger removed from Newington to Portsmouth,
continuing his agricultural operations in both places.  His interest in
public affairs was no less active in the larger field and, in December,
1910, although less than two years an actual resident of the town, he
was chosen mayor of the city.  As mayor, he set his face firmly in the
direction of honest government and a clean city, sustained by moral
courage of a high order, which is his distinguishing characteristic.  He
made such a record for executive vigor during his term of service, which
continued three years, that his administration became notable through-
out New England.
     He has been equally successful from a financial and business stand-
point, having inaugurated on a large scale a system of permanent street
improvements, and although large sums of money were expended on
these improvements, yet the city's debt was materially reduced and a
very substantial treasury balance existed at the end of his administra-
tions.  Politically opposed by a large majority in the city council, he
made his influence felt in many directions, vetoing many measures with
such substantial basis of reason that his vetoes were invariably sus-
tained.  He was reelected in 1911 by a great majority and again in
December, 1912, by an overwhelming vote, being the first mayor of
Portsmouth to be elected for a third term since 1881.
     On January 2, 1913, Mr. Badger became a member of Governor
Felker's executive council and during that year faithfully discharged
the multifarious duties of the offices of mayor of portsmouth and coun- .
cilor from the first district and also for several months that of acting
commissioner of agriculture, to which he was appointed pending the
organization of the newly-created Department of Agriculture.  He is

Page 880

chairman of two important committees of the council, namely: Finance
and State House.
     His fraternal affiliations are with the Masons, Elks, Knights of
Pythias and the Grange.  In religion he is a Unitarian.
     Mr. Badger was married in Newington, N. H., January 20, 1886,
to Miss Edith M. Whidden.  He and his wife have been the parents of
ten children, of whom eight--two sons and six daughters--are now
living, namely: Dora Stanwood, wife of Edward C. Shaw; Edith E.,
wife of H. K: Torrey; Florence L., wife of Oren M. Shaw; Ralph W.,
who is assisting his father on the farm; Phillips B., a student at the
State College at Durham, N. H.; Carolyn W., Frances W. and Marjorie
N.  A successful business man and public-spirited citizen he is in
every sense one of the representative men of Rockingham County.