Gen. Stephen H. Gale Biography from History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire

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

Page 741

     GEN. STEPHEN H. GALE. One of the most perplexing prob-
lems in modem political economy is that presented by the tendency of
the times towards concentration of industrial enterprises in the cities
and the consequent depletion of industrial opportunities throughout
the towns and villages, especially those of New England, where agricul-
tural possibilities are not so favorable as in many other sections of our
country.
     He whose life's work results not only in arresting the city's draft
upon his own community but also wins for it an influx of self-support-
ing people, performs a public service not to be reckoned lightly, nor dis-
missed from thoughtful appreciation because of personal benefits he may
have derived therefrom.
     In Exeter, this state, a town of approximately five thousand inhabit-
ants, there is a manufacturing establishment giving direct employment
to from six to seven hundred persons, and indirectly contributing towards
the employment of many others; to the general business prosperity of

Page 742

the town and to the material welfare of the surrounding agricultural
population. Its pay roll disbursements are approximately three hundred
thousand dollars a year, all from revenue drawn into Exeter by sales of
product in outside markets, principally in the West and Southwest. The
average wages paid are better than those earned in other occupations
near by and the personnel of the employes compares favorably with
that of persons otherwise engaged in that vicinity. The policy of the
management of this establishment towards the employes is free from
many of the restrictive features found in city factories which, while
perhaps necessary there, tends towards sapping away that consciousness
of personal independence so requisite to good citizenship. The esprit
de corps among the employes calls for self-respecting manhood and
womanhood and is sustained as well as is the general tone of the com-
munity at large. 
     This, then, is the principal accomplishment of Gen. Stephen H.
Gale, and it is one of which he is justly proud; toward which he has
devoted the best years of his life and in which he has found that rare
enjoyment which one experiences in the realization that while building
well for himself he has also built well for others, and all this near the
scenes of his early childhood, within six miles of where he was born.
     Stephen Henry Gale was born in East Kingston, N. H... March 23,
1846, and is of the fifth generation from Jacob Gale, the first of the name
to settle in that town nearly two hundred years ago, and whose descend-
ants have been prominently identified with local history from that time
to this. Jacob was the fourth in line of direct descent from Edmond Gale
of Cambridge, Mass., the pioneer of the family to America. He came
here early in 1600 from England, where the name is found recorded
as among the "landed gentry" from before the time of William the
Conqueror. It is supposed to be of Scotch-Irish origin.
     A son of Jacob, also named Jacob, who was General Ga1e's great-
grandfather, acquired considerable property in and around East Kings-
ton. He was one of those strong, rugged men, thoroughly imbued with
the "spirit of '76," to whose patriotic services both before and during
the war, the independence of America is due. He was a delegate to the
First Provincial Congress of New Hampshire, which met in Exeter, July
21, 1774, to take steps toward declaring New Hampshire free from
British sovereignity and to provide for a constitutional form of gov-
ernment. Afterwards he was lieutenant-colonel of a regiment of state
troops under the command of the famous Josiah Bartlett, and later suc-
ceeded him as colonel.
     Colonel Jacob's son, Henry, married Mary Atkinson of Newbury-
port, Mass., and their son, Elbridge Gerry Gale, was the father of
Stephen H., the subject of this sketch. His mother was Ann Maria
Barnes of Boscawen, N. H., to whom his father was married in 1837.
She was the daughter of Josiah Barnes, a popular hotel keeper of New
Hampshire, whose son, Amos, following in his father's footsteps, became
the well-known proprietor of the Hotel Brunswick of Boston, which he
managed for many years, until his death a short time ago.
     General Gale's father was a farmer of moderate circumstances, mainly
dependent upon his own exertions for the support of his family. He
died in 1847, when Stephen was but 16 months old. Besides Stephen, he
left a widow and two other children: Mary Ann, not then nine years

Page 743

of age, and John Elbridge, a boy between six and seven. The problem
confronting the mother was a difficult one; but she met it bravely by
selling the farm, retaining only the house with a little land around it,
and devoting herself to the rearing of her children upon a very smal1 in-
come, supplemented by her own efforts. She so managed that each of
them had such educational advantages as the schools of East Kingston
provided and some instruction beyond; but hard as it was for her and
for them, stern necessity compelled them to forego many of the pleas-
urable experiences incidental to their years and devote such time as could
be spared from their studies to work that would contribute towards the
family support.
     Money was scarce in rural New England in those days and oppor-
tunities for acquiring it were few and far between; but the introduc-
tion of shoemaking into farming communities offered a chance to the
more energetic, which several of the East Kingston farms accepted dur-
ing the winter months and at such other times as they could devote to
it. This work was brought to them from Haverhill, Mass., by "freight-
ers," who gathered it up from shops about that city, where all parts of
the shoe were cut and fitted ready to be sewn up and pegged by persons
in the country districts, to whom they were distributed. The work was
exacting and not especially remunerative, but it brought money in
return and was a welcomed source of additional revenue.
     It was at this work that John E. and Stephen began to earn money
after school and in vacations, as soon as they were old enough to be
of any assistance to those engaged in it near their home. They became
interested in the work, and there learned the rudimentary principles of
a business which since then, under entirely different conditions, has
grown to be one of New Eng1and's greatest industries and in which
they have both become singularly successful.
     John E. left home when he was 14 years o1d and went to Ports-
mouth, N. H., where he attended the grammar school and had three
years' instruction in the high school. He was clerk in a store there for
a short time and then went to Haverhi11, Mass., where, after working
a while in a grocery store, he found employment in a shoe factory and
in 1862, started in the shoe manufacturing business for himself.
     Stephen remained at home until nearly seventeen years old, at-
tending the village schools and Kingston Academy. He also took a
course in the Boston Commercial College, traveling to Boston and back
daily. All this time he was working diligently at shoemaking, before
and after school hours and in vacation periods. In 1863 he went to
Haverhill, Mass., and secured employment in William M. Chase's shoe
factory as an assistant bookkeeper. What time could be spared from
his regular duties was devoted to other work around the factory and in
acquiring further knowledge of the different processes employed in
the manufacture of shoes. About a year later he went to work in his
brother's factory, who before long assisted him to start in business upon
his own account, which he did by working early in the mornings and until
late in the evenings before and after his regular day's work for his
brother. He commenced in the basement of the building occupied by
his brother, on a cash capital of $200, which he had managed to save.
With that he bought small lots of leather at a time, cut them into the
various parts of shoes himself, sent them into the country to be put

Page 744 

together and sold the shoes when finished. Before long he was able
to rent a small room upstairs and devote his entire time to a growing
business, which soon was greater than he could attend to alone. He
then began to employ others, working with them as assiduously as
before.
     Requiring more capital as his business expanded he formed a part-
nership with Capt. Samuel L. Blaisdell, a former resident of East Kings-
ton and a close friend of his father and mother. The captain gave no
personal attention to the business, so in about a year's time the firm
was dissolved, and Mr. Gale continued on alone. He allowed nothing to
interfere with a steadfast determination to mount the ladder of industrial
success, and, therefore, concentrated his whole attention upon his busi-
ness, without allowing himself to be diverted from it by the many forms
of recreation or amusement so attractive to young men of his age.
     As a reward for such continued application he became sufficiently
well established in the industrial world to warrant a partnership with
his brother, John E., when their interests were consolidated in 1869,
under the firm name of Gale Brothers. Their business continued grow-
ing until in 1884 there was not room enough in their Haverhill factory
to meet its increasing requirements and they decided to start a branch
factory in Exeter. By November of that year a four-story brick build-
ing, 150X40 feet, had been erected in that town, in which a modern
plant was installed and Stephen went there to take charge of and
develop that part of the business, while John E., and John H. Sanborn,
a cousin, who had been admitted to the firm, remained in Haverhill in
charge of the business there. At that time the sales of Gale Brothers
amounted to about one million dollars annually, principally of medium-
grade women's shoes.
     Upon opening their branch factory in Exeter, part of the women's
and all of the men's shoes were made there, the men's work being
carried on under the name of the Exeter Boot and Shoe Company, for
which all of the capital was supplied by Gale Brothers. Six years later
the Exeter factory was enlarged by the extension of the buildings at the
same height and width for 260 feet. When completed, the Haverhill
business was transferred to Exeter, and John E. Gale practically retired
from active participation in it in order to devote himself to banking
matters in which he had become largely interested, and incidentally to
the founding of a new shoe manufacturing enterprise, the Gale Shoe
Manufacturing Company, for his son, Herbert E. John E. Gale is now
president of the Haverhill National Bank and the Gale Shoe Manu-
facturing Company has two factories in operation, one in Haverhill,
Mass., and another at Portsmouth, N. H. General Gale has no financial
interest in this company, and is not concerned in it except as one brother
may be in the fortunes of another.
     In 1902 the Exeter business was converted into a stock company
under the name of Gale Brothers, Incorporated, and so it stands today.
The stockholders and officers in 1902, were: Stephen H. Gale, president
and treasurer; John E. Gale, vice-president; John H. Sanborn, general
manager; Charles A. McGreggor, secretary; and John A. Towle, sell-
ing agent. Messrs. McGreggor and Towle-the latter another cousin
of the Messrs. Gale-were young men who had been with the firm for
some time and had practically "grown up to the business." With

Page 745

the exception of Mr. Sanborn, who retired in May, 190l, the personnel
of the company is the same today, for upon his retirement his stock
was taken over by General Gale, Mr. McGreggor and Mr. Towle, and
his duties divided between them.
     The annual product of this factory amounts to approximately two
million pairs of women's shoes; the manufacture of men's shoes having
been discontinued several years ago. There has not been a time since
its establishment in Exeter when it has been idle for lack of sufficient
business to keep it in operation. It has an enviable reputation in shoe
manufacturing circles for furnishing steady work to its employes and
keeping them for years. Upon the company's books are the names of
active customers who have been dealing with Gale Brothers ever since
they started in business in Haverhill, nearly forty years ago. The com-
pany's credit, resting on the reputation o its founders, and its own
record, is unimpeachable in the financial world, for ever since John
E. and Stephen began to do business they have discounted all their
bills and, even in periods of financial and industrial depression, have
never sought or received financial assistance to enable them to carry
out this policy. This is to them one of the most cherished recollections
of an active business life of nearly half a century's duration.
     In 1866 Stephen H. GaJe married Anna M. Brown of Haverhill,
Mass., a daughter of Addison Brown, a prOsperous shoe manufacturer
of that pJace. She is a woman of charming personality and admirable
poise, well fitted by education and cultivation to preside over their
handsome home, or to grace any social gathering, wherever it may
be. General Gale owes much to her and fully appreciates it. They
have had three children, two sons and one daughter. The sons both
died in infancy. The daughter, Alice C., is married to Arthur L. Hob-
son and they have a delightful home in Boston, near the Brookline
line, and a summer place at Little Boar's Head, Rye Beach. Mr. Hobson
is a son of John L. Hobson of Haverhill, Mass., who was a large owner
in the Glenn Manufacturing Company of Berlin, N. H., before it was
merged into the International Paper Company. Mr. Arthtur L. Hobson
is treasurer of the St. CrOix Paper Company, which iS building a very
large paper plant at Woodlands, near Calais, Me. Mr. and Mrs. Hob-
son have had five children, two of whom were born In Berlin, where
they lived for several years; one at Little Boar's Head and two in
Boston. One died in infancy and of those remaming, two are boys
and two are girls, all bright and lovabJe and exceedingly fond of "Grand-
pa Gale," who in turn finds in their companionship and happy lives much
to recompense him for the privations of his younger days.
     General Gale's first introduction to political life was in 1874, when
he was elected a member of the Haverhill citY council, and was upon
the Republican city committee; but not enjoying political position he only
served one term in the council and declined to entertain suggestions for
further political advancement at that time.
     After going to Exeter, in 1884, he became interested in local and
state politics of New Hampshire, but for several years sought no place
of political preferment, as the development of his business required so
much of his attention that he could give no time to official duties and
responsibilities. In 1892, however, the business being then well estab-
lished, he entered heartily into campaIgn work and assisted considerably


Page 746 

in the redemption of Rockingham County from Democratic control.
The folloWIng year he was elected by the legislature commissary-gen-
eral of New HampshIre, and as such serve upon the staff of Gov. John
B. Smith.
     In 1894 he was elected to the state Senate from District NO.21
receiving a larger plurality than had been given to a candidate for the
Senate in that district for a number of years. In the Senate he was
chairman of the committee on finance an a member of the judiciary
committee. He was one of the most active members of that body in
favor of the law then enacted establishing a state board of charities
and providing for the support Of dependent orphans under its direction.
Another measure which had his hearty support passed the Senate but
failed of passage in the House of Representatives. It was to confer
upon justices discretionary power to dismiss or suspend action under
trustee process whenever satisfied that the defendant had been remiss
because of illness or unfortunate circumstances, and that to enforce
payment would prove undue hardship upon those dependent upon him
for support.
     In 1896 General Gale was elected an alternate delegate to the
Republican National Convention held in St. Louis, at which McKinley
was nominated for president. In 1898 he was elected from District No.
2, a member of Governor Rollins' council, receiving the largest plurality
given any councilor at that election and running ahead of the state and
congressional ticket at home and in the City of Manchester, which com-
prises more than half the district. In the council he was a member of
the finance committee and as such left a good record for economy and
business sagacity in several important matters of state expenditure which
were entrusted to his charge.
     In 1902 he made a short but spirited campaign for the Republican
gubernatorial nomination; but declined to allow his name to go before
the convention, because the resolution of that body upon the liquor ques-
tion was not consistent with his position during the campaign, in which
he had advocatcd a straight-out declaration in favor of the stringent
enforcement of the prohibitory law or, as an alternative, pledging the
enactment of a local option license law of such character as would re-
strict the liquor traffic, so far as public sentiment would permit, and thus
end the disgraceful evasions and defiance of the prohibitory law, then
prevalent all over the state.
     He was elected a representative to the Legislature in 1905, having
been unanimously nominated by the Republican caucus and afterwards
endorsed by the Democrats. At the polls he received the largest vote
ever given a candidate for that office in the history of the town of Exeter,
and what pleased him especially was the lolalty of the employes in his
factory who were entitled to vote at that election. Practically all of
them voted for him without solicitation or suggestion on his part, and
with the knowledge from past experience that he would not attempt
to influence their political action.
     The line of public activity in which General Gale has become best
known relates to the solution of the liquor problem in New Hampshire.
Until a few years ago he believed in statutory prohibition, but became
convinced that to cling to hopes of that ever proving efficacious in
restraint of the liquor traffic, while public sentiment in the state con-

Page 747

tinues as it has been for many years, was to sacrifice best results to an
illusory phantom of pure sentimentality. He, therefore, became a con-
vert to local option, or at least believed it as time to turn to it as a
possible remedy for many of the evils that had been engendered during
50 years' non-enforcement of the prohibitor laws. The present license
law, enacted in 1903, does not meet his views because, while it recog-
nizes local option sufficiently to masquerade under the name, it does
not carry the principle to consistent completion. It permits cities and
towns to vote for or against license, but enpowers a board of state
commissioners to grant licenses in towns where the vote has been
against them, or to refuse licenses in places here the vote has been for
them. It confers extraordinary discretionary powers upon a state board
and denies to local authorities any voice in the naming of licensees or
in the regulation of traffic carried on by them. The local communities
are helpless under this law, and prohibition is impossible anywhere, even
if public sentiment strongly favors it, unles the state commissioners so
ordain.
     When this law was being considered General Gale was one of its most
active opponents, because under it no fair test can be made of the rela-
tive merits of statutory prohibition and local option, and also because
he did not believe the whole power over all the liquor traffic in the
state should be entrusted to any three me who might, if so disposed,
inaugurate a system of corruption or political domination as menacing
to public morality and political integrity as were the evils existing under
the prohibitory laws.
     In the Legislature of 1905 he introduced a bill for the repeal of the
law of 1903 and the substitution of one which would, in his opinion, be
more appropriate to the New Hampshire situation. It placed the re-
sponsibility for, and the control of, the liquor traffic directly upon the
voters in each city or town. They could elect to have absolute prohibi-
tion, or to permit liquor to be sold in such manner as they deemed best
for the community and public sentiment would approve. In voting for
or against license a ballot similar in form to the Australian ballot was
to be used, on which the names of each kind of license would be desig-
nated, as are the names of candidates for office on the regular ticket,
so that each person could vote for or against any particular form of
license and thus have a voice in determining not only whether or not
licenses should be issued, but also in what manner liquor should be
sold, if sold at all. Local license commissioners were to be elected by
secret ballot, who were to issue licenses and direct in writing upon each
the terms under which it could be exercised. The votes on license and
for commissioners were to be in special meetings held for that purpose
only, to prevent entanglement with local affairs. If the commissioners
proved recreant to the trust imposed upo them, they could be dis-
missed and their successors elected at a special meetIng which could
be called for that purpose. State supervision was to be entirely elimi-
nated except for police purposes. Inspectors were to be appointed by
the governor and council and travel about the state to see that licensees
obeyed the conditions of their licenses, and that no illegal sales of liquor
were made. Where violations of law were discovered they were to
act as complainants, press the cases to trial, and report to the attorney-
general any failure to act or unreasonable delay on the part of any pub-
lic prosecuting officer.

Page 748

     As may be inferred from the preceding sketch, General Gale is a
man of strong personal characteristics. He is forceful, energetic and
persistent to an unusual degree; always mentally alert, analytical and
resourceful. Independence of thought and action are especially pre-
dominating traits, and yet he is ever ready to receive advice and act
upon it if convinced that it is sound. It would be practically useless
to attempt to swerve him from a course of action after he is satisfied
that it is the proper one to pursue, but he will often yield his own
opinions in deference to others whose title to consideration may not
be equal to his own.
     He is a member of the Congregational Church, a Knight Templar,
vice-president of the Republican Town Club of Exeter, director in the
Haverhill National Bank, member of the Derryfield Club of Manches-
ter, and of the New Hampshire Club of Boston.--Thos. J. Walker.

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