Hon. Captain John Sheldon Treat Biography from History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire From: Jody Goodson - kestrell@prodigy.net Surname: TREAT Source: History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens by Charles A. Hazlett, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill., 1915 Page 1020 HON. CAPTAIN JOHN SHELDON TREAT, in former years one of Portsmouth's successful business men, and a citizen of high character and repute, was born in this city, August 14, 1837, a son of Allen and Ann Eliza- beth (Ham) Treat. He was a descendant of John Treat who came to this country from England in 1639, settling in Wethersfield, Conn., of which town he was one of the founders. The representatives of the Treat family in Connecticut during the Colonial and Revolutionary periods were in general Pages 1021 and 1022 contained a portrait of John Sheldon Treat Page 1023 very prominent. Robert Treat, of the second generation in this country, was for more than forty years governor and deputy governor of Connecticut, holding the first-named office in 1687, at the time the charter of the colony was demanded by Sir Edmund Andros, in the name of King James II, and saved by being secreted in a hollow oak tree, after a long discussion in the Assembly, in which he took a leading part. He was the commander-in-chief of the forces of Connecticut in King Philip's war in 1675, and commander at the great swamp fight in the fol1owing year, which brought the war to a termination by the death of Philip. John Treat, Captain Treat's great- grandfather, fought for the cause of American freedom all through the Revolutionary War, as did also two of his brothers. Samuel Treat, the grandfather, was born in Middleton, Conn., November 29, 1788. He learned the stone-cutter's trade in that town, and in 1807 located in Portsmouth, soon afterward purchasing the stone business of Noah Smith, who was the successor of Daniel Marble, the founder of the enter- prise. He conducted the business successfully until 1837, when he was suc- ceeded by his son Allen. He died in Portsmouth, February 3, 1862. Allen Treat was born in Portsmouth, February 16, 1812. In 1837 he succeeded his Łather as manager of the business, which he successfully car- ried on till 1866, when he was succeeded by his son John Sheldon Treat. He died in Portsmouth, December 31, 1875. He married Ann Elizabeth Ham, a native of Portsmouth, born in November, 1817, a daughter of William and Nancy (Green) Ham. Her father was a citizen of good repute, a carpenter by trade, and both he and his wife were lifelong residents of this city. Mrs. Allen Treat, who lived to the age of eighty years, reared eight children, namely: John Sheldon, Almenia B., Frederick W., Allen, Ann Elizabeth, Lydia E., James D., and Samuel Eldridge. John Sheldon Treat, a representative of the eighth generation in this country, received a good education in the public schools of this city and at Phillips Academy at Exeter. On leaving school he learned the marble and stone cutter's trade at his father's establishment, and in 1855 went to Rich- mond, Va., where for some time he worked as a journeyman. He was sub- sequently engaged at this trade in other cities of the South; in 1858 he located in Mobile, Ala., forming a partnership with R. Bruce and William R. Crow, under the firm name of Crow & Treat, and establishing marble yards both there and at Marion and Livingston, carrying on a good business until the breaking out of the war. During Mr. Treat's residence in the South he made many strong friendships, and with the enthusiasm of a young man his sym- pathies were enlisted on the side of the Confederacy. In 1861 he enlisted in Company B, Second Battalion Alabama Light Artillery, and was with his battery in active service throughout the war, surrendering at the close at Demopolis, Ala. In the broken and devastated condition of the South, ruined by the scourge of war, there was little chance Łor present success in his busi- ness, and after a brief stay in New Orleans Mr. Treat returned to Ports- mouth. In 1866 he purchased his father's interest, and continued as pro- prietor of the Portsmouth Marble and Granite Works until the time of his death, which occurred March 8, 1897. This establishment was one of the oldest of its kind in New England, having existed since 1768. A capable and enterprising business man, Captain Treat occupied a prominent position among the marble and granite dealers of the East, and this added to his most genial disposition, made him one of the most popular men of his time and dearly loved. Page 1024 Captain Treat married, September 23, 1871, Sarah Willard Odiorne, a daughter of Charles B. and Mary (Sheafe) Odiorne, of Rye, N. H. In politics Captain Treat was a democrat, and took a prominent part in the councils of his party in New Hampshire. He was elected senator for the sessions of 1881 and 1882; In 1882 he was elected mayor of Portsmouth, and re-elected to that office in 1883. While mayor he received the Greeley expedition on their return from the frozen North, besides taking a leading part in other public functions, including the Return of the Sons of Ports- mouth and a grand Fireman's muster. A strong advocate of temperance, Captain Treat was the first president of the Portsmouth Temperance Reform Club, which office he held one year, during which time two thousand six hundred signed the pledge, a great many of them hard drinkers. By virtue of his ancestral lineage Captain Treat became a member of the Massachusetts Society of Sons of the American Revolution, the Society of Colonial Wars in New Hampshire, and the Society of Descendants of Col- onial Governors. He was besides a member of St. John's Lodge, A. F. & A. M.; Washington Chapter, No. 3, R. A. M.; Davenport Council, No. 3, R. & S. M., of New Hampshire, and DeWitt Clinton Commandery. ********************************************************************** * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. 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