| Notes |
- Levi Winter Barton early learned the lesson of self-reliance, and the necessity of economy, and a proper use of time, which was the foundation of his future success in life. Before his first marriage, he attended Unity Academy long enough to fit him for teaching school, which he afterwards found occasion to do for many terms.
And after his great bereavement by the death of his first wife, he formed the resolution to obtain a thorough education. He had a capital to begin with of only 100 dollars. He spent three years at Kimball Union Academy, teaching winters, and doing manual labor in vacations. He entered Dartmouth College in 1844; his father died when he was quite young and his mother was poor, but was able by unusual tact and energy to bring up her children and Levi had to depend upon his own resources. He spent four years in college, teaching in winters and doing manual labor in vacation, and graduated with honorable mention in the public journals. During his senior year he studied law with Hon. Daniel Blaisdell of Hanover. He then taught the Canaan Academy five terms and at the same time studied law with Judge Kittredge. In 1851 he began to study in the office of Metcalf & Corbin of Newport, NH, and was admitted to the bar in July of that year and settled in practice in that place. The energy, perseverance and ability which had borne him through his course of study, demonstrated what his future success would be.
The hardest part of his life's battle was fought and the future conquest was assured. When he began practice in Newport, there were five able lawyers already occupying the field and while waiting for business he taught school and was not afraid of being starved out. He knew what industry and economy meant. The people soon had reason to have confidence in his ability as a lawyer as well as school teacher and as a man. He was taken by Governor Metcalf as a law partner and soon arose to a level with the best. As a counselor, he was cautious and careful, disuading his clients, rather than encouraging them, to engage in litigation. As an advocate, he was eloquent, zealous, bold and persistent. In his preparation of trial cases, he had no superiors in the country.
In 1863, he was elected to the legislature and almost immediately became the acknowledged leader of the majority. He as re-elected in 1864 and still held the same position and also in 1875, 1876, and 1877, and was a member of the Senate in 1867 and 1868. During his entire term of service in both branches, he was a member of the Judiciary Committee, and for five years, its Chairman. In 1875 and 1876, he was chairman of the republican legislative caucus, the labors of which were both extremely difficulty and important. In 1876, he was a member fo the convention to revise the constitution of the state, and one of the Republican electors of the President and Vice President of the United States, and has held other offices of great responsibility. He is an experienced legislator and was considered well able and deserving of a place in the Congress of the United States. "Mr. Barton was a ready debator, quick to see a point and take it, suave and considerate at all times and ready to take a hand in any discussion affecting the public wealth; his cheerful voice, striking in upon a dull or an acrimonious debate, has a pleasing and mollifying effect. Although careful and cautious, he had positive ideas, and was aggressive in their maintenance, and although sometimes sharp in his personal sallies, they are singularly free from bitterness or malice, and no one could hold resentment against him. On all moral questions, he was foremost with voice and influence and vote."
It was said of him in 1877, that he was the best preserved man in the house and judging from his looks and appearance, one would say that he was at least ten years the junior of men of his age. He had no bad habits and never indulged in the use of intoxicating liquors or tobacco of any form. He was a kind neighbor and strongly attached to his friends, generous to his opponents and social with all. In religion, he was a worthy member of the Methodist Church and had always taken a strong interest in whatever affects the moral, social and material posterity of those around him, and was always ready to lend a helping hand in every good work.
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1818 - 1899 (81 years)
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