Atherton, Henry B., 1835-1906
Dates
- Existence: 1835 - 1906
Biography
Henry B. Atherton was born on September 21, 1835 in Cavendish, Vermont. He was educated at Black River Academy in Ludlow, Leland Seminary in Townsend and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1859. After graduation, he read law first in the office of Joseph Sawyer in Alton, Illinois and then in the office of John F. Deane. He became a member of the bar and entered into partnership with Deane shortly thereafter. In 1860, Atherton received his law degree from Albany Law School. During the Civil War, he was captain of Company "C" of the 4th Vermont Volunteers and served until he was injured in battle on April 16, 1862. His injuries were so severe that he became disabled from active duty. On October 27, 1862, Atherton became the editor of the "New Hampshire Telegraph," a position he held until 1864 after which he returned to practicing law in Nashua, New Hampshire. In addition, Atherton was postmaster of Nashua from 1872 to 1876 and served in the state legislature from 1867 to 1868 and 1885 to 1887. Atherton was also a delegate to the Republican National Convention in Chicago in 1884. In 1890, he was elected member of the Board of Education, becoming its president in 1893. Atherton was married to Abbie L. Armington from 1861 until her death in 1896. In 1898, he married Ella Blaylock a physician in Nashua. Atherton died on February 7, 1906.