Draft:Isaac N. Blodgett

Isaac N. Blodgett (March 6, 1838 – November 27, 1905) was a justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court from 1880 to 1902, serving as chief justice from 1898 to 1902.

"Isaac N. Blodgett, a prominent New Hampshire jurist, died at his home here tonight, after a long illness, at the age of 67 years. A widow and daughter, Anna, survive. Judge Blodgett was born at Canaan March 6, 183S. After an academic education he practiced law in Canaan for seven years and then removed to Franklin. He represented this city in the state senate and house and at several constitutional conventions. He was chief justice of the New Hampshire supreme court from 1898 to 1902 and for 18 years previous had been an associate Justice of that court."

"Isaac Newton Blodgett, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Hampshire, was born in Canaan, March 6, 1838. The ancestors of his family resided in Cambridge, Mass., as early as 1635, and at a later time lived in Tyngsboro and Chelmsford, and still later in Hudson, N. H. The family has always been a prominent one in New England.

Blodgett's father, Hon. Caleb Blodgett, moved to Dorchester, N. H., and from thence to Canaan, where he resided for the remainder of his life; was a well known and distinguished man, having held the office ot deputy sheriff and afterwards sheriff of Grafton county, for a period covering more than thirty years; was a member of the House of Representatives, of the State Senate, and of the Governor's council; was largely interested in public affairs and regarded as one of the leading and most influential members of his party.

Blodgett was educated in the public schools and fitted to enter college in the sophomore class, at the Canaan Union Academy. Dartmouth College conferred upon him, in 1870, the honorary degree of M. A., and in 1881 the Phi Beta Kappa society elected him an honorary member.

He studied law in the office of Hon. Wm. P. Weeks, of Canaan, and Anson S. Marshall, Esq., of Concord, and was admitted to the bar December, i860; remained in Canaan practicing his profession until 1867, when he removed to Franklin and entered into partnership with the late United States Senator, Hon. Austin F. Pike.

Blodgett was a member of the House of Representatives in the years 1871, '73, '74 and '78, and a member of the State Senate in the years 1879 and 1880; was also a member of the Constitutional Conventions of 1876 and 1889; was a prominent Democrat and conducted the campaign as chairman of the State committee of his party of 1876 and 1877, and was a very earnest and influential supporter of Mr. Tilden's candidacy for President.

Blodgett was appointed to the Supreme Bench November 30, 1880, in which position he served until he became chief justice in 1893.

In his professional career he was noted for his conscientious and faithful management of the business intrusted to his care; was particularly distinguished for his deliberative and logical consideration of important legal question s and the accuracy with which he investigated complicated matters; his judgment was deemed valuable and worthy of the highest confidence; his service upon the Bench of the Supreme Court has been one of great honor, and the discharge of his official duties has commanded the highest respect and regard of the profession and people of the State; his opinions have been characterized by close reasoning and sound conclusions; his style is rather brief and free from verbiage, but expresses principles with wonderful clearness and freedom from all ambiguity or doubtful phraseology.

As Chief Justice his discharge of the duties of that important position has been marked with dignity and decision, but always with courtesy and marked consideration of counsel and parties litigant.

Although a strong Democrat, he was appointed to the office of Chief Justice by a Republican Governor, and unanimously confirmed by a Republican council, and his elevation to that highly honorable place was universally commended by prominent men from all sections of the State.

Blodgett's brother Caleb Blodgett was the senior Justice of the Superior Court of Massachusetts.

In May, 1861, lodgett married Sarah Gerould, of Canaan, N. H. They have one daughter, Anna Blodgett, who graduated from Wellesley College. Mrs. Blodgett has taken great interest in the charitable institutions of the State, her special attention being directed to the system for the care of children, who, by reason of poverty or other influences, have become inmates of the county poor houses,—a most honorable work, and bravely and nobly carried on."