Jesse M. Barton (1870 - 1943)
Born and died at Newport (NH).
Lawyer and state politician.
Portrait by unknown artist (possibly Sid Bickford, per N. Dutton).
Presented to the State by Mr. Barton.

Barton (1870 - 1943) was born and died at Newport (NH). He graduated from Kimball Union Academy (1888), and from Dartmouth College (1892). After one year as a teacher and three years as a school principal, Barton switched careers. He was admitted to the New Hampshire Bar in 1899, and began practice at Newport.

As a new State Representative, Barton "introduced the first bill ever presented to the New Hampshire Legislature for a system of state highways. The measure was regarded as one in advance of its time and by agreement was never reported back to the House." [Hobart Pillsbury, New Hampshire: A History (1928), IV, pp. 67 - 68.] But because of this Barton was noticed by Governor Frank Rollins (1899 - 1901) and future governor Nahum Bachelder, both of whom were interested in roads as a way to increase economic development.

Barton was appointed Judge of Probate for Sullivan County (served 1906 - 1917). He was Chairman of the Republican State Committee (1912 - 1914), laboring in vain to unify the supporters of President William H.Taft and challenger (and former President) Theodore Roosevelt. Elected to the State Senate in 1917, Barton served as President of the Senate (1917 - 1919) and as acting governor (1918-1919) . He remained active in state politics throughout the 1920s, and was a member of Governor Winant's Executive Council (1925 - 1927).

References: Hobart Pillsbury, New Hampshire: A History, vol IV (1928); Kenneth Andler, "Honorable Jesse M. Barton", Proceedings of the Bar Association of...New Hampshire, vol 8 no. 1 (1942 - 1943).