James A. Weston


James Adams Weston was a civil engineer, banker, and an American politician from Manchester, New Hampshire who served as mayor of Manchester for several terms and was twice Governor of New Hampshire.

Early life

Weston was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, and grew up helping on the family farm. He was educated in the district school, the Manchester Academy and the Piscataquog Academy. Determined to become a civil engineer, he taught school during the winters, and at the age of nineteen, was appointed assistant civil engineer of the Concord Railroad in 1846.

Career

Promoted to the position of Chief Engineer in 1849, Weston was also performed the duties of road master and master of transportation of the Concord and the Manchester & Lawrence railroads. He surveyed and superintended the construction of the Concord water-works.
Though Manchester was predominately a Republican city, Weston was elected mayor of Manchester in 1861, 1867, 1869 to 1870 and in 1874.
Having secured the 1871 Democratic gubernatorial nomination, Weston was named by the legislature as the official governor after a close election. During that same year, Dartmouth College bestowed an honorary Master of Arts degree upon him. He served from June 14, 1871 - June 6, 1872. Failing in 1872 and 1873, he was successful in winning reelection in 1874 and served from June 3, 1874 - June 10, 1875. During his two terms, Democratic judges were appointed and an important railroad merger was authorized.
Completing his term, Weston retired from political life, but continued to stay active in banking, insurance and railroad matters.

Death

Weston died in Manchester on May 8, 1895. He is interred at Pine Grove Cemetery, Manchester, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, USA

Family life

Son of Amos and Elizabeth Betsey Wilson Weston, he married Anna S. Gilmore on February 23, 1834, and they had five children: Grace W., James Henry Weston, Edwin Bell, Anna Mabel, and Herman.