Samuel Whitney Hale Passes Away

Today in Masonic History Samuel Whitney Hale passes away in 1891.

Samuel Whitney Hale was an American businessman and politician.

Hale was born on April 2nd, 1823 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He attended local schools in Fitchburg. After graduating he moved to Dublin, New Hampshire where he entered the furniture business.

Hale remained in Dublin, until 1845 when he moved again to Keene, New Hampshire. He remained in the furniture business in Keene. He eventually became the head of the South Keene Chair Manufacturing Company and the Ashuelot Furniture Company. With both firms he had a great deal of success. Before long he had expanded his business holdings to include banks, railroads and several other ventures.

In 1850, Hale married Emelia M. Hay. The couple had two children, a boy and a girl.

In 1866, Hale moved into the political arena. He ran, successfully, for a seat in the New Hampshire House of Representatives. He served only one term until 1867. From 1869 until 1871 he served on the Executive Council of the State of New Hampshire, a body whose job is to advise the Governor on a variety of matters and to provide a check on the governor's power. In 1880 he served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention.

In 1883, Hale was elected as the 39th Governor of New Hampshire. He served only one, largely uneventful term before retiring from politics and returning to his business ventures.

Hale passed away on October 16th, 1891 at his brothers home in Brooklyn, New York.

Hale was a member of Social Friends Lodge No. 42 in Keene, New Hampshire.

This article provided by Brother Eric C. Steele.