On Aug. 26, 1826, a young boy arrived at the Columbian Hotel on Main Street in Concord with just one shilling in his pocket.
He arrived in Concord the same year that the country was celebrating the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It was with great anticipation that Concord had decorated Main Street as this important anniversary arrived on July Fourth, there were celebrations and many a spirit was consumed with a fine meal. Word quickly reached Concord during this celebration telling our ancestors that both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams passed away, instilling a forlorn climate down on Main Street with the loss of two great men. As the year progressed, there were other milestones, some of a most serious nature while other events were not. The Sing Sing Prison opened on the Hudson River and the notorious Eggnog Riot occurred at the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.
It was during this year that the young 15-year-old boy arrived at the Colombian with his shilling. For what he lacked in wealth, he certainly made up for with ambition. The years that followed this child into his adulthood were good to him and consequently good to all that he encountered. His name was Nathaniel White.
Nathaniel was born in Lancaster on Feb. 11, 1811. Descended from the earliest New England settlers, he was raised by a caring family and received love and support from his parents. He departed Lancaster at the age of 14 and found employment in Lunenburg, Vt., where he worked for a merchant for a period of one year. He soon found himself employed by Gen. John Wilson of Lancaster at a time when Wilson was in the process of becoming the landlord of the Columbian Hotel in Concord.
Young Nathaniel was a good study and learned from both the general and his wife while employed at this Main Street hotel. He saved his money and built a small savings account over a five-year period at the Columbian Hotel. In 1832, he visited a local bank and made both the first and last loan of his life to purchase an interest in a stage route between Concord and Hanover. He worked diligently at his new business, riding the stage and remaining frugal until his debt was paid in a period of one year. With a good business temperament, he continued to prosper and invest, purchasing another stage route to Lowell, Mass., while initiating a pony express business in 1838 with Capt. William Walker. As Nathaniel grew and matured so did his business, his frugality and sound business management resulted in prosperous years ahead with the addition of money and goods transfers as well as multiple stage routes to Boston. His express company delivered as far away as Canada and White quickly became one of the wealthiest men in Concord.
With his success, he married Armenia S. Aldrich of Boscawen on Nov. 1, 1836, and started his family in Concord. He and Armenia actually rented a home after their marriage until purchasing their first home on Warren Street four years later. They then moved to School Street where they spent the rest of their lives.
White was a very caring and generous man. With his early business success, he was able to dedicate his life to the prominent task of philanthropy. He loved the Concord community and was very generous in his support of the establishment of the New Hampshire Hospital, the Home for the Aged and the Reform Club of Concord to name just a few. He continued to invest and remain diversified by building his summer resort on Lake Sunapee as well as real estate as far away as Chicago. He was a director in many different ventures that included banks, hotels, railroads and manufacturing. With his solid investments, he was well respected by his political party and became a candidate for governor in 1875. He was sent to Washington as a delegate in 1876 and considered a front runner in 1880 on a short list of candidates for president of the United States.
As the years progressed, we find White involved with his farm on Clinton Street which was considered very highly cultivated and one of the finest farms in the state of New Hampshire. He was a fine humanitarian and strongly supported the cause of abolition, providing sanctuary at the White Farm on Clinton Street to slaves en route to Canada.
It was this young boy that arrived in Concord with just one single shilling in his pocket who built extensive wealth. More importantly than his wealth was his wisdom and humanitarian efforts. Helping those that were less fortunate with a desire to live a life free of oppression and poverty.
The next time you spend a quiet moment with the one you love, appreciating a golden sunset from the granite bridge at the WhitePark pond, think back to Nathaniel and Armenia. Helping those in need to this very day.