Representative Ellery Albee Hibbard

Ellery Albee Hibbard (July 31, 1826 – July 24, 1903) was an American politician, lawyer, and judge who served one term as a U.S. Representative from New Hampshire. He was born on July 31, 1826, in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, the son of Silas Hibbard and Olive Albee Hibbard. Raised in northern New England, he pursued academic studies in his youth before turning to the study of law. He was a cousin of Harry Hibbard, who also served in the United States Congress, reflecting a broader family involvement in public life.

Hibbard prepared for the legal profession by reading law in New Hampshire under the guidance of Nathan B. Felton in Haverhill and Charles A. Morrison in Exeter. Following this traditional form of legal education, he was admitted to the bar in 1849. Soon after his admission, he began the practice of law in Plymouth, New Hampshire, where he built his early professional reputation. On December 5, 1853, he married Mary Houston Bell. The couple had four children: Charles Bell, Jennie Olive, Walter Silas, and Laura Bartlett, and established their family life in New Hampshire as his legal and political career advanced.

After practicing in Plymouth until 1853, Hibbard relocated to Laconia in Belknap County, New Hampshire, where he continued the practice of law and became increasingly active in local affairs. He served as clerk of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1852 to 1854, an early indication of his engagement with state government and legislative procedure. In Laconia, he was chosen Moderator of the town in 1862 and 1863, presiding over town meetings during the Civil War era. He further deepened his involvement in state politics as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 1865 and 1866, participating directly in the legislative process during the immediate postwar period.

As a member of the Democratic Party representing New Hampshire, Hibbard advanced to national office when he was elected to the Forty-second Congress. He served as a United States Representative from March 4, 1871, to March 3, 1873, during a significant period in American history marked by Reconstruction and the continuing adjustment of the Union after the Civil War. In Congress, he contributed to the legislative process and represented the interests of his New Hampshire constituents as part of the Democratic minority in a predominantly Republican era. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1872 to the Forty-third Congress, bringing his congressional service to a close after one term.

Following his departure from Congress, Hibbard continued his public service in the judiciary. In March 1873, he was appointed a judge of the New Hampshire Supreme Court, one of the highest judicial offices in the state. He served on the court until 1874, when he resigned and returned to private legal practice. Resuming his law practice in Laconia, he remained a prominent figure in the local bar and in civic affairs. Beyond his legal work, he served as a director of the Laconia National Bank, contributing to the financial and commercial development of the community, and as a member of the Laconia board of education, where he took part in overseeing local public schools.

In his later years, Hibbard continued to reside in Laconia, maintaining his professional and civic engagements until declining health and age brought his long career to a close. He died in Laconia, New Hampshire, on July 24, 1903, at the age of 75. Ellery Albee Hibbard was interred at Union Cemetery in Laconia, leaving a record of service as a lawyer, legislator, judge, and community leader whose career spanned local, state, and national institutions during a transformative era in American history.