William Andrew Jackson Giles, attorney-at-law of Concord, N.H., was born in this city, July 11, 1861. His parents, John B. Giles, a native of Roscrea, Tipperary, Ireland, and Ellen M. Driscoll Giles, of Cardiff, Wales, emigrated to America in 1852.
William A. J. Giles acquired his early education in the public schools of Penacook and Concord, and completed his school course at Boscawen Academy in 1881. The next year he began the study of law with the late John Y. Mugridge and Chief Justice William L. Foster, at the same time acting as reporter for the Boston Traveller, Concord Journal, and 1889. In March, the year following, he was admitted to the bar; and he has since been in successful practice. As an illustration of his professional ability it may be mentioned that as plaintiff in a suit brought by certificate holders against the Order of the Helping Hand, tried before Judge Hammond, of Boston, he won his case, although the opposing counsel were ex-Governor Long, Mr. Brackett, and Samuel J. Elder. Before the legislature of 1893 Mr. Giles drew up bills for the Employers’ Liability Act, for establishing a bureau of labor statistics, and a fifty-eight hour act, besides other legal documents, all of which were stubbornly fought by the ablest lawyers of the State.
On February 14, 1895, he was married to Mabel E. Welch, of this city. Fraternally, he is a member of Kearsarge Lodge, No. 48, K. of P., officiating as Chancellor and Commander of the same; also a member of Uniform Rank, K. of P.; and of the Ancient Order of American Foresters; and is Past Grand Master of General Stark Lodge, No. 7400 I. O. O. F. He officiates as attorney for the Central Labor Unions. As a member of the Amoskeag Veterans he took part with them in the dedication of the Grant Monument in New York City.
Mr. Giles is a Democrat in politics and a member of the Democratic State Committee. He was the original silver advocate of the State of New Hampshire, and, besides making many able addresses on the silver issue, he was the author of a pamphlet that attracted much attention, entitled “The Silver Question,” and dedicated to William J. Bryan. Out of six hundred and twenty delegates entitled to seats in the Democratic Convention, Mr. Giles stood alone as an advocate of free silver. He wrote a letter to William J. Bryan, tendering his services in the campaign, which that gentleman graciously accepted.
At Mr. Bryan’s reception at Madison Square Garden, Mr. Giles sat upon the platform as the only silver representative from New Hampshire.