USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Sullivan > A history of the town of Sullivan, New Hampshire, 1777-1917, Volume I > Part 1
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GEN
N
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00083 5816
GENEALOGY 974.202 SU54S v.1
J . L. Seward.
A HISTORY
OF THE TOWN OF
SULLIVAN
NEW HAMPSHIRE
1777-1917
BY
REV. JOSIAH LAFAYETTE SEWARD, D.D.
VOLUME I.
Copyrighted 1921. J. L. SEWARD EST., KEENE, N. H. All rights reserved.
1128563
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
Pages
1-76
Preliminary Meeting-The Celebration-Program- Opening Address-Reading of the Town Charter- Oration-Poem-Luncheon-Postprandial Exercises.
CHAPTER II.
NATURAL HISTORY 77-96
Situation and Extent-Districts and Villages-Physical and Astronomical Features-Geology and Mineralogy -Archaelogy-Plants and Animals.
CHAPTER III.
GENERAL HISTORY
97-177
Settlement and First Settlers-The Incorporation- Municipal Annals-John Sullivan-Referendum Votes -Public Lands.
CHAPTER IV.
CIVIL LISTS
.
178-249
Town Officers-County Officers-State Officers
CHAPTER V.
ROADS, BRIDGES, POUNDS AND COMMONS 249-286
Roads-Bridges - Highway Surveyors - Superinten- dents of Highways and Road Agents-Railroad- Pounds-Commons.
CHAPTER VI.
CEMETERIES
287-357
Old Four Corners Cemetery-Meetinghouse Cemetery -East Sullivan Cemetery-The Tomb Near Meeting- house Cemetery-The Soldiers' Monument-Additional Cemetery Facts-Farm Burials-Sextons for the Ceme- teries-Coffin Makers-Superintendents of the Ceme- teries-Cemetery Trust Funds and Their Custodians.
CHAPTER VII.
CASUALTIES 358-382
Deaths Under Unusual Circumstances-Personal Casualties Not Fatal-Calamities-Defective Classes- Fires-The Great Gale.
iv
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN.
CHAPTER VIII.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 382-452
First Congregational Church-Baptist Church-Union Evangelical Church-Methodists - Universalists - Unitarians-Protestant Episcopalians-Spiritualists- Roman Catholics-Other Sects-Present Church-Goers -State of Morals in Town.
CHAPTER IX.
MARRIAGES
452-480
CHAPTER X
SCHOOLS
480-505
CHAPTER XI.
MILITARY HISTORY 505-534
The Revolution-War of 1812-Mexican War-The Old Militia Company-The Civil War-Spanish-American War-Philippine War-Modern Militia.
CHAPTER XII.
' INSTITUTIONAL HISTORY
534-558
Census-Municipal Government - Appropriations - Taxation-Lawsuits-Solicitors-Care of the Poor- Philanthropies-Societies-Offences Against Law and Order-Warning Out of Town-Means of Communica- tion-Telephone-Home Comforts.
CHAPTER XIII.
INDUSTRIES
558-576
CHAPTER XIV
LITERATURE AND ART
576-589 Library-Languages-Literature-Art.
CHAPTER XV.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES . 589-628
CHAPTER XVI.
FAMILY HISTORIES
628-654
. District No. 1.
CHAPTER XVII.
FAMILY HISTORIES CONTINUED
654-686
District No. 2.
CONTENTS. V
CHAPTER XVIII. FAMILY HISTORIES CONTINUED 686-715 District No. 3.
CHAPTER XIX
FAMILY HISTORIES CONTINUED
715-731
District No. 4.
CHAPTER
FAMILY HISTORIES CONTINUED
731-757
District No. 5.
CHAPTER XXI.
FAMILY HISTORIES CONTINUED 757-779
District No. 6.
CHAPTER XXII.
EXPLANATION OF THE OUTSIDE NUMBERS 779-786 Gilsum Numbers-Keene Numbers-Roxbury Numbers -Nelson Numbers-Stoddard Numbers.
CHAPTER XXIII.
ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS 787-811
CHAPTER XXIV.
.
APPENDIX
812-816
THE WORLD WAR
816a
INDEX OF PERSONS.
INDEX OF PLACES.
GENERAL INDEX.
vi
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
REV. J. L. SEWARD
Frontispiece
CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGHOUSE
· 395
SCHOOL REUNION
· 504
MAP OF SULLIVAN
Back of Book
vii
PREFATORY NOTE.
PREFATORY NOTE.
The History of Sullivan was begun by Rev. Josiah L. Seward be- fore 1887, and was unfinished at the time of his death in 1917. Thirty years of unremitting, thorough, and painstaking labor was generously given to the preparing of a reliable, accurate and interesting history. It is a memorial, a magnificient one, to his native town. The work has been completed and indexed by Mrs. Frank B. Kingsbury, Surry Road, Keene, N. H., to whom all correspondence, additions and correc- tions should be sent. The price of the History in two volumes of over 800 pages each is $16.00 postpaid, and may be obtained of Mrs. Kingsbury or of the Executor of Dr. Seward's estate, J. Fred Whitcomb, 45 Central Square, Keene, N. H.
viii
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN.
"Let me live in my house by the side of the road And be a friend to man."
April 17, 1845 JOSIAH LAFAYETTE SEWARD July 14, 1917
A MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL AND PREACHER OF THE WORD ..
"Sixty-one years ago I tarried for a night in a real New England home, in the town of Sullivan, in which resided a brainy farmer and a noble wife and two promising sons. It was an ideal dwelling-place, where' snow drifted deep in winter and the clover blossomed sweet in summer.
Here I saw for the first time the son, Josiah Lafayette Seward, a robust boy of twelve years old. I was there as a school commissioner of New Hampshire to visit on the morrow their district school, in the little red school-house.
As the morning came I went into the school of some twenty pupils and here I really saw Josiah. The next fall he came to Westmoreland to attend the Valley Seminary, which was under my charge, taking up higher English branches and ranking well in them all.
He was highly esteemed by teachers and scholars. He was with me several terms, ranking high in all respects.
After this he went to Exeter Academy, and ranked among the best in scholarship and deportment, and graduated with honors.
In 1871 he graduated from Harvard Divinity School with title, S. T. D., and the professors spoke of him as a learned preacher and wise man.
For a year after leaving the Divinity school he preached most ac- ceptably to a church in Springfield, Mass., when he was called to settle over the First Unitarian church in Lowell, Mass., where he remained fourteen years, making himself known and felt as an eloquent preacher, a good pastor and an enterprising citizen.
From Lowell he was called to settle in the college town of Water- ville, Maine. Here he remained ten years and became popular as a religious teacher, and as he mingled with the students of Colby Univer- sity, he was often asked to address them, in the different departments, on various subjects. While he remained here he was loved and honored.
From Nov. 26, 1893 till Oct. 8, 1899 he was pastor of Unity Church, Allston, Mass., doing successful work in and out of the pulpit.
But now, as his hair was becoming somewhat silvered, his heart waxed warm for his native state, his beloved New Hampshire, and this
1
ix
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
induced him, against the wishes of his church, to break off his connec- tion with them as pastor and to the Granite State turn his steps for his last settlement.
Really New Hampshire had become somewhat of a Holy Land to him. Keene seemed his New Jerusalem; Ashuelot River his Jordan; Sulli- van his Nazareth; Dublin his Mount Zion, and Monadnock his Mount Sinai.
He had scarcely got settled in his home at Keene before he was urgently requested to supply the Unitarian pulpit in Dublin, which he did to the great delight of the people there, and faithfully served them up to the time of his illness-some fourteen years-preaching to them many an able sermon and giving them an abundance of large hearted sympathy in their sorrows.
He was a broad minded, consecrated christian, wishing to help every- body. He built upon the solid rock, while on earth, a monument to himself out of kind and noble deeds, which remain intact when bronze has corroded into dust and granite dissolved to ashes. His character must be beautiful in the mansions above.
He believed intensely in the Fatherhood of God, the Sonship of Christ and the Holy Spirit. As he dropped his sickle, 72 years old, he was still an intense almoner in blessing others religiously, educationally and socially. He was a remarkably wise and cultured man, wishing to help all souls, believing most devoutly that one is to reap just what he SOWS.
"So, friends, let him not be lifeless, But more alive and active henceforth
Then ever while in mortal mold
Doing works of very high worth."
Eulogy by Rev. S. H. McCollester, D. D.
SCHOLAR AND TEACHER OF MEN.
"After receiving such education as the district school afforded, he attended for two years the Westmoreland Valley Seminary, then under the tuition of Rev. S. H. McCollester. In 1861 he entered the Phillips Exeter Academy, graduating therefrom in 1864; he entered Harvard University the same year, and received his degree of A. B. from that institution in 1868.
In 1868-9 he taught a public school in Frankford, Greenbrier county, W. Va. His experience there was curious and profitable. The more respectable persons detested free schools and yankee teachers. No blacks dared to show themselves in the schoolroom, and all branches were taught from the alphabet to Greek and Latin.
In 1869-70 he taught a private school in what was then Selwyn's theatre building in Boston, preparing young men for college. In 1870-71 he was the first principal of the Conant Free school, an academy in
X
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN.
Jaffrey, which is said to have been raised on the day of the battle of Bunker Hill.
In 1871 he received the degree of A. M. from Harvard. In school and college he was known as an earnest and capable student. At Har- vard in his sophomore year, he received a Detur (a prize for good schol- arship) and was assigned a Thesis, "Thomas-a-Becket," at commence- ment.
While in Lowell he was director for a dozen of years of the "Min- istry-at-Large in Lowell," a director for several years of the Lowell Silent society, president of the Channing Fraternity, a director of the City Institution for Savings, president of the Field club, member of the Plato club, and a corresponding member of the New Hampshire His- torical society.
He was for many years a director of the Lowell City library, and had the charge of making the new catalogue, classifying the books him- self for the scientific subject catalogue, and handling over twenty thou- sand volumes for that purpose.
In education he always retained a warm interest, and gave private instruction to many pupils preparing for college. An excellent linguist, a good botanist, and mineralogist, he never hesitated to uphold the value of classical and mathematical studies in secondary and higher edu- cation.
He was a student in the largest and broadest sense of the word, investigating thoroughly and fully before giving to the world the bene- fit of his knowledge. He had a grasp on subjects of general information so that his addresses whether 'published or extemporaneous, historical or scientific always carried with them a worth while message of instruc- tion and information.
As a member of the Sons of the American Revolutionary he felt a justifiable pride in that he could count among his ancestors five soldiers who served in that heroic struggle.
His acquaintance with members of various organizations, unusual knowledge of local history, especially that of southwestern New Hamp- shire, and his sincere desire to aid worthy causes, brought to him num- erous invitations to deliver addresses at public gatherings and included a large variety of subjects. There can be little doubt that he well un- derstood that the labor of preparation and the fatigue involved in travel and the delivery of these papers made serious inroads upon his time and diminishing strength, but his real interest in the movements and causes thus commended to the attention of the public made refusal difficult.
Amid these services, which added not a little to the social life of a considerable territory, Dr. Seward spent his later years. His efforts in these various fields were helpful to many who were attracted by his kindly social temper, his many-sided activity, ample store of information and real interest in good things.
His friends, and they were many, were thankful that he retained to
f
xi
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
the end his mental powers, his lifelong devotion to the "things that endure," that he died in harness and went unafraid into the great silence."
Abridged from
History of Hancock, N. H., S. C. Derby, and other sources.
A TRIBUTE FROM A BROTHER MASON
"One of the 'venerable men who have come down to us from a former generation,' Rev. and Illustrious Brother JOSIAH LAFAYETTE SEWARD, 33°, degreed as a Doctor of Divinity, widely known in New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts as a scholar of unusual attain- ments, passed away in Keene, New Hampshire, July 14, 1917, at the age of seventy-two years, having been born in Sullivan, New Hamp- shire, April 17, 1845.
He graduated from Harvard College in 1868 in a class that has become memorable in many walks of life, Seward being a high-mark man of this class.
He received his degree as Doctor of Divinity from Colby University.
His first pastorate was at Lowell, where he remained fourteen years, during which he formed a close Masonic acquaintance with the brethern that lasted throughout his life, and Lowell may be regarded as his Masonic home as well as Keene, where he resided so many years.
He was minister of the church at Dublin, New Hampshire, and used to be honored by the presence of Mr. Taft while President of the United States at his morning service.
He received all the degrees of the York and Scottish Rite, the 33º being conferred on him on September 20, 1887, and for more than twenty-five years thereafter he held the office of Grand Prior of the Supreme Council of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, following which he was made Emeritus in that office, and at that time he had been present at every session of the Supreme Council.
Besides the work performed in various Masonic bodies in which he held office, he was a constant attendant and spoke on the philosophic and religious side of Masonry at all sorts of Masonic gatherings always with instructive and interesting grace.
Annually at the meeting of the Massachusetts Council of Delibera- tion he delivered what became known as the Moral lesson of the day, really a sermon on the ethical and religious bearing of Masonry.
These discourses are found printed, and in themselves make a most valuable library collection on the literary side of Masonry. Those of us who listened to his address at our Jubilee meeting last May on the ethical value of the Scottish Rite, while sympathizing with him in his weakened physical condition, were impressed with the eloquence of his discourse which has since been crystallized in our minds by reading from the printed page. His literary work has been not only of great value
xii
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN.
in Masonic literature but has added greatly to the historical, genealog- ical and philosophical side of our development.
He was orator for ten years in Lowell Lodge of Perfection, three years in Mt. Cavalry Chapter, and in Keene Lodge of Perfection from 1907 to the time of his death. He was an honorary member of several Masonic lodges, and a member of other associations and conclaves con- nected with the Masonic order of the states of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, but it was as Minister of State of our Massachusetts Council of Deliberation, a position which he occupied from 1885 to the time of his death, thirty-two years, present at every meeting, that he presented annually the Moral lesson always an ethical, philosophical and instructive literature of the highest order for our Institution.
Brother Seward belonged to the type of Mason of a former genera- tion who took Masonry seriously and who found it sufficient for a rule and guide of faith and action. The modern organization with its ban- quet, parade, and women's auxiliary while being interesting to many of our fraternity, should not so dominate as to detract from the principles which have made our great fraternity what it is in the respect and esteem of an admiring world."
"They cannot die whose lives are part Of that great life which is to be, Whose hearts beat with the world's great heart, And throb with its high destiny.
Then mourn not those, who, dying, gave A gift of greater light to man;
. Death stands abashed before the brave; They own a life he may not ban."
Abridged from sketch Charles T. Gallagher, 33º.
GENEALOGIST, CHRONOLOGIST AND HISTORIAN.
It would seem that his life was already well filled when we consider the various activities of Dr. Seward as pastor, teacher, lecturer and Mason, but he somehow found time and opportunity to accomplish much historical and genealogical work.
He gave valuable assistance in the writing of Hancock, N. H. town history; Keene, N. H. Vital Records were made more complete because of his contributions; several family Genealogies have been compiled by him, and his work in revising the History of Dublin, N. H. was enough in itself for a man with so many activities to undertake.
But the greater task, the work which will make Dr. Seward's name immortal, and a work which few of us can appreciably estimate, has been the preparing of this History of his native town.
This was a labor of love, a work that was constantly before him, and to which he gave many hours, and on which he expended both
xili
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
thought and money. To the uninitiated it seems not so hard a task to write a history of one's native town; it is often a labor of love, but love often falters, and nowhere does one meet with more discourage- ment and find the work more difficult as it progresses than in work of this nature. Even when one has the heartiest cooperation and help of his townsmen, as did Dr. Seward, there is still a vast amount of re- search work that the author must do, and there have been few writers of History who felt it incumbent upon them to investigate each and every detail in the careful and thorough manner that was his invariable custom.
Not all historians and genealogists would agree with Dr. Seward in his method of writing a town history and preparing a genealogical register, but there are few persons who would not accord to him unstinted praise and admiration for the thorough, painstaking and efficient manner in which these volumes of Sullivan town history are written.
It required more than three decades of a busy man's life to prepare this history, but its merits will endure forever, and because of the care and thoroughness expended in its preparation it will prove not only of interest to the people of Sullivan, but will be of incalcuble value to many people engaged in genealogical and historical work. And when we stop to consider all the labor, thought and time expended in its preparation, the wonder is not that it took so long, but that the author accom- plished it all as soon as he did.
Not only is the History reliable, but it is extremely interesting read- ing. His graceful readiness of speech, his ability to depict scenes, and his knowledge of the town and its people, make it easy for the reader to watch the progress of the town and its doings as they are pictured in the different chapters. Malice is displayed in no page nor chapter of the book, nor is there any desire to laud or overpraise, but for each and everyone there is some kindly thought expressed in a good neighborly sort of way. The volumes, large as they are, will be regretfully laid aside, after one begins reading them.
Town Histories are becoming more and more desirable, and New Hampshire has some excellent ones, but in many respects, it can justi- fiably be said that this Sullivan History excels them all.
"He builded better than he knew."
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED IN SULLIVAN
Whereas, The great and supreme Ruler of the universe has in his infinite wisdom removed from among us our worthy and esteemed friend and Historian, Josiah L. Seward, D. D., and whereas, the History of the Town of Sullivan, though nearing completion is still in the hands of the printer; the citizens of Sullivan at the Town Meeting of March, 1920, instructed their Selectmen to see that an expression of gratitude
xiv
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN.
and appreciation of Dr. Josiah L. Seward be drafted and inserted in the Town History, therefore,
Resolved, That the wisdom and unusual ability which he has exer- cised in thorough research work, in preparing historical facts, family records and accurate surveys, attempting to locate former sites to the minutest detail, will be held in grateful remembrance.
Resolved, That the removal of such a life from among our midst leaves a vacancy and a shadow that will be deeply realized by the sons and daughters of Sullivan wherever they reside, especially on Old Home Days where he has given able speeches and interesting reminiscenses, and at funerals, on which occasions he readily came to speak words of comfort.
Resolved, That being a native of Sullivan and ever a lover of this Town, gifted with a remarkable memory, stored from boyhood with facts, proving of great value in later years when he began the History of Sullivan, which was a labor of love, as he gave freely of his best mental abilities, time, labor and thought, even generously bearing much of the financial expense himself; that we may well be proud of our Town History and its author, Josiah Lafayette Seward, D. D., whom we will ever hold in loving remembrance.
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be printed in the History of the Town of Sullivan.
FRANK L. RAWSON, HERBERT S. CURRIER, EDWARD L. JEWETT, Selectmen of Sullivan.
CHAPTER I.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
PRELIMINARY MEETING.
A MEETING of the citizens of Sullivan was held at the Town Hall, August 16, 1887, for the purpose of making arrangements to celebrate the hundredth aniversary of the incorporation of the town. Daniel Willard Rugg was chosen President of the meeting ; George S. Kingsbury, Secretary ; Amos Wardwell, Treasurer. It was voted to celebrate the anniversary with public exercises, and the following were appointed a committee of arrangements : Daniel Willard Rugg, Chairman, Amos Wardwell, Frederic A. Wilson, Almon P. Tyler, and Henry C. Rawson. A finance committee was appointed, to canvass the town and raise the amount of money sufficient to defray the expenses. The following gentlemen were selected for that purpose : Lyman Davis, George A. Willey, F. A. Wilson, P. E. Kemp, and John Locke. Another committee was also appointed to construct a stand for the speakers, seats for the accommodation of the audience, tables for the dinner, etc. This was known as the building committee, and con- sisted of Joseph N. Nims, Austin A. Ellis, and M. J. Bar- rett. To procure a sufficient supply of food to refresh the large assembly expected upon such an occasion, to spread the tables, and serve the guests, without inconvenience or confusion, required a large committee, for which purpose
2
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
the following gentlemen, with their wives, were selected : Q. B. Nash, Henry Davis, S. S. White, M. J. Barrett, E. A. Blood, H. R. Fifield, C. A. Brooks, W. H. Yardley, John Locke, and H. C. Rawson. The following were ap- pointed a committee to arrange the musical portion of the celebration : L. H. Goodnow, C. W. Hubbard, and J. N. Nims. The following were appointed a committee to pro- vide a candy table: G. A. Willey, A. H. Rugg, F. E. Rawson, Mabel I. Barrett, Grace H. Smith, Althea Nims, and Emma J. Hubbard. Finally, the care of horses was not forgotten, and the following gentlemen were chosen as a committee to attend to their wants: C. F. Jewett, A. G. Nims, and G. L. Mason. It was decided to hold the public meeting immediately in front of the soldiers' monument, near the First Congregational Church. [It appeared after-
wards, that the common just west of the Town Hall, would be more suitable for such a celebration, and the committee of arrangements decided to have the meeting there, and it proved satisfactory in every respect.] After the appoint- ment of the committees, the meeting dissolved.
The work of raising the money proceeded satisfacto- rily. The citizens were liberal in proportion to their means, and the former residents, now living elsewhere, especially those in Keene, sent in a most liberal contribution, as wel- come as it was- unexpected.
THE CELEBRATION.
The morning of September 27, 1887, was clear and cool for the season, but it proved a red-letter day in the history of the good old town of Sullivan. Her loving sons and daughters gathered in large numbers from all parts
3
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
of the country to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of her birth. One lady came from the Pacific coast. The Middle States and all parts of New England were well rep- resented. It has been carefully estimated that there were between fifteen hundred and two thousand persons present. A gentleman informed the writer that, on driving up from Keene, he noticed about forty carriages in procession at one time. The celebration was, in every sense, a successful and joyous occasion, excepting, of course, the sad thoughts awakened in the minds of those who recalled the dear faces of their beloved with whom the memories of the town will ever be associated and who could be with them, this day, only in spirit. The most generous provision had been made for the hospitable reception and entertainment of all who came, and for the horses which brought the guests. Every oven in town had been busy for a week. The food pro- vided was ample for the refreshment of the multitude and a great quantity was unconsumed. It was not only ample in quantity, but unsurpassed in quality, and served with a neatness and dispatch that challenged admiration.
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