A history of the town of Sullivan, New Hampshire, 1777-1917, Volume I, Part 54

Author: Seward, Josiah Lafayette, 1845-1917
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: [Keene, N.H., Sentinel printing Co.]
Number of Pages: 888

USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Sullivan > A history of the town of Sullivan, New Hampshire, 1777-1917, Volume I > Part 54

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

5. SOLDIERS' MONUMENT.

After the war, the ladies still continued their patriotic work. Their next thought was to procure a monument that should perpetuate, in the most striking manner, the memory of the boys who had died in freedom's cause. With per- severing labor, they raised about $300.00 in money. In addition to this, a sub- scription paper was circulated, which contains the names of 22 contributors. Dauphin W. Wilson headed the list with $150. Charles Franklin Wilson sub- scribed $70 and Dauphin W. Nims gave $60. John Symonds subscribed $20, and the following eight $10 each : Nahum Nims, Roswell Osgood, Ashley Spaulding, Seth Nims, Atwell C. Ellis, Asa Ellis, Mrs. Lucinda Rugg, and Mrs. Elmina Black. Rufus Mason gave $8, Lucius Nims gave $7, and the following three, D. Adams Nims, G. W. Nims, and Charles Mason, subscribed $5 apiece. L. P. Nims subscribed $3, Lydia Black and C. W. Rawson, gave $2 apiece, and Geo. Kingsbury, a dollar. Amos Wardwell's name appears upon the list, but the writer neglected to state the amount. This list was handed to us 20 years ago by Mr. D. W. Wilson. He neglected to state the amounts given to the ladies previously, which accounts for the fact that the names of many prominent persons who actually contributed are not recorded on this particular list. Many former residents of the town were living in Keene and other places at the time that the monument was erected. Had they been asked to contribute, it is morally certain that they would have done so. The contributions seem to be confined to persons actually living at that particular time in the town. Had the contribu- tion been a little larger, probably bronze tablets could have been procured, which are more enduring than inscriptions in marble, which cannot stand our severe climate much more than a century, nor hardly so long.

The monument, which, including the labor expended upon the ground and the grading, cost between seven and eight hundred dollars, was raised and dedi-

532

HISTORY OF SULLIVAN.

cated, July 4, 1867. It stands near the church, at 85 (map), on a spot prepared with much labor and expense. The mound rises eight feet above the level of the common, and the monument rises 15 feet above the level of the mound, the summit being 23 feet above the common. The base of the monument is three and a half feet square. The monument contains, as it should, the names of all the soldiers belonging to the town, who actually died in the service. One or two omitted names will be added. To raise a monument, as has been done in some places, without inscribing the names of the soldiers whom it actually com- memorates, is, as the expression runs : " Hamlet, with Hamlet omitted." It means much to say simply " Soldiers," but much more to tell who they were. To future generations, a monument with only a general inscription would indicate nothing more than that the soldiers " were remembered in a lump," as we once heard it expressed. To inscribe their very names in imperishable letters and thus hand them down to future ages is a duty we owe to them and to their memory.

The inscriptions upon this monument may be found upon page 353, and will not be repeated here. In the monument enclosure, which is surrounded upon three sides by a substantial iron rail fence, are two piles of cannon balls, one upon either side of the monument, procured through the courtesy of the adjutant general. . The wall originally standing forms the fence upon the west side of the enclosure.

An account of the service of dedication was printed, from which we extract the following: " At the dedication, nearly all the people in town were present, besides large numbers from the neighboring towns. At ten o'clock A. M., a pro- cession was formed at the Town Hall, under the escort of the Unionville Brass Band of Swanzey, and marched to seats in front of the monument. After wit- nessing the raising of the main shaft, all marched round it, for a closer view, and returned to their seats. Prayer was then offered by Rev. H. Wood of Gil- sum." The choir next sang the hymn, " TO THE UNRETURNING BRAVES." The address was then delivered by the Rev. J. M. Stow of Sullivan. It was an able effort and may be seen in the printed proceedings of the dedication. Before he had concluded, the falling rain dispersed the audience to the church, where the · address was finished. Then was sung the hymn, " THE BIVOUAC OF THE DEAD," beginning :

" The muffled drum's sad roll has beat The soldier's last tattoo ; No more on life's parade shall meet The brave and fallen few.

On Fame's eternal camping-ground Their silent tents are spread ; And Glory guards with solemn round, The Bivouac of the Dead.

The following sentiments were then read :

OUR FALLEN HEROES-Their noble deeds will ever be held in grateful re- membrance by their loyal countrymen.

533

MILITARY HISTORY.

OUR RETURNED SOLDIERS-Always ready to march at the call of the govern- ment and defend their country against foreign and domestic foes-against southern rebels and their northern sympathizers.

THE LADIES OF SULLIVAN-Ever ready to respond to the calls of duty and patriotism, by their industry and self-sacrifices they have caused many a weary and sick soldier to exclaim, " God bless you for your deeds of kindness, charity, and love."

Speeches in response were made by Col. T. A. Barker of Westmoreland, Rev. Mr. Wood of Gilsum, who responded especially to the sentiment to the ladies, Rev. J. M. Stow, Mr. Charles Mason, and Capt. C. F. Wilson, who read from manuscript a response, most beautifully and touchingly worded, in behalf of the friends of the fallen soldiers. Coming from his lips, it had a peculiar unction, as his only son, an especially brilliant young man, was slain upon the field of Opequan. His closing words were: "So long as that granite rests on its foundation, so long as those inscriptions remain in the marble, so long as that spire rises toward heaven, long after our bodies have gone back to dust, and cur spirits returned unto God who gave them, will generation after genera- tion rise up and call you blessed."

The exercises closed with a liberal luncheon served in the Town Hall. The band interspersed music at suitable intervals. Many returned soldiers and friends of deceased soldiers were present. A monument in the town of Washing- ton had been raised, but this was the first dedicated in the state.

VI. SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.

The story of the Spanish-American War has been already told in several books which are in all good libraries. We cannot take the space to give an outline of it here. Three boys connected with Sullivan were in that war, that is to say, they enlisted for such a service, but, fortunately for them, their regi- ments were not ordered to leave the United States. The one New Hampshire regiment which was formed, under Col. Rolfe, was encamped several months at Chickamauga Park, Ga., where the malarial climate caused a large number of deaths among the men. The war was brought to an issue before any necessity came to order them to the islands. The Vermont regiment in which E. W. Holt enlisted also went no farther than Chickamauga. The three Sullivan boys were the following :

I. ELWYN W. HOLT, son of Geo. W., who was then living at 112 (map), enl. in Co. I, Ist Vt. Reg. of Vol. Infantry. He returned from the South in safety.

2. DAVID U. MCCLURE, son of John F., had lived with his relatives at East Sullivan. His sister lived at 17 and 7, and his brother at 39. His father died at 7. See map. David was in Co. L, Ist N. H. Vol. Reg. in the Spanish- American War, under Col. Rolfe. He returned in safety.

3. JOSEPH HENRY MASON, son of Charles, was born at 6 (map), and re- moved with his father to Marlborough. He was in Co. H, 5th Mass. Reg. for the Spanish-American War. This regiment was encamped in the South, but did not leave the country. Young Mason was never strong. The southern malaria and the damp ground were very injurious to his health. He contracted maladies from which he never recovered. After trying the Rutland, Mass., Sanitarium, he went to El Paso, Texas, where he died of tuberculosis, June 14, 1902.

534

HISTORY OF SULLIVAN.

VII. PHILIPPINE WAR.

The close of the Spanish-American War left upon the government of the United States the Philippine Islands, as we call them, which were called by the Spaniards, who long ruled them, the ISLAS FILIPINAS. As soon as they were rid of Spanish rule, the islanders, with that desire to do as they please which characterizes savages as well as children, under the instigation of chiefs, and of one in particular named Aguinaldo, started a rebellion against the authority of this country, which they undertook to maintain by a sort of guerilla warfare. Aguinaldo was captured and put to silence, and the guerilla bands, after much difficulty, were brought to subjection. Occasionally, since then, bands of rob- bers, known as ladrones, have descended from the mountains upon the villages to loot and plunder them, and their suppression has made it necessary to keep a limited force of United States soldiers constantly in the islands. In this Philip- pine service one Sullivan boy has been engaged.

DAVID U. MCCLURE, son of the late John McClure, was in the 9th U. S. Infantry, in the Philippine War.

VIII. MODERN MILITIA.

Sullivan has had no company of militia since the disbandment of the old sixth company of the former 20th Regiment. Since that day, the state militia has been entirely remodelled. There are only two regiments in the state. Com- panies G and H of the Ist Reg. have their headquarters at Keene. The two regiments constitute a single brigade, at the head of which is Brevet Major- General Jason E. Tolles of Nashua. As there is now but one brigade, it consti- tutes the only division of the militia, and there are no division officers other than these brigade officers. The colonel of the regiment is William Sullivan of Manchester, and the captains of Companies G and H are Elbridge G. Saunder- son and Ernest C. Barker respectively, both of Keene. Whenever Sullivan boys enlist, it would be in one of these two companies. Honorable mention should here be made of Col. Francis O. Nims, late of Keene, and a native of Sullivan, who was promoted through the official grades of the Ist Regt. to that of lieuten- ant-colonel, and was brevetted colonel.

Fred. L. Gauthier, Wm. C. Gauthier, George H. Gauthier, and Alba L. Stevens of East Sullivan, also Charles W. Buckminster of Roxbury, together with his brother, Albert W. Buckminster, both of whom lived near East Sulli- van, were all in one or the other of the two Keene militia companies. Granville O. Nims, son of Chas. F., who lived at 167 (map) in his youth, is in the U. S. Navy. Joseph F. Gorman was also in one of the Keene militia companies.

CHAPTER XII. INSTITUTIONAL HISTORY.

I. CENSUS.

1790,

220

1820,

582

1850,

468

1880,

382

1 800,

1830,

555

1860,

376

1 890,

337

1810,

516

1 840,

496

1870,

347

1 900,

287

535

INSTITUTIONAL HISTORY.

It will be seen that the population of the town steadily increased from the settlement until the fourth decennial census, in 1820. From that time, the census has shown a steady decrease in every decade, except in 1880, when the census gave a population of 382, the largest since 1850. This increase temporarily in the population was due probably to an influx of workmen in the tannery and lumber mills.

2. MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.

A town is a miniature republic on a small scale. Its executive head is the board of select-men, whose functions, within narrower limits, are similar to those of a mayor, governor, or president. The town legislature is the town meeting, of which all men in the municipality of 21 years of age, and otherwise legally qualified, are constitutional members. Its speaker is the moderator and its clerk is the town clerk. The judicial department of a town is the court of a justice of the peace, who can try a cause, without a jury, where the damages demanded do not exceed $13.33. The amended constitution authorizes the General Court of the state to raise the amount to a hundred dollars ; but that body has not yet enacted any law making such a change. In larger towns and cities, regular police courts take the place of the justice courts. In some sections, two or more towns unite for a district court. The jurisdiction of a justice of the peace holds good throughout the county, and the justice of the Keene police court can try a case from any part of the county. Some justices are entitled to perform their duties anywhere in the state. The remaining judicial officers of a town are the constables and policemen. The latter are usually found only in the larger towns. The old tithing-men were also a sort of special policemen. See pages 181-2.

Most of the functions in all of the executive departments of the general government at Washington have their miniature counterparts in the various functions of a town government. The state department of a town is the office of the town clerk, who records attachments, keeps the records, issues marriage licenses, records vital statistics, and is the custodian of the books, records, and documents belonging to the town. The treasury department is represented by the town treasurer, the assessors, collectors, and auditors. The interior depart- ment is represented by a great variety of town functionaries, such as the school boards, perambulators of town lines, town farm agents, overseers of the poor, caretakers of public buildings, boards of health, highway surveyors and superin- tendents of streets, sewers and drains, burial sextons and superintendents of cemeteries, fish and game wardens, fence viewers, and (in larger places) park commissioners. So, too, the department of commerce and labor is represented by sealers of weights and measures, surveyors of lumber, measurers of wood and bark, or corders, cullers of hoops and staves, weighers, &c. The agricultural department is recognized in stock inspectors, agents of humane societies, also in the office of pound keeper, and anciently in that of hog-reeve. What the attor- ney-general is for the United States, a solicitor is for a town. Sullivan has never appointed a special solicitor, but has sometimes retained the services of Keene lawyers. The United States brings the operations of its postoffice department into every town, through the local postoffices, of which Sullivan has two. The war department of the general government finds its analogue, in a town, in the

536

HISTORY OF SULLIVAN.

militia, which in Sullivan is reduced virtually to zero. Even the naval depart- ment has encouraged towns along the sea-coast and the great lakes to form organizations of naval militia as they are called, for training men in such a service, that they may be used in an emergency. They were of great use in the Spanish-American war. An inland town like Sullivan would have little interest in such a naval militia.

3. APPROPRIATIONS.

The early appropriations for church purposes have been noted on page 382. The annual appropriations for highways, schools, and town charges are here given, in vertical columns, in the order named. Following each year, the column headed H contains the highway appropriation, that headed S contains the school appropriation, and that headed T contains the appropriation for town charges. There was no appropriation in 1787, the year of incorporation, for taxes had already been assessed by, and paid to, the towns from which Sullivan was taken. During the remainder of the eighteenth century, the taxes were assessed in pounds, shillings, and pence. Beginning with 1801, the town charges, and with 1802, the school and highway appropriations, have always been in federal money. Beginning with 1788, the appropriations have been as follows, for each year :

1788

£30

£12

£II Igs. 6d .*

1816

360*

250

150

1789

£40

£12

£10*

1817

300

250

175

1790

£40

£12

£3

1818

350

250

100

1791

£40

£15

fot

1819

900*

300

1792

£40

£20

£4

1820

250.

300

220

I793

£40

£20

£3

1821

300

275

200

I794

£40

£25

£8

1822

300

250

$795

£50

£30

£3

1823

350

275

ICO

1796

£60

£40

£4

1824

400

300

1797

£50

£40

£10

1825

360

250

150

1798

£40

£36

£12

1826

300

250

I20

1799

£50

£40

£12

1827

300

250

350

1800

£40

$ 8*

1828

350

250

1801

£50}

£50

70*

1829

400

250

1802

$200§

$200

1830

400

250

150

1803

230

250

1831

500

250

100

1804

300

250

1832

330*

250

1805

300

250

I 50

1833

300

250

175

1806

300

250

1834

250

300

1808

400

250

1836

350

250

500

1 809

350

250

200

1837

350

275

500

1810

300

250

1838

400

300

700

18II

300

250

200

1839

400

300

600

1812

300

250

100

1840

400

300

1813

300

250

100

1841

400

350

1814

250

200

1842

400

300

1815

350*

250

I 50|

1843

450

3co

350

* Whole amount appropriated at different meetings during the year.

t No appropriation, this year, for general town charges.

# $60 more were appropriated for a bridge at Mason's Mill, 13 (map).

2. For subsequent years, the character, $, is omitted.

f In these years, no money, or very little, was raised for schools, on account of surplus · in treasury.

# $100 more were appropriated to pay soldiers returning from Portsmouth.

& Sullivan's share of the surplus revenue of the U. S. paid town charges this year.

I 400

1807

300

250

150

1835

250

537

INSTITUTIONAL HISTORY.

1844

800*

300

35º

1876

600

500

1845

350

300

400

1877

350

600

750

1846

600*

300

1878

400

600

1847

300

1879

400

600

300

1848

500*

350

400

1880

400

600

1849

350

300

1881

300

500

1850

I225*

300

500

1882

500

650

1851

300

350

500

1883

600

650

1852

400

375

1000

1884

500

600

1853

400

ICOO

1885

450

600

1854

400

I200

1886

500

600

1855

400

425

500

1887

300

400₸

1856

500

450

600

1888

600

Soo

1857

500

450

600

1889

500

700

1858

500

450

800

1 890

500

650

1859

500

450

700

1891

500

650

1860

500

450

700

1892

7000g

700

1861

450

600

1893

700

600

400

1862

450

500

1894

500

200

1863

450

400

500

1 895

500

600

1864

450

500

2100₺

1 896

600

300

1866

600

500

1 300}

1 898

600

100

1867

600

500

I500±

1899

500

600

500

1868

500

400

8001

1900

500

600

500

186

500

1 500}

1901

500

600

400

1870

.500

500

1200±

1902

600

300

1871

600

612.50

1800₺

1903

600

500

300

1872

600

612.50

I100}

I904

600

350

1873

700

600

1050₺

1905

700

600

350

1874

700

600

600₺

1 906

600

500

1875

600

500

* Including extra appropriations for bridges, breaking roads, &c.

Sullivan's share of surplus revenue of U. S. paid highway charges in 1849. .

¿ Including interest on, and partial payment of, war debt.

¿ In 1880. and for many years after, Sullivan's share of the savings bank tax paid all town charges.

" By taxation. $200 more added from surplus in treasury.

$200 by taxation, remainder from surplus in treasury.

Sullivan was liberal with the soldiers. The special appropriations for the encouragement of enlistments, aid to soldiers, bounties, etc., were as follows :- $1500 in 1864, towards the war debt; in 1865, the interest on the war debt, which amounted to about $200, but was included in the appropriation for the town charges, in that year ; in 1866, $500, towards the war debt; in 1867, $500, for interest and a part of the principal of the war debt ; in 1869, $500 towards the war debt ; in 1870, $400 for the war debt and interest on it ; in 1871, $1000 for war debt and interest on same; in 1872, $500 for war debt and interest ; in 1873, $450, for same purpose; and finally, in 1874, the remainder of the war debt, which, reckoned with the regular town charges, made $600. The town raised very nearly $6000, in all, for war purposes, in one way and another.

There have been the following special appropriations for repairing the Town Hall :- $50, in 1869; and in 1889, $100. In every year, from 1885 to

++++

1897

600

300

1865

500

538

HISTORY OF SULLIVAN.

1892, both inclusive, except in 1886, $1 was appropriated for the poor, which means that the Sullivan share of the bank tax met other expenses of that kind. Decoration day appropriations have been as follows :- $35 in 1885, 1886, and 1888 ; $10 in 1903 ; and $15 in 1905 and in 1906. Appropriations for repairing schoolhouses were :- $225 in 1888 ; in 1889, $181.93; in $1894, $110; in 1896, $105; in 1899, $150; and in 1902, $125. In 1888, $300 were appropriated for the town history ; and in 1905, $75 more for a map to go with it. Appropriations of $250 were made in 1904 and 1905 to cancel notes against the town. In 1899, $250 were appropriated for a road machine. For the Town Library, $15 were appro- priated in 1893-94-95, in 1896, $22.20, in 1897, $25, in 1898, $22.20, in 1899 and since then, yearly, to the present time (1906), $25. In 1906, $250 were appro- priated for an iron bridge.

4. TAXATION.

The rate of taxation has varied from year to year, according to necessities, from about $9 (perhaps even lower in some years) to $23.80 (the highest that we remember) on a thousand. The average rate for the last 30 years has been about $15.50 on a thousand. As an aid in the matter of taxation, the state has distributed to the towns a share of the bank tax. A law was passed requiring banking institutions and trust companies to pay one per cent on all general and special deposits on which interest was paid as well as upon the capital stock, as a tax to the state. The state treasurer was required, on or before the first day of February, in each year, to distribute among the various towns in the state, their respective shares of this tax, based upon the stock and deposits in such institutions credited to each. From the passage of that law, until 1891, Sullivan received every year a handsome perquisite from the state, beginning with about five or six hundred dollars, and reaching high water mark in 1891, when $1100.24 were received. A little later came the great crash, when nearly every savings bank in the state suspended payment. The amount yearly received grew steadily less, until, in 1905, as reported in the last published report, issued in 1906, the amount received from this source amounted to only $102.92.

Sullivan has generally been pretty liberal in appropriations. The high- ways have always been kept in good order. There are two good iron bridges in town. One of these (over Granite Lake Brook, near the road leading to the former farm of Jeremiah Mason) has been built since page 274 of this book was printed, on which it was stated that there was one such bridge. The refusal to build one or two roads which had been projected was undoubtedly a damage to the general prosperity of the town. The Town Hall and school buildings have been kept in good repair. The town did its very best to fill its quota and aid its soldiers in the Civil War, and was really lavish in doing so, much to its credit. The town has complied with the library law and makes a respectable annual appropriation for that institution. It has favored the town history and the town map, and always manifests a generous spirit on the " home days ", especially when historic tablets are to be dedicated; while, as we know, the town almost outdid itself in the splendor of its centennial celebration.

5. LAWSUITS.

Sullivan has had very few lawsuits and none of any great importance. The following are all that the town records notice.

539

INSTITUTIONAL HISTORY.

At the annual March meeting in 1789, John Chapman and Timothy Dimick were chosen a committee to defend the town in an action brought by Gilsum for the support of Miriam Mackentire and her daughter, Susannah. Sullivan won the case and the care of these persons was thrown upon Gilsum.

June 7, 1796, the town voted to prosecute James Rowe for expenses caused by the sickness of Hannah Hibbard. The latter was a daughter of Mrs. Mary Ann (Rowe) Hibbard. Mrs. Hibbard afterwards became a noted character in town, as we shall see, when we consider the subject of paupers. Hannah was a niece of James Rowe. We have discovered no record which reveals the out- come of the case. Probably the town had to pay the bills, as it later supported Mrs. Hibbard.

May 17, 1804, the town voted to prosecute Gilsum for the support of Phila- delphia De Wolf (known colloquially as "Dilly Dolph ") and her children, and appointed Abel Allen as their agent. The suit went against Sullivan, but " Dilly " and her progeny eventually left town of their own accord.

At the annual March meeting in 1808, the town chose Roswell Hubbard, Esq., an agent to defend the town against Wm. Warren. Mr. Hubbard engaged David Forbes, Esq., as attorney. The suit went against the town, according to the report made by Mr. Hubbard. The records do not show the cause of this suit. Mr. Warren's house was several rods from the main road which had been constructed not long before. It was probably an action to secure a road to his house. A good road was built to his house, at all events, about this time, which is not specifically described upon the books.

At the annual March meeting of 1809, Elijah Carter was chosen as an agent to defend the town in a suit brought by Thomas P. Batchelder. This man was a son of Breed Batchelder, the first settler of Packersfield, who lived in that part of the town which is now Roxbury. This Thomas was a speculator and left town very much in debt. He had undertaken to buy several pews in the new town meetinghouse, which he never paid for, and the town took them back and sold them to others. Probably his suit was to recover them, but the records do not specify. There is no doubt that the town won the suit.

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A history of the town of Sullivan, New Hampshire, 1777-1917, Volume I, Part 54

Author: Seward, Josiah Lafayette, 1845-1917 Publication date: 1921 Publisher: [Keene, N.H., Sentinel printing Co.] Number of Pages: 888

Author: Seward, Josiah Lafayette, 1845-1917
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: [Keene, N.H., Sentinel printing Co.]
Number of Pages: 888