A history of the town of Sullivan, New Hampshire, 1777-1917, Volume I, Part 56

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 56

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This society, which had held no meeting after June 11, 1866, was reorgan- ized, as THE LADIES' AID SOCIETY, Mar. 9, 1883. The following ladies have served as presidents of the society, from the dates named: 3-9-83, Mrs. Alan- son A. Nims ; 5-30-84, Mrs. Albert G. Nims; 5-31-87, Mrs. Frederick B. Phelps ; 11-19-91, Mrs. Joseph N. Nims ; 11-15-94, Mrs. Augustus F. Nims ; II-21-95, Mrs. Joseph N. Nims; 11-21-99, Mrs. Herbert Walker. Mrs. S. S. White was the first treasurer and Mrs. A. George Willey, the first secretary. Since then the same person has been secretary and treasurer. The list follows : 4-24-83, Mrs. Joseph N. Nims ; 9-29-85, Mrs. A. G. Willey ; 5-25-86, Mabel H. Farrar (now Mrs. Reed) ; Althea S. Barrett (now Mrs. Davis), assistant secre- tary to the preceding ; 5-31-87, Emma J. Hubbard; 11-19-91, Mrs. Samuel S. White ; 11-16-93, Mrs. Mason A. Nims ; 11-21-99, Mrs. S. S. White; 1-13- 1900, Mrs. Joseph N. Nims ; 12-10-01, Bessie V. Barrett. The last recorded meeting was on Nov. 8, 1904.

There have been several other societies connected with the churches. Those at Sullivan Centre are the following :

THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR SOCIETY was organized Dec. 1, 1887, with Althea M. Nims as president. Her successors have been : 9-30-88, Althea S. Barrett ; 3-3-89, Ernest A. Nims; 9-7-90, Althea S. Barrett ; 3-1-91, Winfred J. White ; 9-6-91, Ray P. Smith ; 3-6-92, Ethel A. Barrett ; 9-4-92, Eugene Marston ; 3-5-93, Lewis M. Smith ; 9-2-93, Eugene Marston ; 3-4-94, Allan M. Nims ; 9-2-94, Eugene Marston ; 3-1-96, Lizzie L. Jewett ; 9-13-96, Orley S. Mason; 3-7-97, Eugene ' Marston ; 9-14-99, S. Emma Barrett ; Sept., 1900, Allan M. Nims ; 6-16-95, Eugene Marston ; 1-2-06, Carl M. Barrett ; 12-7-06, Edward L. Jewett. For a time previous to 1905, the society became dormant, but was revived in June of that year. Each officer served until the election of a successor. The secretaries have been : 93, Winfred J. White ; 94, Eugene Marston and Allan M. Nims ; 95, Ethel A. Barrett and Althea S. Barrett ; 96, Orley S. Mason and Lizzie L. Jewett ; 97, Mabel II. Farrar : 99, E. Pearl Ham-

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mond ; 1900, S. Emma Barrett; 05, Carl M. Barrett; 06, Bert C. Smith. There was a JUNIOR ENDEAVOR SOCIETY in this part of the town, organized by Rev. and Mrs. Herbert Walker, which became dormant after they left; but was revived in the spring of 1904 by Mrs. Bert C. Smith. Soon after, it was merged with the Christian Endeavor Society of the same part of the town. There is also a CRADLE ROLL connected with this society. At first, it was in charge of Miss Mabel HI. Farrar, now Mrs. Reed. The first enrolled infant was Carlton E. Nims, son of Mason A. Nims, who was born, Feb. 15, 1899. Miss Farrar added one other name. After three years, the work passed into the hands of Miss Bessie V. Barrett, who still has the charge of the roll, which contains eight names in addition to the two already mentioned.

At East Sullivan, there is a CRADLE ROLL, whose superintendent is Mrs. Charles W. Hubbard. There are 18 names upon the roll. The work of a cradle roll superintendent is interesting and delightful. Both of the superin- tendents have been much in earnest with it. The methods of the work may be seen from an extract from a letter by Mrs. Hubbard: " I go into the homes and ask the mothers if they are willing that their little ones should join the cradle roll. They give their assent and sign a card, and we place the little one's name upon the roll which hangs in the church. I write letters to the mothers (including the fathers), on the birthdays. I send a birthday card, a little letter inclosed to the babe, and another to the mother, telling them that we think of them, also pray for them, in our Sunday School. On Christmas, New Year, Easter, Children's Day, and such days, we remember them always, keeping in touch with them, until the little ones are old enough to come into the Sunday School. I am now planning to have a card sent to the babies, inviting them to spend an afternoon with me, my Juniors to help entertain them, as well as the mothers, who, of course, are expected to attend." Mrs. Hubbard has also organized a JUNIOR ENDEAVOR SOCIETY at East Sullivan, which was effected, Nov. 4, 1899, and she has ever since been the faithful superintendent. It has been an excellent work. Eleven have united with the church who had passed from this society to that of the Christian Endeavor, in the same part of the town. The deep interest in the work was manifested by the fact that certain boys came from a distance of three or four miles, through storms and snows to attend the meetings, which have been and continue to be remarkably successful. There has also been, for several years, a CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR SOCIETY at East Sullivan. Both societies in the town are conducted on the same plan. They meet on Sunday evenings, at the church at the Centre, and at Union Hall at East Sullivan, where meetings are conducted quite similar to any prayer meeting. They have done much good among the young people, because the latter have had the charge of them and have taken a lively interest in the pro- ceedings. Through them the churches have been largely and principally recruited of late years. A town without a good church would rapidly sink into insignificance, and a church to be permanently healthy must be recruited from the ranks of the younger members of the society. In large towns and cities, many attractions divert the young and it is more difficult to hold them to church work. In smaller towns such societies as these receive proportionately more attention and help to sustain a good ethical and religious influence. The East

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Sullivan Christian Endeavor was established, July 1, 1890, by Ellsworth W. Phillips, then supplying the pulpit, who became the pastor of a Congregational church in Worcester and is there yet. The first moderator was Grace H. Smith. The successive presidents have been the following, each serving until election of successor : 7-1-90, Ellsworth W. Phillips ; 1-27-91, Myrtle E. Ellis ; 9-1-92, Mrs. Charles W. Hubbard; 1-6-95, Lida L. Davis, (now Mrs. Whit- ney) ; 12-22-95, Mrs. M. Wesley Hubbard; 12-8-97, Minnie L. Goodnow ; 7-1-98, Lida L. Davis, again ; 6-21-99, Mrs. Arthur H. Rugg; 12-17-1900, M. Wesley Hubbard; 12-18-01, Bessie Barker of Nelson; 12-19-02, Herbert Currier; 12-18-04, Alfred E. Blood; 12-24-05, Frank W. Hubbard; to whom some successor will soon be chosen. The secretaries have been Lida L. Davis, in 90 and 92 ; Mrs. Arthur H. Rugg, 91 ; Mrs. Charles W. Hubbard, 95; L. H. Goodnow, 97 ; C. W. Hubbard, 98 and 1900; Althea S. Davis, 99; Mrs. Mari- etta A. Ware, 1900; Grace M. Wilder, 1901-2 ; Cora Belle Barker of Nelson, 1903; and Walter L. Goodnow, 1904-5, whose years of service began with the official years of the presidents.

6. THE ALGONQUIN CLUB was the name of an organization started by Rev. Mr. Patterson, to interest young men. It had a good membership and was very successful for a year or two. It was organized on New Year's Eve, Dec. 31, 1903, with Walter L. Goodnow for president, who was succeeded, a year later by Alfred E. Blood. After Mr. Patterson's leaving town, the club was discon- tinued. Charles H. Howard was the first secretary; succeeded, after six months, by Alfred E. Blood.

7. THE PROFILE PHYSICAL CULTURE CLUB was organized, Oct. 9, 1906, by Rev. Mr. Eaton, the pastor of the churches, to interest the young men of the town more particularly. The president is Carl M. Barrett, the secretary and treasurer is Chester B. Price, and the vice-president is Edward L. Jewett.

8. THE SULLIVAN OLD HOME WEEK ASSOCIATION was organized June I, 1905, with D. Willard Rugg as president, who was succeeded, Sept. 20, 1905, by Joseph N. Nims, who was in turn succeeded, Oct. 1, 1906, by M. Wesley Hubbard. Eugene Marston was the secretary during the terms of the first two presidents, and Arthur H. Rugg during the term of the present president. This society has for its object the arrangement of meetings upon the Home Day in August, when the " sons and daughters " of old Sullivan are gladly welcomed to the soil of the old home again. We hope that this society will become a veritable histori- cal society, under whose guidance historical pamphlets may, from time to time, be printed, which shall carry on, at stated intervals, the historical memoirs which have been brought to date in this volume. These future monographs should contain : I. Proceedings of the town meetings and full lists of all town officers, votes for state and county officers, congressmen, and presidential elec- tors, names of jurors, when drawn and for what courts, justices of the peace, quorum and state, postmasters, etc. 2. The annals of the churches, exact dates of settling new ministers and their exact terms of service, appointment of deacons, admission of members, baptisms, etc. 3. An account of all the local societies of the town, Golden Cross, Grange, Christian Endeavor, Junior En- deavor, Cradle Roll, and all local clubs and associations of every kind, with lists of presidents, secretaries, treasurers, etc. 4. A complete record of all the mar-

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riages, and where and by whom married, of all the births, deaths, accidents, calamities, etc. 5. Finally, a record of all events which it would interest men of future ages to know. The mention of names is always of interest, and it would be pleasing to the men and women of a hundred years hence to know that their ancestor or ancestress did this thing or that thing, when a boy or girl, man or woman, in Sullivan. The treasurer of this association from the first has been Marshall J. Barrett. The vice-president during the presidency of D. W. Rugg was M. W. Hubbard, since then, S. S. White.

9. THE SULLIVAN IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY was organized, Apr. 20, 1904, with Edwin F. Nims for president ; Bessie V. Barrett, secretary and treasurer. On Apr. 19, 1905, the same officers were re-elected. On Apr. 28, 1906, the same president was re-elected, and Eugene Marston chosen as secretary and treasurer. The society has done much to beautify the grounds about the church, cultivat- ing flowers and shrubbery.

IO. THE EAST SULLIVAN VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY was organized May 16, 1905, with Arthur H. Rugg for president and Leslie H. Goodnow for secretary, both of whom have retained those offices to the present time. The objects of the society are to improve the highways and public grounds in and near East Sullivan.

II. THE SOCIAL READING CIRCLE OF SULLIVAN was organized, Nov. 23, 1869, with Rev. J. M. Stow as chairman, who was formally elected president on Dec. 24, of the same year. He was succeeded as president, Dec. 6, 1870, by Alanson A. Nims. This was the last meeting of which we have a record. The vice-presidents at the first election were Charles Mason and Geo. C. Hubbard ; at the second election, Milton J. Hubbard. At the first election, Mrs. Estella A. C. (Wardwell) Nims was elected secretary and treasurer. She died, Mar. 25, 1870, and, Apr. 6, 1870, Rosa M. Kemp, afterwards Mrs. Tyler, was chosen to succeed her, who served until Dec. 6 of the same year, when Abbie L. Hubbard, now Mrs. Winch, was chosen. Dea. Asa E. Wilson served as the librarian while the society lasted. At the first election an executive board was chosen, consisting of Mrs. Charles Mason, Sarah D. Stow, Atwell C. Ellis, Alanson A. Nims, and Mrs. Geo. C. Hubbard. At the second election (which was the last), the following executive board was chosen: Clarissa A. Towne, now Mrs. Clapp; Octavia J. Nims, later Mrs. Brooks; Austin A. Ellis; Charles W. Osgood; Mrs. Merritt L. Rawson. From an item in the " New Hampshire Sentinel ", by Rev. J. M. Stow, we read: " A reading circle was organized in this town last autumn (1869), for the intellectual, moral, and social improvement of the people. Meetings were held once a week during the winter. The exer- cises were opened with prayer or singing. Two individuals, previously ap- pointed, read for a half hour each, and then the time was spent socially, and without restraint, till nine o'clock, at which hour all left for home. The young and old united in these meetings and much interest was manifested in them. The circle took eight magazines for home reading, and had besides a small col- lection of choice books. One ultimate object was to secure a library that would meet the wants of the town in regard to good reading ". This want was event- ually met by the establishment of a town library. Rev. Mr. Stow was a refined and accomplished gentleman, who appreciated literary recreations and the town

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was greatly indebted to him for the very helpful stimulus which he imparted along those lines in the community.

12. POLITICAL CLUBS. From time to time, representatives of the politi- cal parties have met and considered the ways and means of furthering the interests of their respective parties in the town. So far as these were mere caucuses, we cannot here take note of them. Indeed no records are preserved which would make it possible. Two political clubs have been formed which formally elected officers and took, for a time, an active interest in party work. One of these, known as the HAYES AND WHEELER CLUB, organized about Oct. 14, 1876, had the following officers: Dea. Asa E. Wilson, president; Charles Mason, vice-president; M. J. Barrett, treasurer ; Alanson A. Nims, secretary ; executive committee, L. S. Bond, Alonzo Farrar, Atwell C. Ellis, P. E. Kemp, and E. C. Winchester. Another political club, organized, Dec. 15, 1877, was known as the REPUBLICAN CLUB. Its officers were: Dea. Asa E. Wilson, president; L. P. Nims, vice-president; Alanson A. Nims, secretary. They ap- pointed Amos Wardwell and D. W. Kugg delegates to the state and councillor convention; D. W. Goodnow and L. P. Nims to the senatorial convention; O. D. Beverstock and George White to the county convention. In a similar man- ner, delegates have been repeatedly chosen for the different conventions, but it would not be easy to procure a complete list of them.

We have thus given a brief notice of such societies as we know to have been formed in town. Obviously we cannot give a detailed account of any one of them. It would probably be an advantage to the residents of East Sullivan if there were a good fire company there. It might not be feasible to equip such a company as would be done in a large place, but an organization to consider what would be the best means to adopt in the case of a fire, and to provide such apparatus for extinguishing fires, including chemical apparatus for such a pur- pose, as it could be possible to obtain, would doubtless be of great use to the place. The old adage is true that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure ".

It remains to consider certain fraternities of note to which Sullivan men have belonged.

FREEMASONRY. Three Sullivan men are Freemasons. Franklin B. Hardy and John G. Stevens united with Social Friends Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons at Keene. John W. Hammond united with Philesian Lodge at. Win- chester. Many of the natives and former residents of Sullivan have joined this ancient and honorable fraternity. , Wm. Henry Preckle has taken many of the degrees, as has also his son, Wm. B. Preckle. D. Wilmer Goodnow is a Knight Templar at Keene. Leston E. Mason was the master of a Keene lodge. Hezro W. Hubbard has been the master of a Keene lodge. Edgar V. Wilson has taken all of the York Rite and been at the head of a commandery of Knights Templar at Athol, Mass. Minot D. Spaulding has also joined this fraternity. These are names which occur to us. Doubtless there are others who could be named if we knew the facts. Josiah L. Seward, the author of this work, has taken all of the Masonic degrees. He has been the presiding officer in a chapter of Rose Croix, at Lowell, in a council of Royal and Select Masters at Keene, and of Social Friends Lodge at Keene. He has been for twenty years the

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Grand Prior (same as grand chaplain) of the Supreme Council of the 33d Degree for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States. He was presented by the Lowell Masons with the costly jewels of the highest grades, and by Keene Masons with the valuable ring appropriate to the 33d Degree.

ODD FELLOWSHIP. The following Sullivan men have belonged to Beaver Brook Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Keene : Thomas A. Hastings, Wm. B. Hastings (now deceased), Samuel S. White, and Winfred J. White. Charles W. Buckminster, who uses the East Sullivan post-office and school, is also a member. Wm. H. Chapin belongs to a Marlow lodge. Doubt- less several natives and former residents of the town belong to this popular order, whose names are unknown to us.

RED MEN. The following Sullivan men belong to the Pokahoket Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men, at Keene: George H. Davis (now of Keene), Thomas A. Hastings, John F. McClure, Quincy B. Nash, Alba L. Stevens, Wil- mer J. Barrett, Miles C. Buckminster (of Roxbury, but who has been much in Sullivan), Arthur G. Davis (now of Keene), Benjamin A. Hastings, Harry C. Hastings, William A. Hastings, Fred L. Gauthier, (now of Keene), and Harold A. Wilder. We find on the lists also the names of Lyman E. Estey, Gardner T. Howe, and Frank E. Joy, who were formerly identified with Sullivan. This order has become popular and extensive, and most likely many former natives and residents of the town have joined it. Their names cannot be ascertained.

The preceding lists of society men are intended to include, so far as we know them, the names of persons belonging to those orders while actually living in the town. Except in a few known instances which we have specified, we cannot undertake to give complete lists of former residents of the town who joined such organizations after leaving Sullivan. Those whose names are omitted will kindly remember that their connection with the orders was unknown to us.

Aside from the three fraternities above mentioned, we do not know of any fraternity to which any man, while actually living in the town of Sullivan, has belonged. Many who have left town have joined one or another of the manifold trade unions and fraternities and guilds of the different trades, crafts and pro- fessions.

IO. OFFENCES AGAINST LAW AND ORDER.

Offences against. law and order have been very infrequent in Sullivan. The three murders were due, beyond any reasonable doubt, to insanity in every instance. The serious casualties reported in the chapter upon that subject were all due to carelessness, excepting one or two which were most likely traceable to abnormal mental conditions. The author of the first homicide was never con- victed and died a raving maniac. The author of the second would most likely have never been convicted, on account of an unbalanced mind. He committed suicide in his cell in the jail. The author of the third was convicted and sen- tenced for life to the state prison. Although we believe him to have been insane and rightfully kept from the gallows, yet, in his condition of mind, and with his strength and sagacity, a hospital for the insane would hardly have been a safe place for him. It is doubtless best that he should be where he is. A single resident of the town was convicted of forgery and another for adultery, as

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well as another for horse stealing. All were imprisoned for a time. Some who have lived in town, at one or another time, have been implicated, in other states, either directly or indirectly, with certain criminal happenings. In some in- stances such accusations have been found to be unjust, at least as respects the amount of actual blame to be imputed. Aside from these cases, there have been no happenings of such a nature worthy of note.

The citizens of the town have occasionally, but very rarely, resorted to the courts in civil suits. No such suit has ever been of sufficient importance to be noted here. The justices of the peace, in olden time, had many little causes referred to them by their neighbors. Without exception, these justices, such as Roswell Hubbard, John Wilson, Samuel Locke, David Seward, Selim Frost, George C. Hubbard, Charles Mason, D. A. Felt, and others, not to mention those still in town, sought to harmonize such little tangles and, without any profit to themselves, their one great object was to preserve peace, as their title indicated.

II. WARNING OUT OF TOWN.

It was an ancient custom for town authorities, through the select-men or constable, to order persons who had recently come into the town to leave it. This was called technically " warning out of town ". It was not expected that anybody would pay any attention to the "warning". It was simply a legal technicality to enable the town to escape caring for such persons if they should become a charge upon the public. It was a rather inhospitable greeting for new comers. As a matter of fact, Sullivan never observed the custom but four times. Hannah Clement is reported to have been warned by Roswell Hubbard, Esq., Jan. 9, 1789 ; John Reed, by Elijah Carter, Mar. 27, 1789; the family of Michael Sartwell, consisting of himself and wife and five children, Sally, Park- hurst, Stephen, John, and Polly, by Elijah Carter, Aug. 13, 1789; and Mercy Dodge, by Elijah Carter, Sept. 12, 1789. Messrs. Hubbard and Carter were both constables when they performed these functions, at the request of the select-men. These four instances of " warning " all occurred in the same year, 1789, very soon after the incorporation of the town, and the custom was never again observed.

12. MEANS OF COMMUNICATION.

Sullivan has maintained good roads from the first. It seldom happens that all of the roads in town are not in good condition. An experiment has been made the present year (1906) with what is known as the "state road " method of constructing roads. The state has encouraged this movement by construct- ing, or paying for the construction, of a certain number of rods of road, in pro- portion to the amount which a town will contribute with such an object in view, the amount which is done for the small towns being greater in proportion to their small size and lack of means. This first piece of " state road " extended from the Roxbury line, on the Concord Road, a short distance towards East Sullivan.

Post routes were established after the introduction of the post offices by the United States. The first post route was established about 1830, after the appointment of the first postmaster for Sullivan This route led from Keene,

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over the Nims Hill, through Sullivan Centre and Gilsum, to Marlow. After the construction of the West Road, that highway was used between Keene and Sullivan instead of the other. There was a form of rural delivery in those early days. The writer of this work well remembers the little box which Dea. Gibbs placed at the junction of the road to Gilsum with the road leading to his house. There were others on the mail route who had mail boxes in which their mail was placed. They were permitted to make some arrangement with the stage- driver. For more than twenty years, an old-fashioned stage passed over this route about twice a week, each way. Eventually the main route from Keene to Marlow was diverted through Surry and Gilsum. The Sullivan mail, after that, was brought in a single team driven to Sullivan only. We cannot now recall the old drivers on this route. . M. J. Barrett carries the mail at present, his son, Carl M. Barrett, being usually the driver. For several years previously, the mail was carried by Charles F. Jewett, the driver being more frequently his son, · Frank E. Jewett. Sullivan now has a daily mail.

After the construction of the Concord Road, a fine Concord coach of the well-known pattern, made regular trips each way, three times a week, for many years. The route is still continued, but the fine old coach has been replaced by an uncomfortable wagon. The route was from Keene to Concord, via East Sul- livan, Munsonville, South Stoddard, Antrim North Branch, Hillsborough Bridge, Henniker and Hopkinton. After the construction of the Contoocook Valley R. R., the stage route ended at Hillsborough Bridge. We cannot recall all of the many drivers over this route. Two of them drove many years and were old- time characters in their way, typical stage-drivers of the old school. One of these, Nooh Jackson, drove in the fifties and during the Civil War. He was a good-looking, genial man, somewhat reckless sometimes in his ways and man- ners, but an expert and careful driver, looking well to his business, which he retained many years. The other, Hotch Burnham, was of the "rough and ready " type, very careless about the language which he used in conversation, whether in the presence of women or men, honest in pecuniary matters, and a safe driver, who looked well to the interests of the route. Both of these men will always be remembered by those who were patrons of the route in their time. Since then, the handsome Concord coach, drawn by three or even four horses, has given way to clumsy vehicles, and many different men have managed the business, with varying degrees of efficiency and satisfaction. When the country towns were more populous, the arrivals and departures of the old tally-ho coaches were watched and awaited with interest. There has been, for several years, a daily mail over this route.

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A history of the town of Sullivan, New Hampshire, 1777-1917, Volume I, Part 56

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