USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Bedford > History of Bedford, New Hampshire, from 1737 : being statistics compiled on the occasion of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, May 15, 1900 > Part 35
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State of New Hampshire. Since the formation of our state government, most honorably has she acquitted herself. That spirit of hostility to oppression, that calm courage, that fidelity to the right, and that sagacious wisdom which characterized her people at the formation of our federal union has marked her progress to the present time. Proud are we of her to-day.
Hon. Charles P. Sanborn, of Concord, responded in patriotic terms, referring to the firm faith in God manifested by our hardy ancestors which had borne such good fruit and had enabled New Hampshire ever to stand in advance. Our record, not only in the Revolution but in the Rebellion, is a matter of history, and of it we have no cause to be ashamed. In conclusion, he conjured the peo- ple to avoid the errors and to emulate the virtues of their ancestors.
Woman. Not undeveloped man, but diverse, her kingdom is the house- hold, and her best work and glory as teacher, wife, and mother in the edu- cation of the coming generation.
I envy not the man who dwells In stately hall or dome, If, 'mid his splendor, he hath not A world of love at home.
Rev. Henry Powers responded in a manner which should make the ladies proud of their champion. He deprecated in earnest terms the too common custom of answering such a toast in a conde- scending, sarcastic manner, which really belittles and degrades woman, under pretence of doing her honor. He put in a manly plea for woman's equal right, in the highest and holiest sense of the term. In the course of his remarks he told some wholesome truths of the way in which woman was ill-treated, not only in foreign lands, but even in our streets of Manchester, where men may be seen loaf-
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DEDICATION OF THE NEW TOWN HALL.
ing and smoking, busy in political intrigue, while their wives are toiling in the mills to support them and their children. The Chris- tian conception of woman is an equal and a helpmeet, one who has entire sovereignty over her own person, and whose place is not only at home, but wherever her circumstances call her. Referring to Miss McQuesten as the sweet singer who had so delighted them, he asked if she was any less a woman in its purest sense because she appeared publicly in her profession as a musician.
Absent Sons. Scattered far and wide amidst the duties of professional life or participating in the responsibilities of business, we proudly will call them to-day, and in the name of the old home we wish them Godspeed.
John Atwood, Esq., of Bedford, responded by reference to many of the absent and departed ones, and pleasant references to the old persons of Bedford.
Ex-Governor Smyth was also called up in response to this senti- ment, and made some local and personal pleasantries, some of which were at the expense of "Father " Wallace and himself. In conclu- sion, he gave the following sentiment :
May the right of free suffrage be exercised within these halls without fear or favor, with no intimidation, and with no hope of reward.
The Centennial Exposition. Grand in conception, mammoth in propor- tions, perfect in its arrangements, unsurpassed in its patronage, we glory in the fact that it was reserved for the American people to show the world how to make a financial success of an international exposition.
Frank Hiland responded in fitting terms, deploring his fate in not having been born in Bedford, but saying that next to that came the privilege of an invitation to the town on this occasion. Passing to the great exposition, he said, that, though other nations had tried it, to the United States belonged the credit of making a financial suc- cess of so gigantic an affair. He complimented in glowing terms Col. George W. Riddle and his associates for their efforts in making the New Hampshire department so successful.
The Fathers and Mothers of One Hundred Years Ago. Amidst hardships and dangers, through darkness and gloom, they struggled on, willing to suffer that religion, liberty, and justice might be maintained. May we transmit these virtues to our children by both precept and example.
Rev. Dr. Wallace, in response, made the happiest speech of the day, abounding in witticisms and local pleasantries, and carrying the audience completely off their feet with delight.
He spoke of the difficulties under which the people of the old time labored in doing what we now accomplish so easily, of house building, when almost the only tool in use was a rude sawmill. Only forty-two years ago he started from home one Saturday morn- ing, and traveling by the fast lines of those days, on the Saturday night of the following week reached Rochester, N. Y., and thought he had made grand progress. When he was a boy, the flax for clothing was raised in our field, rotted on the grass, then swingled,
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HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
then the men gave it over to the women, and, seeing that all the children were born naked, it was a mystery to him how they ever got them clothed. But when the garments were made they were made of cloth-there was no shoddy then. It took three days and three nights to have a good Scotch-Irish wedding, but when the job was done it was well done -no divorces then. Give us three months, said the old gentleman, if they will only stick. Turning then to Mr. Isaac N. Riddle, he jocosely referred to him as a specimen of what a son of Bedford could be when he got "ripe," even though a bache- lor. (At this point the audience were convulsed with laughter.) Passing from the ludicrous to the serious, and asking pardon for levity, he ended by imploring the people to transmit to posterity, undiminished, the blessings which were descended to us from the fathers and mothers of old.
Our Schools. New Hampshire's pride and boast, her common schools. In the future as in the past may they receive the united and cordial sup- port of all her people.
Joseph Kidder, Esq., responded in his usual effective manner, justly attributing the material and mental prosperity of the town to the schools and church which were so early established in the town. The church, the town house, and the schoolhouse were emblems of our civilization. It had been suggested by a citizen of the town that the schoolhouses of Bedford were relatively scarcely equal to the new town house ; if so, this should be looked to.
Mr. Henry M. French was introduced at this point as a grandson of Bedford and a very "bass" young man. He responded by a song which was received by great applause.
Town of Bedford. Pleasantly located in the valley of the beautiful Mer- rimack, inhabited by an industrious, frugal, and prosperous people, with no outstanding obligation, but with thousands of dollars in her treasury, may we not justly claim her as the model town of the state.
Col. George W. Riddle responded. His ancestors settled on the hillside close by, 118 years ago; there their descendants still remain, and mean to stay. He referred to the mutual benefit accruing to the relations between Bedford and Manchester, complimented the town upon its prosperity, but doubted if the people of Bedford can afford to let $200,000 lie in the savings banks of our city. He thought it could be better expended upon their farms.
The Presbyterian. Church. May its present and succeeding generations perpetuate the religious privileges handed down by the fathers.
Rev. I. C. Tyson was to have responded, but was excused on account of the length of the proceedings.
Oliver L. Kendall, Esq., was called out, and gave some pleasant reminiscences.
The Young People of Bedford. May they follow in the footsteps of their ancestors, and, dying, leave behind the record of as honest and patriotic and fragrant lives as were led by them.
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DEDICATION OF THE NEW TOWN HALL.
Mr. John Foster gracefully excused himself from replying by say- ing that it was time for the farmers to go home to their milking, besides the young people had to prepare for the exercises of the evening.
This closed the exercises of the day, which were somewhat lengthy. The usual "and others" were not called upon to speak on account of the length of the proceedings. To this, added to the fact that no distinguished representative of the "press " was present, and possibly those who were present belonging to Dr. Wallace's " Satanic Department," no sentiment was offered for that poor pub- . lic drudge called the " Press."
In the evening a grand concert and ball was given. The concert by Blaisdell & Ingalls' band, of Concord, occupied the time from 7 : 30 to 9 o'clock, at which time the ball was to have commenced. There was so great a number present, however, as to completely fill the hall, and dancing was rendered not only inconvenient, but utterly impossible until after 11 o'clock, when the numbers became so far reduced as to allow of the forming of the sets, and dancing was con- tinued until about 2: 30, at which time the hall having been pretty thoroughly dedicated, the party broke up.
In another column of this issue was this additional note :
THE BEDFORD DEDICATION .- This very successful and interest- ing occasion, which is reported on the first page of our paper, owed its success, as all such matters do, to the great amount of work which was put into it by those who managed it. Any attempt to mention those whose self-sacrificing labor bore such good results, must of necessity be incomplete, because they comprised about half the inhabitants of Bedford. The Marshals, however, deserve special mention for the manner in which they performed their duty. Mr. Thomas G. Worthley was chief marshal, with Messrs S. Manning, H. R. Barnard, W. C. Parker, and J. Gilman as aids.
.
New Presbyterian Meeting-House.
As some readers may be ready to think the following details too minute, it should be remembered that though not of so much inter- est now, yet to those who live a hundred years hence they may be matter of curiosity, and even of value; especially if the meeting- house be permitted to stand till that time. The first public intima- tion about a new meeting-house we have as follows :
Notice is hereby given that the inhabitants of Bedford are re- quested to meet at the old meeting-house in said Bedford on Tues- day, 29th day of August, current, at 4 o'clock p. m .:- To see what method they will take to pay the expenses of installing Rev. Thos. Savage :- To devise some way to collect the subscription money for Rev. Thos. Savage :- And to see if they are desirous of building a new meeting-house.
PETER P. WOODBURY.
BEDFORD, 22d August, 1826.
There was, however, no decided action on the subject of a new house ; it remained a subject of occasional discussion, but nothing was done till the 19th of April, 1831, at which date the following measure was adopted :
We, the subscribers, do associate and agree for the purpose of building a meeting-house. The condition of this paper is to obtain subscribers for fifty shares in said house; and when said shares are taken, Doct. P. P. Woodbury will call a meeting of the subscribers for the purpose of locating the spot for said house; which location is to be made by a majority of the shareholders, each share to count one vote, and of choosing a building committee, to carry the plan into effect; each share to be assessed and paid as the money is wanted, as in their wisdom they shall direct when assembled. And . we, the undersigned, do agree, for the above purpose, to take the number of shares set against our names, respectively :
Peter P. Woodbury, William Patten, James Walker, Stephen Thurston, Isaac Gage, James French,
Daniel Gordon, Cyrus W. Wallace, Samuel McQuesten, Josiah Walker, Willard Parker, John Houston, Jr.,
Isaac Riddle, Daniel Mack,
Richard Dole,
John G. Moor,
Samuel Patten,
Leonard C. French,
.
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NEW PRESBYTERIAN MEETING-HOUSE.
Daniel L. French,
Isaac Atwood, Jr.,
John Houston,
William Riddle, Jr.,
Rufus Houston, William Riddle, Hugh Riddle,
John W. Barnes,
David Atwood,
John D. Riddle,
Nathan Cutler,
Joshua Vose,
Samuel Chandler, John Armstrong, Stephen French, Jr., John French,
Aaron Gage, William Chandler,
David Stevens, Jr.,
Moody M. Stevens, Rufus Merrill,
Moses Noyes,
Eleazer Dole, William Moor, Jr., John Patten,
Isaac Gage, Jr.,
Gardner Nevens,
John Holbrook,
Ebenezer French,
Phineas Aiken, F. A. Mitchell,
Solomon Woods,
Nehemiah Kittredge, John Craig,
Benjamin Nichols.
John P. Houston, Jesse Hartwell,
These subscribed for one share each, making fifty-six. (A true copy,) SAMUEL CHANDLER, Clerk.
The above subscribers held a meeting at Capt. Isaac Riddle's hall, May 9th, 1831. Dea. John Holbrook, chairman, Samuel Chandler, clerk. A committe was chosen consisting of Dr. P. P. Woodbury, Mr. James Walker, Ebenezer French, John French, and Capt. John Patten to ascertain on what terms a suitable spot could be obtained on which to erect the meeting-house; which com- mittee reported that
An acre of land, east of Capt. Riddle's, at the oak tree, may be had without any expense; that an acre of land on the hill north of the road, and west of the burying-ground, can be had for one hun- dred dollars ; that an acre east of the burying-ground, and between that and Isaac Riddle's store, can be had for one hundred dollars ; or, that an acre can be had north of the schoolhouse (near the Baptist meeting-house) for one hundred and fifty dollars.
These four described places were numbered from 1 to 4, and voted for by ballot; No. 1, that north of the schoolhouse; No. 2, between the store and burying-ground ; No. 3, on the middle hill ; No. 4, east of Capt. William Riddle's. The vote was as follows : No. 1 had three votes ; No. 2, thirty votes ; No. 3, two votes, and No. 4, four votes.
May 28, 1831. The shareholders formed themselves into a regu- lar society, adopted a constitution and by-laws, and organized by the choice of officers, agreeably to an act of the legislature of the state passed July 3, 1827. A superintending building committee was chosen consisting of Capt. William Patten, Dr. P. P. Wood- bury, Col. William Moor, Capt. John Patten, and John G. Moor, with which committee it was left discretionary to make any altera-
William P. Riddle,
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HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
tion as to the size of the house, basement-story, and general con- struction, as they may think best, and to finish the work at their discretion. In the meantime the society, rejecting all other loca- tions, voted to build the contemplated house on Houston hill; the title to the land being more satisfactory. The committee made a contract with Thomas Kennedy, of Goffstown, N. H., to build a meeting-house seventy-one feet in length by fifty-one in width, to be finished according to a plan exhibited; the said Kennedy to do all the work, outside and in, to find all the materials for the same, finishing of the windows, glass, doors, painting, the belfry, plaster- ing, and brickwork, shingling, boarding, and the qualities of stock, etc.
" The undertaker agrees to do everything, whether expressed in the agreement or not, that ought to be done, and in a workmanlike manner ; and to have the work completed in September, 1832. For the above work the committee agree to pay $3,700." (Signed)
P. P. WOODBURY, WM. PATTEN, JOHN G. MOOR, Building Committee. THOMAS KENNEDY, Undertaker.
A true copy, SAMUEL CHANDLER, Clerk.
The basement-story underpinning was done by Benjamin F. Riddle for $418. The finishing of basement-story was done by J. Langley at an expense of $321. The frame was raised on the spot where the house now stands June 20, 1832. Rev. Mr. Savage offered prayer, and Dr. Woodbury made an address on the occasion. The house was raised without the use of intoxicating liquors, and the whole work was accomplished without a single accident, even to the bruising of a finger. The house was solemnly dedicated to the worship of God on Christmas day, December 25, 1832. The pastor of the church preached on the occasion from Haggai 2: 9. Rev. Mr. Aiken, of Amherst, and Rev. Mr. Adams, of Londonderry, took part in the exercises. The day was pleasant, and a numerous audience attended.
The following was the order of exercises :
1. INVOCATION AND READING OF THE SCRIPTURES.
2. ANTHEM .- " We Praise Thee, O God."
3. PRAYER.
4. HYMN .- Written for the occasion.
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NEW PRESBYTERIAN MEETING-HOUSE.
We meet, O Lord, on this blest morn Which tells on earth " a child is born "; We meet where ne'er we met before, To praise, to wonder, and adore.
We bring no myrrh nor cassia sweet In off'ring at the Infant's feet; But yet an off'ring we would bring For Bethlehem's new-born Lord and King.
We give this Temple, Lord, to thee, And pray that this thine house may be, These walls, these seats, this altar thine, We dedicate to God divine.
Here may thy servants, Lord, proclaim Thy truth, thy love, thy hallowed name; And here may those thy name shall hear Like Mary shed the heart-felt tear.
Here may the good man's prayer ascend, And here prove thou the good man's friend ! Let all whose prayer shall meet thine ear Both say and feel, " Lo! God is here."
Here may thy praise be sung in strains Like those once heard on Judah's plains; And as we tune thy praise and love, O fit us for the songs above.
Wilt thou who once on earth appear'd Accept the Temple we have rear'd ! This house, these hearts, our all we bring For thee, our Sov'reign Lord and King.
5. SERMON.1
6. DEDICATING PRAYER.
7. ANTHEM .- " Lord of All Power and Might."
DOXOLOGY.
8. BENEDICTION.
1 The following is the close of the sermon delivered at the dedication of the Pres- byterian meeting-house, December 25, 1832:
"Very soon after the settlement became an incorporated town, a house was built for the worship of God, and there for nearly eighty years, the fathers and the mothers have worshipped through successive generations down to the present time. " God has favored the town with a good degree of temporal blessing. No wasting sickness has thinned its population. The earth has annually rewarded the industri- ous with its fruits. A spirit of harmony has generally prevailed, and to a happy extent the love of order and sobriety. Its sons have gone forth to almost all parts of our land. They have filled the various learned professions and some of them have been and still are the honored instruments of winning souls to Christ.
"God has granted seasons of spiritual prosperity. This vine which was early planted he has visited and watered and the last year especially will be remembered, I trust, in eternity by many as the happy year of their espousal to Christ.
"The present, beloved friends, may well be with you a time of tender recollection and of great anticipation. You have been permitted to erect a new and commodious edifice for the worship of God. No adverse event has interrupted the progress of the work-no accident has occurred to cause a moment's gloom, and by the help of God it is now brought to a happy completion.
" On this auspicious day (Christmas), a day on which multitudes in all parts of the Christian world have repaired to their places of worship to pour forth their grat- itude for spiritual mercies, a day that commemorates a dawn of that light which is now spreading throughout the world, we come with our humble offering, we come to dedicate this temple to God.
"To Him, then, and to His service, we now devote this building. We dedicate this altar to the cause of truth and righteousness; here may the messages of mercy come warm from the heart. Here may a holy unction descend from Sabbath to Sabbath on those who shall minister in this sacred place.
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HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
January 14, 1833, the pews were disposed of by sale, one pew being reserved for the minister, to be by him selected. The pews were sold to the highest bidder for their choice. An appraisal had been previously made, and whatever was bid over and above was added to the appraisal as the price of the pew. It had also been agreed that if the pews should sell for more than enough to pay for the house, the surplus should be appropriated for the purchase of a bell for said house ; and if there should still be money remaining, it should go for building a parsonage. At this public sale, 85 pews were sold, and money enough raised beyond the estimated expense of the building to purchase a bell. The remaining pews being disposed of, except two or three reserved, the aggregate result thus stood :
Whole number of pews, 91.
Of these 88 were sold for $5,200.00
Amount sold exceeding appraisal 527.00
Whole amount received $5,727.00
After the sale of the pews a surplus remained: This was expended in the purchase of a bell. It was not, however, put in until some two or three years after the church was completed. Soon after it cracked and the present bell was put in in 1844. It was cast by Henry Hooper & Co. of Boston. Its tone is singularly sweet.
The house was warmed originally by a furnace. This was taken out about ten years since (1850), and its place supplied by stoves. They stood in the entry and long pipes ran over each aisle to the chimneys in the west end of the building. The stoves were taken down and set up in the basement about 1873. A new furnace was then put in, the stoves being taken down cellar and bricked up so
"To Him we consecrate these pews now filled with attentive hearers. Ever sacred may they be to the worship of God. Sacred henceforth to meditation, prayer, and holy resolve. We dedicate yonder seats, devoted to the singing of His praise. These walls, this house, we dedicate to Father, Son, and Blessed Spirit.
" Holy, ever holy, be this as was the place where Jacob wrestled with the angel of the covenant.
"Here may the God of the fathers manifest himself the God of the children and the children's children until Time shall lay his hand on this now goodly edifice and this house like all things else on earth shall be mouldering to decay.
"And when the Lord shall write up his people may it be found that multitudes were born here to glory.
" Peace be within Thy walls and prosperity within Thy palaces. For my brethren and companion's sake I will now say, Peace be within thee.
"And while we dedicate this Temple of God, let us remember that he has said ' The Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house that ye build unto me and where is the place of my rest, for all these things hath mine hand made, and all these things have been, saith the Lord, but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and that trembleth at my word.'
."Let us give ourselves to God. Let us each become the temple for the residence of His holy spirit."
1832-THE PRESBYTERIAN MEETING-HOUSE,
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NEW PRESBYTERIAN MEETING-HOUSE.
that heat came from them to heat the east end.1 A part of the horse sheds were removed, and a face wall put in on the northerly side of the road leading past the meeting-house, in 1872. In 1881 the building was remodeled by doing away with the entrance through the basement to the body of the house and a covered porch was put on the front.
In 1894 the entire building needed to be extensively repaired, and a meeting of the citizens of the town who were interested was called for the purpose. At the meeting it was stated by the ladies of the Social Circle that they would be responsible for the repairs to the interior of the building if the men of the town would attend to the repairs of the exterior. It was also stated that there would be added to the front of the building a new porch, the expense of which would be entirely borne by Mrs. Charles H. Woodbury. A committee was chosen to solicit subscriptions throughout the town for work on the exterior of the building, and they succeeded in raising the sum of nearly $600.
Mr. Joseph Dana, who had been the foreman for Alpheus Gay when he built the town house, was employed to prosecute the repairs on the meeting-house. The building was shingled; the porch added, and then the outside painted. The horse sheds on the south and west sides were torn away and new ones erected in their place. The interior of the church was re-decorated, and new carpets and cushions purchased. The work of decoration and plans for the porch were drawn by Mr. Wadsworth Longfellow, nephew of the poet Longfellow, an architect in Boston.
Upon the work of interior decoration, including the building of a new pulpit, the Ladies' Social Circle, whose contribution was aug- mented by private subscriptions, expended $2,921.81.
In 1835 Daniel French got a small reed organ for the church on trial, but it did not give satisfaction and he removed it to his own home.
In March, 1867, during the pastorate of Mr. Little, a small reed organ was bought and placed in the gallery at the east end of the church. This was disposed of in 1881-'82 and the large pipe organ now in use was put at the west end of the edifice in an addition to the building made for the purpose.
1 The stoves were finally disposed of when the present furnace which heats the eastern end was put in. This was in 1890. The furnace was paid for by public sub- scription. The committee in charge of the work was William M. Patten, Quincy Barnard, and Fred F. Lane.
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