USA > New Hampshire > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, New Hampshire > Part 72
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1806. Voted to build a Bridge over Bearcamp River near Joseph Ames's to be compleated by the first Day of Novr next; voted to Vendue the Bridge
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bid off to Winthrop Smart at 70 Dollars (for the hewed timber) ; the plank bid off to Joseph Buswell at 35 Dollars to be delivered at the Bridge. Ephraim Knight, Joseph Pitman, Andrew Folsom chosen a Committee to examine the Bridge and report to the Selectmen whether it is build aceording to the Dimentions.
1808. John Langdon had 91 votes for governor, John T. Gilman 4; Joseph Badger had 92 votes for councillor. The presidential electoral tieket headed by John Langdon had 83 votes; that headed by Jeremiah Smith 39.
1811. The first recorded aetion of the town concerning school districts was at the annual meeting of this year when it was voted "to Choose a Committee to divide this Town into School districts or make such alterations in the present division as they may think proper."
1818. This year fifteen school districts were defined and established, and Captain Jacob Brown was licensed to keep a tavern.
1820. A committee was appointed to examine and determine whether the bridge should be rebuilt over Bear Camp river at the same location. They reported that they " have examined the river, and find no place this side Tam- worth line (in the opinion of the majority of the committee) more suitable than the place where the old bridge was built "; and the contraet was let to Wentworth Lord to rebuild it.
1821. It was voted "that spirituous Liquors being distributed among labourers repairing the highways shall not be allowed or accounted to pay the whole or any part of Highway tax assessed in the town of Ossipee." Voted that " Hogs may run at large in the public highway by being wrung and with- out yokes unless found doing damage or damage feasant."
1822. Voted " to purchase three burying cloths for the use of this town ; that Ezekiel Wentworth, John Burleigh and Amos Hodsdon be a committee to purchase these cloths ; that one cloth be deposited at Capt. Jacob Leigh- tons, one at Samuel Quarles Esq and one at Daniel Smiths, Esq." This year the boundary line between Ossipee and Wolfeborough was " preambu- lated " and the marks and bounds renewed.
1824. At the annual meeting it was voted that no district school com- mittee shall employ nor shall any school Master or Mistress hereafter commence instructing any school unless he or she shall have previously complied with the requirements of the law in producing proper certificates of his or her literary qualifications and moral character to some one of the town committies. Voted, that the Selectmen of this town shall not pay any school Master or Mistress nor answer any order for that purpose unless he or she shall produce to them a further certificate from the town committee of his or her having fully complied with the above resolutions. Also voted, that a committee be chosen to draft a bill for the prohibition of tame animals "runing " at large
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in this town or any part of it, and Daniel Smith, Francis P. Smith, Samuel Quarles, Jacob Leighton, and Nathaniel Ambrose were chosen.
1826. It was voted that Samuel Quarles, Daniel Smith, Hezekiah Went- worth, John Burleigh, and Benjamin Boardman be a committee for the purpose of purchasing a farm for the support of the poor. Voted that district school committees be appointed, whose duty shall be to visit the schools at the com- mencement and close of the schools and report to the general (town) committee the number of scholars in the district, the studies to which they attend and, so far as practicable, the progress of the scholars in their studies, and that the general committee report to the town at the annual March meeting a general view of the schools in town.
1827. The committee appointed last year to purchase a town farm report that it is not for the interest of the town to do this at present.
1828. June 30, it was voted to build a stone bridge across Beach river near George W. Lord's mill.
1834. Voted to raise $4,200 to be laid out in repairing the highways. Forty-nine votes given against the revision of the constitution, and none in favor.
1835. The boundaries between Moultonborough and Ossipee, and Ossipee and Tuftonborough were " preambulated " and renewed.
1836. Six thousand dollars were appropriated for highways. The line examined and confirmed between Wolfeborough and Ossipee. On the question of the division of the county, 7 votes were cast in favor, and 167 against.
1838. The tenth article in the warrant calling the annual town-meeting reads, To see what method the town will take to furnish said town with a town house ; it was voted to postpone it indefinitely. The eleventh article was on the expediency of dividing the county of Strafford so as to form the present county of Carroll. The vote stood : yeas, 42; nays, 94.
1839. At the March meeting, the vote on the expediency of dividing the county of Strafford according to the provisions of a bill reported to the house of representatives at the June session, 1838, the yeas were 284; nays, 43. March 21, Voted that a committee of three be appointed to inquire into the expediency of repairing.the old meeting house or of building a town house and ascertaining the best local situation and what the probable expense may be. Jacob Leighton, Brackett Wiggin, John Smith, Jr, chosen said committee. At the same meeting 19 school districts were constituted and bounded. April 29, the committee on the meeting house and town house report that the town be to one half of the expense of repairing the outside and 40 feet of the lower part of the meeting house on the easterly end for a town house, pro- vided individuals will be to the expense of one half of the outside and will finish the upper part of the inside for a place of publick worship, the probable expense to the town will not exceed two hundred Dollars. This report was
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accepted and two hundred dollars voted for this purpose. September 23, Voted to raise one hundred and fifty dollars for painting and finishing the out- side of the town house. Voted that a sum not exceeding two hundred dollars be expended to erect a belfry, and prepare said house to receive a bell on con- dition that individuals furnish a bell for said house. Voted to put blinds to the windows of said house.
1844. March 12, Voted that the ministers of the Gospel in this town be taxed as all other citizens. November 4, 153 votes cast against abolishing capital punishment, 45 in favor of it.
1847. Voted $4,000 for the repairs of highways and bridges ; also, to raise $400 in additional to what the law requires for schools; also $1,100 for neces- sary expenses.
1851. March 12, Voted to pay a sum not exceeding five per cent. for a Teachers' Institute on condition that other towns in the county do the same.
1852. March 11, action was taken to buy a farm for the support of the poor.
1853. March 9, Voted whenever the citizens and pew-owners raise money enough to paint the meeting house at Ossipee Corner that the Selectmen be instructed to appropriate money enough to paint the town house.
1854. $499.94 was paid out this year by the town in consequence of the small-pox.
1856. November 4, in the Presidential election the electoral ticket headed by Daniel Marcy had 244 votes. That by William H. H. Bailey 221, that by William Choate 1.
1857. At the March meeting $3,000 were voted for highways and bridges, $2,500 for town expenses, $200 for schools.
1860. March 14, 422 votes were cast in favor of retaining the county courts at Ossipee Corner; 22 were cast to remove them to West Ossipee ; 2 were cast in favor of their removal to Tamworth, and one vote for their removal to Ossipee Centre. 125 votes were cast for, 228 against, purchasing a county farm and building a jail.
Action of the Town in the War of 1861. - The second article in the warrant, calling a special town-meeting for the sixteenth of May, 1861, reads: "To see if the town will vote to raise a sum of money for the support of the families of those who enlist in the service of the United States in this town, and what, if any, sums said towns will pay as bounty money for volunteers and fitting out the same."
At the meeting held May 16, 1861, the following resolutions were pre- sented, read, and seconded : -
Resolred, That we, the citizens of Ossipee, stand ready at any and all times to furnish our just and equal proportion of the men and money which has been or may be called for,
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from the state of New Hampshire, by the General Government, for the purpose of maintain- ing the laws and Constitution of the United States of America.
Resolved, That Abraham Lincoln is legally and constitutionally the Chief Magistrate of the Union ; and it is a duty we owe to our country, our forefathers, and the rising generation, to sustain him in the performance of his official duties, in upholding and perpetuating our free government, and keeping the Stars and Stripes at the masthead, that they may never again be disgraced by neither rebels nor traitors.
Resolved, That we deem it the imperative duty of the General Government of our United States to hold forts. arsenals, and all other publie property which they now possess, and to resist all attacks from whatever quarter they may come, and to retake all important forts, ete., which will better enable the constitutional authorities to subject the rebels, and cause them to honor and respect the flag that has given the American people so much pride and honor both at home and abroad.
Resolved, That we claim fellowship with and desire the cooperation of all who regard the preservation of the Union under the Constitution as the paramount issue and repudiate all sectional parties and platforms both North and South.
It was voted that the selectmen be instructed to furnish the families of those citizens of Ossipee who have or may enlist in the service of the United States with such necessary supplies as the circumstances of those families may demand. The whole amount not to exceed a thousand dollars, and the select- men be authorized to borrow the money for that purpose on the credit of the town, if there be not sufficient money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
November 2, 1861, it was voted that a sum not exceeding one thousand dollars be raised for the aid of the wife and the children under sixteen years of age, and the other dependents of the volunteer or enrolled militia of this state, agreeably to an act passed June session, A.D. 1861, approved July 4, A.D. 1861, and the selectmen be authorized to borrow so much money on the credit of the town as they deem necessary for said purpose.
1862, July 22. The town voted that a sum not exceeding three thousand dollars should be raised for the aid of the families of the volunteer or enrolled militia. Also, voted that the selectmen be requested to appoint a committee of ten men to solicit volunteers and ten to get subscription for bounty, and call a meeting within three weeks.
August 11, 1862, it was voted that the selectmen of the town of Ossipee be authorized to pay one hundred and ten dollars to every resident of this town who shall volunteer and enlist on or before the twenty-fifth day of August into the service of the United States, under the call of government for 300,000 men made in June last, to be paid when mustered into service.
August 31, 1862. The selectmen are instructed to pay to each male citizen the sum of $125, who shall enlist for nine months to fill the quota of Ossipee under a call for 300,000 drafted men, said bounty to be paid when the enlisted men are accepted by the government.
September 15, 1862. The selectmen are directed to pay to each citizen of
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Ossipee who is drafted into the United States service to fill the quota under a call of 300,000 drafted men, one hundred dollars in money, one hundred dollars by note payable in one year with interest, one hundred dollars by note payable in two years with interest. Also, be it further voted that the selectmen be empowered to pledge the entire credit of the town in procuring the money and means necessary to execute and carry into effect this and previous votes.
October 6, 1862. Voted that the selectmen be directed and instructed to pay all volunteers who shall hereafter enlist to fill Ossipee's quota of three years' men the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars, to be paid when accepted by the government.
July 29, 1863. Voted to pay each drafted man or his substitute the sum of three hundred dollars, agreeable to an act passed June session, A.D. 1863.
December 2, 1863. The selectmen are instructed to pay each three years' volunteer a sum not exceeding seven hundred dollars, provided said volunteers are received and counted on Ossipee's quota of twenty-one men by the proper authorities, agreeable to the call of October 17, 1863, for 300,000 volunteers.
March 29, 1864. Resolved, That the town of Ossipee pay the sum of three hundred dollars to each volunteer for the quota of said town under the last call of the United States government for 200,000 men, as a town bounty to be paid in ten days after said volunteer shall be mustered into the service of the United States, and to fill all deficiencies on previous calls.
September 7, 1864. Resolved, That the town of Ossipee pay all one year's enlisted men since September first five hundred dollars, and all residents who enlist for two years since September first seven hundred dollars.
The citizens of Ossipee were prompt in furnishing money and men for the war of the Rebellion, and at the annual meeting in March, 1865, the selectmen were authorized to pay eight hundred dollars to enlisted men to fill the quota for the next call, if there should be one : also, voted to pay men who will vol- unteer to serve as substitutes for enrolled or drafted men residents of the town the largest sum authorized by law; also, voted to authorize the selectmen to hire $15,000 to pay the bounties.
March 19, 1867. The town voted to pay the sum of $200 in addition to the money already secured by them as bounty to reenlisted volunteers who reënlisted under the provisions of the vote passed December, 1863.
Later Chronicles. - 1867. The selectmen were instructed to provide one or more suitable public cemeteries. Representatives to the legislature were instructed to procure the passage of an act allowing the selectmen to refund all money paid out for substitutes, volunteers, and commutations by citizens of Ossipee.
1870, August 24. Two hundred and eighteen votes were cast in favor, and fifty-eight against, contributing five per cent. of the present valuation of the town in aid of the construction of the Portsmonth, Great Falls, and Conway railroad.
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1872. November 5, the Republican presidential ticket (Grant and Wilson) received 183 votes ; the Democratic ticket (Greeley and Brown) received 170; Prohibitory ticket (Black and Russell), 5 votes.
1876, March 18. Voted to authorize the selectmen to sell the Town Farm. Votes for revising the Constitution : in favor, 100 ; against, 2. November 7, the Democratic presidential electoral ticket received 208 votes, the Republican, 206.
1882. The town funded $30,000 of its indebtedness at four per cent. interest.
1888. The town votes "that the selectinen be instructed to obtain a road- machine on trial, and purchase the same if they think it advisable."
1889. Votes on the constitutional amendments submitted to the vote of the people by the Constitutional Convention: Article 1, for changing the time for the meeting of the legislature from June to January, etc .; in favor, 219; against, 19. Article 2, concerning the compensation of members of the legislature by a fixed salary; in favor, 224; against, 16. Article 3, relating to vacancies in state senate ; yes, 196 ; no, 29. Article 4, to have the speaker of the House act as governor in case of certain vacancies; in favor, 189; against, 18. Article 5, concerning the incorporation of an article in the State Constitution prohibiting the manufacture and sale of alcoholic and intoxicating liquors as a beverage ; in favor, 142; against, 126. Article 6, making the Bill of Rights non-sectarian ; in favor, 37 ; against, 206. Article 7, in reference to representation of classed towns ; in favor, 148; against, 36. Voted to raise $4,000 for town expenses (which includes $2,000 to pay bonds) ; $2,000 for highway purposes ; to allow " fifteen cents an hour for a man or a yoke of oxen, and what is right for other help;" to raise $200 in money to run road- machine; $700 for breaking roads, winter of 1888-89; $650 over what the law allows for the support of schools; to build schoolhouses at West Ossipee and Ossipee Pocket.
Amount of resident inventory, 1888: $228,626; non-resident, $30,209; total, $258,835. The amount raised this year for the use of the town is $2,500; for breaking highways, $2,500; school money, $910; extra school money, $650; interest on bonds, $880; amount to pay on bonds, $2,000; repair of schoolhouses, $1,100; soldiers, $25; state tax, $1,300; county tax, $2,612.22; total, $14,477.22. To this must be added $276.75 percentage, which gives as the expenditures of the town, as voted, $14,753.97. The rate of taxation was $2.85 on a valuation of one hundred dollars.
Thus by the aid of the records we have traced the progress of Ossipee from the humble circumstances of a pioneer settlement to the position of the county seat and the comfortable civilization of to-day. Its progress has been steadily forward. Here and there an apparent retrogression may occur, but it is only apparent. There is a wonderful advance in education
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from the few weeks of rudiments of reading, writing, and arithmetic, taught by incompetent instructors in private houses alternately, to the numerous schoolhouses of to-day, where capable teachers expound, under careful supervision, the wide range of instruction which causes the New England school to be a model to the world. Where the early settlers were compelled to go long miles over roads we could scarcely dignify with the name of highways to-day, to get the scanty religious services furnished semi-occasionally, we see now six churches well supplied with regular ministrations and at easy distance for every resident. Several railroad stations give access to all parts of the state, to Boston, to Portland, and wherever the fancy of the citizen may take him. The town has a reputation of staid conservatism, of intelligent activity and participation in the living issues of the day. Some of its sons have done honor to the parent town in other and distant places, and they still retain the fondest remembrances of the lakes, the plains, and the mountain attractions of Ossipee.
The old records are more than ordinarily legible and well preserved. Some of the entries are quaint, and many give a hint at unwritten history which set the imagination into weavings of romance. What would the most sanguine resident of the town in 1795 have thought if he had been shown that there would be raised as ordinary town expenses in Ossipee, ninety years later, such sums as these : over $600 for schools, $2,500 for summer highway tax, $5,400 for paying the just debts and necessary expenses of the town? And what would he have thought of the then unheard-of salary of forty dollars of each officer - clerk and treasurer? or of the usual annual vote of $25 for the decoration of the graves of soldiers of a great civil war?
A very complete report of the condition of the schools was made in 1885 by Edgar Weeks, school committeeman. From it we extract : -
The work of the teachers during the past year, with but very few exceptions, has been better than their wages; but we cannot expect to find a high grade of teachers in our smaller schools as long as the revenues of at least one half the districts in town remain so small as during the past two years. There have been exceptions to the rule, but it still holds true that poor pay means less experienced and less efficient teachers. . .. Many of the schools have been highly satisfactory, and none of them can be termed failures. Except in two or three districts the average attendance has been better than it was last year. In the schools as a whole it has been 80% of the number enrolled, against 73% last year. The average throughout the county in 1884 was 74.5%. . .. The introduction of Steele's Physiology, with lessons on narcotics, has been begun, but in view of the short terms of the past year, we did not think it wise to push the introduction at the expense of other studies already taken up. The knowl- edge of the unmixed evil resulting from the use of intoxicating drinks which can be gained from these volumes by our scholars would be a most potent influence to guard them against the greatest danger of the age; it would dispel illusions that surround the subject, and show the danger of the so-called temperate use of spirits, by proving that such use of them is im- possible ; that, in any quantity, however small, they are an enemy to the human constitution, and that their only proper place is in the medicine chest, labeled "poison." . . . With 337
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scholars enrolled, and a total appropriation of only $1,126, the need of increased support and more economical methods of expenditure is manifest. . . . The Centre district has proved its liberal and far-sighted policy by erecting and furnishing a model schoolhouse during the year. The schoolhouse at Ossipee Valley has been enlarged and improved. These and many other signs indicate the deep interest that is taken in our schools.
The report of 1886 was the last one made under the district system, and a few extracts from the able and exhaustive report of the committee, Edgar Weeks and Albra Fogg, will, taken with the above extracts, make a very good synopsis of the condition of schools at the advent of the town system.
The extra appropriation of $600 made last March has added considerably to the number and length of terms, and also has led to the employment of a better grade of teachers. With the exception of one or two terms, the money in all the districts has been very profitably expended. . . . In district No. 21 the work of two teachers, who were successively employed, was ended by sickness. Globes have been provided for many of the schoolrooms, and other and more expensive aids, in the form of maps, charts, and dictionaries, are urgently needed ; but owing to the enactment of the law providing for the town system of schools, we desisted from expenditures in this direction which were in contemplation. . .. At the beginning of the next school year, we are to go back to the town system of schools which was in use in this state until about 1805.
On the adoption of the town system there were 21 districts ; the number of scholars ranged from eight to forty-eight in each school ; the wages of teachers from $15 to $48 per month. The discipline and improvement are reported in most of the schools as "good," "very good," and " excellent." ,
CHAPTER LIV.
First Congregational Church - First Meeting-house - Freewill Baptist Churches - First Methodist Episcopal Church.
T HE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH of Ossipee was formed and established in Centre Ossipee, September 27, 1806, by Rev. James Thurston, of Newmarket, and Rev. David McGregore, of Bedford, mis- sionaries from the Piscataqua Missionary Society, with these members : Daniel Roberts, Shaber Nickerson, Ichabod Hodsdon, Patience Sanderson, Ruth Poland, Elizabeth Roberts, Mehitable Dodge, Polly Roberts, Sally Hodsdon, Winthrop Smart, Winthrop Smart, Jr, Betsey Sias, Martha Lear, Daniel
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Smith, Rhoda Smith, John White, Margaret White, James Buswell, Jonathan Crockett, Sarah Crockett. For eight or ten years this little band, united and harmonious, met together on the Sabbath in some private dwelling-house, for religious worship, and for ten or twelve years after, in a schoolhouse. When without a minister they would sing and pray and read sermons. A house for public worship was built in 1827, and about a year after a dwelling-house and fifty acres of land were purchased for a parsonage. This was a heavy tax upon the small means of the members of the society, but it was done willingly. In 1852 the interior of the church building was remodeled.
At first there was occasional preaching by itinerant missionaries, and by Rev. Samuel Hidden, who always manifested a deep interest in the little church. From 1823 to 1828 the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Thomas Jame- son, of Effingham, Rev. Messrs. Noyes, Gaylord, and Hubbard. In 1828 ministers of different denominations from the adjoining towns officiated. September 23, 1829, Rev. Samuel Arnold was installed pastor, remaining two years, when he requested a dismissal, which was granted; Rev. John Sanders supplied from 1832 to 1834; Rev. Abel Manning came in 1834 and remained until 1837, when Rev. John S. Winter was installed November 8, 1837, and continued until his death, January 30, 1848. During Mr. Winter's ministry there were added to the church forty-five by profession ; five by letter. In May, 1848, Rev. Horace Wood was engaged as stated supply ; he continued his ministrations over this church until October, 1863. Rev. Thomas V. Haines was his successor from December, 1863, to April, 1867. Rev. Thomas N. Lord was here from October, 1867, to October, 1868. Rev. David S. Hibbard was pastor from October 19, 1868, to January 4, 1871. For several years the pulpit was supplied by ministers and students. Daniel Roberts and Ichabod Hodsdon were chosen and ordained deacons at the organization, and Daniel Smith was chosen clerk. He died in January, 1864, and May 27, 1864, Levi Smith was chosen clerk; Joseph Hodsdon and Ebenezer W. Ambrose chosen deacons. March 10, 1865, at a regular meeting of the church, Deacon Joseph Hodsdon was chosen to receive and receipt for the legacy made the church by Deacon Daniel Smith. November 14, 1874, A. A. Moulton was chosen clerk to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Levi Smith. Mr Moulton has held the position to the present time, and the records have been carefully and well recorded. January 12, 1876, Rev. E. P. Eastman commenced his regular labors, preaching alternately at Centre Ossipee and at Ossipee Corner. Rev. Joseph Fawcett was pastor for a few years ; he was followed by Rev. Nelson M. Bailey, who officiated at the Centre in the morning, and at Ossipee in the afternoon. His pastorate ceased in March, 1889.
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