History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 110

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1200

USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 110
USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 110

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).

A committee, consisting of John S. Walker, Otis F. R. Waite and Charles A. Piddock, was

appointed to recommend a plan at a subsequent ineeting, who made a report, recommending the pur- chase of the Bailey building, at the junction of Main and Sullivan Streets, for four thousand five hundred dollars, and that the second story be fitted up for the library at an expense not exceeding one thou- sand dollars; the money for the purpose to be borrowed from the Tappan School fund at six per cent. interest. The committee stated that the building was then rented for four hundred and ninety dollars ; that, after taking what would be required for the library, the remaining part of the building would rent for more than enough to pay the interest on the debt incurred. After some dis- cussion the meeting voted to recommend to the town, at its next annual meeting, to purchase the Bailey building for four thousand five hundred dollars, and fit it up and alter and repair it at an expense not exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars.

At the annual town-meeting, in March, 1877, it was

" Voted, that a board of five Trustees be chosen by the Town, and be authorized to purchase in behalf of the Town the Bailey Building, so called; to fit up such portion of the second story as may be necessary for the accommodation of the Fiske Free Library. Such purchase not to exceed Forty-five Hundred Dollars, and such alterations not to exceed the sum of twenty-five Hundred Dollars. And that the said Trustees be authorized to draw from the Tappan Fund for the requisite sum to carry out this order, and pay therefor from the rents of said building interest at the rate of six per cent. per annum. And that said Board of Trustees, and their successors hereafter, have the custody of the Fiske Free Library, instead of the High School Committee. Or that said Board be further authorized, if in their judgment they think proper, to purchase and fit up some other building, not to exceed the sum heretofore named for said purpose."

At the same meeting Daniel W. Johnson, Otis F. R. Waite, Alfred T. Bachelder, Ormon B. Way and Algernon Willis were elected and qualified as trustees of the Fiske Free Library.

The trustees at once took a deed in the name

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of the town of the Bailey building, paying there- for four thousand five hundred dollars. Before anything had been done by them toward altering and fitting up the building for the Library, a special town-meeting was held on the 28th of April, 1877, at which the following resolution was passed :

" Resolved, That the Town Treasurer and Select- men be authorized and instructed to give the note or notes of the Town, at six per cent. interest, to the Trustees of the Tappan Fund, for the sum appro- priated at the last annual Town-Meeting for the purposes relating to the Fiske Free Library, not ex- ceeding in all the sum of Five Thousand Dollars."

The trustees did not call for the five hundred dollars authorized to be expended for alterations, etc., and made no essential changes in the build- ing, and the Library remained in the High School building. At the annual town-meeting in March, 1878, the trustees reported :

Received and will be due for rents of

Library building, April 1st, 1878, $420.00

Interest on $4500, one year, $270.00

Paid water rent and repairs, 12.74 282.74

Leaving a balance over interest, water rent and repairs of, . $137.26

At this meeting the town, on the recommenda- tion of the trustees, re-enacted its vote of 1877, and appropriated two thousand five hundred dollars to alter and repair the Library building. The trustees procured plans and specifications, and let the contract to do the work to Messrs. H. R. Beckwith and Levi R. Chase, of Clare- mont. The work was very satisfactorily done by them for a little more than two thousand three hundred dollars. The balance of the two thou - sand five hundred dollars was expended in furnish- ing the Library rooms

Early in September, 1878, the books were moved from the High School building to the new rooms, about six hundred new books added, re- arranged and catalogued. At a meeting of the trustees on the 16th, Miss Abbie Field was chosen librarian, and has served faithfully in that

capacity ever since. Messrs. Batchelder and Willis removed from town, and their places were filled by Messrs H. W. Parker and Ira Corby.

Mr. Fiske made a will, giving to the town of Claremont nine thousand dollars-five thousand dollars to be expended in books as they should be needed, and as he pleased, should he live to expend that sum; the balance, if any, at his death, to go into the hands of the trustees, to be expended by them for the same purpose, and the other four thousand dollars to be a fund to be invested by the trustees, the interest of which was to be used for the purchase of books. His wife, Miranda S. Fiske, in her will added one thousand dollars to this fund, making it five thousand dollars. Mr. Fiske died February 8, 1879, and Mrs. Fiske deceased May 27, 1882. At the death of Mr. Fiske there was found by a detailed account left by him, to be unexpended for books $1194.68.

Books have been added to the Library from time to time by Mr. Fiske and by the trustees, so that the whole number of volumes is about four thousand volumes, many of them expensive books for reference. The advantages of such an institution as this can be realized only by those fortunate enough to enjoy them.

WAR OF 1812 .- Soon after the declaration of war, in 1812, President Madison ordered the Sec- retary of War to request Governor Plumer, of New Hampshire, to order into the service of the United States, upon requisition of General Dear- born, such part of the quota of the militia of this State as he should deem necessary for the defense of the sea-coast of New Hampshire. During this war many Claremont men served for different periods, most of them in defenses of Portsmouth, and as minute-men, stationed at Concord and other places.

The rolls of the officers and soldiers during this War of 1812-15 are very imperfect and in such a confused state that they are not to be relied upon, and town records are equally un- reliable ; therefore, it would be vain for any one, however diligent in research, or careful in giving

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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

results, to undertake to vouch for the complete- ness or accuracy of any record which he might make of any town's participation in the scenes of that war.

By the New Hampshire Adjutant-General's report, it therefore appears that Captain Joseph Kimball, of Plainfield, commande ł a company, in which were the following-named men put down as of Claremont. They were all volunteers, and enlisted on the 12th of September, 1814, for three months :

David Dean, ensign ; James Osgood, sergeant; Isaac F. Hunton, Samuel Stone, John McDaniels, Charles C. Stewart, Benedict Taylor, Shaler Buel, Andrew Bartlet, Henry G. Lane, Benj. Perkins, privates ; Abijah Dean, waiter.

Captain Reuben Marsh, of Chesterfield, com- manded a company, in which were the following men from Claremont, who enlisted September 26, 1814, for sixty days: Charles A. Saxton, Asa Baker, James McLaffin, James Fisher, and Samuel Petty.

George W. Fargo, of Claremont, enlisted in Captain Samuel Aiken, Jr.'s company, for sixty days, September 26, 1814, and was a waiter. Captain Aiken was of Chester. Where these companies served is not stated.

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

The War of the Rebellion in the United States of America opened with an assault upon Fort Sumter on the 12th of April, 1861, and closed with the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, then serving his second term as President of the United States, on the 14th of April, 1865. It is not necessary now to recount the causes, running through many years, which led to the insurrec- tion of the people of a portion of the States of the Union against the general government, and ar- rayed more than a million citizens in arms, invol- ving the expenditure of immense treasure and the loss of the lives of hundreds of thousands of the country's bravest and best men on either side, car- rying sorrow and mourning to many hearth-stones and multitudes of loving hearts. The causes have

passed away ; the effects remain to be recorded on the page of history.

While all these momentous events were trans- piring, the people of Claremont had their share in them. Their coffers were opened ; their young men were sent forth with a blessing-some of them never to return, others to come home maimed or broken in health for life, and a few to return at the end of the great struggle, weary and worn, crowned with victorious wreaths. With great unanimity the men raised their voices in behalf of the cause of their country, and the women gave it their unbidden tears.

On the 12th of April, 1861, South Carolina, having a few months previously, by her Legis- lature, passed an act seceding from the Union of States, commenced open hostilities by firing from James' Island upon Fort Sumter, garrisoned by Major Robert Anderson and about seventy men under his command. Fort Sumter was besieged for two days, her sources of supply cut off, when, on the 14th of April Major Anderson sur- rendered the fort to the rebels, himself and his command marching out and embarking on board the United States ship " Baltic " for New York.

On the 15th of April President Lincoln issued a proclamation, stating that an insurrection against the government of the United States had broken out in the States of South Carolina, Georgia, Ala- bama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, and declared the ports of those States in a state of blockade. On the same day the President issued . a call for seventy-five thousand three months vol- unteers, to aid in suppressing the rebellion against the government, and called upon New Hampshire for a regiment of militia.

In response to this call of the President, on April 17th, Ichabod Goodwin, then Governor of New Hampshire, issued an order to Joseph C. Abbott, adjutant-general, to make proclamation, calling for volunteers from the enrolled militia of the State for one regiment of ten companies, each company to consist of three commissioned officers, four sergeants, four corporals and sixty-four pri- vates, with the requisite number of field and staff

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officers, to be uniformed, armed and equipped at the expense of the State, and to be held in readi- ness until called for by the United States govern- ment.

Claremont was all on fire to do her share toward putting down the Rebellion. On the 18th of April William P. Austin enrolled his name as a soldier, took the oaths prescribed, and was on that day ap- pointed recruiting officer for the town of Clare- mont and vicinity. He at once opened an office for recruits, and entered upon his duties. Young men flocked in faster than they could be examined and sworn.

Notice was issued for a meeting of citizens at the town hall on Friday evening, the 19th. At the hour appointed the building was filled to overflow- ing, ladies occupying the galleries. It was such a meeting of the citizens of Claremont, without dis- tinction of party or sex, as had seldom been held. The meeting was called to order by the venerable General Erastus Glidden, and Hon. Jonas Living- ston was chosen president ; Ambrose Cossit, Eras- tus Glidden, Walter Tufts, Thomas J. Harris, A. F. Snow, Josiah Richards and Albro Blodgett, vice-presidents ; Edward L. Goddard and John M. Whipple, secretaries. On taking the chair Mr. Livingston made an enthusiastic and patriotic speech. Patriotic speeches were also made by H. W. Parker, Ira Colby, Jr., A. F. Snow, Benjamin P. Walker and Samuel G. Jarvis, who deposited one hundred dollars as the nucleus of a fund for the support of the families of those who should en- list. Rev. Messrs. R. F. Lawrence and R. S. Stubbs, William P. Austin and Henry G. Web- ber, of Charlestown, made stirring speeches. A. F. Snow, Otis F. R. Waite, John S. Walker, Joseph Weber, Simeon Ide and George W. Blod- gett were chosen a committee to prepare and re- port resolutions expressive of the sentiments of the town in regard to the Rebellion. The meeting was adjourned to the next evening.

On Saturday evening the town hall was again crowded, and the excitement was on the increase. The meeting was opened with prayer by the Right Rev. Carlton Chase, D.D., Bishop of New Hamp-

shire. The young men just enlisted by William P. Austin were marched into the hall, where front seats had been reserved for them, and met with an enthusiastic reception. As they entered, the audience rose to their feet and gave three hearty cheers. The president, Mr. Livingston, led the speaking, and was followed by Otis F. R. Waite, from the committee on resolutions, who reported the following, which were unanimously adopted :

" Resolved, That all other considerations and issues are now absorbed in the one vital question, 'Shall our Government be sustained ?'-a question of national life and independence, or of ignominious submission to the reign of barbarism and anarchy, or of unmiti- gated despotism.

" Resolved, That the issues forced upon us by the South, and the only one presented, is the existence of any Government,-and more directly of that Govern- ment under which the American people have lived and prospered for a period of eighty years.

" Resolved, That for the maintenance and perpetuity of the priceless boon of civil and religious liberty, bequeathed by our forefathers in the Constitution of this Union and the free institutions it guarantees, we would imitate their example in unitedly and unre- servedly tendering to the Government, if need be, 'our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honors.'

" Resolved, That in this first call to defend the Con- stitution and the laws at the point of the bayonet, we view with patriotic pride the ready response of the noble sons of New Hampshire and of New England, and the Middle and Western States.

" Resolved, That while our neighbors are called to defend our flag abroad, we will fill their baskets and their stores, and protect their hearth-stones at home."

Spirited and patriotic addresses were made by Charles H. Eastman, Thomas J Harris, Arthur Chase, Simeon Ide, Thomas Kirk, Otis F. R. Waite, Rev. Carlos Marston, Herman H Cum- mings, Oscar J. Brown and Edward D. Baker, when, after three rousing cheers for the "Stars and Stripes," and three more for the brave young recruits who were present, on motion of Ambrose Cossit, a committee, consisting of Ambrose Cossit,

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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Simeon Ide and Thomas J. Harris, was appointed to petition the selectmen to call a town-meeting for the purpose of making an appropriation of two thousand dollars, or more, " for the support of the families of those of our fellow-citizens who have or who may enlist in defense of the country." The meeting then adjourned to the following Tuesday evening.

On Tuesday evening, the 23d of April, the people again assembled at the town hall, which was densely crowded, and many were unable to gain admittance. This seemed to be the culmina- ting point of the excitement. General Erastus Glidden, in the absence of the president, occupied the chair. Patriotic songs were sung and fervent speeches made by John S. Walker, Chase Noyes, George W. Blodgett, William P. Austin, Henry Fitch and Rev. R. F. Lawrence. Frank S. Fiske, of Keene, special aid to the adjutant- general in the recruiting service, was present, and, being called upon, made an eloquent and stirring speech. Mr. Austin was present with fifty recruits.

Immediately after the call of the President for troops, the ladies of the town bought large quantities of flannel and yarn, and went to work vigorously, making shirts and drawers and knit- ting socks for the soldiers. Forty or more met daily for this purpose at Fraternity Hall.

George N. Farwell and Edward L. Goddard authorized William Clark, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, to furnish the families of volunteers with such provisions as they might need, in his discretion, and they would hold themselves per- sonally responsible for the same. Under these instructions families were helped to the amount of $222.27, which was afterward assumed by the town.

On the 20th Otis F. R. Waite, of Claremont, was appointed by Governor Goodwin general re- cruiting agent for the western part of the State, to act under orders from the military headquarters of the State. On the 29th he received the follow- ing telegram from the adjutant-general : " Close up the stations and come on with the recruits to-

morrow, as proposed. Telegraph me that you will do so. Cars will be for you at Nashua." The recruits from other stations having been sent for- ward, Major Waite started from Claremont, on the morning of the 30th, with eighty-five men enlisted by William P. Austin. They left the village at six o'clock, and marched to the Sullivan Railroad station, followed by large numbers of relatives and friends of the recruits and other citizens. At seven o'clock, after a most touching leave-taking, which will not soon be forgotten by those who participated in or witnessed it. the company went on board the cars, which moved off' amid the cheers of the three or four hundred people who had assembled to see their friends and fellow-citizens depart for the war. They went by way of Bellows Falls, Keene, Fitchburg, Groton [now Ayer] Junction, Nashua and Manchester, arriving at Concord about three o'clock in the afternoon. At every considerable railway station multitudes of people were assembled, who gave the men their blessing and cheered them on their way. Before leaving Claremont our citizens had pro- vided the recruits with a full day's rations of cold meats, bread, pickles, etc.

It was understood that the men enlisted at Claremont would go in a company by themselves, and would have the privilege of choosing their own officers from their own number. Accordingly, when the company was full, they clected William P. Austin, captain ; John W. Lawrence, first lieutenant ; John Dean, second lieutenant ; Ziba L. Davies, third lieutenant; Homer M. Crafts, Baron S. Noyes, George H. Weber, Selden S. Chandler, sergeants; Edward E. Story, Charles H. Parmalee, Chester F. Tebbits and Joseph Richardson, corporals. The privates of this com; pany from Claremont were

Oscar C. Allen. Lyman F. Parrish.

Alfred Talham.

Everett W. Nelson.

Edwin M. Gowdey. Ralph N. Brown. Joseph Levoy.

Charles H. Sprague.

George P. Tenney.

Henry W. Patrick.

Joseph Peno.

William H. Nichols.

Ebenezer E. Cummings. Andrew J. Straw.

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Charles W. Wetherbee. John W. Davis.

John F. Wheeler. John Straw.

Wyman R. Clement.

George W. Straw.

Alba D. Abbott.

Charles M. Judd.

Heman Allen.

Henry S. Morse.

Albert F. Russell.

Charles E. Putnam.

Albert E. Parmalee. Matthew T. Towne. J. Parker Read.

Charles F. Colston.

Edward Hall.

Napoleon B. Osgood.

Jerome B. Douglass. James Dumage.

Henry F. Roys. William H. Pendleton. Julius E. Heywood. Alanson F. Wolcott. William H. Blanchard. Anson M. Sperry. Warren W. Howard. Dennis Taylor. Lewis W. Ladneer.

The other members of this company were from Acworth, Charlestown, Cornish and Unity.

A finer company of men than those enlisted by Captain Austin did not enter the army as volun- teers. They enlisted from a sense of duty, the pay of privates being then but eleven dollars per month, and there was no offer of bounty from the town, State or United States.

Before leaving town, citizens presented the dif- ferent recruits with dirk knives, revolvers, etc. At a large meeting at the town hall, on the eve- ning of the 29th, Lieutenant John W. Lawrence was presented with a sword by Sherman Living- ston. The presentation speech was made by H. W. Parker, and responded to in behalf of Lieu- tenant Lawrence by Ira Colby, Jr. George G. Ide, in behalf of the Claremont Manufacturing Company, presented each member of the company with a handsomely bound pocket Testament. The ladies gave to each two pairs of flannel drawers, two flannel shirts, woolen socks, towels, pocket handkerchiefs and needle-book well filled with useful articles.

On arrival at Concord the company was sent to Camp Union ; but, being more than men enough already there for one regiment, they were sent to Camp Constitution, Portsmouth, where the Second Regiment was being organized. Under the call of the President for one regiment from New Hampshire, in ten days men enough had been

enlisted and sent to rendezvous at Concord and Portsmouth for more than two.

On the 3d of May the President issued a call for twenty thousand volunteers for three years, and New Hampshire was immediately ordered to take no more volunteers for three months, but to enlist, uniform, arm and hold, subject to orders from the War Department, a regiment of three years' men. In consequence of this order the alternative was presented to the recruits then at Camp Constitution to re-enlist for three years, or be discharged. Before this alternative was of- fered, however, the recruits were all re-examined by a surgeon, and those found physically disqual- ified for service were discharged. Among these were Edwin M. Gowdey, Charles F. Colston and Joseph F. Garfield, from Claremont.

During the organization of the Second Regi- ment a misunderstanding arose between Captain Austin and one or two of the other officers and some of the men, and the company was broken up. None of the officers chosen before the company left Claremont were commissioned. Captain Aus- tin and Lieutenant Lawrence returned home, and Lieutenants Dean and Davis re-enlisted for three years as privates. Forty-three of the men also re-enlisted for three years, and were put into dif- ferent companies, while the remainder were either discharged or sent to Fort Constitution, Ports- mouth Harbor, to serve out the term of their en- listment.

On the 8th of May, agreeably to warrant, a town-meeting was held, at which a vote was unan- imously passed to appropriate a sum not to exceed twenty-five hundred dollars, to be paid to soldiers' families wherever and whenever it may be needed, and Albro Blodgett was chosen, with discretion- ary power, to carry out the vote. Up to March, 1862, he paid out for this purpose two thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven dollars and twen- ty three cents.

In most of the churches in town sermons were preached against the Rebellion, and prayers offered for the success of our arms in putting it down. There was an almost unanimous expression of

William E. Parrish.

Sylvester E. H. Wakefield.

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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

condemnation of the South, and political party lines seemed for a time to be almost obliterated. Every man of influence encouraged enlistments, and favored all reasonable projects for rendering aid to the families of such as had gone or might go to the war. Among the most zealous in the work of raising recruits and aiding families were many who, as Democrats, opposed the election of Abraham Lincoln for President.

The ladies kept at work making articles needed by soldiers in hospitals and in the field ; frequent meetings were held during the summer, and a most patriotic spirit was manifested among the people.

In July a company, called the Home Guard, was organized, consisting of over a hundred men, many of them past middle age, and among the most prominent citizens of the town, all desirous to do something for the cause of the country. The company chose the following officers : Arthur Chase, captain ; Edwin Vaughan, first lieutenant ; John M. Whipple, second lieutenant; Ira Colby, Jr., Francis F. Haskell, Henry S. Parmalee, William D. Rice, sergeants; Joseph Weber, John S. M. Ide, D. C. Colby and John Geer, corporals. The company had frequent meetings for drill, and made quite an imposing appearance.

In June, 1861, the Legislature passed an aet authorizing towns to raise money by vote to aid families of volunteers.

About the 20th of July Governor Berry issued an order for enlisting, arming and equipping the Third Infantry Regiment for three years, or during the war, and Dr. E. C. Marsh was ap- pointed recruiting officer for Claremont and viein- ity. He soon enlisted thirty-two men, twenty-two of whom belonged in Claremont. These men left Claremont for the rendezvous at Concord on the 19th of August. These recruits attended the Methodist Church on Sunday afternoon, the 18th, and the Rev. R. S. Stubbs preached a sermon from the text,-" Stand fast in the faith; quit you like men; be strong." On other occasions Mr. Stubbs had, through his sermons, shown forth his unconditional loyalty and his entire devotion to

the country ; but, on this occasion, when address- ing men who were about to take their lives in their hands and go forth to do battle for the coun. try, he was particularly eloquent and impres- sive.

On the 20th of August the Governor issued an order to raise the Fourth and Fifth Regiments. Dr. E. C. Marsh was ordered to recruit for the Fourth, and Charles H. Long was authorized to raise a company for the Fifth Regiment, the men, when enlisted, to choose their own company offi- cers. All the men accepted and mustered into the service under this call were to receive from the State a bounty of ten dollars. The men enlisted by Mr. Long, making nearly a full company before leaving Claremont, made choice of the following officers : Charles H. Long, captain ; Jacob W. Keller, first lieutenant ; Charles O. Ballou, second lieutenant, who were subsequently commissioned by the Governor.

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History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 110

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis Number of Pages: 1200

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1200