USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Lebanon > History of Lebanon, N.H., 1761-1887 > Part 25
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may soon be said of this beautiful river, with even more truth than applied to the poet's glorious lines upon the Thames,-
"Though with those streams it no resemblance hold, Whose foam is amber and whose gravel gold,
Its greater, but less guilty, wealth explore,
Search not its bottom, but survey its shore."
And now what is the particular cause of all the prosperity and wealth which I foresee in this valley? What is it that has chiseled down these Grafton rocks and made this road which brings my own house so near to the home of my most distant New Hampshire hearer? It is popular industry; it is free labor. Probably there never was an undertaking which was more the result of popular feeling than this. I am told there are fifteen hundred stockholders in the enterprise, the capital being two mil- lions and a half. That single fact would serve to show the gen- erally diffused interest felt by the people in its success. It is but three or four years since, when, having occasion to visit my farm at Franklin, I observed a line of shingles stretching across my fields. Asking my farmer what was the meaning of all this, I was answered, "It is the line of our railroad." Our rail- road !! That is the way the people talked about it. I laughed at the idea at first; and, in conversation with a neighbor, in- quired what in the world they wanted of a railroad there. "Why," was the reply," the people want a ride behind the iron horse, and that ride they will have." This day they have had it. The result has proved, not that my friend was too sanguine, but that I was too incredulous.
It is the spirit and influence of free labor, it is the indomitable industry of a free people, that has done all this. There is mani- fested in its accomplishment that without which the most fer- tile field by nature must remain forever barren. Human sa- gacity, skill and industry, the zealous determination to improve and profit by labor, have done it all. That determination has no- where been more conspicuously displayed than here. New Hamp- shire, it is true, is no classic ground. She has no Virgil and no Ec- logues. She has a stern climate and a stern soil. But her cli- mate is fitted to invigorate men and her soil is covered with the
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HISTORY OF LEBANON.
evidences of the comforts of individual and social life. As the traveler pursues his way along her roads, he sees all this. He sees those monuments of civilization and refinement, churches ; he sees those marks of human progress, schoolhouses, with chil- dren clustering around their doors as thick as bees. And they are bees, except in one respect. The distinction is, that whereas the insect day after day returns to its home laden with the spoils of the field, the human creature is admitted to the hive but once. His mind is furnished with the stores of learning, he is allowed to drink his fill at the fountains of knowledge, his energies are trained in the paths of industry, and he is then sent out into the world, to acquire his own subsistence and help to promote the welfare of his kind.
It is an extraordinary era in which we live. It is altogether new. The world has seen nothing like it before. I will not pretend, no one can pretend, to discern the end; but everybody knows that the age is remarkable for scientific research into the heavens, the earth, and what is beneath the earth; and perhaps more remarkable still for the application of this scientific re- search to the pursuits of life. The ancients saw nothing like it. The moderns have seen nothing like it till the present genera- tion. Shakespeare's fairy said he would
"Put a girdle round about the earth In forty minutes."
Professor Morse has done more than that; his girdle requires far less time for its traverse. In fact, if one were to send a dispatch from Boston by the telegraph at twelve o'clock, it would reach St. Louis at a quarter before twelve. This is what may be called doing a thing in less than no time. We see the ocean navigated and the solid land traversed by steam power, and intelligence communicated by electricity. Truly this is al- most a miraculous era. What is before us no one can say, what is upon us no one can hardly realize. The progress of the age has almost outstripped human belief; the future is known only to Omniscience.
In conclusion, permit me to say that all these benefits and ad- vantages conferred upon us by Providence should only strengthen our resolves to turn them to the best account, not
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merely in material progress, but in the moral improvement of our minds and hearts. Whatsoever else we may see of the won- ders of science and art, our eyes should not be closed to that great truth, that, after all, "the fear of the Lord is the be- ginning of wisdom."-The Works of Daniel Webster, Volume II.
Historical Miscellany.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
At the November meeting, 1844, the following article appeared in the warrant:
To take the sense of the votes upon the question, Shall capi- tal punishment be abolished ?
Votes in favor of the abolition, 70.
Votes against the abolition, 159.
EXTINGUISHMENT OF FIRES.
At the annual meeting in 1845 the town voted to choose a committee of three to take into consideration the whole subject of the extinguishment of fires and the adoption of certain laws relating thereto. Timothy Kenrick, Watson K. Eldridge and Elisha P. Liscomb were named as that committee.
At an adjourned meeting held April 1, 1845, voted to adopt certain sections of Chapter III of the Revised Statutes. These sections define the duties of firewards in towns, give them author- ity over all fire apparatus and firemen, the precautions against fires and measures for extinguishing them.
One of the sections provides as follows: "Every house or building with fireplaces or stoves shall have thereon a good secure ladder or ladders, reaching from the ground to the ridgepole, and shall be provided with one leathern bucket of such size and form as the firewards may prescribe for every two fireplaces or stoves in such houses; and if the owner shall not provide and keep in repair such buckets and ladders he shall be liable to a penalty of six dollars for every three months' neglect."
By a vote of the town all persons living two hundred and fifty rods from the town house were exempt from the duties pre- scribed by this section.
Other acts or parts of them relating to the same subject were adopted from time to time, when at a special meeting held May
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HISTORICAL MISCELLANY.
29, 1848, the town voted to appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars towards purchasing a fire engine and all necessary ap- paratus, on condition that the same sum be raised by subscrip- tion or otherwise and the said engine and apparatus be to the satisfaction of the selectmen. This was the engine now known as No. 2, and proved to be of excellent quality. Before this the town had used a small engine made by Stephen Kendrick, upon which W. S. Ela says he worked. It was of little power, had no hose and remained for years as a curiosity, and finally suc- cumbed to the depredations of the small or large boys.
VOTE OF THANKS TO GEORGE H. LATHROP.
At the close of an adjournment of the annual meeting of 1845 the following vote was passed: "Voted that the thanks of this meeting be rendered to George H. Lathrop Eq. for the Courteous, able, and impartial manner with which he has pre- sided over the deliberations of this meeting."
This was an unusual proceeding and indicates that the meet- ing had been a stormy one. Mr. Lathrop was an excellent pre- siding officer, having all the qualities ascribed to him in the vote.
TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.
The legislature in its June session, 1846, passed an act author- izing towns to raise, "in addition to the amount by law required to be raised therein for the support of common schools, a sum not exceeding five per cent of such amount, to be applied to the support of a Teachers' Institute within the limits of the county in which said town is situated."
At the annual meeting in 1849 the following resolution was adopted :
Resolved that we approve of the plan of establishing a 'Teachers' Institute' in the Western Judicial District of the County of Grafton, and that the Selectmen be directed to pay out of any of the towns money not otherwise appropriated our proportion of such expense as may be necessary for the same, not exceeding twenty-eight dollars ($28), when they shall be satisfied that the same is established and in operation, and that our jurymen and other Gentlemen attending Court at Haverhill, in April next, be requested to attend any meeting that may be held there for the organization of a "Teachers Institute' and act therein in behalf of the town
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HISTORY OF LEBANON.
This prompt action of the town in behalf of an institution which has been of great service to the common schools of the state shows a commendable interest in education.
At this same meeting the town provided for the printing of the reports of town officers thereafter. In 1890 the town clerk succeeded in finding a copy of the reports for each year and had them bound together in one volume, greatly to the convenience of the town officers and the public.
NEW BURYING GROUND.
At the annual meeting, 1845: "Voted that the Selectmen immediately lay out the new Burying Ground into suitable lanes, alleys and suitable lots, putting up monuments to designate or marking the same, and make a plan of the same and lodge the same with the Town Clerk of said town; that they designate one half of said lots as for sale, at a price not exceeding five dollars for any one lot, and so in proportion to their situation, and that the other lots be free for the use of any of the inhabitants of said town without any pay, and that any person desiring any lot appraised by said Selectmen, may have the same by paying the price so set by said Selectmen to said lot, and having his name written in said lot in the plan in the Town Clerk's office, and that the price for which any lot or lots may be sold be laid out in putting up permament monuments to said lots and in other ways of improving and ornamenting said Burying ground & that it be the duty of the Selectmen and all others concerned, to see that the lanes and alleys be not infringed upon, and that these regulations be strictly adhered to, and that it be the duty of the Town Clerk to enter the name of any inhabitant on any of the free lots, when the same may be used by any of the inhabi- tant's family as a burying lot."
These instructions refer to that part of the village cemetery lying in the rear of the Methodist Church. There was some dif- ference of opinion as to the way of disposing of the lots, for in the November meeting of the same year, when the question came up, "To see what course the Town will take with regard to selling the lots in the Burying ground," it was voted to postpone the Article indefinitely. But at the annual meeting in 1846 the town reaffirmed the former instruction to the selectmen.
HON. A. H. CRAGIN.
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HISTORICAL MISCELLANY.
TOMB.
In 1843 the town again directed the selectmen to erect a tomb in the village cemetery, and also gave liberty to individuals and families to do so, but nothing was done.
After the close of the annual meeting in March, 1849, it was discovered that the meeting was illegal. Application was made to Timothy Kenrick, a justice of the peace, to call another meet- ing, who states that "the meeting appears to him not to have been held according to law," but does not state the ground for his belief. The curiosity of the historian was excited, a careful scrutiny of the warrant was made; no defect was apparent. It seemed to be properly signed, sealed and duly certified as to posting. The posting seemed to be according to law, viz., "A true and attested copy" at the place of meeting, and a like copy at the tavern of Harlow S. Nash. The time it remained posted, not counting the day of posting or the day of meeting, seemed to be according to law-fourteen days. The question was sub- mitted to others; they were no wiser. It finally occurred to the historian to examine the law as to the time of posting, and he found that law then required fifteen days and not fourteen. Of course the town lost its vote for all state and county officers, but was represented in the legislature. At the first meeting A. H. Cragin was chosen town clerk, in place of Timothy Kenrick, but at the second meeting Kenrick secured the office.
1850 TO 1860. POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
In 1850 the vote for governor was as follows: Nathaniel S. Berry, F. S., 36 .; Samuel Dinsmore, I. D., 146; Levi Chamber- lain, W., 186.
In the state Nathaniel S. Berry, F. S., 6,472; Samuel Dins- more, I. D., 30,750; Levi Chamberlain, W., 18,512.
In 1851 the vote for governor was as follows: John Atwood, F. S., a new candidate, 55; Thomas E. Sawyer, W., 134; Sam- uel Dinsmore, D., 134.
In the state, John Atwood, F. S., 12,049; Thomas E. Sawyer, W., 18,458; Samuel Dinsmore, D., 27,425.
The Free Soil vote increased 5,577; in the Whig vote there was a slight loss; the Democratic vote decreased 3,326. There
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HISTORY OF LEBANON.
was no election by the people and Samuel Dinsmore was chosen by the legislature.
In 1852 the vote for governor was as follows: John Atwood, F. S., 27; Thomas E. Sawyer, W., 210; Noah Martin, D., 145. A loss for the Free Soilers and a large gain for the Whigs.
In the state, John Atwood, F. S., 9,497; Thomas E. Sawyer, 19,857 ; Noah Martin, D., 30,800. The Free Soil vote decreased while that of the Whigs and Democrats increased.
In 1853 the vote for governor was as follows: John H. White, F. S., 37; James Bell, W., 159; Noah Martin, D., 134.
In the state, John H. White, 7,995; James Bell, 17,590; Noah Martin, 30,934. Both the Whig and Free Soil vote decreased, a slight gain to the Democratic vote.
In 1854 the vote for governor was as follows: Jared Perkins, F. S., 52; James Bell, W., 181; Nathaniel B. Baker, 134, showing an increase in the Free Soil and Whig vote.
In the state, Jared Perkins, 11,080; James Bell, 16,941; Na- thaniel B. Baker, 29,788. The Free Soil vote increased, Whig and Democratic votes decreased.
In 1855 a new factor in political affairs suddenly developed itself-the Know Nothing or American party. This was a secret organization, whose action was mainly directed against Catho- licism. In the town the vote was as follows: Asa Fowler, F. S., 9; James Bell, W., 33; Nathaniel B. Baker, D., 101; Ralph Met- calf, 282.
In the state, Asa Fowler, 1,237; James Bell, 3,436; Nathaniel B. Baker, 27,055; Ralph Metcalf, 32,769.
An analysis of the vote in town and state shows that the American party drew its support from the Whigs and Free Soilers.
In 1856 the vote for governor was as follows: Ichabod Good- win, W., 29; John S. Wells, D., 137; Ralph Metcalf, American, 304.
In the state, Ichabod Goodwin, 2,360; John S. Wells, 32,031; Ralph Metcalf, 32,119. It will be noticed that the Free Soil vote disappears in both town and state. Metcalf not having a ma- jority, was chosen by the legislature.
During 1856 this uncertainty in the minds of the people came to an end. Purposes and aims became fixed, issues were framed
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HISTORICAL MISCELLANY.
and the people took their positions on the great questions of the time and held them until these questions were decided once for all coming times.
The Free Soil, the Whig and the American parties disappeared and became the Republican party, while the Democratic party continued on its way.
In 1857 the vote for governor was as follows: John S. Wells, D., 154; William Haile, R., 292.
In the state, John S. Wells, 31,214; William Haile, 34,216, who was the first Republican governor.
In 1858 the vote for governor was as follows: Asa P. Cate, D., 149; William Haile, R., 311.
In the state, Asa P. Cate, 31,679; William Haile, 36,212, an increased majority.
In 1859, the vote for governor was as follows: Asa P. Cate, D., 165; Ichabod Goodwin, R., 329.
In the state, Asa P. Cate, 32,802; Ichabod Goodwin, 36,326.
TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.
At the annual meeting in 1850 the town appropriated twenty- five dollars for the support of a Teachers' Institute. In 1851 the same vote was passed.
TOWN HOUSE.
At the annual meeting in 1851 the following Resolution was adopted :
Resolved that the sum of five hundred dollars, heretofore voted by the town for the purchasing of an engine, with an addition of two hun- dred dollars be appropriated by the town to purchase land on which to remove the Town House, if within six months a subscription of re- sponsible individuals for a sum in the opinion of the Selectmen, suf- ficient to remove and underpin the same be lodged with them. And Abner Allen, Roswell Sartwell and Ephraim Wood are hereby appointed a Committee to buy for the Town and take a deed of such piece of land as they may judge best, and direct where the house shall be set; and those who subscribe shall begin the work of moving and setting, and carry it on under the direction of the Selectmen to completion, and to their final acceptance-the Universalist Society being allowed and se- cured the same privileges they now enjoy for occupying the upper story, and the Village Precinct be allowed to fit up and use one half of the basement for an Engine House and for fire apparatus And the vote heretofore passed by the town, appropriating five hundred dollars to- wards an Engine is hereby rescinded and annulled.
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HISTORY OF LEBANON.
To this action of the town there was much opposition, as the following indicates :
July 20, 1850, at a special meeting :
Voted that the vote passed at the annual meeting in March last ap- propriating a sum not exceeding seven Hundred dollars for the pur- chase of land on which to set the Old Meeting house be confirmed; pro- vided that a good and sufficient bond be given to the town to the ac- ceptance of the Selectmen; that said house be removed without damage, and well fitted up to the satisfaction of the Selectmen, before the work of moving it is commenced
Another vote passed at the same meeting may explain the withdrawal of five hundred dollars which had been appropriated to the purchase of a fire engine.
Whereas the town at a meeting in May 1848 voted to appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars toward the purchase of a Fire Engine upon the condition mentioned in said vote and Whereas the Engine has been purchased by the Precinct without the money, voted therefore to rescind said vote and that the Selectmen never pay out the money or any part thereof.
At the annual meeting in 1851 the following resolution was adopted :
Resolved that the Selectmen employ some suitable person to take charge of the Town House and suffer it to be opened for the use of the Inhabitants of this Town on all proper occasions, and for all free Lec- tures and discussions, which are in no way connected with shows or exhibitions for money; but on no occasion to open the house for the exhibition of shows of any kind, nor for lectures which are not free for all the Inhabitants of this town
In 1849 the town house was moved from the Common where it stood about sixty-seven years, to its present position, all the con- ditions having been complied with. At a special meeting held October 8, 1850, the town voted to indefinitely postpone the fol- lowing article: "To see if the town will vote to direct the Se- lectmen to put up the spire and lightning rod on the town-house, and send the bell and get it recast and put it up again."
Nevertheless, without further action on the part of the town,
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the work was done by the selectmen in 1851, as the following bill indicates, taken from the report of the selectmen of 1852 :
Repairing town house amounting to $103.10
Paid P. A. Alden bill, iron work for vane spire arms &c $6.25
J. L. Drew 12 books gold leaf 4.75
L. Smith 6 3-4 days work self Chadwick and Morse 12.00
M. Partridge & Co. bill painting and gilding 4.75
J. Gustin 146 feet tinning on spire and dome 24.34
J. Gustin repairing dome 6.25
Wm. S. Ela 10 days work 862 ft boards and 16 lbs nails 22.42
Simons & Darcent bill Material and labor on vane letters &c 22.34
$103.10
Of these persons only one is now living in the town, William S. Ela.
The bell on the town house had been cracked and after many attempts to repair it, by sawing and filing out the cracks, it was resolved to have a new bell. There is no record of any formal action of the town on the matter, but the old bell was to be recast with additional metal procured by subscription. The bell is dated 1853 and is the one now in use.
HORSE SHEDS.
At the annual meeting, 1854, the town authorized the select- men to receive proposals from the persons wishing to build sheds in the rear of the town house, stating what quantity of land they wished for and the terms and rent for the same, and report at the next town meeting. This matter does not appear again till the annual meeting in 1855, when it was "Voted that a Com- mittee of three be appointed to examine the land asked for sheds, appraise the value or rent of the same, and report to the town The committee named H. Hatch Jas Murch, E. Wood."
At a special meeting held September 4, 1855, this committee reported as follows: "Your committee having attended to their duty, make the following report: That the petitioners John Peck and others, and their assigns have the lease of a piece of land at the Northwest corner of the Town House lot sixty feet North and South, and eleven and one half feet East and West to be used for sheds, so long as the Room over the Town Hall is used for public worship, and that they pay a rent of fifty cents
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into the town treasury annually,-South corner post to be three feet from corner, and said sheds to be kept in good repair and kept white-washed."
These sheds were on the east side of the Thompson building. The rent is not very clearly expressed, it not appearing whether the fifty cents is for the whole ground, or for each shed; probably the latter.
THE COMMON.
At a special meeting held October 8, 1850:
Voted that the town consent that the inhabitants of the village may grade fence, and otherwise ornament the Common in this Village in such a manner as a committee may designate and determine, provided that no fence, trees or any other obstruction be built, set or placed within five rods of the outside of the Common
The committee appointed, Abner Allen, Abel Lowe, Jr., and Seth Blodgett.
There was much opposition to this plan, inasmuch as there were roads through the Common, one going east and west through the center, another from the southeast corner to the northwest corner. If fenced in, then all vehicles must go around, which was considered a hardship.
While it was decided to fence the Common there was great diversity of opinion as to the form which should be given to the enclosure. Many advocated right angular enclosure, because then the sides would correspond to the lines of the buildings sur- rounding the Common. Others objected to this form of the enclosure as too stiff and formal, the fact that the buildings were on angular lines requiring different lines in the enclosure for the purpose of variety-and they suggested an elliptical en- closure as more pleasing. Others still preferred a diamond form. Jonathan Adams, the chief engineer of the Northern road, laid out such a form, but it did not meet with general acceptance. The angular advocates prevailed finally. The castings for the fence were made in Lebanon. The granite posts were from Lebanon. The work was done under the supervision of George Post, noted for his extreme accuracy in work of all kinds. The expense was met by subscription.
It is a curious indication of the change which time creates in
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the preferences of a community that while a fence, and a high, substantial one, was then thought highly appropriate, now the wish that it was taken away is not infrequently uttered.
THE HUMPHREY WOOD BRIDGE.
The bridge and abutments over Great Brook near the Ancel Kinne place had been rebuilt in 1850 and became the subject of earnest discussion. Complaint was freely made that the expense was too great, even extravagant. The town at its annual meet- ing in 1851 took action in the matter as follows: "Voted that the whole subject-matter relating to the Bridge, wall, and road near Humphrey Wood be referred to a Committee to investigate the whole subject, with power to send for persons and papers and make a report to the town at the next town-meeting." Ab- ner Allen, John Wood and William Cole were the committee.
At a special meeting November 29, 1851, the committee made their report, but it does not appear what it was; but at a meet- ing March 9, 1852, there was the following vote: "That if the Contractors or persons who built the abutments, wall and road at the bridge near Humphrey Wood's, will pay or refund to the town the sum of eighty-seven dollars and fifty cents the town will relinquish any further claim upon them," indicating a com- promise. No further reference to this matter appears upon the records, but it was discussed a long time afterwards.
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