USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Northfield > History of Northfield, New Hampshire 1780-1905: In Two Parts with Many Biographical Sketches and. > Part 20
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This occasion commemorates the one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary of the incorporation of Northfield as a separate municipality. The birth of this town preceded by a little more than a year the battle of Yorktown. Your history as a town, therefore, covers the period of our national development and growth as a people. The first settlers of Northfield gave freely of their blood and treasure to win our independence. They as- sisted in the formation of a federal government, and they and their descendants have participated in all the stirring events which have contributed to the glory and grandeur of the republic. Northfield, therefore, shares with the older New England com- munities the distinction of helping from the beginning in the building of a nation. Her sons and her daughters, at home and abroad, have had their part in that onward movement which brought these United States in a little more than a century from the weakest of governments to the greatest of world powers.
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The spirit which prompted the republic to celebrate its cen- tennials is now moving the towns to appropriately observe their anniversaries. There is no greater service we can render town, state or nation than to commemorate the trials, the travail and the sacrifices out of which the republic was born. We shall not de- part far from the precepts of the fathers if we have constantly in mind their example. In the honor paid to the past comes in- struction for the present.
This occasion, besides being an anniversary, marks the com- pletion of a narrative history of the town of Northfield. This work of preserving in permanent form the records of the town- ship, the achievements of its settlers and their descendants, the patriotism and civic virtue of its citizens, the important events interwoven with their lives, the story of their trials, tribulations and trumphs is a work of your initiative, being your tribute to the past and your contribution to the future. I congratulate you, citizens of Northfield, on the public spirit which has prompted and carried forward this undertaking, and I give you merited praise for the service you have rendered to posterity.
It has been my privilege to read in advance of its publication a part of this narrative, and I gladly commend the excellent and conscientious work of the historian, Mrs. Lucy R. H. Cross. The writing of history is largely a labor of love, for there is seldom financial return adequate to the time consumed in its prepara- tion. . With a fidelity born of an affectionate regard for the town of Northfield and its people, Mrs. Cross has performed the duty you have assigned to her, and I confidently predict that your verdict on her stewardship will be, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
If Northfield has given birth to no president, United States senator, governor or other eminent public man, she has at least produced her share of that type of citizens who in all crises form the strong bulwark of the republic. She can rightly boast of the number of her sturdy and patriotic sons. The war rolls of the United States, from the time of the Revolution to our last con- flict, testify to the patriotism of her people, while her progress in the arts of peace is evidence of the civic pride of her citizens. One distinguished citizen does not make a community, however much his fame may draw attention to the place of his nativity. A town or city stands for what the average intelligence and moral
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stamina of its people make it. As you read the history of North- field, you will find that her people have borne their share of the public burdens, met every emergency with courage and fortitude, kept pace with the march of improvement and builded a little better with each succeeding generation.
What is life after all but this, a rising on our dead selves to better things, a progress where the average man sees clearer, thinks more sanely, lives more righteously and is more charitable to his fellow men? Says a writer of repute, "The growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts, and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been is half owing to the number of those who lived a faithful and hidden life and rest in unvisited tombs." The modern historian has recognized this in that he has written of the common people quite as much as of their leaders, bringing out strongly the influence of the people on the march of events. Lincoln had faith in the plain people and they never failed him in his hour of trial. Leaders who should have sustained him often wavered, but the intelligence and good sense of the people of the towns of which Northfield is a type, reasoning among themselves, decreed that he was right. Oftentimes the people have moved faster than the leaders, and throughout our history the influence of the "little republics of New England," as our towns are sometimes called, has shaped the destiny of the nation.
There were two prominent citizens of Northfield to whose lives I wish briefly to refer. They were men whom I knew when a student at the seminary across the river but who had passed away before the time of my activity here. These men were Col. Asa P. Cate and the Rev. M. A. Herrick. Both lived the best part of their lives among the people of Northfield, one as a lawyer and public man, the other as a clergyman.
Colonel Cate was the legal adviser of individuals and business interests for many miles about here. Although largely an office lawyer, his counsel was sought far and wide. Except that the transactions were not so large, Colonel Cate was confronted with the same problems that face a successful attorney in our large business centers. He had opportunities to advise clients how they could keep within the letter of the law while avoiding its spirit, how to make money and yet avoid the consequences of wrong- doing. Such advice in the business world yields both direct and
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indirect returns to the constructive lawyer, for, beyond his fee, is his inside information for making investments. Yet no client ever received aid from Colonel Cate in any undertaking that de- frauded an unsuspecting public through sharp practice or sinis- ter methods. Beyond his duty to his client lay his duty to his fellow men. In every position of trust, and he held many, he was guided by a scrupulous honesty which secured and held the con- fidence of his fellow citizens. He prevented litigation; he settled out of court the troubles of neighbors; he advised always the straight and narrow path, and all to his own financial detriment. Was his life a success! Yes, in every sense of the word, for the whole community was the better for his having lived in it. His name will be remembered with gratitude long after the names of those more strikingly prominent are forgotten, or remembered only for the wrong they suffered to be done.
Dr. Herrick came here to establish a parish of the Episcopal Church. Student and scholar, ripe in general information, possessing the respect of his associates in the ministry for his ability, his talents could have commanded a larger and more profitable field of labor. He chose, however, to abide with the people with whom his lot had been cast. With a cheerful, hopeful spirit he accepted all the privations incident to a small and strug- gling parish. No word of discontent or complaint ever passed his lips. When the parish undertook to have a church of its own, half of his meagre salary was only a part of his contribution to the enterprise. This sacrifice on his part was not blazoned forth in the public press. It is even doubtful if it were known to all of his congregation, but I say to you that it counted more for righteousness than any millions of tainted money. Dr. Herrick's life was an example of the simple life, yet no one can say that it was not full and complete even if it were circumscribed.
It is such lives as those of Colonel Cate and Dr. Herrick that create and perpetuate a healthy public sentiment and transmit high ideals from generation to generation. Their labors are un- historic, and their tombs are unvisited, but the silent influence of their example is more potent for good than the recorded bene- factions of men who give from a dishonest exchequer. While we continue to have such men, and they are not uncommon in our day, we need have no fear for the republic.
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The mother town of Canterbury and her daughter, Northfield, have had close association since their separation one hundred and twenty-five years ago. The similarity of names in the two towns indicates much common ancestry. With Canterbury I was more intimately acquainted, as it was the home of my ancestors and for several years my place of residence. What I could say of the influential people of that town would be equally applicable to the influential people of Northfield. I recall many men and women of both towns, not conspicuous in public affairs, whose well ordered lives, neighborly benefactions and constant sacrifice con- tributed in no small degree to the well-being of the community. Their daily deeds were no less heroic because unrecorded. They were the moral fibre of the towns in which they resided. They were the leaven of the whole loaf. Their silent influence reached out through succeeding generations. While it is impracticable to particularize their part in the constructive work of these towns, it was nevertheless as important in the aggregate as was that of those whose names adorn the pages of history. What New Eng- land is and has been she owes to the patient work of the fathers and mothers of such towns as Northfield and Canterbury, men and women whose uneventful careers were cheered by no public recognition, but who were content to reap reward in their gift to posterity of sons and daughters reared to lives of activity and usefulness. As we do honor to those whose lofty aspirations and great endeavors have evoked the plaudits of mankind, we should never be unmindful of that greater number, whose daily minis- trations, creating neither present nor posthumous fame, have given to the nation her highest type of citizenship.
As you recall with me the men and women of such Northfield families of my time as the Abbotts, the Ayers, the Cofrans, the. Cloughs, the Chases, the Currys, the Dearborns, the Eastmans, the Forrests, the Fletchers, the Fosses, the Giles, the Glineses,. the Gorrells, the Herricks, the Hills, the Mooneys, the Philbricks,. the Smiths, the Tibbetts, the Whitchers, the Winslows and the. Wyatts, you will readily subscribe to their sterling worth and credit them with their part in the making of the town. The story of their lives is not recorded on the printed page, but they were the uplift of the community. They freely gave that others: might receive. The impress they made upon their time is felt. even unto this day.
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Across the river from this town is Tilton Seminary. It was born on Northfield soil and cradled in its infancy and youth by the loving care of the people of this community. Few there are today who appreciate the work of the New England academies of the last century. Erected by the self-sacrifice of a pious people, representing the hopes and aspirations of some religious denom- ination, often without endowment, supported almost solely by the tuition of students, they sent forth in the world, not only well- trained scholars, but well-moulded men and women. Their in- fluence not only reached out to all parts of the country where the students settled, but it related back to the towns from which the students came They builded character. The young men and young women who went out from these institutions were inspired by lofty ideals. They represented the highest type of New Eng- land manhood and womanhood. They in turn helped to mould a healthy public opinion. Their influence is felt today as it spreads out here and there all over the land where the people are aroused to protest against public and private wrongs. If Northfield had done nothing more than start one of these acad- emies on its important career, more than one community, helped by the influence of Tilton Seminary, should hold the town in grateful remembrance.
The history of no New England town is complete in the mere record of the achievements of its citizens. Most prodigally have they contributed their sons and daughters to the settlement and development of the vast area of this country beyond our New England boundaries. Fiske, the historian, says that the 26,000 New Englanders of 1640 have increased in 250 years to 15,000,- 000, or one fifth of the population of the United States at the time of this writing. William Stoughton, in his Election Sermon of 1688, said of the people of New England at that time, "God sifted a whole nation (England) that he might send choice grain into a wilderness." More than a century later another sifting came, that choice grain might be sent into the contiguous wilder -- ness of the West. Northfield has had her share in this vast emi gration, an emigration that has carried to the West, along with the bone and sinew of the East, the traditions and early teaching of New' England. Today the New England conscience awaken as well in New York, Philadelphia, Missouri, Wisconsin an 5: Colorado as it does in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
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It is somewhat common in our time to belittle the New England character and to condemn the stern attitude of our ancestors in meting out punishment to wrongdoers. It is true they were strict in their code of life, frowning with severity upon violations of the civil and the moral law, and little did they temper justice with mercy. Yet it is the survival of their rugged honesty, tem- pered as it is now by broader views of life, which in the present age constitutes the public conscience that is demanding the ex- posure and punishment of all forms of graft in political and business life.
We have had of late revelations of wrongdoing startling in their character. Public servants holding responsible positions have been shown unfaithful to the trusts imposed upon them. Men successful in business, honored by the confidence of their fellow citizens, holding positions as trustees and directors in in- stitutions where are gathered the savings of the people, have proved unfaithful or criminally negligent in the discharge of their duty. A great insurance company, chartered for the benefit of the widow and orphan, under the management of men eminent in business and public life, has been exploited to enrich its lead- ing officers. Names once synonymous of business integrity and square dealing are now smirched with the taint of dishonor. Men prominent in the financial world have lent themselves to business projects which have robbed the public while enriching the promoters. A society newspaper in New York is involved in a scandal of blackmail to extort from the newly-rich of the metropolis large sums of money to give them standing in the social world or prevent the publication of scandal. From $500 to $10,000 have been drawn from individuals ambitious for social distinction, and the publication of their names shows that it is not alone the unsophisticated countryman who is the victim of the bunco game.
It is not a pleasant picture that is portrayed in the newspapers and magazines of the mad rush for wealth and distinction and the methods employed to obtain them. The revelations would be discouraging were it not that the public conscience is quick to condemn and earnest that prosecution and punishment should follow wrongdoing. I speak in no pessimistic mood, for this old world wags much the same in all eras. Our past history is full of departures from the straight and narrow path. We are more
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conversant today with what is going on about us than were our ancestors, because of our greater facilities for obtaining informa- tion. There is not more evil in the world. We are simply more conscious of its existence. The duty and responsibility for cor- recting wrong, however, are no less pressing.
In a republic like ours, the seat of all power and the tribunal of final resort for redressing wrong are the people. The stream will not rise higher than its source. Our government, national, state and local, our code of business morals and our social fabric will be what the people make it. The homely maxims about honesty, industry, thrift, virtue and content, maxims which guided our New England ancestors, are as applicable today as they were a century ago. Among all that striking company who of late have been involved in irregular or illegitimate business transactions, what one would not today gladly exchange places with him who has led a simpler life? ‘
We of this generation have witnessed great changes in the methods of doing business. The individual and the partnership are giving place to the corporation in all lines of activity. With the incorporated company we were already familiar, but the com- bining of corporations on a vast scale was both novel and start- ling. Fear was entertained that these large aggregations of capi- tal would monopolize industry, crush out competition and largely destroy individual initiative. To add to the alarm, investors in these mammoth undertakings met with large losses for the reason that the promised economies of production were not sufficient to pay dividends on watered stock. New problems for the American people to solve are the outgrowth of these changes of business methods, and a healthy public sentiment will contribute much to their correct solution.
It would be as useless to protest against combination of in- dustry as to protest against the replacing of hard labor by ma- chinery. It is the trend of the times made necessary to meet changed conditions of civilization. It is, therefore, the evils that grow out of combination of industry that we have to fear and to correct. We have already seen that time and experience cure many defects. Like all progress, our advance in business methods . has been marked by costly mistakes and wide individual suffer- ing. Where these have been the outcome of illegal acts, the full
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force of public opinion should be raised in condemnation and the power of the state invoked to punish.
In dealing with these and other problems, our whole reliance should not be placed upon restraining statutes. The unwritten law, as it is called, the law which has its force in the public con- science and popular approval, is quite as potent at times as statutes in restraining individual ambition and greed. There may be no criminal law that will reach the directors of the Equitable Life Assurance Company for their misfeasance and malfeasance in office, but the public condemnation which has greeted the exposure of their acts of omission and commission will prevent for a season, at least, others following in their foot- steps. Graft of all kinds grows upon the easy toleration of the public. It required a bold and flagrant steal of millions to arouse the citizens of Philadelphia to the fact that their municipality was honeycombed with corruption. So strongly were the grafters intrenched, they were able for a time to openly defy the public. What is true of Philadelphia has been shown to be true of other municipalities. We cannot hope to entirely eradicate dishonesty in public and business life. Wrongdoing will probably continue until the end of the world, but we should be able to secure that alertness of the people which will demand frequent inquiry and that sensitiveness of the public to wrongdoing that will demand of all public and quasi-public officials a fuller integrity than that which just comes within the pale of the law.
We have had a recent striking example of the force of public opinion in the election of Theodore Roosevelt to the presidency. Serving out the term of his predecessor, he provoked strong op- position, as all positive and carnest men do. Large financial interests were opposed to his nomination and election. The influ- ence they exerted was a power not to be despised. They had made and unmade public men. They were in close touch with the business pulse of the country. William J. Bryan had been de- feated twice because the business interests had been opposed to his election. Would not Roosevelt's fate be the same ?
The issue, however, did not come. It was shunted aside by the force of public opinion. The people believed in the honesty and courage of Roosevelt. He had taken them into his confidence. He was dealing in the open. There was no subterfuge, no evasion
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of responsibility. He might make mistakes. He might be wrong, but he was doing the right as it was given him to understand it. His personality soon overshadowed the questions of the hour and Roosevelt was elected by an unprecedented majority, not because that majority agreed upon the issues involved, but because all agreed upon him. His triumphant election is an instructive lesson in our politics. It is an encouragement to well-doing in public life. It is a reassurance that "a government of the people, for the people and by the people shall not perish from the earth."
Such gatherings as these have their public use as well as their social side. Here we renew old acquaintances and revive old as- sociations. Here we honor those virtues of our ancestors which contributed so much to the building of the town, the state and the nation. Here we recall their lives of industry, thrift and self-sacrifice. Here we are admonished by their precept and ex- ample. Here again is presented to us the picture of the New England community developing along the lines of frugality and content and sending out its offspring to people the waste places.
What is the lesson of this day? It is this. We should culti- vate a little more old-fashioned honesty and a little less toler- ance of success gained by sharp dealing, a little more of those homely attributes of the fathers and a little less love of display, a little more patience in working out the problems of life and a little less desire to overstep our neighbor, a little more of the simple life and a little less envy of the rich. If we would give force to our early instructions, if we would build a little better than those who have gone before, if we would have the future pay the tribute to us that we gladly pay to the past, we shall shirk no duty and evade no responsibility, but keep constantly in mind those things which are the foundation of true greatness, con- scientious endeavor and right living.
SUMMER HOME OF F. B. SHEDD. (See cut.)
KATE FORREST.
Beautiful for situation, crowning one of the summits of Bay Hill, overlooking a landscape of rare and varied charm, stands the summer home of Freeman B. Shedd of Lowell, Mass. In the middle eighties Mr. Shedd came to Northfield and pur-
RESIDENCE OF F. B. SHEDD.
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chased of Daniel E. Hill the farm formerly owned by Abra- ham Brown, Sr., where he erected a handsome modern house with generous windows and roomy porches, and painted it after the fashion of our grandfathers, a cheerful red, which contrasts pleasantly with the brilliant green tints of the surrounding foliage in summer and with the mowy whiteness of winter.
The house is sufficiently removed from the highway to give an air of seclusion, which is emphasized by the symmetrical stone wall separating the grounds from the street. On the approach of a carriage a wide, white gate swings automatically between vine-covered posts and gives admission to the broad, graveled drive which sweeps in a graceful curve to the house.
It is a beautiful picture which greets the eye on a fine summer morning. In the distance the mountains lift their purple and azure summits against the sky-in the east the Belknaps; on the west Kearsarge; in the north the Ossipees and Franconia, with Chocorua lifting its jagged peak between. Moosilauke nestles against the rugged slopes of Cardigan, and the Ragged mountains raise their sturdy summits on the western horizon. Half hidden among the hills lies the great lake, a sparkling blue gem in the morning sunlight, and winding down from it, a silver ribbon amidst the green forests, flows the Winnipiseogee past the spires and roofs of the distant city. At our feet lies the valley with its meadows and streams; beyond slopes upward the hillside, - dotted with farmhouse, field and orchard.
Near at hand, dew-spangled stretches of velvety green grass are broken here and there by ornamental beds and borders of brilliant flowers and choice shrubbery, while graceful trees in groups or standing in single majesty upon the lawn, wave their branches in greeting. It is to the trees that these spacious grounds owe much of their beauty. A few shade trees adorned the old farm and one or two of these remain. Others graceful elms and stately maples-have been transplanted from river bank, roadside and pasture and have taken so kindly to their new sur- roundings that one might fancy they had grown where they stand. A grove of young trees near the highway is growing into a min- iature forest, where pine and spruce mingle their fragrance and where the birds and squirrels find a congenial home. This group comprises many choice varieties of both native and foreign ever-
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