History of the city of Nashua, N.H., Part 102

Author: Parker, Edward Everett, 1842- ed; Reinheimer, H., & Co
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Nashua, N.H., Telegraph Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 652

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A few weeks later it was discovered that $10,000 would not purchase the lot selected-the same that the City Hall building now stands upon and that building being the identical structure of 1842- and complete the undertaking, and consequently at a special meeting of the town, Aug. 19, the same year, it was voted that the committee purchase the land and erect a building thereon, provided the same may be completed in all its parts not to exceed $18,000. It would appear, however, that the south-siders were not quite satisfied with themselves, for at this meeting Dr. Micah Eldredge moved "that a committee be appointed to confer with a committee from Nashville relative to a reunion," and it does not appear that there was a dissenting voice. The committee was Jesse Bowers, Micah Eldredge, Gustine Marshall, Thomas. W. Gillis, Josephus Baldwin, Thomas Chase and Martin Crafts. (The sequel to this resolution is given in Nashville's history.

The exact date on which the corner-stone of the town house was laid is not discovered by the writer. It was laid, however, with "the usual civil and religious ceremony." In an excavation of a stone under the northeast corner is deposited, in a zinc or lead box, a plate with the date, names of the building committee, architect, a large collection of documents of all kinds, newspapers, reports of various institutions, law, etc., together with specimens of American coin. A prayer was offered by Rev. Austin Richards, and an address, "appropriate to the occasion and the circumstances," was made by the Rev. Dura D. Pratt. There is no record of a dedication.

Meanwhile thoughtful residents of Nashua, for there were now two towns, were suffering with a troubled conscience. They had evidently come to the conclusion that they had overshot the mark and were in condition of mind suited to a compromise. Accordingly at the town meeting in March, 1843, it was voted, without division, that Jesse Bowers, Franklin Fletcher and John M. Hunt visit the legislature and urge a reunion of the towns, failing in which to seek a better settlement, and a new line by the Nashua river. This committee was opposed by Charles F. Gove and Charles J. Fox, and all its efforts came to nought. The line remained unchanged and Nashua was compelled to settle on the basis of Nashville's charter.

The years that followed, before the towns were united under a city charter, were filled with turmoil. The troubles summarized as existing from 1839 to 1842 became intensified, and every enter- prise calculated to advance the interest of the towns was handicapped. The debt and rate of taxation in Nashua caused the promoters of new industries to hesitate in their investment of capital, and many who were desirous of settling here were deterred by the belligerency with which they were attacked by one side or the other. There was no peace. Both sides of the Nashua river was fighting ground and woe betide the unaccompanied boy who strayed from his own bailiwick. He was sure to return to his kindred with torn clothes and bruised flesh. Military and fire companies were not on friendly terms, the police were powerless after the middle of the bridge was passed, and even those of whom better things were expected exhibited a feeling of jealousy and resentment. This condition of affairs became so serious that in 1853 wiser counsel prevailed, and, a city charter having been obtained, it was voted, Sept. 17, four hundred and sixty-eight to three hundred and thirty-four, to unite with Nashville. The town of Nashua was represented in the legislature in 1837 by Benjamin L. Jones, George W. Bagley, Hugh Jameson and Charles J. Fox ; in 1838 and 1839 by Daniel Abbot, Stephen Kendrick, George Y. Sawyer and Silas Butterfield; in 1840 and 1841 by George Y. Sawyer, Isaac Spalding, Albin Beard and Josephus Baldwin ; in 1842, by Leonard W. Noyes, Abner Andrews and Anthony Gage; 1843, Josephus Baldwin; 1844, no election; 1845, Thomas Chase, William F. Lawrence, Isaac Spalding and Aaron F. Sawyer; 1847, George Y. Sawyer, Isaac Spalding, John H. Gage and Evan B. Hammond; 1848, George Y. Sawyer, Jefferson Rockwood, Nahum Williams and Evan B. Hammond; 1849, Edmund Parker, Nahum Williams, Jefferson Rockwood and Aaron F. Stevens; 1850, Aaron F. Stevens, Malachi F. Dodge, Jr., Samuel F. Wright and Edmund Parker: constitutional convention, Edmund Parker, George Y. Sawyer, Isaac Spalding and Leonard W.

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Noyes; 1851, George Y. Sawyer, Samuel F. Wright, David Baldwin and Edmund Parker; 1852, David Baldwin, Charles K. Whitney, Malachi F. Dodge, Jr., and Isaac Spalding; 1853, not repre- sented. The records of the town were closed under date of Sept. 19, 1853, Charles T. Ridgway being the last town clerk.

THE TOWNSHIP OF NASHVILLE.

The declaration of the vote that located the Nashua town house between the Main street bridge and Pearl street, together with the boastful spirit of the victor, wrought the opponents of the site up to a state of mind bordering on frenzy. They felt, considering their liberal proposition to furnish a building lot free of expense to the town, that they had been wronged, and, following their return to the north side of the river, gathered in groups and discussed their defeat in language that was neither parliamentary nor complimentary to their south-side fellow-citizens. In fact their disaffection was so great, and their determination not to submit so uncompromising that arrangements were made at once to hold an indignation meeting on the evening of the same day. The meeting was called at Greeley's hall and it was organized with Daniel Abbot, chairman, and Solomon Spalding, secretary.

Remarks setting forth the grievances of which they complained "in consequence of the illiberal and proscriptive course pursued by a majority of the citizens of Nashua living on the north side of the river," were made by the chairman, Charles F. Gove, Charles J. Fox and others and a committee of five was raised "to prepare a statement of facts and suitable resolutions expressive of the sentiment and feelings of the meeting." The report of that committee was unanimously adopted at a meeting held on the following Saturday evening.

This report (vide town records in city vault) recites the troubles already recorded, and in sarcas- tic and indignant language arraigns the people of the south side of the river as "tyrants and robbers," governing by the principle that "might makes right," taxing without representation, and pursuing "a course of oppression and injustice, of insult and selfishness without precedent." In fact they denounced their fellow-citizens as engaged in a conspiracy to deprive them of their rights, and declared that they would not submit to the high-handed and arbitrary course of would-be dictators. The report closes in these words : "To all such we bear no ill-will; but if we cannot live together in peace, enjoying equal rights, let us then separate in peace. For those few who have labored so hard to excite hostility and jealousy, we wish no worse punishment than their own evil passion. Retribution will overtake them. We have asked nothing but what every candid man will say is reasonable and equitable, a fair and full hearing, and no proscription, and if this is to be denied the rights and feelings of five hundred voters who pay nearly or quite one-half of the taxes of the town shall not be trampled upon with impunity." The points of this report were condensed into a series of nine resolutions and adopted by the meeting.

That the north-side residents were desperately in earnest is evidenced by the fact that on Monday evening, the fourteenth, they met again, and, after many and vigorous expressions of indignation "voted to draft a petition and obtain signatures to be presented to the legislature on the first Wednesday in June, for a division of the town." Perley Foster, Zebediah Shattuck, Solomon Spalding, John Flagg and Robert Moore were chosen as a committee to carry out the will of the meeting, and also to notify in writing the selectmen of the town of the action taken. The petition was signed by William Boardman and four hundred and seventy-six others, and in due time pre- sented to the legislature. Franklin Pierce, afterwards president of the United States, was secured as counsel by the petitioners, and George Y. Sawyer, afterwards a member of the New Hampshire judiciary, appeared for the remonstrants : Leonard Roby and five hundred and twenty-nine others.

Heretofore-so far as discoverable upon the surface-politics had played no part in the contro- versy. It had been a town house fight and nothing else. Now-unless the memory of old residents is at fault, and the impression conveyed between the lines deceptive-party lines were drawn. Nashua was a Whig town. Prominent non-resident Democrats conceived the idea that favors bestowed upon the petitioners would naturally attract them to that party. The legislature was Democratic. Mr. Gove and Mr. Fox were Democrats. Mr. Pierce was a Democrat. Under these conditions Mr. Sawyer, a Whig (even though ably seconded by Leonard W. Noyes* and other

* Col. Noyes was so chagrined by this unwarranted turn of affairs that he eschewed politics for the rest of his life. In fact he would not even consent to be the candidate of his party, which was equivalent to an election, for the first mayorality of the united towns under a city charter.

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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.

Whigs), was powerless. The influence of the former triumphed and a charter was obtained for a new town under the name of Nashville. The charter granted the petitioners all the rights and privileges a town may exercise under the laws of the state, imposed all the responsibilities, made provisions for a division of the property of the old town, and fixed the rates of liability on debts. It was signed by Gov. Henry Hubbard, June 23, 1842, and the town was organized at a meeting held at Greeley hall, July 11, William Boardman calling it to order and Daniel Abbot being elected mod- erator. The first officers of the the town were: Charles F. Gove, Fordyce M. Stinson, Albert McKean, Thomas Pearson and James Roby, selectmen; Alfred Greeley, treasurer, and Robert Moore, town clerk. The organization was perfected by the choice of a superintending school committee and minor officers.

The town of Nashville was now fairly launched and ready for any battle that Nashua might desire to fight. Nashua, however, was no longer in a belligerent mood. Its thoughtful citizens realized that their victory was barren of results, that the people of Nashville had downed them and the town house site was insignificent compensation for the loss they had sustained. Moreover, friendships were broken, church affiliation disturbed to the detriment of the cause of religion, business interrupted, social intercourse abandoned and an enmity aroused among their young people, all of which augured ill for the future. The people of Nashville-although they would not admit as much-suffered from like promptings of conscience and hardships, while rivalry, jealousy and discord on both sides of the river were of such a nature that capitalists hesitated when industrial enterprises were considered. This undesirable picture, the result of four years of contention, was now com- pletely developed, and although Nashua had exhibited penitence, and held out the olive branch by requesting, without a dissenting vote, a reunion, Nashville was obdurate and uncompromising, and, October, 1842, postponed action on a motion made by Mr. Abbot, "that a committee be appointed to confer with a committee appointed on the part of Nashua in regard to reunion." "We wish never again to be united with the town of Nashua," was the language of the opposition as voiced in a motion by Eleazer T. Merrill, which resolution, on the suggestion of Mr. Abbot, was rejected. At this meeting it was voted to build a town house and a committee was appointed for that purpose, but no house was built.

In 1843 the town cast four hundred and eight votes. Its receipts were $5,816, and its expendi- tures $5,486. Hatred of south-siders was still the ruling passion, no friendship the one desire of their hearts. At the annual meeting, March 14, the request of Nashua for reunion was again considered and, "that the matter might be emphatically and forever settled", to use the language of a resident of that day, the roll of the town was called and every man put on record. The result was the smiting of "the hand extended over the river" by a vote of three hundred and seventy-seven to seventeen. The spreading of the names upon the minutes of the meeting under yea and nay captions, for the first and only time in the history of Dunstable, Nashua, and Nashville, shows conclusively that the spirit of peace was not permitted an abiding place in Nashville.

The chagrin of the people of Nashua over the outcome of their effort at reunion was in a large measure concealed. They grieved and yet bethought themselves to make one more effort ; instruct- ing their selectmen to seek reunion through the legislature, failing in which they were to obtain better terms in the matter of a division of the public property. The old forces, however, were allied against them, consequently they were compelled to settle as directed in the Nashville charter. It was a bitter cup, and accompanied by taunts that superinduced a revengeful spirit. While in this condi- tion of mind they conceived the idea that Nashville had no use for a town farm in Nashua or the old south meeting-house, and, as they were to be sold at auction, they would therefore refrain from bid- ding. The leading men in Nashville were agreed among themselves that the farm was just as handy for them as a town as it was when they were citizens of Nashua and therefore made arrangements to force Nashua to pay a good price for it or lose it to Nashville at less than its value. They facetiously boasted as much, and Nashua, being deceived by their sharp practice and therefore bidding cautiously was trapped. Nashville got the farm-the same that is now owned by the city-at about half its value. The same tactics prevailed when the meeting-house was sold. Nashville got it at her own price, and, having no use for it, sold the bell to the church in Brookline and the edifice to a contractor who razed it and used the lumber in building a dwelling-house at Indian Head. These and other transactions-of little significance from an historic standpoint-added to the estrangement between

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the rival towns and engendered more of hatred ; "hatred, envy and malice," that seethed and burned for ten years and the effects of which cropped out now and then in the four decades that followed- witness several acrimonious debates over the removal of the postoffice from a site a few rods south of the bridge, locating the soldiers' and sailors' monument north of Railroad square, choosing a site for a city library and other material and immaterial transactions.

Aside from facts heretofore stated the records of the town furnish very little of general interest. Officers, of course, were chosen annually, a new bridge was built over the Nashua river east of the mills of the Jackson company, the Amherst street cemetery was instituted and a hearse purchased, a school house built at Mount Pleasant, (the lot being the gift of Daniel Abbot), a corduroy road con- structed at "the willows," police and fire regulations adopted, ordinances passed and other business incidental to town government transacted. Town meetings were held in Greeley hall, the Baptist and Unitarian church edifices, and, commencing in 1850, in Franklin hall. In 1845 it was again voted to build a town house, and in 1847 a committee was ap- pointed for that purpose. There is no record of a report by the committee, but Feb. 22, 1850, the town contracted with the Nashua & Lowell railroad whereby Frank- lin hall was to be used for town purposes for a period of fifty years on payment of one hundred and twenty dollars annually. The Willow- (The contract is still in force, 1897.) The THE WILLOWS. census of the town, 1849, gave the popula- tion at 1, 104 male, 1,533 female, seven hundred and thirty-six scholars, and the report shows that it was free from debt. The people of Nashville, however, mellowed at last. They wearied of the never ceasing quarrel, and they sighed for relief from the hundred and one disturbing influences that burden the mind and destroy usefulness. In fact it became plain to them that the growth and prosperity of the towns was dependent upon concerted enterprise, and the more they thought the matter over the more reconciled they became to reunion. Under the lead of citizens whose names are given in another connection, public sentiment was quickly crystalized in the affirmative and on Sept. 17, 1853, it was voted two hundred and forty-seven to one hundred and fifteen to accept a city charter.

The town was represented in the legislature in 1843 by William Boardman and Albert Mckean ; 1844, Albert Mckean and Eleazer T. Merrill; 1845, Ziba Gay and William Wetherby ; 1846, Ziba Gay and Albin Beard ; 1847, Albin Beard and Franklin Foster ; 1848, Edmund Parker and Daniel Abbot ; 1849, Abraham Mitchell and Fordyce M. Stinson; 1850, David Robinson and Albin Beard ; 1851 and 1852, Solomon R. Bullard and William S. Atwood; 1853, 110 election. Robert Moore was clerk of the town ten years, John N. Barr one year, and Levi Mckean the last year, the latter closing the records Oct. 4, 1853.

THE CITY OF NASHUA.

The first suggestion relative to the reunion of the towns under a city charter, as remembered by several old citizens, came from Charles G. Atherton of Nashville shortly after his election to the United States senate in 1852. George Y. Sawyer of Nashua seconded the move. These learned and farseeing leaders of public opinion had evidently considered the situation in private conversation, and were agreed that the interests of both parties to the unfortunate quarrel were identical, and would be better conserved by unity. The logic of events, whether viewed from a mercantile, industrial or moral standpoint, clearly favored this view. These considerations were strengthened by observation and knowledge that the conditions were such that Manchester and Concord were outstripping the people of southern New Hampshire in the things that make wealth, progress and influence. Besides this there was a personal motive, not alone with them but with many others,

HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.

589

underlying the general facts-pride. Both had become public men, and, however much the idea may be berated, they knew that when abroad in the world a degree of significance is attached to the fact that the individual hails from a city.

The task to be performed in educating the public mind to this conclusion was, considering the grievance of fifteen years, a difficult one, and particularly so for Judge Sawyer, who had championed the cause of the south-siders in the original controversy. Judge Sawyer was eminently a man who possessed the courage of conviction, and, although Senator Atherton took the responsibility of the initiative, which it was deemed expedient should come from the north-siders, was active and per- suasive in creating sentiment in desired directions. William Boardman, Josiah G. Graves, M. D., Albert Mckean and other prominent citizens of Nashville became at once earnest advocates of the proposed reunion. Leonard W. Noyes, who, although he had eschewed politics, could always be counted on in all matters of good citizenship and things that tended to promote industrial pursuits, Evan B. Hammond, M. D., Orlando D. Murray, John H. Gage, George H. Whitney and other

COUNTY

RECORDS.

POLICE STATION

CITY HALL."

PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

leading citizens of Nashua also supported the measure. The result of the advocacy of reunion by these citizens is indicated by the votes recorded under township heads.

The adoption of the charter, which, as heretofore noted, was accepted Sept. 17, was proclaimed and a warrant issued authorizing a general election of officers of the new municipality to take place on Saturday, Oct. 8. The candidates for the mayoralty were Josephus Baldwin, Bernard B. Whittemore and Winslow Ames. A majority vote was required on the first day, and neither candidate having the requisite number there was no choice. The polls were opened again on Monday, when only a plurality vote was required, and the result of the ballot was: Ames, one hundred and sixty-seven, Whittemore, three hundred and eleven, Baldwin, five hundred and fifty- eight. Mr. Baldwin was declared elected. The inauguration took place on the fifteenth of the same month, Charles G. Atherton administering the oath of office and Rev. Dura D. Pratt making the prayer. Edward P. Emerson was chosen city clerk, Aaron F. Stevens president of the common

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HISTORY OF NASIIUA, N. H.

council, and William P. Ainsworth clerk of the council; the books, papers, keys and funds of the towns were turned over by Edward Spalding, acting as agent, and thereupon the convention dissolved.

The amount of funds received from the town of Nashua was nine hundred and twenty-one dollars and ninety-one cents, from Nashville $1,054.15, in both instances being the unexpended balance of appropriations for the year. The debt, which the city assumed, the same being wholly that of Nashua, was $27,547.50. The infant city had a population of 8,942 souls and 2, 181 voters. The valuation, as totalized by the assessors, was $4,266,658. It had five fire hand engines, one hose carriage and one hook and ladder carriage, and other property, including the City Hall building, farm and incidentals, to the value of $41,752, exclusive of school houses.

Mayor Baldwin's first administration covered a period of only five months. The improvements of the year were practically completed when he came into office, and the business in hand consisted mostly in laying foundations for the future: that is, drafting, discussing and making rules and regulations for the fire and police departments, and ordinances for the preservation of the peace and other necessary objects. It was a difficult and delicate task, but, having the wise counsel of Aaron P. Hughes, city solicitor, and Aaron F. Stevens, president of the council, matters were taken up in a systematic and intelligent manner, and without noise and friction crystalized in law. In 1854 Mayor Baldwin was a candidate for re-election. That he had met the expectations of the people is evident in the fact that of the eight hundred and eighteen votes cast he received five hundred and sixty-two, Bernard B. Whittemore having two hundred and seven and William F. Lawrence, forty-nine. His second administration was characterized by good judgment and plain dealing. An engine house was built on the north side, south of Circuit street, at a cost of $2,665, and the general affairs of the city conducted on an economical basis. The Nashua Gas Light company was chartered in 1850, and the Nashville Aqueduct company in 1852. In 1853 the name of the latter was changed to the Penni- chuck Water works, and during Mayor Baldwin's administration both undertakings were completed to the extent that the city was supplied with water and gas. Mayor Baldwin, who was a man of the people, was a popular chief executive. He drew fifty dollars from the city treasury as compensation for his services.

In 1855 the candidates for the mayoralty were Edmund Parker, Josephus Baldwin, Charles F. Gove and Freeman S. Rogers. The election of Mr. Rogers by a vote of 1,030 over four hundred and fifty-six for Gove, one hundred and seventy-one for Baldwin and twenty-three for Parker was a sur- prise to the friends of the defeated candidates. They were not prepared for such a result. It came about, however, through the American party, which was controlled in secret conclaves and put to rout the old political organizations in that and the succeeding year, Mr. Rogers being re-elected in 1856. The two administrations of Mayor Rogers were of a peaceful and progressive character. He

advocated better sidewalks, an increase of the police force, purchase of land for a common, beauti- fying Railroad square and other improvements which, as suggested in his inaugural address, were a necessity to the community and an earnest of the progress of the city. With one or two exceptions his recommendations were acted upon affirmatively and lasting benefits resulted. During his second administration the state enacted a prohibitory liquor law and Isaac Eaton, the city marshal, was instructed to enforce it. Mr. Eaton, in obeying his instructions, seized five or six barrels of spirits and jailed the owner. Considerable excitement prevailed and litigation was threatened. The city refused to furnish Marshal Eaton with an indemnifying bond, whereupon he compromised the matter, discharged the defendant and resigned his office. The liquor was returned to the owner and thus ended the first attempt at prohibition in Nashua. It was the first and only seizure made in the state. William White was appointed marshal vice Eaton, resigned, and on the morning of Jan. 9, 1857, an unfortunate incident occurred that has become noted in police annals. It was the result of jealousy and intoxication among the night watchmen. The principals in the affair were detailed at a ball at Franklin hall the night before and towards morning imprisoned one of their number and two other persons in cells under the City Hall building. A little later the place was discovered to be on fire. The prisoners lost their lives. Foul play was suspected, but the charges were not sustained at the investigation which followed. Mayor Rogers was in no way responsible for these transactions and his administration has never suffered reproach by reason of them. It was during Mayor Rogers' administration, July, 1856, that mill number one of the Nashua Manufacturing plant and a number of dwelling houses on High and Garden streets were burned, entailing a loss of $100,000 to the com- pany ; insurance about $35,000, and $10,000 to individuals.

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History of the city of Nashua, N.H., Part 102

Author: Parker, Edward Everett, 1842- ed; Reinheimer, H., & Co Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Nashua, N.H., Telegraph Publishing Company Number of Pages: 652

Author: Parker, Edward Everett, 1842- ed; Reinheimer, H., & Co
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Nashua, N.H., Telegraph Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 652