USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > History of the city of Nashua, N.H. > Part 103
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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
At the annual election in March, 1857, George Bowers and Thomas W. Gillis were the candidates for the mayoralty. Mr. Gillis was chosen by a majority of two hundred and five votes. It was an era of great financial distress throughout the country. Thousands of men were out of employment. The wolf was at the door. These conditions precluded public improvements and therefore Mayor Gillis, in his inaugural address, urged the need of economy and the reduction of the public debt, and bent his energies in that direction. The streets were kept in good repair and department expenses paid; but little else was done. His administration was mainly satisfactory to the people, but owing to personal considerations due to the state of the country he declined a nomination for a second term.
In 1858 and again in 1859, Albin Beard was chosen to the office of chief magistrate of the city by a majority vote over Isaac Spalding and George Bowers. The ballot in 1858, with but slight difference in 1859, was Spalding twenty-nine, Bowers seven hundred and thirty-one, Beard nine hundred and sixty-one. Mayor Beard, like his immediate predecessor, not only recommended economy in the matter of public expenditures but practiced it. Many perplexing and conflicting interests handicapped his administration, the country, owing to agitation that led up to the John Brown insurrection, was drifting toward civil war, business was at a stand-still and hence the people were not enthusiastic in local affairs. Mayor Beard harmonized differences to a large degree, conducted public business on a routine basis, and suggested some improvements that were consum- mated some years later. He was popular in office and highly regarded in private.
The mayoralty election of 1860 was between Aaron W. Sawyer (see biography) and Aaron P. Hughes, brothers-in-law, and resulted in nine hundred and seventy-seven votes for the former and eight hundred and sixteen for the latter. The financial and political condition of the country had not improved to any encouraging extent. A national political battle was now being fought on grave issues and already the rumbling of the " inevitable conflict " disturbed the public mind. Under these conditions Mayor Sawyer was compelled to abandon enterprises that promised to develop the growth of the city and continue the policy of retrenchment. Roads, bridges and public buildings were repaired and department bills liquidated, but little or nothing done with an eye to the future. The population at this time was 10,665, the number of voters 2, 186, the latter figures demonstrating that the increase over 1853 was due to the influx of female mill operatives. The total valuation of the city was now $4,577,978, the city debt $51,118, city property, exclusive of school-houses, valued at $45,476. The threatened crisis in national affairs at this time had a depressing influence upon the public mind and discouraged all attempts to spend money for the public weal. Mayor Sawyer declined to be a candidate for re-election.
At the annual election in March, 1861, the struggle for the supremacy between political parties- due in a great measure to conditions heretofore stated-in the choice of a chief magistrate was more than usually animated. The candidates were Isaac Spalding, George Bowers (see biography) and Franklin Munroe. The friends of the last two mentioned candidates were belligerently active and the result of the ballot on the first day was: Munroe eight hundred and sixty-two, Bowers eight hundred and fifty-one, Spalding twenty-two, scattering eight, no choice. On the second day Colonel Bowers received eight hundred and seventy-four votes to eight hundred and fifty-five for Mr. Munroe, and was declared elected and duly inaugurated. The country was on the verge of civil war, and therefore no consideration could be given to the things that tend to local growth. It was enough, as viewed by taxpayers, to pay current bills and hold the machinery of government intact. Mayor Bowers' political affiliation at that time was with the party in the ranks of which were men who, to say the least, sympathized with those who had taken up arms against the government. These men endeavored in many ways to so influence his official conduct as to defeat the state in recruiting men for the defence of national honor, but, be it said to his everlasting credit, being a soldier who had followed the flag through stubborn battles to the halls of the Montezumas, his patriotism was such that he performed all the duties of his office on a plane above reproach. But few local improvements were made during his administration. Nothing was desired or expected. It was quite enough to pay economical current expenses.
The office of mayor in the decade of years under consideration was not in any sense a bed of roses. On the other hand it was hedged about with thorns to the degree that it required a brave and energetic man to perform the duties. The sentiment of the Republican party in 1862 crystalized in favor of Hiram T. Morrill. Colonel Morrill declined but was finally persuaded to allow his name to
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be used. He was nominated. Mayor Bowers had every reason in the world to expect the people to indorse his administration and therefore sought and secured a renomination, and that too in spite of the opposition of party leaders whose wish to distress the general government he had vigorously declined to favor. The result was not unexpected. Mayor Bowers' offended party associates refrained from voting the mayoralty ticket and Colonel Morrill was accordingly elected, the vote being Bowers seven hundred and sixty-four, Morril seven hundred and ninety-eight. Mayor Bowers, however, did not "sulk in his tent." He was too much of a patriot to be guilty of conduct unbecoming his record in war and peace, and so a few months later, disregarding party ties, he buckled on his sword and went to the front line of battle as lieutenant-colonel. It should be added in justice to his memory-the smoke of the conflict having cleared away-that his administration of local affairs stands out as a bright oasis in a desert. Mayor Morrill was re-elected in 1863, George Stark being his opponent and the vote standing, Morrill eight hundred and forty-nine, Stark seven hundred and sixty-six.
Mayor Morrill's first administration was not unlike that of his predecessor in office. He practiced such economy as was possible, and yet made liberal provision for the families of those citizens who were in the army, assisted and encouraged recruiting and kept wise supervision over city affairs. His second administration was beset with many perplexing problems and annoyed by unfortunate partisan influences. Both boards were tied, the aldermen being five and the common council ten of each party, and party passion in the ascendant. Following the adjournment of the joint convention in which the oath of office was administered and the inaugural address delivered, these bodies retired to their respective chambers. In the council Theodore H. Wood was conceded the presidency by a vote of eighteen to two for Henry Holt. Then came a struggle over the election of clerk. The candi- dates were Frank A. Mckean and Jacob D. March. Eighty ballots were taken, when one of McKean's supporters failed to vote and March was declared elected. Meanwhile the mayor and aldermen transacted the usual routine business necessary to complete their organization, and, it being evident that the council was at logger-heads, adjourned to two o'clock the same day. At the hour mentioned five of the aldermen were purposely absent. The animus was to prevent a quorum. Between one and two hours were spent in waiting, during which time Aldermen David Crosby absented himself subject to recall, and Mayor Morrill and one other alderman temporarily left the room. The board finally adjourned to seven o'clock on the evening of the same day. At that hour the five aldermen were still absent, whereupon Mayor Morrill made his appointments and they were confirmed by the five aldermen present. The board then met in convention with the common council and elected John G. Kimball city clerk. An issue was immediately raised. The outgoing city clerk, Isaac H. Marshall, refused to give up the books or open the vault. He, and his party associates, maintained that, inasmuch as there was no quorum of the aldermen, and because of the absence, temporarily, of the mayor and two aldermen in the afternoon, the election of Mr. Kimball was illegal, and during the succeeding three months maintained this attitude to the great hindrance of public business. These clerks, Mayor Morrill recognizing Kimball, occupied separate desks in the office, and it is said were on unfriendly terms and armed. Meantime relief was sought through the supreme court, and in June (see New Hampshire reports, volume seven, page four hundred and sixty-five) a decision was rendered as follows: "When, by statute, the day of meeting of the mayor and aldermen and common council is fixed for a prescribed duty, one-half the aldermen cannot defeat a legal election by absenting themselves; they are bound to be present at all times when the board is in session till an election is made, and if recess or adjournment is made are bound to take notice." Mr. Kimball, therefore, and other officers, whose legal appointment depended on the decision of the court, prevailed and business was resumed. But Mayor Morrill's trials did not begin nor end with the affair recorded. There came a call during his administration for men to fill the depleted ranks of the army. A draft was ordered; disloyal citizens threatened resistance, and rioting and bloodshed were imminent. Prudence dictated that measures be taken to preserve the peace should violence be resorted to. Accordingly arms were secretly procured and stored at midnight in the armory over the City Hall, ammunition was hidden in the city vault and picked men notified to assemble at the stroke of the bell or sound of the drum. Happily, drastic measures were not needed to subdue the passion of the opponents of the government. Mayor Morrill had other burdens to bear besides those mentioned. Regiments of soldiers passing through the city on their way to the seat of war were
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welcomed, fed and given final godspeed as they left the state; the sick and wounded who returned were cared for, and when great battles were fought, like Gettysburg, he hurried to the front at his own expense to succor suffering Nashuans, see that the dead were buried and those unfit to continue longer in the service provided with transportation to their homes. Aside from these patriotic acts he gave his time unstintedly, to the neglect of his business, in supervising the affairs of the city and the furtherance of necessary improvements. No task, however arduous, discouraged him, and no duty was evaded or left unperformed. All that the patriotic people of Nashua ought to do was done, and the good name of the city thereby preserved. Previous to this time alarms of fire were given by shout- ing and by church and factory bells. Isaac Eaton, chief of the fire department, in his report for 1863, recommended the purchase of a bell to be hung in the City Hall tower. The councils of 1864 acted affirmatively on the recommendation, and the steel bell now in use on the building was procured by Mayor Morrill and Chief Eaton at an expense, including incidentals and hanging, of about nine hundred dollars. During Mayor Morrill's first term there was expended, by special appropriation, $23, 126 in aid of soldiers' families and $20,700 bounty for substitutes in the army; during his second term $23,839 aid, and $91,000 bounty, which sums were subsequently reimbursed to the city by the state.
The candidates for the mayoralty in 1864 were Matthew Barr and Edward Spalding. The ballot resulted in the choice of the latter by a vote of nine hundred and fifty-two to six hundred and eighty- two. The Civil War was now the one absorbing theme of public solicitation. The wisest had no conception of the exigencies of the morrow; doubters as to the final result were everywhere present ; patriots could only hope, watch, wait and declare their faith that the final victory would be with the North. Under these distressing conditions all the energies of Mayor Spalding, besides a judicious expenditure of the public funds to keep streets and highways in repair and oversee department affairs, were necessarily devoted to strengthening the general government by obtaining enlistments for the army and providing for the families of the men in the field. This he did, despite bitter opposition, in a manner that won the admiration of all who counted no sacrifice too great to be made for country. Mayor Spalding expended, by special appropriation, $85,000 in payment of bounties and $20,447 in providing for the women and children of soldiers. His administration endured with patience and fortitude many of the hardships incidental to the period, and deservedly ranks with that of its immediate predecessor.
In 1865 Virgil C. Gilman and Bernard B. Whittemore were the mayoralty candidates. Whitte- more, editor of the Nashua Gazette, received six hundred and two votes and Gilman eight hundred and forty-eight. The condition of public affairs, as heretofore recited had not improved. The Federal armies were being reinforced ; the hour of deliverance or defeat was near at hand ; the people were nervous and irritable; the office of chief magistrate of a city a most unenviable position. Mayor Gilman's first care was provision for the dependents of the men at the front and securing volunteers to fill the depleted ranks. This accomplished, and the victory a few weeks later at Appo- matox certifying that the war had ceased, he felt notwithstanding the increased debt and the oppo- sition of timid taxpayers that something should be done to promote the general welfare of the city. The first thing to be considered was the erection of a county record building. The affirmative must prevail or the records would be removed from Amherst to Manchester instead of Nashua. Public sentiment was divided, notwithstanding which Mayor Gilman secured a special appropriation of $20,000, which was subsequently increased to $25,000, and erected the building now occupied for the purpose indicated. The wisdom of his judgment has not been questioned since his retirement from office. Besides what has been heretofore mentioned Mayor Gilman put gas fixtures, chandeliers and settees into the City Hall, straightened Amherst street, which formerly ran over the southern portion of Edgewood cemetery, and filled the gully at that point. He also straightened Concord street north from Stark street, and filled a valley that was a great hindrance to travel. These and other improve- ments marked the dawn of a new era that the searcher of records discovers five years later. Of a special appropriation for bounties Mayor Gilman spent $10,443. Among the notable events of his administration was the welcoming home of the last battalion of New Hampshire troops. It was com- posed of the Tenth and Thirteenth regiments. Tables were spread on Abbot square-the place from which these commands took their final departure for the seat of war-a large concourse of people. many of whom were from the surrounding towns, was present. Mayor Gilman's address, which was
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printed in the newspapers of that day, was delivered on, or near, the spot on which the soldiers' and sailors' monument stands. Surely his administration deserves a conspicuous place in the civil history of the city.
The candidates for the mayoralty in 1866 and 1867 were James L. Pierce and Gilman Scripture ; the ballot, Pierce six hundred and twenty-three and seven hundred and twenty-four respectively, and Scripture eight hundred and eighteen and eight hundred and seventy-three. Mayor Scripture was deterred from contemplated improvements by the cry of retrenchment and the judgment of his councils. They, the aldermen and councilmen, believed that the financial condition of the country did not warrant special appropriations. In fact the face difference in value between paper promises to pay and the gold standard was such that a waiting policy seemed advisable. Mayor Scripture-as the result of the burning of the city farm buildings-recommended strengthening the fire apparatus, and to that end purchased the first steam fire engine, Torrent, and horses for the department. James H. Reed, a few years later a member of the board of engineers, was the first foreman under the new order of things, and Tyler M. Shattuck the first engineer. Mayor Scripture's management of other departments and city affairs in general was prudent and satisfactory to those of his fellow-citizens who were satisfied with the privileges of an overgrown village. That, personally, he was one of the most popular mayors of the decade is within the memory of many who are living to-day.
The loyal administration of Mayor George Bowers in the troublesome days of 1861, recollection of the circumstances under which he was denied popular endorsement in 1862, together with the fact that he had performed gallant service in the Civil War and since then had been identified with the party that prevailed in the last year mentioned, gave him high standing in the community and moved friends and admirers to seek an honorable place for him in local history. Accordingly in 1868 he was conceded the mayoralty nomination. James L. Pierce was the opposing candidate and the vote stood : Pierce nine hundred and sixty-five, Bowers 1,090. Mayor Bowers' second administration was as popular as his first. He built the city vault, an iron safe being in use before this date, improved highways and bridges, repaired school houses and managed the various departments upon an economical basis. Mayor Bowers now felt that the city of his birth had made the amende honorable. He wished to retire from public life, and therefore declined renomination.
At this period in the history of Nashua, as viewed from a progressive standpoint, affairs were practically at a standstill. The places of more than a thousand young men who had fallen out of the ranks during the Civil War had been but partially filled, business blocks and dwelling houses were simply landmarks of the old village, manufactories-owing in part to fluctuations of the currency- had not become settled upon a secure basis, and therefore the immediate future looked unpromising. To these discouraging conditions was added the knowledge that there was a slight falling off in the population, and the hard fact that if hope of escape from decay and degeneration was to be enter- tained, many too long delayed improvements must be made and new avenues of trade opened. Among the men who believed in the future of Nashua was Orren C. Moore. In the face of these obstacles he founded the Nashua Daily Telegraph, and in editorials and speeches infused new life and new hope into city affairs. With persuasive energy he advocated the things that have come to pass and thus laid future generations under obligation to him.
The nominees for the mayoralty in 1869 were James L. Pierce, who received seven hundred and twenty-seven votes, and Jotham D. Otterson, 1,015. Mayor Otterson proved the right man for the emergency. He was approachable, practical and thoroughly impressed with the necessity of laying new foundations, and to this end devoted pretty much all his time. During the two years he held the office (for he was elected in 1870 over Dana Sargent by a vote of nine hundred and fifteen to eight hundred and fifty-one) he rebuilt the Main street bridge, built the central fire engine house on Olive street at a cost of $40,000, constructed a mammoth sewer through Main street, and incepted other improvements that were realized through his successors. In the autumn of 1869 fire destroyed a temporary engine house, standing on the site of the present police station, and with it the steam fire engine. The engine was rebuilt at Manchester and a few months later, April 16, 1870, the First Congregational church edifice and contiguous property on Main street, from Park street to Pearson avenue was destroyed. During the conflagration help was asked from Manchester and nobly responded to, and Tyler M. Shattuck, a veteran fireman and a brave soldier who had retired from the service with the rank of captain, won the enduring gratitude of the citizens as engineer of the steam
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engine. The machine was stationed on the bridge, and during many anxious hours was worked to the degree that her smokestack was red with heat and the situation so appalling that few people dared venture within fifty yards of the place. The loss was rising $70,000, insurance $46,000. Beasom and Noyes blocks were badly damaged by fire the same year, and Henry Holt's batting mill on Merrimack street totally destroyed, which, with less disastrous fires, made a total loss of nearly $130,000. The situation plainly indicated the need of another steamer, and Mayor Otterson, notwith- standing the murmurs of those who always make it a part of their business to censure an adminis- tration, purchased another engine, Niagara, and made a liberal addition to the supply of hose. The expenditures of his two years increased the city debt and grumblers were not a few, but for all that time has shown the wisdom of his judgment and impartial history does him justice. It was not alone
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in the things mentioned that Mayor Otterson set the pace that has developed into the Nashua of to-day.
It was during his first term in office that the projectors of the Nashua & Rochester railroad solicited the aid of the city. The proposition was that Nashua should take $200,000 worth of bonds, redeemable in twenty years, upon which interest was to be guaranteed, thus insuring its construction. The councils and public sentiment were about equally divided. The wisest financiers hesitated. Mayor Otterson favored the project. Editor Moore threw the influence of his newspaper into the breach in support of the proposition and the struggle began in earnest. It was argued that the construction of the road would give Nashua superior shipping facilities, that it was a beginning that would make it one of the business centres of New England; that it was the one thing needed to develop southern New Hampshire and finally that growth and prosperity depended upon this kind of enterprise. The opponents of the road took counsel of their fears, but after a long and weary contest -the common council being ably and affirmatively led by its president, Eugene F. Whitney-the resolution was carried. Subsequent administrations issued city bonds with which to procure the amount of money thus pledged. The road was built and a few years later the city disposed of its
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bonds without loss. In this transaction as in others heretofore mentioned, time has vindicated the course of Mayor Otterson. He declined a third nomination. The decade of years here closing showed a debt of $195,950, city property $193,890, population 10,553 (a falling off of one hundred and twenty-two from 1860), voters 2,483, valuation, unwarrantably inflated for the purpose of taxation, $5.146,734.
In 1871 the candidates were Gilman Scripture and Dana Sargent. The people made choice of Mr. Sargent, his vote being nine hundred and sixty-eight to eight hundred and ninety-four for ex- Mayor Scripture. Mayor Sargent, like his immediate predecessor, believed Nashua's future depended on a mighty infusion of enterprise. He was of those who were heartily out of patience with the men who cried a halt, and possessed the moral courage necessary to continue the work so auspiciously begun by Mayor Otterson. Among the crying needs of the day was a school house at Mount Pleasant. He joined hands with Editor Moore, ex-Mayor Spalding and Francis B. Ayer, M. D., (political opponents) in an effort to induce the state to locate the normal school upon the lot, and, with others, offered to assist the undertaking from his private purse. When it became evident that the proposition had miscarried he recommended an appropriation of $30,000 towards the erection of a new building, and although opposed by conservative citizens succeeded in securing that amount. The house was built and dedicated while he was yet in office. Another important policy of his administration was developed through a resolution requesting the representatives in the legislature to procure the passage of a special act authorizing exemption from taxation for a period of five or ten years of industries by a two-thirds vote of the council. The desired legislation was obtained mainly through the effort of Editor Moore, and on Jan. 31, 1872, Mayor Sargent signed the first resolution passed by authority thus given. The exemption was in favor of Gregg & Hoyt. and the result, as witnessed in 1895, is the sash, door and blind business, and, indirectly, the peopling of Crown Hill. Having accomplished this undertaking his farseeing vision evolved the future. It was a plain proposition to his mind that eventually the city would need a tract of land in that vicinity, and he argued that the time to purchase was when it could be obtained at a nominal price. A majority of his council agreed with him and the result was the city acquired the land on Arlington street, now occupied by a modern school and engine house, for $2,000. He also bought for $9,000, the territory embraced in the North Common, the avenue on the north side of which was subsequently named in his honor, and secured a vote appropriating five hundred dollars in aid of those who were suffering by reason of the Chicago fire. Mayor Sargent made a careful study of the needs of the city and managed its department affairs with such gratifying success that when he retired from office the news- papers and progressive citizens said many kind things of him. He was re-nominated, but failed of re-election through the opposition of voters who failed to comprehend the significance of the new order of things.
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