USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > History of the city of Nashua, N.H. > Part 28
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It very soon became apparent that another church was needed, and that the new church should be for the French speaking people. When St. Aloysius was built the Church of the Immaculate Conception, or Father O'Donnell's church as it was more familiarly known, became again what it had been at first, the church of the Irish population, who belonged to the Roman communion.
There was, and there is at the present date, a sufficiently large English speaking population of this faith to make this church enjoy continued prosperity. In Father Buckle, the present incumbent, Father O'Donnell has an able successor.
It is no disparagement to the other clergymen of this faith, who have been or are now in office in our city, to say that Father O'Donnell, by the geniality of his manner, his public spirit and energy, his kind-heartedness, and above all by his interest in, and his loyalty to our public school system, has won a unique place of honor and esteem in this city.
ST. ALOYSIUS CHURCH.
In the year 1871 the number of Canadians, attracted here from the French Province of Quebec, had so increased that, counting themselves and measuring their strength and worldly means, they, after a series of meetings, resolved to organize a new congregation. The first of the meetings was held in March, 1871, and after consulting with the Very Rev. Fr. J. O'Donnell, V. G., then pastor of the church of the Immaculate Conception, a petition was presented to the Rt. Rev. Bishop Bacon of Portland, whose jurisdiction then included this state. The delegates returned with the confidence that their prayer would be heard.
The lamented Very Rev. Fr. O'Donnell accepted the presidency of the temporary organization and, until success was achieved, he acted as its advisor.
The eighteenth of June Bishop Bacon, having obtained the services of Rev. Fr. Girard, who had resigned his Chair of Rhetoric in the College of St. Hyacinthe, P. Q., sent him as pastor in this new field of labor and the separation of the St. Aloysius congregation from that of the old Immaculate Conception, was definitely announced June 25.
The old Episcopal church, then standing at the junction of Temple and Pearl streets, was rented and used till November, 1872.
Father Girard's feeble health, together with his desire to return to his professorship, caused his resignation. He was succeeded by the present able and popular priest, Father Milette, who had at once to undertake the great work of building St. Aloysius. His success reflects equal credit upon himself and upon his congregation.
In April, 1872, the lot on Hollis street, previously purchased by Father Girard, was partially paid for and the old buildings were partially demolished.
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The corner stone was laid by Bishop Bacon in presence of the French and Irish societies and an immense concourse of people. In November of the same year the old Episcopal church was aban- doned and the basement of the new church, then partially finished, was occupied till the dedication of the church proper, on Trinity Sunday, June 8, 1873.
A census taken in 1872 gave 2200 souls.
The cemetery on Hollis street was purchased in December, 1880, and over 1700 are now resting there, and over 800 in Hudson cemetery.
In June, 1883, the debts contracted previously were about paid and the convent on Chestnut street was built by Smith & Lakeman, H. A. Holt doing the carpenter's work, and 500 children entered it in November. The teachers are the Sisters of the Holy Cross.
In October, 1875, the Goodwin place on Chestnut street was purchased, the house enlarged and fitted up as a parsonage, and the old house occupied as such on Hollis street was demolished.
June 12, 1885, a bell of 2500 pounds was put in position and the first "Angelus" was rung the next day.
The parish kept increasing with the demands for labor, and the census for 1883 gave 604 families and 3368 souls.
The parish outgrew the ability of one man to care for it, and, since his return from Europe, Father Milette has always had one or more assistants.
On June 21, 1885, the Bishop of Manchester divided St. Aloysius parish and the new church of St. Francis Xavier was formed. After the division St. Aloysius has 487 families or 2705 individuals.
The boys' school was built in 1889, and in the same year this parish was declared a permanent rectorship, and Father Milette was appointed as its first permanent rector.
The last census, that of 1893, gave this church 994 families and 5621 souls.
In September, 1894, the last cent of the debt was paid.
ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CUURCH.
St. Francis Xavier parish came into existence in 1885 as the result of a division of Rev. J. B. H. V. Milette's parish. The north side of the Nashua river was portioned off as its territorial limits. Scanty were its chances of success; the population was willing and generous, but poor and small. Mass was had for the first six months in McQuesten's hall. Nothing could this parish claim as its own, no land, no church, no parsonage. But generous hearts provided a site for the new church. This congregation will ever gratefully remember the names of Agent Cadwell and Treasurer Amory of the Jackson corporation for the munificent donation of land. The fifth of November of the same year saw the congregation gathered under the lowly roof of the present basement, which was blessed by Rt. Rev. Bishop Bradley in January, 1886. The scattered elements were gradually brought together and soon after developed into a fair sized congregation.
The purchase of L. P. Duncklee's property enabled the parish to have its schools and parochial residence. The St. Stanislaus convent was soon built, and the nuns of the Holy Cross began their fruitful teaching. The parsonage has this last year assumed larger proportions and enhances the plot on which it rests.
A cemetery lot was also purchased of Mr. Cornelius Sullivan on the old Hollis road, which in time will become the pride of the city.
Sunday, July 18, 1896, this parish laid the corner stone of a new church edifice near the old edi- fice on Chandler street. The old edifice to be used in the future for other purposes. The ceremonies attending the laying of the stone were very elaborate and impressive, and were conducted by the Rt. Rev. Dennis Bradley, D. D., bishop of the house of Manchester, assisted by sixteen attending priests. At two o'clock in the afternoon the bishop was received at the Nashua railroad junction by all the French and Irish Catholic associations in the city, and the procession moved immediately to Chandler street in the following order :-
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Platoon of fourteen policemen under Deputy Marshal Wheeler,
Chief Marshal of the Day, D. N. Cardier and mounted aids, A. R. S. Sylvester, .
Dr. H. Laviriere, T. O. Savelle, O. O. Dichaut, W. E. Keeley and John Field.
Montcalm band, seventeen pieces, A. Lajoie, leader.
F. Gaffney and aids, G. Burque, F. Cate and A. Burque, mounted.
Lafayette Guards, twenty-four, Leon Girouard, captain.
Six representatives from Sacred Heart commissary department, Nathan Sul- livan, P. Mclaughlin, J. Clifford, B. Kilpatrick, M. Delaney and D. Clark.
Sacred Heart Cadets, Capt. T. F. Tierney.
Granite State Drum corps, eight pieces.
St. Jean Baptists union, under A. C. Blain ; aids, N. P. Bouley, E. H. Gen- dron, T. Aprile, A. Cardin.
Second Regiment band, twenty-four pieces, M. J. Devine, leader.
Ancient Order Hibernians, two divisions, under P. J. Murphy, first division ;
Patrick Lonergan, second division.
League of Sacred heart, under Paul Belevance; aid, Joseph Durelle.
Circle Montcalm. Carriage containing Bishop Bradley and others.
The procession marched from the station to Temple, Amory, Bridge, Canal to Chandler street. There were about 900 people in the procession.
When the procession reached Chandler street the companies executed the order "open rank." The mounted aids then all formed together and with the Second Regiment band in the lead escorted the bishop, priests and the other occupants of carriages between the uncovered ranks. The priests all repaired to Father Lessard's house, where they donned the garb of their calling.
At 3.15 the bishop and his suite of priests were escorted by the cadets from the parish house to the platform erected at the southwest corner of the church. The Rossini choir of Lowell, composed of twenty-five members under the leadership of P. H. David, Jr., opened the exercises by singing an anthem.
The anthem was followed by an address given by the Rev. Fr. Slyoia Corbeil of St. Therese col- lege, P. Q., and Rev. Fr. Francis Burke of Pepperell, Mass. Immediately following the addresses occurred the ceremony of laying the stone ; the service, in Latin, being read by the bishop.
The stone was marked on three sides. On the front read, "St. Francis Xavier, 1896, Rt. Rev. D. M. Bradley, bishop ; Rev. Henri A. Lessard, rector." On the north side, "Chickering & O'Con- nell, architects," and on the south side, "Guernsey & Dubuc, contractors."
A box containing the United States coins of this year's coinage, records of the parish, and the local newspapers of the day were placed under the stone. The church is to be of marble, and will be the first church edifice of that material in the state. Its erection marks a period of great prosperity for the French residents of Nashua, and it will stand as a lasting monument to the zeal and persever- ence of Rev. Fr. Henri A. Lessard, to whose efforts its existence will be due.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
The Young Men's Christian association has been actively engaged in its specific work as an arm to the church. In 1867 it was first formed in this city. At that time, however, the associations throughout North America had not developed their work as they have in the last decade. The work carried on was for the most part evangelical only, and gospel meetings were held each evening in the week. Both sexes were actively employed in carrying on its work, but the direct idea of working for young men by young men was at that time crude. We find E. O. Blunt, B. A. Pearson, George E. Wheat, A. J. Tuck and C. R. McQuesten were among the foremost workers in the old association. Many others were also connected more or less actively with the organization.
In the year 1887 several young men had become interested in association work when in other States, and H. E. Kendall and D. V. P. Pratt interested themselves sufficiently to re-organize, and a meeting was called to find out what could be accomplished Aug. 31, 1887. The following parties met in the Union block to organize temporarily, viz :- Herbert E. Kendall, D. V. P. Pratt, C. A. Goldthwait, Mark Flather, Fred E. Peckham, Jerrie Wheeler, C. D. Whiting, Alonzo Gould and Chas. M. Foote. Mark Flather was chosen temporary chairman and H. E. Kendall, secretary. On
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Sept. 9, 1887, Horace W. Gilman was chosen president, Albert Shedd, secretary, and George E. Wheat, treasurer. Robert F. True was first general secretary.
The association became nicely established upon modern association principles under Mr. True, but owing to a throat trouble he was obliged to resign after about one year and a third of most excellent service. His successor was Robert W. Matthews of Boston, who came in January, 1889. This was Mr. Matthew's first field of asociation labor as secretary, but he proved to be the right man in the right place and won hosts of friends for the ssociation and himself during his four years of active service for the young men of the city.
The association became an incorporated body under the state legislature of 1891, the following being the board of directors at that time: Virgil C. Gilman, George E. Wheat, A. R. Shepherdson, Calvin W. Greenwood, Gilman C. Shattuck, Lester F. Thurber, Charles A. Goldthwait, Alfred W. Heald, Elijah M. Shaw, C. O. Collins, Andrew J. Tuck, Harry R. Wheeler, Lyman D. Cook, Charles R. Pease, Mark Flather, F. E. Peckham, Charles W. Morrill, James M. McFadden, Andrew Kelley and E. W. Pearson.
Lester F. Thurber was chosen president in 1889, and was succeeded by Gilman C. Shattuck in October, 1890, who has served the association as a most worthy official since election.
In May, 1889, a Ladies' auxiliary was organized, with Mrs. L. A. Hall as its first president. Hall made a valuable organizer and president for two years, and was succeeded by Mrs. J. H. Reed in May, 1891. Mrs. Reed proved a hard and successful worker, and was succeeded by Mrs. A. K. Woodbury in 1892, who served as president of the auxiliary for three years, with marked success. Mrs. C. W. Greenwood was chosen president in May, 1895.
Mr. Matthews resigned in February, 1893, and F. H. Merrill, at that time Mr. Matthews' assistant, remained till the calling of the present secretary, D. N. Bartlett.
In 1893 Miss Mary P. Nutt made the association her residuary legatee, and at the time of Miss Nutt's decease, which occurred in April of 1893, it was thought by the executors of Miss Nutt's will that the amount eventually falling to the association would reach nearly $50,000. Owing to financial disturbances the association still awaits the settlement of the estate to learn the amount of its gift, but the association has surely won its way into the hearts of the citizens to the extent of their bestowing large favors upon it annually for support, and it is safe to say that within a few years the
Association will have a delightful home of its own. Since its re-organization in 1887, it has occupied rooms at No. 69 Main street. The present membership is over five hundred, including sustaining, active, associate, Junior members and members of the Ladies' auxiliary. A well equipped gymnasium is occupied by them, and the spiritual, mental and physical portions of the association work are carried on in our city in the best possible manner, the limited circumstances being taken into consideration.
SALVATION ARMY.
A few years ago there was an attempt made by Commander Moore to have a Salvation Army in America under his own leadership. It did not prosper, but during its life time meetings were held under its auspices in Nashua.
It was not until January, 1892, that the Salvation Army, under the leadership of Commander Ballington Booth began its work here. Quite a number of converts have been added to its ranks, but many of them have removed to other places. The present membership of the army is sixteen.
Its discipline is strict. Total abstinence is demanded and enforced. It is virtually an anti- tobacco society, and indulgence in worldly amusements is strictly forbidden.
Since the coming of the Salvation Army to Nashua, the headquarters have been the hall at 12 Elm street and 72 West Pearl street.
Modern spiritualism in Nashua made its appearance about 1852. A few people gave credence to the accounts of marvelous manifestations by the Fox sisters and others in New York state and elsewhere, having a supposed spirit origin, and circles were formed for investigation. These continued for three or four years, when an organization was formed for the presentation and discussion of the
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question. Meetings were held in 1856-7 in the Free Will Baptist church on Railroad square, now Stearns' grain store, after that denomination had vacated it. These meetings were discontinued in 1858 from a lack of financial support. During their continuance no settled speaker was engaged, but a number of men and women of considerable note appeared upon its platform in advocacy of the doctrine of spirit presence and intercourse, and the genuineness of some of the manifestations. The best known of these, perhaps, was William Lloyd Garrison, who occupied the platform one Sunday in advocacy of this faith. Some of the meetings were quite well attended, and no special opposition or manifestation of bigotry was shown in regard to them. After this no consecutive meetings were held for a number of years. Along in the seventies the small hall on the second floor of Telegraph block was used for similar meetings. The organization then took the name of The First Christian Spiritualist society of Nashua. A little later Historical hall, on the third floor of the same block, was used, and meetings were held for three or four years there, when another discontinuance took place. Later still, meetings were held in Beasom hall for a year or two, but were given up in 1880. Since then meetings have been held, but not regularly for over six months at a time. The historical fact seems to be that since the advent of modern spiritualism, private interest has been shown, and seances more or less public or private have been held at family residences or generally in small halls for investigation and the satisfaction which the manifestations have brought to many minds.
The opinion has gained prevalence that the subject is more a science than an ecclesiastical matter, and hardly a proper one to be confined within denominational limits. There are no special signs that a new departure from the present situation is likely to be made, but from the writer's knowledge of the undercurrent, it is quite possible that a more concentrated effort may be made at any time for the presentation of spiritualism to the public, and for investigation upon the lines of psychic and spiritualistic phenomena.
Nashua is not over-burdened with churches, and all of them, Protestant and Catholic, are well attended.
In this chapter no reference has been made to Sunday-schools, Young People's Societies of Christian Endeavor, Epworth League and other guilds and societies for the promotion of the Christian life, and for the accomplishing of good works, because the editor of this chapter is of the opinion that if these subjects are to find a place in the history of the city they ought to have a place and a chapter to themselves.
The average number of clergymen resident in this city and in active service is fourteen, and the aggregate value of the church property is about seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
J. S. Black
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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
CHARLES PINCKNEY GAGE.
Col Charles P. Gage, son of John and Dorcas (Merrill) Gage, was born at Orford, Oct. 20, 1813, died at Pepperell, Mass., Aug. 23, 1893. He was a descendant, on the pater- nal side, of Benjamin Gage, a pioneer settler of Pelham. On the maternal side he was a descendant of Jesse Merrill, whose ancestors came to America in the seven- teenth century and settled at Salem. The Gage family, as shown by complete genealogy, sprung from the English nobility, many of whom were titled, had a coat of arms and be- came conspicuous- ly distinguished in the affairs of the country.
Colonel Gage was educated in the common schools and at his native place and at an academic school in Nashua, his parents removing here when he was ten years of age. The first employ- ment in which he engaged was that of bobbin boy, (in company with N. P. Banks), in the mills of the Nashua Manufac- turing company. Later he was a clerk in a store, and, in 1833, went to Boston, where he was employed eight years in the dry goods trade. In 1841 he re- turned to Nashua and opened a dry goods store in com- pany with a Mr. Chase, which he sold out a year later. He worked for a time for J. A. Wheat in the same line of trade, after which he was in the express business and, in company with William T. Parker, merchant tailor- ing. Colonel Gage then entered the card and glazed paper business and became one of the pioneers of that industry in Nashua. He was associated at different times with his brother John, with Charles T. Gill, O. D. Murray, under the firm name of Gage & Murray, and with Hiram T. Morrill under the name of Eagle Card company. The last named company sold out to the Nashua Card and Glazed Paper company in 1872, and after that he was not in active business.
Colonel Gage was many times honored by his fellow citizens during his fifty years residence in Nashua. He served on the board of selectmen in township days, and represented Ward Four in the common council in 1854. He also represented his ward two terms in the legislature and served the state three years as railroad commissioner, (being elected on a general ticket with the governor, the practice under the state constitution of 1850), and was aide-de-camp on the staff of Governor Gilmore with the rank of colonel. Colonel Gage was a director several years in the Pennichuck State bank and a trustee in the Nashua Savings bank. He was also a director in a coal company and in- terested and an officer in several other business or- ganizations that served his genera- tion and gave Nashua the impe- tus that made it the second city in the state. He was a loyal and true man; a man of proverbial cour- tesy, of kind and generous impulses and the warmest friendship. Col- onel Gage was a member of Rising Sun lodge, A. F. and A. M., and dur- ingthegreatWash- ingtonian temper- ance movement a power for good among his fellow- citizens and clerk of the local organ- ization. In fact, his was an honor- able and useful career.
CHARLES PINCKNEY GAGE.
ColonelGage was united in marriage June 29, 1843, with Matilda A. Baker. daughter of Tim- othy M. and Elizabeth (Wright) Baker of Boston. Colo- nel and Mrs. Gage celebrated their golden wedding by a family gathering June 29, 1893, less than two months before his death. Four children were born of their marriage : Adelaide Elizabeth, April 5, 1844, married Frank M. Crane of Lowell, Mass., May 16, 1886; Charles Minot, Jan. 20, 1847, married Kate H. Cutter of Hollis, Sept. 18, 1868; Alice Maria, June 20, 1849, married Edwin E. Hills of Hudson, Nov. 5, 1874; Helen Ma- tilda, March 5, 1851, married Marshall Merriam of Merrimack, Dec. 15, 1881.
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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.
GEORGE W. PERHAM.
George W. Perham, son of Jonathan and Mary (Parker) Perham, was born at Chelmsford, Mass., Sept. 23, 1808, died at Nashua, Feb. 18, 1891. He was a descendant of
GEORGE W. PERHAM.
John Perham, who came to America from England in 1620; married Lydia Shipley in 1630 and settled at Chelmsford, where he became prominent in public affairs. The descendants of the family have become widely scattered, and many of them have risen to places of influence, have honored the professions and advanced mercantile and industrial interests.
Mr. Perham attended the common schools in his native place and was graduated at the academy in Westford, Mass. Following his graduation he went to New York City, where, from 1827 to 1833, he was in business as a commission merchant. He followed the same line of business at Oswego, N. Y., from 1833 to 1838. Mr. Perham had now been absent from New England more than ten years, but he had not become weaned from its orderly and healthful life. He felt that his happiness depended upon it, and so here turned to familiar scenes, and engaged in the West India goods trade in Nashua. He was a successful merchant, and realized his fondest hopes in the enjoyment of peace of mind and domestic happiness. During the last twenty years of his life he was not in active business, although he was financially interested in the firm of Bristol & Company, and later in Verder & Company. . Mr. Perham was a man of the most agreeable social qualities. No man was ever more loyal to his country than he. No inan had greater affection for the man that fought its battles, and whenever the Grand Army post marched past his residence, it found tubs of
lemonade and other refreshments at his gate, and when- ever it held a fair or sought aid for its comrades, he did not wait to be solicited for a contribution. Mr. Perham was charitable in many directions, and that, too, without ostentatious display, and he was an unusually cautious man in the matter of wounding the feelings of friends and neighbors. He never sought or held public office, nor was he a secret order man. He was a member of the Governor's Horse Guards, and of the Unitarian church.
Mr. Perham was twice married; first, October, 1841, with Hannah Keyes, of Keene, daughter of Zebediah and Sybil (Dunn) Keyes, who died in 1849; second, Nov. 21, 1854, with Sarah J. Waterman, daughter of Nathaniel G. and Nancie ( Brayton ) Waterman, of Williamstown, Mass.
Mrs. Perham is a descendant of Resolved Waterman, who married Mercy Williams, daughter of Roger Wil- liams, of Providence, R. I., in 1660. One son was born of marriage, George Francis, born at Nashua, Sept. 7, 1857.
HENRY MARTIN KELLOGG.
Henry M. Kellogg was born at Jamaica, Vt., June 8, 1826, died at Nashua, April 9, 1891. He was educated in the public schools of his native place, and at the age of eighteen years came to Nashua. In 1846 he entered the employ of the Nashua Manufacturing company, where he remained until his death. Mr. Kellogg's cheerfulness and plain dealing with all with whom he came in contact, together with his conscientious attention to every detail of the work for which he was in any way responsible, won the confidence of the company's managers and he was speedily promoted to the position of overseer of the spinning department of the mill. The confidence thus reposed in him by agents and treasurer continued un- shaken through his entire career, as evidenced through
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