USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Gilsum > History of the town of Gilsum, New Hampshire, from 1752 to 1879 > Part 13
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No officers were chosen, and the following entry closes the record : -
Valeria W. Hemenway.
Charles E. Baker.
Maria S. Burroughs.
Fanny Mark.
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GILSUM.
The meeting was adjourned till such time as some person could be provided to deliver a Lecture on the subject of Anti Slavery, of which due notice should be given, and after which the Society should be called to order, when such business as might come before the Society should be transacted.
Since then, the eyes of the Society have "failed with longing," while patiently waiting the advent of the Lecturer aforesaid, - but hitherto non est invenlus.
The Anti-slavery record of Gilsum is, on a small scale, very much like that of the State and country. Beginning with the strong convietions of a few individuals who could neither be persuaded nor frightened into silence, it gradually extended its influenee, till it inerged into the powerful Republican party. Doubtless the Anti-slavery Society did something to awaken public interest and stimulate thought upon this subject, but far more effective was the private influenee of individuals in conversation, and the circulation of documents from hand to hand. While others were true and earnest workers in the cause, yet no one familiar with the circumstances, can deem it invidious to name A. W. Kingsbury, as one of its earliest and most efficient advocates. At the very beginning, he took the papers that sided against Slavery, and his shop became a nucleus out of which quietly but persistently radiated influences that drew in one after another to the Anti-slavery movement. There the " Independent Democrat " and other radical documents were always found, and the walls were adorned with hand-bills and pithy sayings in reference to the Slavery question Quietly he turned the thoughts of those who eame on business or for loafing, to the great evil of Slavery. Firm to his own convictions of duty, however his best friends might differ, and meekly quiet under violent reproaches and abusive epithets of enemies to the cause, he accomplished far more than many a blatant " apostle of freedom."
The first Anti-slavery vote in Gilsum was in 1841, when the " Liberty Party " nominee for Governor received four votes. They are known to have been cast by A. W. Kingsbury, Stephen Foster, Jr., Luther White, and Solon W. Eaton. In justice to others, it should be here observed that there were many more, as heartily and conscientiously opposed to Slavery, and as decided and outspoken in their opposition as these, whose judgment led them still to act within the old party lines, rather than to fall into a third party movement. But when the Whig party perished through its opposition to the Mexican War, and the Know Nothing movement proved ephemeral ; while a few of the Whigs joined their old Democratic foes, a large majority of them were swept into the new Republican party. The Know Nothing organization also became a bridge, over which many dissatisfied Democrats passed into the Republiean ranks. The rapid growth of the Anti-slavery party in Gilsum may be seen by inspecting the Table at the close of the preceding Chapter. Springing suddenly from four to sixteen in the second year, it rose to 33 in 1854, and the largest vote ever cast by the Republican party in this town was the first, being 84 for the Presidential Electors in 1856. Anti-slavery men in Gilsum, as elsewhere, have always relied on the power of voting as the best means to accomplish their purpose, saying to their opponents, in the words of one of their own poets : -
" We have a weapon firmer set And better than the bayonet, - A weapon that comes down as still As snowflakes fall upon the sod, But executes a freeman's will As lightning does the will of God,
And from its foree nor bars nor loeks Can shield you : - 'tis the BALLOT BOX."
- --
High Hiller Kings bury
The Heliotype Printing Co. 211 Tremont St Boston.
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TEMPERANCE.
CHAPTER XIX.
TEMPERANCE.
" War hath slain his thousands, and Rum his ten thousands."
THE Temperance cause everywhere runs back like the earth to a time " without form and void," when " darkness was upon the face of the deep." In public and private, alone and in social gatherings, spirit was used freely, and though to get drunk was a reproach, yet to drink freely was not esteemed of even doubtful propriety. Everybody drank. No time or place was considered inappropriate for the introduction of the social glass.
Religious as well as secular gatherings were always provided for, by laying in a store of New England rum. Ordinations, dedications, councils, weddings, births, and funerals were seasons of great hilarity in the consumption of large quantities of spirit and tobacco. Town meetings, and especially " trainings " and " raisings" carried the indulgence to a still greater extent. The tavern stood "hard by the synagogue," where at " noon-time " on Sabbath days, both minister and people might repair, not only to seek external relief from the bitter cold of the fireless sanctuary, but internal warmth by sips of hot toddy. Every tavern, and almost every store sold liquor freely. To sell by the glass, it was necessary to have a license. Since 1793, the Selectmen of Gilsum have granted 99 unrestricted licenses to retail spirituous liquors, and seven to sell only for chemical, mechanical and medicinal purposes. These seven were appointed under the law for a Town Agency. One license, in 1843, was given to the tavern keeper " pro- vided he shall not sell nor allow to be sold any spirituous or intoxicating liquors to any person belonging to the town." Another was given the same year to the principal trader in town, " till he shall have disposed of his stock of liquors now on hand which time shall not extend beyond the 20th of Sept. next." These two licenses were given five days before town meeting by two of the Selectmen privately, knowing that the temperance movement was likely to bring into office those who would refuse to license at all. The trader, who had thus secured his license for six months, was then active at town meeting in the effort to elect a Temperance Board of Selectmen, thus craftily securing the field to himself. The 99 licenses were given to forty different persons, including some of those who afterwards became foremost in the Temperance cause. Twenty-five of these licenses were for certain public occasions, running only from one to three days. The last unrestricted license on record was in 1842.
The results on such public occasions as " trainings," and " raisings, ' when extra licenses were needed to supply the thirsty crowds, were what first startled people into a sense of their peril, and to perceive the necessity of a change. The accidental death of one man as he returned from " training," led some to resolve never to expose themselves to a like fate. The death also at the raising of " the plastered house," not through drunkenness, but because all were unduly excited and rendered careless by the use of spirit, roused others to take a stand against the use of intoxicating liquors at " raisings."
The first raising in Gilsum without rum was of the woodshed and ell that was built towards the street at the west end of Amherst Hayward's house in 1827. Those who aided him were Aaron Day, Elisha S. Fish, Moses Fish, Eleazer Wilcox, and Israel B. Loveland. Some other help he hired, but these five were the only men in town, who were then willing to assist a neighbor to raise a building without liquor. A crowd of rum-lovers gathered on the opposite
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side of the street, during the raising, and greeted the workmen with hooting and jeers. This building is now the house owned by Harriet Pierce, and occupied by the widow Stevens, on the south side of Sullivan Street, a little beyond " the dug-way."
At this time, the first extensive Temperance movement had just got well started. Very few, however, had yet embraced the doctrine of Total Abstinence as now understood. It was thought that to abstain from distilled liquors would be sufficient, and that wine, beer, and cider might be freely used without injury. A curious illustration of this was given in Gilsum, at a Fourth of July celebration in 1834, when wine was provided expressly for the " Temperance men," and run for the rest.
The first Temperance Society in Gilsum was organized about 1834, but its records are lost, and its origin and history mostly unknown. It professed Total Abstinence from distilled liquors only. This Society held a Temperance celebration July 4, 1835, with an address by a son of " Squire Hatch " of Alstead. The pledge was circulated that year with considerable success, and frequent meetings were held in different parts of the town. One exercise at these meetings was the reading of articles both original and selected. Washington's birth-day 1836, was celebrated in the evening with a Temperance address by Barton Skinner of Westmoreland. At the annual meeting, on the second of May following, an address was delivered by Elder Brewster of the Methodist Church. This Society did not confine itself to meetings and talk, but in 1837, circulated a petition to the Legislature, to have " the License laws abolished or so amended as not to promote intemperance." At the annual town meeting in 1838, they got an article into the warrant to instruct the Selectmen not to give licenses, but failed to carry the vote. At a special meeting in May, however, they succeeded. At the next annual town meeting in 1839, both parties made active exertions to carry the day. The vote was taken by each man's answer- ing Yes or No, as his name was called from the check-list The rum party prevailed by a very small majority, obtained in part, at least, through fraud, as some were known to have answered to other names than their own. On Fast Day, Ap. 12, 1838, and two or three times subsequently, Temperance addresses were delivered by a Rev. Mr. Morgan of the Methodist Church. Under the auspices of this Society, also, the well-known Dr. Charles Jewett gave several lectures illustrating the effects of drinking, upon the human stomach. These lectures were in the Con- gregational Meeting House and were largely attended. The exact date cannot be given, but it is known to have been before 1840. Feb. 25, 1840, an address was delivered before this Society by Elder Rollins. The meeting was held in F. W. Day's Hall, and the address was preceded by some remarks from Lemuel Bingliam, who probably presided on the occasion. This Society had accomplished much in awakening public interest, and instructing people in regard to the real meaning and value of the Temperance pledge. It performed the office of a forerunner, preparing the way for
THE WASHINGTONIAN MOVEMENT.
This originated in a grog-shop at Baltimore, Md., Ap. 5, 1840 ; when six drunkards moved by some sudden impulse, drew up and signed a Total Abstinence Pledge. Their influence extended rapidly through the large cities, and thence to the smaller towns. The Gilsum Wash- ington Temperance Society was organized about the first of November, 1840. The pledge is as follows : -
We the undersigned do agree that we will not use intoxicating liquors, nor traffic in them as a beverage. That we will not provide them as an article of entertainment, nor for persons in our employment, and that in all suitable ways we will discountenance their use in the community. And particularly will we use our individual exertions in all suitable ways to reclaim the intemperate.
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TEMPERANCE.
This pledge was understood to include fermented as well as distilled liquors. It is much to be regretted that the first volume of records, containing the doings of six years, is missing. Among the most active in organizing this Society were Dr. George W. Hammond and his brother Otis G. Hammond. The former by his pen, and by his poctical talent, and both by frequent lectures, accomplished much for Temperance, in Gilsum and the neighboring towns. In October, 1843, the Temperance Society appointed a committee in each School District " to collect statistics in regard to the condition of every person in town as to the practice or habit of drinking intoxi- cating liquor." They reported as follows :
Whole No. of inhabitants in town 645 *
Pledged to Total Abstinence 309
Others not known to drink intoxicating liquor
107
Moderate Drinkers 71
Frequent Drinkers Drunkards 16
29
This report leaves over a hundred not classed - probably children. They also reported forty- eight farms out of eighty-two, " carried on the past season without the use of strong drink." Nov. 28, a temperance convention of the towns of Gilsum, Sullivan and Stoddard was held in this place, and was largely attended. Among the speakers were Dr. Hammond, who exhibited and explained Dr. Sewall's celebrated plates of the drunkard's stomaclı, John Prentiss, William Lamson and Benaiah Cooke from Keene. At the beginning of the year it was stated that " within the last year and a half 16 heads of families have risen up from a life of drunkenness and wo to a life of soberness - renewed health and happiness." Most of these maintained a temperate life ever after.
In the Annals for 1844, (Chap. 22,) we find the following : -
An effort was made by a few persons who are opposed to the Temperance cause to bring together from this town & all the towns adjoining all the friends of true liberty - meaning as was understood all who wish to have liberty to Sell & drink Spirituous liquors without any restraint. - It was said they would celebrate the day in the true Spirit of '76. The day was very fair & beautiful. The greatest number that could be induced to join at any time in the day was about 15 - showing decidedly that no person of intelligence who wishes to maintain a respectable standing among his neighbors - will at this age of light & reformation on the subject of drinking strong liquors be willing to be seen in the ranks of rum drinkers on public occasions.
The names of the leaders in this rum celebration arc well remembered, but it seems best to let them remain unrecorded.
Rev. S. S. Dudley of the Methodist Church and Rev. James Tisdale of the Congregational Church were among the most efficient laborers' in the Temperance cause. At the outset, tlic pledge was circulated from house to house, and offered to every person in town. The second volume of records begins with the sixth annual meeting, Nov. 4, 1846. K. D. Webster was chosen President, and David S. Ware, Secretary. At that time, there were between four and five hundred names on the books, but the Directors estimated the real number of resident members " about 260," and recommended that the pledge be circulated " anew to every person in Town." The work of the Society can be judged of somewhat by the annual report. It is stated that twenty-one meetings were held, and thirty-one persons signed the pledge.
From out of town we have had the past year three Lectures, two sermons, four addresses, and one recitation. From persons in town, three Lectures, four manuscript papers, and one sermon, and two printed sermons have been read, while many of the members have taken part in the discussions.
One prosecution for unlawful sale is reported, which was settled before coming to trial, by the defendant's paying costs, and pledging himself not to sell in future. The Directors also report that so far as known, no person in town was then in the habit of selling liquor. At the annual
* The record says 745, but it is certainly a mistake.
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GILSUM.
meeting in November, 1847, twenty-three meetings were reported, at six of which a manuscript paper called the " Gilsum Temperance Banner " was read. Lectures were given by Dr. Charles Jewett, T. D. Bonner, Rev. Mr. Crossett of Alstead, George C. Hubbard then of Sullivan, and a sermon by Rev. Mr. Folsom of Marlow. Levi Leland, called " the honest Quaker," delivered five addresses in different parts of the town. Some clandestine sale is reported and the Society exhorted to take measures for its suppression. Seventy-five of the " Concord Temperance Banner " were taken in town that year. In accordance with a vote to circulate the pledge, the town was canvassed for that purpose except School districts Nos. 5 and 7, the persons appointed for those districts having neglected their duty. The Society numbered at that time 303. The report complains of too many " non-working members," " who are not disposed to attend our meetings unless some distinguished lecturer is to be present, or something special to be done." Hartley Thurston was chosen President and the Secretary re-elected. At the next Mareli meeting, 1848, the town voted 80 to 31 not to have liquor sold in town. At the next annual meeting of the Society, November, 1848, the President was re-elected, and Roswell W. Silsby cliosen Secretary. The Directors reported twenty-three meetings, four manuscript papers, and ten lectures, five from townsmen and five from abroad. One of these five was by Daniel Allen, known as " The Norfolk Farmer." Number of members 369. They announce that the sale has been almost entirely suppressed.
At the opening of the Village Hotel the last relic of bygone days disappeared and the Town of Gilsum may in this respect be called a Temperance Town. Thus after a long and severe struggle has the enemy been driven from his strong holds and one great object for which you have been struggling has been attained.
In conclusion we would say that the success that has attended our efforts during the seven years in which the Society has existed is such as leaves no doubt that we must soon completely succeed. The bitter opposition that characterized our opponent during the early stages of the Society has been almost entirely abandoned, and no candid man denies the justness of our cause.
Though the sanguine hopes here expressed were not fully realized, yet a victory was then won which will never cease to be felt in Gilsum. The next year nineteen meetings were held. There was one discussion by persons from abroad, and five lectures and addresses. From this point there is a break of two years in the record. The Society continued its organization, but was probably rather inactive.
The eleventh annual meeting was held Nov. 5, 1851, when Luther W. Mark was re-elected President, and Davis H. Wilson was chosen Secretary. The Maine Law had then just begun its course and caused a general revival among Temperance organizations. The pledge was again circulated, and 263 names reported. During the winter, meetings were held in every School House except in No. 5, the subject at each time being the Maine Law. This was a new idea then, and was discussed in all its bearings, by the principal men of the town. Two Lectures were delivered this winter, - one of which was on this same Maine Law. So far as the records show, only two meetings were subsequently held, which were the annual meetings in 1852 and 1853. In 1852, Andrew J. Howard was chosen President, and the Secretary was re-elected. In 1853, Amherst Hayward was chosen President, and Claudius B. Hayward, Secretary. Those who remember this Society in its most flourishing state, and even those who read its records must feel that it accomplished more for the cause of Temperance than all other means that have been used in Gilsum. One of its most efficient instrumentalities was in the singing conducted by Artemas P. Hemenway, who had a fine clear voice, and was an enthusiastic Temperance worker. Some of his most popular songs were written by Dr. Hammond. One of our former townsmen writes as follows : -
Those touching little songs so sweetly rendered by Artemas P. Hemenway, so plainly enunciated tliat every person in any part of the assemblage could perfectly understand every word, were a power in themselves. What
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TEMPERANCE.
Sankey's Songs are to Moody's Sermons, Hemenway's songs were to the able and faithful speakers of that philanthropic movement. Dr. Hammond's poetical talent and Hemenway's fine singing, and the sound reasoning of Hammond and Woodward and others did perhaps as much or more than the lecturers from abroad to accomplish the great good.
Soon after the formation of this Society, a Martha Washington Temperance Society was organized. Nothing is now known of its officers or members. It was short-lived and did very little while it lasted.
The immediate cause of the disbanding of the Washingtonians was the organization of a Division of the
SONS OF TEMPERANCE.
" Upper Ashuelot Division No. 35, Sons of Temperance," was organized Sept. 4, 1851. The Charter members were Harvey C. Wood, N. O. Hayward, Roswell W. Silsby, Stephen L. Parker, John B. Otis, Hartley Thurston, Solomon Mack, Jr., John C. Guillow, Alexander O. Brown, and Calvin May, Jr., of whom all except Solomon Mack were then initiated for the first time. Calvin May, Jr., was elected Worthy Patriarch, and N. O. Hayward, Recording Scribe. The regular meetings were on Saturday evening, and a new board of officers was chosen every quarter. During the first years, the Division was well disciplined and prosperous. More than 100 male members were added, and nearly as many female visiting members. The last board of working officers was elected March 28, 1856, Amasa May being Worthy Patriarch, and Daniel Smith, Recording Scribe. After May of the same year no meetings were held till, by a special call of the Steward, the Division assembled Feb. 28, 1857. They adjourned till March 7, when they elected officers, Porter Cowee being chosen W. P. and Addison G. Gates R. S. The last meeting of the Division was one week later, and was mainly taken up by a settlement of their finances. Their furniture and other property was scattered, the Charter being left in the hands of N. O. Hayward.
The Division held several Festivals and Celebrations, the most notable of which was a formal Dedication of the Hall, Feb. 25, 1852, and a Celebration Sept. 21, of the same year. A large center cake used on the latter occasion was sold to N. O. Hayward for $2.25. Their appetites however growing urgent, it was bought back, and cut and divided to all the members present. The frosting on the top of the cake was sold to Josiah Guillow for twenty-one cents, and the sugar birds to Father Hemenway for twenty cents. They also held a Fair at the Methodist Meeting House, February, 1856, which was their last public demonstration.
This Division included a large part of the most active and influential citizens, and during the first years of its existence exerted a powerful influence for good. Many public meetings were held. Addresses were given by the clergymen and other townsmen, with occasional lecturers from abroad. Copies of the Maine Law were circulated, with petitions to the Legislature for a similar law in New Hampshire. Much was done to suppress the liquor traffic. Committees were appointed to procure evidence and prosecute the liquor dealers in Gilsum and Surry. Had it been purely a Gilsum society, with no " entangling alliances " without, there appears no good reason why it might not be living to-day, and still doing manly work for the cause. But being organically united to a State body at Concord, it became infected with the virus from that politi- cal cess-pool which insinuated its filth into every Division. It became evident that political aspirants had gained control of the order, and were running it to get themselves into office. Managed for political ends instead of moral reform, when a more mighty political power appeared in the Know Nothing order, it gobbled up the Division almost entirc.
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GILSUM.
THE GILSUM YOUNG PEOPLE'S TEMPERANCE SOCIETY
was formed in 1866, through the carnest and persistent efforts of Elder Hemenway. It was formally organized Oct. 14, by adopting a Constitution, and choosing officers. George K. Nichols was elected President, and Theron Hayward, Secretary. The first volume of records has on its title page the following inscription : -
Presented to the Gilsum Young Peoples Temperanee Society by Elder Hemenway he being in the 87th year of his age.
The pledge of the Society is as follows : -
We agree that we will neither buy or sell or use as a beverage any intoxicating drinks neither will we ehew, smoke or snuff Tobacco or use profane language.
It began with fifteen members, but increased so rapidly, that in about one year and a half, there were 144 members. Meetings were held about once in two weeks through the year. These meetings were conducted with diseussions, readings, reeitations, and some manuseript papers, ealled " The Temperance Banner," with rarely a leeture from abroad. On the 4th of July, 187.0, a Temperanee Convention was held, musie being furnished by the Aeworth band, and an address by Rev. Mr. Babeoek of Nashua.
The last regular meeting of the Society was Ap. 14, 1875, when Dan A. Hayward was President, and Mary E. Hayward, Seeretary. Appointments were made for the next meeting, but a small-pox seare prevented their assembling, and the organization was not revived. A special meeting was ealled May 22, 1876, and it was unanimously voted to give the funds and other property of this Society to the Gilsum Reform Club.
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