USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Gilsum > History of the town of Gilsum, New Hampshire, from 1752 to 1879 > Part 19
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To read and spell and write, beginning with straight lines and " pot hooks " followed by
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" coarse hand " nearly half an inch in height, and to " cipher," were all the best masters thought of teaching. Geography came in soon, and Grammar worked its way slowly into the schools, in the first part of the present century. Now, there is scarecly a branch of study taught in our Colleges, but may be sometimes found in our district schools. Too many, however, only skim over the surface, and actually acquire less valuable knowledge than in those early days.
It has already been seen that the charter made provision for the support of schools, by grant- ing one share of 250 acres for that purpose. This share was " No. 1 and No. 2 in the 12th Range and the East half of No. 2 in the 11th Range," also half of the 2nd Lot 3d Range in " the second division." (Map, page 24.) In 1794, the town
Voted to sell the School Rite of Land Belongin to the town Mr Samuel Whitney John Mark Zadok Hurd David Blish Be a Committe to Sell Sd Land
No account of the sale is found. The only record referring to it is in 1798, as follows : -
Voted that David Blish Ceep the Notes Recd for the School Right Choose Capt Hurd Majah Bill David Blish a Committe to take Care of the Money Recd for the School Right.
It appears by the following records from the Treasurer's Book, that this Committee loaned it out in small sums : -
Intrests Money for 1799
Cent
Samuel Mark
$3 - 45
Jonathan Clark
1-95
Jedidiah Carpenter
CO - 20
Elijah Bond
2-70
Elezer Willcox .
3-70
James Nash
2 - 0
$20 00
The records also show the same amount of " Interest Money for Schooling " nearly every year since. The principal changed hands many times. It will be seen that the amount received for the School Right must have been $333.333, which sum is named in the report of the Select- men for 1831. In war time, being obliged to borrow money at high rates of interest, the Selectmen called in these loans. The town therefore has in its possession a permanent School Fund yielding, at six per cent interest, twenty dollars per annum.
Another source of income for the support of schools is the Literary Fund. This is a tax laid by the State upon the capital stock of all Banking Institutions, and distributed to the towns according to their Levy, and by law devoted to the maintenance of schools. This Fund seems to have been first received in 1829, when the town
Voted that the money received from the Literary fund be kept good as to the principal and to lay out the interest annually. In 1835, Voted that one third of the Principal of the Literary Fund be laid out yearly . . also what is received hereafter be appropriated as fast as it may be [received.]
The amount of this Fund for 1829 is not on record. For 1830 it was $17.20, and for 1878 it was $55.04.
Had the original plan of reserving the principal been followed to this time, the town would have a large Fund yielding probably much more than the whole annual Fund now amounts to. The dog tax is another income for the aid of schools. The tax for the present year is $29. Last year it was $40.
In 1790, we find " Ten pound " raised for schooling. In 1792, the money raised " with what the State ordered " was "Twenty pound." Not far from the same amount, varying from seventy to one hundred dollars, was raised each year for about ten years. In 1802, there is no record of raising money for schools, and from that time till 1847, no money was raised above what the law required. Nearly every year, an article was in the warrant, but was either dismissed
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or the town voted " not to raise any school money." But in 1847, it was " Voted to raise $300 for support of schools including the sum required by law." In 1849, the sum was advanced to $400, and so continued till 1855, when the vote was to raise $175.23 in addition to the sum required by law, and the same was voted the next year. In 1857, $550 was raised in all, and the same each year till 1860, when $575 was raised, dropping to $500 in 1861. In 1864, the sum was increased to $600, continuing the same till 1869, when $700 was raised. In 1874, the amount was increased to $800, and so continued for three years. In 1877, it was raised to $900, but in 1878 went down to $850. The amount required by law is nearly $500. There ought to be enough raised and so managed as to secure to each child of suitable age and ordinary health, at least thirty-six weeks of schooling in the year.
In most country towns, the apathy on the subject of schools is amazing. Outside the family and the church, there are no influences so vital to the welfare of the community as those which emanate from public schools. And as in too many homies the family influence is far from elevat- ing, and in our intense individualism and fear of priestcraft, church influence fails to reach directly only a fraction of the young, the public school comes to be the principal dependence for imbuing the youthful mind and heart with sentiments of patriotism and virtue. In the present state of society, it is mainly through schools, that children imbibe ideas of the beauty of morality, and are trained to habits of purity and manliness, whereby they may become useful citizens, a source of strength and protection instead of weakness and danger to our great republic. Since education is more important than all other enterprises, it becomes our duty, in ordinary circum- stances, to place it foremost in the amount of money raised and expended.
In 1816, and several times after, the subject of dividing the school money was discussed but no action was taken. Till 1845, the division seems to have been entirely by the valuation of property, on the theory that each family was entitled to just the amount of their own taxes, in schooling for their children. In 1845, it was " voted to divide the School money one third cqually among the seven first school districts, and the remainder according to the Levy." The same plan seems to have prevailed for the next twenty years. In 1866, it was voted to divide one half equally, and the remainder on the Levy. In 1868, it was divided one half equally, one fourth by the Levy, and one fourth by the number of pupils. In 1869, each district was given $100, and what was left was divided as the year before. This plan was followed for three years. In 1872, the same plan was adopted with this addition, that if the amount paid to any district should exceed $135, the excess should be divided equally among the other districts. In 1873, it was the same except that the limit was made $140 instead of $135. In 1875 and '76, $80 was voted to each district, one half the remainder to be divided by the Levy, and the other half by the number of scholars. In 1877, $100 was first given to each district and the remainder divided as before. In 1878, $200 was distributed according to valuation, and the remainder divided equally.
Between 1840 and 1850, there was a great school revival throughout Cheshire County, largely due to the efforts of Rev. Levi W. Leonard of Dublin. The clergy generally, of all sects, were nobly active in the cause. This was the day of Teachers' Institutes, -genuine schools for drill, - which stimulated and awakened many a before indifferent teacher to new life and energy. The influence was felt here. Some took hold of the matter in earnest. Such men as Rev. Mr. Tisdale, Samuel Woodward, Esq., Dr. Hammond, the Mays, and others were zealous leaders in endeavoring to awaken the town to such an appreciation of the value of Teachers' Institutes as would lead them to vote money for their assistance. Their success was small. In 1847, four
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dollars of the school money was granted in aid of a Teachers' Institute in the County. An attempt to reconsider this vote in July following failed of snecess, and the same amount was appropriated in 1848. In 1851, a motion to raise five dollars for the same purpose, was lost. About this time a law was passed requiring towns to pay a small per cent of their school money for Teachers' Institutes. In 1860, this town instrneted their Representative to use his influence to have the law repealed, which was done soon after.
The first trace of any office like that of Superintending School Committee is in 1816, when the Selectmen were appointed " a committee to inspect the schools." Nothing further appears till 1822, when " Obadiah Pease, Berzeleel L. Mack, and Amherst Hayward " were " a Committee to inspect the schools." The next year, Josiah Hammond was substituted for Amherst Hayward.
In 1826, " Chose Willard Bill, David Chapin, & Amherst Hayward a Committee to examine Schools & make some arrangements concerning books to be used in schools."
The first Superintending School Committee, by that name, was appointed in 1843. The number has varied from one to three, and some years the record of their appointment is missing. The following list shows all that are on the records as having held that office. They have gen- erally been appointed by the Selectmen, in a few instances by the town.
James Tisdale, 1843,-4,-6,-7.
Hartley Thurston, 1843,-4,-8.
Francis A. Howard, 1846,-7. Otis G. Hammond, 1848.
George W. Foster, 1856,-7.
Andrew J. Howard, 1856,-7.
Aaron H. Livermore, 1848,-9,-51.
William B. Adams, 1866.
Samuel Woodward, 1849,-50,-2.
Herbert E. Adams, 1866,-75,-9.
Amasa May, 1844,-5.
David S. Ware, 1850,-1,-3.
Horace Wood, 1867 to 1872.
Calvin May, Jr., 1845,-9,-50,-2.
Ezra Adams, 1850,-1,-3, to 1863.
Oscar J. Wilson, 1873.
Daniel W. Bill, 1845,-6,-7,-72,-3,-4, -5.
Joseph Hays, 1852. Harvey B. May, 1853,-4,-5.
George C. Hubbard, 1876,-7. Samuel W. Dart, 1878.
At first, the Superintending Committee received no pay for their services. The first report was made in 1845, when the town voted their thanks, and fifty-six cents for money paid out. In 1846, their report, written by Rev. Mr. Tisdale, awakened unusual interest, and it was voted to publish the same, and furnish each family with a copy. The Committee were thanked for their services, and allowed eighty-six cents for expenses. In 1847, voted thanks and 200 copies printed. Similar votes were passed the two following years. In 1850, it was voted not to print. The Committee brought in a bill of $4.25 which was allowed. The next year, the bill was referred to the Selectmen. In 1852, the bill allowed was five dollars. Since that time, the bill has varied from ten to sixteen dollars, generally being about twelve, till the last few years when it has risen to nearly forty. As the number of visits to the schools now required by law is at least twenty-eight, besides the examination of teachers, and all the other duties of the office, it is plain the compen- sation is not excessive.
Prior to 1830, the committee or agent for each district was chosen in town meeting, in the same manner as Highway Surveyors. The records frequently call them School Collectors, as they collected the school tax, each in his own district. There seems to have been at first no definitely bounded School Districts. There was a vaguely general division, each family paying their tax and sending their children where most convenient. In 1790, there were four men chosen as School Committee, indicating that there were already four districts. The men chosen were Eleazer Wilcox, Aaron Hammond, Samuel Whitney and Thomas Dart, Jr. The general location of the several districts can be inferred from their places of residence. These were known as the " South," " Middle," " North " and " Northwest " Districts. In other connections the last was generally known as " Dart Corner." Another called the " Northeast " District was established in 1796. This was otherwise known as " Nash Corner " or " Nash Town." In 1805, Samuel Whitney, Silvanus Hayward, John Nash, Samuel Bill, Benjamin Ware, and Jesse Dart were
-
George W. Hammond, 1843,-54,-5, -64,-5.
٠
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impoward to Call School meeting[s] in order [to] Establish Schools in the Several Destricts in this town - The year following, the town Chose Sam1. Bill Dudley Smith Eben". Bill Berzeleel Mack David Blish a com- mittee to divide the town into school districts.
This seems to have been the first definite bounding of the several districts. The following is the report of the Committee : -
Ebenezer Kilburn Iddo Kilburn Ebenezer Bill Ebenezer Bill Jun. Eleazar Wilcox Obadiah Wilcox Benjamin Ware Samuel Crandall Pelatiah Pease Jun. Jonathan Pease Samuel Foster Jonathan Adams Robert L. Hurd
The farms which the above named do now occupy is to contain the south district -
John Mark William Mark Samuel Bill John Ellis Joel Wilson Silas Woods Jonathan Church James Grimes David Fuller Daniel Beverstock Turner White Solomon Woods Stephen Griswold Henry Kindrick Stephen White John Bingham Zenas Bingham Simeon Taylor David Blish Josiah Hammond Aaron Hammond Aaron Hammond Jun. John Hammond Jedidiah Carpenter Ebenezer Isham
The farms which the above named do now occupy is to contain the middle district
Timothy Dart Jesse Dart Eli Thayer Elijah Bond Moses Ware Elijah Ware Jesse Jaquith Josiah Hendy William Baxter Joshua Isham Asa Wing James Kingsbury Moses Ware Jun. Bezeleel Mack Samuel Mark Samuel Isham John Borden
The farms which the above named do now occupy is to contain the northwest district
Jehiel Holdridge Joseph Taylor Sam1. Whitney Justus Chapin Daniel Convas Jonathan Clark John Dart Solomon Mack James Ballard Dudley Smith Solomon Smith Augustus Bigalow Luther Homles [Holmes] David Thompson Sylvanus Hayward Joseph Plumbly Israel Loveland Benjamin Hosmer Claudius D. Hayward David Bill Stephen Bond Elisha Bond Lemuel Bingham Thomas Redding
The farms which the above named do now occupy is to contain the north district
Benjamin Thompson John Nash Paul Farnsworth Maturin Guillo Moses Farnsworth Samuel Cory Levi Blood.
The farms which the above named do now occupy is to contain the northeast district.
The town adopted the report, after transferring Robert L. Hurd from the south to the middle district. In 1807, Luther Holmes was transferred to the northeast district, and Levi Blood was allowed to lay out his school money " where he can be best benefited." Reference is here made to the " Union District " known as " Leominster Corner," to which in 1817 it was voted to set off Levi Blood and John Withington for ten years. In 1819, the widow Ames was allowed to pay her school money to the same district. Again in 1828, Levi Blood, Abner Raymond, and Franklin Barker were allowed " a district by themselves." In 1847, these farms were restored to No. 5, but on petition of inhabitants of both Marlow and Gilsum, the Selectmen in 1848, transferred the Blood farm from No. 5 in Gilsum to No. 5 in Marlow. In 1828, Dudley Smith, Israel B. Loveland, Ebenezer Bill, David Bill, and Asa Nash were appointed " to make any alterations which may be deemed expedient respecting the limits of the several school districts in said town and to define and establish the limits of the same." The only essential change made by this Committec was in the line between No. 2 and No. 5 which they cstablished " by the line of Solomon Mack's and Daniel Converse farms." In 1835, Eseck T. Wilson, E. K. Webster, Samuel Woodward, Jr., Allen Butler, Benjamin Corey and Abner Raymond were a Committee to make alterations in School Districts. They reported the next year, making two new districts, by dividing Nos. 1 and 2. No. 6 was to consist of the farms occupied by John Livermore, Jacob Polley, George W. Hammond, John Hammond, Levi Isham, Eseck T. Wilson, and the widow Ruthy U. Isham, which is substantially the same as at present. The division which they made of No. 2 was unsatisfactory, and the following ycar a committee was chosen " to define the bounds of the several School Districts." This Committee consisted of Aaron Day, Eliphalet K. Webster, Iddo Kilburn, James Pickering, Israel B. Loveland, George W. Hammond, Luther Abbot, and Asa Nash. The only important part of their action was in establishing the bounds of District No. 7 as follows : -
Bounded on the west on the east and south lines of James Bolster's farm until it strieks the road thence on the road until it strieks Luther Mark's north east cormer, thence south on said Mark's and Amherst Hayward's east line to Sullivan line, . . on the north by Alstead line, on the east by the east line of land owned by David Convers Solomon Mack Andrew A [J] Howard Orlando Mack's home farm, and John Thompson, on the South by Sullivan line . -
9
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GILSUM.
It was voted to give the old school house to No. 7. There was evidently considerable dissatisfaction, as the subject was brought before the town every year without success till 1840, when on petition of some of the inhabitants of No. 2, the Selectmen proceeded " to establish and define the boundaries . . in the manner and form by law prescribed." They however made no essential changes, but only described the boundaries more exactly.
In 1844, a slight change was made in the line between Nos. 1 and 3, making it the south line of Lots No. 5 in the several ranges. In 1846, James Bolster's farm was transferred to No. 7, but in 1865, the same farm, now owned by C. B. Hayward, was restored to No. 2.
In 1852, on petition of several of the citizens, the Selectmen defined the districts by record- ing the exact boundaries, making no changes from the lines already given.
In 1856, James Rawson's farm was transferred from No. 4 to No. 2. Since then several efforts have been made to have the town re-districted but without effect. In 1874, a proposition to abolish the School Districts was rejected, and " all things continue as they were." Probably no one change could accomplish so much for our schools as the abolition of Districts, bringing the whole town under one efficient system of grading. The District system has been a curse to the schools of New Hampshire in many ways. One result is that the schools are frequently so small as to be very unprofitable. At present in Gilsum, one district has only seven pupils, and another only five, and as the last has the same number of old bachelors, the prospect is far from encouraging.
The first School Houses were probably built in 1794, when we find the following record : -
Voted to Raise one hundred and twenty Ib to Buld four School houses in the town one in Each District Chose Capt holdredg James Ballard timothy Dart Jesse Dart Capt kilburn David Adams David Blish Samuel Bill Capt Fuller a Comette to Serv the Destricks for Belding Sd houses
The first School House in District No. 1 stood on the east of the road very near where Mr. Loiselle's shop now stands. (Map 52.) In 1819, another was built on the west of the road 10 or 15 rods further north. (Map 54.) In 1850, this was burned, and the next season the present house was built near Vessel Rock, being located by a committee from the other districts. (Map 76.) The first School House in District No. 2 was north of the road running towards C. B. Hayward's, and a few rods east of Geo. C. Hubbard's house. (Map 366.) In 1808, the Treasurer's book shows a tax of $224.61 assessed " on the north school Destrict," from which it seems a School House must have been built that year. This was the second one in this district, and stood on the north side of the road by the turn south of Mrs. Cram's. (Map 367.) It was probably about this time, that the school was kept by Elisheba Dort in her father's house, now occupied by Chilion Mack, who remembers going to school there, and that she had an hour- glass to mark the time. This School House was occupied till the district was divided in 1836. That winter, the chamber at the west end of Dea. Kingsbury's house was used for the school, which was taught by Aaron Day, Jr. (Chap. 31.) The same room was used for the school several terms, and afterwards a room in Capt. Taylor's old Tannery, till 1843, when the present house was built above the village, (Map 373,) where it was located by a committee from other parts of the town.
In District No. 3, the first School House stood near the spot now used for the same purpose. (Map 355.) This was burned about 1816, and the school was kept for a time in Major Bill's old house on the north of the road. (Chap. 32.) In 1820, another School House was built on the old spot. This remained till 1847, when the present house was built. Samuel Woodward was the prime mover in the enterprise, and it has been ever since the best School House in town.
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SCHOOLS.
In the tornado of 1877, it was lifted from the foundations and turned one quarter round without serious injury. (Chap. 26.)
In District No. 4, the School House stood on the small triangle between the roads in front of David A. Roundy's house. (Map 130.) In 1829, the present house known as " the Brick School House " was built, (Map 359,) the brick being made at Wm. Kingsbury's brick yard. (Chap. 23.)
District No. 5 had a large log School House, north of the road a little beyond A. B. Nash's present residence. (Map 375.) This was probably built about the beginning of the present century, and remained in use until 1816, when the present house was built. (Map 376.)
District No. 6 was set off from Nos. 1 and 4 in 1836. The school was kept for several years in the old Blish house, on the place where Enos Cross now resides. The School House now in use was built in 1841. (Map 67.)
District No. 7 was also set off in 1836. The school was kept for several scasons in tlie ell part of Chilion Mack's house, then running towards the west, instead of south as now. In 1844, they built the School House near Martin Bates's. (Map 374.)
Of school apparatus the town has almost none. A few outline maps, and perhaps in some districts, blocks to explain Cube Root are about all. But there are signs of progress. At the annual meeting in March, 1879, the town voted to purchase seven Unabridged Dictionaries, one for each district. No wiser or more honorable vote stands on our records.
In addition to the public schools, there have been occasional " select schools " in nearly every distriet. Several "High Schools" have also been held in the village. The list cannot be exactly given. The first was in the Fall of 1834, and the following Spring. It was kept in the Congregational Vestry by Jonathan Hall, then a student in Amherst College.
Four years after, George W. Ash kept a High School in what is now Chandler's Hall. He was afterwards pastor of the Congregational Church in Westmoreland. The next year a young man began a school. but gave it up on account of small attendance.
Rev. James Tisdale kept a High School in the Vestry in 1843-4, and perhaps afterwards. Mrs. Alice Adams also had a school in the same room for several terms.
A Gilman and also a Pratt taught still later in Chandler's Hall.
· SINGING SCHOOLS.
"Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast."
Singing in early times was much the same in Gilsum as elsewhere. At first, all who could sing, or thought they could, sang in the congregation as the " Psalm " was " lined out " by dea- con or minister. Later, probably as early as the dedication of the Meeting House in 1794, the singing was conducted by a large choir led by a bass-viol. Everybody has been made familiar with the old tunes and style of singing throughi " Father Kemp" and his imitators. It must be confessed that modern church music, in small towns, is thin and meagre compared with the rich- ness of those old tunes sung with genuine zeal, with all their marvelous fugues, and the peculiar sweetness of a good " counter." The bass-viol was played by Silvanus Hayward, and it is remembered Squire Hammond frequently exchanged with him, one playing in the forenoon, and the other in the afternoon. Amherst Hayward afterwards played the bass-viol in the choir for nearly or quite forty years.
Singing schools were early introduced. Benoni Wright, brotlier of Gen. Daniel Wright, was one of the first singing masters. He had a fine tenor voice of unusual sweetness, and taught many winters. Silvanus Hayward, Squire Hammond, Oliver Pease, David Brigham, Selim Frost of Sullivan, and a Mr. Warren from Dublin are also in the list of musie teachers in Gil-
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sun. In 1813, and again in 1816, the town was asked to do something "to encourage and support a singing school," but dismissed the article.
The modern methods as taught in Mason's Manual were first introduced here by Sumner and Levi Rust of Alstead, in 1838 and 1839. Gilman C. Sanborn of Windsor followed in 1842-3-4. Alfred Partridge of Alstead taught several winters about 1847-9. Moses Twitchell and a Mr. Hutchins were here soon after. George W. Foster taught several winters, before 1860. So much interest was awakened at this period that for a time two schools were sustained by rival parties, the other being in charge of a Mr. Houston. Subsequently, singing schools were kept here by a Mr. Gilpatrick, Sylvester Little of Antrim, Charles W. Bingham, and George K. Nichols. In the winter of 1876-7, Charles H. Scoville of Walpole was employed for a few weeks, and in 1878-9, S. F. Merrill of Kecne had a large singing class in the Town Hall. In the Summer of 1879, Prof. David Batchellor, an Englishman residing in Boston, Mass., while spending his vacation in Gilsum, gave several free lessons in singing, introducing the "tonic sol-fa system." The class thus started was taken by Thomas Charmbury, Jr., and continued with much success through the Fall and Winter.
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