USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Henniker > History of the town of Henniker, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, from the date of the Canada grant by the province of Massachusetts, in 1735, to 1880 with a genealogical register of the families of Henniker > Part 24
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The choir at the Baptist church, while it was in being,
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was for some time under the direction of David P. Perkins, now a resident of Manchester. It was afterwards under the leadership of Jesse Webster and David Smith.
At the Methodist church the singing was formerly under the direction of Dea. George Connor and Capt. Israel Adams. In later years Hiram A. Campbell, Imri S. Whit- ney, Oliver Pillsbury, Oliver A. Newton, and John Jackman have served as choristers.
Dea. Benj. Colby was for many years chorister at the Congregational church.
Singing-schools have been taught in town by nearly or quite all the above-named, and by Enos Hoyt, B. B. Davis, of Concord, John Jackman, Imri S. Whitney, Enoch L. C. Colby, and others out of town. The schools have usually been subscription schools, the concert at the close generally helping to round up the expenses satisfactorily to all.
But the days of the pitch-pipe have long since passed away. The violin, the bass-viol, the trombone, the clarinet, and the flute are no longer heard in the church. Their sweet notes will, however, forever linger in the memories of those who used to hear them, as they led the melodious voices on and up in those grand old tunes, the rendering of which seemed to carry the performer and the listener upon the wings of loving faith, and filled the hearts of all with ecstatic joy.
To quicken the memories of the lovers of the old sacred music, we append a few lines from a poem read by Samuel Burnham, at the centennial celebration in Rindge, in 1868:
" And when, at last, the loud Amen Fell from aloft, how quickly then The seats came down, with heavy rattle, Like musketry in fiercest battle; And farther off, and higher yet, The singers and the players sat. Oh! what a deluge of sweet sound ! Northfield came flying swiftly round;
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The New Jerusalem came down On slippery cat-gut on the town ; To old St. Martin's air so light, The shepherds watched their flocks by night. How those old tunes call up the past, And memories throng both thick and fast !
Old Majesty in sad complaints, And wailing China for dead saints ; And Lenox, Duke Street, and the rest That to the service added zest. But songs and songsters now are dead ; Those Sabbath days have long since fled. The strings are broken, mute the tongue, That then God's praises sweetly sung."
TEMPERANCE.
In the spring of 1829 a few ladies of this town, viewing with alarm the evil that was being done by the use of intox- icating drinks, and deeming that the time had fully come when some measures should be taken to check, if possible, this evil that had grown to such an alarming extent, and save, at least, the young and the rising generation from its grasp, formed themselves into a temperance society, with Mrs. Dr. Sanborn for president ; Mrs. Joshua Darling and Mrs. Dyer Abbott for vice-presidents ; and Mrs. Sally Butler for secre- tary. These four ladies, together with Mrs. Sally Gould and Betty Smith, and two others, whose names cannot be ascertained, were the original members.
This was the first temperance society in Henniker. For sixty years after the settlement of the town, rum and other liquors had been almost as plenty as water. They were to be found upon the dressers of the wealthy, in tall, square, black bottles, and in the abodes of the poorer classes, in the same manner. At the log-rollings, the raisings, the huskings, and all gatherings of the men, they were furnished in abundance. No funeral could take place without them. They were considered as indispensable articles. At the ordi- nation of the minister they were passed around; and the
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first act of the clergyman, after he reached his home at the close of the forenoon and afternoon exercises, upon the Sabbath, was to take his dram, to assist in giving rest to his weary body, and calm contentment and spiritual repose to his mind. And yet, away back in those olden times, an intoxicated person was rarely seen. The liquors used were considered free from those ingredients that helped to de- grade the users, as is exhibited in these later days. A change soon became apparent. Intemperance began to show its evils in the adulteration of liquors, and crime be- gan to increase. The dram-shop began to be filled with its victims, spending the money, that should have purchased food and clothing for their suffering families, to quench their unhallowed thirst. In this manner much suffering was caused, and ruin brought upon many formerly happy homes. An increase of intemperance was visible in this town in more intoxication in the streets, and in the longer-con- tinued "sprees" of some of the older inhabitants as they remained in some store or hotel days and nights in succession, to the neglect of their families and their duties at home. It was seen in the imitation of this example by the younger portion of the people of the town, who thought it right to do as their fathers did. It began to be seen in the neglect of the family, hitherto respectable and respected, while the wife and children were obliged to resort to various expedients to eke out the necessary subsistence of life. It began to be seen in the impoverishment of the farm, in the decayed fences, in the rattling of the loose boards upon the buildings, and in the broken glass in the window,-old clothes or dilapidated hats filling the space, vainly trying to keep out the storm and the cold. It was seen in the foreclosure of the mortgage upon the farm, which its owner was unable to remove, while the fact was developed that the farm had gone down the throat of its former owner in the shape of intoxicating drinks.
Such was the picture of the situation here when these
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heroic ladies resolved to make a stand against this great evil, and, if possible, arouse the community to a sense of its danger, even though it should be in a small degree. This bold action on the part of these ladies soon brought to their assistance a few of the leading men of the town, and on the 4th of July of that year, Dr. Nathan Sanborn, by invitation of these ladies, delivered a temperance address in the Con- gregational church. The day was very pleasant, and a large congregation assembled to listen to the first temperance address in this town. The subject was treated very ably by the good doctor, giving good counsel, and words of en- couragement in the performance of duty. At the close of his lecture the meeting was addressed by several gentlemen, in short speeches, and before the day closed it was resolved to form a temperance society, which should include in its membership men, women, and children. Four gentlemen signed the pledge that day, and formed themselves into a society, of which Dr. Nathan Sanborn was president, and Artemas Rogers secretary. Rev. Jacob Scales and Abel Connor were the other two members. Josiah Hill became a member immediately after. A meeting was soon held, when quite a number of children signed the pledge, and the or- ganization of the ladies' society was merged in the new one, all working very harmoniously together.
From this little beginning the cause began to flourish ; and the pledge was signed, and was solemnly kept, by a goodly number of the population of the town. Numerous meetings were held, but no special excitement became man- ifest until 1843, when the " Washingtonian " movement, which had begun in a little dram-shop in Baltimore, Mary- land, by John Hawkins and three associates, had spread over the entire country, in its wonderful power for good. Meetings were held here almost nightly, in the different churches, and in the school-houses throughout the town. Able speakers from abroad addressed the crowded audi- ences. Among these speakers was John Hawkins himself,
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who, upon his first appearance in town, addressed one of the largest audiences that ever assembled within the walls of the old town-house. His pitiful experience, related in such plain, unvarnished language, and his pathetic appeals to the people, told with wonderful effect. Hundreds signed the pledge, and many an evening was spent by crowds listening to the experience of the reformed men in our midst. Dr. J. H. Robinson was another strong advocate of the cause, laboring here for a week at a time. A very fine club of singers, aided by some of our best instrumental players, attended the meetings in all parts of the town, and add- ed much to the interest of the meetings. The rum in the stores was purchased and destroyed; and to such an ex- tent was the pledge taken that this town soon came to be known as one of the strongest in the cause, and its people one of the best temperance communities in the state. Many who signed the pledge adhered to it faithfully through the remainder of their lives, making themselves more respecta- ble and their families much happier.
A temperance celebration was held here upon the 4th of July, 1844, which was the largest one that has ever taken place in the town. The people of the neighboring towns were invited, and most freely did they accept the invitation, for, on the morning of that most beautiful day, they came pouring into town from every direction ; long lines of car- riages, embowered with branches of leaves, unloaded their huge loads, who, together with the people of this town, who turned out almost en masse, covered the commons about the churches, and filled the streets until passage seemed almost impossible. The marshal of the day, with his numerous aids, soon brought order out of confusion, by the formation of a procession. Headed by the Henniker band, the long procession wound its way through the streets of the village, with banners and appropriate mottoes, in large numbers, along its entire length ; thence up to the oak grove belong- ing to Jacob Rice, and northerly from his residence, where
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seats had been built for thousands, and a spacious stand for the officers and orator of the day, and for the band. After appropriate exercises, the president of the day, stepping to the front of the stand, spoke as follows : " Ladies and gen- tlemen : I have the honor to present to you, as the orator upon this occasion, one of New Hampshire's most distin- guished and eloquent sons, the Hon. Franklin Pierce, of Concord." For upwards of an hour the distinguished orator held his audience spell-bound, as he alluded to the day and its patriotic memories, and then pleaded, with all the elo- quence at his command, for the success of that cause which was dearest to the hearts of the vast multitude before him,- the cause of temperance. When his peroration, which had fallen from his lips in eloquent and well-rounded sentences, was brought to a close, he sat down amid tremendous cheers, which shook the very leaves of the noble oaks which overshadowed them. Attention was then directed to the long lines of tables, fairly groaning under the weight of provisions of all kinds, furnished by the good people of the town. The tables were waited upon by a large number of young ladies, who performed their duties in a very pleasing and faithful manner. Although it was estimated that there were from 3,000 to 5,000 people in the grove, yet every- body was well supplied with food, and no one went away hungry. Everything passed off satisfactorily, and no acci- dent occurred to mar the happiness of the day. The ex- ercises at the grove were presided over in a very able manner by Lewis Smith, Esq.
The 4th of July, 1845, was observed at Hopkinton with temperance festivities ; and by invitation a very large num- ber went down from here, having their carriages and horses decked with flowers and wreaths of oak-leaves.
The organization was kept up for several years, although the interest gradually abated. So many other matters of interest came up, that the organization was merely nominal, and but little was said upon the subject of temperance for many years.
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SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.
In the winter of 1866-'67 a new impetus was given to the cause by the formation in this town of a society of the Order of Good Templars. They held meetings weekly for some time, in which men and women were alike active. The so- ciety was designed for a secret one. Members were admit- ted to their meetings by pass-words, and acknowledged each other outside of the lodge-room by friendly grips of the hand. A beautiful burial service was adopted, which was used at the funerals of several of their members. This order flourished well for a time; but discussions not germane to its principles crept in, producing bickerings and strife, and diverting the minds of the members from the main question at issue, until finally the organization was disbanded.
A temperance society, however, was soon organized by some who had the good of the cause at heart, which was kept up until Feb. 19, 1876, when a large meeting was held in Cogswell's hall. It was addressed by J. K. Osgood, a re- formed inebriate, of Gardiner, Me., and J. W. Drew, also a reformed man, of Concord. At this time a reform club was organized, and one hundred and twenty persons signed the pledge. Since that time this club has held meetings almost weekly, and has accomplished much good.
SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.
The first class for instruction in and for the study of the Scriptures was formed in the summer of 1814. John C. Proctor was the teacher, and his class was composed of young ladies. The question-book used was called a "Short Bibli- cal Catechism," containing the Shorter Catechism, and was published in 1812. This class met at the meeting-house, at nine o'clock each Sabbath morning. Other classes were formed until they increased so that it was found necessary to have some organization, which was effected in May, 1818. In the Farmers' Cabinet, published at Amherst, August 15, 1818, I find the following :
COMMUNICATED. A Sabbath School was instituted in Hen-
22
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niker, at the Rev. Mr. Sawyer's meeting house, the last of May, 1818, provided with a Superintendent, and ten instructors and instructresses. By the first monthly report, which was publicly read by Rev. Mr. Sawyer, it appeared in the course of the four Sabbaths, 84 scholars had attended, and committed to memory, and rehearsed, 4856 verses in the Bible ; 45 Psalms ; 93 Hymns ; 51 answers in the Assembly Catechism, and 65 answers in the Mother's Catechism.
By the report at the end of the second month, number of scholars, 102 ; they had rehearsed 7066 verses in the Bible ; 93 Psalms ; 310 Hymns ; 224 answers in the Assembly Catechism ; 2148 answers in the Mother's Catechism, and 383 in the Evan- gelical Primer. In the course of the second month, two addi- tional branches of said Sabbath School were established : one in District No. 4, the other in No. 7.
By the report in School District No. 4, in three Sabbaths, it consisted of 27 scholars ; they had recited 2021 verses in the Bible ; 77 Hymns ; 45 Psalms ; 311 answers in the Mother's Catechism. The school in No. 7 has been so lately instituted, that no report has been made.
The school at the Meeting house is opened by prayer by the Superintendent, at 9 o'clock A. M.
The scholars all remain of course, and attend public wor- ship.
The other Schools are holden after the afternoon exercise.
The superintendent of the Sunday-school at the meeting- house was Obadiah Parsons, who was living here at the time, and following the occupation of a tailor. He and his wife came from Newburyport, Mass. The school has been held in uninterrupted succession since its organization. I am sorry to say, that until recently the records of the school have not been kept as they should have been, for reference and statistical purposes.
A Sunday-school was kept up in the Baptist church as long as it was an organization, which was at one time very fully attended.
A Sunday-school has existed in the Methodist church since its first meeting-house was erected, in 1834, and has been very successful in numbers and in influence.
From the Congregational Sunday-school there have gone out 12 ministers, 12 ministers' wives, 4 foreign missionaries, 4 home missionaries, 13 deacons, and 10 authors.
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FIRST BRASS BAND.
The first brass and reed band formed in this town was in the winter of 1836-'37. This band consisted of the follow- ing members: Dutton Woods, Horace Gibson, and Calvin Abbott, with bugles ; Frederick Whitney, John Barker, and Jonathan Pressey, with clarinets ; James Gibson, tenor trombone ; Michael Livingston and William P. Cressey, bass trombones; Oliver C. Fisher, bass horn; William Chandler and William S. Elliott, French horns; and Maj. Thomas Livingston, with his bass drum. There were thir- teen original members of this band. Their meetings for rehearsal were held in Daniel C. Gould's hall, and the ser- vices of Alonzo Bond, of Boston, were secured as teacher. Their meetings were quite frequent, and they soon became proficient as players. It soon began to be noised about that Henniker had a good band. Up to this time, music for trainings and muster-days had been furnished mostly from fifes and drums, with clarinets, and occasionally a bu- gle. Brass and reed music was now coming in vogue, and the services of the Henniker Band soon began to be in de- mand. Their first appearance in public, out of town, was in the fall of 1838, when they played one half day for the New Hampton Phalanx, at New Hampton, for drill, and the next day for them at muster at Meredith. They went over in a coach drawn by four horses, Blaisdell Clark, driver. They soon furnished themselves with a "band-wagon" and a large tent for camping purposes. For several years, and, in fact, until the militia was disbanded in 1851, they attended sev- eral musters, and furnished music for some of the best com- panies of militia within fifty miles of their home. This band was reinforced at times by David Connor, Harrison A. Rice, John C. Darling, William Abbott, L. W. Cogswell, and oth- ers, and its reputation as a street band was among the best of the state. Micah How and his son Columbus, with fifes, and his son Merrill, with a snare drum, often accompanied the band, and made a fine addition.
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Upon the disbanding of the militia, in 1851, the organiza- tion disbanded, and there was none in town until the fall of 1857, when Horace Gibson, C. C. Gibson, Wm. Abbott, Wm. Chandler, James Gibson, Leander W. Cogswell, David Connor, Washington C. Cogswell, Hiram Marsh, Luther H. Whitcomb, Charles Knott, Fitz E. Cogswell, George E. Green, Charles Garland, and Moses Garland formed them- selves into a musical association, to be known as the "Hen- niker Cornet Band." William Abbott was chosen leader, and L. W. Cogswell, clerk. Brass instruments were pro- cured, and the band was placed under Prof. C. C. Gibson, as its first teacher. The band was soon reinforced by the addition to its members of John C. Ray, Jacob R. Foster, William Foster, Edwin S. Foster, Frank H. Carr, and Carl Krebs. The first appearance of the band out of town was during the winter of 1858-'59, when it accompanied a sleigh- ing party of 100 couples from this town to Bradford Corner. It furnished music for the large celebration held in Deacon Connor's grove, on the 4th of July, 1859. In the winter of 1859-'60 the band procured a new set of German-silver in- struments, at a cost of over $1,000. Several hundred dol- lars of this sum was raised by subscription from the people of the town, and by a levee held during the winter, at which over $200 was raised. Prof. Alonzo Bond, of Boston, was instructor of the band for two winters, and under his in- struction it at once took a high position. This band met twice a week for three years, with hardly any interrup- tion, and at that time was without a rival, or an equal, in central New Hampshire, save Dignam's Cornet Band of Manchester. A large amount of playing was done by the band at promenade concerts, celebrations, funerals, and upon other occasions. In 1862, several of its members entered the U. S. service, which weakened the band for a time. Their places were filled, and additions were made to the band from time to time, and it did more or less playing till 1873, since which time it has not been very regular in its
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practice. Its old leader, William Abbott, will be remem- bered for his skill as a cornet-player, performing any piece of music set before him in a fine tone, and with beautiful expression. He was one of the best cornet-players this state has produced.
ORCHESTRAL MUSIC.
Prof. C. C. Gibson's orchestral band, composed of him- self, William Abbott, David Connor, and Luther H. Whit- comb, furnished music many years for balls, dances, con- certs, and other occasions, through the central part of this state. Their services were in almost constant demand dur- ing the winter and spring months of the year, and their mu- sic was of the most pleasing character. As an orchestral band, for sweet and sublime music they have never had an equal in the state. Hiram Rice was also an excellent occa- sional player in this band.
DEAF MUTES.
Nahum Brown was the first deaf mute known in his fam- ily, and the first one in this town. No cause was ever as- signed for his misfortune. He came here when a small lad (previous to his father's coming), and resided in the family of his uncle, Capt. Joseph Gibson. Up to this time, and for some time after, he had never worn shoes. He chopped wood at the door, his bare feet standing upon a warm plank. He was married at the age of twenty-seven. Rev. Mr. Rice, who married him, was at a loss how to make him understand the ceremony, when Mr. Eastman, the bride's father, told him "That those present could hear enough, with- out regard to Mr. Brown." Mr. Rice performed the cere- mony, which was then explained by signs to Mr. Brown. He never learned to read or to write, except his own name, which was done by imitation. He was a regular observer of the Sabbath, and attended church constantly upon that day. His idea of heaven was that of a holy city, where good men and women visited each other on wings. His wife proved an
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excellent helpmate, and assisted him in his business; and his intimate friends aided him in his trades. He was a good farmer, and a superior teamster. He was a great lover of fun and of good jokes. One evening, late in the autumn, he went to Samuel Clark's and engaged him to assist him the next day, asking him to take his blasting tools with him. Mr. Clark did so, when Mr. Brown took him into his potato field. Taking a drill, he pointed it at a hill of potatoes, saying, "They are so large my oxen cannot pull them out," and wanted them blasted out. Mr. Clark soon saw the joke that had been played upon him.
Mr. Brown having disposed of his farm to Jacob Rice, he purchased the one upon which his son Thomas now resides, in the west part of the town. Here he lived the remainder of his days, and managed his estate in an excellent manner. Being possessed of a vigorous constitution, he was ever in- dustrious, and prided himself upon the amount of labor he was able to perform. He was a highly respected citizen, and enjoyed the company of his neighbors and fellow-towns- men, at whose homes he was ever a favorite.
For several years previous to his death he was troubled with a pain in one side of his head, and, after a while, one eye became blind. Soon afterwards a similar pain seized the other side of his head, affecting the vision of the other eye, and he became sightless and helpless. For the last year before his death, he required the constant care of two persons, and suffered intensely. He understood perfectly every movement of his devoted wife and of his son Thomas, and often made signs to them as to his complaints. Just before his death, he made signs for them to come near him. Upon doing so his wife touched him, when he smiled, so pleased was he that she, who had shared his joys and his sorrows, and with whom he had passed so many pleasant years, and who had watched so faithfully by his bedside during his long isolation, as it were, from the world, was near him ; and with her hands upon him, he passed peace-
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fully away, his friends confidently hope and believe, to that holier and better place "where the deaf ear shall be unstop- ped, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing."
THOMAS BROWN,
son of Nahum and Abiah Brown, was born in this town, July 25, 1804. He lived at home, working upon the farm, until the age of eighteen, when he entered the school of the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb at Hartford, Conn., then just opened, under the management of the late Dr. H. P. Peet, under whose instruction he remained five years, and was one of the first graduates of that institution. He had for teachers, besides Dr. Peet, Thomas H. Gallaudet and Lamont Clerc, three of the earliest and most successful teachers of deaf mutes in this country.
Before attending school, Thomas had no idea of the name or meaning of anything he saw around him. The thankful- ness of his heart at being able to read and write knew no bounds. He came home in 1829, and has ever since lived on the farm where he now resides. April 1, 1832, he mar- ried Mary Smith, of Chilmark, Martha's Vineyard, also a graduate of Hartford. They lived most happily together until 1863, when she died, greatly lamented by all whose privilege it was to know her.
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