USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hollis > History of the town of Hollis, New Hampshire, from its first settlement to the year 1879 > Part 26
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277
SCHOOL TAXES.
.. Of these three hundred and eighty-four children, three hundred and twenty-nine lived to adult age ; sixteen of the fathers of them were soldiers in the war of the Revolution ; and twenty-two of the sons born in twelve of these families had the benefit of a collegiate education.
" Both the father and mother of one of these families of twelve children are still living, (March 1, IS79), the father in his 92d year, the mother in her SSth, they having been married November 21, ISII, sixty-seven years ago. The several mothers of the rest of the three hundred and eighty-four children are all deceased. The respective ages of forty-two of these forty-five mothers, at the time of their decease, are known.
" The sum of the ages of twelve of the forty-two was six hundred and twenty-three years, making the average age of each of the twelve, fifty-one and eleven-twelfths years. The aggregate ages of twelve others of the forty-two were nine hundred and twenty-two years, making their average age seventy-six and ten-twelfths years. The sum of the ages of the remaining eighteen of the forty-two was fifteen hundred and ninety years, making the average of the eighteen, eighty-eight and one-third years. The foregoing data have been gathered from sources believed to be correct and reliable, and they may terest others as well as myself who take pleasure in recalling memo ies of
"OLDEN TIMES."
SCHOOL TAXES FROM ISOS TO IS2S.
In ISOS the law relating to the amount of taxes to be raised for the public schools was so amended as to require each town to raise for its schools a sum equal to $70 for every one dollar of the town's portion of the public taxes. In IS27 this per centage was increased to $90 for each one dollar of the town's share of other public taxes. The amount of school taxes, annually assessed in Hollis under these laws from ISOS to ISES, was as follows : In ISog, $500. In ISI0, ISII and IS12. $700 each year. In IS13, $500. From 1814 to 182S inclusive, $700 each year.
THE STATE'S LITERARY SCHOOL FUND.
In the year IS2S a law was passed by the General Court in pur- suance of which all the banks in the State were taxed at the rate of one-half of one per cent. on their capital stock for the support of
278
SCHOOL TAXES.
the public schools. The tax so raised was known as the State's Literary Fund, and was required to be divided among the towns in the proportion of each town's share of the public State tax. The share of Hollis in this fund has greatly varied in the several years from 1828 to 1878, amounting in some years to about $250, and in others to less than $100.
Since the year IS2S the law in respect to the amount of taxes to be assessed for the public schools has been several times changed. Previously to 18.42, the percentage to be assessed on the town's pro- portion of the State tax was increased from $90 to $ico upon each dollar of the town's proportion of that tax ; and again in 1852 this percentage was increased to $135, and at last in 1867 to $250 upon each dollar of the town's share of other public taxes.
SCHOOL TAXES FROM 1828 TO 1878.
In addition to the Literary Fund, there were assessed for the pub- lic schools in Hollis in each of the years named below, the following sums annually, viz., 1829 and 1830, $700; 1831, $660; IS32 and 1833, $700 ; 1834, 1835 and 1836, $800; 1837, $600 ; 1838, 1839, 1840, $700 ; 1841, '42, '43, '44, '45, '46, '47, '48 and 1849, $Soo; Ifro, $1000 ; 1851 and 1852, $Soo; 1853 and 1854, $1000 ; 1855, 'S' , '57, '58, '59, '60, '61, '62,'63, '64 and 1865, " the amount only 'required by law." 1866, $300, in addition to the amount required by law ; 1867, '68, '69, '70, '71 and 1872, the amount only required by law ; 1873, $1500 ; IS74, '75 and 1876, the amount required by law ; 1877, $400 in addition ; 1878, $500 in addition.
COMMITTEES TO VISIT AND EXAMINE SCHOOLS.
By the law in force in New Hampshire for about twenty years prior to 1827, each town in the State, at its annual meeting, was re- quired to appoint three or more suitable persons to visit and examine all the public schools in the town, at such times as might be con- venient. The first appointment of committees for this purpose, to be found in the Hollis records, was in the year 1806. This first committee consisted of Rev. Eli Smith, Dea. Daniel Emerson, Ensign Samuel Willoughby, Capt. Leonard Whiting and Mr. Amos Eastman. The powers and duties of these committees appear to have been limited to the visiting and examination of the schools without any authority to examine teachers.
279
SCHOOL COMMITTEES.
EXAMINATION AND QUALIFICATIONS OF TEACHERS.
It was enacted by the school law passed in ISOS, that no person should be deemed qualified to teach a public school in this State "unless he or she should produce to the Selectmen or School Com- mittee a certificate from some able and reputable Grammar School Master, Minister of the Gospel, or President, Professor, or Tutor in some college, that he or she is well qualified to teach such school ; and also a certificate of good moral character, from the Selectmen, or Minister of the Parish to which the candidate belonged. Pro- vided, (however) that the qualifications of School Mistresses be re- quired to extend no further than that they should be able to teach the various sounds and powers of the letters of the English lan- guage, Reading, writing and English Grammar." It may be observed that this law did not require female teachers to be ex- amined at all in respect to their qualifications to teach Arithmetic.
In the year 1827 this school law was so amended as to require female teachers as well as male to be qualified to teach the rudiments of Arithmetic and Geography ; and, again, some years afterwards, it was so changed as to require all teachers in the public schools to be qualified to teach the elements of History and such other suitable studies as the School Committee should judge proper for the school.
E. AMINING SCHOOL COMMITTEES FROM ISO6 TO IS27.
Rev. Eli Sn.ith, 1806, '08, 'cg, '10, '12, and Ambrose Gould, IS11, '15, and 1820. from IS12 to IS27.
John French, IS12, '13, '14, and 1S15.
Dea. Daniel Emerson, 1806 and ISII.
Abijah Gould, IS:5, '17, 'IS, '19 and 1821.
Ensign Samuel Willoughby, ISc6 and ISIo.
Dr. Noah Hardy, from 1816 to 1827.
C apt. Leonard Whiting, ISc6.
Nathan Thayer, ISI7, 'IS, '21, '22, '25 and 1827.
Amos Eastman, ISc6 and ISc7.
Dr. Peter Manning, IS17.
Noah Worcester, ISo7.
William Brown, 1807, 'cs, 'og, '12, '13, and IS16.
Dea. Stephen Jewett, ISOS.
Dea. Ephraim Burge, ISog.
Benjaniin M. Farley, ISog, '12, '13, '14, '15, '16, and from IS19 to 1826.
William Ames, 1826 and 1Szt
Jesse Worcester, 1811, '16, '20, and 1826.
Capt. Jonathan B. Eastman, IS17, 'IS, '19, '21, '22, and iS24.
Dr. Joseph F. Eastman, IS23 and 1824. William Emerson., 1833 and 1825. Capt. Jonathan T. Wright, 1$25 and IS27.
Ralph E. Tenney, IS27.
SUPERINTENDING SCHOOL COMMITTEES.
In the year IS27, this school law was amended in respect to s chool committees, making it the duty of towns at their annual meetings to elect or appoint a Superintending School Committee of not less than three in number, whose duty it should be to examine all candidates for teaching in the public schools of the town, and
280
SCHOOL COMMITTEES.
also to visit and inspect each of the schools at least twice in each year. Under this law, the Superintending Committee in Holli, varied in number in different years, from three to seven.
Some years afterwards the law was so altered as to permit the town to elect by ballot for this committee so many persons only as the voters at the annual meeting might think fit. In pursuance of this law, so amended, the town at several of its annual meetings elected but one person as Superintending Committee, the person so elected being charged with the whole duty of examining candi- dates for teaching, and visiting and inspecting the schools.
MEMBERS OF THE SUPERINTENDING SCHOOL COMMITTEES FROM IS27 TO IS78. -
Rev. Eli Smith, IS2S, '29 and 1830.
Dr, Noah Hardy, 182S, '29, '31, '32, '37, '35, William P. Hale, 1843 and 1844. '39, '40, '43 and 1849. Rev. James Aiken, 1844-
William Ames, ISzS, '33, '34, '35, '36. '37, and ISło.
Nathan Thayer, 1828, '29 and 1830.
Joseph Greeley, 1829.
Rev. Leonard Jewett, 1820, '45 and 1846.
Benjamin M. Farley, 1830, '31, '32, '33, '35, '37. { '3S, '39, '41. '43 and 1$43.
F : 'ard Emerson, IS30, '3', '32, '36, '42, '47, and :854.
Jot : N. Worcester, IS30, '31, '32 and IS47.
Re . David Perry, from 1831 to 1842, and 1371.
Dr. Oliver Scripture, IS33.
Moses Proctor, IS33 and IS3S.
Joseph E. Smith, IS34, '35, '36, '43, '44, '51, and Dr. George P. Greeley, IS6o. IS52.
Taylor G. Worcester, IS34, '35, '36, '3S, '44, '4S, '60 and IS71.
Rev. Phineas Richardson, from 1839 to 1844. Benjamin F. Farley, 1845 and 1846.
Joseph F. Eastman, Jun., 1841 and 1842.
William P. Saunderson, IS45 and 1846.
Nathan Willoughby, 1847 and 1848.
Dr. John L. Colby, 184S.
Cyrus Burge, IS49 .. James Blood, 1849 and IS50.
Rev. Daniel P. Deming, IS50. Dr. Lockhart B. Farrar, 1850.
Timothy E. Flagg, 1851 and 1852.
Andrew Willoby, 1852, '53, and 1854.
Nathan M. Ames, 1852 and IS5S.
Dr. Henry Boynton, 1855. '56 and 1857.
Rev. Pliny B. Day, from 1854 to :866.
Dr. Henry W. Willoughby, 1355, '56, '57. '53. '59. '62, '67, '68, '69 and IS70.
Dea. James D. Hills, 1861.
David Worcester, 1867. Rev. James Laird, IS,1 and 1873-
Levi Abbot, IS73, '74, '75 and IS7S.
Rev. Hiram L .. Kelsey, IS76 and IS77. '
STATISTICS OF THE HOLLIS SCHOOLS IN IS73.
According to the report of the State Superintendent of the New Hampshire Public Schools for 1873, the year previous to the for- mation of the Union School District in Hollis, there were then in the town fourteen school districts, two hundred and sixty-two children and youth of school age, with an average attendance of two hundred and four-value of school-houses, $3,000, or about $215 average value -: mount of money for the year raised for schools, $2,245.36. being $S.56 per scholar. for those of school age.
33 1
HIGH SCHOOL.
THE HOLLIS HIGH SCHOOL.
In several different years prior to 1876, earnest efforts had been made by many of the friends of popular education in Hollis to estab- lish a High School, as authorized by the law of the State, of which the youth in all parts of the town might enjoy the benefit, and a number of town meetings had been held specially to consider the question. But previously to the year above named all such efforts had wholly failed.
This worthy and beneficent object has however been at last hap- pily accomplished by means of the generous bequest of Miss Mary S. Farley, the only daughter and heir-at-law of Capt. Christopher P. Farley, a grandson of Lieut. Benjamin Farley, one of the first settlers of the town. . Miss Farley deceased July 27, 1875. leaving by her will a legacy to the town of near $10,000. the annual interest of which was to be used for the support of a High School for the benefit of the whole town, on condition that the town would accept it by providing within two years from her decease a suitable site and buildings for such a school near the centre of the town, and also for the future would take proper care of her family burial lot in the south burial ground. If the town should not accept the legacy with the conditions annexed to it, then it was to be paid to the Trustees of the New Hampshire Orphans' Home at Franklin.
( n the 14th of May, 1876, a special town meeting was held to consider this bequest, at which the town voted to accept it, and at the same meeting voted to provide a school-house in compliance with the conditions of the will. At a subsequent town meeting, on the second day of September following, it was voted to organize the town into a High School District in accordance with the State law.
Afterwards, at a meeting of the Union School District in the November following, that district voted for a nominal consideration, to convey to the High School District one equal undivided half of its school lot, and the whole of the second story of its school build- ing for the use and accommodation of the High School, with all such appertaining rights and privileges as would be proper and needful for its occupation for school purposes. This vote on the 7th of January, 1877, was consummated and made effectual by a deed of the premises made by the Union District to the High School Dis- trict, to the acceptance of the latter. A high school for the benefit of the youth of the whole town has thus been fortunately provided and made permanent, and now for near two years has been in successful operation.
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282
SKETCH OF MISS FARLEY.
MISS MARY SHERWIN FARLEY, (By Gen. T. S., her cousin.)
daughter of Capt. Christopher P. and Mary (Sherwin) Farley, was born in Hollis, Nov. 2, 1813. Her father was a grandson of Lt. Benjamin Farley, one of the earliest settlers in Hollis, and followed the business of tanning, by which he acquired an ample estate, and was justly esteemed for his uprightness and sound judgment. January 18, 1813, he married Mary Sherwin, daughter of David Sherwin, of New Ipswich, who died about two weeks after the birth of her daughter. Left so soon a widower, the affections and hopes of the father, perhaps, turned the more strongly to his child, whose life in her infancy seemed to hang upon the most slender thread. In her early years she was most tenderly cared for by a sister of her father. Her health, exceedingly frail and delicate from her birth, was never vigorous. In her girlhood, she could rarely join in the pastimes of those of her own age, nor was she ever able to attend regularly upon the school terms, though for one year, when of the age of fifteen, she was placed in a boarding school.
While her father lived, the two were almost constant companions. She accompanied him in his walks and rides, became familiar with his interests and business-in this way gaining practical knowledge and habits of thought, which helped to form her character, and were o. 'great value to her. After the death of her father, July 22, 1848, (¿ loss to her that few can realize), she continued to live at the paternal homestead till her death, July 27, 1875.
Occupied with the care of her pleasant farm, busying herself in the culture of flowers, making occasional journeys to visit friends, and oftener in the hope of gaining health and strength, she passed a life, though not eventful, yet marked through its whole course by acts of kindness and charity. In matters of business she was me- thodical and exact, manifesting more than usual insight and good judgment in the management of her affairs. But above all it was her aim to be just to others. She was in the highest degree con- scientious, and would at any time sacrifice her own interest rather than that another should suffer wrong.
Her memory of persons and events was uncommonly quick and retentive. Matters of history gained from her reading were rarely forgotten. Her recollection of dates and places was somewhat phe- nomenal, and she often surprised her friends by recounting events in their own lives, which had quite escaped the memory of all but herself.
283
THE HOLLIS LIBRARY.
Firm and sincere in her friendships, she attracted to herself all those of her acquaintance who knew her sufficiently well to appre- ciate the kindliness, generosity and purity of her character. No- where could a more cordial hospitality be found than in her pleas- ant old fashioned homestead, standing amidst fertile, well cultivated acres, and shaded by the huge buttonwood in the door yard.
She had a strong affection for children and young people -- en- . joyed having them about her-entered into their sports and plans- encouraged their efforts for improvement and often gave them sub- stantial aid. She was at all times deeply interested in the prosper- ity and welfare of her native town, and especially in its public schools, and besides her other benefactions for them, during life, bequeathing by her last will, as we have seen, a fund of near $10,000 for the endowment and permanent support of a High school. In addition to other charitable benefactions bequeathed by her will, was a legacy of $5,000 to the funds of the New Hamp- shire Orphan Asylum at Franklin.
THE HOLLIS SOCIAL LIBRARY.
The Hollis Social Library, so called, was incorporated by an act of the General Court, June 11, 1799, and is believed to be one of the". 'dest associations of the kind in the State. The corporators nam d in the charter were Rev. Daniel Emerson, then in his 84th year, Rev. Eli Smith, Noah Worcester and Daniel Emerson, Jun., who, with their associates, were made a body corporate, with per- petual succession, with power to establish and maintain a library, and to make all needful rules and by-laws in respect to it. The original capital was $1,000-since increased by an amendment of the charter to $50,000. The two last-named corporators were au- thorized to call the first meeting, and under this charter a small library of from one hundred to three hundred well chosen books was soon collected, which number, has since been increased to between nineteen hundred and two thousand bound volumes, besides pamphlets.
The officers of the Association consist of a President, three Direc- tors, Secretary, Treasurer and Librarian, chosen annually. Any inhabitant of the town could become a member of the Association, and entitled to the privileges of the library, upon paying an initia- tion fee of fifty cents, being afterwards chargeable with an annual tax of twer ty-five cents, afterwards increased to fifty cents. The
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28.4
HOLLIS LYCEUM.
number of names now on the list of membership is one hundred and sixty-seven. This library for many years after its establishment was kept at the house of the librarian, clected from time to time, but since the year IS51 it has been kept in a room, provided and fur- nished for it by its directors, in the Congregational meeting-house. The books furnished to the people of Hollis from this library have been of great use to them, from the time of its foundation, in the promotion of useful knowledge and in cultivating and supplying a taste for reading among the inhabitants generally, the. extent of which may in some measure be seen from the fact stated in one of the last annual reports, that in the preceding year there had been given out to be read between twenty-four hundred and twenty-five hundred volumes, the same book, however, in many instances, having been given out more than once.
THE HOLLIS LYCEUM AND PUBLIC LECTURES.
During most of the winters since IS51, either lyceums or courses of public lectures have been maintained in Hollis for the intellec- tual entertainment and improvement of its citizens. The constitu- tion of the lyceum has commonly provided for a monthly election of its officers, and also for its exercises, including select readings W and recitations, vocal and instrumental music, a discussion of some topic or question of general interest to its members, and a paper, known as the " Lyceum Reporter," edited by some of its lady mem- bers, appointed for that purpose. The exercises of this association have usually been public. Separate committees have ordinarily provided for the selection of the subjects for these exercises, and the assignment and acceptance of their various parts, and when these duties of the committees have been faithfully performed, the public interest in them has been so general as to insure a large attendance at the meetings.
The public lectures have commonly been provided for by volun- tary subscriptions of the citizens, and have been free to all who wished to attend them. They have embraced a great variety of subjects of interest, and some of the lecturers engaged have been persons of distinction in this and other States. Also a club for the rehearsal and acting of dramas has occasionally existed. and public entertainments given by it, highly creditable to the performers, and very acceptable to the audiences. This club at present numbers about fifty members.
285
GRADUATES OF COLLEGES.
GRADUATES OF COLLEGE FROM HOLLIS, WITH THE YEARS OF THEIR GRADUATION.
Graduates of Harvard College.
Peter Powers,
1754
Joseph E. Smith, 1504
Josiah Goodhue,
1755
Benjamin Burge, 1 805
Henry Cumings,
Samuel E. Smith, 1805
Joseph Emerson,
1774
John Proctor,
1813
Samuel Emerson,
1785
George F. Farley,
1$16
Josiah Burge,
17S7
William P. Kendrick, IS16
Daniel Emerson, Jun ..
1794
Taylor G. Worcester, . 1623
Joseph Emerson, 2d,
179S
Jonathan Saunderson,
182S
Manassch Smith,
1 So6
Samuel T. Worcester,
1$30
Jacob A. Cumings,
ISO1
Frederick A. Worcester. 1831
Benjamin M. Farley,
IS04
Francis J. Worcester, . 1870
Graduates of Yale College.
Ralph Emerson,
ISII
Joseph Emerson, IS30
Joseph E. Worcester,
IS11
Benjamin F. Farley,
1832
Henry A. Worcester,
1S2S
Ralph H. Cutter, ISS
Graduates of Dartmouth College.
Samuel Worcester,
1795
Noah Hardy,
1813
Abel Farley,
179S
Luke Eastman,
1812
Mighill Blood,
1800
David P. Smith,
1S23
Caleb J. Tenney,
ISO1
William P. Eastman,
1842
David Jewett,
ISo1
Charles Cummings,
1842
Jonathan B. Eastman,
ISO3
Charles H. Mooar,
184S
Nehemiah Hardy, Jun.,
1So3
Edward F. Johnson,
Stephen Farley, Jun.,
IS04
Joseph B. Parker,
William Tenney, Jun ..
I SOS
John H. Hardy,
1870
Eli Smith, Jun.,
1800
Franklin Worcester,
1870
Leonard Jewett,
ISIo
Charles L. Day,
1877
Grant Powers,
IS10
George W. Saunderson, 1877
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Graduates of Middlebury College.
Fifield Holt,
IS10
Solomon Hardy, IS24
Graduates of Amherst College.
Thomas A. Farley, IS38
Amos F. Shattuck, 1550
Graduates of Brown University.
Daniel Kendrick, 1810 Luther Smitil, IS24
Graduates of Maryville College, Tenn. IS31 Leonard Wood, 1832
Phillips Wood,
Greenville. Tenn.
Union, N. Y.
Eli N. Sawtell, 1823
Benjamin F. Emerson, 1530
Of the sixty-two college graduates named above thirty-three studied Theology, four Medicine, twenty-three became Lawyers or are now studying law, one an Author, one an Author and Book- seller, and one an army officer.
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286
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
CHAPTER XXVII.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF HOLLIS GRADUATES OF COLLEGES .-- GRADUATES OF HARVARD AND YALE.
REV. PETER POWERS,
the first Hollis college graduate, was the son of Capt. Peter Pow- ers, the first settler of Hollis, and Anna (Keyes) Powers, was born in old Dunstable, November 29, 1728, and came with his father to that part of Dunstable, afterwards known as Hollis, in 1730. He graduated at Harvard College in 1754. Rev. Grant Powers, his nephew, in his " History of the Coos Country," says of his uncle, " that in his early youth, he had a very strong desire for a college education, a wi. l in respect to which he had often spoken to his parents. But his parents had other plans for their son, and, regard- ing his project or such an education as a vision of youth that would soon pass away, gave him no encouragement. Young Peter, afterwards, for a considerable time remained silent in respect to the matter, till at length, one evening, he was found to be missing at the customary nine o'clock family prayers, and remained absent the whole night. Early the next morning, the father upon going out of the door saw his son just coming out of the woods. He, how- ever, put off calling upon Peter for an explanation of his absence till the close of his family morning prayers, when in presence of the whole family the Captain asked his son, "Where he had passed the night." " In the woods," answered the youth. " And what vere you doing in the woods?" asked the father. " I was praying," said the son. " And for what were you praying?" continued the Captain. " That I might go to college," replied Peter. " And for what do you wish to go to college ?" added the father. " That I may prepare myself to preach the Gospel," re- joined the youth.
Capt. Powers was so moved by these answers, that for the time he was unable to say more, but upon Peter's leaving the room he
287
GRADUATES OF COLLEGES.
said to his wife, " Anna, I don't see but that we must give up the point, and let Peter go to college." The result was a collegiate education, and a life of eminent usefulness.
Mr. Powers graduated at the age of twenty-two, and in June 1755, the year after he left college, he received his first call to settle in the ministry at New Ipswich. After some negotiation this call . was finally declined, and the next year he was settled as pastor of the church in the parish of Newent, Connecticut, then a part of the town of Norwich. He remained at Newent till 1764, when he was dismissed, and early the next year was settled as pastor of a church and society in the towns of Haverhill, New Hamp- shire, and Newbury, Vermont. His connection with this society continued till 1784, when he was dismissed, and the year after was settled as pastor of the church in Deer Isle, Maine. where he died, May 13, ISoo, æt. 71. In a biographical sketch of Mr. Powers, in Volume II. of the New Hampshire Collections, it is said of him, "that he was a faithful and discriminating preacher, and possessed of superior talents."
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