USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Keene > History of the town of Keene, from 1732, when the township was granted by Massachusetts, to 1874, when it became a city > Part 38
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TOWN AFFAIRS.
and like him, made it one of the most attractive inns in the country; and the Emerald House, under Edward Whit- ney, the Sun tavern, under Abijah Metcalf, and Sawyer's in the west part, were all excellent public houses. But with the advance of railroads the country taverns along the great thoroughfares gradually disappeared. The stores of A. & T. Hall; Adams, Holman & Dutton, with John Bix- by's drug store in the corner room; William Lamson & Co .; Sumner Wheeler; J. & R. Shelly; Dinsmoor & White; S. A. Gerould; Keyes & Colony; Wales Kimball; B. G. Samson; Nathaniel Evans; the two Haskells; and James H. Freeman, in the store north of the Emerald House, be- sides many smaller shops for manufacture and sales, were carrying on a large amount of business. And yet, with all its thrift, which, continued to the present time, has made it one of the richest towns in the country in proportion to its number of inhabitants, it was a quiet country village, with an air of restfulness, content and refinement that was exceedingly attractive. A traveller, in a letter published in the Claremont Eagle, about this time, said: "Keene is one of the most delightful villages in New England. * *
There is hardly another place in the Union (of its size, of course) that possesses more talent and sterling in- tellect than Keene." Francis Parkman, in his "Half Cen- tury of Conflict," vol. 1, page 230, says of Keene about this period: "A town noted in rural New England for its kindly hospitality, culture without pretence, and good breeding without conventionality." Rev. A. A. Livermore, years afterwards, "looked back upon it with fondness and called it 'The Happy Valley.'"
The census of 1840 gave the population of Keene:
Males 1,236
Females
1,366
Colored, males 3, females 5 8
Total 2,610
Number in 1830 2,374
Increase in 10 years.
2361
In 20 years.
713
1 Winchester had 2,065, a gain of 18; Walpole had 2,015, a gain of 96; Chesterfield had 1,767, a loss of 279; Swanzey had 1,751, a loss of 65; West- moreland had 1,546, a loss of 101.
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HISTORY OF KEENE.
Engaged in agriculture. 428
Engaged in manufactures and trade. 267
Engaged in learned professions 28 Total population of the United States ... 17,069,453
The twelve highest taxpayers in 1840 were John Elliot, Phineas Fiske, James Wilson, admr., Azel Wilder, William Lamson & Co., A. &. T. Hall, Sumner Wheeler, Betsey Smith, Charles Lamson, James Wilson, Aaron Appleton and Justus Perry.
Benaiah Cooke had been appointed postmaster in 1837 to succeed William Dinsmoor. He still kept the office in Wilders' building; and edited and published, in the rooms above, the Farmer's Museum, afterwards named the Cheshire Republican and Farmer's Museum, now the Cheshire Republican.
Doctors C. and F. S. Stratton, dentists, had rooms at the Cheshire House and soon afterwards took those over the Ashuelot bank, where F. S. Stratton, a very skillful dentist, remained for more than forty years.
Whitcomb French removed to Peterboro in 1834, and was succeeded by his brother, Stillman French, who kept an excellent stable for more than thirty years.
This was the year, 1840, of the great political cam- paign-the "hard cider" and "log cabin " campaign of the Whigs-which resulted in the election of William Henry Harrison, president. Gen. Wilson had been a delegate to the nominating convention at Harrisburg and there began that remarkable tour which gave him a national reputa- tion as an orator. Daniel Webster was invited to make a speech here while on his campaigning tour. A committee consisting of Hon. Salma Hale and Dr. Amos Twitchell met him at Bellows Falls, and the next morning, July 9, escorted him to Keene, where he arrived at 12 o'clock and was received by Gen. Wilson on the steps of his residence with a brief speech of welcome. At 2.30 p. m., Mr. Web- ster, with Gen. Wilson and the committee, was escorted to the academy yard by the Keene and Marlboro Light Infantry companies, Capts. Dort and Converse, with mili- tary bands, followed by a large concourse of people. A platform had been raised sufficient to accommodate the speakers, the committee, the veteran soldiers and about
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TOWN AFFAIRS.
600 ladies. The audience was estimated to number up- wards of 4,000. After a ringing speech of introduction by Gen. Wilson, Mr. Webster spoke for about two hours. While he was speaking a support gave way and the plat- form settled a few inches, producing some consternation among its occupants. Mr. Webster promptly stepped for- ward and said, "If the Whig platform goes down, I go with it," and went on with his speech.
After the meeting, Mr. Webster received a large number of people from out of town, in the drawing rooms of the Cheshire House; and in the evening Gen. Wilson gave him a public reception at his residence.
The printing office in Prentiss's block was the head- quarters of the Whigs, and was a lively and fascinating place, where the wits of Keene-Dr. Amos Twitchell, Sal- ma Hale, Gen. Wilson, Phineas Handerson, Levi Chamber- lain, B. F. Adams, Henry Dorr, Elijah Parker, Aaron and Timothy Hall, T. M. Edwards and others-met and cracked their jokes and had friendly discussions.
Among those who died in 1840 were Elias Rugg, aged sixty-six; Samuel H. Kemp, of the United States army in Florida; Mrs. Ruth (Davis) Batcheller, widow of Major Breed Batcheller, formerly of Packersfield, ninety-five; Mrs. Phobe, wife of Abijah Wilson, seventy-three; and Joshua Graves, seventy.
The winter of 1840-1, was one of great severity, " per- haps the coldest ever known in New England" down to that time.
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CHAPTER XVII. RAILROAD AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT. 1841-1860.
On the 4th of March, 1841, the Whigs of Keene fired a salute of one hundred and fifty guns in honor of the inauguration of William Henry Harrison as president of the United States. The Sentinel of April 7, shaded with heavy black lines, announced his death.
A meeting of the citizens of Keene nominated Charles L. Putnam, a young lawyer who had recently come to town, for postmaster under the new administration. He was appointed, and the office was removed to the first door south of the Cheshire House.
For a long term of years, down to about 1850, Elec- tion Day-the first Wednesday in June, the day of the meeting of the legislature- was a very enjoyable holiday. This year it was celebrated by a gathering of 1,000 to 1,200 persons, pupils of the district schools and others, on the banks of the Ashuelot river, where they indulged in a feast of "'lection cake," listened to speeches and music, and spent the day in social enjoyment.
On the same afternoon, Gen. James Wilson, who had been appointed surveyor general of Wisconsin and Iowa territories, was given a complimentary dinner at the Chesh- ire House, previous to his departure for the West. Hon. Thomas M. Edwards presided, Gen. Wilson made an ele- gant speech, toasts were drunk, and other short speeches were made.
The valley road up the Ashuelot river from Gilsum to Marlow was opened this year, 1841, connecting with the Beaver brook road, built in 1837, from Keene to Gilsum, and giving an easy and pleasant route to Newport, thirty- three miles.
At this time there was a revival of sentiment in favor of temperance. The Washington Total Abstinence Society
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RAILROAD AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
had been organized in 1841, Hon. Salma Hale president, with 600 members; and a temperance jubilee was held on the 22d of February, 1842. On the 4th of July a temper- ance celebration was held in John Elliot's grove, on the banks of the Ashuelot, west of his house. All the temper- ance societies, the Sunday schools and other organizations and the people generally, joined. A procession was formed in the Square, headed by the military band, and marched to the grove, where seats had been provided, tables spread and a bounteous repast prepared. Mr. Hale presided and there were speeches, toasts and responses, and music by the united choirs. It was estimated that at least 2,000 people were present. The day began with the roar of cannon and the ringing of bells, and closed with bonfires and fireworks.
In the early part of 1842, Thomas W. Dorr, who claimed to have been elected governor of Rhode Island, and attempted to hold that office by military force, was com- pelled' to flee from that state. He came to New Hamp- shire, made his home for some months in Westmoreland and spent considerable time in Keene. He was indicted for high treason by the supreme court of Rhode Island, and his opponents, who were in possession of the government of. that state, made a requisition on Gov. Hubbard of New Hampshire for his extradition. The governor refused to comply and Dorr was not molested while in this vicinity. He was afterwards arrested in Rhode Island for treason, imprisoned for two or three years, and then released.
There were two musters in town this year. In Septem- ber, the Sixth and Twentieth regiments mustered together on Nine Lot plain. A fine company of riflemen from West Keene, Capt. Benjamin Gurler, made its first appearance at that time. The two companies of light infantry from Keene and Westmoreland, with their usual spirit and rivalry, turned out with 120 to 130 men each. In October, 1842, the uniformed companies of the Sixth, Twelfth and Twentieth regiments, joined by the Fitchburg Fusileers, about twenty companies in all, mustered on the same ground and were reviewed by Gov. Hubbard.
The building of the railroad from Boston to Fitchburg
1
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438
HISTORY OF KEENE.
was agitated at this time, and meetings were held to arouse the people to the importance of the scheme. A large one at the town hall in Keene, in December, 1842, was addressed by Alvah Crocker of Fitchburg, the chief promotor of the road. At a meeting in Boston in January following, Hon. Thomas M. Edwards was elected one of the directors of that road, and in the spring of that year the work began.
Many deaths of notable persons occurred in 1842, among them Thomas Baker, aged ninety; John Pierce, seventy-seven; Luther Bragg, seventy; Mrs. Harriet, wife of Nathaniel Evans, thirty-four; Mrs. Martha, widow of Samuel Bassett, eighty-seven; John G. Thatcher, fifty-six; Col. Alvah Walker, the " prince of landlords," of the Chesh- ire House, forty-seven; Phineas Fiske, fifty-seven; Gen. Justus Perry, fifty-three; Francis Faulkner, fifty-five; and Elijah Knight, a Revolutionary soldier who had held a com- mission in the army, was judge of probate for fourteen years in Windham county, Vermont, and had lived in 'Keene nearly twenty years, a part of the time keeping the tavern on the "Kate Tyler place."
In 1842, the town had appropriated $950 to build a stone bridge at South Keene. The bridge was built that year, with a single arch, but the key was not sufficiently weighted, and upon removing the timbers after its com- pletion, but before it had been accepted by the town, the arch rose, from the pressure of the heavy abutments, and the whole fabric fell into the stream. In 1843, a commit- tee was chosen to rebuild, consisting of John Elliot, Josiah Colony, Zebadiah Kise, Isaac Gray and Aaron Davis. But there was a controversy about the liability of the con- tractors, and the matter lingered until 1846, when a wooden bridge was built, which was replaced by an iron structure in 1900.
Pianos kept for sale in town were first introduced in 1843 by Eliphalet Briggs. They were made by Lemuel Gilbert of Boston.
In September, the Twentieth regiment mustered on ground now occupied by Woodland cemetery, the east end of Beaver street, and the residences in that vicinity. The
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RAILROAD AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
reviewing officer was Maj. Gen. John McNeil of Hillsboro, who had been a colonel in the war of 1812. One of the young officers of his staff was George Barstow, author of a history of New Hampshire, who made the speech for the general.
The question of building the Cheshire railroad agitated the public at this time, and meetings were held in the larger towns along the line. One here, in December, 1843, in the Congregational church, was presided over by Hon. Salma Hale. Hon. Thomas M. Edwards made a stirring speech and the meeting was enthusiastic. A central com- mittee to push the enterprise was appointed, consisting of Salma Hale and John H. Fuller of Keene, George Hunting- ton of Walpole, Amos A. Parker of Fitzwilliam, Wareham Rand of Winchendon, and Stackpole & Phelps of Boston. Books were opened, and $40,000 were subscribed here in the first two days. Later reports of the engineers of the Fitchburg road gave the preference to the route through Templeton and Greenfield to Brattleboro, and the Massa- chusetts legislature granted a charter for that line, but declined to grant one for the one through Winchendon and Keene to Bellows Falls. That action produced excite- ment along the Cheshire line; there was much discussion of the different routes; the extension of this line to Rut- land and Burlington was vigorously agitated both by the Cheshire advocates and the people of Vermont; and an- other large and spirited meeting was held in the town hall here in April, 1844.
In June, 1844, the New Hampshire legislature granted a charter for the Fitchburg, Keene & Connecticut River Railroad. That charter was at first accepted; but upon the report of Benaiah Cooke, agent to agree with the own- ers upon land damages, the charter was rejected by the corporators.
The charter for the Cheshire railroad was then ob- tained and the first meeting for organization was held in Keene on the 10th of January, 1845. The charter was accepted, Hon. Salma Hale was chosen president and Be- naiah Cooke clerk of the corporation. A committee consist- ing of Thomas M. Edwards, Samuel Dinsmoor, John H.
440
HISTORY OF KEENE.
Elliot and four from other towns was appointed to secure a charter from Massachusetts and lay out the road. Mr. Edwards went before the joint committee of the Massa- chusetts legislature and made a powerful speech in favor of the charter. The Greenfield and Brattleboro road fought it, as dangerous to their line, but the charter was granted without delay.
In March, 1845, the Fitchburg road began running cars to Fitchburg. On the 21st of that month the books of the Cheshire road were opened and in four days $131,- 300 had been subscribed; and on the 30th of April 9,000 of the 10,000 shares at $100 each had been taken-$900,- 000-and all were taken before the middle of May. In June, the shares sold in Boston at a premium of four per cent. Three of the seven directors chosen at the first annual meeting were from Keene-Thomas M. Edwards, Salma Hale and Benj. F. Adams-and Mr. Edwards was chosen president. Much time was required by the engineers, W. S. Whitwell and Lucian Tilton, for locating the road among the hills and through Keene, but in August, 1845, proposals for grading were called for, and in September contracts were let for the grading between Keene and Win- chendon. The land damages paid for the whole distance between those towns were less than $7,000, the owners generally accepting small compensation with a view to aiding the road.
At the adjourned annual town meeting in 1844, Mr. William Lamson presented a communication, which was entered in full in the town records, asking that the old burying ground on the Robinson farm at the south end of Main street be fenced and preserved. A committee was appointed, consisting of Calvin Chapman, Salma Hale and Aaron Hall, who were to confer with Mr. Robinson con- cerning the matter and report at the next town meeting. At the next annual meeting the same committee was authorized to fence the ground. But nothing was done, and in 1846 the town directed the selectmen to fence the ground, "provided Mr. Robinson consents and the expense does not exceed seventy-five dollars." Still nothing was done, for Mr. Robinson was unwilling to surrender the
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RAILROAD AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
rights he had gained. Thus the sacred burial place of the earliest inhabitants of Keene, many of them distinguished men and women,1 was suffered to be lost to official and affectionate care.
Washington's birthday in 1845 was celebrated by the Washington Total Abstinence Society, Dr. Amos Twitchell, president, which held its annual meeting on that day. "Father Taylor," the distinguished temperance advocate, of Boston, made the principal address.
At a legal meeting in September, 1845, the town "Re- solved That all places where playing cards or other gam- bling articles, and all intoxicating drinks are kept and sold, and other immoralities are practised, is hereby taken and deemed by the good people of this town, to be a public nuisance;" and at the annual meeting following, it was voted to "instruct the selectmen not to grant license for the sale of wine and spirituous liquors within said town" -the vote standing 251 to 41. In 1847 and 1848, similar votes were passed.
Teachers' institutes for the county were held in Keene oftener than anywhere else, the towns appropriating money for their support. In 1845, a four weeks' session was held here in April, presided over by Hon. Salma Hale; and an- other in October.
William L. Foster, who had recently opened a law office in Keene, was appointed postmaster. In August he removed the office from below the Cheshire House to the store of his father, Mr. John Foster, on the west side of the Square, now Whitcomb's.
It was in the autumn of 1845 that the potato rot first made its appearance in this region. For several years fol- lowing, the crop was almost wholly destroyed by it and a total loss of that tuber was feared, but it has since been gradually recovering from the attack.
David Carpenter died in April, aged eighty-six. He had served nearly through the Revolutionary war, was at the surrender of Burgoyne and several other battles, and was one of the guard at the execution of Major Andre.
1 Capt. Ephraim Dorman, Col. Isaac Wyman, Major Josiah Willard and most of the leaders in the settlement of Keene, with their wives, were buried there, as that was the first burial place in town and the principal one until 1795.
442
HISTORY OF KEENE.
On the 1st day of January, 1846, the Keene Fire Society, a vigorous institution then nearly a quarter of a century old, had its annual meeting and supper at the Cheshire House. Its officers had always been the leading men of the town, the clergy were always invited to its annual supper, and it was an enjoyable and important gathering of the citizens. Spirituous liquors had been bah- ished from its tables twenty years before this time. But the next year the society turned over to the town all its property, consisting of two fire engines, leathern hose, fire- buckets and engine house, which stood on the Cheshire House grounds, Roxbury street; and the Keene Fire Society ceased to exist. Two years later the town, with one-third of the expense paid by subscriptions, bought a new engine and other apparatus.
In February, the large cabinet and furniture shop of E. & W. S. Briggs, on Washington street, near the Square, with the old two-story brick schoolhouse north of it, used for a joiner's shop and lumber room, a carriage house belonging to French's stable, the two-story house of Joseph Willard, south of the shops, with barn, were all destroyed by fire; with a large quantity of lumber, furniture, machin- ery, etc. It was Sunday morning, just at the hour for church services. Mr. Livermore dismissed his congregation and went with them and assisted vigorously at the fire; but Mr. Barstow, as tradition has it, with a different conscientiousness and a devout sense of his religious duty, although his church edifice was in great danger, continued his services as if it had been the usual quiet New England Sunday morning. Two lines were formed, as usual, to the town well on the south side of the Square, for passing buckets. The weather was intensely cold, but there was no wind and the village was saved from a further spread of the flames. The loss was about $6,500, over and above a small insurance.
The Briggses moved to the Thomas F. Ames building, east side of Main, below Church street, which they bought, and carried on business there for several years.
There was a controversy in 1846 about the location of the railroad station in town, some of the citizens preferring
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RAILROAD AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
the present spot, others wishing to have the road cross Main street between Water and Marlboro streets. To induce the railroad corporation to decide upon the present spot the citizens subscribed $4,500,1 bought the present station grounds of the estate of Capt. Joseph Dorr and his wife, including the orchard, where the Episcopal church and the houses of Mrs. Edward Joslin, the two Faulkners and Mrs. Tilden now stand-the last purchase from the old Capt. Josiah Richardson farm-and made it a gift to the railroad. The commissioners then decided the question in accordance with the wishes of the corporation and of the majority of the citizens.
The Twentieth regiment mustered in Keene in Septem- ber, 1846, Col. Virgil M. Kimball commanding. Capt. Francis S. Fiske commanded the Keene Light Infantry, and there was the usual emulation and antagonism between the Keene and the Westmoreland "Lights."
The Mexican war had broken out in May, and New Hampshire was called upon for two regiments of troops; but not many New Hampshire men were disposed to vol- unteer. One battalion was ordered by Gov. Steele to be prepared and held in readiness. In June, a mass meeting was held at Concord for the purpose of arousing the peo- ple to the support of the government in the war, at which Gen. James Wilson of Keene and Col. Franklin Pierce of Con- cord made patriotic speeches, and both were reported as having volunteered; but the statement was true of Pierce only. The next year Col. Trueman B. Ransom raised a regiment of Vermont and New Hampshire volunteers which joined Gen. Scott's army. At Molino del Rey, Capt. Charles B. Daniels of Keene, in the regular army, was mortally wounded while gallantly leading an assault; and Capt. Albemarle Cady, a native of Keene, in the Sixth infantry, was wounded, and promoted to brevet major for gallant and meritorious conduct.
At the annual election in 1847, the town chose three representatives to the legislature; and Gen. James Wilson of Keene was elected to congress. The county having
1 A. & T. Hall gave $800; Azel Wilder $400; J. & J. W. Prentiss $850; Abijah Wilder $300; S. A. Gerould and William Lamson $200 each; and fifty others smaller sums.
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HISTORY OF KEENE.
allowed its rights in the courthouse to lapse by failing to comply with the conditions of the gift of the land on which it stood, the town thereby lost its public hall, and a com- mittee of five, of which Hon. Joel Parker was chairman, was chosen to devise ways and means to build. At a legal meeting on the 31st of March, 1847, that committee made a long report-recorded in the town books-and the sub- ject was recommitted to the same committee, to report at the next annual meeting.
The old Cheshire bank building having been removed to give place to the railroad, the present structure with its granite front was built. The passenger station was also built in 1847, and the road was opened in the autumn for use as far as Winchendon, and soon afterwards to Troy.
The building of the railroad through the "summit" required a large force, and many Irish families with chil- dren settled there in temporary cabins. The Ladies' Char- itable Society of Keene established a school for those children under the direction of the wives of the three clergy- men in town, Mrs. Barstow, Mrs. Livermore and Mrs. Gilbert Robbins. The Irishmen put up a suitable shanty and a Miss Soule, from Vermont, taught about sixty pupils there for ten weeks in the spring and summer, and Miss Nancy Towns of Keene was employed for a fall term, the same year. At the next annual meeting, in 1848, the town appropriated fifty dollars from the literary fund for a school there, to be expended under the direction of the selectmen. That aggregation of Irishmen of different clans, particularly of "Corkonians" and "Fardowners," pro- duced a population of very excitable nature. The failure of one company of contractors after another to complete their work and pay their men gave cause for complaint, and in the autumn of 1848, matters culminated in a riot. Stones, brickbats, knives and guns were used and several persons were seriously injured. Mr. John Foster was sheriff of the county at that time, and the riot became so serious that he called on the Keene Light Infantry for assistance. A detachment of the company hastened to the scene in teams, each man supplied with sixty rounds of ball car- tridges. But the presence of armed troops cooled the ardor
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RAILROAD AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
of the rioters, and the affair ended with the arrest, convic- tion and punishment by heavy fines and costs of upwards of twenty of the ringleaders. A similar affair occurred earlier at what was then Bruce's tavern, in Marlboro, near the present railroad station on that line of road.
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