USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Marlborough > History of the town of Marlborough, Cheshire County, New Hampshire > Part 23
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It is not clear in the minds of all that it conforms with your wishes to have a building furnished at the expense of the town. Some think you prefer to erect and present the building as a part of the donation.
To learn what, if anything, you would have us do, a committee have been appointed to correspond with you, and are instructed to say to you that a legal town-meeting will be called to act upon any proposition you may make, whenever it shall suit your convenience. Also, can you in- form us of the size of the building required, or the size you would build?
Very respectfully yours, E. O. WOODWARD, CHIARLES E. HOUGHTON. Committee. CHARLES K. MASON, L
BOSTON, MASS., Sept. 20, 1865. Messrs. E. O. WOODWARD, CHARLES E. HOUGHTON, CHARLES K. MASON, Committee :
Dear Sirs,- Your esteemed favor of the 15th inst. did not reach me
FREE LIBRARY 1866
FROST FREE LIBRARY.
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FROST FREE LIBRARY.
till yesterday ; and, in reply, I would say that for over a year I have con- sidered the plan of presenting to my native town a free public library, and have appropriated five thousand dollars for that object, a part of which is to be invested and the income of the same to be expended annually for new books to freshen up the library. This being perpetual, a proper place for such a library had early occupied my attention. With pride and satisfaction, I have seen the good citizens of Marlboro' tax themselves to raise men to carry to a triumphant termination the war thrust upon us by the South. But the Rebellion is now crushed, and, with the glorious success of our arms, we are left with a large debt and heavy taxation, of which I know your patriotic citizens will readily assume their share. Under these circumstances, I could not consent to have any of them feel that their taxes were increased one cent because I had presented the town with a library. It has been suggested to me that a town hall might be built by subscription by some of the citizens (and thus avoid taxation), and that a suitable room in it might be made fire-proof, and the free use of it donated perpetually for the library. But there might be delay in building the town hall, or other difficulties might arise connected with this plan, in which case I should probably contract for a suitable building.
I am pleased to learn from your letter that the citizens of Marlboro', the friends and associates of my honored parents, and also the playmates of my childhood and friends of later years, take so much interest in the library.
I beg to assure them through you that every year's experience .in life makes me value more highly the principles taught me by my parents, and love more tenderly Marlboro', their home and the home of their parents.
Truly yours, etc.,
RUFUS S. FROST.
The library building, a handsome, substantial granite structure, having been completed pursuant to the design of Mr. Frost as indicated in the preceding correspondence, and furnished with books to the number of two thousand volumes, the citizens of the town were formally called upon to meet at three o'clock, Monday afternoon, August 26, 1867, to see if they would vote to accept the proffered gift upon such terms as the donor should dictate. Accordingly, at that hour, the library was filled to overflowing by the old and young of the town.
Charles K. Mason, Esq., having been chosen moderator of the meeting, and the divine blessing invoked by Rev.
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
Irad Taggard, Mr. Frost thus addressed the large assem- blage : -
Men, women, and children of my native town, the day which I have been anticipating so long has at length arrived; and it gives me great pleasure to meet you all, and welcome you here.
The great number present indicates the interest you take in education, which, with religion, must be the foundation of the prosperity of any community.
The facts that my paternal and maternal ancestors lived here from the first settlement of the town; that in 1776 my Great-grandfather Frost and Grandfather Wheeler, with other citizens of the town, signed the agreement to oppose with arms the hostile proceedings of the British ; that, when I was four years old, my father (whom I well remember) died here, and, with my eldest sister and most of our ancestors, lies in the old graveyard; that the first six years of my life were spent here, and that I here received at the common school, the Sabbath-school, and from my now sainted mother, the beginning of my education,-these facts have rendered this place very dear to my heart.
And, as I have come back to the home of my boyhood from year to year, with my family, to drink in health and enjoyment from these grand old hills and valleys, and seen these stalwart young men and the beauti- ful young women who are growing up here, I have longed to do some- thing which would add to the attractions of " dear old Marlborough," and prove a real benefit to all her people. It seemed to me that a free library would accomplish these results. In the summer of 1865, I made the first purchase of books, and have been selecting and adding until the present time; and, in everything connected with the library, I have endeavored to act for the town, without regard to denomination or party. I now offer you the property with the following deed : -
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That I, Rufus S. Frost, of Chelsea, in the County of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in consideration of the love and affection which I have to Marlboro', in the County of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire, my native town, and in the hope of contributing something to the moral and mental im- provement of the present and future inhabitants of said town, do grant, sell, and convey to said town forever the Library Lot and Stone Building thereon, lately erected by me for a Public Library in said town. Said tract of land is bounded as follows : Beginning on the Depot Road at the north-west corner of land of Warren II. Wilkinson, thence northerly on same road to other land of said Wilkinson near the intersection of the roads; thence easterly on a curve on said Wilkinson's land to the highway leading to the Brick Church; thence south-easterly on said highway to a stake in the ground; thence south-westerly on said Wilkin- son's land to a stake in the ground; and thence southerly on said Wilk-
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inson's land to the place of beginning. Together with all the books, furniture, and other personal property in said building, and all the privi- leges and appurtenances belonging to said premises, To have and to hold the same as and for a Public Library free to all the inhabitants of said town forever.
This conveyance is made for the uses and purposes, and upon the trusts hereinafter expressed, to wit: That the premises shall forever hereafter be used and occupied as a Free Library for the inhabitants of said town, and for no other use or purpose whatever; that the town will permit the general management and control of the grounds, building, library, papers, funds, and property to be in the hands of a Board of Trustees, consisting of the Selectmen of the town for the time being, the Clergymen settled or statedly officiating in said town, and three other persons without regard to residence, chosen or appointed as the town may decide from time to time, and for such length of time as the town shall determine, not less than three years: which Board of Trustees are to choose a secretary, and from time to time make all needful rules, reg- ulations, and by-laws for the management of the library and its property. All books hereafter purchased, or received by gift or otherwise for the library, are to be examined by the Trustees or some of them, and, if ob- jected to in writing as unfit for the library by any one or more of the Trustees, the book is not to be admitted into the library, but the objec- tion made is to be recorded by the secretary. The town is to see that the property is protected from encroachment and trespass, and that the three Trustees are chosen or appointed, and that the library and all funds given for the purposes of the library are used according to the intention of the donor, under the active management of the Board of Trustees.
Ellen H. Frost, wife of the said Rufus S. Frost, hereby releases all her claim to dower, and other claim to the premises.
Witness our hands and seals this twenty-sixth day of August, A.D. 1867.
RUFUS S. FROST. ELLEN H. FROST. [L.s.]
Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of
WM. P. WHEELER. VINCENT D. LENT.
THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE,
CHESHIRE Co., Aug. 26, 1857.
Personally appeared Rufus S. Frost, and acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be his free act and deed. Before me,
WM. P. WHEELER, Justice of the Peace.
" Designing that the taxes of no citizen should be increased because of this gift, I have also laid aside five thousand dollars, the principal to
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
remain forever intact. the interest to be paid annually to the Trustees to be used to freshen and perpetuate the library. And I have already appointed a trustee to pay over the five thousand dollars to the town at my decease."
The town having formally voted to accept the gift upon the conditions specified, Mr. Frost, addressing Rev. H. P. Osgood of the Board of Trustees, spoke as follows : --
MY DEAR SIR,-The town of Marlborough, by the vote just passed accepting the "Free Library " upon the conditions specified in the deed, has constituted you one of its Trustees; and I therefore transfer to you the keys, and joyfully bid God-speed to the work of education and eleva- tion which I trust the library will perform. But I cannot let them pass from my hands without expressing my gratitude to our heavenly Father that no loss of life or limb has been experienced in the construction of the building. I wish also to express my thanks to the builder, Jonathan Jones, Esq., and his assistants, for the substantial manner in which they have accomplished their work ; to Samuel Crossfield, Esq., and his assist- ants, for the workmanlike finish which they have given to the interior; to Warren H. Wilkinson, Esq., for assisting in arranging the boundaries of the land; and to the citizens who have kindly assisted in grading the library-lot. And, sir, hoping that you and your associates may enjoy dispensing the privileges of the library as much as I have enjoyed in preparing them, I herewith deliver you the keys.
Mr. Osgood, receiving the keys in behalf of the town, responded to the address of Mr. Frost, expressing the pro- found gratitude of the people of Marlborough to him for the inestimable benefit which, in the exercise of a gener- osity so discriminating and provident, he had conferred upon them.
At the close of Mr. Osgood's address, an appropriate and fervent dedicatory prayer was offered by Rev. Giles Lyman, after which the following resolutions were reported by Dr. S. A. Richardson : -
Resolved, That the Hon. Rufus S. Frost, in the gift of a Library so ample in the number of volumes and so rich in varied literature, with a provision for so large additions from year to year, and in the erection of so goodly a structure for its accommodation, shows himself a most worthy son of Marlborough, and merits the warm and lasting gratitude of every citizen of the town.
Resolved, That the town hereby tender to Mr. Frost, and place upon
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record, their sincere and hearty thanks for his so liberal and desirable gift.
Resolved, That we will perpetuate the remembrance of this day and its pleasant and profitable associations by giving to this building and Library the name of Frost, and it shall be designated as FROST FREE LIBRARY.
After appropriate remarks by Dr. Richardson, Hon. Will- iam P. Wheeler of Keene, and Rev. Mr. Laws, these reso- lutions were unanimously adopted.
This action was followed by the recitation, in a beautiful and impressive manner, of a neat little poem by Miss Ida Woodward, addressed to Mr. Frost, in behalf of the young folks; and the exercises at the library closed by a bene- diction.
A procession was then formed, headed by the Keene Brass Band, and marched to the residence of Mr. Samuel Allison, on whose grounds was spread a most bountiful and tastefully arranged collation provided by the ladies of Marl- borough. The collation was followed by pertinent senti-« ments and animated speeches, interspersed with appropriate music.
In the evening, many citizens having assembled at the residence of Mr. Frost, fireworks were displayed and a collation served. Impromptu bonfires sprung up on various eminences throughout the town, expressive of the gratified and jubilant feelings of the people ; and so, merrily and hap- pily, closed a day which will ever form a bright spot in the annals of Marlborough.
In November, Elijah Boyden, Esq., having been chosen librarian, the library was open to the public. Mr. Boyden held the office until August, 1872, when he resigned; and Charles A. Bemis was chosen, and holds the position at the present time.
Additions have been made to the books from time to time, and they now number over three thousand volumes.
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
ODD FELLOWS :*
PAQUOIG LODGE, No. 50, I.O.O.F.
In the year 1868, five Odd Fellows residing in Marlbor- ough, and members of Beaver Brook Lodge in Keene, petitioned to the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire for a charter to institute a new lodge in Marlborough, to be called Paquoig Lodge. A charter was granted, and the lodge was numbered 50, of the Order in the State. And on the 13th of January, 1869, the Most Worthy Grand Master, Charles H. Brown, assisted by brothers of Beaver Brook Lodge, instituted Paquoig Lodge, with the following charter mem- bers : -
Nelson Converse. Charles O. Whitney.
Charles Buss. Luther G. Bemis.
George Tilden.
William Collins.
Martin J. Buss.
F. R. Thurston.
E. O. Woodward.
James Knowlton.
These twelve Odd Fellows were at the time members of Beaver Brook Lodge, and withdrew to institute the new lodge in Marlborough, they all living in Marlborough at that time.
Odd Fellowship in Marlborough dates back to the year 1850. Col. Nelson Converse joined Beaver Brook Lodge in that year; and soon after Asa Maynard, F. R. Thurston, L. N. Converse, L. Hemenway, and Horace Bucklin of Marlborough joined the lodge at Keene. But the war of the Rebellion soon came on, and Odd Fellowship was nearly dead in this section of the State, Beaver Brook Lodge coming very near giving up its charter. After the close of the war, the Order commenced to grow with a new interest, and these other charter members joined the Order at Keene.
The first lodge of Odd Fellows in New Hampshire was Granite Lodge, No. 1, at Nashua, instituted Sept. 11, 1843. The first lodge in the United States was Washington Lodge, instituted in Baltimore, April 26, 1819.
* Sketch furnished by Luther Hemenway, !Esq.
Solon W. Stone. Charles Stay.
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ODD FELLOWS.
The first officers of Paquoig Lodge, who were installed Jan. 13, 1869, were: N.G., Nelson Converse; V.G., Will- iam Collins ; R.S., Luther G. Bemis; P.S., George F. Buss ; T., James Knowlton; W., Charles Buss; C., Charles O. Whitney ; I.G., Charles Stay ; R.S. to N.G., George Smith ;. L.S. to N.G., L. Hemenway; R.S. to V.G., E. O. Wood- ward; L.S. to V.G., M. D. Gay; R.S.S., George Tilden; L.S.S., Solon W. Stone ; P.G., F. R. Thurston; Rev. H. P. Osgood acting as chaplain, who was succeeded before the close of the term by Rev. D. S. Dexter.
The lodge first met, and was instituted in the hall over the Universalist Church, which had been secured by a lease for the term of five years. The hall had previously been altered and fitted up with two anterooms at an expense of some four hundred and forty dollars, which was assumed and paid by the lodge. The hall for the first year was used by the society of Good Templers, they hiring it of the lodge.
. The lodge continued to hold its meetings in this hall until the first of April, 1875. At the expiration of the lease of the hall for five years, and as an effort to obtain a new lease for another term of years at a satisfactory price failed, the lodge decided to see if some other place could not be procured for their use. Not finding a suitable one, the lodge voted to build a hall that would be better arranged to meet their wants.
The lodge first bought Rev. S. Law's house; but, after some investigation as to expense in building on that lot, they concluded to sell it, and did so at some advance over what they paid. On Sept. 7, 1874, the lodge, through a committee consisting of Charles O. Whitney, James Knowl- ton, and Nelson Converse, bought of Mr. E. O. Woodward the vacant lot of land north of the Stone Store; also a small piece adjoining, of E. Fitch.
The lodge then chose A. A. Adams, C. O. Whitney, James Knowlton, L. Hemenway, and C. H. Thurston a building committee to proceed at once to build on the newly acquired land the present ODD FELLOWS' BUILDING.
38
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
The stone masonry, digging the cellar, and fitting up the grounds, were done by J. & L. Knowlton. The wood-work, chimneys, plastering, and painting were contracted to and completed by A. R. & E. S. Foster of Keene. The build- ing is of wood above the basement (which is of stone), thirty-four feet by fifty feet, two stories with a French roof. The first floor is finished and occupied as two stores; the second, a jeweller's store, barber's shop, and a tenement for one family ; and the third story is finished and fitted up for a hall for the lodge with two good-sized anterooms.
On the first of April, 1875, the hall was completed, and the lodge moved in, and held its first meeting of the month in their new hall; and on the second day of June next it was dedicated according to the usages and work of the Order, the Most Worthy Grand Master, Samuel J. Osgood, presiding, assisted by the officers of the Grand Lodge and brothers from Manchester, Peterboro', and Keene.
The lodge continued to grow and increase from the first twelve charter members till it numbered in three years over fifty, and has continued to number from fifty to sixty mem- bers up to the present time.
The following is a list of the Noble Grands, or the highest office in the lodge, each serving one term of six months :-
1869 .- Nelson Converse, William Collins.
1870 .- Charles Buss, Charles O. Whitney.
1871 .- George F. Buss, Charles A. Howard.
1872 .- Luke Knowlton, Jr., Luther G. Bemis. 1873 .- Luther Hemenway, James Knowlton.
1874 .- A. A. Adams, Mason L. White. 1875 .- George L. Fairbanks, Alvin K. Martin.
1876 .- Bradley E. Wright, Oren S. Adams.
1877 .- Ivory E. Gates, S. Emerson Partridge. 1878 .- Charles Stay, William W. Applin.
CEMETERIES.
No sooner had the pioneer inhabitants of Marlborough become permanently settled, than tlrey, knowing the uncer- tainty of life and the certainty of death, began to look for
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CEMETERIES.
a proper place in which to bury their dead. Accordingly, in 1767, a committee of five men was chosen, " to fix a place for a Burying Yard, viz: Benjamin Tucker, Daniel Goode- now, William Barker, Joseph Collins, and Thomas Riggs." But it seems this committee failed to perform the duties assigned them ; for at a meeting in January, 1770, this com- mittee was dismissed, and it was voted that " Benjamin Tucker, Joseph Collins, and David Warren be a committee to loock out a Buring place."
The spot selected by this committee was the one now occupied by the old cemetery at the middle of the town. This was probably chosen on account of its adjoining the lot on which the meeting-house was to be built; for in those days it was customary to locate the burying-yard as near the meeting-house as it could be with propriety.
We have no record when the first death occurred in the township ; but the earliest date we have of one is about 1772, when a child of Jonathan Shaw died, and was buried only a short distance from Mr. Shaw's house. In the course of a few years, other persons who died in that neighborhood were interred there ; but, as no gravestones were ever erected to their memory, we have no means of knowing who they were.
The custom of burying the dead on the home farm pre- vailed to a considerable extent among the early settlers, owing to the fact that the roads were but little better than bridle-paths through the woods, and there was no way in which to convey dead bodies, except to carry them on the clumsy, old-fashioned bier. Thus we find graves scattered here and there on our hillsides, the last resting-place of many who have helped form and mould into shape the institutions of this town. Often the plough in the hands of some thoughtless proprietor has levelled these little mounds, so that their exact locality can no longer be pointed out.
There is no tradition to tell us who was the first person interred in the old burying-yard, and there are no grave- stones which date back earlier than 1777, the first being that of an infant son of Col. Richard and Mrs. Sybil Roberts,
.
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
which bears the date of April 23, 1777. There were also two children of Ebenezer and Sarah Rhodes, that died the same year. A little to the right of the centre of the yard is a stone with the following inscription: "Mrs. Submit Sanderson, wife of Lieut. Colman Sanderson, died Oct. 9, 1781, aged twenty-eight years." This we are informed was the first adult person buried in the yard.
In 1785, William Barker, the first settler of the town, deeded to the town one acre of land to be used as a public burying-ground. This yard is located in the north part of Troy village, falling within the limits of that town at its incorporation in 1815.
In 1793, Daniel Emerson gave the town one-half acre of land in the north part of the town for a " burying-place." And Mr. Emerson, in order, as it would seem, to perpetuate the memory of this gift, ordered to be placed on his grave- stone the following epitaph : -
"This land I cleared is now my grave. Think well, my friends, how you behave."
The first person interred in this yard, it is said, was John Lewis, who died Feb. 21, 1793. This yard has been used chiefly by the inhabitants of the north part of the town and those residing in the north-west part of Dublin, now West Harrisville.
The burying-ground near Mr. Esty's was set apart for that purpose at an early date. The first person interred there was Mary, wife of John Harvey, Jr., who died in 1785. An infant child of John and Mary Harvey was also buried there about the same time. This yard is now chiefly used for the burial of strangers and paupers.
GRANITEVILLE CEMETERY was laid out in the year 1852 by Asa Greenwood who foreseeing that a new cemetery would soon be needed selected the site, laid out, and fenced the same with a good substantial iron fence. The ground was divided into sixty-four lots which were sold at twelve dollars per lot.
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CEMETERIES.
This cemetery was consecrated Oct. 20, 1852. The fol- lowing is a copy of a hymn written for the occasion by Miss A. A. Morton : -
HYMN.
We consecrate this chosen spot For chambers of repose, Where human forms may rest, nor feel The weight of human woes.
No gloomy fear, no chilling dread, Shall haunt this calm retreat,
But forms imbued with life and hope Shall here our presence greet.
Affection's hand around the grave Shall gather trees and flowers, To beautify and cheer the place Through all save wintry hours.
Here would we bring our cherished dead, And lay them 'neath the sod, While Faith's sweet voice says, " Dust to dust, The spirit to its God."
Here we would lie when Death's pale hand Life's silver cord has riven, And opened for our waiting souls The shining gates of heaven.
Our Father, bless this sacred rite, Impart thy genial grace, And fit us for that better land Where is no burial-place.
Sarah, daughter of Nelson and Sally (Jones) Converse, who died April 26, 1853, was the first person buried in this cemetery. So rapidly have the lots been taken up that within a few years two additions have been made to the original yard. The whole is finely arranged, and presents an attractive appearance. Much credit is due to the ladies who have formed a society for the purpose of keeping this cemetery in repair. In this work, they are aided by a por- tion of the interest accruing from two hundred dollars bequeathed to the town by the late Jedediah T. Collins for- the purpose of keeping the four cemeteries in repair.
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
SEXTONS.
Since 1778, the following persons have served as sex- tons : -
1778 .- John Felton. Richard Tozer.
1780 .- John Felton. . Richard Roberts.
1781 .- John Felton. Richard Tozer.
1782 .- John Felton.
1783 .- John Felton. Richard Roberts.
1784 .- Richard Tozer.
1785 .- Richard Tozer.
1786 .- Richard Tozer. John Felton. 1787 .- Richard Tozer. Coleman Sanderson.
1788 .- Richard Tozer. Ebenezer 1789 .- Richard Tozer. Coleman Sanderson.
1790 .- Coleman Sanderson. Richard Tozer.
1791 .- Richard Tozer. James Dean. 1792 .- Richard Tozer.
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