Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

I
, (citizen),
SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1S86. 481
Epbraim ^X . Bond (citizen), E. D. Beach (loco), Oliver B. Bannon
Simon Sanborn (loco, or some called him liberal whig) , and
Henry Gray (loco) . The
locos thus had a majority of the board in
a ballot larger than any in the history of the town. The whigs were
utterly taken aback, while hundreds of loco focos marched throuo-h
the streets that night shouting the cry of victory. Henry Gray was
superintendent of the Western Railroad, and the cry of " corporation
influence " was at once raised.
The census of l-Sr^O put the figure for Springfield down at 11,330,
showing that it had made no progress since 1848, when the division
left a population of 11,328. Of these, in the 1850 census, about one
hundred resided on the United States ground, and two hundred and
forty-three were colored. The total valuation was $4,734,050.
Springfield figured prominently in the Webster convention, in
November, 1851, at Boston. Henry Vose was temporary chairman,
and Ansel Phelps, Jr., cliairman of the committee on permanent or-
ganization. George Ashmun was made president of the convention,
Vose, permanent secretary, and George Bliss was on the committee
to prepare an address to the peoi)le giving Mr. Webster's claims to
the presidency. It was indeed a curious spectacle for a convention ;
but after the delegates liad given nine cheers for Webster, and then
for George Ashmun, they added three for the ancient and honorable
town of Springfield.
The annual militia re^'iews were continued during this period.
These were famous occasions, next to the Fourth itself, the country
companies marching in their best style. How the country looked on
these occasions is seen by this passage from Hyde's intei-esting History
of Brimfield :
—
" Occasionally the militia companies went as far as Springfield or
Hatfield for a grander military display. If, on the march, the toll-
gate keeper demurred at giving free passage, the captain liad l»ut to
say, ' Men, do yoiu' duty.' At the word, Hiram Gleasou, Warren
Nelson, Silas Parker, and Hiram Powers would lift the gate bodily