John Broad Tolman
30 Dec 1806 – 15 Aug 1891
Son of John & Lucy Colburn Broad Tolman Jr.
The following history of John Broad Tolman was compiled from sketches published in Lvnn, Boston, and many other papers, at different times. In 1805 he removed with his parents to Needham, where his early life was passed. At the usual age for apprenticeship he was placed in the office of Herman and William Mann, of Dedham, to learn the printing business. It was a large and well appointed establishment for the time, and afforded, facilities for acquiring a good knowledge of art.
In 1828 he went to Boston as a journeyman in the book office of Isaac R. Butts, working on the Columbian Centinel. One week in Feb., 1830, the work on the Lynn Record, a weekly paper, was behind and the paper could not come out on time. The editor said to his assistant: “Ellis, don’t you know some young man in Boston who can help us out? Yes, was the reply, I know one I think will do so. Then get ready forth-with and bring him here without delay. Mr. Ellis immediately started and found Mr. Tolman, then a. young man of 24, alone in the printing office. Upon stating the case to him, although it was a bitter cold night, he consented to go, and they returned over the turnpike (it was before any rail road), arriving in Lynn at about 10 o’clock. P. M. He worked all night and the next day had the paper out in time. The work was done on a Franklin hand press. After several years of service as manager, not only mechanically but editorially, he purchased the office and soon did a larger business than had ever been done in any other Lynn office up to that time. He introduced the first machine press in that place, printed not only the Record, but a number of other papers and publications, such as the Washingtonian, Pioneer, Puritan, Awl, etc. A conspicuous trait in his character was promptness in filling engagements. He sometimes appended a, notice to his advertisements stating that if a job of work was not ready for delivery at the time agreed upon no pay would be exacted. In middle life he sold out his business and engaged in less wearying pursuits.
On March 30, 1831, Mr. Tolman was married to Lydia Sophia, third daughter of Herman Mann, Esq., of Dedham. She was born in Dedham, September 7, 1805. In 1881, when Mr. and Mrs. Tolman celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, he signalized the event by donating to the Lynn Hospital the sum of $2500.00 the interest of which was to be used for the maintainance of a free bed for printers.
Accompanying this munificent donation was the following letter: —
“As I am interested in the project for a hospital in this city, and as I the present effort to obtain a fund to establish one happens to be coincident with the 50th anniversary of my wedding, I, together with my wife, desire on this day and occasion to make it an offering expressive of our interest in it and the city in which we have so long resided.
We also desire to devote the gift, in part, to the benefit of members of the printing fraternity in Lynn, as they may be in need of hospital treatment. We both have a strong regard for the occupation to which I was brought up, and in which my wife’s father and four of her brothers were engaged.
“As we desire the hospital to be established on a lasting basis, even if it shall commence in a small and prudent way, we wish the income of the fund only to be used, and offer, through you, to give the hospital the symbolical sum of 50 times $50, to be received and held on the following terms:—That the said hospital shall hold and invest the said sum forever, and devote the income arising therefrom to maintain a bed, or beds, in said hospital for the benefit of all persons under the rules and regulations of the hospital: that i[ shall devote said bed or beds to a sum equal to the whole income received from said fund to the use of practical letter press printers residing in Lynn (and especially to any person ever apprenticed to me) if the same shall be so required.”
Later he gave $1000. to the Home for Aged Women. In 1884 he conveyed, to the Young Men’s Christian Association, of Lynn, an estate on Market Street valued at thirty thousand dollars, in trust.
For the suppression in said Lynn of intemperance in the use of intoxicating liquors by the cultivating of public opinion and the enforcement of laws prohibiting and restraining the manufacture and sale of the same, and by assisting in the reform of persons of intemperate habits. Also, for the education and instruction of the public, and especially the young in all practical ways by which they may be reached in regard to the moral and physical injuries arising from the habitual use of such liquors, and also of tobacco and other stimulants.
And as subordinate to this work it was further stipulated that a part of said income, as opportunity afforded, should be expended for the suppression of immoral literature, especially such as circulates among the young, the donor adding, that his general intention is that of reform, rather than that of alleviation of the effects consequent upon intemperance,” leaving the
detail of work for those appointed to act under the trust.
A local paper, in speaking- of this gift, says:— Mr. Tolman was an ardent temperance advocate in early life; he was also an abolitionist, and advocated all the moral reform movements at a tune when it required sound moral courage to do so, and adds in reference to the gift: He feels that in this act he has contributed to the relief of the poor and needy as expressly, and more effectually, than if he had ministered directly to their present necessities. The result shows the correctness of the theory, as in two and a half years the number of liquor saloons in Lynn was reduced from 203 to 76.
He also did much good in a quiet way, giving sums to the poor and needy at different times, which amounted to thousands of dollars, as found by his executors. He always refused to enter politics, but has held many important and responsible positions, in connection with private and corporate interests.
The letter given below shows his feelings for the home of his boyhood. It is copied from the Needham Chronicle, of Saturday morning, April 3, 1876.
The following letter, which accompanied a generous donation to the Needham Library Association of seventy-five well selected books speaks for itself:—
Mr. Geo. W. Southworth.
My dear Sir: In your issue of the 25th ultimo I see you Chronicle the recent organization of a Library Association in Needham, and the opening of a library at the same date. As my young idea was first taught how to shoot in the old red school house located within rifle range of the site of the new library, I feel a sympathetic interest in the success and prosperity of your new-formed association, induced by a yearning attachment for lang syne associations and time honored memories, that the half-century since spent upon life’s hard fought battlefield has not weakened nor weaned.
And under the influence of such time-hallowed reminiscences I am constrained to forward to you, and through you, as Librarian, present to the Association, a few volumes from my own library, hoping not only that they may prove acceptable to the association, but also accompanied with (to me) the realizing gratification of knowing that these fire-side (book) companions (of mine) will, in swinging round the circle visit the homes and firesides of the descendants of those— and in some (I would it were many) cases the old folks themselves — who, with me, in childhood’s glee and in youth’s ebulliency, sported in high carnival o’er those open fields now so thickly studded with the handiwork of man.
But I must not expect, nay, I am not allowed the flattering hope that these book messengers will go into many of those hands that once joined mine in the romp and riot of those hilarious days; for in five consecutive decades of years, the scythe of time and the sword of the destroying angel have, necessarily wrought a most wonderful revolution and terribly thinned the ranks of those who fifty years ago were then just entering upon the stage of manhood’s rugged, active life; therefore, I have added a few volumes direct from the publishers, and if the descendants of my former beloved playmates, as well as the citizens of the town by adoption, shall derive pleasure and profit from the perusal of the books thus tendered to them, and to the survivors of my old associates it shall be a full and ample reward to a well-wisher for the continual growth and prosperity of good ”Old Needham. —Yours for the Library’s success,
John B. Tolman.
Lynn, April 3, 1876.
John Broad Tolman died in Lynn, Aug. 15, 1891, aged 84 years. 7 months, 15 days. Lydia Sophia Tolman d. Aug. 24, 189l, aged 85 years, 11 months, 17 days. They had lived together for more than 60 years. It did seem beautiful that having lived so long together, in death they were not divided.” The following tribute to the worth of Mr. Tolman, the philanthropist printer, was offered by the Lynn Press Association:—
In the death of John B. Tolman, the press and printers of Lynn have sustained a heavy loss, and it is fitting that they should place on record their appreciation of his many noble qualities. As an example of sterling integrity, of principle and purpose, of precept and example, he had few equals and no superiors. He was as industrious as he was honest ….. He was an honored member of our association, to whom the craft looked for wise counsel and kindly suggestion, and always received it. His example is commended to the younger members as one they can safely follow.
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