USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Conway > Celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of Conway, Massachusetts : at Conway, June 19th, 1867 : including a historical address by Rev. Charles B. Rice poem by Harvey Rice oration by William Howland and the other exercises of the occasion > Part 1
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Go 974.402 C769c 1779027
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01105 8309
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CELEBRATION
OF THE
HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE
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INCORPORATION OF CONWAY, Mais.
MASSACHUSETTS,
AT CONWAY, JUNE 19TH, 1867;
INCLUDING A
HISTORICAL ADDRESS BY REV. CHARLES B. RICE, OF DANVERS, MASS.,
POEM BY HARVEY RICE, ESQ., OF CLEVELAND, OHIO,
ORATION BY WILLIAM HOWLAND, ESQ., OF LYNN, MASS.,
AND THE OTHER EXERCISES OF THE OCCASION.
NORTHAMPTON : BRIDGMAN & CHILDS, PUBLISH ERS. 5 27 24 1867.
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Conway, Mass.
Celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the incor- poration of Conway, Massachusetts, at Conway, June 19th, 1867 ; including a historical address by Rev. Charles B. Rice ... poem by Harvey Rice ... oration by William Howland ... Northampton, Bridgman & Childs, 1867.
137 (i. c. 136) p. 25}c". Page 136 erroneously numbered 137.
1. Conway, Mass .- Hist. 1. Rice. Charles Baker, 1829-1913. 11. Rice, Harvey, 1800-1891. nr. Howland, William.
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NORTHAMPTON : TRUMBULL & GERE, STEAM PRINTERS.
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Celebration,
Centennial 1767- 1867 AT 1) CONWAY, JUNE 19, 1867. Mass,
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CONWAY CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
THE first settlement in the town of Conway was made October 20th, 1762. It was proposed in 1862 to celebrate the 100th an- niversary of that event by appropriate exercises ; but the criti- cal condition of the country at that time, and the absence of so many of our young men as were then in the army, sustaining the nation against a rebellion which threatened her life, caused many of our citizens to feel disinclined to engage in such a celebra- tion then. The town was incorporated June 16th, 1767, nearly five years after its settlement. When the 100th anniversary of this last event drew near, the state of things was greatly chang- ed. The great Rebellion had been suppressed, peace was re- stored, and prosperity smiled around us. Measures therefore, were seasonably taken for a public celebration to be held in June, 1867.
The first action of the town on this subject was on the 6th of . November, 1866, when the following votes were passed :
Voted, To take measures for a centennial celebration of the in- corporation of the town.
Voted, To appoint a Committee to make the necessary arrange- ments for such a celebration.
The following gentlemen were chosen to constitute that Com- mittee, viz :
Thomas L. Allis, Consider Arms, John Clary, Asa Howland, David C. Rogers, Alvin Dinsmore, Elijah Arms, Charles B. Mer- ritt, B. A. Andrews, Consider Field, Earl Guilford, Edwin Cooley, John Bradford, Richard Tucker, Austin Rice, E. D. Hamilton, Thos. S. Dickinson, Wm. C. Campbell, R. A Coffin, Charles Par- sons, Wm. T. Clapp, Wm. A. Howland, and Chelsea Cook. 23 in all.
At a Town Meeting held March 4th, 1867, it was voted to ap- propriate the sum of 500 dollars to defray the expenses of the celebration.
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The first meeting of the Centennial Committee was held, pursu- ant to a call from the Chairman, T. L. Allis, at the Town Hall, on Tuesday, Nov. 13th, 1866. David C. Rogers was chosen Secre- tary. It was then voted :
That Rev. Charles B. Rice, of Danvers Centre, Mass. be invit- ed to deliver a historical address at the approaching anniversary of the incorporation of the town.
That William Howland, Esq. of Lynn, Mass., be invited to deliver an Oration.
That Hon. Harvey Rice, of Cleveland, Ohio, be invited to de- liver a Poem.
These gentlemen are all natives of Conway.
Voted, That the Secretary notify the above named gentlemen of the action of this Committee in respect to them. At a subse- quent meeting it was announced, that letters had been received from them, signifying their acceptance of their respective appoint- ments.
The Centennial Committee held frequent meetings during the Winter and Spring, and in order to facilitate their own action, appointed the following sub-committees at different times.
On method of inviting guests .- R. A. Coffin, E. D. Hamilton, Austin Rice, W. C. Campbell, Richard Tucker, D. C. Rogers, and T. S. Dickinson.
On selection of guests to be invited by the Committee .- D. C. Rogers, E. D. Hamilton, T. L. Allis, Charles B. Merritt, Wm. T. Clapp and Charles Parsons.
On Entertainment for the Celebration .- Charles Parsons, Rich- ard Tucker, Thomas S. Dickinson, E. D. Hamilton, and D. C. Rogers.
On Centennial Dinner, and place of holding the Celebration .- Charles Parsons, Richard Tucker, Edwin Cooley, Wm. T. Clapp, and E. D. Hamilton.
On Finance .- E. D. Hamilton, W. C. Campbell, Charles Par- sons.
On Printing Circulars of Invitation .- D. C. Rogers, R. A. Coffin.
Committee to invite former residents of the town who have no . relatives now living here .- Asa Howland, John Clary, H. W. Billings.
On Original Odes .- R. A. Coffin.
On Lumber, for Tables, Seats, &c .- T. L. Allis, W. C. Camp- bell, Alvin Dinsmore, Consider Arms, Consider Field, Charles B, Merritt, Elijah Arms,
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On Singing .-- H. W. Billings.
On Sentiments to be offered after the Dinner .- R. A. Coffin, D. C. Rogers, E. D. Hamilton, Abner Forbes.
On Order of Exercises for the Celebration .- Richard Tucker, Charles Parsons, R. A. Coffin.
On Decorations .- E. D. Hamilton, Asa Howland, Wm. T. Clapp.
To carry into effect the report of the Committee on Decorations. -Lucius Smith, Harvey Townsend, Henry Stearns, D. F. Ham- ilton, Charles Parsons, Jr., George W. Flagg, George Rogers, H. W. Billings, and Elijah Arms.
As the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the town would occur on Sunday, it was
Voted, That the Celebration take place on Wednesday, the. 19th of June.
The following votes were also passed at different times :
That the Secretary be requested to correspond with such cler- gymen as are natives of the town, or have been settled therein, asking their attendance at the Celebration.
That the general subject of invitation be left with each family, to invite and entertain such persons as they may choose, and that a Committee of 6 be chosen to invite such persons as they may judge expedient, who have no relatives here.
That the Committee on the Centennial Dinner, be directed to confer with Amos Stetson with reference to his providing a Din- ner for the Celebration.
That the same Committee be instructed to find how many tick- ets for the Dinner can be sold, or guaranteed by the citizens of the town.
That the Committee on Finance be authorized to draw on the Town Treasurer, from time to time, for such funds as may be needed from the sum appropriated by the Town for the Celebra- tion.
That a Tent be procured for the accommodation of those who partakè of the Centennial Dinner.
That the services of the Shelburne Falls Cornet Band be pro- cured for the occasion.
That the Committee on Music be directed to procure such martial music as they shall deem expedient in addition to the Band, and that Amos Stetson be added to said Committee for that purpose.
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That the Committee on Order of Exercises procure the print- ing of 2,000 copies of the same for distribution.
That D. C. Rogers be appointed President of the Day.
That Thomas S. Dickinson be Marshal of the Day, with power to appoint such assistants as he may choose.
That the Fire Company be requested to act as Escort for the procession.
That the order of the procession be left to the President of the Day, and the Marshal.
The Marshal appointed the following persons as his assist- ants :-
Wm. T. Clapp, Lansford Batchelder, Gorham Hamilton, Alph- eus G. Bates, Edwin Cooley, T. L. Allis, Carlos Batchelder, Wil- liam B. Fay, Ebenezer Ames, Jr., Lucian Eldridge, S. P. Sher- . man, Austin Drake, L. T. Brown, Gideon Jordan, Joseph C. Wing, Nicholas L. Green, Wm. H. Kaulback.
The day of the celebration dawned very inauspiciously. Many eyes watched with anxiety the dense clouds which covered the morning sky, and which threatened greatly to mar, if not wholly to destroy the pleasures of the day. But about 6 o'clock the clouds began to disperse, and soon the sun shone out brightly. The day proved to be one of the loveliest of our beautiful June days. The previous rain had laid the dust, the air was pure and exhilarating, the trees and the fields were arrayed in their richest garb of verdure, and the beautiful grove in which the exercises were held, seemed alive with a concert of bird melody.
At sunrise the bells were rung, and a salute was fired from a cannon placed on Prospect Hill, near the village and overlooking most of it. At 7 o'clock, A. M., a procession was formed, led by the Greenfield Drum Corps, and consisting of a cavalcade of gen- tlemen headed by the oldest male citizen of the town, Mr. Ama- riah Thwing (90 years old, ) and Gen. Asa Howland, now in his 80th year. Mr. Thwing was dressed in the old continental uni- form, a fac-simile of that worn by Gen. Washington. Gen. How- land wore the same chapeau, plume, and belt that he wore, while commanding a division in 1825, and some subsequent years. Both of these aged veterans rode erect and trim, and with a con- fident, easy horsemanship, which would put to shame many of
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the riders belonging to the present degenerate generation. Fol- lowing the cavalcade was a long vehicle, decorated with ever- greens and drawn by two yoke of oxen. In this were a number of men and women dressed in antique costume, who were busi- ly engaged in various industrial employments, belonging to olden times, such as breaking and swingling flax, carding and spinning flax and wool, making ropes, &c., &c. This was followed by a carriage with several girls in it, dressed in white, and employed in different kinds of fancy work now fashionable. After this came "the old one-horse sha," containing a couple dressed in antique style, and next a gentleman and lady on horseback, the lady seated on a pillion, and the gentleman carrying the baby .- Lastly came a team, drawing an elm tree of considerable size. The procession, after marching through the principal streets of the village, repaired to the site of the first school-house erected in town, about one-fourth of a mile south of the Congregational church, and there, after a few appropriate remarks by Rev. Charles B. Rice, the Selectmen set out the elm tree, which, it is hoped, will live long enough to form a connecting link between the first and the second centennial celebration of the town's in- corporation."
At an early hour the stars and stripes were displayed at both churches, and at various other points in the village. Over Main street, near the Bank, hung a large flag, bearing on one side the · motto, " Our fallen heroes, in grateful remembrance, and our living, we honor," and on the other side, "Our past glory em- - blem of future Faith." An evergreen arch spanned the bridge near the Post Office, having on the east side the words, " Wel- come Home," and on the west side, "Conway welcomes her children."
At 9 o'clock, A. M., a procession was formed on the Green in the eastern part of the village. This procession moved to Arms' Grove, the place selected for the out-door exercises, in the fol- lowing order, viz :
CHIEF MARSHAL. Shelburne Falls Cornet Band. Greenfield Drum Corps. President and Speakers of the Day. Clergy. Committee of Arrangements. Citizens and Strangers.
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The procession was escorted by the Conway Fire Department, dressed in their appropriate and tasteful uniform. At the en- trance to the lot leading to the grove, was an evergreen arch, with the motto, " Gate to the Mysteries of a Century " on the eastern side, and on the western side, "From the . Past learn Wisdom," At the entrance to the grove was another evergreen arch, bearing the mottoes, " Love links the Ages " and " Honor our Fathers."
The grove is a delightful place for such a gathering, being freo from underbrush, and with its trees sufficiently near each other to make a pleasant shade, and sufficiently distant from each oth- er to permit the growth of grass and flowers beneath them. The land slopes to the east, and on the western border is a barrier of rocks, 20 or 30 feet high, and nearly perpendicular. On the eastern side a platform had been erected, with seats in front of it extending up the slope, sufficient to accommodate over 2,000 persons. Over the platform the stars and stripes hung in beauti- ful folds, and at the foot was an evergreen motto, "1767,-Thus far hath the Lord led us,-1867.
Every seat in the grove was soon filled, and a large number were obliged to stand. It is estimated that more than 3,000 per- sons were present .- The President of the Day, D. C. Rogers, opened the services by calling on Rev. David Pease, the oldest living ex-clergyman of Conway, to offer prayer. Mr. Pease not having yet arrived, an appropriate and earnest prayer was offer- ed by Rev. M. G. Wheeler, the next oldest ex-clergyman. A brief introductory address was then made by the President of the Day. The citizens of Conway, he said, have long wished to have a family gathering of this kind. It was proposed in 1862, but the troubles connected with the late war prevented the ac- complishment of the design. We have now decided to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the birthday of our town, and have accordingly invited all her sons and daughters to be present. We are happy to see so many here, and extend to them all a cor- dial welcome. Some, who went from us a few years ago to aid in the defence of our common country, now lie buried in the sun- ny south, and many hearts are sad at the thought that we shall meet them no more on earth. Others have returned enfeebled by disease, or shattered by wounds, to die at home, and we have had the mournful pleasure of consigning their mortal remains to the tomb in the midst of old friends and acquaintances. Others
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still have returned in safety, and now gladden many hearts by their presence here. This day will long be remembered by us We greet you all with a hearty welcome.
The following ODE, written by R. A. COFFIN, A. M., was then sung by the audience, accompanied by the Band :-
Children of Conway, far and near, Your mother calls you home : From east and west, from north and south, She bids her children come ; And lo, responsive to her call, Ye come from many a clime To meet her smiles once more, and view . The scenes of olden times.
CHORUS .- We welcome you! we welcome you ! Our hearts and hands we join ; God bless you all, as we reeall The days of " auld lang syne.".
Ye come from where the Atlantic surge Beats on the sounding shore : From where, o'er wild Niagara's verge, The western waters pour. And who can tell what varied thoughts In different hearts hold sway, As this expectant, gathering crowd, Assembled here to-day.
CHORUS .- We welcome you, &c.
Some, on whose brows the star of hope Shines sweetly, brightly down, And some who've drunk of sorrow's cup And met her sternest frown ; Some, like a ship by furious winds And angry tempests driven, And some who calmly wait the hour Of peace and rest in heaven.
CHORUS .- We welcome you ! &c.
The same proud hills around us rise, The same bright waters flow. As when our grandsires trod these fields A hundred years ago ; We'll tell the tales of other days, We'll talk of years gone by, And blend with many a sainted name Hopes that will never die.
CHORUS. - We welcome you, &c.
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We'll speak of those whose virtues shine Far down the lapse of years, Like stars, to guide our onward steps To brighter, holier spheres ; We'll bid the voice of fervent prayer Rise,-with the thankful strain, That all the blessings that we share May not be shared in vain.
CHORUS .- And thus on this centennial day Our hearts and hands we join : God bless us all, as we recall The days of "auld lang syne."
There was then delivered the following HISTORICAL ADDRESS, by CHARLES B. RICE, of Conway, preacher in Danvers, Mass .:-
MR. RICE'S ADDRESS.
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PREFATORY NOTE.
Not more than half of what is here printed, was made use of on the day of the public commemoration. But the form of the address has been preserved ; and references to the place of assembly, are retained.
It is a matter of regret to the writer of this sketeh, that he has not been able to prepare it in greater fullness. For its aceuracy, as it is now put forth, he can only say that he has endeavored to use faithfully all the materials of knowledge that could be found. It is too much to hope that no errors have crept in. But the reader will not, perhaps, set down at once as erroneous, every statement which . may at first appear so.
As to authorities, next to the Records of the town, the most valuable written documents bearing on its history, are the half century sermon of Rev. John Emer- son, preached in 1819, and a historical address delivered in 1845, by the late Capt. Otis Childs, before an " Association of farmers and meehanies." The latter es- pecially, is of very great value. And with the consent, and according indeed to the wish of the respected author, often expressed to me, I have drawn from it , with freedom, as will appear, for the use of the present occasion.
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Persons now living, too numerous to mention, have also in various ways con- tributed mueh,
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ADDRESS.
The settlement of Conway was begun in 1762. Most of the adjoining towns were entered upon before that time. Deerfield, which had then been occupied nearly one hundred years, owed its early planting to the attraction of its rich meadows, uncovered of forests and ready at once for cultiva- tion. It was possible also there, and in the other meadow towns, to establish settlements sufficiently compact to offer some defense against the Indians. The savage war cry, ring- ing through the valley for nearly all that hundred years, and but just then ceasing to be heard had kept back the peopling of the hill country westward. And for the occupation of some towns at the north and west at dates a little earlier than that of Conway, it was due to the greater efforts of those township proprietors to give value to the lands they owned by establishing settlements upon them.
At the time of its settlement, this region now bearing the name Conway, was included within the limits of Deerfield. The first record we have relating to it occurs May 28, 1712. At that time the general Court for the State, in answer to a petition of Rev. John Williams, enlarged the territory of Deerfield by allowing it to extend "nine miles westward in- to the western woods." The nine miles were not wholly in the new grant, but included the previous width of the town from east to west. Before this, the west line of Deerfield was what it is now. The territory thus conveyed was nearly the same that is now embraced in Conway and Shelburne. The southern portion of it came to be known as " South West District," or "South West;" and it was also some-
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times called "Deerfield commons." Arrangements were made in 1753 by the township proprietors for the division of the district into lots, preparatory to its settlement. The survey was made beginning on the western or Ashfield line ; and the town appears at first to have been divided by four parallel "roads," stretching from North to South across its entire length, into eight ranges, each 200 rods in width, which ranges were to be sub-divided by East and West lines. Nothing came of these "roads," which were laid out six rods wide; and the whole survey underwent such readjust- ments that the lots, as finally offered for sale, were 240 rods in length from East to West, and 100 rods in width, con- taining 150 acres.
There was much controversy with Huntstown, now Ashfield, concerning the western boundary. Twice the Deerfield and Conway men got the worst of the matter in law, and were compelled to draw in their lines. They never felt easily as to the way this business was settled, and unquestionably we . ought to believe that they were wronged. The owners on the West side who suffered loss received compensation in oth- er lands. It is observed by Pliny Arms, Esq., of Deerfield, who touches on this point in his valuable Historical lecture, that the Hoosac farm, now owned by Consider Arms was probably acquired by his grandfather Consider in this way.
In December of the same year, 1753, appears the first sign looking towards actual settlement in Conway. The proprie- tors made a grant to John Blackmore of ten acres of land for a mill spot " at a place just before the crotch of South River ;" there being a condition that he should build within twelve months. But it can not be learned that John Blackmore pro- ceeded any further with this enterprise. The place itself where he meant to build, any one familiar with the course of South River and the force of prepositions may be compe- . tent now to discover.
In 1754 a county road was laid out across the District from East to West. This road, to which further reference will be made, had respect at this time solely to the use of the Huntstown settlers. It remained for years a mere path,
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In 1763 it was voted by Deerfield to raise four pounds " towards building a bridge over South River, and making the County road adjacent to the same." A rude bridge was probably soon thrown across, and some work done on the banks to make it accessible.
After South-west began to be peopled, we find that an al- lowance was made for the schooling of the children who lived too far away to attend at the " Town Plat."
Early in 1767 the inhabitants had become numerous enough to wish for a separate organization ; and they petitioned to that effect. Deerfield agreed to the petition, and proposed the boundries of the new town as follows : "East upon the seven mile line, so called, until it comes to Deerfield River ; West, upon Ashfield bounds, or the west line of Deerfield ; South, upon Hatfield bounds," (where Whately and Williams- burg now are), "North, partly upon Deerfield line, until it comes to the North-west Division, so-called ;" (that is, until it strikes the Shelburne line,) " and thence by said North-west Division until it comes to the West line of the town."*
On the 17th of June in the same year CONWAY was incor- porated by act of the General Court. It is this event the hundredth anniversary of which we celebrate to-day.t
* The South line of North-west Division, or Shelburne, was not then as now on the Deerfield river; which, indeed might be inferred from the above record. It was a straight line, crossing the river near Bardwell's Ferry, (some distance below the new railroad bridge now building, and below the now projected County bridge, ) and passing westerly with a deviation to the South, over Bear river, near Charles Macomber's, and South of Consider Field's to the Ashfield line ; embracing thus in Shelburne a section of Bloomshire and nearly all of Shirk- shire. This territory was annexed to Conway by act of General Court, Feb. 19th, 1781. The South bank of Deerfield river is now the north line of Conway. A part of the North-west section was given to Buckland in 1838.
It may here be added that the notch on the South-eastern corner of the town was made by the setting off from Deerfield of certain lots in 1791.
t'The date has been heretofore given erroneously June 16th. The act, though "passed " the day before, did not receive the signature of the Governor and be- come of force until the 17th. This error had not been discovered when the pre- liminary arrangements for the celebration were made. And because June 16th fell on Sunday, and for the convenience also of a day near the middle of the week, Wednesday the 19th, was chosen.
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The town took its name from Gen. Henry Conway, then a member of the British ministry, and popular in the Colonies as having been government leader in the House of Commons at the repeal of the Stamp Act. Gen. Conway was a brave soldier, and a well meaning, though not an able states- man.
The General Court had authorized Elijah Williams, " One of His Majesties' justices of the peace for the County of Hampshire," to issue his warrant " to some Principle Inhabi- tant " of Conway, requiring him to warn the qualified voters to meet for the choice of town officers. This warrant bears date Ang. Sth, 1767; and is the first document appearing on the records of the town.
The first town meeting thus provided for was held on Mon- day, Aug. 24th, at the house of Thomas French, Innholder. The following is the list of the officers elected : Consider Arms, Moderator and Town Clerk; Cyrus Rice, Constable ; Thomas French, Consider Arms, and Samuel Wells, Select- men and Assessors ; Consider Arms, Town Treasurer ; Israel Gates, Thomas French and Joel Baker Surveyers of Highways; David Parker, Tythingman ; Elisha Amsden, Warden ; Thom- as. French and Simeon Graves, Fence viewers ; Silas Rawson, Sealer of Leather; Ebenezer Allis, Sealer of Weights and Measures; Joseph Catlin and Joel Baker, Hog-reefs ; Cyrus Rice, Deer-reef; James Gilmore and Josiah Boyden, Hay- wards ; David Parker and Ebenezer Allis, Surveyors of Lum- ber .- The deer were soon gone from the forests, and the offi- cial list has been otherwise somewhat changed, but since that day the soil has never ceased to bring forth men willing to fill these stations ; and the succession has not failed.
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