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 6
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" They did not apply to themselves the term Democrat.
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Republican 63 .* In 180S Gore, (Fed.) had 142 votes for Governor, and Sullivan, (Rep.) 123. In 1812 Strong, (Fed.) received 181, Gerry, (Rep.) 136. These figures represent the ordinary relative strength of the two parties. The town rep- resentatives were all one way. The first gap in the Federal succession occurs in 1824, when John Arms was chosen. But this was after the lines were broken, and while we were " All Republicans, all Federalists."
During the earlier years, embracing the period from the beginning of the century to the close of the war with Eng- land, the contest was carried on, as it was over all the country, with great zeal. There was also a degree of personal animos- ity which has not been equalled since, so far as relates to our town or this section of the country, in the history of our politics. Political feeling entered then far more than now into the relations of social life. Opposition of party between some families at times seriously disturbed neighborly inter- course. Political agreement, on the other hand, aided more powerfully perhaps than it has since, in the formation of friendly connections.t
Many incidents are preserved from those times, illustrating the liveliness of political feeling that then existed. When either party raised a " liberty pole," it was not an easy thing to keep the flag on its staff. Upon the day before a Fourth of July the Republicans lifted one in and above the elm tree by the Baptist meeting house. That flag they declared should fly undisturbed ; and that the thing might be made sure, they set an armed watch through the night in the meeting house. But Jesse Severance walked carelessly under the tree and leaned
* A property qualification being required, the number of voters was relatively less than now.
t There was an instance of this in the very close friendship subsisting between the three active republicans, John Arms, Col. Joseph Rice, and Dr. Wm. Hamilton, with their families ; and of which many recollections still remain. Wm. Hamilton died young, but not before he had shown himself conspicuously, both in his profes- sion and beyond it, a man of mark. Joseph Rice lived also to but little beyond middle age. But John Arms was long among us, with his strong will and quick perceptions and unfailing memory,-one of the most remarkable men for native endowment that the town has ever produced.
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against it, and Levi Parsons ran up from his shoulders, where- after what seemed the one man walked leisurely away. But with the morning light the republican watchers saw not the flag of their country.
The adventure also of the old Deerfield gun into our town at this period, should be recorded. This gun is a legacy that the town had from the Indian wars. It ap- peared to some of our younger Republicans that, since Conway was early a part of Deerfield, and since Deerfield had become Federal, and since before in the revolution it was always near to being Tory,-it appeared to them that the can- non should be allowed a breath of different air. The unusual circumstance of the election in Massachusetts of a Republican Governor# greatly confirmed them in this impression. So it was that year that on the morning of the "old fashioned Election," of Inanguration Day, the voice of the gun was heard, deep and strong, and frequent, from the Conway hills. The Deerfield men listened and comprehended. But they also disapproved. They armed themselves and swarmed out in great anger upon the Conway road, Gen. Hoyt being mili- tary leader, and all together the posse of Sheriff Saxton. The report of the coming invasion spread, and a crowd was collected to hold the gun ; or to see how the matter would go on. But the business grew serious, and the end was near to have been made in blood-shed. The cannon was carried . into Win. Redfield's boarding house.t "Bill Redfield " was of violent temper, and stood at nothing ; and there were oth- ers with him of the same sort. They were ready to try keep- ing the house and the gun against all the Federalists of Deer- field. But the law looked the other way,-and so after re- flection, did the more sober men of the party. The piece was finally surrendered; but with a distinct agreement that it should not be fired by the Deerfield men within the bounds of the town. So the old cannon went sullenly back along the
* Either Sullivan or Gerry.
t Now part of the long house on the hill, opposite and south-east from the Baptist Mecting House; and standing then on the same spot. The boarders were mostly workmen in the tin shop across the way.
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road over which it had passed as it came up with a brisk step and sounding cheer .*
The contest over this gun has been continued in more recent times by the young men of Greenfield, which town was also formerly included in Deerfield. The right of the matter is clear, and has happily become well fixed by time. The ownership of the gun belongs with Deerfield only; and Deerfield has a right to keep it, while Conway and Greenfield have no right except to remove it whenever they can from Deerfield.1.
The second war with England made little stir among us of a military sort, except that in 1814, when there was an alarm of British invasion on the coast, there went down a regiment from this section. The late Gen. Thomas Langley of Hawley, was in command as Colonel, and Gen. Asa Howland, of our town, was Major. This was "Gov. Strong's war." The British prudently determined to have no part in it.
* There are various accounts respecting the personal influences among the re- publicans, by which the keepers of the gun were at last, and with the greatest difficulty, prevailed on to give it up. The truth is that no single person secured the final result. Joseph Rice had been sent for at the beginning of the trouble, and had urged that the laws should be respected. John Arms concurred ; yet there was that in him to which giving up came not most naturally ; and it is clearly remem- bered that something of that quality came to light on this occasion. The oppor- tune coming up at a later hour of Wm. Hamilton, decided the balance, inclining before, but still tremulously, towards peace. Altogether the escape from hard fighting was a narrow onc.
t It was thought of as desirable that this ancient arm should be here with us to-day, to take a part in our celebration. It is due to the Deerfield authorities to say that they have spoken courteously of us in this connection, and are understood to have been willing to grant us the loan of the piece. It is allowed also that the gun has been well cared for by them, having been sacredly kept in the bottoms of rivers, and in the sub-soil of old fields. Notwithstanding it is reported to have gotten into rust, and to be like to split. It was said not to be best for this reason to ask for its use to-day. But the soul of the historian has nothing of rest, unless he passes down all that is true to the coming time. I must therefore record that it was reckoned by us a small matter that the instrument should be here, except it were honorably brought, according to the due manner of the gun. But, occupied as we were, and embarrassed also by the uncertainties incident to the before men- tioned pious care with which the weapon is preserved, to proceed in that rightful order did not appear to be convenient. We must all hope that with the next return of our centennial commemoration, this failure of our present observance may be appropriately repaired.
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When new political connections began to be made in the times of Jolin Quincy Adams, and of Jackson, the town swung to the Whig side. Yet there was again a strong mi- nority with what had then become the Democratic party. Questions growing out of the Temperance reform, entered here also largely into town politics. And between 1830 and 1840 the choice of representatives was influenced by these nearly or quite as much as by national politics. The voice of the town in the Legislature for most of these years was given against the reform. But in this respect that was an excep- tional period. In 1840 the Presidential vote stood, Harrison, (Whig,) 171, Van Buren, (Dem.) 134. In 1844, Clay, (Whig,) 147, Polk, (Dem.) 119. In those years respectively, Dr. E. D. Hamilton and Capt. Otis Childs represented the town in the Legislature. In 1848, Taylor, (Whig,) had 132, Cass, (Dem.) 89. In 1852 Scott, (Whig,) 181, Pierce, (Dem.) 131.
Our townsman, Gen. James L. Whitney, whose presence we miss to-day, was on this Democratic electoral ticket. He had been representative in 1830, and he was chosen again in 1853. Saving these years all had been Whigs since 1838.
These were the days of " the Coalition," a species of union which I am not now able very exactly to describe, made in Massachusetts between the Democratic party and the "Free Soil " party, then rising in numbers. For several years our town was inore evenly divided between Whiggery and Coa- lition, than it has ever been before or since on any other political issue. And as the choice of Governor frequently devolved upon the Legislature, no one having the popular majority then required, the contest for representative became active and exciting. There may be some of us still living who have faint recollections of those times. We may have heard also, of committee meetings late and early, of diligent study of the voting list, of hunting trips and cattle driving expeditions, planned for election day for patriotic young men and others, and of various reported chicaneries, said to have been devised for effect upon the doubtful ballot. These and such like things,-being unwilling to rest upon mere report,- I record not. But I willingly recall these traditions, and
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the memories also of much Whig and Coalition feasting and merriment, in the narrow halls of the Conway Hotel, be- cause there was good temper in it all; and because, looking back upon it from across the sterner days we have known, the sight is pleasing. May there be in the coming times contests for principles and laws and policies, or even for men, but not struggles for government and national existence itself. The passage of the "Nebraska Bill" in the spring of 1854, destroyed the national Whig party, weakened before, and brought into life the modern Republicanism. In 1856, Con- way gave to Fremont, (Rep.) 139 votes, to Buchanan, (Dem.) 81. The vote for Governor for the same year stood, Gardner, (Native American, or " Know Nothing,") 129, Quincy, (Rep.) 104, Beach, (Dem.) $1. In 1860 all was Republican, Lincoln receiving 218 out of 260 votes. And at his re-election in 1864 there were given him 223, and to Gen. McClellan 62.
It needs not here to be marked that these were the years of war for the Union, and for Freedom. The shock of the opening fight, the shouts of the early enthusiasm, the days of gloom, the alternations of fear and of hope that followed, the steadfast purpose that did not change, the noise at last, crash after crash, as the rebellion fell, and ringing over all the mighty sound of triumph for Liberty and Union, proved to be inseparable, and both made certain to abide,-all these are hardly yet as of yesterday.
The names of the brave men who went forth from among us are here given, as they stand upon the Records of the Town .*
Date Enlistment. June,
1861. 66
Name. J. Dickinson Allis. Alonzo H. Warren. Welcome F. Conc. Wm. H. Adams. Horace W. Graves. E. G. Hayden.
Reg. Mass. 10th. 16
66
Remarks. Died in service Jan. 5, '63. Killed in battle May, '64.
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John P. Clark. Edward R. Gardner.
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Wagoner. Discharged on account of sickness, 1861. Re-enlisted in 1864. Killed at battle of Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862.
* This list was furnished by II. W. Billings, Esq., Clerk of the town.
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Date Enlistment. 1861. 16
F. E. Hartwell. Alonzo Bates.
Reg. Mass. 10th. 66
Remarks. - Re-enlisted '64, 37th Reg. Wd. in bat. before Rich- mond, 1862. Dis. Jan. 15, 1803.
W. Rollin Smith.
Henry Bowman.
Geo. F. Arms.
Henry C. Allen.
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€
66
Hiram A. Gray.
Orrin D. Remington.
Gco. W. Flagg.
Promoted to 2d Lt. Re- enlisted 1864.
Tyler Harding. Henry J. Wilder.
Chas. M. Smitlı.
Baxter Harding.
Eliphalet L. Hall.
Albion F. Hubbard.
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66
66
Ang. 1861.
Francis A. Clary.
Mass. 31st.
66
Re-enlisted 1804. Died April 24, 1865.
Sylvester M. Ware. Adelbert Bailey.
66
Chas. F. Wright.
G. H. Johnson.
C. Geo. Wells.
S. H. Dyer.
Win. C. Maynard. 66
Liberty Burnett.
Edward Metivier.
James Johnson. Jolm Island.
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Re-enlisted 1864. 66 1864.
Patrick Hayes.
1864.
Fred. D. Howland.
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66 66
S. R. Walker. James F. Hunter.
.€
John White.
Geo. W. Dinsmore.
John Lannigar.
5th N. Y. Cav. Died pris. at Belle Island, March, 1804. Killed at Hanover, Pa., June 30, 1863.
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Fred. Wrigley.
2d N. Y. Infy. Killed at Battle Antietam. Conn. Reg. Mass. 38th. Dis. 1863. Re-enlisted. Died Nov. 10, 1802. 34th.
Dis. Dec. '62. Disability. Jan. 1804.
July,
1862.
Patrick Gallivan. Geo. H. Smith. J. W. Smith. Wm. H. Averill. Lyman A. Bradford.
27th.
Dis. April 7 '63, disability.
37th.
Died Jan. 9, 1865. Dis. April, '63. Disability,
Sam'l Bigelow. Lucius W. Merrifield.
ت
Re-enlisted 1864. 1864. Dis. July 17'63, disability. Re-enlisted 1864. 1864.
Sept. 5, 1864. Aug. 1861.
.
July,
1862.
Chas. Richardson. Silas N. Peterson. Ira N. Hitchcock. Peter Hackett. " enlisted in
2d Cav. 34th.
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Died in serv. June 19, '63.
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Geo. Austin Abell. Henry A. Stearns. John W. Jackson. Elias F. Bradford. E. A. Burnham.
Sam'l Ware.
Died at Andersonville, Ga., Sept. 1864. Killed at Port Hudson, La., June 14, 1863.
John W. Goland.
Pliny F. Nims.
Re-enlisted. Died of w'ds rec'd in bat. July 31'64. Pris. at Andersonville, Ga. Escaped Oct. 9, 1864.
July, 1862.
Name.
1861. Aug. 1861. ¥
Dis. on acc't of sickn's, 62. Re-enlisted Nov. 1863, in Mass. 34th Reg.
Mass. 20th. Mass. 1st Cav.
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1861.
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Date Enlistment.1 1862. Fred. E. Rowe.
Name.
Reg. -
Mass. 37th.
Remarks. Dis. June 30, 1863, disa- bility. Dis. 1863. Disability. Taken pris. May 6, 1864. Supposed to be dead.
66 66 Killed May 5, 1864.
Jan. 1864. April 6, 66 66
June 3, 1863.
Sept. 1862.
Fred M. Patrick. Horace Hosford.
Capt. Res'nd Oct. 29, '62. Promoted Capt. 1862. 2d Lieut.
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O. P. Edgerton. Wm. Townsend, Jr.
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66
E. W. Richardson.
H. G. Scott.
66
Alonzo O. Sikes.
66
Died at Baton Rouge, La. July 10, 1863. Died at Baton Rouge, La., Feb. 11, 1:63.
Died at Baton Rouge, La., April 22, 1863.
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Wm. D. Sanderson. 66
M. S. Jenkins.
66
Henry C. Munson.
66
Patrick Manning.
Chas. E. Crittenden.
Chas. A. Holcomb.
66
William Watson.
66
66
Wilson G. Field.
66
George Sheppard.
A. Judson Andrews.
66
C. G. Townsend.
66
Nathaniel Bartlett.
Died at Baton Rouge, June, 1863.
Geo. D. Braman. Jas. S. Stebbins.
Died at Baton Rouge, La. Aug. 3, 1863.
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Henry Nye. Win. D. Allis.
Wm. H. Clapp. Marcus Howland.
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66 Came home siek and died Aug. 18, 1863. Never mustered out of service. 66 Died at Baton Rouge, La., Jan. 31, 1863.
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Oscar Richardson. Henry F. Macomber. Medad Hill.
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66
Charles Macomber.
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Of men not residents, hired to send on the quota of the Town of Conway, there were 31.
In addition to the above, five men were furnished by the state, from the colored men, enlisted in Rebel states, on the quota of this town, and their bounties paid by the town.
The quota of the town was filled as called for. On the 1st Dec. 1864, the town had a surplus of five men, above all calls, and at the close of the war a surplus of eleven.
Of commissioned officers Conway furnished five.
w.
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Otis F. Childs. E. A. Blood.
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Geo. C. Johnson. Sumner Warner. John Connelly. James H. Clapp. Horace Dill.
60 57th.
Promoted to 2d Lieut.
32d. 7th co. H. Art. Mass. 52d. 16
.
66
John W. Bradford. E. W. Hamilton. Manley Guilford.
66 66
66
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Geo. I. Crittenden.
Franklin B. Lec.
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The citizens of, the town,-though political divisions still subsisted,-were united, with only here and there an excep- tion, which I forbear to name, in the maintenance of the gov- ernment and the defence of the national life. The patriotic determination approached nearer to unanimity than even in the first great war of independence. The women of Conway are meant to be included in these general statements. They were not behind those of any part of the country in abundant labors for the soldiers in the field, or in efforts of any sort to sustain the high and steady tone of public feeling and to keep the great purpose fixed.
To complete this review of our political history lists are here given of Representatives to the General Court, and also of the Town Clerks and Treasurers. These lists, though they have been re-examined in nearly every part, were made out as far as 1844 by Capt. Childs.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1776
Cyrus Rice.
1811. John Williams.
1777.
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1811.
David Childs.
1779.
Jonathan Whitney.
1812.
Williams & Childs.
1780.
1813.
Elisha Billings.
1780.
Oliver Wetmore.
1813.
David Childs.
1781.
Lucius Allis.
1814.
Billings & Childs.
1782.
Prince Tobey.
1815.
1783.
1816.
David Childs.
1785.
66
1816.
Samuel Warren.
1786.
Robert Hamilton.
1818.
Joel Parsons.
1787.
Consider Arms.
1824.
John Arms.
1791.
William Billings.
1826.
Ira Amsden.
1792.
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66
1827.
John Arms.
1793.
66
1828.
66 Joseph Avery. ¥
1794.
66 66
1829.
1795.
Oliver Root.
1829.
Samuel Warren.
1796.
66
1830.
Charles E. Billings. 66
1798.
William Billings.
1832.
C. E. Billings.
1799.
Malachi Maynard.
1832.
Darius Stearns.
1800.
66
1833.
Billings & Stearns.
1801.
1834.
1803.
Reuben Bardwell.
1835.
C. E. Billings.
1804.
66 66
1836.
C. E. Billings.
1806.
Capt. Bannister.
1837.
Phineas Bartlett.
1807.
66
1839.
E. D. Ilamilton.
1809. John Williams.
1840.
1809. Isaac Baker.
1842.
Otis Childs. 66
1843.
1810.
John Williams,
1835.
John Arms.
1805.
1838.
Christopher Arms.
1808.
1831.
1797.
66
1821.
1788.
*
.
70.
1844. Nathaniel P. Baker.
1855. Edwin Cooley.
1846. John Clary.
1856. R. A. Coffin.
1847.
*
1850.
James S. Whitney.
1857. Wm. C. Campbell.
1851.
Otis Childs.
1861. Emory Sherman.
1852. E. Fisher Ames.
1862. Franklin Pease.
1853. James S. Whitney.
1866. Austin Rice.
From its Incorporation to the end of town representation in 1856 the town failed to send a representative in 24 years, in- cluding S years before 1776. For many years the town, and not the state, paid its representative; a circumstance which doubtless had weight in deciding the question whether to send.
TOWN CLERKS.
1767 to 1775. Consider Arms.
1842.
Otis Leach.
1776 to 1783.
Oliver Wetmore.
1843 to 1851.
James S. Whitney.
1784 to 1806.
Oliver Root.
1852 to 1854. E. F. Ames.
1807 to 1826. David Childs.
1855. Eurotas Wells.
1827 to 1836.
Elisha Billings.
1856 to 1861. Franklin Childs.
1837 to 1841.
Otis Childs.
1862 to 1867. H. W. Billings.
TOWN TREASURERS.
1767 to 1775.
Consider Arms.
1841 to 1845.
Anson Shepherd.
1776.
Elisha Amsden.
1846 to 1849.
Wm. C. Campbell.
1777 to 1783.
Benjamin Pulsifer.
1850 to 1851.
Gurdon Edgerton.
1784 to 1796.
Malachi Maynard.
1852. T. S. Dickinson.
1797 to 1799.
John Williams.
1853. Gurdon Edgerton.
1800 to 1811.
Malachi Maynard.
1854 to 1855. T. S. Dickinson.
1812 to 1815.
Elisha Billings.
1856 to 1863. tGurdon Edgerton.
1816.
Malachi Maynard.
1864 to 1867. H. W. Billings.
. 1817 to 1840.
Phineas Bartlit.
The Physicians living and practising in Conway have been as follows : Doctors Moses Hayden, Samuel Ware, ---- Kittredge, R. Wells, -Halloway, Wm. Hamilton, George Rogers, Washington Hamilton ; and E. D. Hamilton, who is now in practice. And of the homoeopathic order : Dr. H. A. Collins, Dr. Wilson; and Dr. D. T. Vining, who is still practis- ing. There have gone abroad from us, Dr. Joseph Emerson,
* At this point the "District System" was introduced, to the great injury, it is to be feared, of the smaller towns. The names that follow are of District representa- tives, residents in Conway.
t Public money failed here to be accounted for.
t
1854. E. Fisher Ames.
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son of John Emerson, and Doctors Eben Wells, Elisha Clark, Wm. Billings, Lyman Bartlett and Oliver D. Root .*
Of resident lawyers the town has had Wm. Billings, father and son ; Albert Clark, now of Independence, Iowa; and for a short time, Edward P. Burnham, now of Saco, Me. It has sent abroad a larger number. Among them are Wm. May- nard, son of Malachi, and inheritor of his father's strength, going to central New York, and not now living ; Moses Hay- den, Judge in New York, and not living ; Samuel Eliot Per- kins, Judge in Indiana ; Henry Billings, Judge In Illinois, and first Mayor of Alton ; Israel Billings, late of Hatfield ; Caleb Rice, first Mayor of Springfield; Lincoln Clark of Chicago ; Harvey Rice of Cleveland, Poet of to-day ; Charles Baker, not living ; Wm. Howland of Lynn, and Win, Whitney.
The following is a list of ministers originating in Conway. Those marked with a star are not, or are supposed to be not, now living. (Names of resident ministers already referred to in appendix.)
Of Congregationalists, Joel Baker* ; Abel B. Clary* ; Stal- ham Clary* ; Dexter Clary of Beloit, Wis. ; David Dickin- son* ; Harrison G. O. Dwight," long a missionary in Turkey ; Samuel M. Emerson," son of John Emerson, and minister in Heath ; Samuel Fisher, D. D.#, brought to Conway when a child ; Wm. Fisher,* given to Dea. John Avery ; Joseph K. Ware* and Samuel Ware*, brought to Conway when young ; Daniel Rice, D. D., removed carly to Charlemont, and gone to Indiana ; Richard S. Billings, minister in Shelburne ; Edward W. Root ; Adams Nash ; Augustine Root, Wm. F. Avery. Of Episcopalians, John Avery brother of Dea. Joseph Avery, and Merchant Huxford. Of Methodists, (Chester) Field and Increase B. Bigelow. Of Baptists, Foster Hartwell, and prob- ably others. Of Unitarians, Luther Hamilton. And of Uni- versalists, W. Wilcox and Otis W. Bacon.
* I am far from regarding this enumeration of men who have entered the learned professions from Conway as complete. There may even be omissions of conspicu- ous names. It is a matter depending in much on accidental recollection, or forgetfulness. There may also possibly be errors other than those of omission. As to deaths, especially I am without full information.
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Passing out of these professions, the remarkable men of Conway are so numerous as to be beyond reckoning .*
I am, however, able to give a list of conflagrations, which I hope will be found to include nearly or quite all that have occurred. We are indebted again to Capt. Childs for a part. Dwelling houses have been burned belonging to the following persons : Nathaniel Marble, Heman Hitchcock, Luther Boy- den, Consider Bond, Samuel Ware, Zelotus Bates, Josiah Hal- loway, Sally Murphy, S. P. Sherman; and the boarding house of Tucker & Cook. Other buildings burned have been Tucker & Jones' store. two grist mills, both on the site of the present mill, Christopher Arms' shop, Levi Gunn's blacksmith shop, David Newhall's shop, Jerry Severance's blacksmith shop, Aaron Colton's blacksmith shop, three school houses, the academy building, Edwin Burke's first woolen mill, the Con way tool shop, L. B. Wright's cotton mill, and the old fulling oil, wool and cotton mill near the post office.
There are sixteen farms that are still occupied by the de- scendants of the first owners and occupants. Igive the names . in the family down to the present owner. The farm of Jonas Rice, Joel, Calvin, Joel; of Josiah Boyden, Josiah, Josiah, (owned and tilled, but not lived on) ; of John Wing; (owned but not lived on by him), Isaiah, Lucius B .; of Con- sider Arms, in Hoosac (not lived on by him), Henry, Consider; of Israel Rice, Joseph, Austin ; of Theophilus Page, Levi, ' Elijah ; of Timothy Thwing, where the venerable Amariah, his son, still lives; of Samuel Newhall, James, Austin, Joseph ; of Jabez Newhall, Bethia, wife of Daniel Rice, Ro- dolphus; of Solomon Field, Joel, Consider; of Isaac Amsden, Ira, Minerva, wife of Walter Guildford ; of Consider Arms, John, Elijah ; of Richard Collins, (but not kept uninterruptedly
* I am not able to give a list of college graduates, nor to speak of the Conway men, six or seven in number, who have been Instructors in Colleges. As to the enumeration of natives of our town who have proved eminently successful in various departments of business, it would have been too difficult to tell where the long column should end. Of civil engineers, Joseph Avery, son of Dea. Joseph, and not now living, is entitled to mention as having gained distinction. Chester Harding, the Painter, was born in Conway ; but no more, and the town has no further claim upon him.
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in the family,) Erastus, Hiram ; of Malachi Maynard, occupied by Zelotus Bates, husband of his late daughter, Lydia, and by his daughter Lucy; of Abel Dinsmore, John, Alvan ; and of Lucius Allis, Solomon, John. Three or four more might be added by counting those who, though perhaps the first clear- ers and tillers of their farms, were not early either in occupy- ing or owning them.
Few even of the families of the children are where their fathers were. From these and from all the ancient places the fathers and the mothers themselves have long since passed. Of the second generation there remain with us a few, a num- ber too quickly counted, and too soon to fail from counting. In the third rank are our elder men and women, looking toward the 'declivity of life. We of middle age are in the fourth. They of the fifth and sixth generations are coming swiftly on and will soon occupy alone, in their brief possession, these seats of the fathers. The moral lessons that belong to the occasion, and the higher reflections it may suggest, are appropriately left to be brought before us to-day by another of the sons of Conway. Here its history ends. Our town has given to those who have lived here before us her fresh air, her clear springs and streams of water and her hearty soil. She has set their homes on her pleasant hills, and has kept them in plenty and in peace. She has furnished for them the opportuni- ties of knowledge ; she has called them to the duties and com- forts and hopes of the christian religion ; and she has taken them, when their course of nature failed, to their last earthly rest within her bosom. Upon those who will come after us she will bestow the same, and, we may hope, enlarging boun- ties of the present life ; and she will set before them with in- creasing care, we may confidently think, the light of that same precious faith which may bring both them and us to the land that does not change the generations of its people, and from whose established homes the blessed inhabitants "go no more out forever."
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