USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Danvers > Centennial celebration at Danvers, Mass., June 16, 1852 > Part 7
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The people's rights, must meet the people's wrath. BITS, freeborn spirits will not long endure, Tho' golden bribes strew thick the prescrib'd path ; Th' elected, who, to principles shall prove False, will not long retain th' electors' love ; Unless corrupted all the people be, Scorn must pursue the guilt of treachery, Nor cease pursuit, until, beneath a mound Of infamy, the traitor's corpse be bound ; The higher his great intellect may soar, Deeper he sinks, despised and hated more. So falls New England's once most honored son, The talented high-tory Hutchinson ;
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So Arnold falls. Other bright names I see Paling their glory,-false to Liberty ! Brighter by contrast, Freedom's martyrs rise And shine as stars forever in the skies.
Inur'd to war, and all its dire alarms, They worship, work and sleep upon their arms. Their foes to meet, in parley or in fray, To treat or fight, at all times ready they ; Believing God would all their efforts bless, Their deeds are mighty, and crown'd with success ; Wide-spreading as prophetic eye can see, Grows, GROWS the Empire of the Rich and Free.
In all the wondrous movements I have named, For Danvers' sons an ample share is claimed First to resist their king in arms ;- lo, they Frighten his troops from their good town away. And when a second visit they propose, In arms, they Leslie at North Bridge oppose,- Beyond their borders meet the coming foes ; And when, upon that memorable day, When blood first flow'd in fratricidal fray At Lexington, among the first to meet And harass Britain's troops, on their retreat, Were Danvers boys ; who sixteen miles had run To strike for freedom : and 'twas bravely done. But of their number, seven never more Will fight their country's battles. In their gore Their bodies sleep,-their deathless spirits live, A sterner impulse to the war to give. In a momentous cause,-first sacrifice,- Their fame and influence with that cause shall rise And spread, till tyranny shall die, And all mankind enjoy true liberty. On ev'ry field where victory was won, The sons of Danvers stood by Washington,- In action and in suffering bravely bore Their part, until, the bloody struggle o'er, They home returned, to win, by arts of peace, Respect and honor, dignity and ease.
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Danvers, perhaps, will long more noted be For thrift, strong arms, stout hearts, and industry, Than for distinguished geniuses, who there First see the light,-first breathe the vital air ; Or for distinguished literary men, Who move the world by power of tongue or pen. Yet not entirely destitute of these.
For artists, there the eye prophetic secs, Of whom their native town may proudly boast, Smith, Nichols, Poole. Of poets too a host, Whose gems not less effulgent are, I ween, Because they shine by the great world unseen. Nor shall the least of these miss his reward Because Fame's book may not his name record ; The orgasm and th' afflatus are his own, Although the pleasure be enjoyed alone !
*
One hundred sixty years pass quickly by, And a grand pageant meets the gladdened eye. Danvers a town a century complete, Her sons and daughters all have met to greet Their mother on her birth-day, hear her story, Count up her jewels and exalt her glory. Each form of costume of that hundred years Again upon some living bust appears ; And living beauties walk the streets arrayed In bridal robes for great-great-grandmas made. :
The ancient and the modern, side by side, Together walk, or in procession ride. The Arts and Artizans, in grand array, A cent'ry's changes and improvements show. The Fire department makes a great display, And sixteen Public Schools a grand tableaux. There fifteen hundred " buds of promise" greet Admiring thousands ranged along the street. . Five bands of martial music fill the air With melodies sweet, racy, rich and rare. Flags, pennons, wreaths of evergreen and flowers, O'erarch the streets and decorate car-bowers,
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'Neath which some scene of other days is shown,- Some ancient fête to modern eyes made known ; Some olden workshop with its clumsy tools. Thus in strong contrast placed the old and new,- Modern and ancient teachers with their schools ; Ancient and modern witchcraft-workers too.
Now to the church the multitude repair, There listen to oration, hymns and prayer. Proud may I be, for I distinctly hear The voice of my descendant, loud and clear, Defending me, and dealing stunning blows On Cotton Mather, in heroic prose ! Now to the children's tent, a lovely show, The gaily-costumed, happy children go ;
There drink iced water, eat fruit, pie or cake, Listen to cheering homilies,-partake Of all the joys of this great jubilee, By them the longest to remembered be. Next to a mammoth tent,-the festive board, With an abundance of good dishes stored, Moves the procession, and, all seated there, Discuss the viands, and delighted share
The mental treat, which they, by speech and song, And music, to the sunset-hour prolong. No wine is used or needed,-water, now, Is all the wine that best carousals know,
. And festive scenes no longer end in rows, Or friends at parting bid farewell with blows. And for this great reform much praise is due To sons of Danvers, who, to duty true, Have bravely battled in the Temp'rance cause, By precept and th' enforcement of good laws.
XVI. *
John Putnam and his sons before us stand, -- A host to people and defend the land. Methinks I see the reverend patriarch now, Prophetic fire is burning on his brow.
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He sees, as other seers sec, Dimly, his great posterity. Out from his loins agoing forth To east, to west, to south, to north, In strength and beauty lands to till ;- To exercise mechanic skill ;- Shine in the senate,-bravely wield Their weapons on the battle field ;- Benches of justice fill with fame, In pulpits win a rev'rend name ; In med'cine and its kindred arts To act right skilfully their parts,- In commerce, on the mighty deep,- Command her ships, her treasures keep. In short, wherever enterprise Seeks wealth or wisdom, Putnams rise ; Among competitors contend
For honors, wealth, or man's chief end. Here now flowers, leaves, and fruit we see Abundant on the Putnam tree ; And so prehensile are its branches grown, They make the fruit of other trees their own. Yes, circulating now through Putnam veins, Is all the blood of Holten that remains. And yet my muse would not presume to say, To other stocks it does no tribute pay. Indeed, it has been known to soften Flint, To harden into Stone, and by the dint Of vital chemistry to give Goodale A spicy flavor, and on Towns entail A host to be supported. Turn to Page, And write its history on the passing age ; Or change to Cole, to Black, to White, To Brown, to Green, or glad the house of Knight. And to it humbler names may doubtless trace Some great improvement in their lineal race. Rich Putnam blood is in the market still, Look round, young friends, and purchase it who will !
Next to the Putnam, lo, the Osborn tree Lifts high its branches, spreads its foliage free.
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Deep-rooted in the soil of Danvers,-long, Long may it grow, more graceful, branching, strong. In every public deed, or town affair, Osborns have figured in for a full share. To acts of which we now most proudly feel, They gave their labor, set their hands' seal,- For the good things around us clustering now, Much we to them and others like them owe. But 'tis, perhaps, impossible to say, Of many Osborns, which one, on this day, Deserves our highest eulogy ; for none Is high above his fellows seen alone.
XVII.
Of Danvers-born, no one in lucky hour, Ere reached so high a pinnacle of power, As Doctor Holten. None so long and well His country served. Of none our annals tell So rich a story ; none has carved his name So high upon the monument of Fame. 'Twas not so much to a superior mind, As 'twas to manners affable and kind,- A heart from which the milk of kindness gushed, A love, which all the evil passions hushed,- A reverence for religion, and the laws Of liberty, fraternity,-because He made all others in his presence feel Themselves respected and respectable ;- Because he seemed to all their frailties blind, To love and rev'rence all of human kind,- That we ascribe his honors. Such a life Of quiet glory in an age of strife,- The peaceable supporter of a host, Whose daring battles are our country's boast, Is worth our study. Eloquence profound, Persuasive, silent, in which thoughts abound, Although unspoken,-eloquence of looks Was his. Of wisdom he lived many books, But none he wrote ; nor has he left behind A printed picture of his active mind.
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He no descendants left his name to bear. Where are our Holtens ? Echo answers, where ?
Here let us pause, and one short moment dwell Upon the honored name of John Kettell ; A father of the town,-a father too Of the shoe manufacture,-music's son,- The village chorister,-to nature true
He touched a chord in others' hearts, that won Applause and honor. He left sons, but they Shone bright a little while, then passed away. And of their children only one remains, To whom the sire's cognomen still pertains. Cases like these prove the old saying true, " Shadows we are and shadows we pursue." The like of us, perhaps, may soon be said, All our most cherished hopes and longings dead !
Of Captain Page much might be said in praise, The patriot-valor of his early days,- His industry and enterprise,-a life With all domestic, social virtues rife ; So full of deeds by every heart approved, Can be remembered only to be loved.
Of Caleb Oakes, it may be truly said, No better man lies with our honored dead. A widow's son,-sole architect was he Of his own fortune, character and fame. As the reward of honest industry, To him, unsought, wealth and its influence came : And these were valued only for the power They gave, to aid some useful enterprise,-
To save from want and sin the suff'ring poor, Or say, to downcast and despairing souls, ' Arise,
' Battle again for all the goods of life,
' Up boldly ! be a hero in the strife.' He of religion no profession made, But liv'd the thing, and gave material aid Its ministrations to extend, where'er They needed were to edify and cheer ;
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Without regard to Shibboleths of sect, Treating all modes of faith with due respect.
His Son, a genius rare, eccentric,-blest Or cursed with nerves, which never let him rest ; But urged him onward with resistless force, In a high moral, scientific course.
Lover of Nature, in her every phase, She veiled no beauties from his searching gaze. Air, ocean, carth, with teeming wonders fraught, Rich treasures to his mind unceasing brought, Alike the winter stern, or blushing spring,- The summer's heat, or autumn's offering ; Long as New England's Flora clothes her fields, Or the White Mountains choicest blossoms yields ; Or the Idæan vine its berries bear,*
Or robes of gold our hills in July wear ; Long as, on ocean's strand, the pearly shells Reveal the depths, where unseen beauty dwells ;- So long shall William Oakes' remembered name Honor his birthplace by his world-wide fame.
The Flints, surcharged with manhood's 'lectric fire, Have done good service to the state and town,- Struck the hot spark, and bid the flame aspire, Which burnt the cords, which bound us to the crown Of England,-gave us courage to be free, To struggle for and win our Liberty, For this, a Flint pour'd out his precious blood, Which went to swell Stillwater's crimson'd flood. Nor will we fail another Flint to name, Who, as shipmaster, won both wealth and fame ;
* An allusion to his discovery of the Vaccinium Vitis Idæa in Danvers, a rare plant in Massachusetts.
A letter from the White Mountains, the present season, notices Wm. Oakes as follows :- " One of the most singular and mysterious spectacles is Grand Gulf, or, as it is now called, Oakes' Gulf. It is named for the late William Oakes, the Botanist. Wherever a rare flower blossoms in the whole range of this mountainous country, from Alton Bay to Cherry Pond and Israel's River, the name of Wm. Oakes is familiarly spoken. His old guide showed me where he used to collect his mosses and lichens, and all his Alpine specimens of plants, in preparing a Flora of Alpine species-specimens so intrinsically valuable to his own exhaustless thirst for botanical discoveries, which were no · where else to be found in any place nearer than Greenland."
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Who, being captur'd by French picaroon, Retook his ship, and brought her home alone ;- In later life bade farewell to the seas, And spent his days in dignity and ease, With dearest objects, and affections warm, Within the bounds of his lov'd, well-till'd farm. Or as a legislator, neighbor, friend, His life devoted to life's noblest end,- An end, which peace and consolation brings To dying men, and peacefully he died,- Leaving his blood to run in veins of Kings, Extinct and lost to every name beside.
The name of Felton, too, by many here, In reminiscence must be held most dear. One, our Town Clerk for twenty-eight full years, A Selectman as long,-and for fifteen, A Representative,-among compeers Highly respected, must have been, I ween, Worthy a place in our centennial song, Worthy a place in hearts, that well him knew,
For friends ne'er met him but he kept them long. For his was humor, wit, and wisdom too. His manners gentle, his affections strong, In Nature's quiet gifts surpassed by few.
XVIII.
To paint the elder or the younger Shove, As seen in life among us, is above My skill artistic ; much, yes, much I fear My charcoal sketch preposterous appear. The elder sits, as oft he sat of yore, Upon the step or threshold of his door, Watching each stranger passing through the street ; Whom he with nod or fitting phrase would greet : " How art thou, friend ? Methinks I've seen thy face Somewhere before, but can't recall the place- Where from ?" " From Leicester." "Leicester ? let me see. I know some people there,-one Magery."
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" Yes, sir, I know him well." "How does he speed In business now ?" " I do not know, indeed ;- Some say he's getting rich, and others say, They guess he'll fail yet, some unlucky day." " Well, if he fails, I think my debt secure ; If not, I know well how to make it sure. What brings thee hither ? some old friends to see ? Or other business ? May be, I might be Of service to thee." " Paper, sir, I sell." " I'd like to see thy paper, friend, right well." " Here, look at this,-'tis twenty cents a quire. A discount by the ream,-the price was higher ; "Tis foolscap, the best quality, trimm'd neat." " Yes, yes-but I prefer a wider sheet, So that in one straight line write this I may, For received value, promise I to pay Squires Shove-yet, I will try to make it do, If thee'll take leather for a ream or two."
" I want no leather." " Well, then, thee may go ;- Thee lives in Leicester-Leicester, let me see, What party rules there ?" "Pure democracy." " Calls thee that stinking party, pure ? Farewell- The next election we will whip thee well." Here comes a man whose note has long been due, Who gladly would have shunn'd this interview, But dared not do it. " Well, friend, come to pay That little note ?" " I cannot, sir, to-day." " I'm sorry for thee. What the plague dost thou Do with thy money ? Can thee tell me how Thee spends it ?" " "Tis but little money that I get, I've made some losses, been unfortunate ; Money comes slow to single-handed labor : Oh, how I wish ten thousand dollars mine." " I wish they were, I'd like to be thy neighbor." A great debater he in politics ;- Could meet and foil an adversary's tricks By tactics most peculiarly his own. He couch'd severest satire in a tone So mild, that words of harshest import were But the melodious whisperings of air.
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Once, overmatched by him in argument, A kid-glove politician, to affront Him, said, " You are a tanner, I believe,"- " Y-e-s-but can curry, too, as you perceive." As a friend faithful, as a neighbor kind, Parent indulgent, in charities behind None of his times. His garb, sectarian, sat Loosely about him, and his broad-brimm'd hat Assum'd a figure, which the more precise Might deem discordant with the Quaker guise.
Such was the father, but his nobler Son, Who higher honors, but less money won,- Whose service, purse, great heart, and faithful hand, Were ever at a needy friend's command ; Of social life, the ornament and soul,- A man, indeed, in every station whole ;- How shall I paint him ? Wise, astute, sincere, And yet not faultless. Who is faultless here ? Frailties he may have had,-a little pride,- " But e'en his failings leaned to virtue's side ;" -- A manly beauty his, in form and face,- Most winning in his manners, full of grace,- In all his movements, gentleness and love Mark'd the demeanor of the younger Shove .*
XIX.
A jocose set of worthy men, In good old times, at Skelton's Neck Were ready for a frolic when- Ever to fun they could direct Their joint observance. Captain Page, A Pindar, Fowler, Cheever, and Others who were their peers in age Always right ready to engage In every good word, work, or sport ;- The fathers they of Danvers-port.
Hon. Jonathan Shove, who died Sept. 4, 1847, aged 54, in the meridian of life and usefulness, universally lamented.
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Long, long may their descendants be Worthy their names and ancestry. Here, too, th' eccentric Skidmore dwelt, Whose ready wit, keen, unrefined, Was sure to hit its mark, be felt, And leave its tickling sting behind. A true comedian genius, who, Had he been trained to walk the stage, With habits all comedian too, He'd been the Matthews of his age.
His power is not exhausted yet, For often, now, the laugh will rise Excited by old Skidmore's wit, Recited from old memories. A patriot, too, his drum he beat In three wars at his country's call. Beating the onset, not retreat, He came victorious out of all. 1
XX.
Among the living,-and long may he live T' acquire the means most lib'rally to give Impulse to objects noble as his soul, And to exert o'er great events control Such as is given but to very few Of human kind,-is one we knew, A native Danvers school-boy,-need I name GEORGE PEABODY, a London banker ;- fame, Wealth, power are his,-yet, lov'd and honor'd more For just discrimination in the use And application of his ample store,
Than for its vastness. Gather and diffuse- His motto. Unto him, we trust, 'tis given To show how rich men may get into heaven.
*
Here in our midst we have our honored Poor, And Blacks, that often are preferr'd before The Whites. Although good democrats we are, Kings, Princes, Lords, our civic honors share.
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Of Kings, with deep emotion one I name, Dear, dear to ev'ry heart his worth and fame, Daniel P. King,-who now among us here Does not to grace this jubilee appear. Though we as yct can hardly realize His spirit gone to mansions in the skies, Ne'er to return to earth,-to longer fill The place assigned him by the people's will. To him, this day, no monument we raise,- Silence and tears now best express our praise. The recent lost shall long remembered be, And better eulogized next century !
Next century ! O'erwhelming thought ! O where Shall all be then, who now are active here ? And what will Danvers be ?- a city ?- or A town destroyed by earthquake, vice, or war ?- God only knows. Enough for us to know That virtue leads to peace, and vice to woe,- That sloth and dissipation steal away A people's strength, and bring on sure decay,- While industry, sobriety and lore, Save and augment, of all good things, the store.
Let every generation strive to be Greater and better than their fathers were ; So make and educate posterity,
That they more nobly live-more bravely dare- Shrink from no duty-fear no tyrant's nod- And offer purer worship to their God. So shall improvement in all useful arts,- In whatsoe'er to human souls imparts Wisdom, strength, beauty,-onward, upward move, Till all be rapt in everlasting love.
Sehen " Skillaben
DANVERS CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
THE One Hundredth Anniversary of the Separation of Danvers from Salem, and its existence as a distinct Municipal Corporation, was cele- brated by the citizens, in a spirited and patriotic manner, on Wednes- day, the 16th day of June, 1852, under the direction of a committee of arrangements, appointed by the town at a legal meeting holden at Granite Hall on Monday, the 22d day of September, 1851.
At this meeting, the subject of celebrating the one hundredth anni- versary of the separation of the town of Danvers from Salem being under consideration, it was
Voted, That a committee of nineteen,-five to be selected at large and one from each school district,-be chosen, with full authority to make such arrangements, and adopt such measures, in behalf of the town, as in their judgment shall be most appropriate to the occasion.
COMMITTEE AT LARGE.
FITCH POOLE,
EBENEZER HUNT,
ANDREW NICHOLS, JOHN W. PROCTOR,
Rev. MILTON P. BRAMAN.
FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
No. 1. ROBERT S. DANIELS. No. 8. SAM'L BROWN, Jr.
66 2. SAMUEL P. FOWLER. 66 9. JOSEPH BROWN.
66 3. AARON PUTNAM. 66 10. LEONARD CROSS.
66 4. ALBERT G. BRADSTREET. 66 11. FRANCIS BAKER.
" 5. NATHANIEL POPE. 66 12. MILES OSBORN.
4 6. MOSES PRESTON. 66 13. JOHN PAGE.
7. FRANCIS PHELPS. 66
14. GILBERT TAPLEY.
A sum of money, not to exceed five hundred dollars, was subse- quently voted by the town, to be applied by the committee to the objects of the proposed celebration.
The committee appointed Dr. S. A. LORD, Chief Marshal of the day, who selected for his Aids, Messrs. AUGUSTUS TOWNE and JOHN B. PEABODY.
The day was oppressively hot, but the rain of the preceding day had laid the dust, and the air was bland and clear. From an early hour in the morning, vehicles of all descriptions were pouring in from the neighboring towns, crowded with men, women and children, while each train of cars brought in its myriads ; and by the time the pro- cession began to move, the spacious avenues were lined by a moving multitude of happy people, and the windows of the dwellings radiant with beaming eyes and smiling faces.
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The route of the procession was ornamented by flags of all nations, streamers, triumphal arches, bearing inscriptions, and decorated with evergreens and flowers. The Lexington Battle Monument was hand- somely ornamented, and numerous houses displayed chaste decorations. Just at the dividing line between Salem and Danvers, a lamb was placed over the doors of W. Sutton's and F. Poole's stores on either side of the street, one representing Danvers and the other Salem. Salem asks Danvers-" How old are you my child ?" Danvers re- plies-" Only one hundred years, mamma." · Danvers asks Salem- " Will you please to come to my birthday party ?" Salem replies- " With the greatest pleasure, my dear." The streets along the route of the procession were crowded with delighted spectators, who, during the whole morning, had been pouring in from other towns to witness the celebration.
The procession was formed about 10 o'clock, and proved to be the great feature of the occasion. When put in motion it was nearly a mile and a half long, and embraced in its various divisions a most interesting, graphic, and truthful portraiture of the manners and cus- toms of their ancestors ; and by way of contrast, a representation of the progress and resources of the town at the present day.
First in order came the escort, consisting of the Salem Mechanic Light Infantry, with the Salem Brass Band, under command of Capt. White. This corps came out with full ranks, and presented a fine military appearance. The Salem Light Infantry politely furnished a color guard for the occasion.
The Danvers Fire Department next followed, a noble body of men, nearly four hundred strong, in gay uniforms, and with two full bands of music. The Chief Engineer of the Department acted as Chief Marshal, assisted by two of the Firewards as Aids, and fourteen mounted Marshals, appointed by the several companies.
JOHN V. STEVENS, Chief Marshal. STEPHEN OSBORN, Jr., EDWIN F. PUTNAM,
RN, Jr., } Aids.
Engine No. 2. MOSES CHAPMAN, CHARLES INGALS.
3. HENRY BUSHBY, Jr., ALFRED WARD.
6.6 66 4. EDWARD BLANCHARD, SAMUEL KNIGHT.
66 66 5. CHARLES A. DEARBORN, DENNISON W. OSBORN.
6. SAMUEL STAPLES, NATHAN SHAW, Jr.
66 66 7. DANIEL J. PRESTON, SAMUEL WELCH.
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66 8. ROBERT DANIELS Jr., WILLIAM SUTTON, Jr.
First in order came " General Scott," No. 2, of Tapleyville ; this company was dressed in fire hats, plaided sacks, and black pants, and mustered forty-eight, under command of Capt. Calvin Upton. Their " machine " was drawn by six black horses, and was tastefully deco- rated. Next came " Torrent " No. 3, Capt. Philip L. Osborn, forty- five men ; uniform, red shirt, white pants with black bottoms; this engine was drawn by three bay horses, and appeared to advantage. " General Putnam," No. 4, of Danvers Plains, Capt. Allen, followed ; they mustered forty men, and were attired in plaided frock and black
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pants ; they carried a banner, on which was " GENERAL PUTNAM. I NEVER SURRENDER." This engine also appeared well. Bond's Cornet Band, of Boston, came next in order. "Eagle," No. 5, Capt. W. S. Osborn, followed, and appeared with forty-three men, dressed in taste- ful and neat white jackets, trimmed with red, and black pants; their engine was drawn by four splendid cream-colored horses, and the engine was beautifully decorated. "Ocean," No. 6, of Danvers Port, Capt. Welch, came next, and had thirty-five men in the ranks, dressed in white shirts, black pants, and Kossuth hats ; this engine was drawn by two roan horses. "General Foster," No. 7, Capt. Calvin Pierce, came next, mustering thirty-one men, attired in red jackets and black pants ; this company carried a banner, splendidly painted, in front representing the great fire in the square, and on the reverse, "General Foster Engine Company, No. 7, 1849." This engine was drawn by three gray horses, and on the " tub" was a portrait of the old General, whose name the engine bears. By some misunderstanding this com- pany did not go the entire route of the procession. Next came Felton's Salem Brass Band, in a new and neat uniform. "Volunteer," No. 8, Director Littlefield, with forty-one men, followed, dressed in red jackets and black pants ; this " tub" was drawn by six black horses, and was splendidly decorated.
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