USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Spencer > Historical sketches relating to Spencer, Mass., Volume IV > Part 19
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"This is the dirtiest country I ever saw, and ought to be burned up. There are seven high walls to go through to get to the Palace. I have never seen it. We are not allowed to go any further than we have taken. After the surrender they locked the gates and we don't bother them or they us. I have no use for a Chinaman and won't live on the same street with them when I get home. Well, I must close now for this time.
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The next time I will tell you more about the Chinese, their ways of living and the country.
From your loving brother, "Gene."
"I was going to tell you about the Chinese and their ways. They never wash themselves, that is the poor class and they smell terribly, but the rich are very neat and some of them cau talk good English. They have fine vegetable gardens and we have sampled them. We have had all kinds of fresh vegetables
THOMAS MCGRATH, Son of Thomas and Mary Jane McGrath, was born in Spencer, August 27, 1875.
and for thirty miles around Pekin there is not a vegetable or a cow or a sheep. We have taken them all, and had to, to feed about 120,000 men, so you may guess what state the country is in. There will be a lot of Chinese starve this winter from the foolish move they made this summer. You ought to see the property the Boxers ruined by fire; all inside of one wall they burned in order to get at the foreigners and kill them, but they could not do it. There were not many foreigners killed after all, but there would have been if we had not got here
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just as we did. Everything is quiet here now. Once in a while we hear a shot, but we have got used to it and don't mind it now. The Japanese don't bother with them. They go out every day and if they find any guns there are some dead China- men. They hate the Chinks but love an American. I did one act of good in my life. I saved a Jap one night. He fell out from the heat and so did I and when I found him I made him come to our camp and gave him some hardtack, bacon and coffee, and then he wanted to go and find his company. I would not let him and he slept beside me all night and had his break- fast the next morning. We had to pass the Japs the next morn- ing and he found his company. That night when we campel we were with the Japs and he brought me a nice chicken all cooked, and a watermelon. It was fine I tell you, and every time I saw, or see, him now, he has something for me and the rest are just the same as he is. They like us and say Americans can fight. This is all.
"Good-bye, "From Gene."
The following lines were written after the battle of Tien- Tsin by a soldier of the 9th and copied by James Martin, who sent them to Spencer. They illustrate still further the terrible struggle for victory through which that famous regiment passed :
If I should live one hundred years, And fight one hundred fights, One battle day will stand alone From other days and nights.
When at the gates of Tientsin, Shot riddled, old and gray, Our glorious ninth and her marines In mud and water lay.
The earth was red, the walls were red, It made us sick to see The crimson curdling in the moat That soaked us to the knee.
When darkness fell, and parched with thirst, We drank the brackish flood, We knew the brimming cup we drained Was tainted too with blood.
F
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Oh! when the stirring tale is told, Remember gallant Noyes, Who dropped, a bullet in his leg, Among his soldier boys.
Crawling back along that slimy ditch, And cool as on parade, Though faint, with his first report To English Dorward made.
When Liseum fell, his last command Spurred on our weary feet; Along the flaming path of war "Keep firing, don't retreat."
We faced the rampart's blazing shells, The loop-holes spouting leads And every forward step we took Was marked with soldiers dead.
But before the smoky morning broke Our troops came marching in To plant "Old Glory" on the shrine Of God and Mandarin.
The ninth, tell all the folks at home, Have felt the maxim's jaws; But Yankee swords have saved the day And clipped the dragon's claws.
As one event after another passed the time came when the 9th was ordered back to Manila, having with the allied forces accomplished their mission to China. They served for a while in the Philippines and then their term of enlistment having expired, most of the regiment took transports for the United States, glad enough once more to turn their faces homeward. Four of the Spencer boys came directly home from San Fran- cisco. Some of the others stopped by the wayside to see friends or relatives. When the veterans of the Philippine and China wars reached Spencer the Board of Trade decided to hold a reception in honor of these soldiers and after the re- ception give them a banquet. This accordingly was done, and the following abridged account was taken from the Spencer. Leader of that week's issue :
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PATRIOTIC OUTBURST.
Reception and Banquet Tendered by Board of Trade to Return- ing Soldiers.
Philippine and China Veterans Get Welcome They Never Will Forget.
The reception and banquet to the Spencer soldiers who have just returned from the Philippines and Chinese campaigns were successful beyond the fondest dreams of the promoters of the celebrations and both meetings met with a popular ap- proval that was unanticipated by most people. One of the speakers remarked in private conversation: "Spencer always turns out well to a patriotic meeting, and I believe that it is a good thing." Well Spencer seemed to turn out unusually well Monday night and at 7.30, when the exercises were sched- uled to begin, not a vacant seat could be had in the town hall. Members of Luther Hill camp, Sons of Veterans, acted as ush- ers and seated the audience.
The Spencer brass band occupied the northeast corner of the auditorium and discoursed martial airs while the crowd was rapidly filling the seats.
When the guests of the evening and those who were to occupy seats upon the stage filed onto the platform there was a big ovation from the crowd.
In the front were Privates Thomas Donahue, Frank Plante, Treffle Bosse and Joseph Gareau, late of the Ninth regiment, which saw such hard fighting in Samar and China; Chairman of the committee, John O'Gara; Henry M. Tower. the presiding officer ; Dr. E. W. Norwood and Captain Emerson Stone; Arza Grinnell, veteran of the Mexican war; Selectmen N. C. Bryant, H. H. Capen, W. H. McDonnell, A. F. Warren; members of the G. A. R. and citizens.
John O'Gara stated the object of the meeting and the plans of the committee, and then introduced Henry M. Tower, ex-president of the Board of Trade, as chairman of the meet- ing.
"Johnny Comes Marching Home" was sung by a quartet composed of John Hosking, William Hosking, W. J. Heffernan and H. H. Beath.
The audience, it could be seen by gazing from the stage at the faces below, was in perfect sympathy with the occasion
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TREFFLE BOSSE.
MARTIN ANDREW SILK.
Born in Spencer, April 22, 1877. His parents were James and Julia Silk, who came from Ireland and settled in Spencer in 1864 Enlisted Decem- ber 7, 1899.
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and every bit of patriotic music or patriotic sentiment, set the feet to keeping time or the hands to applauding.
The Spencer Brass Band, just previous to the speeches, played a medley of patriotic airs, "Songs of the Boys in Blue." The band played it well too, under Mr. Plante's di- rection, and the enlivening air of "Tramp, Tramp," the triumphant music of "Marching Through Georgia," together with the saucy tune of "Yankee Doodle" and the inspiring strains of the national anthem put the audience at fever pitch, so that the close of the selection was marked by a great out- burst of applause and the state of mind of the audience was then just right for the reception of the speeches which fol- lowed.
In opening the exercises Mr. Tower said :
"Fellow Citizens :"
"This is an unusual occasion. Not since this hall was built, until now. has there been an opportunity for a meeting of this kind. But twice before in a hundred and twenty-five years, have similar conditions arisen, and these were furnished by the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. It therefore seems probable, that most, if not all of us, may never again witness a gathering for such a purpose.
"This is no innovation. Public meetings of like character have been held from time immemorial, and the greatest cele- brations in the world's history have been made in honor of soldiers returned from victorious wars. At such times there arises in the hearts of mankind a feeling of patriotic impulse, a spontaneous enthusiasm which demands expression, and has been common to every race and age.
"We are met, to render a just tribute of appreciation to living heroes, fresh from the fields of conflict. Young men who went from us to fight our Nation's battles, and having ful- filled their duty, completed their service, and obtained an hon. orable discharge, have returned to their kindred and friends with a record of which they as individuals, and we as citizens of Spencer, may well be proud. But not wholly on account of the returned soldiers who are present tonight, do we celebrate and bestow words of commendation, but we also include all their comrades from Spencer who have done patriotic service for the nation, since the beginning of the Spanish-American War. It may, and quite likely will be, difficult for us to reai- ize the hardships and privations these men have undergone, and the dangers they have been subjected to, since they went away. It is true, imagination may picture, and language des- cribe what their lot has been, but the full meaning can never be understood except by those who have had similar experi- ences.
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"We do, however, understand and are alive to the fact, that these men have rendered a service to our nation that is worthy of public recognition, and because of this we are pre- pared to honor them, here and now. This large and promis- cuous assembly, representing all classes and conditions, is not only a demonstration of patriotic sentiment, but a more elo- quent tribute of admiration for their deeds and achievements, than words can give. These young men, these men who vol- unteered in our stead and who became in fact our substitutes, have been seasick, and homesick, and some of them heartsick, since we last saw them. For us, under a torrid sun and on a forced march, they have suffered heat almost to the point of exhaustion and death. Day after day, they have drunk warm and brackish or alkaline water, and at times have suffered the pangs of hunger. They have many times in drenching rains perhaps, forded rivers breast high and waded long distances through marshes and almost impassible swamps in mud and mire knee deep. For us they have slowly and patiently cut their way through thorny jungles that almost defied the skill of men to penetrate. They have been obliged frequently to go to sleep on the ground with no roof over their heads but the canopy of heaven, and in a tropical land over-run with reptiles and swarming with insects. A multitude of times they have been in peril day and night from the bullet, the dagger, and other implements of warfare, in a land of a half civilized and treacherous enemy, and likely to be ambushed at any moment. They have been stricken and wasted by malarial fevers, and emaciated by dysentery in a country where death and its evi- dences stared them in the face on every side, and they have passed through all this and more, not simply for themselves, nor on acount of the nation, but just as truly, as representa- tives of the inhabitants of the town of Spencer.
"And shall we who have stayed at home and serenely fol- lowed the avocation of peace, while they have been at the front fighting and suffering in our behalf, shall we withhold words of praise and gratitude, for their deeds of bravery and self sacrifice ? No! We are here to say No! and the heart of every patriotic citizen cannot do otherwise than beat respon- sively to this sentiment.
"We have not forgotten, we cannot forget, that it was the Ninth regiment of United States Infantry, of which these young men were members, that so persistently and pluckily led the way to Pekin, to the rescue of our beleaguered legation, while all the world looked on and wondered. It was said by officers of the allied forces who witnessed their work that they all fought like devils. They did not ask to be sent to duty in the rear, but were willing to take the brunt of the battle in
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the front ranks, and as the enemy was beaten back they had the supreme satisfaction of planting the Stars and Stripes within the gates of the Chinese Imperial city, no more to be taken down until they got ready to go. Is not that an achieve- ment for a righteous purpose that is worthy the highest praise ? It is, but this, however, is not all. Our previous naval vic- tories at Manila and Santiago, coupled with this brave charge on Pekin, established in the eyes of all the nations what we had believed all along, that American sailors and soldiers are the most efficient fighting men in the world. And Spencer, we will always remember, was represented in that fight by nine of her native born sons. They helped on to victory in a battle so memorable, that the tale of it will be repeated in history, as long as civilization shall last, and we, who take a just pride in our nation's present exalted position among the nations, can- not without demeaning ourselves, fail to render a generous tribute of praise to those whose deeds have been so potent a factor in establishing our prestige.
"There are living today and present on this platform men representing soldiers of the Mexican, Civil, Philippine and China Wars, men as brave as ever shouldered a musket; men who went forth to fight for their homes and native land; men who have been tried and tested on the field of battle. Others just as brave and just as deserving died in the hospital or il the field, or have since died at home, but no words of ours can now reach their ears to tell them what we would gladly say. Therefore it is important if we have a message to say to the living that we speak it while we may. One of the most ap- propriate customs of this nation is the annual strewing with flowers the graves of our departed sailors and soldiers. And while this is most fitting, we shall do ourselves greater honor by bestowing as we have opportunity, bouquets of apprecia- tion and kind regard on the men still living who have for our country's sake counted not their lives dear unto themselves in the hour of conflict, and into whose hearts kind and sym- pathetic words will fall like a benediction. And now, on be- half of this audience, and of all who sympathize with the pur- pose of this meeting. I extend to these returned soldiers from the Philippines, a warm fraternal greeting in recognition of the service they have so well performed."
Dr. E. W. Norwood and Emerson Stone made the other addresses of the evening, after which "America" was sung by the quartet and the meeting dissolved. Many then pressed to the front to shake hands with the young soldiers. Then about 120 preceded to the Massasoit Hotel, where a banquet was had, where the usual after-dinner program of toasts and speeches was indulged in until a late hour.
BIOGRAPHY OF JOHN EDWARD BACON
BY JOSEPH W. TEMPLE.
The subject of this biography is of the fourth generation com John Bacon, who was born in 1710, the direct line being John, Daniel, Asa and Berthier, his father, who was born in Charlton, May 8, 1808.
John Edward Bacon was a native of Spencer, born July 11, 1837, at the farm-house of the late Hazary Wilson, his uncle, in the southerly part of Spencer. His mother, Cynthia Ann, was the daughter of the late Jacob Wilson, the original owner of the "Wilson Mansion," and was also born there, February 19, 1815. Berthier and Cynthia Ann were married January ?, 1835, and their children were: John Edwar 1, Linus Berthier and Arthur Berthier, the latter the only survivor of both par- ents and children.
Their home was in Charlton, "Northside," so called, where his father found employment in the tannery, owned and oc- cupied by his grandfather, Asa Bacon, until he moved to Spen- cer in 1852, to become manager of the boot manufactory of Mr. Charles E. Denny. Two years later he returned to the "North- side" and engaged in the manufacture of boots, employing several men and was the pioneer, in this line of work, in Charlton.
John Edward, during these years, was attending the dis- trict schools, as opportunity occurred, where the family re- sided and at the age of sixteen he supplemented these with two terms at Leicester academy. In 1856 the family moved to Warren, Mass., and during their residence there he attended at intervals the Quaboag seminary of that town. Later he was a member of the high school, in Spencer. These were broken opportunities, but his thirst for knowledge and being a student, naturally, he made the most of them, admirably fitting himself for the business and social positions he enjoyed in after life.
While in Warren, his father became general manager of the Warren Boot & Shoe Company, and shortly after a partner
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JOHN EDWARD BACON.
with Mr. Emory Shumway, they having purchased the works, and interests of this company. The firm name was Shumway & Bacon. This relation, however, was of short duration, as the reverses that overwhelmed the country in the business de- pression of 1857, closed this enterprise, also.
Shortly after this failure, Mr. Bacon and his son, J. Ed- ward, came to Spencer and found employment with the boot firm of Livermore & Drury. On the 3rd of August, 1857, Mr. Bacon senior died and in the early part of '58 the family moved to Spencer and this place became their permanent home.
JOHN EDWARD BACON
J. Edward continued with this firm two summers and during the winters taught school in district No. 9, of this town. Later on he entered the employ of J. Green & Company, boot manu- facturers. For a season he was engaged in the meat and pro- vision business with Mr. Asahel Lamb, but in 1865, he took up his former work, in the employ of Charles and George Watson, boot manufacturers, and also owners of a general merchandise store. This year, this firm dissolved partnership, the former retaining the factory and the latter the store. Mr. Watson now closed out the store and converted the building into a boot factory, where he continued the business, with Mr. Bacon, as
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partner, under the firm name of George Watson & Company. Mr. Watson died in 1866, and Mr. Bacon remained in the busi- ness, alone, until 1867, when, in company with Mr. I. Rich Kent of Calais, Vt., purchased the property and carried on the busi- ness under the style of Kent & Bacon, until the decease of Mr. Kent in 1875.
December 21st of this year the boot factory of Bush & Grout was destroyed by fire and their business was consolidated with that of Mr. Bacon and these arrangements continued for two years. Upon the withdrawal of Bush & Grout (to occupy their new factory), Mr. Bacon admitted Mr. Van R. Kent as partner, the firm name being J. E. Bacon & Company. In 1880, Mr. Bacon and Mr. Isaac L. Prouty purchased the Bush & Grout factory and the works of J. E. Bacon & Company were moved into it and Mr. Prouty and Mr. Myron A. Young became as- sociated with him in this factory, continuing in the same line of work. The firm was known as Bacon, Kent & Company.
January 1st, 1889, Mr. Kent withdrew from the firm and in 1893, Messrs Prouty & Young left it to become members of the Isaac Prouty Company, recently formed. From this date un- til the decease of Mr. Bacon, he remained alone in business un- der the firm name of J. E. Bacon & Company.
Mr. Bacon was naturally a business man, devoting his time and talents to his work in hand, with untiring energy. So close, indeed, did he apply himself, that at times his family and immediate friends grew anxious lest his devotion to it should sooner or later, affect his health. Work, however, was a pre- dominating characteristic and he gave little heed to their fre- quent warnings, observing but short seasons of rest, or recrea- tion and these very limited. Starting in life with a cheerful disposition and robust in health, he felt he was equal to almost any business emergency, but before reaching three score years it was in evidence that he was taxing his powers of endurance to such an extent, that serious results must follow in the near future unless the advice of friends was heeded. These fore- bodings were, however, too soon realized, and he passed away February 4, 1898. Not ambitious to become a leader, but al- ways ready to lend a hand in any work or movement that was honorable and above suspicions. These qualities were recog- nized by his fellow citizens, generally, but nowhere were they more fully appreciated, perhaps, and his individuality more clearly marked, than in the church of Our Father and parish, of which he was an influential member.
Born and reared under the teachings of this sect (Univer- salist), he entered into the work of reorganization of this so-
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JOHN EDWARD BACON.
ciety in 1881, with zest and to his efforts is largely due the suc- cessful establishment of it and the erecting of the new church edifice, which was dedicated October 15,-1883.
Mr. Bacon was an amateur in music and took particular interest in the choir of this church, which was under his di- rection and management until within a short time of his de- cease. Mrs. Bacon being a soprano singer of much merit co- operated with him in this work and proved a faithful and valu- able assistant. Mr. Bacon used his voice in song on social and public occasions, in connection with a quartet of male voices, >f which he was a member for many years.
He was positive in his utterance and if convinced a sub- ject or question under discussion required a negative reply, he said No! with emphasis. He had the courage of his convic- tions and always expressed himself in accordance with their promptings. Just here, as an illustration of this trait in his character, is a story of his childhood when two and one-half years of age. He had committed a childish act, his mother thought wrong, and asked him if he was not sorry. He an- swered, promptly, "No!" She repeated the question and again he said, "No!" "Is it not a pity," she said, and he re- plied "Yes." Then she began to chastise him and while do- ing so, would ask him if he was not sorry, but always getting the same reply, No! Finally, the grandfather, who had been a silent witness to the proceedings, says: "Ann, I think you have punished him enough, to make him tell a lie and I guess you had better stop."
While this childish episode is not a remarkable event, yet those familiar with the life and habits of Mr. Bacon, will recog- nize a prominent characteristic, as it was his custom to use those monosyllables in a way that admitted of no doubt, as to the meaning he wished to convey. It marked that sterling quality in a man which helps make his word as good as his bond.
He was an honored member and treasurer of the local Ma- sonic body; had been director in the Spencer National Bank; trustee in the Spencer Savings Bank; selectman, assessor and member of the school board for years; was legislator in the winter of 1893-4, and was chairman of the committee on agri- culture. Was Republican in politics, but not a leader; on the contrary, he belonged to that class of citizens who control events by their force of character and shape public opinion by their own lives of unimpeached integrity.
jie married Mary Jane Hersey. daughter of the late Nathan Hersey, January 1. 1867, and by this union two children were born, viz. Linus H. and William E. The widow and these children survive him
1
BIOGRAPHY OF NATHAN HERSEY
BY JOSEPH W. TEMPLE.
Nathan Hersey was the oldest son of Elijah Jr., and Mar- tha Brownell Hersey, and was born in Leicester, January 11. 1809. The family consisted of one daughter and three sons, viz: Eliza, Nathan, Martin and Thomas.
Elijah Jr., early became a resident of Spencer and lived in the dwelling once standing on the farm now owned and occu- pied by William H. Sibley, where he died at the ripe old age of one hundred years. His wife died at the age of ninety-seven years, six months. The Hersey family were of English an- cestry and the original William Hersey came to this country in 1635 and settled in Hingham, Mass. The line of descent was: Elijah, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, Elijah Jr., Joshua, William and William Jr. The sons of Elijah Jr., were strong, massive men, measuring six feet, or more in height, with an average weight of 190 pounds.
Nathan Hersey received his early education at the common schools in Leicester, which in those days were necessarily primi- tive, but later on this was supplemented by one or more terms at Leicester academy. His early life, consisted of the routine work of the farmer of those times, but later he became exten- sively engaged in the lumber business, buying large tracts of lumber, with or without land, as the opportunity afforded.
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