USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Westhampton > Memorial of the reunion of the natives of Westhampton, Mass., September 5, 1866 > Part 8
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WESTHAMPTON, SEPTEMBER 5. 1866.
The subscriber, a resident of Waltham. Mass., but a native of Westhampton. being present at the Reunion of the Natives of the town, held this day, and wishing to leave behind him some testimonial of his interest in the place of his nativity,
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and particularly in the Centre School of the town, where he learned the rudiments of his English education-of his debt of gratitude to the same, and of his sense of the high importance of correct reading and spelling as the basis of all thorough literary attainments, herewith presents to the town the sum of One Hundred and Thirty Dollars, under the conditions and for the purpose hereinafter mentioned, to wit:
1. The fund shall be called the CLARKE SCHOLARSHIP, and the interest or pro- ceeds of which shall be annually given to the best reader and speller, of either sex, in the Senior Class of the Centre School, at the close of the winter term; Provided, however, that the prize shall not be awarded twice to the same individual.
2. Mr. Asa Parsons, for several years my respected instructor in that school, and the Selectmen of the town, for the time being, are hereby appointed Trustees of the fund.
3. The Trustees shall invest the same in the capital stock of one of the National Banks in Northampton, and if the amount is insufficient to purchase a share in said Bank Stock, the subscriber will pay the balance.
4. The interest or dividends which may accrue annually from this investment, shall be annually collected by the Trustees and paid over to the School Committee of the town, for the time being, to be by that Committee or the Superintendent of the Schools, given to the best reader and speller in the Senior Class of the school, as above specified. .
5. The School Committee of the town, or either of them, together with the Su- perintendent of the Schools for the time being, or such other disinterested gentle- men as they may associate with themselves for the purpose, are respectfully request- ed to observe from time to time the progress of the pupils in the Senior Class of the Centre School; and at the close of every winter term, to subject that class to such practical tests in reading and spelling, as they may deem most appropriate, for the purpose of determining which pupil deserves the prize, shall make the award accordingly, and shall pay over the amount received from the Trustees to the per- son whom they shall judge to have deserved the same.
6. If for any reason the School Committee, or the persons associated with them, shall not make any award for three successive years of the interest or dividends thus appropriated, the fund shall be forfeited; and the Trustees shall convert the fund into cash, and shall pay it over, together with the interest or dividends which shall have accrued on the same, to the Treasurer of the American Board of Com- missioners for Foreign Missions, for the general purposes of that Institution.
7. The town of Westhampton is hereby respectfully desired, at their next regular town meeting, to accept the donation now given, and to cause this document to be entered at length upon the Records of the town, for the information and guidance of all concerned; but if the Town shall decline to accept it, upon the conditions and for the purpose above specified, the Trustees shall immediately pay over the same to the Treasurer of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. DORT'S CLARKE.
Rev. Calvin Clark, of Michigan, moved a vote of thanks to the citizens of the town for their kind invitation and generous hospitality. He had been absent thirty years ; had grown up in Michigan, and travelled extensively in several of the North- western States, and seen a wonderful development. But his af- fections still linger around the rocks and hills of his birth place and early associations. Nine times he had come on a pilgrim- age to the "old homestead," to visit the aged parents, brothers and sisters, and shed tears over their graves, and talk over the past. No spot on earth had so deep a hold on his sympathies. Here he first consecrated himself to Jesus Christ, and the ad- vancement of His glorious cause in the world. And while mem- ory does its duty, the past and the present will never be obliter- ated from his mind.
The motion was seconded, and unanimously adopted.
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Dr. Anson Hooker, of East Cambridge, responded to a refer- ence to his father, Dr. William Hooker, as follows :
I thank the assembly most cordially for your kind remembrance . of one who for so many years labored for your welfare. My father was for many years your sole medical adviser, and he stood unaided and alone through many serious trials of his skill and fidelity in behalf of the sick and afflicted in the town. How well he labored, your kind and hearty remembrance of him this day speaks in the highest terms of the hold he had upon your confidence and kind regards. Many here present will remember his manly, graceful figure, his affectionate recognition and kind greeting, as he went in and out among you. The presence of his cheerful countenance in the chamber of the sick, was almost as good a balm as the medicines he dispensed. His patients felt that in him they had a sympathising friend.
As a physician, he was kind, affectionate and attentive, as many here can testify. He was a close and accurate observer of diseases, and kept pace with the improvements in his pro- fession. He was an honor to his profession, a benefactor to the afflicted, and an ornament to the Christian church, walking closely in the footsteps of Him " who went about doing good," and "was meek and lowly of heart." He excelled many in what may be called the moral department of his profession. Above the petty tricks and management, which are alike unfair to the profession and delusive to the patients, he was honorable, high minded, pure hearted. IIe took a deep interest in the town and church, and was ever ready by his influence and liber- ality, to help forward any plan for their benefit and improve- ment. In this way he did much to elevate the character of the town, and to give it the reputation it has ever sustained for its high toned morality and pure religion. His religious convictions were fervent and strong, rendering his declining years peaceful, hopeful and happy to the last.
Dr. William Hooker was born at Northampton, in November, 1766 ; the son of Rev. John Hooker. He studied medicine with Dr. Ebenezer Hunt, of Northampton. In 1788 he commenced the practice of medicine in Westhampton, and continued in the pursuit of his profession until the close of 1834. After that year he relinquished practice, except to attend upon family con- nections, and in consultations. He died at Westhampton, Feb- ruary 27, 1861, in his ninety-fourth year, retaining his mental faculties, and all his senses in a remarkable degree, till near the close of his long and useful life. He died of acute disease, rather than of old age.
Rev. Luther Clapp, of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, on invitation, addressed the assembly as follows :
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Ladies and Gentlemen :- I rise in response to your call, but it is too late in the day for me to address you, after all the in- teresting speeches you have heard. It gives me unbounded pleasure to be here.
I noticed, on going into the church, one of my teachers of forty years ago, whom I never shall forget. Her name is Han- nah Burt, and I went to school to her one or two terms, in the Bridgman district. I hold in sacred remembrance all my old school teachers. Miss Burt introduced in school an innovation on the old Puritan custom of standing in prayer. She had wor- ship faithfully, morning and evening, and she required all her scholars to kneel. Those seasons of worship-the kneeling and praying-produced a lasting impression on my mind. Almost all, if not all, of those scholars united with the church in early life ; some became deacons, and some ministers. Five of the families represented in, that school sent forth ministers ; one family two ; and one a foreign missionary.
There certainly was never a better place than Westhampton to bring up children. Those of my own age in town, with hard- ly an exception, became excellent christian men and women.
To-day we call to remembrance with delight and gratitude our pastors and teachers, our parents and grandparents. It seemed to nie in my boyhood, that the town itself was as old as these everlasting hills ; and it produces now a strange feeling to reflect that the first pastor, the pastor of my grandparents before my parents were born, was for many years my pastor !
We shall go from this delightful Reunion to our homes in the. east and in the west with renewed courage and zeal, to honor and maintain the principles and practices of our forefathers.
Rev. Enos J. Montague, of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, was intro- duced, and he submitted the following remarks :
Mr. President :- This is an unusual occasion, an unusual gath- ering. It is customary for towns to hold centennial celebrations ; but this not such a celebration ; for though it is about one hun- dred years since the first settlements in this town were made, yet it was not to celebrate that event that we came together to- day. This is a Reunion. This town, having sent out into dif- ferent parts of the land many of her families, and many of her sons and daughters, and still holding them in high esteem and love, has sent them an invitation to come back and see her and each other. This is something of very unusual occurrence. It is a compliment paid by the present inhabitants of the town, to those of us who have gone to other places to form for our- selves new homes. Every town would not wish to see all her children come back again ; no town would, unless those children had acted worthily in their new spheres in life. The invitation,
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therefore, which has brought us here to-day from far distant homes, is a silent but most expressive testimony to the regard in which we are held by our native town.
But more than this. Having been permitted to be here for the past few weeks, I have seen something of the care, labor and expense connected with the preparation for this large gathering. It was no small matter to provide for so great a company. But the people have done it, and done it well. Cheerfully, liberally and abundantly have they provided for us, as indeed we all see about us and before us to day.
It seems to me, therefore, that something more than the mere vote of thanks which we have formally passed, is due to the res- idents of this town, whose guests we are. That vote should be emphasized. We who are the special recipients of this consid- eration should give to these fathers and mothers, these broth- ers and sisters, special thanks and some more marked express- ion of our gratitude to them for this memorable occasion.
As to the continued existence of this town with an American population, let us not have any fears or doubts upon that point. Yankee blood is not going to run out here. The Yankee popul- lation is not to be exterminated here. One cannot go into this church on the Sabbath and see the large number of young peo- ple in the congregation, without the conviction that this a thriving town so far as population is. concerned. There are, surely, rocks and hills here, and a hard and scanty soil ; in some respects it is a hard place to live in. But we must not think that, for such reasons, these homesteads are to be vacated and given over to a foreign race.
May heaven's best blessings ever rest on the good old town of Westhampton, and especially on those who "abide by the stuff."
Rev. Mr. Bisbee, of Worthington, Massachusetts, said :
Mr. President :- I am happy to be present to-day, and to par- ticipate in the festivities of this joyful occasion, although not a native of this place. It was not my blessed privilege to be born and nurtured in this goodly town. And yet if the theory of a distinguished writer concerning the pre-existent state is correct, I do not know but I might just as well have been born here as any where else, if I had desired it. But as it is, my better half was born here, and hence perhaps I may be regarded as a semi- native. Some one has remarked that this is a good place to go from, but you will readily understand that I have found it an excellent place to come to. It was my privilege to be well ac- quainted with those venerable men, who have already been allu- ded to as the fathers of the town. Hale, and Hooker, and Judd, and others too numerous to mention, of like spirit and charac -.
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ter, even now seem to rise up before me. I cheerfully endorse all that has been said here to-day, in praise of their worth, their character, and their salutary moral and religious influence. They were men of the true New England stamp. By their wis- com, piety and patriotism the foundation of this town was laid deep and broad, on which its noble superstructure has been reared. It has been said that New England is "the brains of this nation." To leave this out in the cold, therefore, as has been proposed, would be to separate the head-the thinking, acting power,-from the body. New England principles, piety and patriotism are the life, soul and salt of the nation. Let these become universal throughout our widely extended conn- try, and there will be no more causeless rebellions against the best government in the world, but liberty, justice, equality and fraternity will prevail throughout our nation.
The Rev. A. M. Colton, of Easthampton, being called for, responded as follows :
Mr. President :- Unfortunate myself in not having been born in Westhampton-(the President, " I am sorry for you,") so am . I; but I cannot help it; but.being called for, I will respond in a brief word. I have been listening with intense interest to what has been said about the ministers of this good old town. In my early childhood, I knew one of them, then a young man, teaching a district school, and in the evenings a singing school, in the village of my native town in northern Vermont. To that singing school went my father and his big bass-viol and small boy. Some little time afterwards, boy has a three months' con- test with Polly Dee in spelling-the medal a ninepence, perfora- ted, and pendant with a tow string. Boy beats and comes off conqueror, and grand ! and he never got any higher. Present at that examination the singing-master aforesaid, and his inten- ded. Boy never saw him afterwards, but remembered him well ; heard of his being settled as a minister in West Rutland, Ver- mont, and subsequently in Westhampton. When in June, 1840, I came to settle in this region, I resolved to take the earliest opportunity to go and see the good minister, Rev. Amos Drury, name dear to me by those early and sacred associations. But delay snatched from me the long wished-for privilege. August came, and Mr. Drury went up higher. I have ever since re- gretted my failure to see him, for I had laid the thing much to heart. But there, on that seat yonder, sits his son and repre- sentative, chairman of your committee, and right glad am I to meet him.
Much has been said, and not too much, respecting good Fa- ther Hale-his work and power in forming this people to knowl- edge and thrift, to goodness and virtue. I can well believe
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every word of it. We, neighboring ministers, happen to have learned long ago, that this people know a something and more. How could they help it? An intelligent people, given to read- ing good books-not the yellow-covered trash-scum and froth- " frogs" that " came up and covered the land of Egypt"-not these, but books that are books, substantial, solid, wholesome, good for food -- to make bones of, and good blood, and muscle, and mind. And whence this learning? The fountains were pure and sweet. Those formative influences at the start ; that early good nurture and culture-Parson Hale-his sermons weighty in thought-the training in the catechism-his labors in the schools ; his visits in the families ; the good minister in ev- ery good thing. So the testimonies to-day, by eye-witnesses, and by tradition. "The glory of children are their fathers." The good effects are visible now among this people, in the intelli- gence for which they are known and noted. You dwell apart. and this very isolation helps you. You see and hear less of whirl and din ; it is leisure for the more reading and thinking. One of your speakers to-day said that "Long Division," the Westhampton of the olden time, was once looked down upon by the river-siders as a rather inferior sort, not quite up to first- best in mind and knowledge. Did they? But who says that now, or thinks it in his heart?
· You have had a long succession of excellent ministers. Some of them I have known, and known only to love and revere. About one of these let me add a word-my noble good brother, Rev. Capt. Bissell. I well remember visiting him in 1862, that. darkest time in our late war. You should have heard him talk then ! Gentle and christian, but patriotic and full of fight. It was a fire in his bones ; no dissuasions could stop or hinder him. Two of his brothers were already in the field, and he must join them. So off he posted, stopping at my house on his way to his native home, to gain, if possible, his father's consent. By earnest pleading he prevailed. He came back, lighter of heart- told his people of his purpose-enlisted as a private-took with him the choicest of his flock-and went forth, not knowing whither. Company K and Copt. Bissell. He would have pre- ferred a Chaplaincy, but was willing to serve in any capacity. But the men early markrd him for their Captain, and to that de- cision he cheerfully submitted. And no braver man was in that regiment, or any regiment. Most worthily, as by all accounts, did he carry himself through that whole year of trials and per- ils. And what of those other Westhampton boys in blue ? Their praise was and is in the whole region round abont. Hale and hearty, resolute, untiring, never flinching-and withal in- telligent and christian-their tent prayer meeting was known and spoken of as the model one of the regiment. I say this
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from abundant testimonies. May God bless the Westhampton boys for their noble part in the great struggle !
Friends, I heartily rejoice with you all in the auspices of this joyful Reunion. As I said here the other day, so now again, All hail, Westhampton ! the Hebron, the Bethlehem, nestling in the hill sides, not least among the thousands of Judah. Abund- ant blessings on her children within her, on them that are far off and them that are near; on her sons and daughters, her young men and maidens, her old men and children.
· Rev. W. S. Coggin, of Boxford, brother of one of the for- mer pastors of the church, being requested by the chair to offer some remarks, rose and said :
I feel, Mr. President, as if it were hardly proper for me to occupy any time on this occasion, inasmuch as there are so many present, natives of this town, who have a better claim on your attention ; but as I have been so kindly invited, I will say a few words.
I think, sir, that Westhampton may well be somewhat boast- ful. I think she has reason to be proud of her children. Where will you find a town, of no larger population, that has sent forth so much talent, learning and moral worth to bless the world ? . What other town has furnished a better representation of the several professions, especially the ministerial? We are told, in the Book of Inspiration, that "the glory of children is their fathers." Is not the reverse of this also true? Is not the glory of fathers their children? Does not an intelligent and virtuous posterity reflect honor upon their ancestry? I must confess, sir, that what I have seen and heard to-day has made me almost wish that I had been born in Westhampton. And yet this wish has not been wholly created by the scenes of this day. It has long existed, and has been fostered by an acquaintance of more than twenty years. The kind attentions I have ever received, as from time to time I have visited this place, have much at- tached me to the people ; and this attachment has been especi- ally increased, as I have noticed the love they had for my de- parted brother, a love that was manifested in so many forms, and continued unwavering and unimpaired till the hour of his death ; yea, a love that even now is not quenched. O, how much better it is to weep over his death, than over his life ! As the earthly existence of even some ministers has closed in dark- ness, it certainly is a matter of rejoicing to me, as I doubt not it is to his people, that the sun of his life never shone brighter than at its going down. Although so many years have passed away, since it sank below the horizon, are not its beams still thrown back? "Being dead, does he not yet speak?" Surely the moral influence that men exert, never dies.
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There are not a few whom you would have been glad to have had with you to day ; but they were so far away, and so high above you, that no letters of invitation could reach them. They have gone to a higher and better sphere. And yet, are they not present with you in spirit? May they not be cognizant of what is here transpiring? Can you not seem to see them bending down from their high abode as interested spectators? Can you not seem to hear them speaking to you, congratulating you upon this happy occasion, and bidding you, as you separate and go to your respective homes, so to live, and so to discharge your du- ties, personal and relative, that, when you shall be sleeping in the dust, and your posterity shall meet here on a similar occa- sion, a hundred years hence, they may point to your virtues and hold up your example as worthy of their imitation ?
The President then read the following letters, apologizing for unavoidable absence from the Reunion :
NORWICH, MASS., September 5, 1866. To R. W. Clapp, one of the Westhampton Reunion Committee:
MY DEAR NEPHEW .- My health has been quite feeble of late, but I did not en- tirely relinquish the hope of being at the meeting in my native town, until this morning. Be assured that my heart will be there; and it will be my earnest prayer that those who may assemble, and those who may be prevented, may be abundant- ly blessed, and that we may have a happy Reunion in the world of glory.
Yours, very affectionately, EBENEZER BURT WRIGHT.
SALEM, SEPTEMBER 1, 1866.
Messrs. Rice and others, Committee, &c .:
GENTLEMEN .- Your circular inviting me to meet the citizens and sons of West- hampton ought to have received an earlier answer. But I have used the privilege of an invalid and have waited week after week, hoping to say I should be with you in person, and not in spirit only. As it is, I must be content to give you my word as the testimony and assurance of all that I feel and venerate in the home of my childhood and youth. It is a goodly company that rises up before me at this call of my native town, some among the living but more among the dead. I recall many whom you will meet next Wednesday, and many whom you will miss. Memory so faithful to her trust, will not let die those who have once been dear to us through the ties of friendship and kindred. I could never forget Westhampton, for besides the sacred relations that still bind me to it by living sympathies, there is sacred dust in your churchyard which hallows the very earth to mind and heart.
Could I be present at your Reunion, I should meet only a few of my early companions, the larger part having passed beyond the reach of any earthly sum- mons. But it is a joy to remember them and to recall their names and their vir- tues. Foremost among them is one who was a few years my senior, but in later life through the affinities of the same profession and the same religious faith, came very near to me, and whose memory is now among the cherished treasures of my life. Sylvester Judd holds a place in both the literature and church of New England which has given him a representative character in the history of his time. "Mar- . garet," the work by which he is most widely known, and which pictures so much of the natural scenery of Westhampton, has been fitly called the "first Yankee novel." Through and through it is an American book, genuine product of Ameri- can thoughit. Darley, with the instinct of true genius, saw how much it contained suited to the purposes of illustrative art, and has given us a companion volume of high and rare artistic merit. These two books are worthy of a place in every West- hampton home. I first read "Margaret" when living in one of our southern states in the city of Savannah, and felt that the author, then unknown to me, had seen what I had been familiar with through all my youth. I knew that the scenery and scenes represented so vividly and distinctly by him were the peculiar ravines and
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