USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Littleton > Proceedings of the Littleton Historical Society, No. 1 1894-1895 > Part 6
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"We, the subscribers, feeling desirous of affording every possible facility for the improvement of our schools, feeling the importance of personal cultivation and the general diffusion of useful knowledge, and believing these objects can be best accomplished by united and combined efforts, agree to form a Society under the name of the Littleton Lyceum."
Article I.
" Any person may become a member by paying into the treasury one dollar on admission and thirty-three cents annually. Five dollars paid at any one time shall constitute a person a life member."
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(Persons under 18, fifty cents admission, thirty-three cents annually, without the privilege of voting.) "Ladies may become members, by paying fifty cents on admission and seventeen cents annually, or life members by paying $2.50 and have the privilege of making their own By-Laws, not inconsistent with this constitution."
Article II.
"To accomplish the objects of the society there shall be pro- vided as soon as the funds will permit, the most popular and useful books on education, and an apparatus for the schools and for illus- trating the sciences."
Article V.
"The society shall hold meetings for the purpose of having Readings and Recitations for the several classes in our common schools and for Reading, Discussions, Lectures and such other exercises as the society may deem most proper for the promotion of its principal objects."
There are ten articles in all. This original constitution I find was subsequently modified as follows :
March 6, 1854. " Any person, may become a member of the Lyceum by a vote of the majority of the members present, at any legal meeting and who shall conform to such rules and regu- lations as the Lyceum may adopt from year to year, to raise funds for its support. All members over eighteen years of age are con- sidered legal voters."
November 14, 1860. "Voted to revise the constitution," and on March 4, 1861, the following was adopted:
" All persons who have purchased season tickets the current year are members." Also, the following By-Law: "The annual meeting for the choice of officers shall be holden on the first Tuesday after the last regular meeting of the Lyceum." This has been changed to the evening of the annual town meeting day. From this it will be seen that the original idea of the Lyceum
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was generous enough, to include, with slight modifications, the Lyceum as now known to us.
On December 21, 1829, the By-Laws were adopted and officers elected. Rev. Mr. White was chosen president, and as an evidence of the great debt due him for his services in the Lyceum, it may be noticed that he was chosen to this office for twenty-three consecutive years, from 1829 to 1851. On January 5, 1830, our memorable institution began its splendid career of educating and disciplining the mind, and of mutual helpfulness in a very simple way. The exercises consisted of "Parsing and criticism on grammar, and reading from the North American Review with criticism." The first lectures were given by Abel Fletcher. The subject, Astronomy. The first recorded dis- cussion February 9, 1830, on the topic, "Is the institution of Freemasonry necessary to promote virtue, support religion and maintain good government." Affirmative, Elnathan Brown, Cal- vin Foster; negative, James Colburn, Isaac W. Dow. Decided, affirmatively, on the merits of the argument. After two more meetings, February 23, 1830, the first of its sixty-five seasons closed. Such, according to the old record, is the beginning of our Lyceum. It was one of the many outgrowths of the Lyceum idea as advocated in New England at that time by Josiah Holbrook, of Boston. The Littleton Lyceum has had a continuous his- tory since its foundation. This makes it, not even the Lyceums of Concord or Salem excepted, the oldest institution of the kind in our country. I find by a careful examination of the records from the beginning that there have been annual meet- ings, elections of officers and transaction of business without a break. There is only one season where there is omission of records of literary exercises and lectures, and I find by inquiry that in that season, 1876-77, the gap may be filled up. Hon. J. D. Long gave a lecture on social statistics April 4, 1877, and another lecture was given through the efforts of Col. Harwood
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at about the same time. It is not, however, to be inferred from this that we have a complete record of all the lectures before the Lyceum. We have not. There are omissions from time to time. But we do have a record sufficiently complete to enable us to make the claim that we have an unbroken history from 1829 to 1895. Of course, under the limitations of this paper it will be impossible to give anything approaching a minute history of these sixty-five years. Many things, as to the changes in the conditions of our town life then and now, the old fashioned manners and customs, the invaluable benefits of the Lyceum in different generations, the part it has had in the intellectual life of our community must be largely left untouched. These have been set forth in a most interesting manner in the valuable pamphlet containing the material relating to the observance of our semi-centennial in 1879, especially in the history by Miss H. P. Dodge prepared for that occasion, to which I must refer you as satisfactorily meeting the unavoidable deficiencies of the pres- ent paper. But in my journeyings to and fro through these old records, I have come upon facts and items which I think will not fail to interest all those present to whom the past of our beloved town is rich in memories and inspiration. They may, perhaps, be like a bunch of chance wild flowers, but for all that will not, I hope, be deemed valueless. The first meetings began at six o'clock. Jonathan Hartwell has the honor of being our first solicitor, the first in time of a worthy company. The time of the meetings was, for many years, posted on the meeting-houses. In 1830, on November 30, December 7, December 14, the record reads, "No meetings on account of the weather and travelling." An old experience sometimes repeated in later years.
I find several references to a book that was often used as a reading book in the early meetings,-" Hall's Lectures on School Keeping." It would be an interesting volume for our Historical Society. The first lecturers were usually not paid, save with a
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gratuitous vote of thanks. February 22, 1831, Calvin Foster, " speaking on the Cherokee Indians, had but part of his notes and could not go on." (Query,-Is he the only one thus unfor- tunate ?)
December 27, 1831. Mention is made of the admission of Mrs. White, Mrs. Rice, and others, to membership.
Premiums were often awarded for the best compositions by the scholars in our schools. Ranging from two dollars to twenty- five cents and vote of thanks.
December 4, 1832. Pope's essay on man was sold to mem- bers for parsing, at six cents a copy.
March 19, 1833. A premium of sixty cents was awarded to Eliza Lapham for a composition, also of thirty cents to H. P. Dodge. (It was voted to file these with the secretary, but they are not with the records.)
March 1834. Voted to raise ten dollars for two lectures by tickets. Those under 12 years, 6} cents; over, 122 cents. Fam- ilies, more than three, 372 cents. These are among the first lectures for which money was paid.
Ten dollars and twenty-five cents was offered as premiums, 1834, for compositions on the following subjects : "Can the Indians of our country be civilized?" "Which is the surest way to eminence and distinction in our country, wealth or knowledge?" "What are the characteristics of a good school."
March 18, 1834. Voted "that a premium of twenty dollars be offered for the best written history of the town of Littleton, to be given at the close of the next session of the Lyceum." (Open to all citizens.) No record of its award.
1839. Lecture commenced by Mr. Herrick, of Groton, on "The Human Eye," broken up, (probably lecture, audience and lecturer), by an alarm of fire in Oliver Daland's house.
1840. Lecture on Phrenology and examination of the heads of a few individuals, and, rather significant, if startling, is
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the next item in view of the preceding, "Voted that members be requested to pay their annual assessment soon."
Prior to 1850, such questions as the following were dis- cussed :
"Ought imprisonment for debt to be abolished ?"
"Is it to the interest of our country that a man be eligible to the Presidency for a second term?"
"Have males or females the most influence in society?"
"Is it proper that a female be placed at the head of govern- ment?"
"Ought teachers to be responsible for the public property of their schools?"
"Has congress the right to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia?"
"Can truth be spoken at all times with propriety?"
" Are dancing and balls advantageous to youth ?"
"Does the mind always think?"
"Has the United States seen its best days?" (1843 the date of this.)
"Is it expedient, all things considered, to establish a High School in Littleton?"
1847. "Can two school districts of convenient location unite their means advantageously?"
" Has socialism any claims upon us?"
"Ought interest to be regulated by law?"
"Is not party spirit the life of independent government?"
"Whose wrongs are the greatest at our hands, the Indian or the Negro?"
March 27, 1853. Officers chosen for the first time in the spring.
December 19, 1854. R. W. Emerson lectured on "Charac- teristics of the English people." Mr. Emerson lectured subse- quently, 1857, on " Walking;" 1869, on " Fear and Courage."
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The Lyceum exercises often closed during these years with singing "Old Hundred."
December 14, 1849. A very successful tea party was given for the benefit of the Lyceum. (In arranging for this twenty- three votes were taken.)
The amount raised annually for lectures for many years was about sixty dollars.
January 19, 1857. S. Smith read a history of Littleton. (Query,-Did he claim the old premium of twenty dollars ?)
November 7, 1858. Dr. Chapin, of New York, lectured on "Orders of Nobility." He was paid fifty dollars. The largest amount, so far as I can ascertain, ever paid for a single evening.
November 14, 1860. Voted that A. P. Whitcomb be door- keeper and that he receive a salary of five dollars and honors for services.
1863-1864. One hundred and ten dollars was collected for the Lyceum.
February 16, 1869. Dio Lewis and his wife gave lectures on dressing and living. Mrs. Lewis to the ladies at Capt. Todd's house.
1869-1870. The season in which the largest sum was raised in the history of the Lyceum, $324.50-$290 by subscrip- tion and $34.50 by admission fees.
The course was made up of lectures, I judge, exclusively, and included lectures by Dr. J. O. Peck, G. B. Loring, Dr. Neill, Mr. Emerson, Mrs. Livermore and Wendell Phillips. (Phillips re- ceived thirty dollars, Mr. Emerson and Mrs. Livermore, twenty dollars each.) The officers for this season were T. S. Tuttle, Gardner Prouty, Rev. J. F. Morton; Lecture Committee, J. A. Harwood, Rev. Elihu Loomis, G. W. Sanderson.
Very successful courses of lectures were given until 1876. Several of the lecturers were of national reputation, Higginson, Whipple, T. W. Knox, Livermore, Niles, Conwell, S. F. Smith, Coffin, Cudworth, and Winship.
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In the fall of 1876, the interest in the Lyceum suddenly waned and officers were not chosen until January, 1877. This was the season already referred to, in which Ex-Governor Long lectured.
January 7, 1878. Music was furnished by Mrs. Flagg and Mrs. Tenney. The beginning of our musical entertainments so popular of late years.
In 1879, the semi-centennial was successfully commemorated. Since then there have been courses of lectures and entertain- ments of varying success. The wisdom of the return to the ticket system is evidenced by the receipts of the last four or five years and the revival of interest in the Lyceum.
January 5, 1886. The last old-fashioned debate until this season. "Resolved, that it is for the interest of the United States to maintain protection."
January 17, 1888. Frederick T. Greenhalge, (since then Governor,) lectured on " Literature and Methods of Applying it to every day Life."
January 14, 1890. The Phila May Concert Company gave the first grand concert by outside talent exclusively. The amounts raised for the courses of the last three years indicate a revival of interest in the Lyceum. 1891-1892, $167; 1892-1893, $192; 1893-1894, $157, and 1894-1895, over $200. It is a mat- ter for congratulation Mr. Chairman, that the present course has been so successful. There has been a return to some of the old features of the Lyceum, i. e., exercises by the schools, papers by members and debates. The nine evenings of entertainment and profit provided this season for one dollar surely furnished each purchaser of a season ticket with far more than the equivalent of his money.
In the record of the two hundred and fifty and more lectures given before the Lyceum, the subjects cover all departments of life and letters. Since 1845 geographical, biographical and his- torical lectures predominate.
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In biography there have been lectures on Washington, Lin- coln, Peabody, Joan of Arc, Angelo, John Brown, Webster, Thoreau, Browning, Whittier, Shaftsbury, Cromwell, Luther, Elizabeth, Josephine, Mary Stuart, and Whittier.
In travels, nearly all lands have been visited at some time during the lecture courses. Borneo, Italy, Mexico, Siberia, San Domingo, Japan, China, Armenia, Hayti, Brazil, India, Australia, etc.
Art, Science, Politics, Religion, Manners, Habits, Philosophy, Sociology, Temperance, Reform, Education, have in turn been considered.
The subjects of vital importance in current life from year to year, have been under discussion or presented by lectures.
A grouping of some peculiar lecture topics is suggestive and amusing : Zoography, Complexion of People of Color, Fear, Im- portance of Early Rising, Hypocrisy and Deceit, Witchcraft, Empyricism of the Age, Physic, Matter, The Danger of getting Rich too fast, Acres of Diamonds, The Past, Present and Future History of Our Country, Struggles, Civilized Shams, Walking, Hash, Mechanism of Breathing, Buncombe, Matrimony, Job Jr., Aerial Experiences, The Boxes that Rule the World, The Cart- ridge, The Ballot and The Band Box.
Tne Littleton Lyceum, venerable and beneficial, must be regarded as one of the established, and we trust, one of the per- manent institutions of our town. No one can consider its long career without recognizing its influence and usefulness beyond calculation upon our town in broadening the minds of its citizens, uniting them in a common purpose, in furnishing entertainments, instruction and training in character.
That we still enjoy its benefits is due to the faithful toils of public spirited citizens. It is true that we live now under vastly different conditions of life and thought than fifty years ago. It is true that the railroad, the magazine, the newspaper, and the
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library, have wrought their many and potent transformations, but there is still a place in our town for this ancient institution. There is still a work for it to do, as witness this season's course, in entertaining, uplifting and unifying our community. And shall it not be perpetuated! Granted it takes time, toil and money. But surely each year will find some of us ready to bear our part in carrying it on. Surely each year will find some who will be ready, in the words of the semi-centennial committee, "To most honor those who have preserved to us our Lyceum, by providing for its continued usefulness." Let us not forget that it is a co-operative organization. All should profit by the labors of each in turn, and even if we shall never be favored as other communities have been with gifts of funds, for our yearly courses, yet let us not shirk duty when our turn comes, but in gratitude for what our fathers have done seek, by our allegiance and fidelity, to make our descendants grateful for our toils in behalf of the Littleton Lyceum.
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LITTLETON HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
LITTLETON LYCEUM.
LECTURE TOPICS FROM 1829 TO 1860.
1829-1845.
Astron omy. Temperaments. Formation of the Earth. Moral Condition of Man. Zoology. Magnetism. Economy. Origin and Progress of Writing. Intemperance. Origin and Importance of Lyceums. Knowledge. Biography. Importance of Education. History. School-keeping. Originality in Composition. Ancient His- tory. War. Printing. Arithmetic. Free Schools. Culture. Chem- istry. Literature. The Structure of the Human Frame. National Government. Zoography. The Ocean. Complexion of People of Color. Benefit of the Lyceum. Mahomet and Christ. Physic. Heat. Aborigines of North America. The Negro Race. Fear. Existing Evils. Pleasure. The Sun and Planets. On the Seasons and Eclipses. Prejudice. Religion and Science. Anti-Slavery. The Human System. On the Secret Dangers to which a Repub- lican Government is Exposed. Pleasures of the Pursuit of Science. Female Education. Moral Dangers of the Country. The Harmony of Religion and Civil Polity. Witchcraft. Anatomy. Popery. The Evil of Exciting Emulation in School by Premium Rather Than Principle. Importance of Early Rising. The Authenticity of the Pentateuch. The Dignity of Man. Agriculture. Intellectual Science. Hypocrisy and Deceit. Music. Elocution. The Spirit of the Age. The Atmosphere. The Virtue of Integrity. Practical Education. The Human Eye. The Blessings that Distinguish Our Nation Above All Others. Duties of Parents and Teachers. Phrenology. Pompeii and Herculaneum. China. Education. The First Settlements of New England. Conversation. Education in Prussia. China and the Chinese. Popular Government. Capital Punishment. Engraving. Criminal Jurisprudence. Texas. Poland. Happiness. Insanity. Philosophy. Mohammed and the Coran. Evil of Corruption. Jerusalem. Great Britain. Mental Improvement. Oregon.
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1846-1860.
Improvement. Empyricism of the Age. The Adoption of Truth to the Reformation of the World. George Fox and the Quakers. Woman's Mission. Entomology. What constitutes a Nation's Glory. Duties and Privileges of American Citizens. Hayti. King Philip. On the Political and Commercial Interests of Great Britain. The Temple of Jerusalem. Cromwell. Zoology of the Scriptures. The Training of Children. The Irish and Irishisms. R. B. Sheridan. Socialism. The Purity of the Puritans. Self Improvement. New England Witchcraft. Origin and Progress of the Saxon Race. The West. The Rise and Fall of Popular Superstition. Martin Luther. Characters. The Sclavonic Race. The Federal Constitution. Young Men. Pompeii. Labor. Arctic Expedition of Franklin. Italy. Germany. Debt. The Norsemen. Five Requisites for a Good Edu- cation. Independence. Moral Reform. Matter. Property. Amuse- ments. Queen Elizabeth. The Fine Arts. Progress of Science. Intolerance. Josephine. The Christian Citizen. Ballad. Litera- ture. The Danger of Getting Rich Too Fast. The Practical Man. R. Burns. The Past, Present and Future History of Our Country. Liberty. Criticism. The Progress of Mankind. Struggles. Aaron Burr. Characteristics of the English. Imagination. Experi- ence. The Perpetuity of Our Government. The Follies of the Present Age. Lectures and Lecturing. Australia. Modern Prog- ress. The Life Architect. Business. Opportunity. Phenomenon of Life. Associated Life. Egypt. The Schoolmaster. British India in the East. Genius Among Common People. Human Progress. Commerce. Ancient Egypt. Natural History. Reading. Quackery. and Delusion. White Mountains. Industry. Ancestry. Influence of Money in the American Mind. Walking. Socrates. History of Littleton. Importance of High Schools. Man. Brazil. Orders of Nobility. Civilized Shams. Completeness of Life. The True and the False in Life. Priceless. The Spaniard in America. Hayti. Enthusiasm. Self Culture. Little Things. Mechanism of Breathing. The Turkish Empire. Evidence of the Truth of the Bible. Political Fortunes of the Anglo-Saxon Race.
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SOME OF THE LECTURE SUBJECTS SINCE 1860.
Proverbs. Poetry. Education of the Senses. Unconscious Influence. Ireland. Europe. History of the Ages. Irving. Borneo. Italy. Washington. Lincoln. Mary Stuart. London. Mexico. California. Daniel the Prophet. George Peabody. Joan of Arc. Siberia. San Domingo. The History of Coal. Rebel Prisons. Sherman's March to the Sea. George Stephenson. Sandwich Islands. Rome. Alps. Buncombe. Power of Oratory. Whittier. Matrimony. Aerial Experiences. John Brown. Yosemite. Com- munism. Abraham Lincoln. Japan. Angelo. Reminiscences of a Page in the United States Senate. Thoreau and Webster. William Tell. Up the Rhine. Electricity. Sydney Smith. Miles Standish. Robert Browning. Armenia. Battle of Antietam. Libby Prison. South America. Webster. Hood. Russia. Shaftsbury. P. Cooper. Rocky Mountains. Violins. Passion Play. Scotland. China. Korea. A Dream of To-morrow.
OFFICERS SINCE 1879.
PRESIDENTS.
SHATTUCK HARTWELL, one season. REV. WM. SEWALL, one season.
H. J. HARWOOD, two seasons. A. P. HAGER, two seasons.
REV. J. C. STAPLES, three seasons. REV. W. I. NICHOLS, one season. REV. WM. J. CLOUES, six seasons.
SECRETARIES.
JOHN S. HARTWELL, one season.
W. E. CONANT, five seasons.
GEORGE A. SANDERSON, three seasons.
EVERETT E. KIMBALL, six seasons.
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SOME OF THE LECTURERS.
1829-1895.
Rev. Abel Fletcher,
Rev. Mr. Woodbury,
Daniel Bolles,
Ex-Gov. Boutwell,
Rev. Wm. H. White,
Gen. N. P. Banks,
Rev. D. C. Eddy, D. D.,
Rev. Barnas Sears, D. D., Phineas Stowe,
Dr. R. Neill,
R. W. Emerson,
Dr. O. W. Holmes,
A. Bronson Alcott,
Rev. S. F. Smith,
Dr. E. H. Chapin, N. Y.,
Rev. E. H. Sears, D. D.,
E. G. Parker,
Rev. J. F. Clarke, D. D.,
Rev. E. E. Hale, D. D.,
Rev. W. H. Cudworth,
Rev. Russell H. Conwell,
Wm. Flagg,
Miss H. P. Dodge,
G. H. Hartwell,
Shattuck O. Hartwell,
G. A. Sanderson,
Mrs. Mary A. Livermore,
Wendell Phillips,
F. B. Sanborn,
Hon. G. B. Loring,
Dio Lewis,
Wm. Parsons, (England)
E. P. Whipple, W. H. Niles,
T. W. Higginson,
T. W. Knox,
Thos. Russell,
C. C. Coffin,
Rev. A. E. Winship,
Jas. Schouler,
Ex. Gov. J. D. Long,
Gov. Greenhalge,
Ex. Gov. J. Q. A. Brackett, John L. Swift,
Hon. Carroll D. Wright,
Darius Cobb, Rev. J. W. Hamilton,
Rev. O. P. Gifford,
R. Lawrence,
Jas. K. Applebee,
Gamaliel Bradford,
Hon. Daniel Needham,
Dr. Stockbridge,
A. W. Williams,
Prof. Morse,
Hon. Geo. Stevens,
Prof. C. C. Felton,
Dr. S. D. Phelps. 1
Also the following resident pastors, the Reverends Kenny, Ayer, Bryant, Cleaves, Newell, Lamson, Loomis, Vorse, Morton, Winship, Sewall, Winkley, Prescott, and Cloues.
JOEL PROCTOR. An Obituary notice read at a meeting of the Society, Feb. 22, 1895, by Edward Frost.
Upon the suggestion of the Executive Committee the follow- ing matter has been prepared and is herewith presented for ac- ceptance and preservation in our records :-
We are called upon at the present meeting to take note of the first invasion by death upon the ranks of our membership ; occurring in the death of Joel Proctor, one of the first elected, and oldest in years, of our honorary list. He died November 19, 1894.
Had his life been prolonged but three or four months, it would have rounded out his ninetieth year. It was a life of happy and well ordered industry, upon lands dear to him through memories of his forefathers ; doubly dear again, as the home of his stalwart and prosperous manhood, and also as scene of his earlier strug- gles with privation. His faculties both of mind and body sur- vived well the assaults of advancing years. At last, in accord- ance with the inevitable course of nature, he was called to join the numerous company of his comrades, associates, friends, and kindred of near or remote degree, whom he had outlived. Scarcely any of his boyhood's companions, two or three at most, are known to survive him.
We, of a generation or two later, may well bestow our tribute of respectful regard upon the sturdy and sterling excellences of his character. It was one unembellished, indeed, by modern graces and external polish (from which he was precluded by the narrow circumstances of his youth and early manhood) but it was
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notably a strong and manful one. He was plain and simple, direct of purpose and in speech, sometimes even to bluntness, perhaps ; but still kindly and affectionate, even tenderly so, in all family and other near relationships. As son, brother, hus- band, father, neighbor, and friend, he bore himself through his long life consistently and honorably.
His father was Nathaniel Proctor ; his mother was Mercy Russell. He was married to Elizabeth Houghton, at Sterling, December 26, 1839. Of this marriage, two sons and three daughters were born ; all lived to mature years ; the deaths of two of the daughters, both unmarried, preceded that of their father. The surviving daughter, and the two sons, are all married, and have resided within this town to the present time. The older of the sons is now occupant of the ancestral homestead ; thus repre- senting the sixth generation of the name to occupy and improve this estate. It was originally settled upon by English ancestors of the name. These lands constituted the third farm established in Littleton. On this homestead Joel Proctor's entire life was passed ; he succeeded in early life to its ownership. Near the family residence was the wigwam of Thomas Dublet, one of the Nashobah Indians, well known and friendly to the early settlers ; and upon lands adjoining or belonging thereto many interesting Indian relics have been found. In connection with these are still extant various traditions, which Mr. Proctor was fond of narrating.
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