USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Jefferson > Centennial celebration of the town of Jefferson, Lincoln County, Maine, U.S.A., August 21, 1907 > Part 1
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F 29 .J4 J4 Copy 1
JEFFERSON, MAINE CENTENNIAL 1907
1800
F29 Class
Book
J4J4
PRESENTED BY
Centennial Celebration
OF THE
TOWN OF JEFFERSON -
Lincoln County, Maine, U.S. A.
August 21, 1907
Compiled by ALBERTO A. BENNETT Chairman of the Printing Committee
Journal Printing Company Lewiston, Maine 1908
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Gift Journal Printing Co 24 Ag 'DE
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REV. ISAAC CASE, ONE OF THE PIONEER PREACHERS
1
JEFFERSON, MAINE
Incorporated February 24, 1807
INTRODUCTION
As the one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Jefferson drew near, it was proposed to celebrate that event in a man- ner worthy of the town, and to erect a monument to the memory of the first ^^ttlers, who came into the wilderness here, and began the work of it a habitable community. This project was approved at the neeting, a suitable appropriation was voted, which was subse- enlarged by generous gifts from individuals, and an executive --- ee was appointed consisting of Dr. F. W. Jackson, Leslie Boyn- [ S. A. Richardson, to have charge of the general arrangements celebration. As the summer advanced, the people prepared to in the guests who came to enjoy the occasion.
DRAWING THE BOULDER
A large, well-shaped boulder was found on the shore of the Damaris- cotta Lake, at the mouth of the John Long brook, on the farm now owned by the Myrick L. Weeks heirs. This rock was suitable to receive a tab- let as a memorial to the early settlers. An immense stone-drag for drawing this boulder was made by George Hollowell and Levander Hollo- well. On this drag the boulder was loaded by A. J. Ames, W. A. Jack- son, H. A. Jackson, M. I. Johnson, G. F. Weeks, and Joseph Cargill, by the use of suitable apparatus. On the forenoon of August 12, the men came together with twenty-two yoke of oxen, to form a team for drawing this boulder, which by stone measure weighed twenty tons.
This team of oxen was formed and driven under the direction of George F. Weeks, as follows:
George Weeks 2 yoke 66
Edwin Cooper
I yoke
Albert Avery
I
Albert Hall
I
Willis Hollowell (Town Oxen) I
Arthur Flagg
I
Wilber Tibbetts I
Edgar Bond I
I 66 Amos Fish 2
George Peaslee I William Eugley 66
I
Everett Weeks (Town Oxen) I
Charles Weeks (Town Oxen) I
Newell Hussey
I
Henry Cunningham
I
John Ames
I Harry Dow
I
Forest Flagg
66
2
66
Lervey Castle
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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
The boulder was drawn to the ground in front of the Baptist church, where it was placed on a strong foundation made of a granite slab con- tributed by Briggs Jones, set in cement, and was prepared to receive the tablet.
THE TABLET
This bronze tablet was cast and inscribed by the Bay State Brass Foundry of South Boston, Mass., twenty-four by thirty-two inches. The following twelve names were inscribed, which were the first settlers, as near as the committee were able to ascertain, in the order in which they came into the town.
Johnathan Ames Joshua Linscott John Weeks
Samuel Jackson
Joseph Jackson
Thomas Kennedy
John Boynton Robert Clary
Moses Noyes Thomas Trask
John Murphy
John Johnson
THE CELEBRATION
The day set for the celebration was Wednesday, August 21st. The place was the grounds of the First Baptist Church. A speakers' stand and a band stand had been erected among the trees in front of the church, and seats prepared for the audience. Many of the houses and public buildings were prettily decorated, and flags were flung from every convenient place. Former residents returned to their old homes, and invited guests accepted the hospitality of ample hearthstones.
On the Sunday morning preceding, a Centennial Sermon was preached by the pastor, Rev. Alberto A. Bennett, to a large audience in the church. The day of the celebration was ushered in by the ringing of all the three church bells in town at sunrise, each bell striking one hundred times. At noon twenty-one strokes were given, and at sunset one hundred again.
THE PARADE
The first event of the day was the parade, which formed at the village, proceeded past the church, and was reviewed by a crowd of people with evident pleasure and satisfaction. First came the mounted marshal and aids, Anson P. Jackson, Frank C. Richardson and Araldo
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TOWN OF JEFFERSON
Bond. Then came the Waterville Band which furnished the music for the day. After this came the floats representing the public institutions and industries of the town, as follows: The William C. Hall Post, G. A. R., with a company of veterans; the Sunday school with a class of children singing their songs; Willow Grange, representing an old time kitchen with its various industries, spinning, weaving, knitting, churning, shelling corn, etc. The millinery business of Mrs. A. A. Skinner appeared in a handsomely decorated float. Blacksmithing by L. J. Kennedy, the saw mill business by J. Y. Meserve, and stone cut- ting by Briggs Jones, each presented a scene in their actual work. S. H. Bond and son, Forest H. Bond, represented their business, stoves and hardware; Sylvester Brothers, groceries; F. O. Meserve, cooperage; George A. Hoffses, groceries; Frank E. Linnekin, carriages and har- nesses ; H. W. Weeks, cream separators. W. B. Tibbetts had a load of farming and dairy products, George W. Tobey showed the wall paper business, and Warren Peaslee exhibited his kennels of choice dogs.
The South Jefferson Band led the second half of the parade, and furnished music for the evening.
Scattered along the order of the parade, there were various historic and humorous representations. An old fashioned, two-wheeled, covered top chaise carried a couple on their journey. Louis Galloupe led a trained steer toting a quantity of baggage, representing an old time prospector. A. W. Hall rode on horseback, representing in dress and appearance a colonial Indian Chief. An old empty hayrack had a driver representing a darky. There were two representations of Uncle Sam, one rode in the float with the veterans, the other was leading the South Jefferson Band. A clown in the customary habiliments drove a worn out horse on an old time doctor's gig. And also there were a load of Colored Gentry, a load of old time Immigrants, and a load of old fashioned Husk- ing Bee Merrymakers.
After passing the church the procession returned and dispersed.
THE GATHERING
The people gathered at the church for the exercises of the day. The weather was not as propitious as many had hoped. Indeed for a while it seriously threatened to rain, but after a little the clouds with- held their store, and the day was passed with comfort and pleasantness.
On the speakers' stand there was ample room, not only for those who took part in the exercises, but also for the Veterans of the Civil War, and for all the old people of the community. Among this latter number was John Meservey, who remembered seeing many of the early settlers in his boyhood days. The speakers' stand was handsomely deco- rated and covered with canvas, and the table was piled with a bank of water lilies. The large audience listened with the closest attention. Dr. F. W. Jackson, chairman of the executive committee, presided, and with a few well-chosen words presented the speakers of the day.
The following is the programme of exercises as given during the day:
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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
PROGRAMME
FORENOON
Music,
Prayer,
The Waterville Band Rev. John Pettengill
Remarks by the Chairman.
Singing by the Audience,
Address of Welcome,
Ode written by Mrs. F. W. Jackson Rev. C. C. Tilley, of Mattapan, Mass.
Unveiling of the Monument.
Address,
Hon. Chas. E. Littlefield, of Rockland Singing by the Audience, "Star Spangled Banner," led by Mrs. Matilda Trask Boynton
AFTERNOON
Music.
Map of the Town,
George E. Linscott
Singing,
Historical Address,
Mrs. Matilda Trask Boynton W. G. Bond, M.D., of Revere, Mass. South Jefferson Quartet
Singing,
Poem, written by Miss Winifred B. Ladd,
Singing,
Address,
Singing,
Read by Miss Ridgway from the State of Georgia South Jefferson Quartet Prof. L. C. Bateman, of Lewiston Mrs. Matilda Trask Boynton
Oration, Rev. Nelson S. Burbank, Ph.D., of Revere, Mass. Singing by the Audience, "Auld Lang Syne." Benediction, Rev. A. A. Bennett
UNVEILING THE MONUMENT
Gov. Wm. T. Cobb was to have unveiled the monument, but was unable to be present. Congressman Littlefield offered a few remarks in his behalf, and carried through the ceremony of the unveiling. All the young children who were descendants of those whose names appeared on the tablet, were invited to stand near the monument when it was unveiled. The great boulder and tablet were covered with an immense flag. At the proper signal this flag was drawn up to an overhanging line, where it floated during the rest of the day.
THE EVENING FIREWORKS
The people met many old neighbors and friends and renewed old acquaintances, and those returning from their absence, enjoyed again the ties and friendships of their old home, and revived the memories of former years. Everything passed off pleasantly, making it a day of pleasure and fellowship.
CENTENNIAL. AUG 211907 ERSON WIL 44.
THE CELEBRATION
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TOWN OF JEFFERSON
After the darkness had fallen, the day was brought to a worthy close by a brilliant display of fireworks, given on the hill back of M. A. Nash's house, during which the South Jefferson Band discoursed abundant music. To those who were privileged to be present, this cele- bration was a day long to be remembered.
REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN
DR. F. W. JACKSON
From "the far flung, fenceless prairie," from our unsalted seas on the north, to the sun-kissed waters of the southland, from our eastern littoral where the blue waves of old ocean roll in upon the shining sands, the glad home welcome is wafted on the breezes, over hamlet and village and town, over river and lake, over valley and plain and plateau and mountain top, till its reverberations are lost in the placid waters of the peaceful Pacific. Happy the day, consecrated the place, and joyous I hope will be the occasion. I am proud of my native town, proud of her pine clad hills, her fertile valleys, her spreading maples, her tapering fir trees and gigantic oaks, her crystal lakes, her limped streams and her silent rivers. Jefferson welcomes her sons and her daughters to their native land today. Her latch string is out, her altar fires burn brightly, for she welcomes you all to her hearthstones and her heart.
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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
ODE
Written by MRS. F. W. JACKSON, sung by the Audience
1807 1907
JEFFERSON
Air: "America"
Dear Mother-land today, We pause on life's highway, Where'er we roam. Tho' far o'er plain and sea,
Still our hearts turn to thee, And time recalls once more Our earlier home.
On childhood's days we dwell; On friends we loved so well, In by-gone years. Has all our after life Midst the world's storm and strife,
Brought greater happiness Or fewer tears?
Fair town, we honor give, Thy memories ever live Deep in our heart. May thee thro' coming years Laden with hopes and fears In this great universe Fulfill thy part.
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TOWN OF JEFFERSON
ADDRESS OF WELCOME
The Chairman :
Ladies and Gentlemen :- I have now the pleasure of presenting to you, one who needs no introduction, the Rev. C. C. Tilley, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Mattapan, Mass., who will welcome you all to your native town.
Mr. Tilley :
Ladies and Gentlemen, Citizens of Jefferson, Former Citizens, and Friends :- I think any one knowing the hospitality of the town of Jeffer- son would think it useless to say that you are welcome, and I want to say in a few words that you are well come.
It does seem a little strange that I should give the formal words of welcome. I have not been in the town for nineteen years. But I understand the situation : I am not to welcome you to the present, but to the past. For that I feel abundantly able. In the first place, I have that native ability because of my antique manner. When I was a student in college one of my friends said I appeared as if I ought to say, "I have come down from a former generation." But not only that, I belong to your past history-to that as nearly as to any history. Of the poet Homer it was said that :
"Seven cities claimed him dead
Through which the living Homer begged his bread."
I am not a citizen of Jefferson, and never was. I was not born here. My name was never on the voting list. In fact, I have no citizenship on earth because I never lived long enough continuously in any one place to gain a pauper residence. My claim, therefore, to belong to your past history rests upon another basis. I was not born here, but I was born again here-in that old church, when its life touched my life, the Holy Spirit working through it, and it saved me and sent me into the ministry. Because of what this town did for me in my early days I am profoundly grateful.
You have a goodly heritage. This town, perhaps not wealthy in the world's wealth, has given you an inheritance that cannot be counted, for in its intellectual, moral and spiritual character Jefferson has excelled. I remember the time when it was full of boys and girls who could go any- where and teach acceptably. A high moral atmosphere has been given to the whole community by this church, which was founded by William Allen and moulded by the life of William Tilley, who gave to it nearly thirty years of his life, and who, while he was absent twice during that time, never left the hearts of the people till he left to go up higher.
Early in the century the people were interested in moral reform. To be sure, they were cursed with the dram shop in those early days, and things occurred that would be impossible in this day with the Maine Law. Because I appreciate what the Maine Law has done for my native State, I spent a week of my valuable time last fall in order to secure its perpetuation, speaking every night and twice on the Sabbath.
I belong to the greatest city of Maine-not in Maine, but of Maine. In Greater Boston we have 50,000 Maine people. I am speaking for them as I speak to you today. Once in awhile there is a man who has
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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
strayed from his early teaching and who speaks against Maine and the Maine Law. I always think he is wearing the wrong kind of a hat.
One of our Lewiston mill agents was in Boston one day and took dinner at the Quincy House. As he went out he took the last hat, supposing it to be his own. When he came to look in it, he saw there the picture of a great owl, and underneath it were the words:
"When I am full, take me to the Quincy House."
We would not expect a man owning such a hat as that to speak in favor of the Maine Law.
We welcome you today, and the committee wants you to make this day a memorable one in your history. Says the poet Young :
"We take note of time but from its loss; To give it then a tongue is wise in man.
As if an angel spoke, I hear the solemn sound."
This is an occasion to be remembered long after we have passed away. We welcome you today to the old, strong, true character that has done so much for the town in the past. It may be that some of you have wandered from the paths that were laid down for you in early life. It may be that you are saying, "I am tired of these narrow ways."
There was a true sense in which the fathers were narrow. They saw one course, and they pursued it to the end. We ask you to cling to the narrow life in principle, to the old and the true. But from the high position that you have attained through the labors of the fathers a responsibility comes to you in the true sense to broaden your lives- not to broaden the principles, but to broaden their application. But however much you may have departed from the teachings of the fathers, I welcome you today and invite you to return to a closer fellowship with them.
On the castle walls the harp hung unstrung, covered with dust. It gave no music. A stranger came one day, took down the neglected instrument, brushed off the dust and tuned it. The old castle rang with the songs and melodies of the olden times. Our hearts go out to you today that they may resound with the old music, that the chords that were broken may vibrate once more, and that from this day you shall be devoted to the enlargement of the same work which the fathers began. If they can see us today, they would say :
"On ! Let no man take thy crown! Finish the work that we began !" And then, at its consummation :
"Ring, bells, in unreared steeples, The joy of unborn peoples ! Sound, trumpets, far off blown, Your triumph is our own!"
If you are true to the principles of the fathers, you will be able to say at the end :
"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."
Then shall this be your reward :
"Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
II
TOWN OF JEFFERSON
MR. LITTLEFIELD'S ADDRESS
The Chairman :
Fellow Citizens :- It is my delightful duty today, not to introduce, but to present, our Congressman from the Second Congressional District, who does represent that district and his constituents. He stands for the square deal, and he deals it. I have the pleasure to present to you, Mr. Littlefield, of Rockland.
Mr. Littlefield :
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, and Fellow Citizens :- I have just assisted, by standing one side and observing, in the unveiling of the monument erected by the people of this town and dedicated today to the memory of the original settlers thereof. On account of the unavoidable absence of Governor Cobb you are not having the privilege of listening to the representative of the State in this part of the exercises upon this interesting occasion, and the committee has requested me to say just a word that I think the Governor might say, if he happened to be here, in addition to the few words that I will say on my own account.
It is quite fitting that the Governor of the State should be invited to unveil this monument and rededicate the town to the memory of the men who founded this municipality, because, in 1807, by virtue of the authority of the law, by virtue of an act of the Legislature of Massa- chusetts, this town was incorporated as a legal entity, and it is there- fore quite fitting that the representative of that authority should, on this occasion, at the expiration of a hundred years, participate in rededi- cating this municipality to the memory of those men; to re-establish it, in order that it may last not only one hundred years, to exercise its functions and discharge its responsibilities, but that for all time to come, with the authority and under the jurisdiction of the State, this town of Jefferson may be, as it is and always has been, a worthy repre- sentative of one of the most distinguished names in all American his- tory-the man for whom it was named, I suppose, Thomas Jefferson.
Now while I doubt very much if the Governor would have made as good a speech as that, that is about what the Governor would have said if he had been here.
I have been requested by the committee to say something about "The Past, Present and Future of Our Common Country." Before I do that I want to congratulate this audience on being gathered together in a part of the finest country that the world ever saw, and were it not for the lowering clouds and the threatening weather, I should also be able to say that we are enjoying today the most delightful climate and weather that the world has ever seen. If you were not here in person, I should go further and say that you are the representatives of the finest body of people that the world has ever seen. But inasmuch as you are here I should not like to be thought fulsome in undertaking to com- pliment you upon this occasion. Perhaps I may say, however, just one word, and that is that the records do show that from the people of New England there have sprung, during the last fifty and one hundred years, more able and distinguished men than can be gathered together in any
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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
other part of the civilized globe, and it is a matter of some pride that we are a small part of that great civilization.
In order to direct your attention to "The Past, Present and Future of our Country," which I take it may be perhaps a very appropriate subject for discussion upon this Centennial occasion, suggesting com- parisons of the present with the past, it may be necessary to refer to some facts and figures. I have had neither the time nor the opportunity to make what I call an elaborate or a painstaking preparation for an occasion like this, so that what I give you here today will be largely miscellaneous suggestions that occur to me upon the spur of the moment, aided by a few salient facts that I have gathered together as illustrating the present when compared with the past.
In view of the uncertain weather, I will say that the character of my speech is such that it can be brought to a conclusion in half a minute. In fact, it could be ended at any time without doing violence to the speech.
In 1807, as I have already suggested in the Governor's speech, which I delivered in a very short time, this town was incorporated. Twenty years before that, in 1787, the Constitution of the United States, the consummation of the Union, the gathering together of the thirteen colonies into the thirteen original, independent and combined States under one government, became the fundamental law of the land, so that this town, with the exception of twenty years, has the same age as does our common country, and a comparison of conditions then with condi- tions now will, of course, illustrate, to a certain extent, the improvement and progress of our country as a whole.
Then we started with thirteen States, largely lying along the Atlantic coast, and bordering upon the ocean, with small possessions, but with tremendous and magnificent opportunities. Now we have forty-five States, and when Oklahoma comes in, if she ever does, as I suppose she will when she gets established, we shall have forty-six great States. At that time we had a very small area. In addition we have today to our forty- five States, possessions in the northern part of the country which con- stitute an empire of themselves, that is Alaska. We have the territories of Arizona and New Mexico, we have Hawaii, we have Porto Rico, and we have the Philippine Islands, all of which are largely present in our minds for a variety of reasons and causes. Of course I cannot stop to discuss here whether the possession of these great outlying territories is wise or unwise. It is obvious that we have become a great international country, as distinct from a country located upon one continent.
Now I will give, as I go along, a few important facts that tend to show this tremendous growth. I suppose there is no other place on the face of the globe that has shown the degree of development, increase and prosperity, the utilization of vast natural resources and the development of people, as has been shown by our country during these one hundred and twenty years, and your period of one hundred years. The history of Greece and Rome, of Egypt, or of any ancient foreign country, cannot parallel in any degree the tremendous results that have followed the labors of our fathers in bringing about these magnificent conditions that now surround us.
One hundred years ago we had 325,000 square miles of territory. Today, including our States and territories and the land in our various
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TOWN OF JEFFERSON
possessions, we have nearly 4,000,000 square miles of territory. Then we had about 4,000,000 people living in the thirteen States and in the out-lying territories. Today we have living in our forty-five States and in our territories, with the people in the island accessions, subject to the control and domination of the United States, something like 83,000,000 of people, a tremendous increase in the line of population.
But our growth has not been altogether in the line of increase of population. You know we have a distinguished man who suggests, and very properly, that we should not allow race suicide to deplete our people, which is entirely true. I call attention to this increase in population for the purpose of refreshing your recollection upon that point. Up to date we have not had any particular cause for alarm because of race suicide, though I suppose it is true that here in the town of Jefferson there are no families with the number of children to be found here in the old times. My father and mother had nine children. I have two. I don't know but what I think as much of my two as they did of the whole nine. We have not now, of course, the large families, but notwithstanding all that there has been a tremendous increase in the line of population.
Perhaps what is more material to many of us, there has been a vast increase in the accumulation of wealth. Our fathers possessed in 1790, so far as we can get an estimate-there are no statistics that definitely give these facts and figures, and it is largely a matter of conjecture and computation-they possessed about 1,619,000,000 of dollars, or, if it were divided among the people possessing that property, about $157 apiece. I do not know but it might have been distributed a little more evenly then than now, but it was not distributed evenly then. My reading has demonstrated to me that in those days there were a great many people who had no prospect of having any particular individual sum, and the reason then was the same reason that obtains now. The average man in any community, if he is industrious and thrifty and saving, can, without any difficulty, accumulate so that he can have a reasonable amount or proportion of the great aggregation of wealth. But the trouble is, in the first place, that we are not industrious, in the second place, that we are not thrifty, and, in the last place, that we are not saving.
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