USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Gorham > Celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Gorham, Maine : May 26, 1886 > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11
Another of our nearest neighbors, an excellent type of the old family physician, was Dr. Dudley Folsom, a man of uncommon worth and usefulness, skillful in his profession, a wise counsellor, and leading citizen. One of my most vivid as well as earliest recollections of him carries me back again to the old farm. I was very ill and thought to be almost in articulo mortis, when late at night he was summoned to my help. Although more than sixty years have since passed away, that midnight scene, the anxiety of my parents, the hushed voices, his tender ministrations, . are all distinctly recalled. Dr. Folsom died a few months after the centennial of 1836, lamented, as he had been esteemed, by the whole town.
Another name that always recurs to me when I think of
118
ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
Gorham fifty years ago, is that of Deacon Thomas S. Robie, one of those rare men whom we are wont to describe by simply saying they are "pure gold." His goodness, his liberality, and his modesty were alike conspicuous. The Congregational deacon is not always an attractive figure in New England fiction; not always, indeed, in fact; but fiction itself could not easily invent a worthier or lovelier character than that of Deacon Robie. I have personal reasons to remember him with gratitude, and rejoice on this occasion to testify my heartfelt respect for his memory.
It is to me a source of deep regret that I cannot take by the hand today my beloved schoolmate and friend, Deacon Marshall Irish, that faithful servant of Christ and the Church, who so recently passed to a better world. We were brought into close intimacy with each other during the great religious awakening of 1831, which pervaded New England, and formed a turning point in the spiritual history of Gorham. In company with a goodly number of other youths, we made public confession of Christ together, and although we have rarely met since 1836, my affection and esteem for him never changed. How much this village owes to his long, steadfast example of Christian fidelity and usefulness !
Most of the Gorham boys who were my comrades at school and in the academy, wandered out into the wide world and pitched their tents for life elsewhere. It was a good thing for the town that so true an offshoot and representative of its ancient stock as Marshall Irish passed his days on the old homestead, living and dying in the midst of you.
I have spoken of Dr. Folsom. There was a younger physician, my cousin and my dear friend, William H. Peabody, whose name is associated with some of my pleasantest memories of Gorham. He was a man born to be loved, - a true Christian gentleman, refined in his tastes, fond of books, public-spirited, kind to the poor, and enthusiastic in devotion both to his profession and to all good causes. He had a special admiration for that eloquent jurist, William Wirt, after whom he named his eldest son, and also for my brother Seargent, after whom he named his youngest son. Although he was by several years my senior, we were in the closest sympathy with each other on the stirring questions of
1
02
f 0 r
a ti 0 a t
tl
119
ANNIVERSARY.
the day, and delighted to discuss them together. Losing his father in boyhood, as I lost mine, he grew up, as I did, in the eye and under the loving nurture of his mother, an admirable Chris- tian woman, through whom he inherited some of the finest traits of the old Colony stock. His whole personality was singularly attractive, and I cherish his memory as though we had parted for the last time a year, instead of more than forty years ago.
Gorham has been noted from the beginning for the high character and ability of its lawyers. The name of one of the foremost of them all, Josiah Pierce, is identified with the history of the town, both its written and its unwritten history. I can never mention or think of him without grateful emotion. He was my mother's friend, lightening the heavy burdens of her widowhood by his professional services, freely given, and by his persistent kindness. He was a devoted friend of my brother Seargent, who began the study of law in his office, and lived like a younger brother in his family. He was my own faithful friend to the day of his death. I doubt if any man ever lived in Gorham, who did more to stimulate and guide youthful minds in the pursuit of knowledge. Familiar himself with the best litera- ture of the language, he had a rare power of inciting others to study and love it. My sister-in-law, Mrs. William Prentiss, well remembered by some before me as Angelina Hunt, one of the brightest and best informed women I have known, often told me that she owed her singular fondness for books and wide acquaintance with them to Judge Pierce; and many others could have said the same. His mind was as versatile as it was gifted. What a useful citizen he was! How much he did to promote the best interests of the town, especially to rescue from oblivion the precious records of its history, and to make known to their children and to the world the noble lives and virtues of our fathers, you need not be told. I have alluded to his friendship for my brother Seargent by whom it was warmly reciprocated. How vividly, as though it were last year or last week, I recall an evening spent with my brother, just out of Vicksburgh, late in 1836. I was passing the winter there under the hospitable roof of Judge Guion, my brother's partner, and he came out to have a talk with me about home and about Gorham. He and I little dreamed at the time how historic the spot was to become in less
120
ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
than seven and twenty years, for it was near the famous line along which General Grant's army slowly picked and battered and fought its way to the capture of the Vicksburgh stronghold on July 4th, 1863. Having made minute inquiries about old acquaintances and old neighbors, he remarked that nowhere else had he met characters so original, so striking and full of unique individual traits as in Gorham. Referring to Judge Pierce, he expressed for him the warmest admiration, adding, "He is a man well qualified to be President of the United States." Nor do I think this was extravagant praise. His varied talents, his knowledge, his sound sense, his thorough acquaintance with American history, law, and legislation, his patriotism, all fitted Judge Pierce to fill with honor any position in the gift of the people.
But it is high time, Mr. President, to bring these hasty reminis- cences to a close. And yet how willingly would I still go on and speak to you of others, whose names I recall so well; of my old pastor and true friend, Mr. Pomeroy; of Mr. Nason, at whose feet I took my first lessons in classic lore ; of the Rev. Timothy Hilliard, who represented among us, in such a catholic spirit, the Episcopal church ; of Amos Brown, who did so much here, and, later, in New York to promote the higher interests of education ; of Captain Robie, the honored father of a highly honored son ; of General Irish, so long distinguished in the service of the town and of the State; of my old schoolmaster, Daniel C. Emery, who also was distinguished in the service of town and State; of those excellent men, Deacon Mclellan and Deacon Chadbourne; of George Hight, my esteemed Sunday-school teacher; of that courteous gentleman of the old school, Colonel Stephenson ; of that good farmer and upright man, Colonel John Tyng Smith ; of Jacob S. Smith, the cultivated lawyer, and father of two of my cousins and schoolmates ; of Colonel Hugh Mclellan, a man remarkable in many ways, and not least for his minute, accurate knowledge of the history of Gorham; of Captain Stephen and Captain William Stephenson, of Captain Hunt and Captain Motley and Captain Codman, whose names are associated with so many dear friends of my mother and sisters, as well as of my own ; of Stephen Hinkley, Charles Hunt, Seth Hersey, and Dea- con Paine, and I know not how many more among the older
8 t
t
S 0
t t 0 d t
F i b la R
of br I
121
ANNIVERSARY.
generation of my contemporaries. How gladly, too, would I speak of younger men, whose names are closely associated with my brother Seargent as his college classmates, or his friends : William Tyng Hilliard, John H. Hilliard, George Stephenson, the Smiths, Wendell, William, Edward, and the others, Francis Barbour, Francis Robie, and George Pierce, cut off, alas! in the morn- ing of a beautiful manhood; and of a younger generation still, beloved schoolmates and companions of my own boyhood, or, later, college friends : Reuben Nason, Andrew Barbour, Charles Robie, Frank Irish, Edward Robie, Frederick Robie, Elijah Kellogg, Cyrus Woodman, Frederick and Charles and Stephen Stephenson, John Albion Andrew, and many others. Happily of them some are here today to speak for themselves.
An old Hebrew proverb says that " the glory of children is their fathers." This is a true saying, as I think we all feel today. And it is no less true that the glory of children - oftentimes the greater glory, by far-is their mothers. What a different one hundred and fiftieth anniversary we would celebrate today, if the foundations of this town had not been laid in a wholesome, pure, and godly family life! The women of Gorham have been not less remarkable for the sweet household virtues which have adorned so many of its homes, than the men of Gorham for those sturdier, more public virtues, that have made so many of them pillars in both church and State. In order to truly depict some of these homes as I remember them fifty years ago, my pencil would have to be dipped in fairer colors than those of earth.
There was around them such a dawn Of light ne'er seen before, As fancy never could have drawn, And never can restore.
The mothers and daughters, whose presence transfigured them, were fashioned by the Eternal Spirit; they followed Christ as their master, and learned their lessons of household wisdom and goodness at his feet. Some of them still live to bless the world; a few of them are here today; but the larger number long ago were joined to the more congenial fellowship of saints
122
ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
and angels in a better country ; and there may we be so happy as to see them again face to face.
The address was followed by a poem written by Miss Sophia E. Perry, and read by Miss Mary G. Barker of Portland, and Mr. F. W. Davis; and later, remarks were made by Mr. Dana Estes of Boston, the most liberal donor to the Public Library, in behalf of which he made an earnest appeal. Professor H. Hunt, of Mount Vernon, New Hampshire, after some interesting remarks in regard to Dr. Deane, the author of " Pitchwood Hill," read that celebrated poem, which was new to most of the audience. This was followed by the reading of letters of regret, many of which had been received by the committee, from J. P. Baxter Esq., Judge John A. Peters, and Judge Charles Danforth, of the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, Hon. W. W. Rice of Worcester, Massachusetts, Professor Henry P. Warren of Law- renceville, New Jersey, Arthur Phinney Esq. of Sandusky, Ohio, Frederick Davis Esq., of Chicago, John O. Winship Esq., of Cleveland, Ohio, and many others.
The close of the reception and the other social gatherings of the evening at the halls of the various secret organizations was the termination of the celebration. It was an occasion which cannot fail to be remembered by the citizens of Gorham with pride and mutual congratulations, as one of the most interesting and important events in the history of the town.
For the success of the musical part of the exercises in the tent, the credit is largely due to the efforts of Mr. Charles K. Hinkley and Prof. Fitch.
The exhibition of relics and curiosities at the Academy, which has been already described, showed much industry and tact on the part of the committee in charge of that department, Messrs. Arthur J. Benson and Wm. P. F. Robie, to the former of whom the public is indebted for the unique and entertaining news-sheet, The Gorham Anniversary Gazette, an interesting extract from which is given in the early part of this compilation.
N
P h h c a k C
0
h
a
f I 0 i P t S t
0
123
ANNIVERSARY.
The celebration received many notices from the press, one of which is appended.
Editorial from the Eastern Argus, Portland, of May 27, 1886.
GORHAM'S CELEBRATION.
The good old town of Gorham, famous even among the many famous towns that figure in the history of Maine as a State, a District of Massachusetts, and a British colonial settlement, observed yesterday with fitting pomp and ceremony, - and what is of more worth, with loving and loyal admiration for its picturesque past, and high confidence in its promising future, - the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of its settlement. The story of the observance is so fully told elsewhere in the Argus that no need remains for more than mention in this column.
The arrangements for the celebration, carefully studied and admirably planned, were carried out to perfection. The people of Gorham have abundant reason to pride themselves upon the programme, and upon its execution ; upon the hearty welcome home extended to visiting sons and daughters who had left the old homestead, some of them "strange countries for to see," and the cordial reception given to the strangers within their gates; and above all, upon the literary exercises, and the store of historical knowledge brought to light. Gorham is an old town, as Ameri- can towns go, but she is young in spirit, and not yet in the maturity of her life. That her future may be as prosperous as her past has been honorable, is the hearty wish of the Argus.
The selectmen of the town had charge of the police arrange- ments, and throughout the day the best of order was preserved. No disturbance or accident of any kind occurred, notwithstand- ing the great crowd in attendance, the credit for which is due, in a large degree, to the care and judicious management of Mr. Lewis Mclellan, chairman of the board.
APPENDIX
S
I
APPENDIX.
COMMITTEES.
Continued from page 34.
COMMITTEE ON DECORATIONS, MOTTOES AND ILLUMINATIONS.
William P. Watson Simon B. Guthrie William P. F. Robie Harry B. Elkins Everett P. Hanson Frank Stanwood Fred M. Patrick
John A. Waterman Jr. Fred W. Harding
Edwin R. Gamman
Daniel F. Whittier
Bartlett W. Feeny
Arthur J. Benson Willis I. Bickford
COMMITTEE ON VOCAL MUSIC.
George B. Emery Joseph Ridlon William E. Files Charles R. Cressey
Nathaniel M. Marshall Walter Buxton Charles K. Hinkley
COMMITTEE ON SALUTE.
Frederick Robie
| Isaac L. Johnson
COMMITTEE ON PROCESSION.
Henry R. Millett Roscoe G. Harding George T. Pratt John A. Hinkley
Lewis Mclellan E. H. Foster Smith Manuel Thomas Thomas S. Smith
COMMITTEE ON PLACE FOR PUBLIC SERVICES AND PREPARATIONS FOR THE SAME.
George B. Emery Charles W. Deering Alexander Allen Theodore E. Shackford
Stephen L. Stephenson Thaddeus P. Irish Lewis Mclellan John S. Leavitt
128
APPENDIX.
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE.
Lewis Mclellan Levi H. Bean Walter Clements Edward Harding
Joseph Ridlon Gardner M. Parker Isaac L. Johnson John R. Cressey
COMMITTEE TO AUDIT BILLS.
John A. Waterman George B. Emery
Stephen Hinkley -
TREASURER.
Joseph Ridlon.
COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION.
Frederick Robie
John A. Waterman
William B. Hellen
COMMITTEE ON POLICE.
Lewis Mclellan
Isaac L. Johnson
Charles E. Jordan
COMMITTEE ON PHINNEY ROCK.
Isaac L. Johnson
COMMITTEE ON COLLECTION OF OLD RELICS.
Arthur J. Benson
| William P. F. Robie
COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE CARRIAGES.
Henry R. Millett | Henry B. Johnson
COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION OF THE PROCEEDINGS.
John A. Waterman Stephen Hinkley
George B. Emery
129
APPENDIX.
CONTRIBUTORS.
NAMES OF CONTRIBUTORS TO THE FUND RAISED BY CITIZENS FOR THE CELE- BRATION OF THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY. ยท
Frederick Robie
George B. Emery Daniel Murray Charles F. Merrill Henry R. Millett
Solomon B. Cloudman
Edwin R. Gamman
George T. Pratt
William L. Larrabee
Liberty Moulton
George A. Allen
Harry B. Elkins
Albert H. Mosher
Frank Stanwood
Samuel O. Carruthers
John H. Card
Henry S. Huntington
Thaddeus P. Irish
Isaac L. Johnson
Samuel R. Clement
Orville A. Bean
Joseph Ridlon & Son Sumner C. Bolton Wilber J. Coburn John S. Leavitt Kimball & McLaren
Joseph F. Newman Matthew Johnson Edward S. Palmer Benjamin Irish William H. Kimball Rufus A. Fogg Lewis Lombard James G. Larrabee
John E. Meserve
James G. Meserve David Urquhart
Asa Burnham George B. Tripp Edwin Libby John F. Stickney Frank W. Merrill Sewell Cloudman George W. Heath William H. Cummings William H. Mclellan Nathaniel M. Marshall William H. Moody Eugene H. Cloudman Irvin Richardson
10
John A. Waterman Lewis Mclellan
Charles K. Hinkley
Henry B. Johnson & Sons
William P. Watson
Frederick D. Scamman
Willis I. Bickford
Daniel F. Whittier
Frederick A. Bragdon Fred W. Harding & Co. Theodore E. Shackford Gardiner M. Parker Henry N. Sweetser David F. Watson Benjamin L. Harmon Frank H. Emery Theodore B. Edwards John S. Leavitt Jr. Thomas Farden
William H. Johnson Samuel Roberts Albion F. Johnson Jonathan S. Whitney John Cobb William McLellan Alvin Lombard William F. Pillsbury Charles W. Deering Robert B. Meserve Knight Bros. Abram Bickford Albert S. Riggs Cornelius N. Hayes Charles R. Cressy Melville Johnson Daniel S. Brown Andrew L. Fulsom Jeremiah J. Grant Joseph W. Hale Charles E. Richardson Joseph G. Bodge Orrin Berry
130
APPENDIX.
Edson O. Nay Josiah C. Nay William Elkins Joseph H. Winters James H. Darby Enoch Mabry Oswell Charles Henry Mayberry Almon L. Files H. Greely Parker Martin L. Keyes Clarence L. Libby Uriah S. Nason A. W. Lincoln John N. Newcomb Mark Mosher Rufus Mosher
George F. Small
William E. Strout
George Chadbourn
Mrs. Alvin Cressey
Charles M. Moody Charles G. Watson
Everett E. Files
J. Wesley Files Mrs. Mary P. Files
William Hasty
Frank I. Whitney
Eugene Lowell
Charles E. Crockett
Seth Douglass
Robert Cobb
David Patrick Samuel Cressey John Billings
Mrs. Mary H. Tyler
George M. Thompson
Cyrus Abbott
Everett P. Hanson
Byron G. Coburn Moses Fogg
Edward Harding
Brown Brothers Lewis L. Files
George W. Lowell
Rufus Whitney
Stephen Hinkley
Stephen L. Stephenson
Herman S. Whitney Allen Smith Charles Cash Lewis J. Brackett
Abram Tyler Harvey W. Murch Manuel Thomas
Edward M. Moses
Carlyle W. Shaw Joseph W. Parker Charles Davis
Merrill T. Files Elbridge M. Wilson
Charles E. Jordan
E. H. Foster Smith Albert M. Hamblen Edwin Coburn
Isaiah Cobb
Charles E. Rolfe
Frank I. French
Fred O. Sturgis Abial Rounds
George Watson
Saul C. Higgins
F. Augustus Files
Henry R. Colesworthy
Edwin R. Smith
Charles F. Clement
Nelson HI. Crockett
John D. Spinney
Charles W. Graffum
Frank E. Demeritt
Edwin G. Cressey
Leonard C. Grouard
Mrs. Henry P. A. Smith
Roscoe G. Rowe
George F. Ayer
Edward W. Guptill
William B. Hellen
Mrs. Sarah E. Holden
J. J. G. Hannaford Arthur H. Stanwood John A. Hinkley
Benjamin Waterhouse
William H. Usher
Levi. H. Bean Charles Hanson
Also, Portland & Rochester R. R.
131
APPENDIX.
TREASURER'S REPORT.
RECEIPTS.
Cash from Town,
$500.00
Cash from Subscriptions,
605.25
Cash for materials sold.
15.50
$1,120.75
EXPENDITURES.
Tents, seats, and platform,
$286.14
Music, vocal and instrumental,
170.85
Salute and fireworks,
.
130.29
Decorations,
100.44
Literary Exercises, and printing,
111.21
Indians, and sham fight,
35.46
Carriages for procession, .
28.00
Badges for schools,
26.75
Supplies for Cadets and G. A. R. men, .
21.45
Soliciting committee, and procuring Phinney Rock,
24.00
B. Thurston & Co., in part for printing History of the Celebration, .
186.16
$1,120.75
JOSEPH RIDLON, Treasurer.
Examined and approved :
JOHN A. WATERMAN,
STEPHEN HINKLEY,
Auditing Committee.
GEORGE B. EMERY,
132
APPENDIX.
The following anecdotes in regard to the Indian fight, being literally true, are thought to be worth preserving.
AMUSING INCIDENT DURING THE SHAM-FIGHT.
" After the Indians had attacked Bryant's house, and set it on fire, they were attacked in turn by the soldiery, and a sharp fight ensued, creating great excitement among the immense throng of witnesses on the hill. After the Indians were repulsed, 'Mrs. McLellan' started to go to tlie stockade; one of the savages got his eye on her, and in true Indian style determined to make an end of her. The old lady saw her enemy approaching, leveled her gun, and shot him in the leg. After a moment he started up, and aimed his gun at the old lady, but she proved too smart for him, having reloaded her piece while the Indian was gath- ering himself up. She leveled on him a second time, and shot him dead. One of the crowd of spectators, in his excitement forgetting for the moment that this was not a reality, clapped his hands, and exclaimed, ' God bless your dear old soul, you fixed him that time, did n't you ?' "'
BETTER THAN THE SIOUX.
A Portland gentleman returning to town on the evening of the cele- bration, fell into conversation with a person who many years ago spent some time in the West, in the Sioux country, and had several times wit- nessed the raids of those savages. Speaking of the Gorham affair, he said, "Those mock Indians were not only better looking than real ones, but they showed more vigor, more cunning, and more intelligence, und in fact the whole thing was done a sight better than the Sioux them- selves could do it !"
ERRATA.
On page 60, fourth line, omit all. On page 64, 1730 should be 1736. On page 77, Udolphus should be Udolpho.
On page 91, fifth and sixth lines, the meeting-house should be the second meeting-house.
On page 110, musket carried should be musket captured.
133
APPENDIX.
At the final meeting of the general committee, held June 12, 1886, votes of thanks were passed to Rev. Elijah Kellogg, orator of the day, to Prof. Henry L. Chapman, and Mrs. Jennie Bodge Johnson, for their interesting, valuable, and most acceptable lit- erary productions.
At a previous meeting the committee had acknowledged their obligations, and repeat their thanks here, to E. F. Newhall, Esq., of the Oriental Powder Mills, for the generous gift of the pow- der used for salutes and otherwise on the day of the celebration.
The committee also desire to extend their thanks to the Chief Marshal and his aids, to the members of the chorus, to the vari- ous sub-committees, particularly to the committee on decorations, whose good taste and skillful execution of their plans added materially to the attractiveness of the occasion, and to all others who in many ways contributed largely to the success of the celebration.
Since the commencement of this volume, one of the members of the general committee who took an active part in the early preparations for the celebration, Stephen Westcott, Esq., has deceased. His associates on the committee express only the common sentiment of the community in which he lived, in lamenting the loss of an upright and estimable man, and a valu- able and highly respected fellow-citizen.
5937
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.