USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Manchester > Semi-centennial of the city of Manchester, New Hampshire, 1896 > Part 6
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His father, Amos Weston, was a man of high character, sound judgment, great executive ability, and an active and leading citizen of Manchester. He was a selectman for fifteen years, and managed the business affairs of the town ably, faithfully. and successfully. Governor Weston was loyal to the memory of his noble ancestors, proud of their honorable achievements, emulated their virtues, and was careful not to do anything which would injure the fair name and fame of his beloved family and kindred. He was born in our city August 27, 1827, and his childhood and youth were spent in his father's family, on the old homestead, in the southern part of the city, where he enjoyed the social, moral, and educational advantages to be found in a progressive and successful farming community in the old Granite State. He was an active, ambitious, and intelli- gent boy, and life to him on the farm was real and earnest. He tilled the soil and developed and cultivated a love for hard work which enabled him to accomplish so much for himself, his city and state. He learned that labor is honorable and indispensable for success in life, and always respected laboring people, was kind to them, and solicitous for their welfare and prosperity.
He developed early in life a love for knowledge, and especially for the exact science of mathematics. He grasped and readily mastered mathematical principles, and had the ability to apply them successfully in the solution of many difficult problems during his long and illustrious career as a civil engineer. He was a zealous, careful, and thorough student, and became a well-informed and eminently practical man. He realized early in his career that he must labor hard in order to have his efforts crowned with success in the great battle of life. He was willing to work, and pursued his studies so rapidly and so thoroughly that at the age of nineteen years he was appointed to the important and responsible position of assistant civil engineer of the Concord Railroad, and three years later was promoted to the position of chief engineer, which he held for many years. He built bridges, surveyed, located, and constructed railroads, and performed an immense amount of labor in the field and office to the entire satisfaction of those who employed him. He displayed great skill and ability in his work, and was acknowledged to be one of the ablest and most accomplished civil engineers in New England. He succeeded as an engineer because he prepared himself thoroughly for his profession, loved it, and was industrious, careful, and accurate. He was interested in his work, and was animated by a desire to succeed and to render to his employer an equivalent for his salary, for he was a just and honest man.
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HON. JAMES ADAMS WESTON.
Our friend was popular with his fellow citizens, who recognized his virtues and worth. They knew him to be a candid, capable, liberal-minded man, of great executive ability, true to himself and loyal to his friends, and one who was deeply interested in the growth and prosperity of his native city. He was elected mayor four times and admin- istered the affairs of the city ably, successfully, and economically. Mayor Weston labored assiduously in securing the adoption of measures to promote the health, secure the comfort, and increase the happiness of the people.
He believed that "all ordinary expenditures should be met by annual taxation." Under his wise and beneficent administrations much was done to secure the introduc- tion into the city of an abundant supply of good water from Lake Massabesic. The sewerage system was enlarged and extended, and a general plan adopted for the estab- lishment of the grade of streets and sidewalks. The walks on the public commons were concreted and our streets macadamized by his advice and direction, because he believed in good highways and in the ornamentation and improvement of our public parks. He earnestly and eloquently advocated the policy of beautifying, adorning, and ornamenting our public cemeteries, and urged the city government to take good care of them.
He was the first native of the city to be elected mayor, and the first mayor to recommend the erection of a monument in honor of the brave and loyal soldiers of Manchester, who gave their lives for the preservation of the Union, and we are largely indebted to him for securing for us the handsome soldiers' monument of New Hampshire granite, which stands in a beautiful park in the heart of our great, progressive, and enterprising Queen City of the Merrimack.
He was a loyal and generous supporter of our schools and the public library, because he believed that the perfection and perpetuity of our Republican institutions depend very largely upon the intelligence of the people.
He was a popular, honest, and conservative governor of New Hampshire for two years, and discharged the important duties of that great office ably and faithfully. He believed in a constitutional government, advocated economy in the expenditure of public money, the reduction of taxation, the promotion of education and temperance, and strongly opposed special legislation. He was true to the people and watchful of their rights and liberties in all of his official acts; a friend of honest men, and an enemy of bribers and of those unscrupulous people who sometimes assemble at the capitol with schemes for plundering the public treasury. With him publie office was a trust co be administered fairly, wisely, and honestly for the benefit of all the people, regardless of nationality, sect, or party. He never forgot that as mayor and governor he was the servant of the people, and was responsible to them for his official aets. He transacted public business in the same careful, prudent, and conscientious manner as he conducted his own business.
Governor Weston was a model public officer for the reason that he was candid, capable, honest, and an unostentatious gentleman. Although he secured wealth and fame, and achieved success in many walks of life, he was never an aristocrat, but, on the contrary, was always democratic in thought, word, and action. He treated the farmer and mechanie as kindly and courteously as he did the millionaire.
He sprang from the people, believed in them, worked for and sympathized with them, and they trusted, respected, and honored him. The fact that he always ran ahead of his ticket when a candidate for office shows that he enjoyed the confidence of the people of his native city and state to a marked degree. He was honest and sincere in his political convictions, loyal and faithful to his party, and a wise, honorable, and influential leader in political affairs.
Governor Weston thought carefully, reasoned clearly, and acted deliberately and understandingly in the transaction of business. He was a public benefactor for the
:
GEORGE I. MCALLISTER, ESQ.
Chairman of the Committee on Entertainment of Grand Lodge of Masons. Orator on the occasion of the laying the corner-stone of Weston Observatory. President of the Day at Dedication of Observatory.
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HON. JAMES ADAMS WESTON.
reason that he gave employment to labor, built water-works in many towns, erected buildings, encouraged and supported many moral, religious, and charitable institutions, and was a liberal contributor to many philanthropic enterprises for the promotion of the welfare of the people. He was public-spirited to an unusual degree, and manifested keen interest in every undertaking for the development and enlargment of our industrial enterprises and for increasing the comfort, happiness, and prosperity of our people.
Governor Weston loved Manchester, with her wide and straight streets, beautiful shade trees, spacious and handsome parks, beautiful and well-kept cemeteries, large and well-equipped mills and shops for the manufacture of cloth, shoes, and locomotives, palatial residences, splendid churches, commodious and well-appointed schoolhouses and other public buildings, and rejoiced in her remarkable growth in wealth and popu- lation, and in the general prosperity of her people, and was proud of her glorious record in war and peace. He was a typical citizen, honest, truthful, patriotic, and progressive; a wise counselor and a safe leader, who believed that our laws should be faithfully and impartially executed and the decisions of our courts respected, and our people protected in all of their rights.
His habits were correct, his speech was elean, and his integrity unquestioned. Gov- ernor Weston was kind and helpful to young men, and often aided them with his counsel and purse; encouraged them when they were despondent, and rejoiced with them when success crowned their efforts. He loved his home and appreciated his domes- tic life, which was especially happy. He was a kind and faithful husband and a loving and affectionate father, fond of his family and always solicitous for their comfort and prosperity.
A little more than one third of a century ago he was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason in Washington lodge, and during the rest of his life was loyal and faithful to the principles and teachings of Free Masonry, a noble institution, which stands next to the church in promoting civilization, broadening and strengthening human character, softening the asperities and cultivating the graces and virtues of life, and whose charity is boundless.
He loved Masonry for its high code of morals and because it is founded on the broad and eternal principles of right, truth, and justice, and inculcates the practice of charity and hospitality; aims to bind men together as brothers with the golden chain of reciprocal love and frindship, and excludes from its assemblies sectarian religion and partisan politics. He was an active, loyal, and zealous Mason, and a courteous and chivalric knight of our valiant and magnanimous order of Christian knighthood, and faithfully exemplified the teachings and sublime principles of Masonry every day. He was deeply interested in the prosperity of our fraternity, and was the efficient and honest treasurer of Trinity commandery for more than thirty years. Sir Knight Weston loved our grand old historic Trinity commandery, and was proud of its noble and glorious record for charity and hospitality; often gave it the benefit of his valable counsel and great experience; always paid its bills when they were presented to him, whether there was any cash in the treasury or not, and generously remembered it in his last will and testament.
The strength and sincerity of his love and affection for the city in which he lived for more than sixty years was demonstrated by his generous legacy to it for the erec- tion of the Weston Observatory, to be used, as he said, "for the advancement of science, for educational purposes, and for the use, enjoyment, benefit, and mental improvement of the inhabitants of the city of Manchester." It was a noble gift for a noble purpose, and the crowning act in the busy and useful life of one who labored for many years to make our city, as he said, "a home to men of leisure, a convenience and great oppor- tunity to the busy, safe to the rich, just and beneficent to the poor, a light to ignorance, and a blessing to all."
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SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF MANCHESTER, N. HI.
Our citizens loved and honored him, were proud of him as a citizen and a public official, and appreciated the active interest he always took in measures, societies, and institutions intended to promote their welfare and prosperity. They will never forget his kindness and generosity in providing for the erection of an observatory which will be of great value to them and will bear his name and be a useful and enduring monu- ment to his memory, and a constant reminder of the glorious work he accomplished for humanity.
Most Worshipful Grand Master :- It was eminently fitting and proper that you and the other officers of the Grand Lodge of Masons, escorted by the Knights Templar of New Hampshire, should assemble on the summit of Oak hill, in our spacious and beauti- tiful Derryfield park, today, when Manchester is celebrating the Semi-Centennial anni- versary of its corporate existence, and with solemn and impressive ceremonies lay the corner-stone of Weston Observatory, according to ancient form and usage. Most Wor- shipful, you have performed an important public duty, and have thereby honored the name and memory of a useful, valuable, and accomplished brother, whose life was full of good deeds, and who was called from "labor to rest," May 8, 1895.
He was a man of lofty aims, noble purposes, and a public benefactor, who has left a good name as a priceless legacy to his children. The citizens of Manchester will always hold in grateful remembrance the name of James Adams Weston, the patriotic citizen, kind neighbor, friend of the poor and needy, and lover of the people, and will emulate his virtues. The great work he accomplished for the people is the grandest and most enduring monument to his memory.
"The City of Manchester" was responded to by Mayor Clarke, who said:
Sir Knights and Friends :- Through the courtesy of the Masonic brethren I have been invited to respond to the toast, "The City of Manchester." It is a toast that I am proud to answer to, but words of mine would express but little now that Manchester herself has spoken,-how well and eloquently you who have been with us today must know. I think you must have been impressed ere this that all Manchester is engaged in conducting this anniversary occasion, and that whatever credit is due for its success rests with the people.
But for this magnificent feature of the anniversary I feel that I can fairly say that Manchester is principally indebted to one man. Weeks ago, when the Semi-Centennial was a thing of small beginnings, I discussed with our esteemed fellow citizen and your eminent brother, Sir Andrew Bunton, plans for attracting to Manchester this week the Knights Templar of New Hampshire. I found him enthusiastically interested in the idea, for, turning to me, he said, with that force of modest expression which meant so much in him:
"I will do all I can for the Semi-Centennial. I was born in Manchester, and nothing connected with her history has ever stirred me so much as has this celebration. Just tell me what you want me to do and I will do it. I am growing old and this may be the last opportunity I shall have to help Manchester."
How well Andrew Bunton fulfilled his promise, you who have taken part in the grandest military and civic parade ever witnessed in New Hampshire can attest. As chairman of the committee on parade he helped to organize today's procession, and to his loyal efforts in behalf of his native city our citizens are indebted for this brilliant assemblage of Sir Knights. This tribute to Sir Knight Bunton, whose labors have accomplished so much towards the successes of today, I am satisfied is abundantly merited, and upon this social occasion may with propriety be paid.
Manchester feels greatly honored by the presence of this grand body of Knights Templar, and the services attendant upon the laying of the corner-stone of the Weston
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ADDRESS OF GOVERNOR BUSIEL.
Observatory by the Grand Lodge will form a notable feature in the observances of the week. As chairman of the Semi-Centennial general committee, I thank you for the distinction you have conferred upon our city by your presence, and I sincerely hope that your reception and entertainment have been of such a cordial character that when Manchester invites you to come again you will feel like responding in just such a splendid manner as you have today.
"The State of New Hampshire" was responded to by Gov. Charles A. Busiel. GOVERNOR BUSIEL'S ADDRESS.
I am proud and glad to be able to claim New Hampshire as my native state. It has been said in the past that New Hampshire was a good state to be born in and to emigrate from; that time is past forever, and today I am glad to say that New Hamp- shire is a good state to be born in and to live in.
No pages in the early history of this country glow with a brighter light than those which are illuminated by the story of the deeds of the men of New Hampshire.
At Bunker Hill, the men of New Hampshire, with unflinching courage, met the veteran troops of old England and thrice turned back in confusion and rout the advanc- ing assault. Even in sullen retreat from that historic field they showed the world that the undisciplined, half-armed yeomanry of New Hampshire could be depended upon to achieve a nation's independence, and it is to the immortal honor of our grand old state that she shared with other patriots of New England the burden of battle in that first important struggle for liberty and independence.
Again at Bennington, the men of New Hampshire, under the heroic Stark, whose sacred remains now rest so near us on the banks of our noble Merrimack, helped to win a complete and important victory which led to the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, and paved the way to the triumphant ending of the Revolution and the independence of this great nation.
When the great struggle for the life of our government began, and the call for patriots to rally round the old flag resounded through the land, no state responded with more alacrity, no state gave more freely of its wealth and of its life blood in the shape of the young men who responded to the call to arms. Regiment after regiment went forward to the great conflict, taking away from the farm, the mill, the office, the work- shop, from every calling in life, the young men of New Hampshire, and we look with an honest pride on the proud record of New Hampshire troops on every great field of battle in that mighty contest.
Looking back over the history of our state, from the present to the day of its settlement, we find a proud record of great men in every vocation of life. As patriots none were braver and more self-sacrificing, as statesmen none have achieved more distinc- tion, as jurists none have been abler, as business men none have been more successful or been entrusted with greater responsibilities. At home the men of New Hampshire have built up a thrifty, prosperous, vigorous state; abroad they have helped in no small measure fo lay the foundations of the states that have grown up in the mighty West. Their efforts and influence have had no mean share in causing this great nation to take a proud position among the nations of the earth. Wherever they have been found they could be counted upon for good, hard-headed common sense, and relied upon every time for good government, and I am glad to say that they have furnished to many of the states of our great country most excellent public servants in various capacities, from
governors to officers of less importance. In such places they have never been found . wanting, but have reflected honor upon their native statc.
We have an honest, industrious, and thrifty people, and the success that has marked the efforts of their lives is well measured in the savings institutions of the state, in its
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SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF MANCHESTER, N. H.
excellent system of railroads, in its thrifty, prosperous cities, towns, and villages, in its great manufacturing plants, in its excellent educational institutions, and, best of all, in the hardy, sensible, independent, and self-reliant nature of the people themselves.
So may our state go on prospering and to prosper. May the time never come when she shall hold a less deserving place in the sisterhood of states, and the time will not come if our people are true to their own best interests and pour out the best efforts of their lives on the soil of our grand old state. No longer is it necessary to go West; no longer does the frontier of civilization, traveling toward the setting sun, tempt our young men to leave their homes and seek new fields of labor.
Here at home, beside our grand lakes and noble rivers, here in our peaceful valleys, here upon our towering hills, on the farm, in the workshop, in the busy manufacturing industries, in the thousand ways of earning an honest living by patient toil, our popu- lation finds a most congenial home. We should foster, by every means, pride in our state; she should be a synonym throughout the land for industry and prosperity; she should ever be a shining example of a happy, prosperous, progressive state, with a sturdy, happy people, and a good, healthy, economical government. I am confident that this will be our state's position. No better example of the thrift and energy of our people can be found than this strong, vigorous, growing city which now celebrates its Semi-Centennial. It is a fine example of our modern civilization, and you do well to mark its fiftieth birthday with this celebration. I am glad to be able to take part in it, and proud to be a member of this fraternity which is assisting in the celebration, made up, as it is, of patriotic men who are foremost in everything which promotes liberty and a higher civilization. I congratulate the people of Manchester upon the many evi- dences of prosperity that this city can boast. May it ever prosper; may it ever point the way to success, and, when its centennial shall come, may the celebration of that event show Manchester still in the front rank of prosperous New England cities.
"The Grand Encampment" was responded to by Very Eminent Sir Knight Joseph A. Locke of Portland, Me., who made a felicitous speech.
Right Eminent Grand Commander Daniel Crane Roberts, D. D., of Concord, spoke for "The Grand Commandery of New Hampshire," extending the thanks of that body to Trinity commandery for its magnificent hospitality.
"It has been my fortune to be entertained in many lands," said Grand Com- mander Roberts, "but never before have I seen the equal of the hospitality of today. I believe we should be here today because Masonry represents the ideals which make such a grand municipality as Manchester possible. The sun has not risen upon a fairer day, nor upon a day more fraught with incidents which are to become a part of the history of Masonry, as well as of the state of New Hampshire. The sun will not set upon any day upon a band of men more closely united by the bonds of brotherhood than is gathered here today for the festivities of this great anniversary."
Grand Master Henry A. Marsh of Nashua responded to the toast, "The Grand Lodge of New Hampshire." In part he said:
"I am glad to have an opportunity to thank Trinity commandery for the mag- nificent reception and escort of today, the most magnificent ever given the Grand Lodge. I wish to thank them for calling together so many Sir Knights as are gathered here today. The structure to be erected on Oak Hill park will stand for . ages, as a monument to the integrity and liberality of our distinguished brother, James A. Weston. However, while the Weston Observatory will, in the course of time, decay and crumble to dust, the principles of Masonry, which inspired its erec- tion, will live forever."
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MASONIC BANQUET.
Right Eminent Josiah H. Drummond, 33d degree, of Portland, Me., spoke for "The Grand Commandery of Maine," concluding his eloquent remarks by saying:
"It is not necessary for me to speak of the great esteem which the Knights of Maine bear for the Knights of New Hampshire. We congratulate you upon the splendid success you have achieved this day; upon the magnificent parade, of which I am sure all will say the Sir Knights formed the best and most imposing portion. There is a serious side, however, to a day like this, which we cannot overlook. It is a milestone in the history of the state, and in the history of Masonry. It devolves upon you to see to it that when your sons meet here fifty years hence, the present high standard of the order shall have been maintained."
After three hearty cheers for "Old Trinity," for its magnificent hospitality of the day, the Sir Knights formed in line and, headed by a consolidated hand of over one hundred pieces, with banners flying, and amid the inspiring music and applause of multitudes of people, marched to the depot to depart for their homes.
CITY HALL.
OND CROSSING
THE PARADE .- FLOAT BY GOLDEN RULE LODGE, K. OF P.
THE PARADE .- THE FLOAT, "GERMANIA."
LITERARY EXERCISES.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 8.
Tuesday, September 8, the fiftieth anniversary of the organization of the first city government of Manchester, was devoted to a literary program which was carried out in a highly successful manner in the tent on the Straw grounds at 2 P. M., under direction of the committee on literary exercises, Hon. Moody Currier, chairman.
This committee organized on June 23, and chose George I. McAllister, Esq., clerk. It was then unanimously voted to invite Hon. Henry E. Burnham to deliver the oration, Hon. Charles H. Bartlett was chosen president of the day, Rev. Allen Eastman Cross poet, and Rev. B. W. Lockhart was selected to write an ode for the occasion.
On July 28, the literary committee adopted the following as the order of exer- cises on Tuesday, September 8:
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