USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Boscawen > The history of Boscawen and Webster [N.H.] from 1733 to 1878 > Part 30
USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Webster > The history of Boscawen and Webster [N.H.] from 1733 to 1878 > Part 30
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mand of the Department of the East until Gen. Lee's surrender to Gen. Grant, when he resigned his commission in the army, and returned to private life.
In October, 1866, he accepted for a few weeks the appointment of naval officer of the port of New York,, and was appointed min- ister to the Hague. He did not accept the latter appointment ; and in November was appointed minister to France. In 1869 he resigned, and returned to the United States. During his dip- lomatic sojourn at the French court, he contributed greatly by his courtesy and friendly offices to remove the unkindly impres- sion which had grown out of the expedition of Napoleon III to Mexico, and to restore the traditionary friendship between France and the United States. His diplomatic correspondence with the French government embraces, among other matters, the impor- tant questions of extradition and expatriation; and should they be published, they will be found worthy of his former reputation for research and solid reasoning.
The last public service of Gen. Dix was rendered as governor of the state of New York,-an office to which he was elected against his wishes and remonstrances. It may justly be said, that the affairs of that state have not for fifty years been more ably, faithfully, or successfully administered. He found the treasury defrauded, in violation of the constitution of the state, of more than six millions of dollars ; and during his administration of two years he succeeded in replenishing it. His whole course was marked by freedom from partisanship and selfishness, and by an earnest devotion to the best interests of the people of the state. This praise has been freely conceded to him, even by his political opponents.
Gen. Dix has never been an applicant for office. The positions he has filled were always tendered to him without solicitation on his part, and more than once against his earnest protest. He was never a favorite with politicians. They were never able to use him, and they knew it, and instinctively disliked their moral superior. The government and the people have usually had re- course to him when they needed aid. It was so when he was called to the offices of post-master of New York and secretary of the treasury. His predecessors had proved faithless to their trusts, and his experience and integrity were needed to carry out
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indispensable reforms. His name has carried with it those ele- ments which the public require in time of danger, and which, in prosperity, they are prone to pass over till some fresh disaster puts them once more in demand.
No sketch of the life and services of John A. Dix would be com- plete which did not make mention of him as a student and a scholar. Throughout an official career of nearly half a century, with occasional intermissions, he has devoted all his leisure mo- ments to literary pursuits, and especially to the classics. The country has very few men so conversant as he with the Latin authors, in the study of whose works he takes unceasing delight. His translations are remarkable. That of the " Dies Ira," the great mediæval hymn of the Christian church, is ranked by the most distinguished critics as among the best renderings of that im- mortal production.
The following translation was made by Gen. Dix, at Fortress Monroe, Va., in 1863, when in command of the Department of Virginia. He prefaces it with the following remarks :
" DIES IRÆ.
" I have recently seen in the periodical press several new translations of this noble canticle-the best produced by the Middle Ages, perhaps by any age.
"Among the English versions, that of the Earl of Roscommon seems to have caught more of the inspiration of the original than any I have seen. It is, nevertheless, a paraphrase rather than a translation. This is a serious fault, notwithstanding its high poetic merit. A production universally acknowledged to have no superior of its class, should be as literally rendered as the structure of the language into which it is trans- lated will admit. Moreover, no translation can be complete which does not conform to the original in its rhythmic quantities. The music of the Dies Irae is as old as the hymn, if not older; and with those who are familiar with both they are inseparably connected in thought. To satisfy the exactions of such minds, the cadences must be the same.
" With full knowledge of what has been done and attempted in our language, and of the difficulty of doing better, I have nevertheless ven- tured on a translation having in view the two ends which I have point- ed out-musical notation, and literal rendering to the extent that is attainable.
" It is the fruit of leisure moments gained from the hard service of the camp, on rebel soil, but within Union entrenchments. If, in the 23
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ages of paganism, the strings of the Lesbian lyre might be, not un- worthily, swept by hands inured to arms,-
' Qui ferox bello, tamen inter arma, . Liberum, et Musas, Veneremque, et illi Semper hærentem puerum canebat,'-
a soldier in a Christian age may not less worthily find relief from the as- perities of war in themes more congenial with the higher dispensations which he is, by the providence of God, permitted to share.
"Fort -, Va., June 17, 1863."
DIES IRAE.
I.
Dies iræ, dies illa ! Solvet sæclum in favilla, Teste David cum Sibyllâ.
II.
Quantus tremor est futurus, Quando Judex est venturus, Cuncta strictè discussurus !
III.
Tuba, mirum spargens sonum Per sepulcra regionum,
Coget omnes ante thronum.
IV.
Mors stupebit, et natura, Qunm resurget creatura Judicanti responsura.
V.
Liber scriptus proferetur, In quo totum continetur, Unde mundus judicetur.
VI.
Judex ergo quum sedebit, Quidquid latet apparebit, Nil inultum remanebit.
VII.
Quid sum miser tunc dicturus, Quem patronum rogaturus, Quum vix justus sit securus ?
VIII. Rex tremenda majestatis, Qui salvandos salvas gratis, Salva me, fons pietatis !
IX.
Recordare, Jesu pie, Quod sum causa Tuæ viæ; Ne me perdas illâ die !
DIES IRAE. 1.
Day of vengeance, lo! that morning On the earth in ashes dawning, David with the Sibyl warning.
2. Ah! what terror is impending, When the Judge is seen descending, And each secret veil is rending.
3. To the throne, the trumpet sounding, Through the sepulchres resounding, Summons all, with voice astounding.
4. Death and Nature, mazed, are quaking, When, the grave's deep slumber breaking, Man to judgment is awaking.
5. Now the written book containing Record to all time pertaining Opens for the world's arraigning.
6. See the Judge his seat attaining, Darkest mysteries explaining, Nothing unavenged remaining. 7. What shall I then say, unfriended, By what advocate attended, When the just are scarce defended ?
8.
King of majesty tremendous, By Thy saving grace defend us; Fount of pity, safety send us !
9.
Jesus, think of Thy wayfaring, For my sins the death-crown wearing; Save me, in that day, despairing.
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X.
10.
Quærens me sedisti lassus, Redemisti, crueem passus;
Tantus labor non sit cassus !
XI.
Juste Judex ultionis, Donum fac remissiouis Ante diem rationis !
XII.
Ingemisco tanquam reus, Culpâ rubet vultus meus :
Supplicanti parce, Deus !
XIII.
Qui Mariam absolvisti,
Et latronem exaudisti, Mihi quoque spem dedisti.
XIV.
Preces meæ non sunt dignæ, Sed Tu bonus fac benignè,
Ne perreni cremer igne !
XV.
Inter oves locum præsta, Et ab hædis me sequestra,
Statuens in parte dextrâ !
XVI.
Confutatis maledietis, Flammis aeribus addictis, Voca me eum benedictis !
XVII.
Oro supplex et aeclinis, Cor contritum quasi cinis : Gere curam mei finis !
XVIII.
Lacrymosa dies illa Qua resurget ex favillâ Judicandus homo reus ; Huic ergo parce, Deus !
Worn and weary Thou hast sought me, By 'Thy cross and passion bought me ;- Spare the hope thy labors brought me. 11.
Righteous Judge of retribution, Give, O give me absolution Ere that day of dissolution.
12.
As a guilty culprit groaning, Flushed my face, my errors owning, Spare, O God, Thy suppliant moaning !
13. Thou to Mary gav'st remission, Heard'st the dying thief's petition, Bad'st me hope in my contrition.
14.
In my prayers no worth discerning, Yet on me Thy favor turning, Save me from that endless burning !
15.
Give me, when Thy sheep confiding Thou art from the goats dividing, On Thy right a place abiding !
16.
When the wicked are rejected, And to bitter flames subjected, Call me forth with thine elected !
17.
Low in supplication bending, Heart as though with ashes blending; Care for me when all is ending.
18.
When on that dread day of weeping Guilty man in ashes sleeping Wakes to his adjudication, Save him, God! from condemnation !
Gen. Dix is as much at home in modern as in ancient langua- ges. During his residence in Paris, while minister to the court of France, he was present at a meeting of one of the literary soci- eties of that capital, and, on being introduced to the company, addressed them in an elegant and effective speech in the French language, to the delight of all the listeners.
His summers are spent at "Seafield," his residence at West Hampton, on the southern side of Long Island, about seventy
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miles from New York. The fame of the old general as a keen sportsman and dead shot has gone through all that region ; and there, in congenial pursuits, and surrounded by a loving and de- voted family, he passes, serenely and happily, the closing years of a life which has been full of good service to God and his country, and on which rests no cloud of dishonor. A state or town is honored in bringing forth such citizens, and the men are happy who leave such a name after them, for the comfort and encourage- ment of future generations.
DIX, ROGER SHERMAN, MAJ.,
Was born in Boscawen in 1810, son of Timothy Dix, Jr., and younger brother of Gen. John A. Dix. He fitted for college at Phillips academy, Andover, and entered Dartmouth when he was fourteen, where he remained but one year, going from there to West Point as a cadet. He graduated in 1832, and was at- tached to one of the infantry regiments, and stationed at Little Rock, in Arkansas. He was appointed to the quartermaster's depot, and subsequently transferred to the paymaster's depart- ment.
Upon the breaking out of the Mexican war, he was attached to the army under Gen. Taylor; and at the battle of Buena Vista served as volunteer aid.
The signal service rendered by Maj. Dix in this battle is nar- rated by Capt. James H. Carleton, of the 1st Dragoons. The 2d Indiana volunteers had given way, and the moment was most critical. An effort was made by several officers to rally the fugi- tives. The part taken by Maj. Dix is thus set forth :
" None were so successful in arresting their flight as the intrepid Major Dix, of the pay department. Having ridden rapidly among them, he seized the standard of the 2d Indiana volunteers, and then called to the men, and asked them if they would desert their colors. He told them that they had sworn to protect them, and now, if they were still determined to do so, they must return with him to the fight. He swore to them that with God's help he would not see the state of Indiana disgraced by having her flag carried out of battle until it could be carried out in triumph ; and that back into it again it should go, if he had to take it there and defend it alone. This touched the hearts of many of those who were within the sound of his voice. It seemed to
Birthplace of John Adams Dix.
AMALKEM ENC. BOSTON
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banish the panic which had fallen on them: they were themselves again. They rallied, thought of their homes, gave three cheers for Indiana, and again gathered around the flag. Captain Linnard, of the topographical engineers, who had been very active in seconding Maj. Dix in his appeal, now got a drum and fife, and directed the national quickstep to be played, when the word was given to move on. Maj. Dix then led off with the flag, while the gallant captain brought up the rear; and those thus gathered went back again into battle."
Maj. Dix died suddenly, in Pennsylvania, of cholera, while on a journey from Tennessee to Washington, in 1849. He was bur- ied in the little town of Hannock, near the summit of the Alle- ghanies.
EASTMAN, JOSEPH, CAPT.
He was son of Joseph and Abigail (Merrill) Eastman, of Salis- bury, born in 1720. He moved to Contoocook in 1746. He served as a soldier in Col. Blanchard's command in 1754, after the attack of the Indians upon Stevenstown (South Franklin). In 1757 he enlisted as a ranger in Robert Rogers's battalion, and con- tinued in service till the close of the war.
He was in one of the severest contests ever fought on Ameri- can soil, on the shore of Lake George, Jan. 17, 1757, lasting from two in the afternoon until dark. The rangers numbered seventy- four; the French and Indians more than two hundred and fifty. Of the rangers, fourteen were killed, six wounded, and six taken prisoners ; while of the French and Indians, one hundred and six- teen were killed and wounded.
In 1760, Gen. Amherst, at Crown Point, wished to communi- cate with Gen. Murray, at Quebec, the distance being nearly three hundred miles through almost a pathless wilderness, in possession of the French and Indians. Gen. Amherst offered fifty pounds to any four men who would undertake the journey. Sergeant Beverley, who had been a prisoner in Canada, Luxford Goodwin, John Shute, and Joseph Eastman, volunteered to accomplish the undertaking.
Shute was from Concord, and all were rangers, accustomed to the wilderness. They took despatches and letters, and were escorted to Missisquoi bay, on Lake Champlain. They struck north-east, and came to the St. Francis river. That stream was a great Indian highway; and the question was, whether to
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cross by daylight, or wait till night. They concluded to run the risk of getting across during the day, and, collecting driftwood, constructed two rafts.
They cast lots to see who should first attempt to cross the tur- bulent stream. The lot fell to Eastman and Shute. They had only two poles. The current swept them down stream. They saw that the raft would go over a swift fall, and they managed to save themselves by leaping upon a rock with their guns and packs, and thence reached the shore.
The other two were less fortunate. They were swept over the falls. Goodwin and Beverley barely escaped with their lives, los- ing their coats, provisions, guns, and the letters entrusted to their care.
It was a wet, swampy wilderness through which they trav- elled. They had little to eat, but pressed on, steering north-east. On Sunday morning they heard a bell, and found themselves close to a village. Proceeding cautiously, they came to a log house, found that the family were at church, and helped them- selves to provisions and clothing.
Starting on their way, they came to a second log house, in the woods. A ladder rested against the gable end, leading to a door fastened with a padlock. They broke open the door, found a chest filled with clothing, and took whatever pleased them. They were in the enemy's country, and it was expected of a ranger that he would do all the harm he could to the enemy. They avoided all roads. At night they came to a farm-house, entered a barn, and found a calf, which they killed. Each ranger shouldered a quarter of veal, and took the skin along, kindled a fire in the woods, smoked the meat to preserve it, made moccasins of the skin, and continued their journey.
Four days later they came in sight of the St. Lawrence, and dis- covered a large encampment of troops. They were uncertain as to whether they were French or English. Beverley decided to approach the encampment. If they were French, he was to make a signal for the other three to take care of themselves. He ap- proached the camp. Eastman and his companions saw him stop- ped by a sentinel. After a short parley, they shook hands. Upon this, Eastman, Shute, and Goodwin approached, and were heartily welcomed. They were twenty miles above Quebec, but
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were at once sent to the city. Arriving there at midnight, they were taken to Gen. Murray's quarters, slept on the floor in the kitchen till morning, when they were taken into a large hall, where Gen. Murray and a hundred officers of various grades were assembled to hear their story. Gen. Murray treated them to the very best of liquor, "such," said Shute, " as I never have tasted before nor since, nor have I ever drank anything so good in my life." They were separately examined, and all had but one story to tell. Gen. Murray was so well pleased with them that he would not let them return, but kept them to pilot the army, giving them four guineas extra pay.
A few days later the army was in motion up the river to join Amherst; and they had the satisfaction of being present at Montreal, Sept. 8, 1760, when the domain of New France was, surrendered to the English.
Capt. Eastman married Elizabeth Jackman, daughter of George Jackman [see Genealogy ]. He moved to Concord probably in 1769, as he was a voter in Boscawen in 1768; but his name does not appear at a later day upon the records. He was a man of decided character and energy, capable of enduring great hard- ships, and an esteemed citizen in both towns. He died in 1815, at the age of 95.
FARMER, JOHN.
Col. John Farmer was born in Billerica, Mass., December, 1791 [see Genealogy ], moved to Boscawen with his mother about 1810, and engaged in farming ; but, being of a mechanical turn of mind, he gave his attention to the improvement of mills for the manufac- ture of shingles, laths, and clapboards. He invented a simple machine for smoothing the side of a block of wood. It was, in reality, a planing machine, one of the first ever brought into nse. He evinced considerable skill in the contriving of implements that would save labor on the farm.
Quite early in life he began the manufacture of lumber, which was rafted down the Merrimack to Lowell, and taken to Boston through the Middlesex canal.
He married Sally, daughter of Moses Gerrish, in 1819 [see Genealogy ]. He had great energy and decision of character, and his influence was felt throughout the community for good, and more especially after he became a member of the church.
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He was elected to the legislature in 1828-9, and again in 1834-5. He was often called upon to preside in town-meeting. He had a quick, judicial, discerning mind, was an early advocate of the temperance reform, of the anti-slavery movement, and had that coolness of judgment that held an even course between both radical and conservative parties. He was kind and liberal in all his views and acts, giving largely of his means to sustain benevo- lent and missionary organizations. He was captain of the light infantry, and colonel of the 21st Regiment.
Through his business operations, which became very extensive, he was widely known, and no man in the section occupied a more favorable position than he for political advancement. He died in the full vigor of life, from typhoid fever, July 17, 1836, at the age of 45.
FARMER, MOSES G., PROF.
Moses Gerrish Farmer, eldest child of Col. John and Sally Ger- rish Farmer, was born in Boscawen, N. H., Feb. 9, 1820. In early life he attended the district school in that town ; also the academy on Boscawen Plain.
He entered Phillips academy, Andover, Mass., in the autumn of 1837. At that time music was with him an all-absorbing pas- sion, and other studies were often neglected in consequence of it. One day, while seated at the organ when he should have been preparing his lessons for the morrow, the door suddenly opened, and the calm, stern face of Dr. Taylor was before him. "Farmer, you are disappointing the best hopes of your friends," were the only words that fell upon the ear of the boy musician,-and the door closed between them. Great was the influence of those words upon the man who has ever found in duty his highest pleasure.
He entered Dartmouth college in 1840, where he remained three years, and then was obliged to leave on account of ill health. (The degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by the faculty of Dart_ month in 1853.)
A few months after leaving college, he became preceptor of El- liot academy, Me., and was married in that town Dec. 25, 1844, to Miss Hannah T., daughter of Richard Shapleigh, of Berwick, Me. He removed immediately to Dover, N. H., as he then had charge of the Belknap school in that town, where he taught until the
Moses 9. Farmer.
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summer of 1847, when he turned his attention wholly to scien- tifie pursuits, which were much more congenial to his tastes than school-teaching.
During these years he found his recreations in the study of music. His fondness for mathematies, together with his love for music, made him a thorough harmonist. The following anecdote sets forth the versatility of his talents : A church in a neighbor- ing town was about to settle a pastor, and the leader of the choir, wishing to made the musical service unusually attractive, organ- ized an orchestra, with clarinet, flute, violin, and other instruments, but had no performer for the double-bass viol. He was informed that a gentleman in Dover was an excellent musician, and doubt- less would be able to render good service. Upon visiting Dover, the conductor found, to his great gratification, that the musician was a fellow-student at Dartmouth, who at once consented to play the viol.
The evening came. Mr. Farmer was late, and only entered the orchestra as the opening piece was to be performed. He snapped the strings of the instrument to ascertain if it was in tune, and, as he drew the bow across them, thus whispered to the conductor : " I never played a double-bass in my life." The leader was aston- ished at the intelligence. "What are you going to sing?" Mr. F. asked. The leader laid the score before him. "I never saw it before," he whispered.
Everything went well till the choir was about half through the piece, when choir and audience were startled by a crash, and, to their horror, saw that the pile of books upon which rested the score of the violist had tumbled to the floor. Put there was no interruption, for his knowlege of harmony enabled him to render a fitting accompaniment to the end.
He began his experiments in electricity in 1845, inventing at that time an electro-magnetic engine. In 1846 he constructed a small electro-magnetic locomotive, also a small railroad track, and exhibited the same in various towns and cities, lecturing upon the subject of electro-magnetism and its applications, showing also how it could be adapted to the use of torpedoes and sub-marine blasting. His first lecture was given in Dover, and one of his experiments was made with a miniature ship, placed in a wash- bowl of water. The ship was blown up by electricity, and, com-
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ing down, struck on the top of the lecturer's head. This was, perhaps, the reason why the experiment was never repeated before another audience ; but the circumstance is often recalled now, as ships may so quickly be turned into kindling-wood by the torpe- does which he uses at the present day.
In 1846 he invented the hook or sickle-shaped climber, for the use of repairers of telegraph lines in climbing poles, and came near losing his life in showing how easy it was to use them !
About this time Mr. Farmer made the acquaintance of Hon. F. O. J. Smith, who was then one of the most prominent men in all telegraphic matters, which finally resulted in Mr. Farmer's leaving Dover, in December, 1847, and taking up his residence in South Framingham, Mass., where he opened a telegraph office in the de- pot, and also had charge of the line between Boston, Worcester, and Springfield. While here he tried the experiment of telegraph- ing by the use of a current from an induction coil, using a com- mon medical machine for the purpose. Early in the winter of 1848, Mr. Smith, president of the Portland line of telegraph, and Mr. L. L. Sadler, superintendent of the Boston and New York line, were one day talking over the possibilities of the telegraph system, and the uses to which it could be applied ; and Mr. Smith suggested that an alarm of fire might be given by it, and asked,-" Where is the man who can devise the machinery that will be needed to do it?" Mr. Sadler replied,-" I have an opera- tor in my employ now, who can do it if anybody can, for he is the most ingenious man I ever saw. He is in the Framingham office, and his name is Farmer." "I know him," said Mr. Smith; "yes, he can do it, if it can be done." Mr. Farmer's attention was at once called to the subject, and he asked for a week in which to consider it. At the end of that time he showed them what he had done. He took the striking part of an old clock, and invented the electrical part necessary to construct a miniature machine, which clearly demonstrated the thought in a visible form. This was the first machine in the world for giving an alarm of fire by electricity. Messrs. Smith and Sadler were perfectly satisfied with it, but were too full of care in regard to their telegraph interests to do anything further at that time, and the work was not resumed for two years. Not so with Mr. Farmer. If this were something that could be done, and the world needed it, the time would come
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