USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Dublin > The history of Dublin, N.H., Volume 1852 > Part 5
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CENTENNIAL ADDRESS.
whom we left here, aye, of some who set out in life long after ourselves, " time's effacing fingers " are already obliter- ating the inscriptions upon their tombstones. Let us accept with gratitude the occasion which has drawn together so many of the living, to interchange friendly greetings, chas- tened though our joy must needs be, and tinged with a shade of melancholy, by the remembrance of the absent dead, and the consciousness of the ravages of time.
1
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
PROCEEDINGS.
A MEETING of persons interested in celebrating, in an appro- priate manner, the close of a century since the settlement of the town, was held at the Town Hall, Feb. 14, 1852.
RUFUS PIPER, Esq., was chosen Chairman ; and WARREN L. FISKE, Secretary.
A Committee, consisting of HENRY C. PIPER, RANSOM N. PORTER, and JESSE MORSE, was chosen to get an article inserted in the warrant for the annual town-meeting, to see if the town would take any measures to bring about such a celebration ; and also to recommend a plan for conducting the same.
At the same meeting, it was voted to choose a Committee of two from each school district, to collect facts and inci- dents relating to the history of the town since its first settle- ment in 1752.
Chose -
For District No. 1, Rev. LEVI W. LEONARD, D.D. and RUFUS PIPER, Esq.
"
„
" 2, JOHN BROOKS and ABIJAH RICHARDSON.
3, LAWSON BELKNAP and ZAMAN A. GOWING.
" " " 4, JOSEPH EVLETH and DEXTER DERBY.
" " 5, Deacon JESSE MORSE and CYRUS FROST, Esq.
„
6, THOMAS FISK, Esq., and JONATHAN K. SMITH.
" 7, AARON SMITH and Rev. HENRY ARCHIBALD.
„
8, LOVELL HARRIS and SILAS P. FROST.
"
" 9, RUEL BRIGHAM and LEWIS P. RANDOLPH.
"
" 10, NAHUM WARREN and JOHN GILCHREST.
The plan proposed by the Committee first named, and adopted by the town in town-meeting, was to choose a Chief Marshal by ballot, to conduct the exercises on the day of celebration, so far as is customary for such an officer to do so, and also to choose a Committee of Arrangements, con-
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sisting of one member from each school district, - the Chief Marshal to act as Chairman of said Committee, and that he appoint as many Deputy Marshals as he may think proper.
RUFUS PIPER, Esq., was chosen Chief Marshal.
The following-named persons, all natives of Dublin, were chosen for the Committee of Arrangements, viz. : -
District No. 1, ASA H. FISK.
" 2, LUKE RICHARDSON.
„ 3, ALMERIN GOWING.
4, JACOB GLEASON.
5, JESSE MORSE.
District No. 6, JONATHAN K. SMITH.
7, AARON SMITH.
" " 8, AMOS E. PERRY.
9, JONATHAN TOWNSEND.
,, 10, BELA MORSE.
The first meeting of the Committee of Arrangements took place on Tuesday the first day of April, when the organiza- tion of the Board was completed by choosing ASA H. FISK, Esq., Secretary.
It was voted to hold the celebration on Tuesday, June 17, 1852.
Voted to invite Charles Mason, Esq., of Fitchburg, Mass., a native of Dublin, to give an address on the occasion.
Chose Rev. Levi W. Leonard, D.D., Jonathan K. Smith, Lawson Belknap, Thomas Fisk, Esq., and Henry C. Piper, Committee of Publication.
Chose Rev. Dr. Leonard and Rev. Alonzo Hayes to confer with the several choirs of singers in town, relative to fur- nishing sacred music on the day of celebration, and to select appropriate pieces for performance.
Chose Jonathan K. Smith, Asa H. Fisk, and Dr. Ransom N. Porter, to invite guests, and also to prepare sentiments, and make arrangements to have them responded to.
Chose Moses Marshall, Esq., Thaddeus Morse, and Jesse Morse, to gather statistics in regard to the physicians, tra- ders, and mechanics, of Dublin. Chose Rev. Dr. Leonard and Rev. Mr. Hayes to do the same by ecclesiastical matters.
Chose Ebenezer Greenwood on town and county officers.
Chose Moses Marshall, John W. Learned, and Richard Strong, Esq., to get the names of the revolutionary officers and soldiers of Dublin, and all other matters relating to these "times that tried men's souls."
Chose Jesse Morse, Moses Adams, and John Piper, to make out a list of militia officers of Dublin, and get other matters relating to the militia.
Chose Rev. Dr. Leonard, Jonathan K. Smith, and Thomas Fisk, Esq., on the subject of common schools.
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Chose Rev. Dr. Leonard, Dr. Asa Heald, and Dr. R. N. Porter, to collect facts relative to health, sickness, and dis- eases in Dublin.
On the 8th of May, the Committee of Arrangements again met, and chose Jonathan K. Smith President of the day; and John Wilson Learned, Richard Strong, Moses Marshall, Benjamin Marshall, and Abijah Richardson, Vice- Presidents.
Chose Asa H. Fisk and Henry C. Piper toast-masters.
May 29, the Committee met and voted that on the day of celebration the tables be set in picnic style, furnished by voluntary contributions from the inhabitants of the town, and that the refreshments be gratuitous to all who attend.
Chose Ebenezer Greenwood, Calvin Learned, and Charles A. Hamilton, a Committee to prepare a place suitable to convene the people for dinner, and other purposes on that occasion, arrange the seats and tables, take charge of the food as it is brought in, superintend setting the tables, and appoint assistants for waiting upon the people, &c.
Chose Thaddeus Morse, Ephraim Foster, and Asa Heald, the Selectmen of Dublin, a Committee of Finance to provide funds to carry through the celebration agreeably to the vote of the town.
Chose Rufus Piper, Jonathan K. Smith, and Asa H. Fisk, to report a Programme of Exercises and Order of Procession on the day of celebration.
June 8, Voted, that the table be set in the grove near the new road, south of the town-house, on land of Mr. Joseph Perry.
Chose Dr. R. N. Porter, Col. Rufus Piper, George A. Gowing, Joseph Perry, Samuel F. Townsend, Henry C. Piper, and their ladies, to decorate, in a tasteful and proper manner for the occasion, the church occupied by the First Congregational Society, and build a stage therein for the speakers.
Chose Daniel Fiske, John Piper, and Franklin Bond, to procure movable seats for the aisles of the church.
Voted to meet at the town-house on the day of celebration, at nine o'clock, A. M.
June 15, the Committee of Arrangements met, and chose Jonathan K. Smith, Luke Richardson, and Jacob Gleason, to
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assign the several religious exercises of the day to the different clergymen present.
Requested the Selectmen to appoint a suitable number of constables to act, if necessary, on the day of celebration.
Calvin Mason was appointed to act on the day of celebra- tion as a member of the Committee of Arrangements, in place of Jonathan K. Smith, who is to act as President of the day.
The Chief Marshal appointed the following persons as Deputy Marshals, namely : Col. Cyrus Frost, Col. Charles W. Pierce, Capt. Joseph Evleth, Capt. Dexter Mason, Capt. Jason Phelps, Capt. Curtis Smith, Capt. Henry C. Piper, Capt. Joseph W. Powers, and Mr. Lyman Russell.
June 17, 1852, the Committee met at 8 o'clock, A.M., and voted, that, as the meeting-house cannot convene the nume- rous assemblage, the procession, when formed, march imme- diately to the grove, and occupy the seats there for the exercises of the day.
The national flag was kindly furnished for the occasion by Mr. James G. Piper, of Boston ; and its ample folds were spread to the breeze on "Meeting-house Hill," at an early hour, amid the firing of cannon and other marks of re- joicing.
A large inscription, extending across the front of the meeting-house, was furnished by Messrs. Orlando and Charles Marshall, in the following words : -
"WE WELCOME THE ABSENT SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF DUBLIN TO THEIR NATIVE HOME."
The interior of the church was neatly and very tastefully ornamented with evergreens, &c., for the occasion.
At half-past nine o'clock, the procession was formed on the common in front of the meeting-house, in the following order, viz. : -
CHIEF MARSHAL. BAND OF MUSIC. PRESIDENT AND ORATOR OF THE DAY. VICE-PRESIDENTS. CLERGY. COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS. SPECIALLY INVITED GUESTS. SINGERS. CITIZENS FROM OTHER TOWNS. CITIZENS OF DUBLIN.
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PROCEEDINGS.
At ten o'clock, the procession marched to the grove, where, under the direction of the Table Committee, seats were pro- vided for over two thousand persons, arranged in semicircular form, with the speakers' stand, and platform for band and singers, in the centre, and the tables on each wing, extending about ten rods from the centre, in front.
The seats were all filled, and many were obliged to stand during the exercises.
The vast assembly having been seated, and called to order by the President of the day in a short address, the exercises commenced with -
1. Voluntary, by the band.
2. Invocation, by Rev. ALONZO HAYES, Pastor of First Trini- tarian Congregational Society.
3. Anthem, by the choir.
4. Selections from Scripture, by Rev. LEVI W. LEONARD, D.D., Pastor of First Congregational Society.
5. Prayer, by Rev. SAMUEL F. CLARK, of Athol, Mass., a native of Dublin.
6. Anthem, by the choir.
7. Address, by CHARLES MASON, Esq., of Fitchburg, Mass., a native of Dublin.
8. The following hymn, by J. K. SMITH, was read by Rev. S. F. CLARK, and sung to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne " by the assembly at large, led by the choir : -
An hundred years ! what wondrous change A century has wrought ! With deeds, events, and doings strange, Its passing years are fraught. Stern old Monadnock, 'mid a flock Of hillocks great and small,
Reared then, as now, his crown of rock, The monarch of them all.
But o'er the landscape round him spread No human dwellings rise : One mighty forest lifts its head Exulting to the skies. But, as our fathers, here and there, Among the groves are seen,
Ere long their rude log-huts appear, And fields arrayed in green.
And lo ! these lowly homes to grace, Fond female hearts incline ; To rear, in this their distant place, Affection's magic shrine. Thus gloomy forests disappear, And homes their joys impart,
Whence merry childhood's words of cheer Come ringing to the heart.
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PROCEEDINGS.
Time passes on ; and years of toil Their pressing wants supply,
Drawn from the treasures of the soil By sturdy industry. And yet their views were not confined To things of earthly need :
They saw neglected soul and mind Might make them poor indeed.
And soon the church, in modest pride, Adorns the forest-glade ;
And then the school-house, by its side, Sends forth its timely aid.
The church and school-house still are ours, By our wise fathers given :
This can unfold our mental powers ; That, point the way to heaven.
9. Prayer, by Rev. HENRY ARCHIBALD, late Baptist Minister of Dublin.
10. Singing, by the choir.
11. Benediction, by Rev. HENRY A. KENDALL, formerly Minis- ter of Dublin.
AT TABLE.
1. Blessing invoked by Rev. GEORGE F. CLARK, of Norton, Mass., a native of Dublin.
2. Repast.
3. Thanks, by Rev. Z. S. BARSTOW, D.D., of Keene.
RECESS OF THIRTY MINUTES.
The multitude of people were fed most abundantly, and gratuitously ; and much food was left unconsumed.
AFTERNOON.
Order being restored, the afternoon-exercises were as fol- lows, viz. : -
1. Music, by the band.
2. The President called for the first sentiment, which was as follows : -
" THE FIRST CENTENNIAL OF DUBLIN - An occasion of ' welcome home' to our friends from abroad, of solemn reflections for the past, of hopeful anticipations for the future."
To this sentiment the President of the day, JONATHAN K. SMITH responded as follows : -
It becomes my pleasing duty, as the organ of my fellow- townsmen, to extend to our former townsmen, who have come up here to unite with us on this interesting occasion, a cordial " welcome home." And I am sure I do but express the unanimous wish of the people of Dublin, when I give
Jon Smith
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them more than a mere formal reception here. Welcome, thrice welcome, my friends, to our festival ; welcome to our homes and our hearts ! [Three cheers.] We thank you, brethren, for leaving your homes and your several occupa- tions, to cheer us by your presence, and animate us by your words of counsel, encouragement, or admonition. And I trust the occasion will be improved to the utmost in social intercourse, and in communing with each other ; and that a friendly, fraternal feeling, like the electric current, will pass freely from heart to heart, till the whole assembly is pervaded by its benign and heaven-born influence.
The occasion naturally suggests a retrospective view of the past. We have arrived at one of those eminences in the pathway of life, whence we can look back through a long vista of years. In the dim distance we see, first, a single family coming over the line from the east, and commencing the settlement of the town. One by one, the sturdy pio- neers arrive ; and we see their settlements scattered here and there amidst the dense wilderness that surrounds them.
Gradually, their encroachments upon the domain of the forest become visible ; and, at length, broad fields and waving harvests minister to their necessities, and supply their urgent wants. The venerable forms of our fathers and mothers rise up before us, in their honest simplicity of character; and we behold with admiration their strenuous and persevering efforts to change the wilderness to blooming fields for the benefit of their descendants. Their earnest, self-denying exertions, their daily and severe privations, their toils and hardships for the welfare of coming generations, bespeak our admira- tion for them as men, and invite our gratitude towards them as public benefactors.
When we contemplate the great disadvantages, both physi- cal and mental, which they had to encounter, and compare, or rather contrast, these with the present state of things, we can scarcely fail of being grateful to a kind Providence, that our lot was cast in more favored times, and under more auspicious circumstances.
Surrounded as we are with the necessaries, the luxuries, and conveniences of life, it is difficult for us to conceive the hardships and privations to which they were subjected. Without roads or carriages, or even beasts of burden, their own brawny shoulders bore their grain to the distant mill, with no other guide than marks upon the trees. With the
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lofty forests frowning upon them on every side, it was their mission to " go ahead " with their own powers of locomotion, and " make the wilderness blossom as the rose."
A century has elapsed since the incipient settlement of this town. During this period, what changes have occurred ! How different the aspect of every thing around us! Yonder mountain, indeed, still presents its serene brow to invite our contemplation, and the smiling lakelet at its foot still mirrors the benignant heaven above it; but all else how changed ! Our fathers and mothers, - where are they ? Their bodies mingle with the dust of yonder "village of graves ; " their spirits are with Him who gave them. And with them have passed away the primitive habits and manners and customs which then prevailed. These have given place to other cus- toms and usages ; in some respects far better, in others not so good.
The century we are reviewing has been distinguished for rapid advances in the arts and sciences. Art has been the handmaid of science, and science has directed the labors of art, until results almost miraculous have been realized. We harness steam to our carriages, and fly, as on the wings of the wind, along our iron roads. The broad Atlantic has been shorn of its dimensions, and Europe brought almost within hail of our shores. And the very lightning has been dis- armed of its thunderbolts, and is sent as an errand-boy to do our bidding. The means of mental improvement here have been almost infinitely multiplied. The log school-house has given place to the elegant structure ; the four-pound appro- priation has gone up to more than three hundred; and, instead of a school in three places, "the schoolmaster has been abroad " through the length and breadth of the town. Have the intelligence and virtue of the present generation kept pace with their far greater privileges ? Happy will it be for us if the shades of our fathers do not rise up, and condemn us for a misuse of the ten talents committed to our keeping.
What changes have occurred in the nations and govern- · ments of the earth during the period now under considera- tion ! Thrones and dynasties have tottered and fallen ; nations have been swept away by its unceasing current ; and others, then unknown, have come into being, and risen to power. The whole life of Bonaparte has been comprised within it, and the public life of Washington is included in
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the first half of it ; - the one sweeping, meteor-like, across the political firmament, consumed by its own brightness ; and the other, the pole-star of liberty, towards which the eyes of the nations are still turned in admiration and hope, - striking examples for warning or imitation.
But the century, with all its scenes and events, is now among the things that were. Its successive generations of men have come upon the stage and passed off, in the fulfil- ment of nature's law, and we are left in their places. We, too, must successively yield our places in life to others.
The youngest among us cannot hope to witness the second centennial of Dublin. Long ere that shall come, this whole congregation will " sleep the sleep that knows no waking " on earth. What is to transpire during the coming century cannot be foretold, and it is useless to conjecture. From what has taken place in the past, we may reasonably expect an accelerated progress in the several departments of art and science and discovery. Let us hope it will also be fruitful of means for improving the physical, intellectual, social, and moral condition of man. If this town is "a good one to emigrate from," let the specimens we send abroad testify to our faithfulness in educating them ; and may those remaining here ever sustain the reputation of our common mother, so that the former may not blush to own the place of their nativity.
Once more, my friends, I welcome you to your native town.
Though wintry winds come stealing Along our northern hills, Our hearts' warm fount of feeling Nor time nor absence chills.
The choir sung "Greeting Glee."
The following letter from AARON APPLETON, Esq., of Keene, was read : -
KEENE, June 7, 1852.
Gentlemen, - I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 15th ult., inviting me to attend the cele- bration of the hundredth anniversary of the settlement of the town of Dublin, on Thursday, the 17th inst.
Be pleased, gentlemen, to accept my sincere thanks for this mark of their attention. The object proposed by the people of Dublin, which will assemble together natives of the town and persons who have resided there, as well as others, meets
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my cordial approbation. It is now many years since I resided in Dublin ; but I have oftentimes visited it, and have always taken an interest in its welfare and prosperity. It would afford me much pleasure to join in the festivities of the occa- sion. I regret to say, however, that my ill-health will not permit me to accept your polite invitation.
With best wishes for the success of the celebration, and for your own personal happiness, I remain, gentlemen, very respectfully, Your friend and servant,
AARON APPLETON.
Messrs. JONA. K. SMITH, ASA H. FISK, and RANSOM N. PORTER, Committee of Invitation.
3. The second sentiment was read : -
" THE PRIMITIVE INHABITANTS OF DUBLIN. - Simple in manner, wise in delibera- tion, energetic and persevering in action, - their hardships and their virtues have consecrated their memories to the admiration of posterity, and should lead us to prize the privileges we enjoy."
MUSIC BY BAND.
Letter from Thomas Hardy, Esq.
DOVER, July 5, 1852.
Gentlemen, - I received your circular, inviting me to attend your centennial celebration in Dublin on the 17th ult., the 2d inst. Of course, it was rather too late to be present on that occasion. It bears the post-mark of June 4. The postmaster informed me it arrived the preceding evening ; so that it must either have slept in some office several weeks, or have been carried round "Robin Hood's barn " the same length of time. I assure you, gentlemen, nothing would have given me greater pleasure than to have taken a part in that social and festive meeting. To have been there would have brought fresh to my recollection scenes that are now numbered with things past and gone, and which " the me- mory fondly delights to recall." Had I been present on that occasion, I should probably have met some of my old contemporaries and friends, with whom I was once well ac- quainted, though most of them have immerged in the ocean of eternity. I rejoice that "Dublin is what she is ;" and that the cause of education is " still upward and onward," receiving aid from patriotic fathers and matron-mothers. I have seen a laconic account of your celebration in the " prints ; " and, judging from that, conclude you had a splen- did one. I would like to see it more in detail, which I presume might be found in a Keene paper. Accept, gentle-
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men, my cordial thanks for your polite invitation, while I am thine, in every laudable undertaking,
THOS. HARDY.
JONA. K. SMITH, ASA H. FISK, R. N. PORTER, Committee of Invitation.
4. Third regular sentiment : -
"OUR REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS. - Their names may not have come down to us to be entwined with laurel; but the work of their hands survives, - a crown of glory to the people, a star of hope to the nations."
QUADRETTE - " HAIL, YE HEROES," &C.
Mr. LAWSON BELKNAP made some interesting extempo- raneous remarks, interspersed with anecdotes, showing the spirit and energy displayed by the people of this town during the War of the Revolution, and the dangers and hardships encountered in defence of the country.
The following sentiment was sent by JOHN ELLIOT, Esq., of Keene, formerly of Dublin : -
" THE PATRIOTS OF BUNKER'S HILL, - Among whom, seventy-seven years ago this day, my father, and the fathers or grandfathers of many of you, struck the first blow for the freedom of their homes: may the memory of their virtue and devotion be with us, as abiding and ennobling as the hills that shadow their graves."
5. Fourth sentiment : -
"OUR FOREFATHERS. - The times in which they lived may be sneered at as the ' old pod auger times.' The men themselves may be laughed at, for carrying a stone in one end of the sack to balance the grain in the other; but well would it be for those who deride them to imitate their many good qualities. Though humble, yet they were virtuous and respectable."
CHORUS - "HAIL HAPPY DAY," &c.
SAMUEL MORSE, Esq., of Croydon, formerly of Dublin, responded to this sentiment, and had spoken but a few minutes, when a clap of thunder admonished the assembly to seek some better shelter than the dense foliage of the grove. They accordingly adjourned to the meeting-house, and held the remaining exercises there. Mr. Morse declined saying more ; and, from the peculiar circumstances, no notes were taken of what he did say.
By DANIEL ELLIOT, M.D. : -
" THE MEMORY OF THE THREE MORSES - Deacon Eli, Squire Reuben, and Major John; worthy specimens of the primary granite formation of the town of Dublin: may ' chips of the old block ' never be wanting among you."
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Letter of Rev. Abiel Abbot, D.D.
PETERBOROUGH, June 12, 1852.
Gentlemen, - I thank you for the invitation to attend the celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the settlement of Dublin. If the infirmities of fourscore and six years per- mit, I shall gladly attend. [He did attend.]
It gives me high satisfaction that the people of Dublin propose to hold a centennial celebration commemorative of the settlement of the town. The hardships, privations, and dangers which the first settlers endured ought to be remem- bered ; and the courage, fortitude, self-denial, and patient toil which they exercised, ought never to be forgotten. The first third of the century was peculiarly trying. Severe labor, hard fare, provisions scarce and distant, camp in the woods, bad or no roads, few in number, exposed to cruel savages in the French war of 1755, sufferings in the Revo- lutionary War, able-bodied men called to the army, money scarce or depreciated, were some of the difficulties to be encountered. Having been born in the woods, some of these trials are fresh in my memory ; others were repeated by those who endured them.
The second third of the century was less trying. Labor was less severe, farms and buildings were greatly improved, the number of inhabitants increased, roads made and im- proved, and plenty and prosperity enjoyed.
The last third of the century has been attended with great improvement and prosperity. Farms have been well culti- vated, houses built and repaired, convenience and comfort have been sought, the improvement of the roads has claimed much attention and labor, and the value of property has been increased.
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