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F 129 . R84 R7 Copy 1
F 129 .R84 R.7
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.
Chap. F1219 =11. 984RT PRESENTED BY
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
١٠٠
1
entennial
elebration
OF THE
Official rganization
OF THE
Town of Romulus, N. Y.
June 13, 1894.
1 894. PRINTED UNDER DIRECTION OF THE CENTENNIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
OF THE
1
Official Organization of the Town
OF
ROMULUS, SENECA COUNTY, NEW YORK,
June 13, 1894.
1894 :
PRINTED UNDER DIRECTION OF THE CENTENNIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
WITH COMPLIMENTS OF
DIEDRICH WILLERS.
GENEVA, N. Y .. COURIER JOB DEPARTMENT 1894.
R8477
CENTENNIAL OBSERVANCE
OF
The Official Organization of Romulus.
"As turns the traveler back
" At close of evening to survey
" The windings of the weary track,
"Through which the day's long journey lay,
" And sees by that departing light
" Which fled so fast on field and meadow,
" How distant objects still are bright,
" When nearer things are sunk in shadow;
" E'en so the mind's inquiring eye
" Looks backward through the mist of years,
"When in its vast variety,
"The checkered map of life appears."
Retrospection-a looking back and review of the past-fur- nishes a profitable and pleasing study to the historian, often re- calling and reviving half-forgotten or dormant memories of by- gone events.
The Psalmist, long ago declared : "I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times."
In the year 1879, the centennial of General John Sullivan's campaign against the Indians of Western New York and the mein- orable march of his army across Seneca County, was celebrated at Waterloo. At that time, Town Historians were appointed in the several towns of the county, to co-operate with the Waterloo Li- brary and Historical society, in efforts to collect and preserve his- torical data. Considerable material was thus collected in the towns
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4
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS.
of Romulus and Varick, and upon comparison of views, the Town Historians of these towns deeming it desirable to fittingly observe the official centennial of the town of Romulus, (since the centen- nial of the organization of Onondaga County was also about to be observed) issued the following notice:
A meeting of citizens of Romulus and Varick will be held at the village of Romulus, on Monday, March 5, at 2 o'clock P. M., to consider the advisa- bility of a public commemoration of the centennial of the organization of the old town of Romulus, to be held July 4th, or such other time as may be deemed advisable. It is expected that local speakers will be present to explain the proposed commemoration and to furnish desired information. The public are respectfully invited to attend on the day mentioned, it being the rooth anniversary of the formation of the town, March 5, 1794.
E. SEELY BARTLETT, DIEDRICH WILLERS.
There was a large attendance of representative men of Romu- lus and Varick, at the meeting held in pursuance of the above notice, at Hinkley's Hall, in the village of Romulus, in the after- 110011 of March 5. The newspapers of the county gave the follow- ing report of the meeting:
The meeting was called to order by E. Seely Bartlett, Esq., who stated the object of the meeting and was then called to the chair. Andrew S. Long was chosen secretary. Hon. Diedrich Willers then spoke more fully of the object of the meeting, prefacing it by a concise review of the events leading up to the organization of the town. E. B. Miller, Henry C. Lisk, Dr. D. F. Everts, Julius F. Hunt, Rev. J. W. Jacks, William A. Beaver, Rev. J. H. Cook and others, addressed the meeting, all favoring a local cel- ebration some time in the early summer. The following committees were appointed, to report April 3, which date is the anniversary of the first town meeting held in the town:
Committee to suggest program and plan-Rev. J. Wilford Jacks, Hon. Diedrich Willers, Julius F. Hunt, C. C. Pontius, Schuyler B. Yerkes.
Committee on finance: Messrs. William A. Beaver, William D. Gid- dings, Amos P. Miller, Jesse Yerkes and Joshua Hinkley.
Chairman E. Seely Bartlett and Secretary Andrew S. Long were made members er officio of both these committees. The meeting then adjourned to convene at the same place on Tuesday, April 3, at 2 P. M.
The Committees thus appointed, met from time to time and considered the matters respectively referred to theni.
The adjourned citizens' meeting met at Hinkley's Hall, Rom- ulus, on the afternoon of April 3d, 1894. The Committee on finance reported favorable progress, and was continued. The
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CENTENNIAL, OF ROMULUS.
Committee on program and plans submitted a report recommend- ing the holding of a Centennial Celebration, in a grove near Rom- ulus village, on the 13th day of June, 1894, upon the plan of a Basket Picnic.
The Committee further recommended, that the exercises of the day consist of an Oration, Historical address and Poem, and short addresses in response to sentiments or reminiscences by old citi- zens and former residents, to be interspersed with appropriate music, and as special features, recommended that the children of the public schools of Romulus and Varick, Seneca County Pomo- na Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, Representatives of the Church- es of the two towns, and veteran soldiers residing therein, be invited to participate.
The several recommendations of the committee, were con- sidered by the meeting and adopted.
The same committee also recommended for the consideration of the meeting, a list of officers and committees, which were adopted, to-wit :
President,
E. SEELY BARTLETT.
Vice Presidents,
HON. DIEDRICH WILLERS,
GEORGE S. CONOVER,
HON. JAMES M. MARTIN,
JOHN MONROE,
HON. PETER J. VAN VLEET.
HENRY F. TROUTMAN,
HON. WILLIAM H. KINNE,
RALPH P. ROBERTS.
WILLIAM D. GIDDINGS,
DAVID H. MANEE,
GEORGE W. JACACKS,
JOHN V. CRANE,
JOHN M. YERKES,
HENRY C. LISK,
RYNEAR C. ALLEN,
DANIEL C. BURROUGHS,
EDWARD VAN VLEET,
OLIN E. EMENS,
CYRUS E. KINNE,
JOHN MCKNIGHT,
DON P. BLAINE,
ARTHUR H. BROOKS,
CHARLES. W. RISING,
OGDEN WHEELER,
DARWIN C. KINNE,
GEORGE H. WILLIAMS,
JOSIAH YERKES,
DANIEL KUNEY,
CHARLES H. SAYRE,
J. WARREN HENDRICKS.
JOHN G. SUTTON,
JOHN Y. GAMBEE,
DANIEL D. JOHNSON,
JAMES M. SAMPLE,
HENRY S. MILLER,
DAVID LAUTENSCHLAGER,
GEORGE F. FOLWELL,
HENRY DEY,
WILLIAM A. BEAVER,
THEODORE H. DOUGHTY,
GEORGE SMITH,
SIMON RITTER,
MYRON W. SWARTHOUT,
AMOS P. MILLER,
C. C. PONTRIS,
ISAIAH W. SMITHI,
EDWARD B. MILLER,
HARVEY BALDRIDGE,
JEROME SWEEZY,
WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE.
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CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS.
Secretaries,
ANDREW S. LONG, RICHARD M. STEELE.
Treasurer,
JESSE YERKES. Chaplain, REV.J. WILFORD JACKS. Marshal,
ARTHUR H. BROOKS, SCHUYLER B. YERKES, Asst.
Committees:
FINANCE-Messrs. William A. Beaver, Joshua Hinckley, Jesse Yerkes, Amos P. Miller, Win. D. Giddings,
ON INVITATIONS AND ORDER OF EXERCISES- --- Hon. Diedrich Willers, E. Seely Bartlett, and J. Wilford Jacks.
ON HISTORIAN, ORATOR, AND POET- Hon. Wm. H. Kinne, A. J. Bart- lett, Dr. Richard Dey.
ON GROUNDS, PLATFORM, AND SEATS -- John W. Snook, John W. Bow, Buel Wilbur, James Flynn, David R. Ambrose, Joseph N. Wyckoff, John H. Coryell, John P. Updike, Thomas Mann, Edward S. Fleming, Andrew McGrane.
RECEPTION AND ENTERTAINMENT-Dr. D. F. Everts, John Lisk, Hen- ry M. Burton, Richard M. Steele, Warren S. Sharp, Roy S. Giddings, Hal- sey P. Hallock.
MUSIC-Julius F. Hunt, Pierson Jacobus. W. Leonard Lisk, Seward Doughty, Julian Russell, Bergen Van Nostrand, Chester B. Denniston,
ON PRINTING-Rev. J. Wilford Jacks, E. Seely Bartlett, Schuyler B. Yerkes.
DECORATIONS AND FLOWERS - Mr. and Mrs. Clinton A. Warne, Mr. and Mrs. David Monroe, Mr. and Mrs, J. S. Giddings, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson G. Hunt, Mr. and Mrs. Frank S. Adair, Mr. and Mrs. Charles V. Crane, Mr. and Mrs. Alton McLafferty, Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery Doughty, Mr. and Mrs. G. Elmer Robinson, Misses Ella Hinckley, Minnie Sayre, Belle Yake- ly, Margaret D) Mahoney, Messrs. Morgan W. LaByteaux, and John Monroe, Jr.
By vote of the meeting, the following permanent Executive Committee was appointed:
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE-Rev. J. W. Jacks, Diedrich Willers. E. Seely Bartlett, Andrew S. Long, Julius F. Hunt, C. C. Pontins, Schuyler B. Yerkes.
The meeting then adjourned to June 13th 1894, at IO A. M.
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CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13th, 1894.
"()! Home of my birth! will it e'er be my lot, To find in this world, so endearing a spot? How true is the saying that "search the whole earth No spot's so endeared, as the home of one's birth."
The day was ushered in with bright skies and a clear and bracing atmosphere.
A number of residences and places of business had been hand- somely decorated and the village presented a gala day appearance. At an early hour, people began to arrive by team or railroad, the number in attendance being variously estimated at from three to five thousand.
The procession was formed by Marshal Arthur H. Brooks and his assistants, in front of the Presbyterian Church, at ten o'clock A. M. and marched to the grove of John W. Snook, on the farm owned by Dr. Ethan Watson in his life time, fully a mile distant, in the following order:
1. Romulus and Kendaia Consolidated Cornet Bands.
2. Public Schools of Romulus and Varick with appropriate banners, to wit:
Romulus: School District No. 1. Nora Vreeland, teacher, 20 scholars. .
Dist. No. 2. Wm. B. Hancey, teacher, 30 scholars.
Dist. No. 3. Margaret D. Mahoney, teacher, 30 scholars.
( Elizabeth Shaughnessy,
Dist. No. 5. 7 Belle L. Sayre, teachers, 30 scholars.
Dist. No. 7. Julia McDonald, teacher, 25 scholars.
Dist. No. 8. Charlotte Duntz, teacher, 22 scholars.
Dist. No. 9. Martha Tobias, teacher, 26 scholars. Varick: Dist. No. 1. Mary E. George, teacher, Io scholars.
Dist. No. 3. Edward Hogan, teacher, 22 scholars.
Dist. No. 10. Hattie Van Nostrand, teacher, 15 scholars.
Dist. No. 11. Ella McGinnis, teacher, 22 scholars.
Dist. No. 14. Varick and Fayette, Frances Church, teacher, 15 scholars.
3. Ancient carriage once owned by President Van Buren, in which General La Fayette was conveyed on his tour through Seneca County in
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CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS.
June 1825, used on this occasion by Mr. and Mrs. Clarence A. Soule of Waterloo and the family of John Lisk, Esq.
4. Wagon, under auspices of Pomona Grange, with representation of "Farmers of 1794," in ancient dress to wit: Ex Supervisor John V. Crane, William Bainbridge, Miss Ruth Bartlett, Miss Mattie Roan, Mrs. Tunis Bainbridge, Mrs. Emily Van,Court.
5. Carriage containing officers and representatives from Seneca County Pomona Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, with appropriate banners.
6. Patrons of Husbandry, in carriages.
7. Clergy and invited guests. in carriages.
8. Officers of the day and committees, in carriages.
9. Citizens, in carriages.
The procession was fully a mile in length, and reached the Grove about eleven o'clock A. M.
EXERCISES AT THE GROVE.
Upon arrival at the Grove the President of the day, E. Seely Bartlett Esq., promptly called the Meeting to order. After appro- priate music by the band, the exercises were opened with prayer by the Rev. J. Wilford Jacks.
The President then delivered the following address of welcome: Fellow Citizens, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Man is the only creature that leaves behind him a written record of his achievements. "Man marks the earth with ruin," but by the application of his God-given power, he rehabilitates the portion of Nature's handiwork that he has desecrated, by the building of lofty structures in architectural magnificence, or by scattering over the waste places seeds of plants, which shall spring into life, and by their harmonious blending make of the landscape a sea of beauty, value and fragrance.
Man delights in the change of habitation. He loves to battle with primitive Nature, and by his physical force and intellectual strength, make of the wilderness a fit dwelling place for the high- est type of creative power. He loves to contend with and for others of his kind, and to honor those who in the exercise of their endowments have proved themselves to be leaders of men, either
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CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS.
in the peaceful walks of life, in the chair of the scholar or states- man, or in the dread ordeal of war.
The acquirements of the scholar creates in him a desire to at- tain knowledge; the accumulation of riches and a realization of the benefits derived, in physical comfort and the respect of his fellow man, stimulate in him the exercise of industry and economy ; the honor bestowed upon those who consecrate their lives for the moral and spiritual benefit of mankind, incites him to the perfor- mance of acts of benevolence and philanthrophy ; the deeds of valor and heroism displayed in the defense of the rights and liber- ties of the citizen, invoke the highest and truest spirit of humanity to spring into activity, and impel the sacrifice of life, if need be, in defense of the principle held sacred by the people.
By the employment of these varied attributes of the human mind, new countries are discovered, and important events occur which affect the welfare of man; inen of great acquirements in the fields of literature, science, arts and government, come forth in the plentitude of their powers, and dazzle the world by their compre- hension of Nature's laws, or by the assumption of dictatorial au- thority; and aggregations of people by revolution, throw off re- straining force, and assume among the powers of the earth an in- dividuality and a name.
Such events, and the taking possession of an inheritance or acquisition, mark an epoch in the world's history. The commem- ration of these events, and a review of the history of the subse- quent era, is of inestimable value to the people.
The town of Romulus was formed and given a name, when the wolf and other beasts of the forest contended for the right of occupation with the savage red man. The roar of the cannons of the Revolution, had just ceased to echo along the Atlantic slope, when the patriot yeoman commenced to subjugate these fields. Cotemporaneous with the inauguration of Washington as the first President of the United States, actual settlers took possession of this town. The unity of a nation composed of thirteen sovereign and independent states had just been completed. The star of Empire as it wended its way westward glittered from the glorious fields of the Star Spangled Banner. A union had been formed whose power was to be tested in conflict with other Nations, and
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CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS.
more firmly cemented in the fiery furnace of party intrigue and in - ternecine war. A Union constituting a Nation destined to ex- ceed all of its contemporaries in the freedom granted its citizens, in the refuge it offered to the oppressed and unfortunate, in the growth of its material wealth, and in the culture of its inhabitants,
The territory included in the original town of Romulus has been divided into many parts, forming centers of government, and while we acknowledge a paternal feeling for the scions removed in her youth, yet we would fain confine our commemoration, more especially, to the history of her youngest offshoot, and herself.
Those noble pioneers, hardened by the privations endured during their long struggle for independence, and imbued with the spirlt of farther conquest-the conquest of carving out a home amid the grandeur of Nature's most glorious handiwork-came to this beautiful tract embowered between the two most regal inland seas, and from its forest crowned hills and thickly wooded valleys, laid the foundation upon which has been builded a column of our structure of national government, around which have rested for a Century, in the security of the conscious power, occupying beau- tiful homes and cultivated fields, surrounded by improved flocks and herds, the hardy, industrious, moral, cultivated and christian yoemanry, the sure bulwark of a free and independent govern- ment.
We meet to-day to commemorate the inauguration of the Civil government of the town of Romulus, one hundred years ago, and to review the history, in a measure, of the Century that is past. The story of the achievements of mankind during the last hundred years, reads like a romance. What Century since time was, pres- ents such a narrative ? A continent has been cleared of its prime- val forests, and cultivated fields, villages and cities of huge proportions and magnificence have dotted our domain ; the lum- bering stage-coach has ceased its laborious journey, and the passenger is literally hurled through space, enjoying in his palatial car, the comforts of home; the relay post-riders have given their trusts to the telegraph and telephone ; the carrying of communi- cations between nations has been transferred from the sailing vessel to the submarine telegraph; the facilities for universal edu- cation have been nearly perfected; religious communication and
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CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS.
influence have been extended to nearly all parts of the world; agriculture lias made rapid strides towards a perfect system; the bowels of the earth have been analyzed and utilized; and the farthest bounds of the universe have been explored.
This is essentially an agricultural region. The placid Cayuga, reflecting the golden rays of the rising sun, as they illumine the east- ern slope, conveys a morning benison to the awakening agricultural toiler. The declining rays of the setting sun, as they linger above the horizon and play on fair Seneca's shimmering surface, present to the weary husbandman a picture-Nature's evening benediction-which the pencil of an Angelo could not rival.
While we would rejoice in having a home in so favored a spot; that our material prosperity has been so great; that our people are so law-abiding; that our religious, educational, and social privileges are so exalted; we claim that our greatest glory
. rests upon the sterling worth of our citizens, as they have taken their places among the world's workers. The roll of honor would comprise the names of residents in at least twenty-four states and territories, engaged in the duties of physicians, lawyers, merchi- ants, manufacturers, ministers of the gospel, teachers, legislators, editors, professors in colleges, agriculturists, and scientists. The banner of the cross has been carried to heathen countries, and the traveler lias trodden the pathis of Palestine; roamed among the ruins of Herculaneum, and walked the streets of the "Eternal City." We remember that "peace hath her victories no less re- nowned than war," and that our citizens, while performing their whole duty, when their country called, have made their brightest and most enduring record amid those pursuits which have made the world better and brighter for their effort.
As we take this retrospective view of our history, we feel that we can fitly claim, that the record we have made. should be commemorated by exercises befitting the occasion.
To-day, the native and adopted citizen meet and offer the hand of brotherly affection and extend greeting, to those who may have returned to the home of their youth; to those from the neighboring towns who have honored us with their presence, and a welcome to all, who may desire to partake of the joyousness of
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CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS.
the day. It is need that upon such an occasion, various indus- tries should be represented in a body. We extend greeting to the representatives of the medical profession, who come in such close relations with all, by reason of our physical infirmities ; to the press, those moulders of public opinion and disseminators of the daily records of the world ; of the Grand Army who count no sacrifice too great if the inviolability of the laws of our country and the honor of the Flag of our Union be maintained ; of the church organizations, who have labored hand in hand with every good word and work, that should tend to ameliorate the conditions of mankind or to conserve their moral and spiritual welfare.
We greet the representatives of the Patrons of Husbandry. The farmers are the corner-stone of our commercial prosperity and of our national wealth, and their homes are the nurseries of those great minds who rule the destinies of the world Pardon me, if I greet with a warmer welcome. the teachers, children and mothers, who have so kindly interested themselves in making this day's doings worthy to be chiseled in words of living remembrance, upon the tablets of our minds. If these assertions are true:" Let me make the schools and I care not who make the laws ;"-"All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother;"-Do not the teachers and mothers mould our destinies?
Grand, imposing and inspiring, as are the results attained by mankind during this wonderfully eventful nineteenth century, it is but an earnest of what may be expected of the twentieth. Al- though this century is basking in its evening twilight and the next is standing ready, girded for the conflict, many of those 110w participating in this joyous review, shall have finished their course and a majority of the children here present, shall have assumed at the beginning of the new century, the responsibilities of citizen- ship. Their proper preparation for the assumption of the respon- sibilities of their inheritance, rests with the teachers and mothers of our town. May the result of their stewardship be such, that at the next centennial, it may truly be said of the citizens of Rom- ulus :
"That they, disdaining pleasure, ease, delight,
Did bleed with heroes in disastrous fight ;
And this truth did gallantly display,
True glory's path, is Liberty's highway."
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CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS.
Charles R. King, Esq., of Rochester, N. Y., thereupon deliv- ered the following Response to the President's welcome :
Mr. President and Friends :
For this generous greeting, which you have extended to us, invited guests, wanderers from the old home; for these warm words of welcome at our return, accept our thanks It was not necessary that your welcome should be expressed in words, the unspoken expression of it, surrounds us on every side. We feel it in the genuine grasp of the hand, we see it in this sea of upturned faces, we breathe it in the very atmosphere. It is written on every leaf of every tree, in this time-honored grove-sacred to the recollections of our boyhood days, and the nodding branches bid us welcome.
And so being welcomed, we rejoice that once again we stand upon the sacred soil of this good old town of Romulus, which to-day marks its hundred years of existence on the dial of time. And what an hundred years they have been, in the development of our material and natural resources, in the subjugation of the forest and the soil, in the achievements of science, and the me- chanic arts,-their history is indeed the history of a miraculous age, exceeding the wildest dreams of the imagination ! But I must not trespass upon the prerogative of others, who are to speak to you to-day upon this subject, as it bears upon the history of this town or pertains to this occasion. I doubt not, that before we leave this shaded grove, we shall all be puffed up with vain pride of birth, at having been born in this old classic town of Romulus, named for the Mythical Founder of ancient Rome. Romulus is indeed a good town to be born in, we know no better one, we will all admit that, for we want no experiments along that line, and just for to-day we will all agree, that it is a good town to live in.
We former residents, who now live elsewhere, love to return, at least every hundred years, to this town of our birth, to this land "deep of soil and nurse of heroes." We love to visit the scenes on which our eyes first rested, and test again the soil on which our feet first trod. We love to return to our boyhood haunts, to renew old associations, to revive old memories, to live
t
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CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS.
again the days of long ago. We would like to look into the old brick church, to see if there were left any remnants of those long, old fashioned sermons, longer than the moral law. We want to see the old procession file into the old pews for divine worship; to hear the old organ again ; to listen to the old choir, the delight of our youthful days ; to shake hands with the old sexton, with whom time has dealt so gently. We would like to skip again along the roof of the old church shed, or run a race around the Village Square, as in days of yore. We would like of an evening to sit around the stove in the old stone store, and listen again to learned discussions on affairs of State We want to behold again, with youthful eyes, the military equipments of General Ayres, as he gallantly charged along the unterrified lines of the militia on General Training Day, and eat a chunk of ginger bread. We would like to take a quiet pipe with Stephen Monroe, and eat some of Uncle Ben Doty's apples, and perhaps talk up the legal points afterwards with Esquire Wyckoff. We would like to have seated on this platform, or in this vast audience, to join with 11s to-day in this centennial celebration, the Fathers and Mothers, the Grand-fathers and Grand-mothers, of us all, that we might behold their kindly faces again, and see them as they were when we were young.
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