USA > New York > Oneida County > Utica > Historical fallacies regarding colonial New York : an address delivered before the Oneida Historical Society, Utica, N.Y., at its second annual meeting, January 14, 1879 > Part 17
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and pursne the route through the woods. An Oneida Indian, who was considered every way trustworthy and reliable, and supposed to be familiar with the woods and the route, was selected as a guide. Four hours remained before the moon set, the time appointed to attack the fort, then four miles distant.
The guide took the lead, the men following his track. In two hours' time, not discovering an opening in the woods, Col. Willett went to the front to ascertain the cause, and learned the guide was considerably ahead and the men following blindly on the tracks in the snow ; in the course of an hour the guide was overtaken and found standing still, apparently lost and bewildered. The men had been led into a swamp, some in sunken holes and many had frozen feet and one man was frozen to death. The guide had struck other tracks in the snow, which he followed supposing they led to the fort, but instead, they led in another direction down the lake. In this perplexity there was no alternative but to forego the attack on the fort, and to retrace their steps. The men were in the woods three days without provisions, and were gone twelve days on the expedition. Before they left Fort Herkimer peace had been concluded in Europe, but it was not known in this country; while this expedition was on its way to Oswego, the news of peace was received by Congress. After Col. Willett returned to his headquarters he went to Albany and there heard the glorious news proclaimed to the rejoicing inhabitants by the town clerk at the city hall. In Col. Willett's "narrative," the letters to him from Gen. Washington in relation to that expedition, are published, and the one of March 5, 1783, completely exonerates him from all blame and expresses the high sense which the commander-in- chief entertained of Col. Willett's persevering exertions and zeal on that expedition, and tendered his warmest thanks on the occas- ion.
On Friday, April 11, 1783, Congress issued its proclamation announcing a cessation of hostilities on sea and land, and once again smiling peace prevailed throughout the borders. The thirteen colonies were now a free and independent nation, the armies were disbanded, the soldiers returned to the peacful pursuits of life, ex- changed the weapons of war for the implements of husbandry, the scattered population of the country gradually gathered at their firesides, at their old homes, and once more the people of Tyron county rejoiced and smiled through their tears.
And now was to follow the inauguration of a new government, the
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adoption of a new civil polity and the creation of new offices. Old things were to be done away and all things to become new. There was a general hatred of everything that was English, and a universal feeling that, as far as possible, it should be banished from the land. The name of Kings' College was changed to that of Columbia. The county of Charlotte, named in honor of England's queen, the wife of George III, of revolutionary times, was, by an act of the legislature of April, 1784, changed to that of Washington; while by the same act of the legislature, and as a grateful tribute and sense of poetic justice, the county named after the hated and last Tory governor of New York, the county wherein Col. Willett achieved his grandest triumphs, was given the name of the patriot, Montgomery, under whom Capt. Willett won his first Jaurels in battling for the existence of the infant republic. These are but a few instances of the changes effected. So, too, those who had served faithfully and honorably in the war, were generally remembered and rewarded in the civil appointments in the State, although no law was passed, as there was 100 years later, requiring such appointments to be preferential. Col. Samuel Clyde, a major at the battle of Oriskany, and who had rendered efficient services in the Mohawk valley as an officer in the American army, was appointed the first sheriff of Montgomery county, Col. Colbrath, another officer in the patriot army, and lieutenant in the "Sullivan expedition," was appointed the first sheriff of Herkimer, and later, . the first one of Oneida. Col. Willett was elected to the assembly from New York in 1783, and the next year appointed sheriff of that county for three years. To be " high sheriff" was considered in those times of more importance, dignity and consequence than in these days to be governor of the State. The grandfather of Col. Willett was sheriff of Queens county in 1820, and his ances- tors sheriff's of that county as follows: Thomas Willett in 1683, Elbert in1705, Thomas in 1707, Cornelius in 1703 and Thomas in 1770. In 1790 Col. Willett was appointed by President Washing- ton commissioner to the Creek Indians, on a peace mission, that tribe having assumed a hostile attitude. He left in March and was absent four months, and was eminently successful in his errand, and war was averted. Col. Willett's thorough acquaintance with Indian character, habits, modes of thought and reasoning, pe- culiarly fitted him for such a mission. In 1791 he was again ap- pointed sheriff' of New York, and beld the office this time for four years. Col. Willett was of powerful frame and of great
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physical strength, and, of course, perfectly fearless. It is stated that while sheriff, to quell a riotous assemblage, he collared the ringleader, a brawny, broad shouldered, two-fisted butcher, and laid his prostrate form on the floor, where he was held as power- less as a hoppled sheep. In 1792 Col. Willett was elected one of the directors of the Western Inland Lock Navigation Canal, the object being internal improvements, to connect the waters of the Hudson with Lakes George and Champlain and those of the Mohawk with Wood Creek at Rome. In the same year a general Indian war with the western tiibes was apprehended, and Col. Willett was tendered the office of brigadier general in the United States army. This position he declined as he was not in favor of thus dealing with the Indians ; his advocacy of peace policy was adopted and war avoided. In 180; he was appointed mayor of New York in place of De Witt Clinton and was, a year later, succeeded by Mr. Clinton. That office in those times of Col. Willett was one of great honor, dignity and cmohuunent, and was sought after by men of ability and high standing. It is said to have been worth from $10,000 to $15,000 a year, and Col. Willett said that office yielded him a greater revenue during the year be held it, than did the seven years' office of sheriff. In 1803 when De Witt Clinton was first appointed to that office, he resigned the office of United States Senator to accept it, and he had for his competitors Elward Livingston, Morgan Lewis, then Justices of the Supreme Court of the State, and the next year elected Governor.
The great-grandfather of Col. Willett, it will be remembered, was the first English mayor of New York. In 1811 De Witt Clinton was the nominee for the office of lieutenant governor of one branch of his party, and Col. Willett of the other branch. Col. Nicholas Fish, of the army of the revolution, father of Hamilton Fish, afterward governor, was the Federal nominee. The latter received an overwhelming majority in New York city as the opponents of Mr. Clinton, in his own party, voted direct for Mr. Fish, as the surer way of defeating Mr. Clinton. But the latter was elected, as he was strong in the rural districts. Ham- mond's Political History of New York, in referring to this contest, says that Col. Willett had been an officer of great merit in the revolutionary war, and in private life was regarded as an amiable and worthy citizen, but he had been somewhat wavering in politics and, in former days, had been inclined to support the faction of Aaron Burr. In the war of 1812 an immensely large public war
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meeting was held in City Hall Park in August, 1814, to support that war and approve the measures of President Madison. Col. Willett addressed that meeting and, while standing beneath the flag of the nation, which waved. over his head, he made a brief, but telling speech, which awakened unbounded enthusiasm and applause. Hle said it was a favorite toast in the war of the revolu- tion that " May every citizen become a soldier, and every soldier a citizen," and that the time had again come when our citizens must be soldiers. He concluded his brief speech as follows: "In the war of the revolution there was a chorus to a song we used to sing in camp, in days of much more danger, which ran as follows:
Let Europe empty all her force, We'll meet them in array And shout Huzza, Huzza, Huzza, For life and liberty.
This pitby discourse from an old man, near seventy-five years of age, whose services in behalf of his country were well known, was applauded to the very echo.
In the Greek revolution of 1823 Col. Willett warmly sympa- thized with the oppressed of that country. He was chairman of a committee appointed to aid the Greeks in their struggle for in- dependence. A large meeting was held in the park in New York city, which was addressed by Col. Willett.
In that speech, he referred to the fact that it was in the same place, where he assisted iu 1765 in burning effigies of those who aided in the passage of the odious stamp act; the same park, where enthusiastic meetings were held in 1775, in favor of American independence in which he took part; that those were glorious times for him, and that the struggle of the Greeks was not unlike that of the Americans for freedom. He offered to aid the cause of Greece by donating 2,000 acres of laud to which he was eutitled by an act of the legislature of New York, passed in March, 1781. He said his labors in defending the frontiers of New York, by which he earned that bounty, were by far the most arduous of any that he performed during the whole revolutionary war; that there was more fatigue, more hazard and more anxiety in one of those campaigns than in seven such as he had served under Washington. Such is Col. Willett's testimony as to bis Jabors in Tryon county. In 1824, presidential electors in New York were appointed by the legislature; Col. Willett was one of the appointees, and was elected president of the electoral college.
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Whether he voted for John Quincy Adams, Gen. Jackson, Heury Clay or William H. Crawford, all them candidates, I have not ascertained. In 1824, President Monroe, pursuant to a resolve of Congress invited LaFayette to become the guest of this nation; he accepted the invitation, but modestly declined the offer of a conveyance to this country in a United States ship of the line. He left Havre July 12, 1824, and after a voyage of 34 days, arrived off Sandy Hook quite early in the morning of Sunday, August 15. Forty thousand people crowded the Battery to cheer and welcome his coming. Among the very first to meet and take LaFayette by the hand, was Joseph Bonaparte, then residing at Bordentown, . New Jersey, ex-king of Spain, and brother of the great Napoleon. At 9 o'clock in the morning, a small vessel steamed up to quaran- tine to take LaFayette direct to the city, but as it was Sunday and he was to have a public reception in New York on the mor- row he declined to go, but, instead, went straightway to the residence of Vice President Daniel D. Tompkins on Staten Island. It was near forty years since LaFayette had left this country, and when his feet once again touched American soil, the memories of the past, the great changes since his first coming, came rushing to the front in the thoughts of the thronging multitude who witnessed his landing. and the emotions were too great for suppression-too great to find utterance, except by salutes from all the ships in the harbor, the roaring of cannon, the ringing of bells and the loud acclain of the people that the illustrious guest of the nation might receive a joyous and universal welcome. Nothing like it had ever before been witnessed on this continent. In the afternoon a vessel steamed over to Staten Island, taking a deputa- tion from the common council of New York and a number of offi- cers and soldiers of the revolutionary army, who had served under or with LaFayette. Among the number was Col. Willett. Those two became acquainted in 1778, while with Washington in the Jerseys and at the battle of Monmouth on June 28 of that year. A correspondence had been kept up between them subse- quent to the close of the war, and many of LaFayette's letters are now in possession of the youngest son of Col. Willett and are in an excellent state of preservation and show, in their perfect legibility and neatness, the care with which LaFayette's correspondence was always conducted. The English of the letters is faultless in construction and orthography. For the purpose of preservation, and as showing the strong friendship existing between those two
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soldiers, I herewith copy the whole of one letter and extracts from others:
PARIS, July 13, 1822.
My Dear Sir :
I avail myself of a good opportunity to remind you of your old friend and fellow-soldier in whose heart no time or distance can abate the patriotie re- membrance and personal affections of our Revolutionary career. We remain but two survivors of that glorious epoch in which the fate of the two hemis- pheres has been decided. It is an additional reason to cherish more and more the ties of brotherly friendship which unite us. I find myself again engaged in a critical struggle between right and privilege.
May it be in my power before I join our departed companions to visit such of them as are still inhabitants of the United States and to tell you person- ally my dear Willett, how affectionately I am
Your sincere friend . LAFAYETTE.
Under date of July 1, 1824, a short time before LaFayette sailed from Europe he wrote Col. Willett in which he says: "The time most happy to me approaches when I shall embrace my old friend and brother soldiers," and concludes, " most truly and affec- tionately yours, LaFayette."
Under date of April 12, 1826, after his return to France, he writes: "Happy I am in every opportunity to renew and to form American connections. In so pleasing company I enjoy those feelings of American home which were never obliterated in my mind. Be pleased dear Willett, to let me hear from you and of the state of your health. Present my affectionate regards first in your house, then to your neighbors and to all our military com- panions and other friends in New York. Ever truly and affec- tionately your old friend and brother in arms, LaFayette."
Under date of April 6, 1828, he writes: "My dear Willett: It is fit I should present to our senior revolutionary comrade a son of the illustrious and unfortunate Marshal Ney, who intends to visit the United States. I doubly rejoice in every opportunity to hear from you and to offer the best wishes and tender regards of your affectionate brother soldier, LaFayette."
Under date of Christmas, 1828, he writes again and concludes his letter as follows :
Be pleased to remember me most affectionately to all our dear comrades in New York and vicinity and to your family knowing me to be forever
Your affectionate friend and brother in arms,
LAFAYETTE.
Col. Willett.
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The meeting between LaFayette and Col. Willett, at the house of Vice President Tompkins is described by an eye-witness as extremely affectionate and touching. They embraced and kissed each other over and over again, like devoted lovers, and LaFayette talking to Col. Willett very tenderly. The former was then sixty- seven years old, and Col. Willett eighty-four. During the time LaFayette was in New York he was a frequent visitor at Col. . Willett's residence, and the two were as much together as LaFay- ette could find time to spare from the receptions and ovations almost constantly awaiting him. On Friday, August 20th, the nation's guest left New York for Boston, in a coach drawn by four white horses, accompanied by numerous delegations and escorted by the military. That same eye-witness, who describes that visit of LaFayette, says that the cavalcade which escorted him from the city, passed in its route fields of cabbages, and other agri- cultural products then growing upon the site now occupied by the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Those yet alive, whose memories go back sixty-five years, may remember LaFayette's tour through this valley in 1825.
The legislature of New York, by an act passed in October, 1779, attainted fifty-eight persons (three of whom were ladies ) of treason, and confiscated their property. Among the number was John Tabor Kempe, the last Tory Attorney General of New York, and then the owner of one-sixteenth of Coxe's Patent, or tract of 47,000 acres, which stretches across what are now Rome, Westmore- land, Whitestown, Kirkland, New Hartford, Marshall, Paris and Bridgewater, in Oneida county. His wife before marriage. was Grace Coxe, one of the patentees and also part owner of that patent. On a subdivision of that patent and a sale of Mr. Kempe's share under that confiscation. act, George Washington, Governor George Clinton and Col. Willett became owners of land in the patent. Col. Willett became purchaser, in August, 1784, of over seven hundred acres, part of it not far from Hampton village in Westmoreland. Alex. Parkman, who moved into that town in 1790, obtained title to one hundred acres from Col. Willett. The latter was also the owner of two thousand acres, known as " Wil- lett's patent," in the north part of the town of Steuben, in this county, next to the Ava town line; he, with Elias Van Benscoten, owned fifteen hundred acres in the town of Ava, next north of above two thousand aere tract, and called "Willett's small patent." Col. Willett also owned lands in Bayard's patent and in
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Twenty Township tract, Chenango county, hence, it is evident. Oneida county people should be farther attracted and drawn toward one who was largely interested in lands in this county and vicinity so soon after the revolution, and fourteen years be- fore Oneida county was organized.
Not long after the close of the revolutionary war, and probably within the last decade of the last century, Col. Willett purchased, for a homestead, a large parcel of vacant ground in what is now the thirteenth ward of New York city, near Corlear's Hook, ex- tending from East River to what is now Willett street on the west. It is bounded northerly by DeLancey and southerly by Broome street. It was then quite out of the city and far into the suburbs. A long range of hills loomed up between that purchase and Broadway, so that a sight of the then seeming busy city was shut out from the view, and a long space of vacant ground intervened and had to be traversed before schools, churches and the marts of trade were reached from that homestead. The land toward East River was shelving, so that the rushing waters inade frequent inroads and gradual encroachments upon the lower portions, to obviate which the dirt from the range of hills in front was, in due time, moved to the rear of the lot next to the river, and in that way the waves were stayed and a fine water frontage created. To improve and make that home pleasant and attractive, Col. Willett expended much money and labor, and many years of his life. The grounds were tastefully laid out into a garden, walks, carriageways and arbors, with fruit and shade trees planted upon and around the enclosure. A long row of poplars fringed the garden on oue side, while cedar and other evergreens embellished or shaded the walks and other parts of the grounds. These trees were planted some years before the present century, for the eldest son alive of Col. Willett, now eighty-seven, writes me they were full grown at his earliest recollection. Not far from the center of those grounds the owner built a large, commodious and roomy dwelling, and there, for over a quarter of a century, he entertained his numerous visitors and callers, with a welcome and a generous hospitality, that no one knows better, if so well, how to extend, than an army officer who has seen much of the world; there too, he furnished a home and a cordial welcome to dependent relatives, to whom he was all that the most kind and indulgent parent could be. Although not a millionaire, yet he was in comfortable cir- cumstances, kept his horses and carriage, lived generously for
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those times, all of which could be done in those days of frugality and simplicity, on an income of five or six thousand dollars a year. One day last summer that eldest son crossed over from Jersey City to revisit the scenes of his childhood, that he might give a better description for this paper prepared in memory of his father, of that old homestead and of the grounds where his feet rambled when a boy. But indeed how changed; seven or eight busy streets now cross those grounds, while the site of the garden, the walks, the carriage-ways, the trees, the arbors, is now occupied by solid brick structures like Hoe's Printing Press Works, large Catholic Church, and buildings of that description; yet in his mind's eye he again saw the home as it was carly in the present century, the long range of hills, over which he climbed on his way to school, the play ground, the boys of his youth, the fruit trees which yielded profusely, the large favorite cherry tree, capable of holding a small army of boys upon its huge and wide spreading branches, stood out a conspicuous figure as he looked back over the vista of years; many an afternoon in summer at the close of school, a hundred boys could be found ensconced in that generons trec, partaking of its seeming inexhaustible supply, with a zest and a relish that no one can enjoy so well as a schoolboy. He of all others, in that great city, was probably the only survivor who could remember, in all its details, those grounds as they were years ago. During Col. Willett's residence there and for years there- after that old homestead was widely known as "Cedar Grove " or "The Willett Place."
In 1783, Col. Willett was among the active persons who formed the Society of Cincinnati, having for its object the promotion of brotherly feeling among the officers who served in the war of the revolution. When LaFayette visited this country in 1824, he was the only surviving major general who belonged to that society, so too, Col. Willett was a member of the Tammany society, formed about the same time, more for the purpose, however, of keeping in check the apprehended tendency of the government to monarchy; not until many years later, did it become an organization to promote the success of a political party.
Col. Willett was three times married. The first marriage was to Mary Pease in April, 1760, before he was quite twenty years of age. By that marriage one son was born, who became a noted surgeon in the United States army, and who died unmarried. Unto the second marriage no children were born. The third wife
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was Margaretta Bancker, married not far from 1800; by her be had four children. The eldest son, Marinus, was a physician, and married and had children; he is now deceased. William M. was the second son by that marriage; married and now eighty-seven years oldl, and living in Jersey City, a retired divine of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church ; was a member of the Methodist Episcopal General Conference in 1826; later, an instructor in Hebrew and Biblical literature in Wesleyan University and editor. In 1843 he founded the Biblical Institute in Vermont, of which he was presi- dent until 1848. Edward, the other son, is a lawyer by profession, now eighty six years old, and residing at Brook Green, S. C. The fourth child was Margaretta, who married James II. Ray and died years ago. The widow of Col. Willett died in 1867, at the age of ninety-six.
Col. Willett was tall, erect, commanding figure, finely propor- tioned, with the air and build of a military man. His face was handsome, his eyes blue, his countenance very pleasing and at- tractive, and his manners those of a courteous and cultivated gentleman. One of his full length portraits, taken when he was thirty-five years old, in continental uniform, by Trumbull, is now in possession of his youngest son, as are the sword and hanger worn by Col. Willett during the war. A portrait of Col. Willett is shown on page 272 of Lossing's History of the Empire State. Col. Willett was a plain, blunt man, outspoken, perfectly fearless, a bater of all shams and an enthusiastic patriot. His acquaintance and correspondence with the prominent men of his day were ex- tensive. His son has dozens of letters to his father from Governor Clinton, Aaron Burr, LaFayette, Lord Stirling, and men of like character. He and Burr were in early times intimate friends, but after the duel with Hamilton, and Burr's trial for treason, they lived to meet and pass each other on the street without recognition. Col. Willett admired the political writings of Thomas Paine, but after the publication of "Paine's Age of Reason " his works were altogether discarded by Willett. He was a faithful attendant at the Protestant Episcopal Church, (St. Stephen's), then located on Christie street, one block from the Bowery, and about a mile from Col. Willett's residence.
In a foot note in Lossing's Empire State it is stated Col. Willett graduated from King's, now Columbia College. This may admit of some doubt, when it is remembered that Col. Willett entered the army before he was eighteen, and married before he was twenty. Nevertheless he was a person of unusually strong mind,
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strengthened by observation and extensive reading. His corres- pondence and official army reports are clear and marked with accuracy and precision. As a public speaker he was a model. The fact that Col. Gansevoort deputed him to reply to St. Leger's demand for the surrender of Fort Stanwix, indicates that his , ability in that line was recognized by the commanding officer. That speech deserves a place in every history and rhetorical school book in the land, alongside of Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty, or give me death."
Among the last public acts of Col. Willett were, in 1824, while acting as chairman of the Greek committee, presidential elector, and welcoming LaFayette. During the last few years of his life he mingled but little in public affairs and with the outside world; surrounded by his family and immediate friends, he yielded slowly, but not reluctantly, to the gradual progress of decay. Ile had ontlived his generation, and passed his fourscore years; his mind was constantly fixed upon the approaching change with trust and entire resignation; with the greatest humility, but at the same time with the liveliest feelings of piety. A few months before his death he was attacked with paralysis, from which he recovered; yet his body and constitution were much enfeebled by the stroke; medicine had to be frequently resorted to; the absence of his regular physician, in one of his attacks, induced him to neglect the usual remedies, and he was so severely attacked that his strength wasted rapidly away.
On Sunday, August 22, 1830, the fifty-third anniversary of the abandonment of the siege of Fort Stanwix, Col. Willett pissed peacefully away-twenty-two days past his ninetieth birthday.
It is related, that as the shadows of death were curtaining the earthly vision of Stonewall Jackson, he, in the delirium of his dy. ing, was again in the roar of battle, and amid the clangor of arms, and called out-" Order A. P. Hill to prepare for action. Pass the infantry to the front rapidly. Tell Major Hawkes" -- then he stopped, leaving the sentence unfinished. Presently a smile of in. effable sweetness spreid itself over his wan face, "as if his soul had seen a vision," and then he said calmly and quietly, "let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees;" then without pain or a struggle, his spirit passed peacefully away. Col. Willett had been amid scenes of carnage and bloodshed; he had lived in turbulent times, and been exposed to innumerable perils; he had braved dangers, faced death, escaped the hissing bullet, the poisoned arrow, the glittering tomahawk, and the murderous
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scalping knife, and survived to the grand old age of 90, to receive the homage and plaindits of a grateful people, and to die at last surrounded by his family and friends. He too, crossed over the river, and rested under the shade of the trees, His death cast a deep gloom over the whole city, and called forth deep and heart- felt expressions of sorrow. The Common Council of New York, the Court of Errors, then in session in that city, the society of Cincinnati, and other public bodies passed suitable resolutions, and resolved to attend his funeral in a body. The military of the city directed that appropriate honors should be paid at the interment, and that minute 'guns should be fired, corresponding with his age.
The public journals of the day, not in New York alone, but throughout the country, paid handsome and well-deserved tributes to his memory. The remains were enclosed in a cedar colin, which the deceased bad prepared ten years before; at his own re- quest the body was habitated in his ordinary dress and with his hat on, as he was accustomed to be seen in the street. The coffined remains were placed in an arbor upon the grounds of the old homestead on the day of the funeral, that all who chose might take a farewell look. It was estimated that over ten thousand persons availed themselves of the opportunity. The funeral took place in the afternoon of Tuesday, August 24, at which officiated Rev. Dr. De Witt, a son of an old officer of the revolution under Col. Willett. The procession started at 4 p. M. for the place of burial, and it extended from Broome street to Trinity Church yard, where the remains were to be interred. It was after dark before the grave was reached and by the light of torches all that was earthly of Col. Marinus Willett was lowered to his last resting place amid the firing of guns, the strains of martial music and the sorrows of millions of his admiring countrymen.
Other heroes of the revolution may stand out more prominent- ly on the pages of recorded history; other names may be perpet- uated in poetry and song, in flowing numbers and in brighter colors; other men may be kept alive in the world's remembrance by lettered inscriptions of their heroic deeds emblazoned upon chis- eled marble or sculptured monuments, but none who lived in the trying and troublous times of Col. Willett more faithfully or efficiently than he, and certainly none within the county of Tryou, performed the important work assigned to him, which in the .re- sult worked out the grand problem of his country's destiny. He was a fearless leader, an enthusiastic patriot, a worthy citizen and an uncompromising friend of the rights of man.
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