USA > New York > Tompkins County > Dryden > The centennial history of the town of Dryden. 1797-1897 > Part 24
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In his father's family were nine children, six boys and three girls ; six of these are now living, three boys and three girls. One brother, James V. Tyler, died in the service of his country, after having been through the terrible battles of Spottsylvania and the Wilderness, through to Cold Harbor, where he contracted a disease from which he died in a hospital in New York soon after.
CHAPTER LIII.
THE DRYDEN CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, HELD JULY 10, 1897.
In connection with the plan of the preparation of a local history of the first century of the town's inhabitation by civilized people, the prospect of a celebration during the one hundredth year of such in- habitation was undertaken. The preliminary steps for both projects were instituted at a public meeting, held on February 22, 1897, at Ly- ceum Hall, in Freeville, at which the Executive and Century Commit- tees were named with authority to complete and carry out the plans thus far evolved. At a subsequent meeting in Dryden village, the subject of the construction of a new log-cabin, modelled substantially after the first known human habitation erected in the township in the summer of 1797, was considered, and a special committee was appoint- ed to carry out that feature of the preparations by building such a
245
THE CENTENNIAL COMMITTEES.
cabin of the best available material upon the grounds of the Agricul- tural Society, where the celebration was to be held, and within eighty rods of the site of the original cabin of one hundred years ago. The farmers contributed the logs; Harrison Tyler, a former resident, now engaged in the lumber business in Tonawanda, provided the shingles for the permanent roof, which was temporarily covered with bark in imitation of the manner of the olden time; Andrew Albright, of Newark, N. J., sent his check for thirteen dollars to pro- vide a log for each of the former members of his father's family in Dryden ; and thus, with other contributions of labor, money and material, the new log-cabin was so substantially constructed that it is hoped it may, with some care, survive until Dryden's second centen- nial. For the cut of this cabin see page 12.
In perfecting the arrangements for the celebration, others were called upon by the Executive Committee and gave their aid in the car- rying out of the enterprise, the full list of which committees and indi- viduals officially connected with it is here given, as follows :
CENTENNIAL COMMITTEES.
EXECUTIVE.
Geo. E. Goodrich, Almanzo W. George,
Chester D. Burch,
Mott J. Robertson, Willard Shaver, Philip Snyder, Jesse Bartholomew.
Daniel M. White, Artemas L. Tyler, Joseph A. Genung,
Musical Director, Leader of Morning Meeting, -
Dr. F. S. Howe. Geo. E. Monroe, Esq.
LOG-CABIN CONSTRUCTION.
Daniel Bartholomew, Theron Johnson,
Martin E. Tripp, Archibald Chatfield, Jesse B. Wilson.
Jackson Jameson,
Chester D. Burch,
LOG-CABIN INTERIOR.
Mrs. Wm. Hungerford, Mrs. John Lormor, Mrs. Abram Hutchings.
LADIES' AUXILIARY COMMITTEE.
Jennie S. Wheeler, Rose Hubbard,
Eva Goodrich, Anna Johnson,
Jennie Kennedy, Lilian Purvis,
246
HISTORY OF DRYDEN.
Mrs. J. D. Ross, Mrs. Edd Mosso,
Millie McKee, Anna L. Steele,
Laura Jennings, Lilian Mirick.
CENTURY COMMITTEE.
Albright, Aaron, Allen, Dr. E. D.,
Hile, Sylvester, Hiller, Rev. F. L.,
Richardson, W. H., Schutt, Robert,
Brown, Henry C.,
Houtz, Geo. H.,
Bartholomew, Caleb,
Houpt, Henry H.,
Banfield, H. P.,
Hiles, John W.,
Smith, Wm. J.,
Baker, Wm. H., Beach, Dr. J.,
Hiles, Harrison,
Sutfin, James, Sutfin, W. J.,*
Bartholomew, D.,
Jameson, Jackson, Johnson, Theron, Knapp, Cyrus,
Shaver, Ira C.,
Cook, Bradford,"
Lamont, John D.,
Shaver, W. J.,
Chatfield, Arch,
Lormor, Henry A.,
Spence, Rev. Fred,*
Collins, Arthur,
Luther, Orson,
Duryea, Richard,
Lawrence, Azel,
Smith, E. C., Sweet, G. C., Sperry, Charles J.,
DeCoudres, Wm. F.,
Lumbard, James,
Snyder, Bradford,
Darling, Edward,
Miller, Stanley,
Snyder, Alviras,
Davidson, Robert,
McArthur, John,
Ewers, Alvah,
McArthur, Benjamin,
English, Jesse U.,
Messenger, Levi,
Stickle, Theodore,
Fox, James, Ford, J. Giles,
Mineah, John H.,
Sheldon, Benj.,“
Fisher, William R.,
Mineah, N. H., McKee, Samuel,
Smiley, Artemas, Tripp, Martin E.,
Fulkerson, S. C., Fitts, Leonard,
Montgomery, Dr. J. J.,
Terry, Rev. J. W.,*
Griswold, Benjamin,
Montgomery, Dan'l R., McElheny, J. E.,
Tripp, Geo. W.,
George, Joel B.,
Pratt, John H.,
Genung, Dr. H.,
Primrose, George,
Grover, John S.,
Rowland, Moses,
Wheeler, D. T.,
Givens, Edward,
Rhodes, Truman,
Wheeler, Fred R.,
George, James H.,
Rockwell, G. M.,
Wade, Rev. E. R .*
Howe, Dr. F. S.,
Reed, Truman B.,
Hollister, Frank,
Rhodes, Omar K.,
*Since deceased.
Hanford, Geo. E.,
Skillings, Samuel,
Burch, Thos. J.,
Shaver, J. W.,
Brown, Frank E.,
Deuel, Thaddeus S.,
Lupton, Seward G.,
Seager, E. M., Stone, A. C., Simons, Andrew,
Mosso, C. A.,
Griswold, Charles D.,
Wheeler, Enos D., Watson, George E., Wilson, J. B.,
A printed program of the exercises was prepared and distributed, containing the songs to be sung during the public exercises, including, in addition to some such familiar and popular pieces as "America" and "Auld Lang Syne," three original compositions written expressly for the occasion, which were as follows :
Seager, Russel L., Snyder, Harry A.,
247
CENTENNIAL MUSIC.
Mail heroic fathers !
Words by NED NETTIRC.
Welsh Melody.
6
E
4
I. Lift
our
voic - es
in
the
cho - rus ;
2. Look
ye
on
the
land
ye
found - ed ;
Raise the praise of See the palm of
3. Dry - den
is
a
name
of
learn - ing,
Po - e - sy
and
0
1
them
that
bore
us ;
Hail
the Fa - thers gone be - fore
us-
plen
ty
round - ed- See
the wa - vy mead - ows, bound - ed
loft -
y
yearn - ing;
Let
us
keep
the good way- earn - ing
Give them glad re - nown.
Proud are we
to
own such breed - ing;
By
the plum - ed wood.
Hear
the hum
of
thriv - ing
mill - age ;
Right to claim him kin.
Dry - den was
a
mas - ter
schol - ar -
.
TO
T
Proud
to
send
it
- ward speed - ing,
Pure from
pu - ri- -
See
the
fields
of
fer - tile
til - lage;
Hap - py home - stead,
Min - strel
Cour - tier
in
King's col - lar- Bet
ter
SO,
than
ty suc - ceed - ing
Gen - er - a - tions down.
Hail, he - ro - ic
farm and vil - lage- Know and name it
Praise the hands that
greed- y Dol - lar
Goad the Mus - es
Prais - es
be to
Fa - thers !
Hail, an - gel - ic
Moth - ers !
Give hon - or's meed to
plant - ed !
Praise the har - vest
grant - ed !
No
nig - gard stint of
Let - ters!
Break-ing ty - rant
fet - ters-
Her
plum - y flight- a -
no - ble deed, And Vir - tue's
all
oth - ers !
Wor - thy is the
love's pure mint We give, from glow with light, Brings dawning
o'er
the
wa - ters.
Hail we glad - ly
T
=
TO
way ye wrought us;
Gra - cious
is
the
land
ye
bought
us;
mood dis - traught us ;
May
we
heed
the
les - son
taught
us-
sound John Dry - den !
May
his
fam - ed
ey - eles
wid - en !
o'er
full
hearts chant-ed !
May no
bas - er
6
·
good. in !
.
.
248
HISTORY OF DRYDEN.
Town!
Fair the her - it - age thrift bro't us- Our be - lov - ed Thrift and Faith and Hope the Mot - toes Of our lov - ed Town!
May its on - ward way be guid - en By our lov - ed Town !
THE OLD LOG-CABIN.
Tune-Marching Through Georgia.
1. Build the old log-cabin, boys, we'll honor it in song; Build it with the spirit of a hundred years agone ;
Build it as our fathers built, with noble hearts and strong ; For we are celebrating Dryden.
CHORUS-Hurrah ! Hurrah ! we'll join the jubilee,! Hurrah ! Hurrah ! then joyful let us be ! Let us all unite in song and rule the hour with glee, While we are celebrating Dryden.
2. How our mothers trained us there in lessons true and sound, How the children loved it, too, who played its doors around ; Now their children's children in the ranks of men are found, And they are celebrating Dryden .- CHO.
3. As we see it standing here the thoughts come crowding fast, And our hearts are filled again with mem'ries of the past ; Scenes we see of long ago each fairer than the last, While we are celebrating Dryden .- CHO.
4. So to-day we'll honor it with songs and smiles and tears, As it shows itself to us from out the mist of years ; And we'll bless its builders with three hearty, rousing cheers, As we are celebrating Dryden .- CHO.
THE DAY WE CELEBRATE.
Tune-Glory, Glory, Hallelujah.
1. We celebrate our hundredth anniversary to-day, To greet old friends and neighbors from near and far away. To commemorate with honor the past and present day, As we go marching on.
CHORUS-Glory, glory, hallelujah ! Glory, glory, hallelujah !
Glory, glory, hallelujah ! As we go marching on.
249
THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
2. Our new log-cabin as it is shall represent the old, The first one built in Dryden, as in history we're told,
The latch-string now is hanging out to welcome young and old, As we go marching on .- CHO.
3. Then let our voices glorify the century that's gone, Giving praise to our ancestors with our music and our song, And may the mem'ries of this day our happiness prolong, As we go marching on .-- CHO.
We here copy from the columns of The Dryden Herald an account of the celebration, as follows :
Dryden's great Centennial Anniversary has come and gone and the inhabitants of this village have resumed their usual occupations. The celebration began at midnight and from that time until sunrise the re- verberation of cannon disturbed the slumbers of the villagers, who slept only to dream of mighty conflicts and the wars of by-gone years.
The day of the Centennial dawned cloudless and the sun was evi- dently on a triumphal march, shedding his beams on all with a glow- ing impartiality. A stray cloud or two might have been welcome, but every one was glad it did not rain and even accepted the intense heat with joyful resignation.
The streets of the village were indeed a pretty sight and Main street especially had never before been so profusely decorated as on the morning of Dryden's hundredth anniversary. The store fronts were one mass of red, white and blue, and the flags and bunting lent their folds to what little breeze there was. On other streets the decorations were also generous, as they should have been on such a day.
By ten o'clock in the morning the fair ground was a busy scene. The committee of ladies was diligently employed in arranging the an- cient articles that were being brought in, and Mr. Goodrich was pa- tiently trying to answer calls from all directions and be in several places at once. On entering Floral Hall one involuntarily expected to see masses of flowers in their usual place, but instead of that the Dry- den Band occupied the "posy stand " and there breathed their sweet- est notes. In compliment to the rural ancestors who were the sturdy pioneers in Dryden a hundred years ago, the Band attired themselves in farmer costumes, most fearfully and wonderfully made, but which could not disguise the military precision of the wearers or take away the classical expression of our true and tried musicians.
Shortly before eleven o'clock, the Band leading the way, the crowd proceeded to the grand-stand and to the platform erected over the op- posite side of the track. On account of some delay the morning ex- ercises were necessarily brief. The large chorus, led by Dr. Howe, sang " America " and " Glory Hallelujah " and then Mr. Monroe gave a few humorous sentences of welcome, finishing by saying that he pre- ferred that the old men present, who knew so much of Dryden's his-
250
HISTORY OF DRYDEN.
tory, should occupy the greater part of the time. He then read some letters of regret from those who would have liked to have been in Dryden but found it impossible. Among these were Hon. Andrew Albright, of Newark, N. J., who has shown his interest in Dryden by his beautiful gift of the fountain ; Herbert Lovell, of Elmira, a former principal of our school ; and Hon. Wm. Marvin, an old-time resident. and honored citizen of this village. Mr. Monroe then introduced Mr. Smith Robertson, of Eau Claire, Wis., paying him an earnest tribute of respect by referring to his clear record as an official of Tompkins county, and his moral courage in saving the county from disgrace by putting down lynch law.
Mr. Robertson then came forward, saying that if he should try to make a regular speech he might feel like L. H. Culver, of Ithaca, who, called upon to make a patriotic oration, began thus : "The American Eagle soars aloft -- ahem-the American Eagle soars aloft-By thun- der, I've got her up, you'll have to get her down again." So Mr. Rob- ertson, not wishing to be in Mr. Culver's predicament, declined speech- making but said that he would talk a little of old times in Dryden, and this he proceeded to do in a very pleasast and modest manner. He said that his paternal ancestor, in company with two young relatives, found his way from the East through tangled forests, after weeks of traveling, to Lot 53, upon which his son, Mott J. Robertson, now lives, March 2nd, 1798. Here they camped for the night, and in the morn- ing their beds were covered with two inches of snow. They made a. clearing, built a log-house and kept bachelor's hall for awhile until the place was fit for womankind. He referred to the sturdy pioneers who founded Dryden, as a remarkable class, faithful and enduring, and also gifted with rare courage to surmount the difficulties that they did. He referred to the early history of the Agricultural Society, of which he was the second president, and spoke of his interest in its progress. He was president of the society forty years ago, at the time when the permanent site was bought and the large building was erected. He had not been in Dryden or about Tompkins county in thirty-four years and he was delighted at the evidence of growth and thrift which he had seen. He spoke of the grandeur of the scenery in different parts of the county and of the impressions it made on strangers.
Mr. Robertson's remarks were somewhat interrupted by the enthu- siasm of the ball-players and on-lookers not far away and by the pass- ing of the fusileer bicyclers, but all this he took good-naturedly, real- izing that young America was trying to help along the celebration.
The fusileer bicyclers in strange array having passed the stand and the laughter died away, Mr. Monroe then introduced Mr. Hugo Dolge, the owner of the Dryden Woolen Mills, as a representative business man interested in the welfare of the village. Mr. Dolge spoke of the cir- cumstances under which he came to Dryden and of his pleasant first impressions. He considered this a pearl among the villages of Cen- tral New York, offering better advantages, in most respects, than the average place of its size, and especially he commended our excellent school, churches, etc. Mr. Dolge said he had found good friends here
251
THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
whom he never could forget and his heartfelt wish was for the pros- perity and progress of Dryden. He called for three cheers for Dry- den, which were given with vim.
Mr. Daniel Bartholomew followed Mr. Dolge in a few wide-awake remarks with regard to the work accomplished by Mr. Robertson in the early days of the Agricultural Society. He considered him too modest in his estimate of his connection with the society, for he had been the projector of so much that had made for its welfare and, had it not been for his pioneer efforts, the society could not have made the progress it did. Just forty years ago that day Mr. Bartholomew and Mr. Givens were working on the Fair Building and could testify to the efforts Mr. Robertson made. He then proposed three cheers for Mr. Robertson, which were given heartily.
-
INSIDE THE LOG-CABIN.
The exercises of the morning were brought to a close by a selection by the Band, and the people dispersed to find a supply for the wants of the in- ner man before list- ening to another " feast of reason and flow of soul " in the afternoon.
All during the day there were crowds about the log-cabin, which was presided over by Mrs. Abram Hutchings, Mrs. William Hunger- ford and Mrs. John
Photo by Mrs. G. E. Monroe.
Lormor. The ancient furnishings made it into a complete model of the old-fashioned log-house. Mrs. Lormor spun flax and little bits of this wound on cards were sold as souvenirs, the proceeds going as a fund for the laying of a floor in the cabin.
By noon it was fully apparent that Dryden was to keep its reputa- tion for getting together crowds, for there were people coming to the fair grounds from every direction, and by the time the afternoon exer- cises were begun it was estimated that about five thousand were on the grounds. The noon hour made the celebration seem like one grand picnic. Many brought their lunches or procured them at the eating house and there was a general visiting time. The interesting relics were looked over and commented upon, and reminiscences of other days told by the older people. At times there was such a crowd
252
HISTORY OF DRYDEN.
in front of the door and window of the log-cabin that it was impos- sible to get a chance to look in before standing in line for some time. Evidently the young people who looked curiously at the ancient fur- nishings preferred to go to housekeeping with modern utensils. Just outside the window of the cabin was placed a piece of the boulder from which the first mill-stone was cut in 1800 by Daniel White and nsed for thirty years in the grist-mill at Freeville, the first in the town.
Among the portraits of the former Dryden people to be seen in the Fair Building were those of Judge Ellis, who in his day was known as " King John of Dryden " and in a certain sense merited the title from the fact that he served as supervisor of the town twenty-seven years and was elected member of Assembly for the county in 1832 and 1833, during which time the portrait in question was painted at Albany, be- sides serving as judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Auburn while Dryden was still a part of Cayuga county, and after the formation of Tompkins county in 1817 serving in the same capacity in Ithaca ; an enlarged photograph of Major Peleg Ellis, who commanded the Dryden company of militia at the battle of Queenston in 1812, and was the pioneer of Ellis Hollow ; Dr. J. W. Montgomery and Elias W. Cady, both of whom served as early members of the Assembly from Tompkins county ; David J. Baker, Thomas Jameson, Sr., Abram Griswold, John Hiles, Ebenezer McArthur, Wm. Hanford, Geo. Han- ford, Col. Chas. Givens, Wm. Nelson, Asa Fox, Leonard and Luther Griswold, and many others.
Among the relics were many different kinds of spinning wheels, swifts and reels ; an ancient clock eight feet high and over a century old still keeping good time; a rocker over two hundred years old, originally from England, but which was brought here early in the cen- tury by an aunt of Jane McCrea, who was murdered by the Indians in the Revolution, and to whose family the chair belonged; an ancient desk brought by the Ellis family from their former home in Rhode Island as early as 1800; a griddle, hammered out by hand, the prop- erty of Joseph A. Genung; an old perforated tin lantern such as was used seventy-five years ago, this one having been presented by John McGraw to John R. Lacy about that time ; a copy of Rumsey's Com- panion, published in Dryden in 1857 ; a printed call for Dryden volun- teers of the War of the Rebellion in 1864; an almanac of the year 1797 ; several old Bibles of from one hundred to two hundred years of age, as well as numerous other old publications ; swords and flint-lock guns dating back to the Revolution, as well as home-made linen, flax and thread, and hetchels and cards with which they were prepared ; an old Dryden deed of 1790; and a letter directed to Lewis Fortner, of Dryden, in 1808, in care of the postmaster at Milton, then the near- est postoffice ; as well as old canes, dishes, candlesticks, bottles and implements too numerous to mention here.
At one o'clock occurred the annual parade of the fire department with its four hose carriages, accompanied by the Band and a company of small boys with the small hand engine of years ago, as well as the larger hand engine, now superseded by the water-works.
-
253
THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
At two o'clock the fire company, headed by the Band, marched to the fair grounds and past the grand stand. This was the signal which brought the people together for the exercises of the afternoon. All the seats were soon filled and, though the thermometer registered nine- ty-six degrees in the shade, people managed to keep good natured and attentive. There was a liberal use of fans and once in a while mem- bers of the audience would turn their eyes longingly toward the cool- looking grove near the grounds.
The program began with the announcements by Mr. Goodrich, fol- lowed by two inspiring selections by the band and orchestra and a grand chorus led by Dr. Howe. Rev. F. L. Hiller made the opening prayer and then Mr. Goodrich introduced Prof. George Williams, who read in an able manner and with resonant voice " Alexander's Feast, " a selection from one of John Dryden's poems. This was followed by the singing of Auld Lang Syne to orchestra accompaniment. Miss Victoria C. Moore then recited in a charming manner "The First Set- tler's Story " by Will Carleton. Miss Moore's voice was excellent for the trying occasion, and stood the test that was made upon it grandly. We venture to say there are few ladies that could have recited to a vast crowd in the open air on an intensely hot day and kept the at- tention of her audience as did Miss Moore. She was heartily ap- plauded for her successful effort.
The music throughout the exercises was splendid and the people sang as though they heartily enjoyed it. Some of the songs had been written for the occasion and these were given with a peculiar zest. Dr. Howe well deserved the praise he received for the work he had done in preparation for the afternoon. He gratefully expressed his appreciation to all the musicians for their cooperation.
Mr. Goodrich pleasantly introduced Hon. J. E. Eggleston, of Cort- land, the speaker of the day, who gave a very fine address, the true and noble sentiment of which will long remain in the minds of those who heard him and could not fail to inspire them with the wish to lead higher and better lives, and to make the best use of the many God-given opportunities of these remarkable modern days. After the benediction and three rousing cheers for Judge Eggleston, Mr. Good- rich, and Dr. Howe, the audience dispersed.
The selection from the works of John Dryden, read by Prof. Will- iams, was one of the most celebrated of that writer's shorter poems. It was included in the program of the day's celebration as a proper mode of showing respect for the great English Poet Laureate, after whom our township was named, and is inserted here for the same rea- son and as an interesting specimen of the learned and studied style of diction which flourished in Dryden's time, two hundred years ago. The title is "Alexander's Feast," and it was written in honor of St. Cecilia's Day, she being the patron saint of music in England, where her anniversary is annually celebrated with songs and music. The
254
HISTORY OF DRYDEN.
poem represents Alexander the Great seated with his conquering fol- lowers at a feast while his musician, Timotheus, with his performance on his lyre, exhibits the "Power of Music" upon his master. The story is related in the poem as follows :
ALEXANDER'S FEAST.
'Twas at the royal feast for Persia won By Philip's warlike son : Aloft in awful state, The godlike hero sate On his imperial, throne ;
His valiant peers were placed around,
Their brows with roses and with myrtles bound
(So should desert in arms be crowned) ;
The lovely Thais by his side
Sate, like a blooming eastern bride,
In flower of youth and beauty's pride. Happy, happy, happy pair ! None but the brave, None but the brave,
None but the brave deserves the fair.
Timotheus, placed on high Amid the tuneful quire, With flying fingers touched the lyre ;
The trembling notes ascend the sky, And heavenly joys inspire. The song began from Jove,
Who left his blissful seats above
(Such is the power of mighty Love).
A dragon's fiery form belied the god ;
Sublime on radiant spires he rode, When he to fair Olympia pressed, And while he sought her snowy breast,
Then round her slender waist he curled,
And stamped an image of himself, a sovereign of the world.
The listening crowd admire the lofty sound-
A present deity ! they shout around ; A present deity ! the vaulted roofs rebound. With ravished ears The monarch hears, Assumes the god, And seems to shake the spheres.
The praise of Bacchus, then, the sweet musician sung- Of Bacchus, ever fair and ever young ; The jolly god in triumph comes ; Sound the trumpets ; beat the drums !
255
ALEXANDER'S FEAST.
Flushed with a purple grace, He shows his honest face ; Now give the hautboys breath-he comes, he comes ! Bacchus, ever fair and young, Drinking joys did first ordain ; Bacchus' blessings are a treasure : Drinking is the soldier's pleasure : Rich the treasure, Sweet the pleasure ; Sweet is pleasure after pain.
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