USA > New York > Monroe County > Wheatland > Wheatland, Monroe County, New York : a brief sketch of its history > Part 6
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In the war for the perpetuity of the Union there was no distinct company organization in the town and yet there were nearly two hundred men who responded to the several calls for volunteers. These men went into every branch of the service, Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery and the Navy, the greater part enlisting before large bounties were offered as an inducement. Of this number twenty were killed in battle or on picket duty; twenty-one were wounded; twenty-two were taken prisoners, of whom 'nine died in Rebel prisons; fourteen died in hospitals, while several who returned to their homes died from the effect of wounds, or from disease contracted while in the service.
Five or six boys, born and reared in this town but absent when hostilities broke out, enlisted where they then were, but considered themselves as residents of Wheatland and have requested that their names appear in this list, a request that has been complied with. The following list is imperfect but is as near correct as it was possible to obtain. All were in N. Y., Regiments except where otherwise noted.
Armstrong, Daniel 8th Cavalry
Shot on picket duty.
Annis, Martin V. B. Reynold's Battery.
Annis, Myron
I died from effect of wound.
Annis, Albert
Mack's Rifle n
Anthony, Peter B, 4th. Artillery.
Brown, D. D. S.
Paymaster
Army of the Cumberland. In Soldiers Home.
Brown, David
4th Heavy Art.
( Died in Andersonville
Blair, James
8th Cavalry 1 Prison.
Blackburn, Lowry
Soldiers Home.
Barry, Patrick
4th Artillery 4th = 1 st Cavalry.
Bissell, Frank
Beckwith, W'm. L.
13th Infantry
Wounded & in prison. Wounded.
Beckwith, Charles 4th Artillery 4th n
Beckwith, James
.
--
-
! Wounded at Antietam &
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Burbridge, John 44th Infantry
Wounded, Bull Run.
Bostwick, O. R. B,
Sharp Shooter
Capt. Grey Unattached.
Bieford, George W, 28th Inf.
Butler, Hector A.
Sharp Shooter.
Cone, Charles H.
13th Infantry
Killed in Wilderness. n at Gettysburg.
Croft, J. Summerfield 26th Artillery.
Childs, George
Independent Batt'y.
Chapman, Joseph
8th Cavalry.
Catt, Robert 140th Infantry
Died in hospital.
Cates, George
140th
Died Annapolis Hospital.
Clark, Peter
13th =
Killed at Fredericksburg.
Clark, John
108th
Clark, James H. 108th = Wounded Antietam.
Clark, Patrick
4th Artillery
Cox, Edward H.
8th Cavalry
Wounded Beverly Ford.
Cox, Bryce A.
108th Infantry.
Chapin, Horace 140th
Killed Petersburg.
Cook, Thomas
U. S. Navy.
Cook, Matthew 108th Infantry Left without leave.
Cowman, John 20th Mack's Battery.
Cook, William
108th Infantry.
Cain, Peter
4th Artillery Died in hospital.
Cameron, Hugh B.
18th Battery.
Carson, Joseph
3d N. Y. Cavalry.
Cronin, Albert H. Normal School Co. Wounded Antietam.
Carmell, John
108th Infantry Died July 4th, 1897.
De Forest, George
108th Infantry
Wounded Fredericksburg.
Deitrick, Darius
108th = Killed Gettysburg.
Dunn, Patrick
4th Artillery
Died May 2d, 1875.
Prisoner Ream's Station.
Deitz, George Deitz, Frederick
4th n Reynold's Batt'y Wounded Wilderness.
Deitz, Henry W.
Doris, Daniel
8th Cavalry 4th Artillery
Died Fort Mc Gregor. Died in hospital.
Croft, Ralph 108th n
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Estes, James B. 16th Artillery
--
Died Fort Mc Gregor,
July, 1864.
Eno, Thomas
U. S. Navy
Eastman, Frederick Normal School Co. Died in hospital.
Eastwood, Elias
Earl, Henry
Regular Army
Francis, John R.
13th Infantry
S
Discharged - reinstated
4th Artillery.
Foley, Michael
8th Cavalry
Fitzgerald, John
8th
=
Fitzgerald, Michael 4th Artillery
Falkner, Patrick
140th Infantry
Prisoner Ream's Station. Left service. Prisoner.
Furman, George T. 4th Artillery
Ford, John 1 st n
Ford, Thomas
Regular Army
Andersonville Prison.
Garbutt, James 13th Infantry
Gillson, James 3d Cavalry
Gleason, Shepard
13th Infantry
Promoted to Lt. Col. 25th Inf. died while on march.
Grey, David B. 13th =
Graner, John J.
108th
=
Gleason, Frank
4th Artillery
Guthrie, Andrew 8th Cavalry
Glennon, Patrick R. 13th Infantry
Golden, Thomas 26th Battery Graham, Alexander 140th Infantry
Green, Abner O. 4th Artillery
Hume, John 140th Infantry
Houghtaling, David 4th Artillery
Wounded in Wilderness. ( Prisoner Ream's Station, { exchanged, died on way { home.
Houghtaling, Dan'l. U. S. Navy .. Hyde, Eldridge 4th Artillery
Hyde, William U. S. Navy Hawley, George A. n Hallings, Bart 8th Cavalry
Died Georgetown Hospital.
Died Sept. 7, 1897.
Wounded at Petersburg. Killed in battle.
Salsbury Prison.
Died Salsbury Prison.
Monitor Mahopac.
Left without permission.
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Hughes, James
4th Artillery
Prisoner Ream's Station.
Hart, John 4th n Died in the service.
Halligan, Thomas 4th =
Haws, David
140th Infantry
Left without permission.
Hubbard, Edwin
140th
n
n
n =
Hollenbeck, Wells Hollenbeck, Arch
Hollenbeck, Dennis
Hanford, Joseph P. 67th Inf. Co. K. Afterwards in 12th U. S. Inf. Hanford, Franklin U. S. Navy Midshipman.
Johnson, Richard M. 8th Cavalry
Johnson, William F.
108th Infantry Killed at Antietam.
Johnson, Thomas 108th n
Died in hospital.
Kelly, William 8th Cavalry
Kendrick, George 14th Artillery
Kendrick, John
14th =
Lamphere, Geo. W.
13th Infantry Mustered out with Co. '65.
Law, Samuel
108th
n
Lowe, Christopher
108th = Killed.
Martin, Rice
140th Infantry
§ Died of wound received ( in battle.
Marshall, Bishop
8th Cavalry
Died in 1868.
Melbourne, James 4th Artillery
Morrison, James 1 st =
Moon, Joseph F.
140th Infantry
Miller, Romanta T. 4th Artillery
Wounded and prisoner at Ream's Station.
Muar, Edward 4th
Munson, Frank 4th
Munson, Scott W.
44th Infantry 4th Artillery
Munson, George
Munson. D. A.
Michigan Regt.
Mallery, Frank 4th Artillery
Marsh, William 4th =
Marsh, Orson 4th =
Killed at Fredericksburg.
Killed at Gettysburg.
Wounded - lost an arm. Died in prison.
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Mahar, Michael
4th Artillery Killed in Bat. Wilderness.
Miller, Thomas 8th n Morrisey, Daniel 8th Cavalry
Meehan, Edward 8th =
Absent at Roll Call.
Martin, Hezekiah 8th n
Maginnes, Peter 140th Inf.
Absent without leave. n = =
Maginnes, James 140th
Maine, Andrew 140th
Mc Vean, John J. Capt. 8th Cavalry.
Mc Vean, Charles Capt. 8th - "
Died in Charleston prison.
Mc Vean, Archibald
13th Infantry Wounded Bull Run.
Mc Naughton, Peter Surgeon Army of Tennessee.
* Mc Naughton, Peter
*
Mc Naughton, John B. 108th Inf.
Wounded Fredericksburg.
* Mc Naughton, Wm. C. Sharp Shooter Killed by shell explosion. Mc Naughton, Henry D. 4th Artillery Mc Naughton, John D. 4th C Died in Washington.
Mc Naughton, Wm. D. 8th Cavalry Mc Naughton, John C. A. 108th Inf. Mc Nicholas, Michael 89th
Mc Nicholas, Thomas
4th Artillery
Mc Pherson, Robert 108th Inf.
Mc Pherson, Duncan C. 4th Artillery Mc Pherson, Henry 4th = Died in Rochester. Left without permission.
Mc Phillips, Michael
8th Cavalry
Mc Cabe, Michael 4th Artillery
Mc Kelvey, John 108th Inf. Wounded Fredericksburg.
Mc Kelvey, James 3d Cavalry
Nelles, James 108th Inf. Killed at Antietam.
O' Conner, William 108th Inf.
Parker, John 13th . Inf.
Mustered out with Co.
Powers, Patrick 4th Artillery
Pero, Peter
Large bounty, small service.
Perkins, Alfred G. 13th Inf.
* Three Sons of Daniel C. Mc Naughton.
Died in hospital. Died in hospital.
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Quinn, Patrick
8th Cavalry Soldiers Home, Bath.
Richardson, Stephen
108th Inf.
Wounded, Wilderness. Wounded.
Remington, Silas H.
Radband, Thomas
Ryan, James
8th n
Rogers, Harris
4th Artillery Died Soldiers Home, Bath.
Row, Augustus
13th Inf.
Bounty jumper.
Richards, Jason A.
Richards, Solomon
Richards, Eugene
44th n
Reiley, John
108th " Died in Rebel prison.
Reisenger, Joseph Rulifson, John 3d n
8th Cavalry
Shadbolt, George 4th Artillery
Prisoner Wilson's Raid, 3 Libby.
Spring, Charles
4th =
Sill, Henry M. 4th
Skinner, Scott
Sharp Shooter.
Smith, William C. 4th Died in hospital.
Smith, Willard
U. S. Navy Discharged, disability. Eng'r. Corps.
Sparks, William W. 108th Inf.
Sloane, Horace
8th Cavalry.
Scott, Walter
108th Inf.
Strong, William
108th "1
Tarbox, Brainard
108th Inf. Killed at Antietam.
Tarbox, Henry F.
10.8th n
Trayhern, Eli M. 4th Artillery.
Taffe, Peter
140th Inf. Absent at Roll Call.
Ward, Willis F. 4th Artillery.
Wallace, William L. 26th n
Wallace, Frederick 27th Inf.
Weeks, Elmer 27th 11
W'ells, Seth 108th " Wounded at Gettysburg.
Wells, Washington Penn. Regt. Killed in Service.
Wilcox, Charles R. 4th Artillery.
8th Cavalry n
8th
Normal School Co. 44th Inf. Killed at Gettysburg.
Smith, Moses O.
4th Artillery Prisoner Ream's Station.
Smith, Alfred
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Wilson, William 140th Inf. Died in hospital.
White, James
4th Artillery Died in Anderson Prison.
Wilber, Benjamin W. Reynold's Bat.
Wheeler, Harlan P.
140th Inf.
Wood, James 13th Infantry 1 Los Angeles, Cal. 1898.
[ Died Soldiers Home,
Weston, John
13th
Weigart, John
108th Wounded Fredericksburg.
Young, Frank
108th Inf. Killed at Antietam.
Yawman, Matthew
Penn. Regt. Died in hospital.
Zimmerman, Abram 18th Bat.
{ Died April 8,1897,
1
at Scottsville.
During the latter part of the Civil War the Government made four drafts to fill the depleted ranks of the regiments in its service, viz: July, 1863, and March, July and November 1864. In the call of 1863 it was shown that Wheatland had not only furnished its full proportion of men but an excess equal to the number required under the first call.
In the draft of March, 1864, sixteen names were drawn from the wheel, namely: George Cate, Isaac Budlong, Henry W. Chapin, Myron Miller, Joseph Woodgate, Daniel Stewart, Darwin Shad- bolt, Daniel Smith, John G. Falkner, Joseph Carson, Benjamin Warren, Walter Irvine, Ethan Davis, Thomas Flinn, Andrew Mc Combs and Anthony Frome. The first named, George Cate, reported in person for service, was assigned to the 140th, a Monroe County Regiment; after a few months was taken ill and died in the Annapolis Hospital. His remains were brought home for interment in Belcoda. Budlong, Chapin, Miller and Wood- gate procured substitutes, the others commuted service by the payment of $300.00 each in accordance with a rule of the War Department.
Upon the third call a sufficient sum of money was raised by voluntary contribution to fill the town's quota. ,
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Upon the fourth requisition the Town Board were authorized to issue the town's bonds for a sufficient amount to fill the town's quota. Bonds of the town to the amount of $10,800.00 were issued, upon which $1,400.00 interest was paid, making the cost to Wheatland over $12,000.00 to fill the last call of the Govern- ment for troops.
THE WAR WITH SPAIN, 1898.
So far as known the only men to enlist for service in the war with Spain in 1898, were two brothers John C. and Albert F. Dillman of Scottsville. The former was in Co. H., 3d N. Y. Volunteer Infantry and the latter in Co. E., 2d N. Y. Volunteer Infantry as a Corporal. Carroll Mc Vean of Wheatland was in the Regular Army when the war began as a Quarter-master Sergeant and saw service during the whole period of hostilities.
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THE SCOTTSVILLE LITERARY SOCIETY.
This Society was organized at an informal meeting held in Scottsville December 11, 1871, at the house of Mrs. Mary M. Fraser, Mr. Geo. E. Slocum and Mrs. Fraser being appointed a Committee to draft a Constitution. On December 18, 1871, at Mr. Slocum's house the Committee reported and the following Constitution was adopted:
ARTICLE I. This society shall be called The Scottsville Literary Society; its object, the mental improvement of its members.
ARTICLE II. Its officers shall consist of a President, Secretary and an Executive Committee of three. The President shall be elected at each meeting to preside at the next. The Secretary, whose duty it shall be to keep a record of the proceedings of the Society, and, if occasion require, act as its financial officer, shall be elected for a period of six months. The Executive Committee, who shall be appointed at the last meeting of each month, shall report at each meeting a programme of proceedings for the next.
ARTICLE III. Candidates for admission may be proposed by any member, and shall be admitted upon receiving a majority of the votes of those present.
ARTICLE IV. The regular meetings shall be held at 7:00 o'clock on Monday evening of each week at the place designated by the previous meeting.
ARTICLE V. Alterations or additions to these rules may be made by a majority of the members enrolled at any meeting of the Society.
In the first record book of the Society, under date of December 11, 1871, there are given in Mrs. Fraser's handwriting, three " Honorary Members," namely: Mrs. Abby McVean, Mrs. Jane McNaughton, and Mrs. Ellen Dorr; and also ten "Charter Mem- bers," as follows: Rev. T. A. Weed, Geo. E. Slocum, Romeyn T. Sibley, Lydia F. Slocum, Annis W. Sibley, Prof. D. L. Stewart, Jane A. Dorr, Eleanor M. Dorr, Kate Mc Naughton and Mary M. Fraser.
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Mrs. Fraser was the Secretary of the meeting and with charac- teristic modesty placed her own name last.
During the first year of its existence 37 additional members were admitted to the Society and up to Dec. 10, 1906, the 35th anniversary of its organization, no less than 512 names were added to its rolls. Of the whole number, about one-fourth are dead and many of the living are scattered over the United States. About 50 of its members have been teachers in the Scottsville Union School, many of them being earnest workers in the Society. Nearly all the clergy of the different village churches have joined its ranks and have contributed largely to its success. The mem- bership has been confined to no class or condition, young and old being admitted on equal terms.
For many years Mrs. Fraser was the Society's Secretary and kept a very full and interesting record of the proceedings and debates. At first meetings were held weekly and continued even during the summer months, though at less frequent inter- vals, but of late years the summer meetings have been discon- tinued and meetings held only on alternate Monday evenings from October to May, at the residences of members.
Of the charter members but one survives :- Miss Eleanor M. Dorr, now Mrs. James Roy, of Niagara Falls, N. Y.
Unlike most organizations this one has never had a permanent President, Vice-President or Treasurer, the Secretary being the only official whose term extends over more than three meetings.
The long continued existence and great usefulness of the Scottsville Literary Society may be attributed to various causes. The fact that there is no entrance fee, nor any annual or other dues, has kept it from all temptations to extravagance and made it eligible for the most impecunious. No sales, suppers, bazaars, concerts or dramatic performances have been necessary to fill its treasury for it has needed no funds and had no treasury. The additional fact that refreshments are not served at the meetings, has made the Society welcome to many hostesses whose only preparations are the providing of a few extra chairs and lights.
$
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Again, while moral and religious subjects are handled, denomi- national questions are never discussed. Political topics ( using the term " political " in its wider sense ) are often introduced, but party politics have been uniformly tabooed. Ardent debates have been common, but personal criticisms have always been avoided. Even the applause of some exceptionally fine paper, or address, or musical performance has been rare, lest the Society fall into the opposite habit of applauding everything.
No one who has watched the course of events in Scottsville and its vicinity during the past 35 years can fail to see the beneficial effects of this organization upon the community, and while the Society feels deeply the loss of those older members whom death has deprived of their services, yet the constant · infusion of young men and women to its rolls makes it seem safe in predicting many years of continued usefulness to the Scottsville Literary Society and in warranting the belief that some of its younger members may live to assist at its one hundredth anniversary in 1971.
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WHEATLAND'S CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
Pursuant to notice a meeting of the residents of Wheatland was held in St. Joseph's Hall August Ist, 1889, to consider the advisability of celebrating the 100th anniversary of the town's settlement.
George E. Slocum was called to the chair and Frank H. Brown chosen secretary. There was no difference of opinion as to the expediency of a celebration and but little as to its character and scope. Isaac W. Salyerds outlined a programme of exercises he thought suitable and it was adopted, viz: a parade exhibiting the town's industries; the fire department, civic societies, etc., with addresses and music. Senator Mc Naughton and Mr. Slocum were invited to prepare addresses. Executive and finance com- mittees were appointed and the meeting then adjourned for one week.
At the adjourned meeting Stephen Bennett was Chairman. The Executive Committee reported Oliver Allen as President of the day and Volney P. Brown as Marshal.
The old committees were enlarged and new ones appointed. The following were the committes in charge.
EXECUTIVE: Stephen Bennett, William D. Garbutt, D. B. Mc Naughton, T. R. Sibley, Newton Blackmer, John W. Garbutt, David Nichols, Isaac W. Salyerds, Thomas Brown, Wm. J. Howe. Wm. Rafferty, Volney P. Brown, James H. Kelly, William A. Shirts.
FINANCE: Isaac W. Salyerds, Alexander Christie, W. Henry Harmon, Earll H. Slocum, George H. Pope, Stephen Bennett, William Donnelly, Volney P. Brown, Robert R. Garbutt, William C. Page.
INVITATION: Oliver Allen, Thomas Brown, James H. Kelly, William C. Page, George E. Slocum.
RECEPTION: Thomas Brown, John Armstrong, Newton Blackmer, James A. Campbell, Philip Garbutt, Isaac Budlong,
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Selden S. Brown, Eugene E. Harmon, Milton A. Hyde, James H. Kelly, Donald Mc Naughton, Julian J. Mc Vean, Alex. F. Mc Pherson, J. C. Neafie, Wm. C. Page, Wm. Shirts, Wm. Rafferty, Daniel A. Stewart, A. R. Stokoe, L. M. Godley,
PRINTING: D. Mc Naughton, R. C. E. Brown, Philip Garbutt, H. L. S. Hall.
EXHIBITION: F. H. Brown, Schuyler Budlong, John G. Falk- ner, Mrs. Ralph Budlong, Mrs. C. H. Brown, Myron H. Miller, Mrs. V. P. Brown, Miss E. M. Dorr, Mrs. Mary M. Fraser, Miss Jane E. Mann, Miss H. F. Mc Vean, S. W. Mc Donald, D. E. Rogers, Andrew Meehan, T. R. Sibley.
DECORATIONS: Wm. J. Howe, Henry Chapin, Charles J. Franklin, Otto Bennett, Seward Scofield, Daniel P. Campbell, Milton Stokoe, Wm. D. Strobel, Jr., Le Grand Brown.
PARADE: Isaac W. Salyerds, Wm. J. Howe, M. M. Mc Nichols, Seth Wells, Andrew Guthrie, D. B. Mc Naughton, David Nichols, E. H. Slocum.
VETERANS OF 1861. M. M. Mc Nichols, Andrew Guthrie, J. J. Mc Intyre, Seth Wells, D. B. Grey, D. A. Munson.
MUSIC: J. F. Ward, H. L. S. Hall, Eli M. Trayhern, L. O. Merrill, C. T. Brown, Mrs. H. H. Miller.
REFRESHMENTS: Mrs. W. J. Howe, Mrs. D. D. S. Brown, Mrs. S. Budlong, Mrs. Thomas Brown, Mrs. Thomas Burrell, Mrs. C. T. Brown, Miss Belle Donnelly, Mrs. R. R. Garbutt, Miss Lizzie Fitz Gerald, Mrs. G. A. Hadley, Mrs. J. H. Kelly, Miss Lizzie Mc Arthur, Mrs. S. W. Mc Donald, Mrs. George H. Pope, Mrs. J. C. Mc Vean, Mrs. M. C. Mordoff, Mrs. C. D.Nichols, Mrs. Thomas Rafferty, Mrs. Henry Sage, Mrs. T. R. Sibley, Mrs. D. A. Stewart, Mrs. Malcom Stewart, Mrs. H. Vallance, Mrs. H. R. Severance, Miss Lizzie Warren, Mrs. W. W. Weeks.
The 13th of September was agreed upon as the day of cele- bration. The reports of the Chairmen of the Executive and Finance Committees were encouraging, showing the interest felt by residents in all parts of the town.
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The week of the celebration was devoted to preparations for that event and the amount of work accomplished surprising.
The day was ushered in by a salute of one hundred guns. The morn was mild and pleasant and the day admirably adapted to the occasion. It found Scottsville dressed in gala-day attire, its hotels, stores and private residences adorned with flags, evergreens and mottoes, many of which were elaborate and beautiful. Above the entrance to the bridge over the Oatka was the word " Welcome" in large letters of evergreen with the dates 1789-1889. A large arch trimmed with flags and evergreens was thrown over Main Street in front of Bennett's; a double arch in front of Clark's; another at the race bridge at Weingand's, upon the apex of which stood a life size figure of "Uncle Sam " holding in his hand the National Flag. In front of the Catholic Church Father O'Neil erected a unique and handsome arch composed of ladders, tastily trimmed. At Dr. Howe's a double arch springing from the four corners and joined at the center and crowned with a sheaf of wheat and the dates 1789-1889. An arch in front of the residence of Mr. Stearns on Rochester Street, from the center of which was suspended a barrel of flour. Over the entrance to the grove was one of J. T. Well's patent truss arches.
At 10:30 a special train on the W. N. Y. & Penn. R. R. arrived bringing the 54th Regiment Band, County Officials, former resi- dents, and the Scotts with bag pipes. The invited guests were escorted to the Cargill House, from the balcony of which they witnessed the parade. The streets of the village at this time were packed with vehicles, filled with people, some of whom had driven long distances to be present at the celebration.
The procession, headed by the Marshal and his aids moved at 11 o'clock in the following order.
Scotch Band with bag pipes. Carriage containing President of the day and speakers. Mumford Cornet Band. Mumford Hook & Ladder Company. Goddess of Liberty. Catholic Total Abstainence Society.
:
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Mosier's Drum Corps. Industrial Parade. Fifty-fourth Regiment Band. Scottsville Fire Company. Families in carriages.
The procession reached the grove at 12 o'clock when notice was given that " Dinner was ready " and all who desired to partake thereof were invited to do so. Long lines of tables were erected in the grove, presided over by Wheatland's fairest daughters. The opinion expressed by those who partook of refreshments was that in quality they were excellent and in quantity abundant. South of the tables had been erected two large tents, one of which was used for the reception of guests and the other for the exhibition of ancient relics. To enumerate the articles on exhibi- tion would be a difficult task and will not be attempted in detail. It included vehicles, farming implements, fire arms, looms, spinning wheels, a clock reaching from floor to ceiling, high post bedstead with trundle bed beneath, clothing, bureau, tables, chairs, fireplace with swinging crane, pots and kettles, andirons, foot- warmer and lantern, while the ceiling o'er head was adorned with strings of apples and pumpkins, drying for future use. The exhibition was a creditable one and attracted the attention of old and young.
The speakers' stand, an elevated platform, was on the west side of the grove, and was of sufficient capacity to hold the officers of the day, a choir of fifty voices and chairs for as many more which were filled by elderly people and invited guests.
The exercises were opened by a selection by the Spring Creek Cornet Band, which was followed by the invocation of Rev. Hanford A. Edson, asking that the blessing of the Almighty might rest upon the assemblage, and that the present generation might appreciate the trials and emulate the virtues of the " Fathers." The choir sang the " Star Spangled Banner."
Mr. Oliver Allen, on assuming the duties of his office as Pres- ident, spoke as follows: " Fellow citizens of Wheatland, I should be ungrateful indeed did I not fully appreciate the high honor your choice confers upon me by which I am appointed presiding
96
officer of this great occasion. Such honor comes to man but once in a century."
The Fifty-fourth Regiment Band played a patriotic air after which a poem " Pioneer Redivivus " by John H. Mc Naughton, of York, written for the occasion, was read by Donald Mc Naughton.
The choir sang another patriotic piece.
The theme of Mr. Slocum's address, " Wheatland's Early History," will be found scattered through the pages of this volume.
Senator Mc Naughton was then introduced to the audience. He spoke of Western New York's Colonial History: of the labors of the Jesuit Missionaries with the natives of the soil, the Seneca Indians; of the position assumed by the latter in the War of the Revolution, and of the expedition of Sullivan in 1779 to punish them for their treachery. He contrasted the condition of things a century ago with the same at the present time - the log hut of the settler with a bark roof and minus a floor, with the costly and convenient residence of his descendents; turning a furrow with a wooden mold board to riding a sulky plow; a mail once a week with the present postal facilities; a tallow dip with an electric light, etc., etc.
After the exercises Oliver Mc Kenzie, in full Scottish costume, to pipe music, danced the Highland Fling, and in response to hand clapping danced the sword dance.
South of the Speakers stand was an extensive platform covered with canvas, designed as a dancing hall. In the early evening this was crowded with young people who enjoyed the music and dancing until a late hour in the night. The display of fireworks in the evening was fine
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