USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and Its Centennial Celebration, Volume II > Part 45
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The maintenance of the minister too involved similar self-denial. The Rev. Joseph Smith was the first pastor of Cross Creek Church, Washington County. He had settled among the people on the promise of a sufficient salary, and like the other ministers of the day bought a farm that he might
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thereby contribute to his own support. He bought it on credit, to be paid for out of the salary. Three years expired and the people had been unable to pay the salary and the time had come when he must either pay for his land, or else give it up. In solemn conclave the people were assembled at the church. They had no money and apparently there was no way to get it. Their wheat was nominally worth twelve and a half cents a bushel, but there was no market for it within reach. At last it was proposed that the wheat be ground and sent to New Orleans to which a ready assent was given and a large amount was subscribed. But who should go on this perilous journey, lasting from eight to nine months, with dangers, not only from the climate, but from the Indians and from the river itself? No one volunteered until at last the oldest elder, Father Smiley said, "Here am I, send me " and two young men volunteered with him. They started and the congregation went down fifteen miles to the river to see them off. For nine months nothing was heard of them and it was feared that they had perished by the way, until one Sabbath morning as the people gathered for church, they saw Father Smiley sitting on the front seat as calm and collected as of yore. When the intimations, or notices were given out, among them was a call for the people to assemble the next evening at candle lighting to hear the report of Father Smiley. and the result of it was enough money to pay the minister's falary for the three years back and for the year in advance, to reward abundantly the men who had made the trip, and to leave a handsome dividend for those who had subscribed the wheat. A religion which was worth having, was worth supporting; and the self-denial which characterised this Scotch-Irish faith is not without its significance in these later days.
When we compare the religion of that day with the religion of to-day, our comfortable churches, our personal safety, our social attractions and the small cost of religion, are we not moved to look with veneration upon these noble men and women who were true to God and to his Church in times of stress and trial?
The days of our ancestors are gone forever. The forests have disap- peared and with them the log-cabin church. The buck-skin and the linsey-woolsey apparel, the dangers and the delights of that primitive time will never more be seen in America. We live in our ceiled houses. We transact our business by telephone and telegraph, we build our in- dustrial centers and bring together great masses of heterogeneous people and seem to be as far away as possible from the circumstances and the spirit of those early days, but there confront us to-day problems as serious as those which our forefathers faced. There is a call for fidelity and for heroism and for self-sacrifice, like that call which God sounded in their ears. If we are to prove faithful to our heritage, if we are to fill our places as our fathers filled theirs, if we are to work for the next century a transformation as great as our fathers wrought for ours, there is need among us for that same heroic faith and that same strenuous effort which characterized them. Forms have changed, but the substance abides and he who would hand down to the generations to come the inheritance he has received, will do well to emulate their example, to live in their
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faith and to die with the same serene confidence with which they left this earthly sphere to enter the world of glory above.1
To the last the audience seemed to enjoy the feast of good things which the afternoon had brought them. This was mani- fested in the enthusiasm with which all sang, standing, the grand strains of America, led by the Chorus and the band, Mr. Duss directing. The benediction was pronounced by Dr. Irons, and then with friendly greetings and congratulations the audience dispersed to their homes and places of entertainment. We may say here that the latch-string was out everywhere in Beaver during Centennial week, and scores of guests found delightful hospitality in its many beautiful homes.
After the exercises in the court-house were over, a fine drill was given by Battery B in McIntosh Square. The different manœuvres of mounting and dismounting, loading and unload- ing, were performed with great skill, and watched with interest by a large number of people.
Credit is due to the Beaver Fire Department for its efficient arrangements to respond to any call that might be made for their services, which happily were not needed-five of its mem- bers were constantly on duty at their headquarters in the Cun- ningham building; as also to the Police Department, who were installed in the council chamber in the same place. The force consisted of the local police with four additions, and Detectives Eakin and O'Brien of Pittsburg, with County Detective Lazarus in charge. The good order which prevailed throughout the whole week, however, made their services almost unnecessary. Mention, too, should be made of the fact that the Beaver Valley General Hospital had an emergency tent on McIntosh Square with four nurses on duty. They, also, had little work to do, since no accident or serious illness marred the joy of the cele- bration.
The chief feature of the evening of Tuesday was the grand concert given in the court-house by Duss's Great Western Band. A large audience showed by numerous encores their hearty appreciation of the numbers given. At the request of the
1 In the preparation of this address I am indebted largely to The History of Old Red- stone, by the late Rev. Joseph Smith; The History of Washington Presbytery; The Latimers, by the Rev. Henry McCook, D.D., of Philadelphia; and also to the Rev. James Allison, D.D., of Pittsburg, the Rev. H. N. Potter, of Darlington, Hon. John M. Buchanan, of Beaver, and the Rev. J. P. Schall, of North Dakota.
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SALUTERT MAY
The secret day of the Centennial was wheed in cui- Moly with a soncise cacaoa solode. for this was Mitary Der- The old sakties of the Civil War and the young soldier of the Spanish American Was an well were welcomed and phd. and wiration and warranty Among these is the greats of the worthy wal where men and mary achievements are of natural and international fame and the presence here on Ohne wasun. was justi; esteemed at booor to the county. as Vient Ian linium A. Miles, Commanding the United States Artery. a laem. frr. J. P. S. Griot of our own State.
Cometal Miles arrived by special train at Monaca at about 13 A.M., wymianie b; Col. T. Michler of his staff; Dr. W. H. Daly of Pittsburg, late of General Miles's staff; and the mem- lots of the committee, composed of A. G. White, W. H. Bricker, " C ;. Pry, James Anderson, Major G. L. Eberhart, and Hon. J. Sharp, Wilson, who had gone to Pittsburg to meet the guests of
Ilest. Gov. Gobin arrived in Beaver at a later hour and was
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escorted to the home of Mr. S. P. Stone, where he was tendered an informal reception and greeted by many of the most promi- nent citizens.
A formal reception was given to General Miles at the railway station in Monaca on behalf of the citizens of that town. Chief Marshal J. A. Irons, of the Monaca delegation of the Reception Committee, had appointed a subcommittee, consisting of W. J. Mellon, Esq .; Andrew J. Howard, President of the Phoenix Glass Company; and H. C. Glasser, County Commissioner, to represent the town of Monaca for this duty, and these gentle- men, accompanied by the members of Local Union No. 36, Ameri- can Flint Glass Workers' Union, the Monaca Silver Cornet Band, and a large number of citizens, school-children, and visitors met the General and escorted him to a large, open four-horse car- riage. Here in waiting were John M. Buchanan, Esq., Chairman of the Beaver County Centennial Executive Committee, Major R. H. McCaskey, and Lieut. J. P. Ross, in command of a mounted escort of fifty veterans of the Civil and Spanish-American wars, and the Rochester Silver Concert Band.
After the formal greetings had been extended, the line of parade was formed, and the long procession moved, amid deafen- ing cheers, the band playing Hail to the Chief, to the Ohio River bridge, which was crossed into Rochester. There they were saluted with the blowing of steam-whistles, the ringing of bells, and cheers from the immense crowd in waiting, and were joined by the Washington Light Infantry of one hundred men, from Pittsburg, all dressed in light duck suits and wearing helmets and under the command of Captain Geilfuss, and by the Knights of Pythias's Band, also of Pittsburg. Moving up Brighton Street, Rochester, they were greeted at the Park with a salute fired from the famous Custer gun, in charge of Comrade Joseph Trax of New Castle, and he, with a detail from Rochester Post, No. 183, Grand Army of the Republic, joined the parade.
The column then passed through Bridgewater, where similar scenes of popular enthusiasm were witnessed, and up Third Street, Beaver, which was lined with crowds on both sides, wildly cheering and waving handkerchiefs and flags, while Bat- tery B added to the noise with a lieutenant-general's salute of twenty-one rounds from its guns. At the corner of Third and Commerce streets the line wheeled to the right and halted at the
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residence of Frank H. Laird, Esq., by whom General Miles was entertained while in Beaver. The mounted escort stood at "Attention" while the General alighted from his carriage, and was conducted into the house by Mr. Laird and Mr. Buchanan, and the parade then disbanded.
But the morning of Military Day had other incidents which, while not so spectacular as the grand ovation paid to General Miles, were of equal interest to those concerned. The survivors of several regiments from western Pennsylvania which were prominent in the Civil War, who were in Beaver during the Cen -. tennial either as visitors or residents of the town, took advan- tage of this occasion to hold their annual regimental meetings. We subjoin brief notices of these pleasant reunions of the veterans of that epoch-making contest.
IOOTH REGIMENT (ROUNDHEADS)
This famous regiment, familiarly and endearingly called the "Roundheads," met in the Methodist Episcopal Church of Beaver at II A.M., with a fair representation of the comrades present, besides some of their wives and families. A large dele- gation from New Castle, with the flag and banner of the regi- ment, arrived during the meeting.
The officers for the past year were Philip Crowl of Beaver, President; R. A. Smith of Rochester, Ist Vice-President; J. C. Stevenson of New Castle, Secretary; Hon. Ira Cunningham of Wampum, Treasurer; Rev. Robert Audley Browne, D.D., of New Castle, Chaplain. The latter was not able to be present on account of sickness, but sent a letter of regret and greeting. Similar letters were received from others.
In the absence of Philip Crowl, who was with the escort to General Miles, Vice-President R. A. Smith presided. Much routine business was done, and the names of those members of the regiment who had died during the year were read. They were Samuel W. Jackson, Wampum; John A. Armstrong, New Castle; George Wilds, Isaac Powell, Captain Sherlock, David Watt, and James T. Lindsay.
The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, George Kelso, Mercer; Ist Vice-President, Charles Clawson, Mercer; 2d Vice-President, A. Donaldson, Mercer; Sec-
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retary, J. C. Stevenson, New Castle; Treasurer, Ira Cunningham of Wampum; Chaplain, Rev. Robert Audley Browne, D.D., New Castle.
It was decided to hold the next meeting at Mercer on the third Wednesday of August. Previous to adjournment, Presi- dent Philip Crowl arrived and took charge of the exercises. After adjournment the ladies of the church served dinner to the veterans in the church dining-room.
IOIST AND IO3D REGIMENTS
The Twenty-second Annual Reunion of the "twin regiments," IoIst and 103d Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, was held in the Presbyterian Church. About two hundred survivors were present. They were accompanied by a veteran drum corps, which was organized in May, 1836, and at that time attached to the old Turtle Creek Guards. One of its original members was with the band.
The business meeting was held at 10.30 o'clock, with the President, George W. McKee of St. Clair, Ohio, in the chair. Election of officers resulted as follows: President, Jonas Walker, IOIst, Allegheny ; Senior Vice-President, Samuel Creelman, IoIst, Wilkinsburg; Junior Vice-President, W. C. Mobley, 103d, Pitts- burg; Secretaries, H. M. Johnson, 101st, Wilkinsburg; Thomas J. McKee, 103d, Allegheny; Treasurer, S. M. Evans, 103d, Avalon; Executive Committee, John A. Reed, 101st, Pittsburg; Thomas R. Boss, IoIst, Pittsburg; John M. Smith, 103d, Pitts- burg; J. H. Chambers, 103d, Pittsburg. Butler was decided upon as the next place of meeting; a season of social enjoyment was had and then dinner was served in the dining-hall of the church by the ladies of the Hodge Band.
134TH REGIMENT
A very pleasant gathering was the Eighteenth Annual Re- union of the survivors of the 134th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which was held in the United Presbyterian Church at 10 A.M. The roll-call showed that ninety of the veterans were present.
President H. C. Patterson of Beaver Falls presided. After routine business the election of officers for the ensuing year
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took place, resulting as follows: President, George D. Brown, Co. D, New Bedford; Vice-President, R. P. Pomeroy, New Castle; Secretary, J. D. Orr, Youngstown, Ohio, re-elected; Treasurer, G. D. Swain, Harmony. The Executive Committee was re-elected.
The regiment was served with dinner by the ladies of the Christian Church in the Shumaker building, and the remainder of the day was spent in participating in the exercises of the Centennial and in social intercourse.
140TH REGIMENT
This regimental organization, composed of the three com- panies, F, H, and I, held their reunion in the schoolhouse. There were about sixty members of the three companies present. After a season of hand-shaking and exchange of war reminis- cences, the meeting was called to order by electing J. D. Irons Chairman, and was opened with prayer. Rev. Mr. Anderson of Washington County then delivered an eloquent address of welcome. More fraternal greetings followed, after which the veterans adjourned to the Christian Church, where dinner was served them.
But the great spectacle of the day was the military parade and review by General Miles. This took place in the afternoon. The formation was made on Buffalo Street, and the line moved in the following order:
Leading the brilliant pageant was Chief Marshal W. B. Thornburg, with his staff and aides, as follows:
Major G. L. Eberhart, N. H. Pangburn, Oscar A. Bradley, John Potts, Thomas Cook, John Thorniley, G. W. Cleis, B. S. Ramsey, Edward Boyle, J. H. Springer, Captain Harry Watson, Dr. William Grim, William Merriman, George C. Warehaur, Edward Sutherland, J. W. Zimmerly, James A. Irons, Samuel Swearingen, Daniel D. Pugh, John E. Harton, John G. Lowery, William Fransher, J. K. Houston, Adam Siemon, Baxter McDanel, A. G. Harvey, J. M. Lourimore, Thomas Braden, C. A. Wallover.
Following the Chief Marshal and his aides in the line of parade came:
The Washington Infantry Band and the Washington Infan- try of Pittsburg, in uniform.
Lieut .- Gen. Nelson A. Miles, Lieut .- Gov. J. P. S. Gobin, Col.
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J. A. Vera, and other distinguished visitors and members of the Centennial Committee in carriages.
Mounted cavalry, made up of Co. A, 17th Regiment of Penn- sylvania, and others not in any organization.
100th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry-" Round- heads," 100 strong.
IoIst Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 100 strong.
103d Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 100 strong.
Hampton Battery B, National Guard of Pennsylvania, with . two Gatling guns, two breech-loaders, and two caissons.
Rochester Silver Concert Band.
140th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 150 strong.
134th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 75 strong.
Veteran Drum Corps.
At the reviewing stand General Miles left his carriage and reviewed the line as it went by.
The parade disbanded at the court-house.
UNVEILING OF SOLDIERS' MONUMENT
The unveiling of the beautiful Soldiers' Monument and the presentation ceremonies took place from a large platform in what is now Gibson Square, and were witnessed by a vast con- course. Seated on the platform were the distinguished visitors, the speakers of the occasion, the Centennial Chorus, and Duss's Great Western Band.
Rev. T. B. Anderson, D.D., pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Rochester, Pa., who is a veteran of the Civil War, presided at this time, and made an introductory address, as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen, and Comrades of the G. A. R., Citizens of Beaver County:
It is a striking, and withal a pleasing, coincidence that the closing year of the nineteenth century marks the Centennial year of the history of Beaver County. The civilization of this Western Continent is young com- pared with the civilizations of the Old World. The one hundred years which covers the history of Beaver County is but a span compared with the thousands of years that have rolled into eternity since history began. VOL. 11 .- 31.
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But in the last one hundred years, the world has grown more, in all that contributes to man's welfare and happiness on earth, than in any ten centuries of its past history.
The period of time since Beaver County was erected is the most glorious and fruitful of all history. No other century, of all the centuries, can compare in progress, in achievements, and in results, with the cen- tury that closes with 1900. Measured by days and weeks and months and years; by human life and by the changes wrought, one hundred years seems a long time. It covers three generations of men. It stretches away back to the time when these hills and valleys were covered with virgin forests; when solitude reigned, broken only and occasionally by the ring of the woodman's axe, the crack of the hunter's rifle, and the red man's yell; when wild animals and savage men roamed at will in almost undisputed possession of all this territory; when the placid waters of the Beaver and Ohio rivers were undisturbed, save by the trapper's boat and the Indian's canoe; when the only signs of civilization were the smoke curling up from the settler's isolated cabin in the wilderness, and the baying of the faithful house-dog at night. How marvelous the change! Here, where one hundred years ago "the rank thistle nodded in the wind and the wild fox dug his hole unscared," we now sit, encircled by all that ennobles and embellishes civilized life. This once wilderness has been made to blossom as the rose. Here we have a teeming popula- tion of intelligent, thrifty, happy people. These broad acres are covered with fruitful orchards, grazing herds, and waving harvests, and thickly dotted over with happy rural homes. In these valleys stand flourishing towns and cities, with schoolhouses and churches, and a throbbing com- mercial and social life, with all the accessories of the best civilization of the nineteenth century. The banks of these rivers are fringed with factories and industries of every description. The hum of useful in- dustry makes music through the week, and on the Sabbath songs of praise and grateful prayer go up from scores of temples dedicated to the worship of the living God.
The lines have fallen to us in pleasant places. We enjoy a goodly heritage. We are a favored people, and we ought to be a happy, grateful people. It is well to celebrate the first Centennial in the history of our county. It would show a pitiful lack of appreciation of the achieve- ments of the past and of the blessings of the present, if we did not in some suitable way celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of this glorious old county. So let the bells ring and the bands play, and orators declaim, and poets sing, and musicians warble, and the people shout, and when all is done the half will not be told.
Among all the ceremonies arranged for in connection with this Cen- tennial celebration, none is more fitting than that in which we are engaged at this hour. It would be an unpardonable omission to overlook, on such an occasion as this, the services of the men whose patriotism and valor preserved to us our national inheritance unimpaired. Scarcely any public celebration is complete without some fitting recognition of the men who made up the Grand Army of the Republic. And amid the festivities
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of this occasion, we must not, we will not, forget the old soldiers, to whom, under God, we are largely indebted for our present national greatness, peace, prosperity, and power.
When, more than a third of a century ago, the life of our nation was threatened, and the Banner of Freedom was assailed by traitorous hands, Beaver County was not wanting in men-loyal men-to rise up in her defense. The spirit of patriotism, transmitted from sire to son, since Revolutionary times, burned and flamed in loyal hearts all over these hills and through these valleys; and forth from this county went a citizen soldiery, who, in point of intelligence, loyalty, and moral character, were second to none that participated in that great struggle. There could be no fitter time than the present occasion to rear and dedicate a monument to the dead soldiers of Beaver County, whose names we honor, and the memory of whose deeds we cherish with grateful hearts. We are here charged with that solemn duty at this hour. I shall not detain you further, lest I should trespass on your time and patience and anticipate what others may have to say, but will introduce the speakers of the occasion.
At the close of Dr. Anderson's address, Rev. W. R. Kidd, pastor of the United Presbyterian Church of Beaver Falls, Pa., led in prayer, after which the Chorus Club sang The Battle Hymn of the Republic. Then E. N. Bigger, Esq., County Solicitor, in the name of the County Commissioners, made the formal presen- tation of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument to the people of the county, as follows:
From the earliest dawn of history mankind has striven to com- memorate great events by erecting monumental structures, from the crude piling of stone to the erection of tall and costly shafts of granite.
In Egypt, Persia, and in all that portion of the world which may be looked upon as the cradle of the race, we find monumental structures so old that their origin is lost in the haze of historical distance. As the race grew older, this desire broadened and they began to build monu- ments, not only in memory of great events, but to the actors therein. This desire is the natural impulse to create an earthly immortality otherwise denied to man, and is most commendable.
The greatest event in the history of this country since the Revolution is the Civil War. There was an irrepressible conflict of opinion between the North and the South. In the former, schoolhouses dotted the hills and valleys, while in the latter it was a crime to teach a black man to read. In the former, the people were largely engaged in manufacturing, and they demanded adequate protection for their infant industries; while in the latter "Cotton was King," and the people demanded free trade. In the former, human slavery was looked upon as a crime, while in the latter it was considered not only a lawful, but a divine institution. Thus the question presented not only a political, but a moral issue. It
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was discussed not only on the platform and in the press, but from the sacred desk came, on the one hand, denunciation, and on the other, justi- fication. The whole nation was in a state of turmoil; but above all, and most mischievous of all, the South held that paramount allegiance was due, not to the Nation, but to the State, and that any sovereign State had a right at will to secede from the Union. Such diversity of opinion could not be compromised, and when secession, long talked about and threatened, became a fact, the whole North sprang to arms. The differences could be settled only by the stern arbitrament of the sword, and the war began, destined to last for four awful, bloody years. The nation was a camp of armed men. The shrill note of the fife, the roll of drum, the blare of bugle, and the tramp of hosts became common sounds, and the world looked on in wonder and in awe while the destiny of the great Republic hung in the balance. Truly these were troublous days:
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