USA > Pennsylvania > Warren County > Warren > Warren centennial : an account of the celebration at Warren, Pennsylvania July 2d, 3d, and 4th in commeration of the first century after the laying out of the town of Warren > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11
But a hundred years from now there will not only be a new woman but a comparatively new man : there will be new and faster methods of travel.
171
WARREN CENTENNIAL
The swiftly moving bicycles of this day will be superseded by a swifter vehicle, propelled by an electrical storage battery instead of by foot-power. There will be a free bridge over the river at this point, a hundred years from now. The creeds will have passed out of the minds of educated men and women, and knowledge will have taken the place of mythological theology. Then honest poverty will be no more out of place than criminal wealth-poor and rich alike.
We have dwelt upon Warren and its surround- ings. Let us reach out for a moment. Within the last hundred years we have experienced wonderful changes in all departments of life. We can on this occasion only speak of individual effort and unfold- ment. Man, inspired by ambition of unseen and invisible intelligence, has achieved most wonderful results. I will cite Andrew Johnson, learning the alphabet from his wife ; afterward President of the United States. Abraham Lincoln, who started from the lowest walks of life ; twice President of the United States, a martyr and saviour of his country. U. S. Grant, who started out in life as a laborer in a tanyard; afterward became the greatest soldier of the age and President. He made himself a name in history as that of a warrior and a representative of America that will echo far into the corridors of time.
As a boy, we see James A. Garfield at work, driving a canal-boat, then Republican leader of the House, then Senator, then President, and finally the object of a weeping world.
172
WARREN CENTENNIAL
We see Daniel Webster ploughing on a farm ; afterward delighting the world with the magic of his voice.
We have Benjamin Franklin, learning to ink type in his youth, and in his maturity we see him subdu- ing and enslaving the lightning and teaching the world its practical use.
We see Elihu Burritt learning his letters at noon- time in a blacksmith's shop, and afterward convers- ing in thirty languages.
We remember Salmon P. Chase, a poor Ohio boy, who became Governor, Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, and finally Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
We see Horace Greeley trudging across a State. anxious to secure work for his board and clothes : later on, we see him in council with Presidents, and know him to have been one of the greatest men of the times.
We see in flaming characters the names of Wash- ington and Tom Paine. We note James Gordon Bennett, the jibe of all the printers because of his crooked eyes. Yet he died the owner of the great- est money-making newspaper in all newspaper his- tory-a journal which sends expeditions to Africa and squadrons to the North Pole. These men, by well-directed energy. not only succeeded in life, but have been of great benefit to mankind. They stand forth a beautiful object-lesson to the young men. especially of this date.
Taking into consideration the wonderful achieve- ment of individual effort, and that of national ad-
173
WARREN CENTENNIAL
vancement in the arts and sciences during the last hundred years, what may we not expect during the next century ? As a nation, the United States is last in war and first in peace. As a people, they are politic in character, and possess the broad prin- ciples of thought and purpose which make them the most noble, wise, free and independent nation of the world.
" Lives of great men all remind us We may make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints in the sands of time."
God will have ceased to be a material being, and mankind will know instead of believing by faith. Faith has served a good purpose, but knowledge is better. The God of that other time will be greater than the conception of the Supreme at this day is possible. Intelligence will have taken the place of heathen customs and thoughts. Then God will be looked up to as a loving, a lovable intelligence, rather than one of hatred and revenge.
In that day it will be known that man himself is greater than the present conception of himself. Man is greater than all else known. God is so great that we cannot know Him, and the man will be known as the highest exponent of personal ma- terial creation. Science will become the great theo- logian. Then it will be known that man is the crown- ing glory of creative genius. It has been taught us that man is a poor, sinful creature, unworthy of God's care and protection. This new thought teaches dif-
174
WARREN CENTENNIAL
ferently. Man is not a worm of the dust, but the highest achievement of the Divine command. Here- after man will not bow himself in abject humiliation before his Creator, but stand up in his exuberant pride and gladness that he was placed in these ma- terial conditions. Through all earth's adversities, with the knowledge he will have, he will stand with his head above these material clouds, and see the light that shines ever from that other shore.
-
SOCKER TIME ON THE DAY.
175
WARREN CENTENNIAL
Mr. Morris's address was received with marked interest, and at its conclusion there was some more music. Then followed a reunion of old settlers, which was confined to residents who had come to Warren before 1840.
The repast was prepared by the Women's Ex- change, and served in a building on the grounds devoted to their use.
Naturally, the guests of honor were Solomon O'Bail and Deerfoot, the most aged representatives of the Seneca Nation, the original proprietors of the country. At the close of the dinner Mr. R. P. King, a resident of Warren since 1817, arose and spoke as follows :
"There are several of us here who have been in close touch and relationship with the illustrious Cornplanter, the ancestor of our honored guest. Solomon O'Bail, as well as with Henry and Charles O'Bail, his father and uncle; and those of us can say with sincerity that our relations with them have always been of the pleasantest, no discord ever be- coming apparent during the years of intercourse, and no trouble ever threatened the border white settler during the years while these men were in our midst."
The old Chieftain O'Bail was visibly affected by this tribute to his ancestors, and in turn replied, in a tremulous voice, the following, translated by the interpreter, Harrison Halftown :
" It gives me great pleasure that the Omnipotent God has allowed us to assemble here in verification of the words previously spoken. In the day of my
176
WARREN CENTENNIAL
grandfather, my father and my uncle, it was always their saying that the white man would act fairly with the children of the forest, and the assemblage here to-day and the treatment of my people since arriv- ing here are abundant evidence of the truth of this saying."
A register of the old people who attended the dinner, together with the date of their birth and the time of their coming to Warren, is appended :
Born.
Came to Warren.
·A. Hertzel, .
1829
1833
Henry Knupp,
1839
1839
T. S. Messner,
IS22
1841
H. M. Phillips,
IS24
IS31
James Cook,
1829
1832
Alex. Kitchen,
IS18
1838
A. T. Arnold, ·
1 830
1845
Augusta M. Arnold,
1842
1842
Christian Smith,
1823
1836
J. P. Lacy,
1813
1829
I. H. Hiller, .
1817
1844
Mrs. A. Morck,
1825
1851
Anna M. Sandstrom,
1829
1 868
Philip Bysecker,
1826 1846
L. J. Marsh,
1838 IS38
Mrs. L. J. Marsh,
1834
1834
P. J. Trushel,
1830
1839
Philip Siechrist,
1826 1833
I. G. Lacy, . ·
1823
1836
Stephen Critchlow, . 1820
IS44
M. D. Waters, .
. 1825
1826
.
.
.
WARREN CENTENNIAL 177
Born.
Came to Warren.
F. S. Knopf,
1839
1839
H. A. Putnam,
.
1837
IS37
Mrs. H. A. Putnam,
IS37
1 837
Peter Smith,
.
IS26
IS52
Mrs. Allen Smith,
.
1832
IS52
Wm. H. Deming,
ISIS
IS 39
Wm. Zeigler,
ISI6
IS39
O. W. Randall.
IS28
IS38
Chas. Dinsmoor. .
.
IS34
1836
Nelson P. Coates,
IS39
1839
Michael Kelly,
IS22
1840
A. P. Lacy, . ·
. IS23
1832
Russell A. Phillips,
IS32
IS32
Rufus P. King, · .
ISIT
ISI7
Mrs. J. M. Thompson, .
IS45
IS45
Ezra T. Hazeltine,
IS36
I S60
Mrs. Ezra T. Hazeltine,
1836
IS60
A. H. Lacy, .
1819
IS28
J. J. Taylor, .
IS26 .
1826
Mrs. Elizabeth W. Taylor, 1829 1833
Jas. W. Cramer, . 1833
IS33
Mrs. Mary T. Cramer. .
IS39
IS39
Henry Howard, .
IS38
IS54
Helen Waters Howard, 1840
1 840
D. M. Williams, . . ISI7
IS40
Lyman D. Wilson,
1831
1833
Elizabeth E. Wilson,
IS39
1843
S. A. Wetmore, .
1825
IS25
S. H. Davis, .
1 830
IS40
.
.
.
The oldest two men in Warren, J. Y. James and
12
178
WARREN CENTENNIAL
Benj. Williams, aged respectively 92 and 91, were not present at the dinner, possibly owing to feeble health. Mr. Williams has resided in Warren nearly So years, and when he came here the town was practically a primeval forest.
There was another game of old-time ball, July 4th, with the following players :
E. T. Hazeltine, Capt.,
Thomas Cooper, Capt ..
A. Conarro,
John Burget.
P. J. Trushel,
A. J. Marsh,
H. T. Russell,
John Eckles,
W. Brasington, Jacob Leonhart,
Walter Marsh,
Charles Chase,
O. P. Dunn,
Ed. Parker,
Mot. Schuler,
G. O. Cornelius,
G. R. Starr,
Mel Sharp,
J. M. Davidson,
Elmer Wilcox,
J. K. Weaver,
N. P. Curtis,
M. B. Dunham.
W'm. Akely.
I'm. Fogles.
THE INDIAN FIGHT.
The second sham fight between the Indians and the settlers took place at 5 o'clock. The Indians succeeded in conquering the settlers and gaining possession of the block-house. A long fight then ensued between the settlers and Company I on one side and the Indians, who held possession of the block-house, on the other. At last a cannon was brought into requisition by the soldiers, and after a
179
WARREN CENTENNIAL
few rounds from that the white flag was hung from one of the loop-holes, and the fight, which lasted nearly half an hour, and during which nearly 1 500 rounds of ammunition were discharged, was at an end. The capitulation then took place in due form, the surrendering Indians being escorted to the speaker's stand, where the regular surrender ac- cording to the rules of war was gone through with, the Hon. O. C. Allen speaking for the whites. The volley firing of the soldiers under the command of Captain Fred E. Windsor was fine, and showed long practice and hard drilling. Chiefs Crandall and Gardner displayed a great knowledge of woodcraft in the way they handled their braves. It was only after the last hope had vanished and each was se- verely wounded that these great braves threw up the sponge and allowed themselves to be made prisoners of war.
Company I gave a most interesting skirmish drill at 5.30 P.M., reflecting great credit both upon the officers and men.
The special feature of Wednesday evening on the grounds was the old-time singing-school, in charge of the same committee that had the district school in hand, W. V. N. Yates, Chairman. Mr. Anthony Conarro, an old-time singing-master, pre- sided, and conducted the choruses with dignity and much beating of the air. Logan's Indian Band opened the program, and was followed by Prof. Kelly with another club-swinging exercise. The school then sang " Jerusalem, My Glorious Home," with many old-time shakes and quavers. At this
180
WARREN CENTENNIAL
point C. D. Crandall, who had been captured by the Indians the night before, and so failed to appear at the school exhibition, was discovered by the con- ductor, dragged to the front, and compelled to recite. He gave " I Want to Hear the Old Band " with so much effect that the audience demanded another, which he did not refuse. A male quartette then sang "Auld Lang Syne," and responded to a hearty encore from the audience. The school then sang " America," Mrs. D. L. Gerould gave " Wait for the Wagon," Philip Siechrist spoke " I am Monarch of all I Survey," and the school closed the evening with the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," Miss Harriet Cutting singing the solo. Before the pro- gram was concluded the irrepressible Indians had begun their evening dances, but at ten o'clock both Indians and pale-faces were admonished by the superintendent that it was time to leave off dancing and go to rest, and quiet reigned in the Indian village.
THE THIRD DAY.
All looked for a great crowd Thursday, but none, not even the most sanguine, believed that it would be as large as it actually was. In the morning at 7.30, when the first train arrived-the Kane accom- modation-it was clearly demonstrated that there was to be practically no limit to the attendance, for the engine had behind it eight heavily-loaded cars of human freight. There were celebrations both at Kane and Sheffield, and, therefore, when a full train- load arrived from that direction it was a most agree- able surprise. Then came the W. N. Y. & P. from
181
WARREN CENTENNIAL
both ways, Olean, Oil City and intermediate towns, all bringing large and crowded train-loads. The 9 o'clock train from Titusville on the D. A. V. & P., and the one at II o'clock on the same road, were also heavily loaded, as was each successive train on all three roads up to 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
At noon conservative estimates placed the num- ber of visitors in the city at between 15,000 and 20,000, the ones holding to the latter figures being largely in the majority. It was, without the least doubt, the largest crowd of humanity that ever assembled in the borough of Warren. Had not extra preparations been made it would have been impossible to handle the jam in any kind of an orderly manner. As it was, the hotels, restaurants, and lunch-counters, both permanent and transient (scores of the latter blossomed on every hand), found their resources taxed to the utmost, patrons standing three deep, most of the time, waiting their turn at the table and counter.
The day was as perfect as could be asked for, there being just enough cloud to create an enjoy- able shade and breeze sufficient to obviate the neces- sity of fans.
The town was aroused early by the incessant firing of cannon across the river. This cannonading began about 3.30, and continued without cessation up to 6 o'clock, being varied, as soon as daylight made its appearance, by cannon-crackers, small cannon, tor- pedoes, etc., in the hands of the irrepressible small boy and a large number of older brothers.
There was positively no sleep after this fusillade
182
WARRENN CENTENNIAL
began ; therefore at 7 o'clock nearly every resident was up and stirring, and the streets at once took on a lively and busy aspect.
The main attraction booked for the forenoon was the grand parade announced to take place at 11 o'clock. About this time Water street from Market down to the park was lined on each side and packed many deep with spectators, and many crowded out on the brick pavement. The running of street cars was entirely abandoned for the time, and ve- hicles found it impossible to proceed, being entirely hemmed in by the dense crowd.
The parade was to start from the junction of Market and Water streets, where the first house built in Warren was located. The procession was formed as follows : First division on Market street, right resting on Third. Second division on Third, right resting on Market, facing east. Third division on Market street, right on Third. Carriages (at- tached to third division) formed with right on Market street, facing west. Fourth division on Second, right on Market, facing west.
The line of march was as follows : Out Second to Water street ; thence around the Savings Bank cor- ner to East Water street; up East Water street to Fourth ; Fourth to Market ; Market to Third ; Third to Water ; Water to Beech; Beech to Fourth ; Fourth to Chestnut ; Chestnut to Water; up Water to the Savings Bank. The whole was headed by the bicycle corps, which formed on Market, with the right on Second, facing north.
The officers in command were as follows: Col.
183
WARREN CENTENNIAL
D. Gardner, Grand Marshal ; Capt. F. E. Windsor, Chief of Staff; Aids-M. B. Dunham, F. H. Rock- well, John Siegfried, W. W. Wilbur, John Roy and O. W. Beaty ; Chiefs of Divisions-First, Capt. W. J. Alexander ; Second, Dr. W. S. Peirce ; Third, Capt. S. H. Davis ; Fourth, Capt. L. T. Borchers.
The Procession.
Chief of Staff, F. E. Windsor.
A. C. McAlpin, in command of bicycle parade.
Twenty-five young ladies on bicycles.
Ninety-six men on bicycles.
Grand Marshal and Staff.
Reig and Barth's Cornet Band, 25 pieces.
Officers of Centennial Association, on foot.
Company I, Sixteenth Regiment, Lieut. D. F. A. Wheelock commanding, 37 men.
August Morck impersonating " Uncle Sam."
Martial music, in carriage.
Eben N. Ford Post, G. A. R., 40 men.
Council of Indians, in four carriages.
Two hundred Indians and squaws, with children, on foot.
Coach containing landlord and landlady of Jack- son's Tavern, with waiters.
Thirty ladies in Colonial costume from the Quilt- ing-Bee building in side-seat wagon.
Thirty ladies in Colonial costume, in two wagons, committee from Relics and Antiquities building.
Second Division.
Marshal, Dr. W. S. Pierce.
Cattaraugus Reservation Indian Band, 20 pieces.
184
WARREN CENTENNIAL
Fire Police, 18 men.
Watson Hose Company, with handsome banner and portrait of the late Col. L. F. Watson, 25 men.
Struthers Hose Company, with large banner and portrait of the late Thomas Struthers, 40 men.
Wetmore Hose Company, 38 men.
Citizens' Hook and Ladder Company, 30 men.
Centennial Hose No. 4, East Side, Robert Walkerman, foreman, 25 men.
Fire police cart, drawn by Burr Walker's ponies.
Fire steamer Rufus P. King.
K. O. T. M. Band, 22 pieces.
Knights of the Maccabees, Allegheny Tent, No. 3, 82 men.
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 93 men.
Branch 27, Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, 38 men.
Robert Blum Lodge, D. O. H., 22 men.
Burgess and Council of Warren, Mayor and Council of Franklin, in carriages.
Old citizens and their wives in carriages.
Third Division.
Cornplanter Reservation Indian Band.
A long procession of wagons, floats and other ex- hibits, illustrating the manufacturing and commercial enterprises of " Greater Warren."
AT THE STAND.
By 2 o'clock the crowd was over the river, and as many as could get within earshot assembled in front of the speakers' stand. President Stone presided,
185
WARRENN CENTENNIAL
and opened the meeting with a few bright and appro- priate remarks. Five-minute speeches were in order, and the president introduced as the first speaker the Mayor of Franklin, W. H. Forbes, Esq., who spoke as follows :
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen : For this honor I thank you most earnestly, for it gives me an opportunity to publicly express the great debt of gratitude which all the ladies and gentlemen from Franklin owe to the ladies and gentlemen of Warren for the extreme kindness and attention to even the smallest detail that could add to our comfort, enjoy- ment and delight. But we were not surprised that we should be so received and entertained. Warren and Franklin came into existence in the same year, and by virtue of the same legislation, one hundred years ago ; and from that time until the present the people of these, the two most beautiful little cities in the world, have exchanged the warmest hospital- ity and acts of friendship. We anxiously await an opportunity some time this year to demonstrate practically and to the best of our ability our high appreciation of the royal manner in which we have been entertained. Your reproduction of old-time manners, customs, costumes and sports are won- derfully true, according to history and the authority of old people. This could only be accomplished by the hard and tedious labor of the noble women of Warren. Too much praise cannot be given them. Were I at home I would propose three cheers for them. Hoping to be able in the near future to have
186
WARREN CENTENNIAL
the great pleasure of extending to you, one and all, the freedom of the city of Franklin, and again thank- ing you, your illustrious chairman, your honorable Burgess and Council, I will say adieu.
The Hon. Wm. D. Brown was then introduced. After a few preliminary words, in response to re- marks made by the president in his introduction, the gentleman spoke as follows :
We are accustomed to hear, on occasions like this, of the greatness of our country in territorial extent and its wonderful resources-the growth of our people and their progress in science, art, and in other things. All this is right. It tends to inspire patriotism, love of country, and devotion to the flag we so fittingly designate as "Old Glory." But we should remember that material resources, material or even intellectual development, do not make a people great. Nobility of character in the individual citizen is the all-important factor.
It has been frequently, and I think truthfully, said that all great and worthy achievements have been accomplished under the inspiration of ideals. What conception have we, citizens of this nation, of what its future ought to be and what it may be? What conception have we, as citizens of Warren borough, whose Centennial we celebrate, of what the coming century may and ought to witness in the life of those who shall at its close occupy these pleasant hills and valleys? I have a word-picture, drawn not by myself, but by a master artist, that presents in such felicitous
187
WARREN CENTENNIAL
language and condensed form the ideal nation and the ideal community, that I present it as better than anything that it is possible for me to say. In a recent lecture delivered by a distinguished doctor of divinity these words occur :
"It seems to me there ought to be something in our life that admits of idealization-something that appeals to the imagination of the citizen-something that inspires, in time, a genuine devotion and a gen- erous faith that, leaving the things that are behind, shall, with high enthusiasm, stretch forth unto the things that are before. Can we not and should we not think of a community as becoming more and more a social organization, bound together by bonds not wholly economic and commercial, but by human sympathies and human interests, with a character to develop and a destiny to fulfil, moving steadily for- ward, under the influence of a righteous purpose, in the way of peaceful progress, strengthening law, enlarging liberty, diffusing intelligence, promoting happiness, and becoming, through the co-operative good-will of its people, a mighty and brilliant provi- dence to all who dwell within its boundaries ? Are there not possibilities in this life of ours that can make the heart glow with great hope and high en- thusiasm ?
" May we not with profit cherish the vision of a vocation and a community fairer, purer, nobler than any yet known ? May we not with profit think much of an earthly community better than we now have ?- a nation and a community whose officers shall be peace and whose exactors shall be right-
188
WARREN CENTENNIAL
eousness, whose homes shall be sacred and secure, whose traffic shall be wholesome and beneficent, whose laborers shall go forth to their cheerful toil unburdened by the heavy hand of legalized monopo- lies, whose laws shall foster no more curses, nor open the gates of whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie; whose streets shall be full of happy children playing in safety, and learning the great lesson of love to God and love to man, and whose citizens, wherever they shall wander, shall ever turn homeward with longing desires and loving hearts?"
Citizens of Warren borough, of Warren county, of the nation : If, one hundred years hence, we who now participate in this celebration of our national independence and the centennial of our existence as a borough shall be granted a vision of these hills and valleys, may we not indulge the hope that the ideal picture thus presented shall then be a veritable reality ?
President Stone grew eloquent in his introduction of Logan, the Indian orator, and his words were loudly applauded. Orator Logan, in the course of his short speech, took occasion to say that he never before realized as fully as now that he was a fool at speech-making. Of this he was now fully aware after having listened to the eloquent speakers who had preceded him. He would, however, endeavor to say a few words. He said that to-day his thoughts went back to one hundred years ago, when his fore- fathers inhabited here, and roamed over these hills and through these valleys. As he thought of these
189
WARREN CENTENNIAL
things he sometimes imagined that his countrymen ought to be crying, instead of rejoicing, because they had lost possession and control of this beauti- ful land. But then he reflected that it was the will of the Great Spirit that such things should be, and he at once became reconciled, and he wished to state that in his opinion the change had been beneficial to himself and his people. "Simply," said he. "be- cause you see my people playing games and be- sporting themselves in peculiar ways, you need not think that is all they know. They can plough, read their Bibles, play instruments in a way to produce sweet music, and do many other things of a similar character. They have fallen into the stream of civ- ilization, and are swimming toward the top. I think I enjoy life better under my present surroundings than I would under those of one hundred years ago." In closing. Logan paid President Stone, Messrs. Crandall, Talbott and Allen and the balance of the Centennial officials a glowing compliment for the kindly manner in which his people had been treated, and his earnest hope was that the kindly feeling thus engendered might continue through the coming cen- tury. Himself and the Indians had been treated as human beings, and not as brutes.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.