USA > Vermont > Windham County > Newfane > Centennial proceedings and other historical facts and incidents relating to Newfane, the county seat of Windham County, Vermont > 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 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18
115
abolitionist. He wrote a series of articles in my Vermont Free Press, as you will see (as I understand it is to have a place in the procession) on the question, which he answered, . " Is the African Negro a man?"
I went to Fayetteville to make there my first start in business and in the calling and mission of my life. I started out to be a professional journalist. The Vermont Free Press, which you have in your midst, was my first venture. I can- not say that it was a pecuniary success. I lost in it some portion of my patrimony saved for me through my orphanage. But I believe it was a profitable loss. It gave me early experience in business and in human nature and in my pro- fession. My would-be partner abandoned me, a boy, to take care of himself. With a little pluck and a little money I staid on to see the end, I might say the ruin of my hopes. I found at any rate, as many a New England boy has found, that the place in which Providence planted him was either too small or too large. I found Fayetteville not wholly the place suited to my aspirations. In 1836 I turned my face to the westward. That country, at least, is large enough for any person, or small enough, and a free choice can be made. I found in the West many people who had emigrated from Vermont. I became partially acquainted with S. A. Douglas who was a Vermonter, and Abraham Lincoln who was not a Vermonter. Of the two I found Mr. Lincoln's the most profitable as a partial acquaintance. But as I live with a Vermont wife, I have proved that the Vermonters are the most agreeable for intimate acquaintance. I have seen your Vermont people and Windham County people in all parts of the West, and I have ever found those I would gladly acknowledge as friends. Vermont has helped largely to make the greatness of the West. You may be proud of Vermont transplanted to the prairies.
My life since I left your peaceful village has not been wholly a failure. I early took a forward movement in that great question in saving the country, by the eradication of the curse of slavery. I helped doctor the patient-but my friend Lincoln cut that cancer out with his sword. I have had an adventurous life. Providence has been my guiding star. Six times I have crossed the Atlantic. I have lived eight years
116
in a foreign land. I have looked princes in the face, and I have found them no more worthy than men who keep sheep in your mountain pastures, or make sugar from the maples on your hills. I have lived in a great city which had only 8,000 people in it when I first saw it. I now see it with 400,000 inhabitants. I have seen the larger part of it con- sumed in a day to ashes, carrying away a small fortune of my own. I have seen it come again like Jonah's gourd, but as substantial as stone and brick can make it. In all this experience I have thought of the town you celebrate as the great starting point of all. While tossed upon the ocean waves I have thought of the quiet of your homes. While reposing in foreign lands, in the beautiful country we call our mother England, or in the whirl of giddy Paris, or 'mid the ice mountains of Switzerland, I have dreamed of your village as Alexander Selkirk dreamed of his native land, and at once I seemed to be there. One of the great expectations of my future has been my return visit. I have ever meant to drop down suddenly among you. This would have been a favorable opportunity if I were not previously engaged. But I still hope to fulfill my expectations. When I do I would like to meet the children of the fathers and mothers I knew and tell you the story of my life.
Z. EASTMAN.
117
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY.
A NEW VERSION.
BY ANNA O. STEDMAN.
Alas ! I am so very tired, This glorious summer's day ; It seems to me a long, long time Since last I came this way. Yon say you don't remember me? Well, that is not so strange, For in the last one hundred years Of course must be some change.
Nor is it strange that, having lain So long upon the shelf, In making an appearance I must introduce myself. Alas! how sad that none remain Of all I used to know And love, and rest my heart upon, One hundred years ago.
And while the recollections sad Are crowding on my brain, As in the busy life around My youth returns again ;- I hear some graceless youngster say, From out the crowd below : " What's the old woman driving at? I wish she'd let us know."
Shades of my ancestors ! Not thus, As you too fully know, Spake we unto our grandmothers, One hundred years ago. Still, yielding to the high demands Of the present " high-toned " day, I'll strive to answer his commands As briefly as I may.
118
My children, you have doubtless heard, To your juvenile delight, The story of the Sleeping Maid, The gallant rescuing Knight? Ah, yes, you all remember well, But did you know until This moment that that castle grand Once stood on New Fane hill?
But yes, this maid of high renown, (A maid no longer, she.) Upon the heights of this old town Reared a large family ; And feeling weary with her work, She donned her big night-cap, And quietly she settled down To take another nap.
It was in seventeen seventy-four The sleepy fit came on, And as nothing very special To disturb her has been done, She very calmly snoozed away, Just as she did before. Till she was wakened by the noise Of eighteen seventy-four.
'Tis true she had some curious dreams, As happens to the best. And once or twice came very near Being broken of her rest. But they did quite well without her, And built, and bought and sold, Until her children, like herself, Were growing gray and old ;
And then the fancy came to them That 'twould be finer still To place their habitations In the valley 'neath the hill. Now, you must know. it could not be So many girls and boys Could move their goods and chattels down Without a little noise-
But on they came. and reared the homes That shelter them to-day,
119
But that the old hill held most grand They could not bring away. Its air, its streams, its proud old mounds With verdure covered o'er,- These be its heaven-born heritage Till time shall be no more!
The years rolled on, a greater thrill Shook mightily the land. When the voice of God doth speak to men, Where shall His children stand? Not in the ranks of cowards ! Not in the bonds of slaves ! Sooner shall heaven's dew's nightly fall Upon their martyr graves !
So, with whitening lip and sinking heart, The mother said "good-bye," And tried to smile upon the boy She was sending forth to die. And wives grew pale, and closer clasped Their babies to their breasts, And prayed-but, ah ! you know it all ; Why need I tell the rest-
How many of that honored band Who proudly marched away, Have fallen by a traitor's hand, How many stand to-day The victors in as brave a host As e'er to battle led ? Then let us give them equal praise, The living and the dead.
But the God of battles spake again, The tide of blood was stayed, And His sunshine blessed once more the land Laid waste by treason's raid ; And the ancient dame, but half aroused By the mutterings of her foes, Just quietly fell back again To finish her repose.
'Tis true that in the vale below, So peaceful though it seem, The waters did not always flow Smoothly as one might deem ;
120
But tell me, what can you expect In this dull world of ours, Where women talk, and men but loaf, To while away the hours? Surely, the proverb learned in youth Will never be less true, That " Satan finds some mischief still For idle folks to do."
Nathless, altho' some trifling wave Would sometimes swell the tide, Yet, mainly, with this quiet life All seemed quite satisfied- Until a certain year when Spring Came in with gentle breath, Wafting away the memories Of cold, and sleep, and death-
With her some magic influence came, Some subtle, mystic spell, That warmed the blood and thrilled the veins Of all o'er whom it fell ;- Not that which spring-time always brings- Sometimes, alas ! too late,- When leaflets burst, and lovers woo, And robins seek their mates-
Yet none could read the spell, till one, More brilliant than the rest, Remarked in Yankee fashion To his neighbor, that he "guessed " If they'd wake up their ideas, 'Twas very plain to show That this old town first drew its breath One hundred years ago.
Then his brother Yankee answered him : " Wa-al, what are you goin' to do? You just shell out your notions, man, I'll be bound we'll put you thro'."
" Do !" quoth his patriotic friend, In tones that pierced him thro', " We'll have a celebration grand, That's what we're going to do !
" We'll have some grand orations, fit For Independence Day,
121
And the finest band of music That ever came this way. We'll get up a rousing dinner Of the best that can be found, And ask our friends and neighbors in From all the country round.
" We'll tell them all the wondrous deeds Our forefathers begun,
And try to think of something smart That we ourselves have done. We'll call our sires and grandmothers From out their place of rest, And, though you youngsters of to-day May do your prettiest, You'll see them march about the town As lively as the best.
" Talk of your expositions, World's fair, or fancy ball ;
Beside our great Centennial They'll be nowhere at all ! I tell you, we'll get up a show Will knock these others flat ;
If we don't make the thing a go. You're welcome to my hat !"
Well, they have, doubtless, done their best, But whether they've complied With these amazing promises, OUR GUESTS can best decide.
Now she who armies could not rouse, Nor civic feuds surprise, On hearing all these murmurings Began to rub her eyes ; And, rousing up her weary limbs, She said, in accents slow, " If they have a grand Centennial, I surely ought to go."
'Tis therefore I have come to greet My numerous family,- Although it seems incredible That all belong to me. Whate'er the virtues of Newfane, Or her renown may be, In latter years she is not famed For her fecundity.
16
122
But tho' we may not all have shared The same baptismal font. You all are welcome, just the same, As sons of old Vermont ; And as justice has been fully done To what has gone before, Let us attempt. with hopeful gaze, The future to explore.
First, by your leave, I beg it may Be fully understood That, having slumbered long and well, I've now waked up for good ; And. borrowing our starting point From apostolic lore- To leave the things that are behind And press to those before- What shall we hope for as we look Through the long mist of years? What shall we pray for. bending low To him who ever hears?
Shall we hope our beauteous valley Ne'er may cease to bud and bloom? That our streams may join their music With the spindle and the loom? That the iron horse may find his way Among these hills of ours, Helping us coin the quiet day Into busy, golden hours? And may we ask for better things : That knowledge grow and love increase, And learn of all good gifts below, The best of all to dwell in peace.
God knoweth best; these issues all To Him we humbly leave. While with most earnest hearts we strive His promise to believe. That whoso seeketh, he shall find, Who asketh shall receive. And, tho' 'tis sad to own, our lives Are not perennial. So 'twould be vain to ask you to Our next Centennial ; Yet. blessed be God that nobler aims, More glorious hopes have we, That, by His grace. we all may stand Beside the crystal sea.
A CENTENNIAL DISCOURSE,
DELIVERED AT
FAYETTEVILLE, VT.
JULY 5, 1874.
BY
REV. CHARLES BURNHAM,
ACTING PASTOR OF THE
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
"Tell ye your children of it, and let your chil Iren tell their children, and their children another generation."-JonL I: 3.
125
SERMON.
" Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live forever ?" --- ZECHARIAH I : 5.
To-day we stand in the entrance and upon the threshold of the second century of our history as a church. Through the good providence of God, we are permitted to see this epoch in our history, and to stand upon this post of obser- vation, where we are compelled to look back over the past century, which is mapped out distinctly before us, and where we may see and learn the hardships, toils and conflicts that the pioneers in town and church were obliged to encounter ; where we may see how they met their responsibilities, how they removed or overcame the obstacles in their path.
We look over this congregation, and call upon those pioneers to come forward in their own persons and tell us of the conflicts through which they passed ;- but there is no response. " Your fathers, where are they?" Gone, all gone. The grave covers their mortal remains. Where is Hezekiah Taylor, the first pastor of this church, who served it from the day of its organization, June 30, 1774, till September, ISII, more than thirty-seven years? He, too, is gone. "And the prophets, do they live forever?" No; by reason of death there must be a succession in the ministry, but the great Head of the church, the Lord Jesus Christ, " because he ever liveth, hath an unchangeable priesthood."
The church lives, though its individual members die ; the church is built upon the "Rock of Ages," and like its Divine head, it will ever live. If, as we stand upon this post of observation, we turn our minds to the century before us, who can tell what its successive years will reveal? Little very little dare we predict. Of one thing, however, we may be confident ; as the successive years of the century . pass away, they will bear, one after another to the grave, all here present to-day. Probably not one of us, probably not one now in town, will see the end of the century upon
126
which we have entered. Those who will celebrate the second centennial of the town and church will say of us, as we are compelled to say of those who were here one hundred years ago, all, all are gone.
All that pertains to our well-being in time and eternity, is essentially included between two fixed and definite hours, the hour of birth, and the hour of death. Our present life involves the future ; the future will be colored, stamped and fixed by the present.
Says Scott, in one of his beautiful hymns :
" This season of your being, know, Is given to you your seeds to sow ; Wisdom's and folly's differing grain, In future worlds, is bliss and pain. Then let me every day review, Idle or busy, search it through ; And while probation's minutes last, Let every day amend the past."
We are now called upon especially to review the past, and gather up its lessons of instruction for our future guidance.
The history of this church the past century has lessons, important lessons, for us to consider, and it is my purpose now to set forth these lessons, as well as I may.
I. The first thing to be noted is the settlement of the town and the establishment of the institutions of religion.
The town was organized May 17, 1774. The church was organized and the first pastor, the Rev. Hezekiah Taylor, was settled about . six weeks later, on June 30, 1774.
The Gazetteer of Vermont, published at Montpelier, in 1824, gives the date of Mr. Taylor's settlement as August, 1774. This is a mistake, as the records of the church clearly show. The same authority also says: "There were but six families when the church was organized." This is a mistake. Luke Knowlton, Esq., moved into town in 1772, and his family was the fourteenth in town. It is currently reported by some of the elderly people here, that they have often heard from their ancestors there were fourteen families in town when the church was organized. This is without doubt correct.
127
Are there now fourteen families in town, who would willingly and cheerfully make provision to sustain the ordinances of religion? It may well be doubted. These pioneers manifestly loved the gospel, and were willing to make sacrifices, many and great, if, thereby, they could sit beneath the droppings of the sanctuary. They were poor in worldly goods, but rich in faith ; rich, too, in works, the fruits of faith. This was the eleventh Congregational church organized in the State. It was organized at a time which, emphatically, tried men's souls. It was only two years before the Declaration of Independence, when the whole country was agitated by those events which resulted in the Revolutionary war. Here there were neither roads nor bridges; neither horses, oxen, nor wagons, and the traveler must guess his way along, or find it by marked trees. All supplies must be brought on foot from Hinsdale, twenty miles distant. Yet poor as were the people, they were quite too poor to live without the gospel. What they invested in the gospel of Christ was doubtless the best investment they made. It blessed them, it has blessed their descendants till this day, and it will continue to bless those who shall come after for years to come. We, who are here to-day. inherit the fruits of the toil, the hardship, and the self-denial of those godly men and women, who lived and labored here one hundred years ago.
This fact imposes upon us solemn and weighty responsi- bilities. We ought not merely to do as much to bless those who shall come after us, as those who have gone before have done to bless us. We ought to do far more. Our abilities, opportunities and facilities are far greater. If they did not do more than could reasonably be expected of them, we may well ask ourselves if we are doing that which could be reasonably expected of us. Who were those heroic, self-denying people? Their names and deeds should be embalmed in the memory of us all.
The church, at its organization, consisted of the following persons : Luke Knowlton and wife, Thomas Green and wife, John Wheeler and wife, Jonathan Park and wife, and the wife of Mr. Henry Balcom. On the fourteenth of December, 1774, the church made choice of Luke
128
Knowlton, Esq., as Deacon. Moses Kenney was chosen the second Deacon, March 11, 1783. Brother Knowlton was appointed to wait on the communion table and read the psalm. To the younger portion of this audience this statement may need some explanation. One hundred years ago books were scarce, and there might have been but one hymn book in the whole congregation, and that in the hands of the minister. He would select the psalm, and hand the book to the deacon, who would read two lines. Then the chorister, pitchpipe in hand, would pitch the tune, and the singers would sing them. The deacon would then read two more, which would be sung, and so on to the end of the psalm .* To be sure, this was not very pleasant, but it was the best they could do.
2. Consider the method adopted to raise the salary of the minister.
Whether Mr. Taylor was settled by the town at the time of his ordination the records do not show. It would appear, however, that he was not, for we find upon the nineteenth of November, 1781, a town meeting was called " To see if the inhabitants of Newfane will vote the Rev. Mr. Taylor to be their minister." Also, " To see what means they would choose in regard to having the salary of the Rev. Mr. Taylor assessed upon the inhabitants." At this meeting it was "Voted unanimously that the town approve of and accept the Rev. Mr. Taylor to be minister of the gospel for said town." Also, " Voted to raise two hundred HARD DOLLARS to pay the salary due to the Rev. Mr. Taylor on the thirtieth day of December next." Also, " Voted a salary of sixty pounds, meaning two hundred Spanish milled dollars, per annum, to be assessed annually so long as the Rev. Mr. Taylor, remains a minister of the gospel in said town."
Thus it appears the minister's salary was raised by assess- ment, the same as other taxes, on all the inhabitants. This course assumed the fact that all the people were under as much obligation to sustain the gospel, as to sustain the government. The gospel benefits all the people, and so all
* At the conclusion of the centennial service a psalm was read and sung, according to the old fashion.
129
should pay for its support. At that time this was well enough, as the people were of one way of thinking, or were all Congregationalists. It was not felt to be any more improper to tax the people to sustain the institutions of religion, than to tax them to sustain the civil government. It may well be doubted whether our present views of religious freedom are, so far as a support of the gospel is concerned, in any degree in advance of our fathers of a hundred years ago. Now we let every man do, in this regard, what is right in his own eyes, and he may pay as he pleases, little or much. Formerly each paid according to his ability. This made the burden upon each as nearly equal as possible, and no one could claim that he was doing more than he ought-no one could complain that his neighbor was not doing his share.
We pride ourselves somewhat upon our liberal, demo- cratic views, and our religious freedom. We pass around a subscription paper, and let every man pay for the support of the gospel whatever he pleases. We regard taxing as a kind of despotism, which gives no play to benevolence. We . flatter ourselves that our present system has this advantage : It gives every man the opportunity to show of what material he is made; in short, the subscription paper is an index of character, where every man puts his own estimate upon himself.
We see by the record that the minister's salary was paid in hard dollars. Those dollars were hard in more senses than one. They were hard because they were in coin, and they were hard because they were so scarce, and so diffi- cult to obtain. Our forefathers, the pioneers of the town and church, prized the gospel ; they believed it lay at the very foundation of all good and permanent government, and so they suffered privations, toils and hardships, to enjoy its privileges, and to transmit them to their posterity. We do not now realize under what difficulties they labored, or how hard and long they struggled ere they could "go up to the House of the Lord."
3. Let us consider their efforts to build a meeting-house. September 17, 1792, at a town meeting, the following action was taken : " Voted to build a meeting-house, forty
17
130
feet by fifty. Voted to set said house betwixt the court house and Mr. Taylor's lane. Voted the sum of fifty pounds for the purpose of setting up a frame for a meeting- house. Voted to appoint Lieut. Ward Eager, Capt. Ephraim Holland, Deacon Moses Kenney and Mr. Eben- ezer Morse a building committee."
After many delays, embarrassments and changes, on the eighth of January, 1798, arrangements were made, by which the materials for the house were to be delivered at the place of building. One man agreed to furnish four sills of specified dimensions, for a certain price ; another undertook to furnish the plates, rafters, or braces, and so on. In this way the materials for the house were furnished by some twenty or thirty persons. On the seventeenth of July, 1799, the house was raised. The raising of a meet- ing-house, in those days, was an affair of great importance and the master workman must have picked men, trusty and true. Accordingly the men were selected from all the neighboring towns, and to distinguish them from all others, each wore a handkerchief around his head. Col. Tyler, of Townshend, fell from the frame and was taken up for dead ; but he revived at length, and in due time recovered. On the twelfth of November, 1799, a contract was made by the building committee with Mr. Joseph Pond, of War- wick, Mass., to finish the house. The materials were all to be furnished for him, except the sash and pews, which were to be made at Warwick and brought to this place. The workmen were to be furnished with board while here, and twenty-five gallons of West India rum was to be supplied for their use. Mr. Pond was to do the work " in a workman-like manner," and to receive therefor $1146; $50 in cash within one year from date, and $1096 was to be paid in beef at cash price in the month of October next ensuing after date. Mr. Pond's receipt for his pay on the contract bears date November 19. 1800.
What a struggle ! what toils, anxieties and vexations in securing a house in which to worship God! Do you not think the dollars paid for that house were " HARD DOLLARS?"
The whole cost of the house, as shown by the bill, was $3731.32. The pews were sold at public auction, to raise the
131
money to pay for finishing the house. The first pew sold in the lower part of the house was to Deacon Moses Kenney for $95 ; this was the highest price paid. The lowest price paid for any of the pews on the floor of the house was $34; this was given by Ebenezer Morse. The pews in the gallery were sold October 1, 1800. The highest price paid was $36, and Silvanus Sherwin was the purchaser; the lowest price was $16, and Joseph Ellis was the purchaser.
These pews were paid for in the following manner : One- fifth part in cash at ninety days, or in beef at twenty days ; the other four-fifths in cash at the end of one year.
4. Let us now look at some of the spiritual results from the means of grace thus enjoyed.
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.