39002002959758 YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY '^^storieal Addresses DELIYEKKD UV HON. SAMITEL GHITPvlJIT, OCTOJiJlTt -id. 1S41. EX-GOV. A, H. HOLLEY, jrr.Y 4. iHsti. T()<;l;i"HEK AVITII \ RECORD OF PR0CE:EDINGS CENTEN NI A L CE LEB R ATIOS IN SALISBURY, CONN. PITTSFIELD, MASS. CHICKEMNCi .', .^XTEI.t, STEAM HOOK .AN"1> .lOIl PJIISTEliS, -c^ia^i c-as 1741---1841- untiring ear. The old man, in his recollection of thesc, will go back to the times of his boyhood, and for a moment live over again the days of his young, unclouded hopes. And the youth looks upon them all, though inanimate, as his cherished friends. The long absent emigrant, on his return, as he views these well remembered objects, fancies him self surrounded by the nearly forgotten companions of his former days, which such associations bring back to his memory ; and, though reflec tions such as these may bring over his heait a cloud of momentary sor row, as the image of some long iQst friend is renewed before him ; yet in such a grief it is luxury to indulge. Here is the only tirae source of patri otism ; and the man who loves not to indulge in recollections ofthe home of his youth, is constituted of such materials as traitors are made of. But a New England town, when philosophically considered, is of more importance than at first may be supposed. It is not a mere corporation, but is a little commonwealth of itself. Our towns are pure democracies. Here, alone, the people deliberate, decide, and act, without the interven tion of a second power ; and their most important interests are here con sulted and regulated by themselves. The chief objects of taxation are entrusted to the towns. The great and absorbing interests of leaming and religion are within their jurisdiction, in their capacities of school and ecclesiastical societies. In town mieetings, these primary assembKes of the people, our youth and young men are instructed in the flrst elements of political science ; not by study alone, but by actual observation and participation. Here have been the nurseries of our statesmen, and here, too, tlie quiet duties and submission of the citizen are first learned. I am persuaded, that vrith out these rudimental institutions of civil liberty. New England could never have furnished her bright example in the sti'uggle for indepen dence ; nor could we have so successfully carried out the dangerous ex periment of a people governed by themselves. My fellow-townsmen, we have a right to be proud of our town, and to perpetuate its history. In this meeting, we cannot restrain our fancies from running back to a time still earlier than the occasion we now commemorate. We see here these hills rising above us, these streams flowing along beside us, and • these valleys and lakes spread out before us ; and here they have been, from a time we know not of. But who were the men "who lived and ranged among them all, before our fathers saw them ? The rightftil lords of these woods and waters, who were they ? Here and there some little memorial of their existence may even now be found in ovir fields. Often, in former days, as I have wandered along the banks of the Hou- satonic, the arrow head of the Indian's bow, or his rude stone axe, has attracted my attention. I have found them of various dimensions and fashions— some rough in workmanship, and some displaying taste and ingenuity of consti-uction ; ;ind never did I gather up these relics of a forgotten race, without the silent, instinctive inquiry, — From whence was this arrow tlirown ? By the chieftain in the battle, or the Indian in the chase ? I have seen, as the falling banks of the river annually crinnbled away, whole skeletons of men exposed, in an upright or sit ting posture, and have, in my j'oung imagination, addi-essed them, al most as living men, — Who and what were ye once ? Upon tlie first arrival of the white men here, many of the aborigines still remained, clustered in tlie valleys along the streams and lakes. They had too long been within the reach of the enervating influence of tlie whites. Our Puritan ancestors had, for some years before, occupied the lands along the Connecticut river on the one side, and the Dutch of New Amsterdam and its dependencies, had been their neighbors on the other. The fearless independence, the noble bearing of the Indian char acter, was gone. The Indians here, were peaceable, harmless, and servile. There .• I In the division of the town, by the proprietors, an allowance for roads was made, over nearly all the lots, but none were actually located by them, unless it was the six-rod highway, over the first division lots, across Town Hill. The first recorded survey of a highway, was made November 6, 1744, from Gabriel Dutcher's, in the northeast section of the town, to Benjamin AVhite's. Another, the same year, from Cornelius Knickerbacor's, at the Furnace, to Samuel Bellow's, at the eastern foot of Smith's Hill. Another, in 1746, from White's, in Weatogue, westerly, to the foot of the Mil, called by us Frinli's Hill. This road has been- discontinued fOr several years. Another, the same year, from Furnace Village, by Nathaniel Everts', to the Colony line ; and another, thp same year, fi-om Thomas Baylis', at the center, easterly, to tlie foot of tiie mountain, near Chauncey Reed's, and thence southerly to Lamb's iron works. These were among tiie first legally established highways. 15 The first bridge erected across tiie Housatonic river, was the fifUs bridge, .for many ye.ars known as Burr.all's bridge. This bridge was built about the year 1744. Dutcher's bridge was erected in 17C0.. A bridge at the south part of tiie town, about one-half milo below the pres ent bridge, was erected about the year 1790. It was built by funds raised by a lottery granted by tiie General Assembly, and was long known as the lottery bridge. It was disccmtinued upon the opening of the present road, called the Johnston road, leading from the late Na thaniel Green's to South Canaan, in the year 1808. Before thc erection of these bridges, access to tiiis town was difficult from the east. There were but few fording places upon tiie ri^er, and these could only be im proved when the river was very low, in the summer or fall. Indeed, I believe no more thtm one fording place was improved, whicih was about one-half mile below the falls bridge. The river could be forded, with some difficulty, near William Sardam's. Canoes were used for the transportation of persons, and I have not been able to learn whether any ferries were at any time established ; I believe there were none. Horses and cattle could cross the river only by swimming. In investigating some titles, some years ago, of lands in Weatogue, I foimd the prominent description of one corner of a tract, to be, Ghristo- pher's canoe plcbce. I infer, therefore, that this was a well known cross ing, and near to the present residence of Rules' Dutcher, in Canaan, whose ancestor was Christopher Dutcher. Perhaps there is not an ancient highway in the town, which can now be accurately defined. We can depend only upon the practical location, or the dedication of the highways by usage, as the legal evidence of their existence and extent. Rev. Mr. Grossman, in his Sermon, says, thatthe charter of tiiis town was granted in 1745, and signed by Governor Law. This is an error. Mr. Grossman has confounded'the charter of the town with the deed of confirmation, which deed was executed in May, 1746, and signed by Governor Law. This town was originally attached to the county of New Haven, and remained a pait of that county until the county of Litchfield was consti tuted, in 1761. For several years after the incorporation of the town, little business, which to us would appear important, was transacted. The ministerial and school lands were leased upon long terms of years, and a fund creaited for the partial .support of the gospel and the schools. These ' funds remain, diminished somewhat by the depreciation of continental money during the war of the revolution, but since have been increased from other sources. By-Laws and regulations for the killing of beasts of prey, were nee- 16 essary for sorae years, and bounties were offered for their destruction. Wolves, especially, were abundant, and committed extensive depreda tions. It is only within a few years, that they have been driven entirely from our mountains. Bears, deer, and other game for the hunter, were also numerous, and many and interesting have been the tales of the hunters' feats, with which the old men of other days have amused their chUdren. The last of Bruin's race, ever found upon our soil, was killed by Richard P. Stanton, on the mountain east of Thomas B. Bosworth's, in the winter of 1821. As one of the most prominent purposes to be accomplished by corpo rate privileges, was the support ofthe gospel ministi-y here, so the earli^ est efforts of the town were directed to that object. As early as Janu ary, 1742, a committee was appointed to "seek out for a minister to preach to us three months." As yet, there was no establisTied place of Pjjblic worship in the town, and no building which could accommodate en the then few inhabitants,; and therefore the town designated places Iworship in its different sections, that all might be. alternately accom- Idated. The house of Henry Vandusen at Weatogue, of Cornelius ickerbacor at Furnace Village, and of Nathaniel Buell at Lime Rock, Ire established as places of meeting; and this system was pursued jbil after the call of Mr. Lee. In June, 1742, a gentleman whose name was Hesterbrook, was em ployed to preach three months. Of this gentleman, or his character, I know nothing. In April, 1743, an unsuccessful attempt was made to call a minister. In the succeeding month the effort was renewed, and" Mr. Thomas Lewis was invited to preach on probation. He preached seventeen Sabbaths, but not proving acceptable to the people, no call for settlement was given. I have not b^n able to learn any thing of the history of Mr. Lewis. On the 3d day of January, 1744, Mr. Jonathan Lee, of Lebanon, received a call for settlement, which was accepted. The letter of acceptance was as follows : "Salisbury, August 19, 1744. " To the Inhabitants of the Town aforesaid. "Gentlemen and Beethken, — I have again carefully considered yom- call to me to labor with you in the sacred work of the gospel ministi-y. 1 have endeavored to hear and discern the call of God, which is my only rule to act by. I have considered your proposals for my maintenance and support ; among which, as I understand them, ai-e as follows :— You have voted annually to give me. forty pounds, lawful money, which, in Old Tenor money, amounts to £160 pounds. And for tiie fourtii yea,r of my ministry, you have voted to add fifty shillings, lawfully money ;. and for the fifth year, you have voted to add fifty shillings more, ofthe same tenor, and so to continue, which amounts to £180 pounds of Old Tenor 17 bills, being £45 pounds of lawftil money. And having received encour agements of Other needed assistances and helps, and, as far as I can discover, I being called not only of you, but of God, I therefore do here by testify mine acceptance of tiie call, and your proposals, and hereby profess my willingness to labor for your good in the work of the gospel minista-y, according as I may be assisted by the grace of Almighty God ; and hoping and b-usting in his goodness, and depending upon a contin ual i^emembrance in the fervent prayers of the faitiiful, I give and devote myself to Christ, and my services to you for his sake, who am your friend and servant, "Jonathan Lee." He had preached on probation for a short time before. Previous to Mr. Lee's call, the town had voted t6 erect for the minister a log house, thirty feet long and twenty-four feet wide. A clergyman of the present day would consider such accommodations somewhat restricted! This house, too, was intended, and used temporarify, as the meeting house, and was sitiiated near the northwest corner of Thomas Stiles' garden. The terms of Mr. Lee's settiement, aside from the right of land appro priated to the first minister, were forty pounds, lawful money, with an annual increase until it should amount to forty-five pounds, or one hun dred and eighty pounds in Old Tenor bills ; as appears by his letter of acceptance. Though our fathers were indeed poor, and had few facilities for raising the means of support for their Minister, yet the privUeges of the Gospel were to them of inestimable value, and to enjoy them, was the great purpose of their association ; and they submitted to privations little real ized by us, to attain and secure them. And after all, had not their Min ister himself made sacrifices equally with his people, their efforts would not have succeeded. The log house erected for the Minister was not fin ished when Mr. Lee came here with his family, and his flrst dwelling place was an apartment temporarily fitted up in the end of a blacksmith's shop, with stools for chairs and slabs for tables. And the poor Minister was often compelled to carl-y his bushel of wheat upon his back to Lamb's mill, for grinding! , Mr. Lee having accepted the call to settle here, he and Thomas Chip- man, Esq., were requested by the town to fix upon the time of Ordina tion, and "agree upon the men to do the ivorh.'''' On the 23d day of No vember, 1744, Mr. Lee was ordained by a select ordaining council — the men agreed upon to do the work, at the log house which had been erected for Ms use. Why a select council was called to perform this service, instead of the Consociation, to which the town belonged, we are not in formed. The proceeding was afterwards condemned as irregular, and as a departure from the Saybrook Canons ; and several of the council ,were censured for pai-ticipating in the Ordination, without the advice of 3 18 the Association.* No evil, however, resulted to the town from this pro cedure, nor was Mr. Lee at all implicated in its irregularity. The con nection of Mr. Lee with this people was long and successful, and attend ed, perhaps, with as much harmony as was usual in those days of acqui escence in ecclesiastical measures. Mr. Lee continued to be the sole settled Minister here forty-four years.. He djed October 8, 1788, and was interred in the old center burying-yard. I never knew this gentleman, and can only speak of his character as a matter of reputation. I have ever understood he was a man of sagacity and respectable intellectual powers, as well cultivated by science as was usual for the clergy of that day. He was a graduate of Yale College, of the class of 1742. The family of Mr. Lee was numerous, and some members of it in after life distinguished. His sole surviving son. Rev. Chauncey Lee, D. D., we rejoice to meet and embrace on this occasion. - Many of the descendants of our first Mimster remain yet with us, sus- taimng highly respectable characters. It was not until the 23d day of April, 1746, that the town voted to build a meeting house. And the place first designated for this purpose was the elevated ground north of John C. Cofiing's dwelling house. TMs location was opposed by the people at the north part of the town, and in May, 1747, a committee, consisting of Ebenezer Marsh, Joseph Bird, and Joseph Sanford, was appointed by the general court to designate the place for the meeting house. The committee designated two places ; one where the town had by its vote fixed it, and another a little north of Joseph Lee's dwelling house. Joseph Lee dwelt where William Bush nell now lives, nearly opposite this house. The General Court directed the house to be built near Mr. Lee's, and that the sills of it should enclose the stake placed ^y the committee, exactly in the center. Measures, were immediately taken to build the house ; the time of the raising was fixed, and the town voted, that Ensign Samuel Bellows should procure sixteen gallons of rum, and Sergeant Samuel Moore eight bushels of wheat, to be made into cake, for the raising. The meeting house was raised on the 24th and 25th days of March, 1749, on the spot where tiie Hotel now stands, opposite this house. The town had no title to the land on which they erected their meeting house ; but Mr. Robert Walker, of Stratford, one of the original proprietors of the t6wn, by deed dated 29th May, 1750, gave to the town a small ti-iangular piece of land, on tiie west side of the highway,- including the meeting house, for a burying yard. This piece of land extended from the south line of the old burying yard, northerly, along the highway, forming an aciite angle on the highway, nearly opposite the present school house. This burying place has been •Trvun. His. Con. 2 Vol, pp. 405, 618. 19 since enlarged by purchases of land from Mr. Jeremiah Bushnell, on its western side. At the same time, Mr. Walker conveyed to the town, for a parade, a piece of land on tiie east side of the highway, on which tiie Congrega tional meeting house now stands. It was bounded south by the high way, then open, and running easterly, through Stiles and College grants, tn Lamb's iron works ; it was six rods in width, and extended north, fi-om the aforesaid road, twenty rods. The old meeting house continued to be used as such, fifty years only, and until the present Congregational meeting house was finished, in the year 1800. It was used for town and ¦society meetings until the year 1813, when by lease dated the 19th day of January, 1813, the town conveyed it to the late Simeon Granger; on condition that he and his assigns, should at all times furnish the town with a convenient room for to"wn and society purposes, public libraries, &c. The lease included, also, the vacant lands derived from Mr. Walk er, on the west side of the highway, wMch had not been before disposed of, nor included within the burying yard. A considerable portion of this was then used as a public highway, extending westwardly, up the hill, and has never been discontinued as such, but still remains open and used as the only practicable way to the burying yard. In 1789, the parsonage committee was directed to apply to Mr. Chaun cey Lee, son of the deceased minister, to preach here on probation. In November, 1790, a call was given to Rev. William F. Miller, and in 1791 a call was given to Rev. John Elliott, to settle here in the min istry ; but both invitations were declined. On the 2d of October, 1792, a call was unammously given to Rev. James Glassbrook to become tJie minister of tMs people, under restrictions and conditions such as I sup pose the ecclesiastical authorities could not have approved. The call was accepted. It was a mere Mring for an unlimited time, with liberty , to either town or minister, to dissolve the connection, upon a previous six months' notice. The assent ofthe Association was neither asked nor given. Mr. Glassbrook was a Scotch gentleman of popular talents, but for some cause, not now very well defined, his popularity waned fast, and before the expiration of his first year's service, the town gave him notice to quit. Mr. Glassbrook did not long survive this event, but died at Ms residence, where Mr. Revilo Fuller now lives, on the 8th day of October, 1793. The Rev. Timothy Cooley was invited to settle here on the 30th day of October, 1796, but refused. On the 27th day of March, 1797, Rev. Joseph Warren Grossman, of Taunton, Mass., accepted a call here, and was soon after prdained, and continued a successful ministry, until his death, on the 13th day of December, 1812. Mr. Grossman was a grad uate of Brown Umversity, R. I. Of this good man, we have not yet 20 ceased, to speak. He was a man of great excellence of character. As a preacher, many excelled him; as a pastor, he exhibited a model , worthy of all imitation. Prudence was prominently displayed in all his intercourse with tMs people. The religion he preached was exemplified' in himself. He loved his fellow men, not because they bore the same sectarian name with himself, but because they were Ms fellow men. He was the minister of a denomination, but he was the friend of all. His piety was not spoiled by prejudice, and he could joyfiilly recogmze a disciple of his Master, as well among the ministers, as the people of other denominations. The ecclesiastical concerns of the Congregational parish, m conformity with the general usage of this Colony and State, had been managed by , the town, previous , to the year 1804, in wMch year a Congregational Society, distinct from the town, was organized, and succeeded in all the property and interests which the town had managed in its ecclesiastical capacity. After the death of Mr. Grossman, no minister was settled here until the year 1818. In the meantime, several attempts were made to effect this purpose. Frpm the first establishment of religious ordinances in this town, until the death of Mr, Grossman, there existed, perhaps, as much harmony in the ecclesiastical relations of the town, as prevailed generally in New England parishes. Here and there, perhaps, a root of bitterness would and did spring up, but it soon dropped, and left no permanent evidence of its existence behind. On the 6th day of April, 1813, the Society ^ by a divided vote, called Mr. John B.' WMttlesey to become its mimster. This was an occasion of much subsequent excitement. The friends of Mr. WMttlesey were numerous and respectable, and his opponents influential and determined. For a time, the permanent union of the Society seemed to be in danger. Mr. Whitflesey at flrst accepted the call ; the opposition to him continued and ihcreased ; he doubted, then declined. His friends persisted, and again he accepted the call, but finally declined altogetiier. During this strife, much exasperated feeling was manifested. But new candidates begat new preferences, so that harmony was again restored, and the Societj', by a united vote, on the 26th day of July, 1815, invited tiie set tiement of Mr. Chauncey A. Goodrich, now Professor in Yale College, but without success. Again another unsuccessful caU was given, and on tiie 29th day of November, 1816, Mr. Federal Burt, of Soutiiampton, Mass., was solicited to become our minister. But in November, 1817,,a caU was given, under some opposition, to Mr: Lavius Hyde, of Franklin, which was accepted, and Mr. Hyde -n^as ordained on the 18th day of March, 18,18. Soon, however, increased 21 ¦opposition appeared, ;md tiie harmony of tiie Society was once more broken up. Councils were called for consultation and advice, and at length, after a faithful, but unhappy service of about four years, Mr. Hyde was dismissed from his charge. Some of us yet remain, who jiar- tieipated in tiie excitement produced by Mr. Hyde's ministry and dismis sal ; and as I was one, among many, who bore a testimony, somewhat active, in favor of that good man ; so I rejoice that, on tiiis occasion, I have an opportunity to renew and perpetuate the evidence of my af fection. The Society remained destitiite of a settied ministry, until Rev. Leon ard E. LatM-op was installed, on the 2d day of February, 1826. Mr. Lathrop was a distinguished graduate of Middlebury College, Vt., and had been ordained as a Presbyterian minister, and had been settled as the pastor of a Presbyterian parish in Wilmington, N. C. Few clergy men possess, to such an extent, the confidence of the entire community, as did Mr. LatM-op the respect of all classes and denominations in the town. The regret at parting was deep and mutual. Mr. Lathrop, at his own solicitation, was dismissed from his Society here, on the 25th of October, 1836, and was soon after settied in Auburn, N. Y. Rev. Adam Reid, a native of Scotiand, was ordained, as pastor of the C6ngregational Chm-ch and Society here, on the 27th of September, 1837. Until the year 1824, public worship, in the Congregational Society, was supported by the taxation of its members. This system has been since abandoned, and the voluntary principle successfully adopted. Ex perience, both here and elsewhere, has fully proved that the clergy arc better supported by a reliance upon the affections of the people, than by a resort to legal coercion. Our laws, in all matters of a religious nature, elBfectyially protect, but do not compel. The present number of com municants in the Congregational Church is about three hundred. TMs town, like most New England towns, was settled by the descend ants of the Puritans, and of course the peculiarities of Puritan faith and practice were engrafted upon and into the habits, both of feeling and action, and gave character to the institutions of the town. But this was not imiversal. The earliest settlers were of Dutch descent, emigrants from the Province of New York, who were not entirely assimilated to their neighbors of New England origin. Some of these were inclined to Quakerism, and others, especially the Vandusen family, were partial to the institutions of the English Church. At an early pe;-iod in our his tory, several of our most respectable families were found sincerely at tached to the fchurch of England. Among these were the Landons, the CMttendens, the Chapmans, the BisseUs, the Selleck's, the Moore's, and some others. But as no ecclesiastical organization, in conformity with their ' views, could then be had, they supported the established church here, and 22 united in sustaining the institiitions of religion, as approved by their Congregational brethren. Before the war of tiie revolution, there were so many famUies belonging to the Church of England, in this town, that some efforts were made at organization, but nothing effective. There was a church edifice in Sharon, before the war, which was occasionally occupied by Missionaries of the Church of England, among whom was Rev. Mr. Davies ; to which the Salisbury Churchmen resorted, for the enjoyment of religious ordinances and worship. But upon the com mencement of the revoltitionary struggle, these Missionaries were prac tically silenced, and the church was converted into a prison house. It was common, then, to brand all Churchmen as Tories — a charge untrue, and of course ungenerous. The Churchmen of that day were necessarily dependent upon English ch&rities, English sympathies, and English Episcopacy, for the protection and support of their religious privileges . It was but natural that they should hesitate longer than others, who had no such religious partialities, in engaging in a struggle by which every thing to them valuable in religion was put to hazard. But in very many and. prominent instances, here and elsewhere, the hatred of oppression, the paramount love of home and country, prevailed. In this town, Timothy Chittenden, Col. Blagden, Dr. Lemuel Wheeler, and others, were as active supporters of the war, as they were zealous friends of the Church. And so it was, to a considerable extent, throughout the whole country. And as a partial refutation of a very general and stereotyped oalmnny upon the patriotism of the members of the Church of England in the United States, it cannot be considered irrelevant to refer to George Washington, John Jay, a,nd Alexander Hamilton, who have, with much propriety, been called the granite pillars of the revolution, as well as to Rufus King, Bishop White, and very many others. These men were Episcopalians. Were they Tories? But this is digression. Not long after the close of the war, in 1783, the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States Was organized ; and it was organized upon a system entirely independent of the English Church, and, in many of its most prominent features,- essentially variant. Soon afterwards, an Episcopal parish was organized here, but for many years was too feeble to erect a church edifice, although several attempts to do this were made. In 1792, several individuals contributed to the purchase of a piece of land for the site of a church, of the late Robert Walker Lee, opposite the dweUing house of the late Dr. James R. Dodge. This land was con veyed to i\Ir. Luther HoUey, who was one of tiie contributors, in ti-ust for the members of the Episcopal Church. The service of the Church was for some time regularly performed by Capt. Timothy CMttenden, and the late Samuel Moore acted, as the Clerk of the parish. Occasional visits were received fi-om the neighboring clergy. Rev. Messrs. Bald- 23 win. Marsh, Burhans, Bostwick, and otiiers. Bishop Seabury also visi ted the parish, and administered conflrmation. The places of meeting and worsMp were at the school house at Furnace Village, and at the dwelling house of Dr. Lemuel Wheeler. At a lat^r time. Rev. Sturgess Gilbert and George B. Andrews frequently performed divine service for the Episcopalians in this town, and by the spirited exertions of tiie latter gentleman, seconded by tiie contributions of the fi-iends of the Church, and generous assistance fi-om some liberal individuals of other denomi nations, tiie present church building was erected in the year 1822. Rev. Stephen Beach was placed here, as the flrst Rector of the Salisbury Episcopal Society, in 1823, and officiated here two-thirds of the time, until 1832, when he resigned his charge, and removed to East Haddam. He was succeeded by Rev. Lucius W. Purdy, who offlciated, alternately, in tills town .and Sharon, until the year 1836. The present Rector is Rev. David S. Devins, of Charlestown, Mass. The present number of communicants is about tMrty. Before the war of the revolution, there were but few Methodists in this country, and I believe none in New England. The Methodist preachers, upon their arrival here, soon after the war, found their ear liest friends among the former adherents of the Church of England ; the doctrines of wMch Church they believed and taught. The founders of Methodism, Messrs. John and Charles Wesley, lived and died ministers of tiie English Church. Upon the first appearance of the Methodists, the Churches of all denominations, both in England and the United States, had relaxed much in energy and spiritual life. Whitefield, to be sure, like a meteor, brilliant, but evanescent, had passed through the country, and enkindled a warmer spirit in many places, and excited a reUgious curiosity. The public mind seemed to be waiting for some re ligious developments, when Mr. Wesley's preachers arrived. They were not,received with favor in New England ; their doctrines and prac tice were at entire variance with the staid notions of our Theology. As early as the year 1787, the first Methodist preacher, Mr. Talcott, preached in this town. He was soon followed by Messrs. Candle, Abbott, Free born Garretson, Peter Moriaty, Samuel Wigton, Samuel Bloodgood, and others, zealous ministers of the new sect. In tMs town, if the Methodist preachers were not received with gen eral favor, they were not persecuted. In 1788, the town, by its vote, gave liberty to Mr. GaiTetson to preach in the meeting house, and Dea con Nathaniel Buell threw open his house, as a preaching house, for the Methodist ministers. School houses were most .commonly improved a.s preaching places. This town was included in a circuit, extending froin the Hudson river, as far east as Canaan iir this county ; and the preach ing places were visited once in each fortnight by the circuit preachers. 24 The house of Mr. Eldridge, in the western part of the town ; the house of Janies Holmes, at the north, and of Nathaniel Church, in the eastern part of the town, for several ycars, were the most frequent preaching places. The first Presiding Elder, in this District, was Rev. Freeborn Garretson ; and the first quarterly meeting, or communion season, here, was holden in the barn of Thomas Bird, at the west part of the town. The first class orgamzed under Mr. Wesley's system, wMch included any of the inliabitants of this town, was constituted at the dwelling house of WiUiam Traffard, in Canaan, near the present Methodist meet ing house in South Canaan, about the year 1788, at which time Mr. Eli sha Horton and Ms wife, Rufus Landon and Ms wife, Aaron Mills and liis wife, and my father, Nathaniel Church, inhabitants of this town, were admitted members of the Methodist Society. Of these, all have gone to their reward, except my venerable fiiend, now sitting near me, Mr. Ru fus Landon. The Methodist meeting house in South Canaan was erected and partly finished, as early as 1793, I believe ; within a few yea,i-s it has been fin ished in good taste. The meeting house at Furna^'.e Village was built in 1816, and the chapel at Chapinville in 1832. For many years, this town was included within a circuit, but for some years. recently, it has been made a station for a resident minister, who officiates at Furnace Village and Chapinville. Among the Methodist preachers of distinc tion, who have offlciated in this town, have been Rev. Samuel Merwin, - Rev. Nathan Bangs, D. D., now President of the Wesleyan Universitj', , and Rev. Samuel Luckj', D. D. The number of commumcants in the Methodist Church in this town, at the present time, is 126. I know not that any other organized body of Christians, than such as I have spoken of, has existed here. There have been a few Baptists and Universalists, but no Societies of eitiier of these denominations. I have, as my means of knowledge permitted, given j-ou the historj' of our religious denominations. Of their spiritual condition I presume not to speak: The disclosures of eternity can alone reveal it. In no particular, perhaps, has a greater change come over us, since the days of our fathers, than in the tone and fashion of religious action and feeling. Our first meeting house had neither bell, nor cushion, nor carpet; but it contained sincere worshipers. At this day, when the course of the wind and the state ofthe clouds are so anxiously consulted on the Sabbath morning, it is thought impossible for a congreo-ation to reiiiain through the time of religious worship, without the luxury of the cushion and the stove. Our fathers regarded these liixuries and com forts less than their descendants ; yet they resorted to such means as were within their power, to render the services of the Sabbath comfort able, as well as profitable. For tiiis purpose, they erected several small 25 buildings near the meeting house, called by them, 8abba~day Houses. A few families, associating in winter, appropriated each one of these to their use, and ftu-mshed it with fuel, took care that a cheerful fire should be found burning on their arrival at meeting, that all might be warmed before " meeting time," and to which they could resort at the intermis sion, to spend it in cheerful and pious intercourse. ReUgious revivals, as they are now understood, were hardly known in this town, before the arrival of the Methodist preachers ; and, when in troduced by them, were regarded witii jealousy. And it was many years after the Methodists had become established in this vicinity, before they infa-oduced camp meetings here. I believe the first camp meeting known in this region, was holden in Sharon, in the year 1806. The itching ears, the fastidious taste, the severe criticism, which unsettle so many valuable mimsters in these days, and disturb so many congrega tions, were not so much in exercise formerly. There was more respect for the clerical office, and less for the " forma loquendi." A review of our ecclesiastical Mstory, in more respects^than one, af fords ground of satisfaction. A history of iHtermingUng sects has gen erally been Uttle else than a history of unchristian Contentions. In tMs town there has been as little display of this_^unhallowed spirit, as in any other commumty. I find that men of differing religious opinions, and denominations in nearly equal proportions, have enjoyed the confi dence of our citizens, as town officers, magistrates, and legislators. True, indeed, in Salisbury, as elsewhere, sectarian jealousy has found a place ; and it is no good apology to say, it has been the error of the age. As well may intemperance, or any sin, 'be excused as the error of the age. It is believed, by many, that a brighter day seems to be breaking, and a brighter Ught shining now. I hope tiiese appearances are not deceptive ; but I am not without my misgivings on tMs subject. It is certain, that as the genuine influence of the Christian religion shall be more and more felt, a wider range will be given to the exercise of a re ligious charity, wMch shall include within its circle good men of all varieties and names. K there be any thing — any danger, against which, more than another, I would caution the youth of my native town, it is sectarian jealousy. TMs spirit has been, and to some extent now is, a withering curse and blight upon all the endearments and charities of social life, wherever it has existed. A spirit opposed to the clearest principles and duties of the Christian reUgion — the spirit of the hypocrite ! My young friends, I wish I could persuade you, that, should any of you hereafter claim greater purity of life, or honesty of purpose, by reason of the sect or denomination to which you are attached, no intelligent man will give' credit to your pretensions. 4 26 Salisbury has given bii-th or education to several ministers of the gos pel ; among whom have been James HutcMnson, Samuel Camp, Chaun cey Lee, D. D., William L. Strong, Henry P. Sti-ong, Horace HoUey, D. D., Isaac Bird, Jonathan Lee, 3d, George A. Calhoun, Edward HoUister, Edwin' Holmes, Josiah Turner, Joseph Pettee, Edmund Janes, Edwin Janes, and perhaps some others. In New England, the Church and the School were equal objects of care ; and although our Salisbury .ancestors, professed, as their first ob ject, a desire to be gathered into Church estate, yet this estate was un derstood by them to include the School, as a consequence. In 1743, and before the settlement of a minister, the town voted' to procure a school-master for one year ; and directed a school to be kept under the superintendence of a committee, three months at Weatogue, four months near CorneUus Kmckerbacor's, at Furnace VUlage, and three months in the HoUow or Lime Rock. Robert Wa,ln was probably the first school-master in the town, but his services were confined to the Dutch population at Weatogue. In December, 1743, the town ordered the building of two log school-houses, — one at Weatogue, and one at Lime Rock. Dr. Wilson, or WUUams, was the first school-master em ployed under the authority' of the town. In January, 1746, five school squadrons, as they were then called, were established ; and the public school money was distributed to them, in proportion to the number of scholars in each. At that time, money for the support of the schools was raised by a general tax upon the in habitants of the town, and also from the rents of the school lands. In 1743, Thomas Newcpmb, Benajah Williams, Thomas Lamb, Benja min White, and Samuel Bellows, were appointed a committee to lease the lands on the school right for nine hundred and mnety-nine years, taking security for the avails. The fund thus raised composes a part of the present school fund of the town. In 1766, the number of scholars receiving insti-uction in the common schools was four hundred and eighty. Klading, writing, arithmetic, and the^Assernbly's catechism, constituted the full course of school instruc tion for mahy years. It is only within a period comparatively modern, that English grammar has found a place in the schools. Much complaint^ now exists against the state of our district schools, and many remedies have been suggested for their improvement, in our own times. The schools in this town have generally been well sus tained, and always, where they have received the pati-onage and over sight of parents. Our schools, at times, if not generally, have sustained a high charac ter. And when they have not, it has been when more exciting objects have engrossed the attention of our inliabitants. Although our public 27 fimds have, ample, yet money alone cannot sustain the cause of common school education. Well qualified insb-uctors, a faithful visitation, and the constant Watchfulness of parents, alone, c^jx elevate and support the, district schools, and render tiiem, as they are intended to be, the chief mirseries of science among us. In the winter of 1804, the town was highly excited by a collision be tween the school visitors and the instructors, occasioned, as the instruc tors claimed, by an unwarrantable interference with the teligious opin ions of some of them. Many of tiie school-masters were dismissed from their schools, and the school houses closed awhile. But harmony was restored again, and no evU abiding consequences resulted. The number of scholars between the ages of four and sixteen years, in the town last year, was seven hundred and eighty-nine, and the aver age number for several years has been nearly the same. The public money appropriated for the use of the district schools last year was as follows, viz : Interest of the ancient school fund derived froni the sale of school land, $54.16 Amount received from the school fund of tiie state, 1065.16 Interest of the town deposit fund, derived from the deposit of the pubUc money, under a law of United States, passed in 1836, li)8.78 $1818.09 As connected with our public schools, and the subject of educatipn, I may advert to our Ubraries. Before the Revolutionary War, successful measures were adopted to- establish a public library in the town. Mr. Richard Smith, an English gentleman of respectability, was a proprietor of the Furnace, and felt a deep interest in the welfare of the town. TM-ough Ms agency, and fi-om fimds raised by several public spirited individuals, a library, consisting of about two hundred volumes, was procm-ed from London, and received the name of Smith Library. It -was judiciously selected, and contained works of established excellence. For many years it flourished and increased ; but within a few years, and by reason of the flood of light and ephemeral books, with which the reading public for some time Sas been deluged,^ this library has become neglected, and many of its voluirtes dispersed and lost. In January, 1803, Mr. Caleb Bingham, of Boston, a native of this town, influenced by a generous negard for the youth here, presented a small Ubrarj- of one hundred and flfty volumes to the town, for the use of the young, and appointed a board of trustees for its management ; consisting of Rev. Joseph W. Grossman, Samuel Lee, Luther HoUey, Asa HutcMnson, Peter Farnam, Phinehas Chapin, Timothy Chittenden, 28 EUsha Sterluig, Lot Norton, Jr., and Benajah BingTiam; all of whom, save two, are now dead.* These trustees had power to flll vacancies in their own board. At that time, when books, especially useful to youth, were comparatively scarce, tMs donation was of peculiar value, and gratefully received by the town. The library received the name of the ' ' Bingham Library for Youth.'" It was a small beginning, but it infused into the youthful population a new impulse ; and a taste for reading be- fone unknown' was soon discoverable among the young. The books were sought for and read with avidity. The town, fi-om time to time, by grants from its treasury, has contributed to its enlargement, and gener ous individuals, too, have made to it valuable additions- Among the benefactors of this cherished institution, have been the late Professor Averill, of Union College, and the late Dr. Caleb Ticknor, of New York — a nephew of its founder — and both natives of this town, and who, in common with many others, have acknowledged tiieir obligations to this library for much of their success and distinction in after life. The gen- ' erous and unwearied efforts of our respected friend, Mr. Jolin Whittle sey, in aid ofthe Bingham Library for Youth, will be long remembered. The present number of well selected volumes is about flve hundred. The influence of our common schools and our libraries upon the char acter of our citizens, has been very visible and salutary. A general taste /or reading has been diffused among all classes. In 1810, there were, received by subscribers, through the Post Office in tMs town, only eighteen newspapers, weekly ; — now there are three hundred and sixty- six. These are political, religious, and literary. Besides these, many newspapers are distributed by the private post ; so that we have now probably, a newspaper circulation considerably exceeding tiie number of our electors. As nearly as I have been able to ascertain, the following persons have received Academical -Uterary degrees from American Colleges, while inhabitants of this town, viz : Hon. Nathaniel CMpman, James Hutch inson, Samuel Camp, Jonathan Lee, 2d, Elisha Lee, Chauncey Lee, Gen. Peter B. Porter, Caleb Bingham, Thomas Fitch, WiUiam L. Strong, Myron HoUey, Horace HoUey, Samuel- Church, Thomas G. Waterman, Jonathan Lee, 3d, OrvUle L. Holley, Isaac Bird, Lot Norton, Jr., John M. Sterling, John M. Holley, Jr., Eli Reeii, Graham H. Chapin, George A. Calhoun, Chester AveriU, Albert E. Church, Caleb Ticknor, Roo-er Averill, George B. Dutcher, Edward HoUister, Gurdon Spencer, Charles A. Lee, Edmund Reed, CliurchUl Cofling, Joseph Pettee, Amos B. Beach, Josiah Turner, William G. Sterling, Eliphalet Whittlesey, Jr., Charles Whittlesey, George Bartiett, Samuel P. Church, and Jonathan Edwards *ABa Hutchinson and Lot Norton. 29 Lee. Of this catalogue, tiiirteen have been Lawyers, — twelve Clergy men, — ^flve Physicians, — four Ista-uctors, — two Farmers. Our fathers had hardly become settled in Church estate, and had onl}' begtm to taste the fruits of tiieir early and hardy enterprise, before the wai-/ commonlj- called, the French War, commenced. But little is now remembered of the part taken in tiiat war by our inhabitants. Natiian- iel Everts, 1st, was a lieutenant, and several men of this town enlisted into that service; among whom were William Bradley, John Owen, Timotiiy Chittenden, Peter Mason, and several others. In the war of tiie Revolution this town was not inactive. Few towns in the state of only equal population, contributed more efficient means , in the prosecution of that eventful struggle. An embarrassment severely felt at the commencement of the war, was the want of a cavalry force. Sheldon's regiment was the first body of cavalry of considerable efl> ciencj- which joined tiie army. That regiment was raised in this town and this vicimty. Col. Elisha Sheldon, Lieut.-Col. Samuel Blagden, and Major Luther Stoddard, were attached to it. The services of Sheldon's regiment are frequently alluded to by writers of American Mstoi-y. In 1780, malicious charges were preferred against Col. Sheldon ; he was tiied by a court martial, of which Col. Ilazen was Pi-esident, at Fishkill, on the 26th day of October, of that year. He was acquitted "with honor and full approbation," and his accuser. Dr. Darius Stoddard, of this town, severely censured. Before the commencement of the war, Mr. Richard Smith, an English gentleman, of whom I have before spoken, had purchased the ftirnace at Fumaca VUlage, and then the only iron foundry, I believe, in this State. Upon the breaking out of the war, being a loyalist, he returned to Eng land, and left Ms estate here without an agent. It was not confiscated, but the State took possession of it, and appointed the late Col. Joshua Porter their agent in its management. Here, on behalf of the counta-j% large quantities of cannon, shot, and shells, were made, in aid of the Revolution, from the iron ore of the town ; and the orders of the Gov emor and Council, upon their agent, were frequent, fbr these necessaries of war. John Jay and Governem- Morris were often herC) as agents of Congress, superintending the casting and proof of the guns. The can non were intended chiefly tor the navy ; and after the close of the war, the Navy, to a considerable extent, was supplied with guns from this town. The sMp of Commodore Truxton, the Constellaition, in her bril liant and desperate conflict with the French ships. Insurgent and Ven geance, was armed with Salisbury cannon; as was the popular ship, the Constitution — "Old Iron Sides!" These guns were not of beautiful or finished workmanship, but they were of the most test-worthy meta.1. We may say, boastingly, that our mines furnished the material, our 30 sti-eams the power, and our citizens the labor, by which much efficiency was given to the great cause of American Independence ! The enthusiasm and excitement occasioned by the aggressive acts of the British Pariiament, can hardly be appreciated by us of this genera tion. There was an electa-ic spark communicated to the extremes of the Colonies, producing a simultaneous action every where. In this town, a meeting was caUed on the 22d day of August, 1774, to deliberate upon the threatened state ofthe Colonies. Spirited resolutions were adopted, accompanied by a preamble of the following tenor : " After reading and deliberating upon the several acts and laws, de nouncing dangerous exertions of Parliamentary power, as well as a par tial, absurd, and self-confuted spirit of punitive ma.levolence, particu larly leveled against the Province of tiie Massachusetts Bay; and being deeply impressed with the visible declension of the virtue and rectitiide of British administration, which threaten insupportable convulsions to ' the whole empire ; and willing, as far as in us lies, to ward off the im pending ruin, and revive the expiring liberties of the counti-y ; We re solve," &c. The resolutions which followed, denounced the acts of Parliament, especially the Boston port bill ; approved the proposed call of a general Congress ; and pledged the contributions of the inhabitants, for the i-e- -lief of their suffering brethren of Boston, "from their plentiful harvest" ; and concluded by appointing a committee to take up subscriptions, con sisting of Hezekiah Fitch, Esq., Capt. Elisha Sheldon, Luke Camp, Lot Norton, and Samuel Lane; and also constituting Col. Joshua Porter, Hezekiah Fitch, Abial Camp, Dr. Lemuel Wheeler, and .Tosiah Stoddard, a Committee of Correspondence. On the 6tli day of the succeeding December, the town expressed its acquiescence in the then recent resolutions of the Congress, and appoint ed Col. Joshua Porter, Luke Camp, Lieut. Nathaniel Buell, Lot Norton, Dr. Samuel Lee, Capt. James Bird, John Camp, Samuel Lane, William Beebe, Hezekiah Fitch, and Capt. Elisha Sheldon, a committee to carry them into effect. At the next meeting of the town, a Committee of In spection was appointed, and a committee of the same character was con- .stituted annually, during the war. The duties of this committee were various ; such as to look well to disaffected persons, to approve of sub stitutes for drafted men, to inspect all provisions intended for the armv &c. The spirit of the people did not waste itself in resolutions, and tho appointment of patriotic committees. What was expressed was intended, and was carried out in calmer moments, by continual and efficient action. Every requisition of tiie General Assembly was complied with men were raised— supplies were furnished on all occasions, when the emero-- 31 ency of the war demanded them, and to an extent much beyond the re quisitions of the General Assembly. On tiie 7th day of April, 1777, Col. Nathaniel Buell, Lot Norton, Abial Ciunp, Daniel Bingham, and George Marsh, were appointed a committee to encourage enlistinents into the Continental Army, and to furnish the families of such as should enlist, with necessaries, during their absence. A similar committee was annually appointed, while the war continued. On -the 6th day of Jimuary, 1778, the town, by resolution, apjjroved the Articles. of Confederation of the Thirteen United States, and in structed tiieir Representatives in the General Assembly to- confer upon the Delegates from tills Stsite, in Congress, sufficient authority to ratify them. In the spring of 1780, the General Assembly ordered tiie raising of . five regiments for the Continental service ; and in June, of the same year, the town levied a tax of three-pence on the pound, to be paid to the non-commissioned officers and soldiers who should enlist into the regiments. In January following, the town voted to hire six men, to sei-ve for one year, and appointed Luke Camp, Joshua Stanton, Timothy Chittenden, Nathaniel Buell, Lot Norton, and Capt. James Watrous, a committee fbr that purpose. In June, 1781, Gkiv. TrumbuU issued his proclamation, offering a bounty to encourage enlistments. This town forthwith authorized a grant of tM-ee pounds to every non-commissioned officer and private, who should enlist here, for every three months' service, in addition to the offer made by the Governor ; and previously, in February, 1781, Col. Nathamel Buell, and the late Samuel Lee, Esq., had been constituted a committee, to Mre the enlistment of four men, for the defense of the western frontiers. And again, in February, 1782, six men, in addition, were raised, with an extra pay erf twenty shillings each, per month, and a pair of shoes for each man, upon his marching to join the army. And on many subsequent occasions, necessary supplies for destitute soldiers serving in the Continental army, were raised here, and forwarded to the suffering troops. Yes, men, as well as money and supplies, were found here, ready to serve the country and the cause, both in the army and at home. Many of om- most prominent, wealthy, and influential citizens, joined the troops, either in the militia pr Continental service ; and young men, sons of our best inhabitants, sought no exemption, but left cheerfully the en dearments of home, in exchange for the privations of the camp and the dangers of the battle-fleld. Among the officers were Colonels Elisha Sheldon, Samuel Blagden, Joshua Poi-ter, and Nathaniel Buell, — Majors Luther Stoddard and John Chipman, — Captains Roger Moore, James Claghorne, James Holmias, 32 Joshua Stanton, Nathaniel Everts, Timothy Chittienden, James Wati-ous, ,Jesse Sawyer, Samuel Lane, and Ebenezer Fletcher,— and Lietenants Nathaniel Chipman, Richard Bignall, Adonijah Strong, Daniel Brins- maid, and James Skinner. The names of more than one hundred non-commissioned officers and privates, inhabitants of this town, who served in the Revolutionai-y Army, are now recollected, and wiU be perpetuated by being lodged in the Town Clerk's Office. Of the officers, but one now survives,— Hon. Nathaniel Chipman, of Vermont. And I have not been informed that more than three or four of the non-commissioned officers and privates are now alive. All who are known to me as surviving, are Rufus Landon, Hugh Montgomery, and David Beebe. Messrs. John Russell, Joseph HoUister, and ArcMbald Campbell, now . and for many years our inhabitants, enlisted and served, before they be came residents of this town. Mr. Russell was a Sergeant of Artillery, in the New York line of the army, and was for some time attached to the military family of the Commander-in-Chief. Mr. HoUister was a Ser geant from Glastenbury, and commanded a guard upon the Hudson riv er, attached to General Putnain's command, which captured a British agent, supposed to be a messenger with despatches from General Bur goyne to General Clinton.* It is not to be denied, that among our inhabitants were some, who doubted the propriety of opposition to the demands of the mother coun try, and who believed themselves restrained by their oaths of allegiance from taking part in the contest ; or who considered armed opposition as jireriiature and hopeless. But none here gave aid to the enemy, nor did any oppose the efforts of the Whigs. At length, in 1783, the battle ceased,^the victory was acMeved, and the war-worn soldier returned to his home. The gratitude ofthe people was expressed iri rejoicings and thanksgivings. On the 6th day of Maj-, 1783, our town appropriated thirty pounds of powder "to congratulate the Continental soldiers belonging to this town upon their retm-n and dis charge." A day of rejoicing was set apart, and Colonel Nathaniel Buell was appointed "to address the returned Continentals, and present them with the thanks of the town, for their generous and spirited exertions in the cause of their country." Worthies, where are they now I Here and there a trembling memorial remains of this band of pati-iots ; and but one is here in this great assemblage !t Brave men, what shall I say of you? The blessing of Providence upon your efforts, and the efforts of your associates, has brought to your country a glory envied by the ?Dwight'B His. Con. 3T6. tMr. Rufus Langdon, aged 82 years. 33 world. Even crowned heads are compelled to walk circumspectly before your example! To you, we owe, and our children will forever owe, a debt which money and pensions can never pay! We renew to you, who survive, the- thanks wMch our fathers expressed to you fifty-eight years ago! Farewell, go join your comrades in a happy, holier country than any your arms have defended, imd reap rewards richer than any your country can bestpw ! But it is npt tp the spldier, alene, that eur debt pf gratitude is due. The privations and burthens of the war were universal. The action of this town during the contest and at its termination, as you have seen, displayed a moral and poUtieal temperament, which demagogues of this day shoiUd blush deep, to review. In May, 1783, the people, in town meeting, gave what they called in- sti-uctions to their Representatives in the General Assembly. They de clared it "to be then- indispensable duty to use their influence, and make the most reasonable efforts, for the security botii of their interests and rights, and oiirly to have a stop put to injustice and oppression." They say, moreover, that " we are sensible, when you come to act in your pubUc characters, you will be under the obligation and solemnity of an oath, and we mean not to desii-e or request anything that shall infringe on your conscience or judgment." The ta-ue relation between the repre sentative and the constitiient, is here expressed. The town proceeded to recommend the following particulars : 1 . ' That our public siccounts may be settled, so that a reasonable ac count may be rendered of the expenditure of such vast sums of money, as have been granted and collected in tMs State, since the connnence- ment of the late war. 2. That effectual care be taken to jsrevent such persons as have been known to be inimical to these States, from being admitted to be free citizens of tMs State ! 3. That the recommendation of Congress respecting pay to the offi cers of the army, for a number of years after the war, be wholly re jected, as unjust and oppressive upon the people. 4. That a suitable address be made to Congress, to suppress, prevent, and remove, such place^mcn as hold trifling offices, with large and un reasonable salaries, wMch must ultimately be drawn fi-om the people. These instructions were addressed to Hezekiah Fitch and Elisha Fitch, Esqmres, who were at that time our Representatives in the General As sembly. They breathe the true spirit. They recognize no submission to cliques or caucuses, — the tyrants of the present day ; and they dare to rebuke even the Congi-ess itself. Elisha Fitch, Esq., for many years had been a distinguished and pop ular man, and frequently represented the town in the General Assembly. 6 34 In the spring session of 1787, he made a very active opposition to the proposed call of a Convention to revise the Articles of Confederation. This opposition destroyed his popularity, and extinguished him as a pubUc man. The Articles of Confederation were revised, and the pres ent Constitution of the Umted States was recommended to the people of the respective States, for adoption. The Convention of this State as sembled to deUberate upon the Constitution at Hartford, in .lanuai-y, 1788. The Delegates who represented this town in that Convention, were Hezekiah Fitch and Joshua Porter, Esquires, both of whom voted ' for the adoption of the Constitution. The revolutionary struggle had imposed impoverishing burdens upon the country. The times, in prospect, were gloomy, and the hearts of many were desponding. An immense debt had been conti-acted — com merce annihUated— -the cuiTcncy depreciated — the public faith distrusted. In this state of affairs, a town meeting was called on the llth day of March, 1786, by which it was resolved, " That we will continue to main tain harmopy, good order, and unanimity, among ourselves, as well as the good and wholesome laws of society." A resolution like this, car ried out to practical effect, would conquer difficulties not physically in surmountable ; and nothing less than this will relieve us now, from the evils of which we at present complain ; and were it in order, I would propose the same resolution for adoption in this meeting. I have remarked before, that a gi-een and a market-place were re served on Town Hill, in laying out the first division lots. That reserva tion was never appropriated to its original destination ; but, in 1786, the General Assembly established a public market upon the meeting house green, which had been originally designed for a parade. The Selectmen were empowered to make by-laws and regulations for the market, and to define its limits. Twice in each year, it Wiis made lawful for all mer chants, handicraftsmen, dealers, and others, to resort to the market with their vendible commodities. Such fairs were then common in this State, but were unlawftil without legislative license. Thej' furnished days of festivity, and were of a demoralizing tendency. Horse-jockeying and horse-racing prevailed, and perhaps some of tiie propensities to yankee trading were acquired in schools like tiiese. There was no Post Office in this town before the year 1702, when I\Ir. Peter Farnam, at the Furnace Village, was appointed Postmaster. Now, we have six Post Offices within the limits of the town. Before the war, emigration fi-om this town to Vermont liad commenced, and soon after its close, it was renewed ; so tiiat but few years had elapsed before there was hardly a faniily comiection in the town, which had not been ruptured by emigration. Removals to the western part of the State of New York next foUowed ; and soon there was scarcely a 35 village er settlement in that regien, which did npt cpntain a Salisbury man. The CMpman's, Owen's, Bingham's, Camp's, Chapin's, Everest's, Sh^lden's, White's, Allen's, Skinner's, Clagliprn's, Porter's, Stoddard's, Bronspn's, Hanchett's, and others, of our ancient and prominent fami lies, were much dismembered, and some entirely disappeared, by early emigration. The State of Vermont owes sometiiing to the men of Salisbury, for its present position among the States of tiiis Union. As early as 1761, John Everts, the same gentleman who was our first Representative to . the General Court of this Colony, procured fi-om Governor Wentwort, of New Hampshire, tiie charters or grants of tiie towns of Middlebury, New Haven, and Salisbury, in the former State. The first proprietors of Middlebury were almost all of them irJiabitants of this town ; and tiiese proprietors held their first meeting at the house of Landlord Everts, in Salisbui-y, cmd elected Matthias Kejsey, Ebenezer Hanchett, and James Nichols, to be the fu-st Selectmen of Middlebury ! Some of the most energetic and resolute of the Green Mountain Boys, emigrated fi-om tMs town ; and among these boys were Thomas Chitten den, Ethan Allen, Ira Allen, and Jonas Galusha. Thomas Chittenden was Governor of Vermont, with the exceistion of one year, from 1778 to 1797. In the early disputes between the Province or State of New York and the settlers of the New Hampshire Grants, no man was more active than Ethan Allen. He defied the admonitions and the threats of the Governor of New York, contained in a proclamation addressed to the settlers, and says, in a manifesto signed by hunself and others, on the 5th day of April, 1774, " We flatter ourselves we can muster as good a regiment of marksmen and scalpers as America can afford, and we give the gentlemen (of New York) an invitation to come and view the dex terity of our regiment," &c. Ira Allen was, for many years, the Treas urer, and Jonas Galusha the Governor, of Vermont. The Mstory of the Westem Reserve, in Ohio, is familiar with us., That tract of country was surveyed into townships by Auguistus Porter, son of our distinguished townsman. Colonel Joshua Porter, assisted by other gentlemen ; among whom was our late excellent and much la mented fi-iend, John M. Holley, Esq. Among the original purchasers and proprietors of the towns of Canfield and Johnston, in Trumbull county, Ohio, and some other towns in that Reserve, were James John ston, Daniel Johnston, Nathaniel Church, David Waterman, and Timothy Chittenden, of this town. Many of the eariiest settlers of the tpwn pf Canfield, were pur inhabitants, viz :— Champipn Minard, James Doud, Aaron Collar, WUUam- Chapman, Ziba Lpveland, Hon. Elisha Whittle sey, Ensign Church, and some others. There has been a manufactui-ing interest in .Salisbury, from the begin- 36 ning; and yet we have been, pre-eminently, an agricultural people. There have been but few places in which the agricultural facUities have been more diversified than this, although the committee which first ex plored our territory, had some doubts whether it could sustain a suffi cient population to support a minister! For many years, wheat was a staple production ; of late, the culture of this grain is much diminished. The influx of flour froni other regions, is the cause. The cultivation of flax has been reUnquished. Our farmers formerly found their markets either with the merchants in town, or upon the Hudson river. The town market, except so far as it is sustained by the manufacturers, is now at an- end, and our grain finds no market on the North river ; and yet our agricultural prosperity has been well sustained. TMs town, in common with other places, has suffered by a fashionable aversion to agricultural pursuits, which, for some years, has been very- perceptible. The experi^ce of the few last years, however, has taught our farmers some salutary lessons, and led them to appreciate more cor rectly the superior advantages and independence of their condition. Few towns can boast of a more intelligent agricultural population than ours. Formerly, there were not more than three well established mercantile concerns in the town — HoUey's, at the Furnace — ^Moore's, at the Center — and Chapin's, at Camp's Forge. Now, we have no less than thirteen dry goods stores ! How they are sustained, if sustained at all, I am not informed. Not more than three of this number are engaged in the sale of ardent spirits ! The iron ore, the forests, and the frequent water power foimd here, at a very early period introduced the manufacture of iron, and we have had but few other manufactories. The first forge was erected by Thom as Lamb, in the Hollow, as it was formerly called, now called Lime Rock, before the charter of the town, and I beUeve before its sale at Hart ford, in 1738. LamVs Iron 'Works are referred to as existing in the ear liest conveyances. They were probably erected as early as 1734. Soon afterwards, a grist mill. and saw mill were buUt just below, upon the same fall of water, by Lamb and others. The Lime Rock forge and fur nace of Messrs. Canfield & Robbins, now occupj' the sites of these ancient works. Iron ore was first taken fi-om the Hendricks ore bed, now called the Davis ore bed, to supply Lamb's iron works. Lamb was a proprietor of that ore bed. These works have subsequently been oc cupied by Thomas Starr, Martin Hoffman, Joel Harvey, Thomas Chip- man, Jun., Ebenezer Hanchett, Thomas Austin, and James Johnston - and, for many years, were known only as Johnston's forge. Capt. Samuel Beebe built a grist mill at the upper or Little Falls &f the Housatonuc, where Ames' iron works now ai-e, as early as 1742. It 37 was not many yeats in operation. A grist mill was built by John Corbit, in the southwestern section of the town, where Benedict's mill now is, in 1746. Jacob Bacon and Daniel Parke, m 1748, built a gi-ist mill and forge upon Suceunops brook — the outlet of tiie pond in Chapinville. Deacon Hezekiali Camp became its proprietor in 1769, and the forge retained the name of Camp's forge, for several years. The works at th.at place were aftei-wards owned by tiie late Phineas Chapin, Esq., a descendant of Deacon Camp. The furnace now in operation upon the, site of the old forge, was erected by Sterling, Chapin & Co., in the year 1825 ; and the neighborhood there then received the name of Chapinville. Thomas Lamb, who owned tiie outlet of the Furnace Pond, conveyed it in 1748, to Benajah Williams, Josiah Stoddard, and William Spencer, These persons soon after built a forge, near where the remains of the old ftu-nace now are. Afterwards, Moorhouse, Caleb Smith, ;Iohn Dean, John Pell, Gideon Skinner, Joseph Jones, Eliphalet Owen, John Cobb, and Leonard Owen, were at different periods its proprietors. It was caUed Owen's Iron Works. In 1762, Leonard Owen conveyed this property to John Haseltine, Samuel Forbes, and Ethan Allen. These gentiemen erected the first blast furnace ever built in this State, as I suppose. Charles and George Caldwell, of Hartford, purchased this property in 1763, and they conveyed it to Richard Snnth, of Boston, in 1768. Joseph Wliiting, William Neilson, Luther Holley, and Holley & Coffing, have since been its proprietors. Thomas Lamb was proprietor of the water privilege on the mountain, since called Riga, and had conti-ol of the stream flowing therefi-om. Very early he erected a saw mill and grist mill on that stream, about one half mile northwest of the Center VUlage, at or near the falls upon which Clark's mills now stand, — as early, I think, as 1744. This prop- ei-ty was soon aftewards owned by Joel Harvey and Joseph Parke, and fi-om them has been ti-ansmitted through various proprietors to the pres ent owners. -^ Nathaniel Jewell, in 1763, built a gi-ist mUl on the norther^i line of the town, near Sage's jiresent works. No business was done at the great falls of the Housatonuc, before the erection of the paper mill, in 1783. That manufaf;tory was established by the late Samuel Forbes, Esq. and Nathaniel Church,, and for sevei-jil years was an active and prosperous concern. Paper was then made ex clusively of linen rags, and by the slow process of the hand mould. A saw mill and fulling mill were erected there about the same time. An extensive lumber business was prosecuted. Pine timber in large quan tities, and of exceUent quality, was by the spring freshets annually drifted down the river from the towns above. 38 fj^ut the year 1797, Chatles Loveland erected an extensive manu factory of gun barrels there. The entire works, except the saw miU, were destroyed by fire in Febniai-y, 1800, and never rebuilt. For sever al years thereafter, no active busmess was dene in that nei^hbprhpod. Abner or Peter Woodin erected a forge at Mt. Riga, about the year 1781. Daniel BaU succeeded ; and the forge was many years known as Ball's forge. Seth King and John Kelsey commenced buUding a furnace there, about 1806, but were not able to complete it. The entire property in the forge and furnace came into the hands of Coffing,' HoUey & Pet tee, in tiie year 1810, who, the same year, fimshed the furnace, and for many years prosecuted a very extensive and profitable business. Pig iron, anchors, screws, and various kinds of manufactured iron, were made there. This establishment, including tiie works at Lime Rock, were incorporated in 1828, by the name of the Salisbury Iron Company. The furnace near the Falls Bridge, was built by Leman Bradley, in 1812. It was burnt in 1814, and immediately rebuUt. The refining forge there was built by Canfield, Sterling & Co., in and the neigh borhood, about that time, received the name of Falls Village. The iron works there and at Lime Rock, are now the property of Messrs. Can- field & Robbins. ' The iron works at the upper or little falls of the Housatonuc, were built in 1833, by Eddy, Ames & Kinsley, but have since that time been much extended by Mr. Oliver Ames, their present proprietor. Within the last thii-tj- years, our manufactories have been confined chiefly to iron, in its several varieties, from the raw material to the fin ished article. Our mines have yielded an ore superior to any other yet found in this country, for all purposes reqmring great strength. I have alluded before to the cannon made here in former years. Iron for the manufacture of muskets, anchors, chain cables, &e. is made here of a superior quality, and has engaged the attention of the national govern-- ment. We have now four blast furnaces in operation, and five refining forges. The daUy consumption of charcoal m one of our fiu-naees, is about six hundred bushels. And the average yield of pig iron^is about three tons per day. A refining forge wiU consume about tiiree hmulred bushels of charcoal at each fire, per week. Our forges generally run with three fires each. In coimection with the iron business of the town, it may be in place here to speak of our mineral resources. The ore bed in the west part of the town, called by way of distinction, ' The Old Ore Hill, is a tract of one hundred acres, originally granted bj' the General Court, in Oct., 1731, to be laid out by Daniel BisseU, of Windsor. It was soon after surveyed and located by Ezekiel Ashley and 39 ^ John Pell. The descendants of A.shley are at this day proprietors in that ore bed. From this mine the most abundant supplies of ore have been furnished. For msmy years the mineral was easily obtained and with Uttle excavation. At this time it is much more expensively raised. For the last twenty years, the average quantity of ore raised from tiie old ore bed, has been about four thousand and five hundi-ed tons, amiually. The price when raised is now $2.50 per ton, of which the proprietors receive $1.26, and the miners the balance. -The proprietors were incorporated many years ago. The present pro prietors are the heirs of tiie late Gen. Henry Livingston, of Livingston's Manor, New York, the heirs of the late Samuel Forbes, Esq., of Canaan, .and William .\shle3', Esq., of Sheffield, Mass. The Chatfield Ore Bed, so called from its original proprietor, PhUip Chatfield, lies in the vicinity of the old ore bed. Formerly it was con siderably worked, but within a few years very little pre has been taken from it It is owned by the lieu-s of the late Samuel Forbes, Esq. Hendrick's Ore Bed, now called the Davis Hill, was at a very early period owned by Thomas Lamb, the Salisbury speculator, and ore was taken from it to supply his forge, at Lime Rock. At tills time it is worked to a considerable extent. This ore bed is situated about a mile southwest of the Center Village, and is owned by the heirs of the late Samuel Forbes, Esq., the heirs of the late Jared Canfield, and by the late firm of HoUey & Coffing. The Bingham Ore Bed, since called the Scoville Ore Bed, Ues about three miles northwest of the Center Village ; it has not been improved for many years. Still further north is Camp's, or Chapin's Ore Bed. This ore is found in considerable quantities, but is so impregnated with manganese, as to be little used. In the extreme southwest coi-ner of the town is the Bradley Ore Bed. On the Sharon side of the town line, ore in consideraMe quantities is taken from this mine. The ore from our mines 3delds from forty to forty-five per cent. of fron. The ore is of the brown Hernajtite variety. Copperas, or sulphate of iron, has been found on Barackmatiff Ilill, and at a place caUed Samuel Moore's mine, on Sugar Hill. For many years Salisbury had the reputation of affording a successful field for gentlemen of the legal profession. This was not the result of a Utigious spirit in the people, nor of any unusual propensity of the lawyers ; but rather, of the active and business-like enterprise of the population. The first lawyer who settled here was Jabez Swift, Esq., a native of Kent. He built the stone house on Tpwn Hill. Upon the breaking out of the War of the Revolution he joined the army in Boston, and there died. The late Adonijah Strong, Esq., was a pupil of Mr. Swift, and succeeded Mm in practice. Colonel Strong was a man of vigorous mind, had a large practice, but possessed none of the graces 40 of eloquence. For many years he was an efficient magistrate, and a member of the General Assembly. He died in Febraary, 1813. .loseph Canfield, Esq. commenced his professional studies with Col onel Sti-ong, and finished them at the Litchfield Law School. He com menced his practice at Furnace Village, about the year 1789. Mr. Can- field was a gentieman of graceful manners and good talents ; he died in September, 1803, having been several times a member of the Assembly. Gen. EUsha Steriing was a graduate of Yale C:ollege, and a member of the Law School, at Litchfield. He commenced Ms professional life in this town, ui 1791 ; and he prosecuted his profession with great indus try and success, until the year 1830; when he retired to his fariq at Furnace VUlage, where he died Dec. 3d, 1836. General SterUng was a well-read lawyer, and possessed a discriminating mind. Twice he rep resented the seventeenth Senatorial distiict in the Senate of tMs State ; and for several years represented tMs town in the General Assembly. He was many years a magistrate, mne years -a Judge of Probate for the district of Sharon, and for a considerable period State's Attorney for this county. The name of no other citizen appears more frequently upon our town and society records than his. Hon. Martin Strong was the eldest son of Col. Adomjah Strong. He commenced the practice of law here ,in 1801. Several years before Ms death, he exchanged the legal profession for agricultural pursuits. Judge Strong was for many years one of om- most active magistrates, and an Associate Judge of the County Court. He had been a member of both branches of our Legislature. Besides the gentlemen new in practice here,* there have been several lawyers who commenced busi ness in this town, and subsequeutfy removed to other places ; among whom were Chauncey Lee, Myi-on Holley, Hon. Ansel Sterling, Ezra Jewell, John M. Sterling, Edward Rockwell, Clim-chill Coffing, and Norton J. Buell. In the department of medicine, we have retained the services of many valuable mCn, from the beginning. Our first physician was Dr. Solo mon Williams, who, as I suppose, emigrated fi-om Lebanpn, as did many ^ other of our most (ionspicuous .men. He died in the year 1767, and in the same year was succeeded by Dr. Joshua Porter, from the same place. Dr. Porter graduated at Yale College, in 1754. His place of residence was at Furnace Village, on the farm originally occupied by Cornelius Knickerbacor. For half a century his professional practice was very e.xtensive, and he was esteemed as one of the most skillful physicians of his day. But his profession did not engross his whole attention. He was much in public life, both civil and military .^ For twenty years he 'These are Philander Wheeler, John G. 'Mitchell, John H. Hubbard, and Roger Averill Esquires. 41 was a Selectman ; a Justice of tiie Peace tMrty-five years ; and Associate Judge of the Coimty Court thirteen years; Chief Justice of the same Court sixteen years ; Judge of Probate for the district of Sharon thirty-seven yeai-s. - In the year 1764, he was first elected a member of the Assembly, and was a member of that body fifty-one stated sessions ! Col. Porter was not attached to the Continental Ai-my in the Revolu tionary War, but was an efficient Militia Officer. As a Colonel of MiU tia, he was in service with his Regiment, at Peekskill, and again at Saratoga, at the capture of Burgoyne. The descendants of Col. Porter were, and are still numerous, and many of them not only highly respect^ able, but distinguished. This venerable and much esteemed gentleman died on the 2d day of April, 1826, aged ninety-five years. ' Dr. Lemuel Wheeler commenced practice here about the year 1765. He too, was a public man, and several times a member of the General Assembly. Dr. Samuel Cowdray settled near Chapinville, or Camp's forge ; sub sequently, he was attached to the navy of the United States. He was a surgeon on board of the unfortunate frigate Philadelphia, when that ves sel was captured by the Barbary pirates, and he was a long time de tained as a slave, in Tripoli, and until reclaimed by his government. Our other physicians, besides the medical gentlemen now in practice,* have been Drs. Jonathan Fitch, Darius Stoddard, John Johnston, Wil liam Wheeler, Samuel Lee, WiUiam Walton, the elder, William Walton, 2d, John P. Walton, Samuel Rpckwell, Jpshua Porter, Jr., James R. Dodge, Abiram Peet, Benajah Ticknor, now of the United States Navy, Perry Pratt, John J. Catiin, Caleb Tickor, and Moses A. Lee. The geograpMcal features of the town, truly indicate a healthful cli mate. Fpr the last twenty years, the annual average number ef deaths has been from tMrty to tMrty-five, or about one and a half per cent, of our population. Yet, in- common with most other healthful localities, we have been occasionally visited with fatal pestilence. About the year 1784, a fever of uncommon mortality raged in the north part of the town, and in the .vicinity of the ponds ; called then the pond fever, and supposed to have been produced by the unusual accumulation of water in the ponds. Many names, before frequent and prominent upon our civil and ecclesiastical records, ceased thereafter to be any mpre seen. Again, in the years 1812 and 1813, a fever, called from its general pre valence. The Epidemic, swept over this and some neighboring towns, with fearful mortality, uncontrolled by medical skill. During the first of these years there were about eighty deaths, and in the latter, nearly seventy, and chiefly from that disease. Indeed, all other maladies seem •These are Asahel Humphrey, Henry Eish, Luther Ticknor,' Ovid Plumb, aud WiUiam J. Barry. 6 42 to hate fled before it, and to have given place, that it might rage and conquer alone. It was the Pneumonia , 'Typhoides of the Books, or a Typhoid Pleurisy. In coimection with the professional gentiemen who have been our in habitants, I ought not to omit the name of the late Samuel Moore. He was the first of our inhabitants who practiced the science of land survey ing, and was the eldest son of the flrst emigrant here, of that name — Sergeant Samuel Moore. He was a distinguished mathematician of his time, and was the author of a valuable and extensively circulated treat ise upon surveying, which I believe was the flrst American work on that branch of mathematical science. He died in the year 1810, aged seven ty-three years. Other gentlemen, who have exercised the same profes sion in this t3wn, have been Stephen Reed, Daniel Reed, and WiUiam P. RusseU. I have spoken, especially, of professional men ; — this has not been done invidiously. - No man respects the mechanic and agriculturist more highly than I do ; but my leisure will not permit me to speak of them individually, on this occasion, as many of them deserve. But there have been those among us, who were self-made men, in the various oc cupations of life. They deserve a place in our memories and esteem. By self-made men, I mean such as, by patient endurance, have overcome the adverse and depressing influences of native penury, and, by lives of industry -and integrity, have advanced themselves and their families to competence and respectability. Among these were Adomjah Strong, Timothy Chittenden, Peter Farnam, Jonathan Scoville, Thomas Ball, Nathaniel Church, Gideon Bushnell, and Luther Holley. I could name many others. To Mr. HoUey I refer as an example well worthy of more general imitation. He commenced l^is trial of life, with no other estate than his axe, with which he was seeking employment in the colleries of Cornwall, when he was, fortunately as we suppose, diverted from his purpose, by the persuasion of Lot Norton, Esq. I cannot speak of j\Ir. Hollej^'s progress from poverty and obscurit}- to wealth and prominence. He was a working man through life ; but he was no slave. He was a choice pattern of a New England farmer. Industry combined with leisiu-e — the labor of the body associated with the labor of the mind. Luther HoUey's life was a visible refutation of the too common opinion, that the necessary toil of the laboring man, in this country, is inconsis tent with an independent spirit, and high mental cultivation. You per ceive, I speak here only of the dead. Were tills a proper occasion, I should love to allude to the living also. It is a just occasion of pride, in any ccnuinimity, tiiat it has sent fortii from its numbers, to other regions, men of eminence and usefulness ; and perhaps this town', retired and obscure as it is, has furnished other 43 sectiens pf om- confederacy its full proportion of distinguished uieri. Hon. Thomas Chittenden, tiiough a native of Guilford, was, fpr many years, one of our own men, and represented this town, many times, in the General Assembly. He emigrated from us to Vermont, before the War of the Revolution, and was Govemor of that State for many years. He built and resided in the brick house lately owned by the Brewster family. His son, Hon. Mai-tin Chittenden, also Governor of Vermont, and a member of Congress from that State, was born here. Col. Ethan Allen, the hero of Ticonderoga, resided in tiiis town some years before his emigration to Vei'mont, and was one of the original proprietors of the old furnace. Hon. Jonas Galusha was one of our citizens. He was the son of Jacob Galusha, who removed fi-om Norwich to this town, in 1771, and settied on the north side of the north pond. Jonas Galusha, for several yeai-s, was a very popular Governor of Vermont, Hon. Nathaniel CMpman, late Chief Justice of the State of Vermont, and a distinguished member of the Senate of the Umted States, was born and educated here. He was the son of Samuel Chipman, who for merly occupied the dwelling house and farm on Town Hill, now owned by Mr. Reuben Chapman. This venerable and distinguished gentleman, as we hope, stiU sm-vives, at the age of eighty -nine years. Hon. Daniel CMpman, youngest brother of Judge Chipman, and for many years one of the most prominent members of the Vermont Bar, also a native of tMs to'wn, still lives, at the age of seventy-six. Hon. Ambrose Spencer, late Chief Justice of the State of New York, was born here on the 13th December, 1765. He was the son of Philip Spencer, Esq., whose place of residence was near the western extremity of the town. TTie character of Judge Spencer is extensively known, as one of the most accompUshed members of the judiciary department of the State of New York, and will be perpetuated without any aid from me. This gentleman still survives, and resides in Lyons, in the State of New York. Gen. Peter B. Porter, now of Niagara Falls, is the youngest son of Col. Joshua Porter. Soon after he completed his^ collegiate and profes sional studies, he, together with his elder brother, Hon. Augustus Porter, emigi-ated to the county of Ontario, in the State of Kew York. Gen. Porter was a member of Congress, and very early laid before that body the great national importance of the Erie Canal. In the late war -with England, he took a conspicuous part, as commander of the New York volunteers, upon the northern frontier. He was actively engaged against the enemy, at the celebrated sortie from Fort Erie, and other important occasions. During a part of the administration of John Q. Adams, as President of the United States, Gen. Porter was Secretary of War. 44 Hon. Augustiis Porter, second son of Colonel Porter, equally usefiil and respected in civU life, stiU sm-vives— the father of a highly distin guished family. Hon. Josiah S.- Johnston, late of Louisiana, and a much valued mem ber of the Senate of the United States, was the son of Dr. Jphn John ston, of tMs town. He removed, when a cMld, -with his father to Ken- tuckey. He fell a victim to a fatal explosion of a steamboat, on the Mississippi river, a few years ago. Among the members of Congi-ess from other States, who were bom or ^ reared in this town, the names of Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, of OMo, and ' Hon. Graham H. Chapin, Charles Johnston, and Theron R. Strong, of New York, are now recollected. Rev. Horace Holley, D. D., a distinguished scholar and eloquent di- ¦rine. President of the Transylvania University, was the son of the late Luther Holley. . / Rev. Isaac Bird, a devoted Missionary in Asia, a descendant of Joseph Bird, Esq., one of our earliest settlers and first magistrates, was bom and educated here. Myron Holly and Oi-rille L. HoUey, Esquires, sons of the late Luther Holley, distinguished as scholars and gentlemen, and by vaaious respon sible employments in public life, were nurtured and educated, if not born among us. I ought' not here to omit the name of Chester Averill, late Professor of Chemistry in Union College, who 'died in 1836, just as he began to give certain promise of extensive usefulness and Mgh literary distinc tion. He -vyas the son of Mr. Nathaniel P. Averill, of this town. In connection with the names of professional gentlemen who have lived and died with us, and distinguished individuals who have removed from us, I refer to others, whom we and our fathers have honored with our confidence, as Representatives to the General Assembly of this State. As no Colony tax was assessed and collected of the people of tins town, before the year 1756, so we were not, until that time, entitled to a representation in the Colony Legislatm-e. Previously, however, the town, on special occasions, appointed and paid special agents to the Gen,eral Court. In 1743, Samuel Bellows was appointed an agent to attend the Assem- I bly, at its October session for that year, to get a land tax for the town. In the following October, Benajah Williams and Thomas Newcomb were appointed agents to get an explanation of the tax of the previous year. In January, l'/45, Samuel Bellows was appointed an agent to prpcure a patent, or deed pf confirmation, of the lands in the to-wn. In February, 1747, Thomas CMpman, Esq. was appointed an agent to procm-e a Iccation of a site fer the meeting house. 45 The following is a Roll of the tnembers of Assembly from this town : Mat Session. 1757, John Everts, Thomas Chipman. 1T58, James Landon, John Everts. 1759, James Landon, Samuel Moore. , 1760, John Everts, Josiah Stoddard. 1761, John Everts, Josiah Stoddard. 17,fi"-i, John Everts, Josiah Stoddard. 1763, John Everts, Jam^ Landon. 1764, James Landon, Amos Fuller. 1765, Thos. Chittenden, Josuua Porter. 1766, Thos. Ohittendtfn, Joshua Porter. 1767. Thos. Chittenden, Joshua Porter. 1768, Thos. Chittenden, Joshua Porter. 1769, Thos. Chittenden, Joshua Porter. 1770, Joshua Porter, James Landon. 1771, Joshua Porter. 1772, Thomas Chittenden, John Everts. 1773, Joshua Porter, James Landon. 1774, Joshua Porter, James L^idon. 1775, Joshua PoHer, Abial Camp. 1776, Abial Camp, Joshua Porter. 1777, Joshua Porter. 1778, Joshua Porter, Hezekiah B^tch. 1779, Timo. Chittendeu, Joshua Stanton. 1780, Joshua Porter, Hezekiah Fitch. 1781, Joshua Porter, Abial Camp. 17S2, Joshua Porter, Elisha Fitch. 1783, Hezekiah Fitch, Ehsha Fitch. 1784, Lot Norton, Hezekiah Fitcii. 1785, Hezekiah Fitoh, Joshua Porter. 1786, Eiisha i'itch, Lot Norton. 1787, ElUha Fitch. 1738, J^muei Wheeler, Hezekiah Fitch, 1789, Lemuel Wheeler. Adonijah Sti-ong. 1790, Hezeki^ Fitch, Josuua Porter. 1791, Hezekiaa Fitch, Joshua Porter. 1792, Hezekiah Fit-ch, Jostiiia Porter. 1793, Hezekiah Fitcu, Adonijah Strong. 1794,\ Joshua Porter, David Waterman. 1795, Hezekiah Fitch, Joshua Porter. 1796, Joshua Porter, Adonijah Strong. 1797, Joshua Porter, Samuel Lee. 1798, Joshua Porter, Joseph Canfield, Jr, 1799, Joshua Porter, Joseph Canfield, Jr. ISOO, Samuel Lee, Jeremiah Bauchy. 1801, Joshua Porter, Jeremiah Dauchy. 1302, Jeremiah Dauchy, Nath'l Church. 1803, T. Cliittenden^ Jr., Phineas Chapin. 1804, Phineas Chapm, Elisha Sterling. 1805, James Johnston, Jeremiaii Dauchy. 1806, Phineas Chapin, Stephen Reed. 1807, Phineas Chapin, Nathaniel Everts. 1808, Ehsha Sterling, Lot Norton, Jr. 1809, Lot Norton, Jr., Phineas Chapin, 1810, Silas Moore, Peter Farnam. ' 1811, Luther Holley, Lot Norton. 1812, Timotiiy Chittenden, Feter Farnam. 1813, Peter Farnum, Lot Norton. 1SJ.4, Lot Norton, Eliphalet Whittlesey. IS'lo. Elisha Sterling, John C. Coffing. 1816, Ehsha Sterling, Jonathan ScovSle. 1817, Daniel Johnston, Abijah O. Peet, 1818, Daniel Johnston, Abijah C, Peet. 1819, Daniel Johnston, Abijah C. Peet, 1820, Silas Eeed, Samuel Church, 1821, Samuel Church, Newman Holley. 1822, Martin Strong, Thomas N. Smith. 1823, Samuel Church, Parley Hubbard, "».S24, Samuel Church, Parley Hubbard. 1825,1 Seneca Pettee, Newman Holley, 1S26, Silas Reed, Newman Holley, 1827, Newman Holley, Robert Ball, , 1828, Phineas Chapin, Thomas N, Smith, OOTODER Session. John Everts, Josiah Stoddard. Josiah Stoddard, Johu Hutchinson, Josiah Stoddard, Samuel Moore. John Everts. i John Everts, Timothy Brownson. John Everts. John Everts, James Landon. Thomas Chittenden, Joshua Porter. Jamtjs Landon, Samuel Moore. Thomas Chittenden, Joshua Porter. Thomas Chittenden, Joshua Porter. Thomas Chittenden, James Bird. Thnmas Chittenden, Joshua Porter. Joshua Porter, James Landon. Thomas Chittenden, John Everts. Joshua Porter, James Landon, Joshua Porter, James Landon. Joshua Porter, Hezekiah Fitch. Abial Camp. James Bird. Joshua Porter, Abial Camp, Joshiia Porter, Abial Camp. Joshua Porter, Hezekiah Fitch. Timothy Chittenden, Hezekiah Fitch. Joshua Porter, Abial Carap. Joshua. Porter, Hezekiah lltch. Joshua Porter, Hezekiah Fitch. Joshua Stanton, Lot Norton. Joshua Porter, Hezekiah Fitch, Hezekiah Fitch, Joshua Porter, Elisha Fitch, Lemuel Wheeler. Lemuel Wheeled, Hezekiah Fitch. Lemuel Wheeler, Samuel Lee. Hezekiah Fitch, Lemuel Wheeler. Hezekiah Fitch, Joshua Porter. Adonijah Strong, Samiiei Lee. Adonijah Strong, Samuel Lee, Hezekiah Fitch, Adonijah Strong. Hezekiah ^Fitch, Joshua Porter, Joshua Porter, Samuel Lee. Joshua Porter, Samuel Lee. Joshua Porter. Elisha Sterling. Joshua Porter, Joseph Canfield, Jr. Joshua Porter, J jseph Canfield, Jr. David Watermau, Jeremiah Dauchy, Joshua Porter, Samuel Lqb. Adonijah Strong, Nathaniel Church, Timo. Chittenden. Jr., Phineas Chapin. John Whittlesey, Lot Norton, Jr. Timothy Chittenden, Jr., Phiaeas Chapin. Stephen Reed, Samuel Lee. Nathaniel Everts, Samuel i.ee. Lot Norton, Jr., Peter Farnam. iiOt Norton, Jr., Samuel Lee. Lot Norton, Silas Moore. ', Luther HoUey, Lot Norton. Lot Norton, Luther Holley. Martin Strong, Eliphalet Whittlesey. Elisha Sterling, L,ot Norton. Elisha Sterling, Lot Norton. EJisha Sterling, Jonathan Scoville. Dan Johnston, Abijah C, Peet. ¦ Silas Reed, Alexander Lamb. 46. Mat Skssion. 1829, Samiiel Church. Bobert BaU. 1830, Abijah C. Peet, Jared S. Harrison. 18.?1, Samuel CIrarch, JjOt Norton. 1832, Jared S. Harrison, Luther Ticknor. 1833, Luther Ticknor, Nath'l Benedict, .Jr. 1834, Nath'l Benedict, Jr., lYed'k Plumb. 1835, Jared S. Harrison, Fred'k A. Walton. 1830, Frederick A. Walton, John Ensign. 1837, John Ensign, William P. Bussell. 1838, Nathaniel Henedict, John Bussell, Jr. 1839, Wm. H. Walton, Thos. B. Bosworth, 1840, Thos. B. Bosworth, Nehemiati Clark. 1841, No choice. " The following gentlemen have officiated as magistrates of the town: Thomas Chipman, _ Joseph Bird, James Landon,^ John Hntchinson, Thomas Chittenden, Abial Camp, Klisha Fitch, Joshua Porter, Lot Nor ton, Adonijah Strong, Sarauel Lee, John WMttlesey, Lot Norton, Jr., Elisha Sterling, Phineas Chapin, John M. Holley, Eliphalet WMttlesey, Martin Sti-ong, Samuel Church, Seneca Pettee, Philander Wheeler, John G. Mitchell, Newman Holley, Abijah C. Peet, Abial Chapin, John H. Hubbard, Albert Moore, William P. Kussell, William C. Sterling, Na thaniel Benedict, Samuel C. Scoville, Lot Norton, iid, Elisha Lee, Koger AveriU, Timothy Chittenden, The members of the State Convention, in 1818, for forming a constitu tion of civil government for this State, were Daniel Johnston and Sam uel Church. These delegates advocated the adoption of the constitu tion, in 'the Convention ; and the question of its adoption, at a meeting of our electors, in October, 1818, was carried by an affirmative majority of eighty-three votes. In the late war with England, of 1812, several non-commissioned offi cers and privates enlisted from tMs town, but few of whom ever re turned ; although it is not known tiiat more than one of them was slam in battie. John O'Kain was killed in the battle of Bridgewater. It is said of him, that while lying upon the ground, alter re(!Bi\-ing his mortal wound, he twice discharged his musket at the enemy. In a review of the progress of our town from its infancy until the present time, it is impossible to repel the recollection of its political condition in reference to the agitating questions, which, tor the last Jialf century, iiave disturbed the peace and social condition of the country. I have no tlisposition on this occasion, to say more on this subject, tiian to remark, that we have not been exempt from these distui-bing causes. Party has found here a theatre of action, as well as elsewhere, and has been productive of the same demoralizmg results. 1 feel some compla cency, if not pride, however, in being able to say, that during the first conflict of parties, the spirit of political proscription found no place for its exercise here. Por a period of fifteen yeai-s from tiie adoption of our State Constitution in 1818, 1 do not reeollect tiiat a magisti-ate of tiie 47 town was displaced from office by reason of his paity attachments. But here I must stop. Since that time, a diifereiit disposition has entered, and civil officers of great worth have been made to yield to party denun ciation. This has been the equal fault, yes, tiie unjustified crime of botiv parties ! ' This is not tiie time nor the proper occasion to indulge in political re flections. But I cannot discharge a duty which I owe to thfe young men of my iiati\e place — the persons witii whom, in part, the destinies of this country are soon to be entrusted, without entreating them to divest tiiemselves of parly ;md political prejudices. What is prejudice but an opimon formed witiiout impartial examination? This is a crime, and inexcusable ui tills age and country. My young friends, never be afraid of bringing preconceived opimpus tP the test pf a patient and disinter ested inquiiy ! There have been ti-aditionary accounts of events within our borders, wMch might merit perpetuity, if the evidence of authenticity would war- , rant it. Such as have not come down to us accompamed witii satisfac tory proof, I shall pass over -without a notice. Mr. Crossman, in Ms sermon before alluded to, relates the circumstances of the defeat of a large body of Indians, in the northeasterly section of the town, before its settlement by the white people. In that narrative/ 1 suppose there is an intermingling of fact with fiction. The best authenticated account of that affair, warrants me in saying, that in the year 1676, and just be fore the death of King Philip, Major Talcott, of the Connecticut forces, pursued fi-om Westfield, towards Albany, a flying body of Indians, who, after discomfiture in Philip's war, were seeking safety among the Mo hawks. These Indians, under the direction of the Saohpm of Winni- missett, or Brookfield, were overtaken, lying securely on the western bank of the Housatomc river, at the fording place, about one mile south of the State line, near William Sardam's present residence. They were surprised just before the dawn of day, and about fifty of their number, including their Sachem, were either killed or taken.'* An incident worthy of relation occurred at the Great Palls of the Housatonic, in the spring freshet of 1837. Two of the men employed by Mr. Ames, at Ms iron works, attempted to cross the river in a boat ; such was the force of the cun-ent, that they were precipitated c^ver the cataract. One of them, David O'Neal, an Irish laborer, was killed ; the other, Walter Holley, almost miraculously escaped, with little injury. The late Dr. Dwight, in one of his volumer, speaks of the moving rocks in the North, or WasMiiing pond, in this town. There are several rocks, and one of considerable size, near the southern margin of that pond, wMch appear to have been propelled by some powerful force * Vol, I. Trum. His. Con. 365. Dwigat's Hia. Con. l90. 48 towards tiie shore, leaving deep trenches or guttiers behind, and accu mulating mud and gravel before them. Such appearances alone would not -persuade me, uncorroborated by the credible testimony of observers, that these rocks had changed position. But I am compelled to yield my assent upon evidence of the actual observation of men of re'spectability, whose means of knowledge have been accurate. I am not sm-e that these are unusual phenomena. And, perhaps, they are the result of the immense pressure of the ice upon the rocks, connected with what may be the peculiar state of the earth, or bottom upon which they rest. ^ , Our ancestors were vere very little acquainted wifli what we boastingly call tiie credit system. They were men of thrift, and of sober, industri ous habits. I do not find a smgle mortgage deed upon our records. Until nine years after our incorporation ; nor any account of pauper ex penses before the year 1762. I do not infer fi-om tMs, that we had no paupers before that time ; for the poor we always have -with us. Before the year 1797, the poor charges had increased to such an extent as to in duce the town to sacrifice its character for humamty, to its love of econ- . omy, and to dispose of its paupers for support, to the lowest bidder, at- a public vendue; and thus give to cupidity an easy opportimity of grati fication, by literally grinding the face of the poor. TMs cruel system was soon abandoned ; but within a few years it was resorted to again. Our pauper expenses, from various causes, notwithstanding, . increased until they amounted to an average sum of one thousand dollars yearly. A new system was resorted to. In the spring of 1829, the town pm-- ohased of the late Simeon Granger, a farm with convement buildings and utensils, and in that year established an Asylum for the maintenance of the poor. The farm consists of about two hundred and thirty-sis acres of land, mostly on the College grant. The purchase was made for four thousand ' and five hundred dollars ; to raise which, a town stock was created, and sold in shares of one hundred dollars each, redeemable at different peri ods. Only thirteen hundi-ed and fifteen dollars of this stock now remain due. The present expense of supporting the poor will average about four hundred and thirty dollars annually, inclusive of the interest of the unredeemed stock. Connected with the Asylum is a work house, for the punishment of small offenses. At this Asylum our paupers are supported in a style of comfort and competence equal to that enjoyed by the generality of our citizens. This in.stitution is deservedly a favorite of the town, and under humane and careful management, will continue to be, as it now is, a comfortable rest ing place for our aged, infirm, and destitute friends, on their way to the grave ! The present number of paupers supported at the Asylum, is fourteen. The town ought not to forget the philanthropic zeal and efforts 4y of the late Elisha Sterling, Esq., and Mr. John C. Coffing, in the estab lishment of tills institution. In .eonnectipn with poverty, it has not been unusual to sijeak of crime. They have no necessary connection, however. And when they have been associated, the common cause of both has been intemperance. A Tem perance Society was formed here ten years ago, and produced salutary effects upon the habits of om- people. Formerly, the commission of petty- offenses, such as batteries, breaches of the peace, &c., were very fre quent ; but within the last ten years, have very sensibly dimimshed, so that we seldom hear of a prosecution for tiiese delinquencies. There have been two indictments found against our citizens, for the crime of murder, beth pf wMch resulted in acqmttals. One against the cplpred slave or servant of Col. Blagden, for Mlling the slave of Col. Sheldon, soon after the Revolutionary War ; and one against Jacob Vandusen, for ppisoning Ms 'wife -with arsenic, in the year 1817. ¦ The progress of the temperance reformation, within the last three years, has received a check among us, Jfrom which I fear it will not soon recover, without sincere, as well as united efforts in its favor. Since Rev. Mr. Grossman's account of our publjc cemeteries was pub lished, but one burying place has been located — the new burying yard, north of the center -yillage. TMs was purchased, and the south half of it laid into lots, in the year 1830. Deacon Mylo Lee was the first person buried in it. A map of tMs burying place is lodged in the Tovm Clerk's offlce. An allusion to the geograpMcal peculiarities of the town is not irrele vant to its Mstory. To us, who live amidst, and are constantly looking out upon our surrounding scenery, it is familiar and common-place ; but to our emigrant fi-iends, to whom these objects were once endeared, the mention of them may revive recollections and associatipns pf deep and grateful interest. A distingmshed clerical gentleman, whp had passed several years in the sputh pf Eurppe, said tp me, that the landscape scenery pf Salisbury surpassed, in beauty and variety, any thing he had witnessed abrpad. Brace mountain, the westernmost summit of Tocconuc, frequently in vites the visits of strangers. From this elevation, in a day of simshine, the counties of Dutchess and Columbia, in the State of New York, as far as the vision can extend, appear spread down before the observer ; while, in the westem distance, .the lofty Catskill, with its mountain-house dis tinctly visible, rises up to arrest the sight. The traveler, as he approaches us from the south, and as he commences his descent from Town Hill, fi-equently stops to gaze upon the prospect which' opens to Ms view. From the most elevated points of Smith's and Brinton's hills, too, and. where the public roads pass over them, the land- 7 50 scapes are of peculiar beauty. Indeed, the pencil of the artist can be furmshedwith as many and as splendid subjects of employment,- among the hills and waters of Salisbury, as cw be found even in the far-famed and more fashionable highland scenery of the Hudson river! Our streams and our lakes are not without their attractions, especially to tiie disciples of good Isaak Walton. The fprmer are well stpred with the speckled trcut, and the pickerel and the perch abound in the latter. But it is not every vain and uninspired knight of the hook and line, who can lure pur cunning fish tp Ms bait! The pickerel was net priginally found here, but was transplanted from Bantam pond, in Litchfield, about the year 1812. • Such has been the even tenor of our way, since the events of the Rev olution and the settlement of Pur national government, that the history of one year tells the story of the succeeding one, from year to year, with little to diversify. Our fathers have been passing away with the passing current. We look around, and wonder where are the old men, and our contemporaries of other days. Either the burying places in our midst, or other regions of our country, contain nearly all of them. There are now surviving, over the age of sixty years, and present inhabitants of the town, only about fifteen native born male citizens. The progress of change has been gradual, and yet it has been almost radical. We can note it only by comparing whatis, with what has been. In nothing, perhaps, has there been a greater change, from olden to tiie present'time, than in the facilities of travel and intercourse. The early settlers had no carriages for the conveyance of persons. For many years the state of tiie roads would not permit their use. The horse sup plied the place of traveling carriages. The ox cart in summer, and the ox sled in winter, were the only vehicles used. The horse was early trained to carry double, and this qualification was essential in the esti- matipii of all purchasers ; and a false warranty in tMs respect, was a frequent cause of litigation. In order to use the horse for double riding, a pillion was a notable and necessary accompaniment. This was always furnished by the ladies, as it was intended for their exclusive accommo dation, and they frequently displayed much taste in its fashion and orna ment. Thus provided, the good man and his wife, witii perhaps' the youngest child, were sure to be found at meeting on tiie Sabbath. And in this way too, the lads and lasses, defying, -with their sure footed beast, the roughest roads and darkest nights, attended the quilting and the . dance ! In the amusements of former days, there was notiiing of efteminacj . Perhaps our amusements are more intellectual, if by this be meant an indulgence in all the frivolous literary dissipation of the present day. 51 The -wrestling match, among the young men, was universal, and the leader of the ring was esteemed of some consequence. The apple-pear- ing, the quilting, and the ball, afforded the j'oung of both sexes Uieir most frequent social amusements. Artificial distinctions in society, particularly in the female branch of it, were hardly -risible fifty years ago. ' " -When Adam delved and Eve span, -Where -was then the gentleman?^' I wpuld not insinuate that the females of this age are less industrious than theu- mothers of a former one ; but it is very certain that their in- dusti-y is less healthful and productive. The neatiy sanded floor has given place to the carpet ; and the wheel, the distaff, and the loom, are viewed now, rather as antique cm-iosities, than as things of use. But, afl}er all, tMs is rather a misfortune than a fault — a misfortune produced by what is called, falsely I think, the improving progress of society. Our ancestors, here and elsewhere, had no respect for Indian charac ter, and seemed to desire, with the extinction of the race, to extinguish all memorials of its existence. In nearly all instances, Indian names of prominent objects were discarded, and others adopted, frequently vulgar and without meaning. Indian names were always significant ; but in ¦ almost every instance their meaning is lost to us. Housatonuc, is said to sigmfy. Over the Mountains, or the River of the Hills. The Furnace Pond, as you know, was called, by the aborigines, Wonunscopomuc ; and tMs name is retained, with various spellings, in many of the early conveyances. The two ponds at the north part of the town, described in the old records as lying " very nearly close together," were called Washinee and Washining. The Long Pond at the southwest part of the town, the Indians called Wononpakopk; and the sti-eam flpwing thrpugh our center village, they called Wachocastinpok. The stream flowing from the pond at Chapinsville, was called Suceunops. ' The eastern range of hills, parallel with the Housatonuc-, the Indians called W^Ptowanchu. The steep meuntain bluff, which extends itself al most into our midst, has always retained its Dutch name of Baracli- Matiff'; meaning, as I suppose, a steep and high hill. The range of high lands in the north-east part of the town, extending westerly fi-om the Housatonuc river, is known to us as Tom's Hill. But before any white pepple had settled here, and as early as 1717, that hill, frpm gppd autiiprity, received the name pf Mount Eschol, which it pught now tp retain. The Commissieners pf the Celomes of Massachusetts and Connecticut, run a line between them, in September, 1717 ; and, 53 softer crossing over to the west bank of the Housatonuc, they say, " On tJie west bank we set up a stake and heap of stones, and proceeded two miles, which ends en a mpuntain we called Meunt Eschcl, frpm the mighty clusters of grapes there grpwing." Frpm that elevatien, the Cpmnussipners cpuld pverlopk the intervemng valley, and they discover ed the long waterfall, as it descends from the top of Tocccnuc, nearly alcng the State line, to the low grounds, and which the Commissioners say, " may be seen for many miles distance, and which runs through a stony gutter, two hundred feet deep ! .'" The hill on the southwesterly quarter of the town is called Indian Mountain, from a very considerable village of Indians, wMch was once siijuated at its western margin. TMs is an appropriate occasion to refer to the names and character of some of the most useful and efficient of the early settlers of the town— the men by whose efforts our social foundations were laid. Curiosity prompts us to know what they were, and where they lived. In addition to tiiose to whom allusion has been made, I speak of some others. Thomas Newcomb resided here before the sale of the tovra, and was. a large landholder and a prominent inhabitant. He presided in our flrst town meeting, and was the flrst Selectman chosen in the tovm. His place of residence was on the road leading from Lime Rock to To'wn Hill, and at or near the old Bradley tavern. Cyrenus Newcomb, the first Town Clerk, I believe was the son of Thomas Newcomb. He resided on the farm lately owned by the late Samuel Lee, Esq. Both of these gentlemen, about the year 1747, re moved from the town, to a place then knovsm as Crom Elbow precinct, in the present town of Amenia, in the State of New York. The Chipman fainily was numerous and highly respectable. Thomas Chipman, the ancestor, and who was the first officiating Justice of the Peace in the town, emigrated from Barnstable, Massachusetts, to Groton, in tM* State ; and from Groton he came here, in 1741. He settled near Lamb's iron works, and was a proprietor in the saw mill and grist mill there. He erected the house now standing, which for many years was the residence of the Johnston family. He was a member of the first Church organized here. He was appointed an associate Judge of tMs county, but died in the summer of 1762, at the age of sixty-five, before he entered upon the duties pf the office. His sons were Thomas, John, Samuel, Ames, and Jonathan. Thpmas, the eldest son, was pne of the first elected members of Assembly. He died a batchelor, here, at an advanced age. John also died in this town. The otiier sons removed to Vermont, bgfore the Revolution ; and I am not informed whether a single descendant of tMs family remains with us. The longevity of this family is remarkable. Jonathan and Samuel died at tiie age of nine- 63 one years. John, the eldest son of John Chipman, was a Captain in the army of the Revolution, and died at the age of eighty-six. Four sons of Samuel Chipman died, successively, at the ages of seventy-five, seventy-six, seventy-^even, and seventy-eight. Hen. Nathaniel Chip- man, the eldest spu of Samuel, now sur-vives, at the age of eighty-nine ; and Daniel, the youngest son of Samuel, is living at the age of seventy- six. Capt. Samuel Beebe was the first Treasurer of the town. He emi grated fi-dm Litclifleld. Was a large landholder in the eastern part of the town. The only descendant of this gentleman, now li-ving among us, is David Beebe. His homestead and place of residence was the farm now owned by John Adam, near the Little Falls of the Housatonuc. Benajah Williams was a Selectman in 1743 ; he removed from Goshen here in 1742, and settled near the Furnace Pond, and was one of the first eleven members of the Chm-ch. The Ticknor family, by a female branch, are descendants of tMs gentleman. John Smith -was one of the first elected Selectmen, and a gentleman of considerable estate and respectability. His place pf residence is net kno-wn by me. He removed from the town, and settled at Beekman's Patent, in the Prpviace pf New York, about the year 1746. Thomas Austin, the first constable pf the town, was a bloomer at Lamb's fron works, and resided in that neighborhood, and I^ believe, was an ancestor of the late Hon. Aaron Austin, of New Hartford. Nathaniel Skinner was a Selectman in 1743, and one of the first mem bers of the Church. He was the son of Nathaniel Skinner, Esq., of Sharon. He o-wned the farm on the side of the mountain, about one mile and a half northwest of the meeting house, and sinoe owned by Reuben Chapin. His daughter Rebecca, the widow of Moore Bird, was the -wife of Capt. Timothy Chittenden. Deacon John Hutchinson came here from Lebanon, in 1743,, and set tled on the feirm lately o-wned by the Brinsmaid family. He soon after wards removed to a farm at the westerly foot of Barack-Matiff Hill, where Ms son, Mr. Asa Hutchison, and his grandson, Myron Hutchinson, have ever since resided. He was, for several years, one of the Justices of the Peace in the town. He was the third Town Clerk, and was elected in 1747, and held the office thirty-one years, and was succeeded, in the office by his son, Asa Hutchinson, who held the same offlce thirty- eight years. Deacon Hutchinson was one of the first deacons of the Church here. Josiah Stoddard emigrated from Litchfield in 1743, and settled on a farm on the south side of the Furnace Pond, where Harvey D. Warner now lives. He was our second Town Clerk, and for several years a member of the General Assemby. He was the father of Major Luther 54 Stoddard, of the Revolutionary Army, and ancestor of Hon. Josiah J. Johnston, late Senator of the United States from Louisiana. The chil dren of Judge Burrall, of Canaan, are lineal descendants of this re spectable gentieman. Samuel Moore came originally fi-om Southold, on Long Island, to Litchfield, and from thence to this town, in 1743. He settled at the foot . of Barack-Matiff, near deacon Hutchinson, where his descendants now live. He was for many years Treasurer of the to-wn ; and this offlce, with few interruptions, has been, and now is in a family of his descend ants. The Landon family, in England, was located in Nottinghamshire, on the Welch border. That branch of it which settled here, came from - Southold, on Long Island, to Litchfield, and settled on the present Marsh farm in that town, at the foot of the hill, about one half mile north of the village. James and John Landon, brothers, came to this town in 1749. James settled in the south part of the town, near the small pond, called by us the Beezlake Pond, and by the Indians, Non-Cook. He was one of the flrst magistrates in the town, and, for many years, a member of the General Assembly. His descendan'ts were numerous, and among them still sm-viving, are our highly valued fi-iend, John R. Landon, Esq., of Litchfield, for many years Sherift' of this county; and our venerable fellow townsman, Ashbill Landon. John Landon settled on Sugar Hill, in the east part of the town. He married a grand- ' daughter of William White, the first settler. Mr. Rufus Landon is a descendant of this branch of the family. The family of Camps, was an early and respectable one. Deacon Hezekiah Camp, the ancestor, came from New Haven, now East Haven,. in 1746. He erected the dwelling house still occupied by his descendants — the Ball family. This is the oldest inhabited house ia the town. The soUs of deacon Canip were Hezekiah, Abial, Luke, John, and Samuel. The family name here is extinct ; but the descendants are numerous. The families of Ball, Lee, Chapin, Smith, are, in some of their branches, lineally descended fi-om deacon Camp. The Chapin family, for many years, was numerous in this town and highly respectable. The brothers, Charles and Reuben Chapin, emi grated, I believe, from Enfleld, in 1746. Reuben occupied tiie farm ad joining the Brinsmaid farm, before that time owned by Nathaniel Skin ner. Charles settled under the mountain, nortii of and adjoining the Lyman farm. The late Phuieas Chapin, Esq., and his family, were lili- eally descended from Charles Chapin. Of the Binghams it was once said, that they and their kindred consti tuted half of the population in the northern section of tiie town. Jabez, Silas, and Daniel Bingham came from Windham, in 1760. They,were 55 the sons of Jabez .Bingham, formerly of Lebanon. They were at first located under the momitain, adjoining deacon Camp's. Daniel subse quently settied upon tiie AVasMnee :md Washining Lakes; or, as we say, between the ponds, where he died in the winter of 1803. The late Caleb Bingham, of Boston, was his son. The Ticknor family and a branch of tiie Moore family are his lineal descendants. John, Nathamel, and Sylv.mus Everts, fi-om Guilford, settled in the vicinity of the Fiu-nace Pond, in 1749. John was our first representa tive in tiie General Assembly. The children of John Russell are de scended fi-om tMs gentieman. The descendants oi Nathaniel yet re main, and in the occupancy of the farm of tiieir ancestor. Sylvanus married a sister of Gov. Thomas CMttenden, and removed to Vermont before the Revolution. Thomas Chittenden, the first Governor of Vermont, and Capt. Timo thy Chittenden, sons of Ebenezer Chittenden, of Guilford, settled here in 1760. Timothy was the ancestor of the CMttendens, now remaining with us. Noah Strong was the ancestor of om- Strong family, once numerous here, but now nearly gone from us. He removed fi-om Coventry, in 1747, and settled on Town Hill. . * Joseph Bfrd, the ancestor of the families of that name here, removed from Litchfield, in 1748. His descendants occupy the farm where he first located himself, on the western confines of the town. Lot Norton, 1st, was a native of Farmington, the son of Thomas Norton, one of the original proprietors of the town. He settled here early, and upon the farm where Ms son, my venerable and long re spected firiend, the moderator bf tins meeting, and his grandson. Lot Norton, 3d, now reside. TMs gentleman was long a respectable magis trate, and one of the most prominent of our early inhabitants. I intend, if fliture leisure shall permit, to collect materials for a more minute and circumstantial notice of all the most active inhabitants of the town, fi-om the beginning until this time. It is expected- of a history of new settlements, that it be a story pf privations, and dangers, and suffering. The early adventurers here, es pecially those of English descent, experienced but little of such adversi ties. Wliat we suppose now to be the necessaries of life, they would have relished as its luxuries. Our position, between the old settlements on the Hudson and Connecticut rivers, secured us from Indian incur sions. The indispensable accommodations of the grist mill and the saw mUl, where here, almost in advance of the settlements. Our fathers were brought into a good land, "a land of brooks of water, of foun tains and depths, that spring out of valleys and hills ; a land whose stones were iron." 56 The first list of taxablp estate was made in 1742, wMch shows, as well as any tMng, the relative wealth of the flrst inhabitants. The list of Thomas Newcomb amounted to one hundred and thirty-seven pounds ; Henry Vandusen's to one hundred and seventeen pounds ; Caleb Smitii's to one hundred and tiiirty-six pounds ; John Smith's to one hundred and twelve pounds, and Samuel Bellows' to mnety-seven pounds. These were the rich men of that day ! An extract from some of the early records bf birth may amuse those unacquainted with the Christian names of the ladies of Dutch descent. Ar,eonchee Vandusen, daughter of Hendrick Vandusen and Nelche his wife, was born April 3, 1740. Yookamenohe Vandusen, daughter of the same parents, was born March 26, 1736. Yacimitia, daughter of Henry Dutcher and Eleanor his wife, born Sep tember 15, 1736. Janaca, daughter of the same pairents, born August 3, 1746. But, my fellow townsmen, time hastens to take us up, upon its circuit of another century ; and when, upon the course of her flight; she, shall, at the close of the next hundred years, sit down the men of that day, here upon this spot of earth, what -will they see? Yonder heights of old Tocconuc will stand as now, and overlook tiiese valleys ; but whether in a-11 the_freshness of their forest garniture, or bleak, despoiled, and leaf less, none can tell. Whether the smoke ofthe colliery, and the sound of the hammer, shall, as now, denote the existence of a cheerful and thrifty population there ; or whether those Mils -will be forsaken, as desolate barrens, we cannot tell. Our_beautiful lakes and streams will then remain, to give variety and beauty to the landscape. But whether they will be then, as they now are, surrounded and bordered by richly cultivated flelds, displaying the neat and commodious dwellings of freemen ; or whether ihey -will re main only to furnish a pittance of food to an enslaved and cringing pop ulation on their shores, none can tell. The more stately flow of the Housatomc — the River of the Mountains — Will then, as now, be seen, and the sound of its majestic water-fall be heard ; but whether its waters will be permitted to run wastefuUy away, or the populous and busy village shall spring up and flom-ish there, years must determine. To the youth and the young men of Salisbury, I put a more important inquiry. At the clpse of another centui-y, what will be the condition of our religious, literary, and ci-vil "institutions, which your fathers . hav« reared and cherished? I put to you this question, because into your hands they are soon to be committed. 57 Shall these temples of religious worsMp, consecrated to the service of the living God, be permitted to moulder into ruins, -with no pious hands to buUd them again? Shall the religion of the Bible, pure and unadul terated by tMs world's philosophy, be taught in them, then ; or shall the advancing spirit of Pantiieism and infidelity take its place? Shall secta rian and denominational jealousies palsy the energies, and chill the affections of good men, so that the advances of the common enemy can not be stayed? I charge you, here, in the presence of your assembled fathers, be faithful to the trust about to he committed to you ! To contribute of your pecumary means is but a part of your duty in perpetiiating your religious pri-vileges. Attend steadily and -without ex cuse the public ser-yices of the sanctuary. I would with hesitancy give credit to a young man on Ms oath, in"a court of justice, whom I should find habitually absenting himseK from the public worship of God. That the men of another century -will -witness here, what our imagina tions cannot now anticipate, is certain. Ever since the discovery of printing, and the dawn of the reformation, the march of 'intellect has been progressive. WTiat shall impede it hereafter? Does not the shin ing of one Ught illumine the way to the discovery of others? The laws of mind as well as of matter -will be more clearly developed and better understood. Every thing unusual will not, as heretofore, be considered as supernatural and mfraculous. The malevolence and strife elicited by the discordant opimons and prejudices of tMs day, will be considered then, as the infirmities peculiar to a by-gone age.^. At least this must be true, if the hopes of many a believer m the near approach of a day of millennial'jieace, shall ever be realized. My ypung fiiends, the days in wMch we live are pprtentpus pf evil to the eiyH and social institutions wMch our fathers have established, and of which you, with ethers, are sppn tp have the guardiansMp. Will they withstand the shock of conflicting parties? Can they resist the inrpads of dempralizing principles and actions, wMch party strife haS brought in upon us? A shorter period than another century -will reply! But I am admonished to forbear. My much respected fellow towns men, another occasion like this will come neither to us nor our children! The reflection need not be one of gloom or regret. A succession of men, like the succession of time, -will come and pass along, until the purposes of God, in creation, shall be accomplished! When the next Centennial commemoration of the event we now cele brate, shall be observed, the proceedings of this day -will be repeated, and the examples wMch we and our children shall flirmsh, -will then be appealed to, in praise or in censure. Our descendants, from the cluster ing cities of the IVCssissipja, and may be, from the Otegon of the Pacific Ocean, -will some of them, here -visit the places of their fathers' sepul- 8 58 ture, and search among the fallen monuments and defaced inscriptions, , to learn who we were, and what we have been! Our responsibilities are immense ! And now, while we take our leave of the flrst century of our corporate existence, and to-morrow shall have commenced another ; ought -v*-e not, as we have re-vdewed the histoi-y of our social state, also review the temper and disposition of our hearts? Is there no bitterness, no jealousy, nor evil speaking, which should this day be put out from among us? Can our social condition be worth preserving, unless this be done? Must we and our children be spoiled by faction, and agitated by di-vision? Will you leave to your descendants a legacy of strife? Would to God, this could be made a day of jubilee, on which all former accounts "of envy, hatred, malice, and all uncharitableness," could be canceled for ever! But I -will not indulge in these reflections— others, of a different char acter, impress me. I see here, many of our old associates, the former inhabitants of our town, and I bid them welcome to their native home again! ¦ My friends, you have not, in your absence, been forgotten by us. More frequently than you suppose, your names have here been repeated ; and we have, by our flre-sides and in our social circles, spoken of you, again and again, -with honest pride, as Salisbury men. Upon some of you, fortune has bestowed favors -vvith liberal hand ; and bitterness of spirit, under disappointed hopes, may have been the portion of others. But here, on this cheerfiil occasion, while witMn the embraces of your common parent — your native town, which knows no distinction in her affection for her children — we invite you to be happy with us, your breth ren. No small purpose of our present meeting has been, that we might take you by the hand, -with a heart-felt God bless tou. You look about this assembly for the once familiar faces of other friends. You see them not. We , point you to their marble monuments ! Soon — to-morrow — with "lingering look behind," again, and perhaps for ever, you leave us, for the homes of your later choice. You leave these consecrated walls, where, perhaps, your earliest devotions were paid, and your vows reg- istered,fto worship in other temples. And we acknowledge to you, that ' the duty of us, who remain, will ever be, so to live and act, that the name of your parent town shall never make you ashamed. Others, very many, there are, of our emigrant fiiends, whom we had hoped to meet, but'do not see among us this day : — they are with us in heart and spirit : — in their fancies and affections they are looking over these Mite into the midst of om- assembly. In the. same affectionate spirit we receive them! In our approaching festive and convivial inter- -vdew, we will speak of them— we -will inquire after them with anxious 59 solicitude — we will recall them again to our recollection, and the scenes of former life in which we have participated. And before we separate here, we -will imite -with our reverend and venerable friend,'* who will close the public exercises of this house, in commending them, and all thefr interests, to the care of our heavenly Father, whose merciful Prov idence encfrcles us all. *Ilev. Chauncey Lee, D. D. i§41---i§T6- NOTICE. There wiU be a Town meeting of the legal voters of the Town of Salisbury, Litchfield Coun ty, State of Connecticut, on Monday, 18th day of March, 1876, at 2 o'clock, p. M., at the Town Boom, for the following purpose, to wit: To see what the Town will do in regard to celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, on the 4th of July, next, and to do any other business proper to be done at said meeting. JOHN B. WAED, 1 JOHN P. MoNElL, V- Selkotmen. JAMES H. BABNUM, ) Dated at Salisbury, this 1st day of March, 1876. In pursuance to Warning, the legal voters met at the Town Hall, on Monday, the 13th day of March, 1876. John A. McArthur was chosen Moderator. Ist. — Resolved, That the Town of Salisbury in Town meeting assembled, does hereby vote and agree to bold a Centennial celebration, on the fourth day of July, 1876. 2d.— Resolved, That our venerable townsman, William H. Walton, Bsq., be and is hereby^ tilected as President of the day, assisted by John B. Ward, J. F. McNeil, and James H. Bar- num, as Vice-Presidents, and a. S. Gibbs, P. S. Burrall, F. W. Holmes, and Thos. L. Norton, as Secretaries. 3d. — Resolved, That the Hon. A. H. Holley be and is hereby elected Centeimial Historian. 4th. — Resolved, That Donald J. Wamer, Esq., be and is hereby elected Orator of the day. 6th.— fietoZvei, That Hubert Williams, Es^., be and is hereby elected Header of the day. 6th. — Resolved, That a Centennial Commission consisting of the following named gentlemen be and is hereby elected, to -wit: Hon. William H. Bamum, Samuel S. Bobbins, Horace Lan don, Lot Norton, Albert Moore, James Ensign, Peter P. Evarts, Frederick Miles, Moses L. Graham, Wm. A. Crowell, Wm, H. Walton, Jr., Pliny L. Barton, Heuiy Woodworth, Lorenzo Tupper, Daniel Cook, Newton L. Dexter, Nelson Landon, Martin Harris, George B. Bnirall, 7th. — Resolved, That an Executive Committee consisting of the following named gentlemen be and is hereby elected, to wit: Milton H. Bobbins, James W. Parks, Harlow P. Harris, Danie^ Pratt, Bobert Little, Chauncey B. Morris, Bobert H, Ball, Sidney P. Ensign, Charles Evarts, Milo B. Bichardson, Joseph L. Pease, Wm. B. Budd, John G. Landon, Charles H. Bissell, Geo. K. Peck, Edward Ward, Henry Hubbard, Donald T. Warner. Sih.— Resolved, That the Executive Committee bp directed to coUect the proper amount of funds to defray the expenses of the day by subscription. 90i.— Resolved, Tha^ the Selectmen be directed, with the assistance of such persons aa may choose to assist them, to set out an Elm Tree, on the Town Green, between the Congregational Church and the Academy, to be called " The Centennial Tree." The foregoing Besolutions were adopted unauimously. Voted, That this meeting adjourn to July 4, 1376, at S o'clock, &. m. Attest:— DANIEL PRATT, Town Clerk, RECORD OF CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, IN SALISBURY, CONNECTICUT, JULY 4, A. D. 1876. Pursuant to vote passed March 18, 1876, the electors of the Town of Salisbury met at the Town HaU, July 4, 1876, at 8 o'clock, a. m., and from thence proceeded to the School House Grove, where the exercises of the day were to be held ; and in consequence of the inability of WiUiam H. Walton, Esq., to be present and to preside at said meeting, John R. Ward, Esq., was thereupon chosen President of the day. The foUowing order of exercises was then carried out according tO' the previously arranged plan of the Executive Committee, to wit: 1.— Prayer, by the Bev. Dr. Beid. 2. — Singing, " My Country, 'tis of Thee." 3. — ^Beading of the Declaration of Independence, by Hubert WiUiams, Esq. 4. — ^MuMc, by the Band. 5.— Historical Address, by Ex-Gov. A. H. HoUey. 6.— Singing, Centennial Hj-mn. 7.— At 12 o'dock, a Salute of 12 Guns was fired. 8. — Intermission of one hour for Dinner. 9. — ^MuBic, hy the Band. 10.— Original Poem, by H. M. Knight, M. D. 11. — Singing, " KeUer's American Hymn." 12. — Oration, by Donald J. Warner, Esq. 18. — ^Reading of Communications. 14. — Singing, "Star Spangled Banner." 15. — Benediction, by Rev. Wm. A. Johnson. The foUowing resolutions were then unanimously passed: Resolved, That the thanks of the inhabitants of the Town of SaUsbury be and are hereby extended to Ex-Gov. HoUey, D. J. Wamer, Esq., H. M. Knight, M. D., Hubert WiUiams, Esq., and the lady who composed the Centennial Hymn, for the able manner in which they performed the respective duties assigned them. Resolved, That 500 copies of Judge Church's address, delivered at the Centennial Celebra tion in this town, in 1841, together -with the Historical Address by Ex-Gov. HoUey, the Oration by D. J. Wamer, Esq., the Poem by H. M. Knight, M. D., the Centennial Hymn, and the re marks made by George W. HoUey, Esq., and so many of the Communications received from natives of the town as shaU be deemed advisable, shaU be published in pamphlet form; and that Milton H. Bobbins and Donald T. Warner, Esqs., be and are hereby appointed a commit tee to carry this resolution into effect. Voted, That this meeting be dissolved. Attest:— DANIEL PEATT, Town Clerk, A ^lute of 38 guns was fired at sunset, and there was a grand display of fireworks in the evening. . ! K sins '¦' '-iartj'lo • ".Jj.iori'jqs ;':,i'| -A .aiim edi )>¦ •. ?'.)! Ul ¦'jiiuTijiJiii.Kiii lu i-')qiui| -lorir.!!'; j^ oj >^,i/ iw;-*! vyi. r 01 Vj-i rfar ¦.-t.'u.'-ji'i'u, >:tf: vihr;,'-j" ,tiistorieal Address. ''"""" J^A-d 'l il-^-*Ti) 'i-iro-xqij.: '.¦iiii-r vd v';o)firl '.I 3:' I ni - r 'r/9 -jsif Mr. Moderatok anb Fbllow-cixizens :— . , j , fi We have gathered here to-day with patriotic" hearts^ I doubt not, warmed with a deepening devotion- to the, interest and honors of Our; beloved country. n-Wfr meet under the inflaeiiQe of the better ipip^alseSiOf-onB natures, with broader charities-toward each other, and; toward our fellow^men, every where, and with a fhlj. purpose to frai- temize cordially, iti,f3eJpby^ting_a)iQth.§r aiiiiiver^afy of the Nation'^ .birtii.,: o.'lv/ 3h(.>tli ui .Jub olorl?/ suo 'li^^v^u-A-iS., With deep thankfulness for the innumerable blessings which have been so abujidantly bestowed; upon ug; ap a peofd^, ,we WQttld acknowledge with unfeighed ;g,^atitiiid^ j> our di)lig*tioi^7tQ.the.Criy^r of allgodd.', o<.u;ii5i|T)q i';i.p. ^i We have inet on similar occasions in ryeats pasti, to.eelr ebrate. the day whiph gave us libeirty as/ well as birth and Ha,tiomal life.: { We metthen as w© meet now, to revive our recollections of tb0 noble; men and Ihe glorious deeds through which our independenee was, aichietied^— to rein^^ ¦\dg,orate, our own hearts with a truer; appreciatiorii ofthe p^lg which were encountered, and- overcome tO: accom plish • our emancipation from one of the mightiest nations 2 of the earth. A just appreciation of these events should now lead us to a firmer purpose of maintaining in its in tegrity this glorious inheritance bequeathed to us by an honored ancestry. Fellow-citizens, it is good for us to be here. It is wise for communities as well as nations, to commemorate pecu liar events in their history by some appropriate demon stration that shall fix in the minds of men the eras which mark their progress through the centuries, and which shall serve as land-marks from which to date subsequent history. Such events are the birth-days of Nations — the founding of States — the incorporation of towns — the or ganization of churches and schools — the establishment of hospitals and kindred institutions. A due consideration of such acts wiU enable us to determine whether we are discharging our whole duty to those who are to come af ter us. It is eminently appropriate, therefore, that we should, on this more than ordinarily interesting occasion, renew and perpetuate the history of our own town — revive our recollections of those heretofore amongst us, native born, or long resident, who have occupied prominent positions in our own, or other communities — to refer briefly to the progress of our fellow-citizens in the arts and improve ments of civilized life — to recur to some of the reasons which have given us an honorable position among sur rounding communities, and to leave such data as will en able the future historian to make up the record of the 3 century through which we are passing, and at the close of which so few of us will be able to present personal reminiscences. More than a third of a century, and an entire genera tion of our race have passed from the earth since those of us who are stiH living, together with multitudes of others who have gone down to honored graves, assembled under the ancient roof of yonder Congregational Church to celebrate the first centennial anniversary of our exis tence as an incorporated community. Your venerated predecessor, Mr. Moderator — the two honorable gentlemen who addressed us on that occasion — the reverend- father and his younger legal friend, who, together, composed the hymns that were sung on that day, and four of the com mittee who made the arrangements for the celebration, all now sleep in the dust. To those of us who remember the high social enjoy ments of our own citizens, and the kindly meetings and greetings of fiiends and kindred whom we welcomed from far-off homes to their native town on that hallowed day, pleasant memories come to warm our hearts anew. Yet, they are shadowed by the consciousness that most of those friends have passed from our midst, and from all the cares and enjoyments of earth to the purer enjoyments, as we hope, of a higher life. We may turn, however, from thoughts saddened by. their departure to brighter scenes and incidents, that should cheer and encourage us as we move along in our progress through our second century. '4 '"'^Th^-'historical gerffloii- which'" was delivered by the Rev. Jbs'eph W; Crossman on' 'lihe fiftieth, and the'ohe subse quently delivered by Judge Church on the bne hundredth 'aMversaty ofthe organi^ratidh of the town, leave but a "coinpafaitiV^ly brief history to be 'added sihbe 1841. '' Referring first, theh, to individual^ j as indicated abote, i'fiiay, I 'thinks appropriately' speak Tnote at length of those to 4vhota allusion has already been made, as our record comin ences with that notable day. The venerable ' and much respected tliairman of that nieeting,- Lot Norton,' Esq. , was a native-born citizen, who, after a Useful and honorable life, in which he served the to wil in various piiblic Capacities, as its refeords will show, "died' ih' 184?, on thd'eState long occupied by his ' ancestor; The hlstorikTEi of the day, Hon. Samuel Church, also native born, continued to feside amongst lis a 'loViJd " aiid' hohoted citizen, untilin the course" of the'practide of his profession, he was eie'cfed'a Judge of the Sup'rdiiie Court, when his duties called him to the coiinty seat in 1847j where h6 Inade his rfesidbnce for the rethaihder of his life." Judge Church was 'fbr "eleven yeai^ Judg;€f of Probaie' fOr this disti-ict,—froih ' 1-821 to 1832, — and State's' Attorney for Litchtfeid'Cbanty, froii^ 1823 to ISS"! In 1847 1ie 'was elected Chief Jiistice' of the'Sta'te, 'wh¥6h office he 'SUed accept'aMy ' lintil 'his ' dece'ase ih 1854. Judge Churc'li also'cleiivfe^ed a' cbiinty centennial 'addrfess in 1861. Having recently ' looked ovfer' both of theW ad dresses, 1 commend them most earnestly to the men now conducting our public affairs, not only on account of their historical reminiscences, but for the suggestions they con tain of the best methods of perpetuating an honorable history, and also- of' maintaining our good name and standing in the State. The gentleman who supplemented . .. with a short address that of Judge Church, in relation to his native town, and on behalf of th'e emigrant friends who were then our guests, Hon. John M. Holley, died in Florida in 1848, while a member of Congress from a wes tern district in New York. He hiad also represented the district of his residence in the State Legislature. The Rev. Jonathan Lee (already referred to) composed two of the hymns that Were sung on that anniversary, as did Churchill' Coffing, Esq., two others, which were also sung on the same occasion. Mr.- Lee died in Salisbury in Sep tember, 1886, and Mr. CoflEng in Chicagb in 1873. Both of these gentlemen were writers ' of considerable ability, and both were native-born, educated and Oulti-vated gen tlemen. ' ! ' Of the committee of arrangements for that day, ^ik in number, 'Eliphalet Whittlesey, Esq., diedih 1859, John C; Coffing in 1847, Jared S. Harrison in 1864, and Sam uel C. Scovill6 i'nl865. These foui' gentlemen all died in their respective homes, Mr. Whittlesey and Mr. Coffing in this villagte, Mr. Scoville oh his farm in' the northeast part of the town, and Col. Harrison at his pleasant home in Lakeville, on the old homestead of the Chittehden's. AU of them had served th6 town acceptably in various 6 public capacities, having honorable records, as vsoll subse quently appear ; their descendants still dwell amongst us. Of the two living members, it does not become me to speak, only to state, the historical fact, that both of them became Lieut. -Governors of the State, and one of them Governor also. Mr. Coffing bequeathed to the town by his wiU a fund designed to promote the comfort and the welfare of all such as may become inmates of the Town Asylum, as well as in aid of our religious societies, and some minor objects. It may be proper to mention in this connection, that Messrs. Moore and Timothy Chittenden, each left funds in aid of the Congregational Society, wor shiping in this village. It gives me pleasure also, to state that our esteemed young friend, Henry Clark, who died in 1872, left funds in aid of the Episcopal Society, worshiping here. Mr. Clark's bequest to that society, making such a provision for the support of religion, while engaged in the active duties of middle life, does honor, both to his judgment and his memory; Of the gentlemen of the legal profession, who have de ceased since 1841, or who have gone out from amongst us into other communities, I may mention the Hon. Thos. G. Waterman, son of David Waterman, who lived in town, and was once associated with Ethan Allin in the ownership of the furnace at Lakeville, many years ago. Thos. G. taught school in Lakeville, studied law with the late Gen. Elisha Sterling, and left town more than half a century since. He delivered, it is said, the first fourth of July 7 oration ever delivered in this town. He became a promi nent member of the bar in Binghamton, N. Y., and was twice elected to the Senate of that State. He died in Binghamton i» 1861. Hon. Peter B. Porter, alluded to in Judge Church's address, was bom in Lakeville, and died at his home at Niagara Falls in 1844. He was in Congress in 1810, and also Secretary of War under President J. Q. Adams. Campbell Bushnell studied law in Hudson, N. Y., prac ticed there several years, and then removed to New York City, where he continued to practice until his death, which occurred in 1839. Orsamus Bushnell practiced in New York City during the whole of his professional life, and died there in 1868. Both of these gentlemen were born in town, near the New York State line, and were prominent Jawyers. I cannot refrain from giving an extract from a letter recently received from Pope Bushnell, Esq., the oldest of the many brothers of this Bushnell family, in which he says : "I am now in my 88th year, and think I am de voutly grateful for a comfortable measure of health. Bruised and battered in a conflict of more than four and a quarter score of years, I am in almost childlike feeble ness, leaning on my staff, patiently waiting for thpse bet ter days to come." Hon. Theron R. Strong, son of Hon. Martin Strong, was born in town, 1802, practiced law in Palmyra and Rochester, N. Y., was elected to Congress for one session 8, in 1839, and also tq th^ Supreme. Court of that State for seven years from January 1st, 1851, and was one year in the Court of Appeals. He died in New York City in 1873, leaving an honorable record. « Hon. Grahanji: H. Qhapin was J)Q™ in Chapinville in 1800, studied law in Canandaigua with John C. Spencer, removed to and practiced law in Lyons, Wayne County, N. Y., was elected to Congrqss from that district in 1836, and served one term,, and died at Mount Morris in 1843. Mr. Chapin was for some years Surrogate of Wayne Co. He, with other respected members of that family, were born on the estate now owned by Horace Landon, Esq. Orville L. Holley, Esq. , lawyer, editor and author, was born in Lakeville in 1791, and died in Albany in 1861. He was for several years Surveyor General of the State of New York. Hon. Norton J. Buel and his brother Theodore, were both born in the Harrison district, both practiced law in Waterbury, and both died there, the former in March, 1864, and the latter in 1872. Norton J.'s professional career was one of considerable eminence. His practise was chiefly in New Haven County. He represented Wa terbury, the place of his residence, in the General As sembly in 1856, and was during one session a member of the State Senate, also a Judge of Probate for five years. Hon. John M. Holley was born in Lakeville in 1802. He died in Florida while a member of Congress from the 27th Congressional district of New York. He has al ready been alluded to. 9 Hon. George Bartlett, son of the late Loring Bartlett, was born near the Twin Lakes, practiced law in Bing hamton, N. Y,, and died there. Mr. B. represented his district in the New York Legislature. Hon. John H. Hubbard was born on Town Hill, prac ticed law in Lakeville for several years, was a member of the State Senate from this 17th district in 1847 and 1850, removed to Litchfield in 1855, where he died in July, 1872. Mr. Hubbard was elected to Congress in 1863 and 1865. He was also States' Attorney from 1849 to 1854. His record testifies to his ability and standing among his fellow men. ChurchiU Coffing, Esq., son of the late John C. Coffing, was bom in the Center district, practiced law in Peru, IU., and died in Chicago in 1873. Luther T. BaU, son of the late Robert Ball, was born in the ChapinviUe district, studied law with D. J War ner, Esq., and subsequently at Ballston, N. Y., and was admitted to the bar in this State in 1854. Mr. Ball re moved quite early from town, and finally located in Keiths- burg, 111., where he took a high stand both as a lawyer and. a citizen. At the commencement of hosliUties on the part of the south, Mr. Ball and his partner raised a com pany of volunteers, of which he was chosen 1st lieutenant. This company was attached to the 84th Illinois regiment. He feU in the defence of his country at the battle of Mur- freesboro', in December, 1862, and in obedience to a pre vious arrangement, was buried on the field hallowed by his blood. 2 10 John H. RusseU, Esq., was born in Canaan, practiced law in this town, and died on his farm in LakeviUe in 1871. Mr. Russell represented the town in the legisla ture, as will appear from the record, in 1853 and 1854. Charles Whittlesey, Esq., was born in the Whittlesey district, graduated at WiUiams CoUege in 1840, practiced law in Middletown and Hartford, and from the latter city went into the war in 1862 as Captain of Co. I, 22d reg iment of infantry, and was honorably discharged in 1863. He died in Alexandria, Va., in 1874, while in the prac tice of his profession there. John G. Mitchell and Philander Wheeler, Esqs., both practiced law in Lakeville, but neither of them were born in town. The former died in Chicago in 1863, and the latter in town in 1852. All the above professional gentlemen to whom I have alluded are in their graves. John M. Sterling was born at LakevUle in 1800, grad uated at Yale College in 1821, practiced law in Lake ville several years, and then removed to Cleveland, Ohio. I believe Mr. Sterling gave less attention to the law than to land speculations in Ohio, where he acquired a consid erable fortune, and is stiU living. The attorneys at present practicing in town, are : — Donald J. Warner, Esq., and his son Donald T., both lo cated at the Center, and Hubert WiUiams at LakeviUe. Donald J. represented this town in the Legislature in 1848 and 1866. 11 / William G. Sterling, son of W. C. Sterling, Esq., was born in LakeviUe, commenced the practice of his profes sion in New York city in 1841, is still in practice there and is, or has been, a Judge of one of the City Courts. Among the Uving lawyers, who had their birth or edu cation in town, and who are now practicing elsewhere, I recall readily the names of Hon. Roger Averill, who was bom in the Wetaug district, practiced law in this town some twelve years, during which period he held several important positions, and in 1843 represented the town in the Legislature. Mr. Averill removed to Danbury about 1850, held the office of Probate Judge for that district three years, was elected Lieutenant Governor four con secutive years from 1862 to 1866, and represented that town in the General Assembly in 1868. Lyman D, Brewster is a graduate of Yale College, is now practicing law in Danbury, has held the office of Judge of Probate there several years, was Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for that county four years, and in 1870 was representative in the General Assembly, Charles B. Dutcher, born in Wetaug district, prac ticed law in Spencertown, N, Y,, from whence he re moved to New York* city, and is now a resident of White Plains, N. Y. Jared F. Harrison, Esq., son of the late Jared S. Har rison of LakeviUe, was born in the Harrison district, stu died law with Hon. J. H. Hubbard at LakeviUe, and subsequently with Hon. T. R. Strong in Palmyra, where 12 he commenced practice, but is now a practitioner in New York city, Charies C.Barton, Esq., son of Hon. Pliny L. Barton, was born in Salisbury, graduated at trinity GoUege, and is now practicing in Bostgn, Mass, George W, Peet, Esq., born in the house now occupied by Hon. P. L, Barton, in 1825, commenced practice with Hon. Wm. M. BurraU of Canaan, and represented that town in the Legislature four sessions, was elected Presi dent of the Iron Bank in 1864, and now resides in North Canaan. Judson S. Landon was born in the Lime Rock District, in 1832, received his education chiefly in the state of, New York, was employed as a teacher of mathematics and natural sciences at Princetown, New York, for two years ; subsequently attended the law school at Yale col lege, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice at Schenectady in 1856. The same year he was elected District Attomey of that county, which office he held six years ; he also held the office of County Judge for that county two terms. In 1874 he was elected Justice of the Supreme Court of the fourth Judicial district of the State of New York, which office he ilow holds. Charles B, Landon — brother of Judson S. — was also educated in the State of New York, commenced the study of law with D. J. Warner, Esq., of this town, in 1859, was admitted to the bar in 1862 ; the same year entered the army as a Chaplain in ihe 28th Regiment, Connecti- 13 cut "Volunteers ; returning from the army late in 1863, he commenced the practice of law in Columbia County, N. Y. In 1867 he entered the ministry in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is stiU a member of the New York Conference, It will appear from our history thus far, that' the legal profession has been numerously, and often with eminent abiUty, represented both at home and abroad, and chiefly by native-born citizens. Of clergymen, whose history is more or less connected with our own, but who now sleep in their graves, having died since 1841,1 may repeat the name of Jonathan Lee, who has already been alluded to. Rev. Leonard E. Lathrop, who preached thirteen years in the Congregational Church in this village, removed to, and preached in, Aubum, N. Y., several years, returned in July, 1854, to Connecticut, was settled in Sharon, and died there in 1857- Doctor Lathrop was an able and el oquent divine. Revs. W. L. and Henry P. Strong, brothers, were born on Town HUl, and went abroad in early life to preach as a Congregational Clergyman. Wm. L. died in 1859, and Henry P. in 1875. Rev. Edward HoUister and Rev. Edwin Holmes, were sons of our soil, but I have been unable to trace their history Rev. Edwin Janes, born in Sheffield, Mass., was edu cated amongst us, became a valuable member and preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died in . 14 Of the living clergymen, born or educated here, I re caU the names of the venerable and Rev. Isaac Bird, born in the west part of the town in 1794, who was for some fourteen years a missionary, residing at different periods in Palestine, at Beirut, and Mount Lebanon, and subse quently became the principal of a flourishing school in Hartford. Mr. Bird is now a resident of Great Barring ton, Mass., at the advanced age of 83 years. Rev. Edmund Janes, a prominent and much valued preacher in the Methodist denomination, was born in Sheffield,, but came early to Salisbury and secured his ed ucation while a resident here. He was elected Bishop in . The duties of his office required or induced him to travel extensively both in this country and in Europe . His varied and extensive acquirements have rendered him an honored and much loved member of the clerical profes sion, irrespective of denominational distinctions. Revs. Eliphalet and Elisha Whittlesey, sons of the late Eliphalet Whittlesey, Esq., were both born in the Whit tlesey district. The former was a missionary for some ten years at the Sandwich Islands, from about 1844 to 1854. The latter is now a resident of North Canaan, and the Rector of the Episcopal Church in that place. Rev. Joseph Pettee graduated at Yale College in 1833, studied with Dr. Lathrop, preached for a short time as a Congregational Clergyman, and subsequently became a Swedenbergian Minister. Mr. Pettee is highly esteemed among his brethren, and is an excellent man. 15 Revs. Peter M. and Alexander Bartlett, both born in the Whittlesey district, and both at present residents of Tennessee. The former is President, and the latter Pro fessor, in Mary'sviUe GoUege in that State. Rev. Albert Bushnel, son of the late Albert Bushnel, was born in the Ore HiU district, and is now, I beUeve, preaching in a Congregational Church in SterUng, IU. Of the living clergymen who have been Rectors of the Episcopal Church at the Center, I am enabled to give the following names : Rev. Charles Devins was Rector in 1841. WiUiam Warland's rectorship commenced in 1842- George H. Nichols' in 1846. Ruel H. Tuttle's in 1855. Samuel Jarvis' in 1860. J. A. Wainwright's in 1865. William A. Johnson's in 1871. Mr, Johnson is much esteemed not only for his earnest ness in preaching, but for his faithfulness in the discharge of his pastoral duties. The Episcopalians in town have recently acquired a new and beautiful church edifice at Lime Rock, of which Rev. MilUdge Walker is Rector. The requirements of itineracy in the Methodist Epis copal denomination have rendered it difficult for me to ascertain who, among those that have been stationed in town, are now among the living. The more recent in cumbents have been, Oscar Haviland, Q.J. Collins, Na- 16 than HubbeU, Clark Wright, Wm. S. Bowton, Wm. Ste vens, The latter was transferred in AprU last, and John G. Oakley is his successor. The Congregational Society, worshipping in this viUage., has been subjected to no change in its pulpit incumbent since 1841. Its present able and beloved Pastor, Doctor Adam Reid, is now in the fortieth year of his pastorate, and is probably the oldest clergyman having but a single settlement in the State. In 1836 he was engaged to preach for a single year, at the close of which he was set tled as permanent Pastor. Frequent efforts have been made to obtain his services in 'other locaUties, notably at Boston, Hartford and Brooklyn. Dr. Reid delivered the centennial address of his church in 1844. Prominent among our medical practitioners who have deceased since 1841, was Luther Ticknor, who had an extensive practice in this town and vicinity. He was at one time President of the State Medical Society, before which he delivered the annual address in . He also represented the town in the General Assembly, as its rec ord shows. Henry Fish, born in New York City, married in Salis bury, came here to practice about 1820, remained about twenty-five years, removed to Lee, Mass., about 1845, and died there in 1850^ aged 62 years. He was a grad uate of Yale College, and was a surgeon in the war of 1812. Asahel Humphrey came into town from Norfolk, was both physician and druggist, and died here in April, 1852. 17 Ovid Plumb, born in Canaan, came into this town in 1830 from Dutchess County, N. Y., practiced extensively in the vicinity untU 1856, when he died at his home near the Twin Lakes. Chauncey Reed was born in Salisbury, practiced in Sharon, was a much respected citizen there, as well as an intelligent physician. He died in Sharon in 1866. Prof. Charles A. Lee was born in the Ticknor district, practiced some years in the city and vicinity of New York, but was more extensively known as a Medical Lec turer, having for several years lectured in five different states. Ferdinand F. Fish, son of the late Henry Fish, was born in New York city, but came to Salisbury when quite young, studied medicine but did not practice. He spent some years in New York and became quite an eminent chemist. He removed to Waterbury, in this State, was twice elected Mayor of that city, and died in Lee, Mass., in 1868. Benajah and Caleb Ticknor, brothers of Dr. Luther, were both eminent practitioners, the former as Surgeon in the U. S. Navy, and the latter as a Homoeopathist in New York. Caleb wrote several medical works. He died in New York in 1840. William J. Barry came into town from Hartford, loca ted in Lakeville in 1836, practiced there eleven years quite successfuUy, and then returned to Hartford, where he died in 1847, much lamented. 3 18 WiUiam Worden came from Richmond, Mass., located at the Center vUlage, practiced here about seven years, and died in 1853. Dr. Worden had secured a strong hold upon the people here, and was in full practice up to the time of his death. Benjamin Welch, a native of Norfolk, Ct., commenced practice in Lakeville in 1845, and remained here until his decease in 1874. He, too, was highly esteemed in his profession, and was much beloved, especially by the poor, whom he cheerfully attended. The preceding physicians are all dead. Adonijah Strong, son of the late Hon. Martin Strong, born in SaUsbury, studied with the late Dr. Luther Tick nor, and is now in practice at Honesdale, Pa. J. 0. Niles practiced in Salisbury about eight years, went into the army (for a few years) about 1861, re turned to Salisbury — from whence he went to Schenac- tady, N. Y., and from thence to Chatham, N. Y. Samuel P. Church, son of Judge Samuel Church, was born in Salisbury, commenced practice in Derby in 1847, removed to Newburgh, N. Y., in 1857, where he is still actively engaged in his profession. Elisha W. Cleveland went from Lakeville to New York city in 1826, practiced there thirty years, and returned to Lakeville in 1856, and still resides among us, at the age of seventy-eight. George Sterling, son of George W. Sterling of Sha ron, practiced in town a year or two about 1864. 19 Dr. J. H. Blodgett practiced in town from 1866 to 1873. The venerable Moderator, Wm. H. Walton, first chosen to preside over this meeting, was once, I believe, a med ical student. The medical gentlemen now practicing in town, are, William BisseU and John L. Orton located in Lakeville, and Bradford i. Thompson at Salisbury Center. Henry M. Knight oame into town from Stafford Springs, and commenced practice in 1851, with Dr. Benjamin Welch. While I deem it inappropriate to make extended remarks in relation to the living representatives of any profession, I must be permitted to depart somewhat from this rule in the case of Dr. Knight. His name is so inti mately connected with the estabUshment of a humane in stitution ih this town, in which so many of us feel a deep interest, that I cannot record its history without connect ing a portion of his own with it. While engaged in his profession, he conceived the idea of establishing a school for the improvement of imbecile children. In 1866, while representing this town in the General Assembly, that body was induced to appoint a Commission to ascer tain the number and condition of that unfortunate class in the State. That Commission, of which the Doctor was an efficient member, reported to the next succeeding Leg islature. The impression produced upon that body was such as to induce the beUef that a school of the kind would be sustained in part, at least, by State aid. 20 In 1868 the Doctor commenced a school for the purpose indicated above, in the house formerly occupied by the late Judge Church, with a single and not very promising pupil. Gradually the number of pupils increased, and there was such evident improvement in their condition that the Doctor determined to submit them to an exami nation before the General Assembly . In due time, with meagre aid from the State, and more froni. his friends, he was enabled in 1863 to erect a more suitable building for his school purposes, which, within three years past, has been enlarged, so that now, in the nineteenth year from the commencement, he is enabled to accommodate more than one hundred pupils, having nearly that number now in the institution. The State has never been very Uberal in support of this institution, although from time to time aid has been granted towards the construction of build ings, and in aid of indigent pupils. Legislative com mittees have annually visited the school for several years past, and have, I believe, uniformly recommended its support by the State. Both the town and the State are indebted to the indom itable perseverance of Dr. Knight, for the success of this institution, which does honor to his heart and is a credit to the town. The location of this institution is unsurpassed for salu brity and beauty, by any other in the State. Other medical gentlemen have represented us abroad, with whose history, however, I am not famiUar. 21 The political interests of the town have been represent ed in the State Senate at five different sessions since 1841, viz. : by Hon. John H. Hubbard in 1847 and 1851, by Charles E. Botsford in 1857, by Geo. Coffing in 1861, and by Pliny L- Barton in 1873. The foUowing gentlemen have been members of the House of Representatives since 1841 : 1842— William P. Russell. Wm. H. Waltou. 1843— Samuel C. Scoville. " Roger Averill. 1844 — No choice. 1845— Robert N. Fuller. 1846— Horace HoUister. " Albert Moore. 1847 — Amos L. Patterson. Wm. H. Walton. 1848— Donald J. Warner. " Horatio Ames. 1849— William Bushnell. " Leonard Richardson. 1850 — Horatio Ames. Schuyler Pratt. 1851 — Nathaniel Benedict. Wm. H. Barnum. 1852— Milton Hubbard. " Pliny L. Barton. 1853— James S. Ball. John H. Russell. 1854— John H. Russell. Wm. A. Crowel. 1855— Charles E. Botsford. Henry M. Knight. 1856— Peter P. Everts. " James Landon. 1857— Lot Norton. " Martin Harris. 1858— Charles E. Botsford. " James Ensign. 1859 — James Landon. - " James fl. Barnum. 1860- 1861 -George CoflSng. Horace Landon. -Wm. P.;;Burrall. Silas B.' Moore. 1862— Silas B. Moore. " Geo. Wood. 1863 — Leonard Richardson. " Peter Priss. 1864 — Lorenzo Tupper. Albert Sellick. 1865 — Frederick A. Walton. " George Landon. 1866— D. J. Warner. " John Ward well. 1867 — Norman Spurr. " Goodrich N. Gibbs. 1868 — Jonathan P. McNeil. " James Van Deuzen. 1869 — Phiny L. Barton. " Erastus D. Goodwin. 1870 — J. G. Landon. Sidney P. Ensign. 1871— Wm. H. Walton, Jr. ". Henry Woodworth. 1872— John R. Ward. " H. P. Harris. 1873— Daniel Pratt. " Geo. B. Clark. 1874 — Martin Harris. " Milo B. Richardson. 1875— John P. Walton. " C. R. Morris. 1876— Robert Ball. " 0. Benjamin. 22 Among gentlemen who have held honorable positions in our own and other communities, who have not already been alluded to in one or the other of the professions, and who had their birth in Salisbury, I may mention Prof. Albert E. Church, son of the late Hon. Samuel Church — who was educated at the U. S. Military Academy at West Point — where he was graduated in 1828. In 1838 he was appointed Professor of Mathematics, which position he still holds after nearly forty years of service — proof beyond question of the value of his services. Professor Church has published four mathematical works. He stiU claims to be a citizen of Salisbury — having from his ma jority been in the service of the government, he has gained no residence elsewhere. George W. Holley, educated in part at West Point, but unable to continue his duties there on account of his deaf ness, has been a member of the New York Legislature, is thc author of a work on Niagara, and has written exten sively for the public press. He is a resident of Niagara Falls, where he has resided for many years. Hon. W. H. Barnum, though not a professional gentle man, has not only represented the town in the General Assembly, but has also been a member of the House of Representatives in Congress for some nine years, and is at present a member of the United States Senate. The foUowing gentlemen, natives of this town, have represented other towns in this State in the General As sembly since 1841 : 23 1850-58-62— George W. Peet for Canaan. 1852 — Chauncey Reed for Sharon. 1857 and 1864— Fitch Landon lor Sharon. 1865~P. N. Hollev for Wolcottville. 1865— N. E. Wood" for North Canaan. 1866— N. M. Brown for North Canaan. 1869— E. J. Reed for Sharon. 1869— J. S. Wheeler for Colebrook. 1866 and 1868— Egbert Bartlett for Derby. 1870 — Lyman Brewster for Danbury. The list of town officers for a generation past, is of course too numerous to record here The magistrates who have been most frequently called upon as '¦frying Jus tices" so called, have been Robert N. FuUer and John H. Russell, both deceased, and Lorenzo Tupper, James En sign and Andrew J. Spurr. James Ensign has been County Surveyor for some years past, and is stiU in office. Since 1841, John G. Mitch ell, Robert N. Fuller, Albert Moore and Silas Moore, have each held the office of Judge of Probate, in the order named — the latter still holds the office. Daniel Pratt has held the office of Town Clerk since 1863, and still acts in that capacity. His predecessors since 1841 have been, Roger Averill for five years, Robert N. Fuller for one year, D. J. Wamer for eight years, Newton L. Dexter for four years, Henry J. Reed, who died soon after his ap pointment, and D. J. Warner was appointed to fill his place. Henry Hubbard fiUed the office four years. The manufacture of iron in various forms, has been one of the leading industries of the town from its earliest set tlement, and without going back to the period of our Rev olution, when cannon were cast here for the service of 24 both the army and navy of the United States ; and with out referring again to iron masters who have been partic ularly alluded to in our centennial history, I may and do refer with pride and pleasure to some of those who have given an impetus to our prosperity as a town in this de partment of industry since that period. Of those who, have passed from among us within the last generation, I recaU the names of John C . Coffing, Milo Barnum, Lee Canfield, Leonard Richardson, Nathaniel Church, New man Holley, Samuel C. Scoville, Robert Bostwick, Geo. Coffing, Horatio Ames. Among those who are still living but who have retired from this branch of business, the names of A. and S. Moore, Wm. C. Sterling and John H. Coffing, occur to me. Mr. Albert Moore and Mr. Sterling have passed respectively the ages of seventy-eight and eighty-two, while our respected townsman, Horace Landon, Esq., re mains in active business at the ripe age of nearly eighty years. Others of our townsmen actively engaged in this in dustry in town and elsewhere, are Hon. Wm. H. Barnum, Samuel S. Robbins, George Landon, George Church, J. and C. Scoville, and Frederick Miles. Among their pro ducts are car wheels. These of a superior quality are extensively manufactured by the Barnum & Richardson Co. , at Lime Rock. They are so extensively used in the country that there are but few of us who travel that do not find ourselves borne along over Mlmost any part of our railway system on Salisbury car wheels. ,25 Our iron masters of the present day, however, are chiefly makers of pig iron. The manufacture of wrought iron in its various branch es, once so important a business in town, has become, I believe, entirely extinct, or nearly so, within a compara tively few years, Anchors, chain cables, and musket iron, car and locomotive axles, heavy screws for cotton and other presses, and a great variety of merchant and machinery iron, were manufactured at Mt. Riga, at the Center, Lime Rock and Falls Village. Very large and superior wrought iron cannon were made at Ames' works at FaUs ViUage, during the late war, and were sold to the war department. The great anchors that were furnished for the two war frigates built in New York for the Greeks, in their struggle for independence in their war of 1821, were made at Mt. Riga. The musket iron and railroad axles of various kinds, so extensively manufactured a few years since, have been nearly superseded by the use of Bessimcr steel. The manufacture of this steel has been largely introduced into this country by a SaUsbury engi neer, who leamed the process in England, and who has buUt some of the most extensive steel works in this coun try.* He is now President of the "American Associa tion of Mining Engineers," and is stiU actively engaged in his profession. The principal improvements that have been made in our manufactures, within the period since 1841, have been.the ?Alexander L. Holley. 4 26 extension of the car wheel business, and the works of the Barnard Hardware Company, both located at Lime Rock. The erection of cutlery works by A. H. HoUey, in Lake viUe, in 1844, and now carried on by the Holley Manu facturing Company, and the manufacture of woolen and other fabrics by the Washinee Company, at the Centre. These estabUshments have aU accomplished their purpose in producing excellent work, but they have not aU been equaUy successful in a pecuniary point of view. Our agriculturists have not fallen behind the surround ing communities in their various occupations, and have contributed their efforts toward maintaining the reputa tion of the town as one of the best farming towns in the county, if not in the State. The committee appointed by the General Assembly in 1732 to examine " the colony lands west of the ' Ousa tonic' river," and lay out a township in the northern sec tion thereof, reported " six lakes estimated to contain two thousand acres, and a rough waste mountain in the north- east corner of said township estimated to contain four thousand acres, the remainder they thought would accom modate a sufficient number of inhabitants for a town. Our mining interests were greatly extended during the war of the rebellion, and were sources of wealth. But for the past few years they have experienced the depres sing influences of previous excessive production, although they are still wrought to a very considerable extent. The Salisbury Savings Society, located at LakevUle, is 27 another of our institutions, brought into existence since our centennial history was written, and has proved to be as beneficial as it is popular. It was organized in 1848, and Walter R. Whittlesey was elected its first treasurer. He was succeeded in 1865 by Thomas L. Norton, who still holds the office. A banking- firm has also been established at Lakeville, under the name of Robbins, Burrall & Co., which has proved to be a source of great convenience to our busi ness community. The Iron Bank, which was chartered in May, 1847, is virtuaUy a SaUsbury institution, although it is located on the Canaan side of the Housatonic river. The holders of a majority of the capital stock, and a majority of its Di rectors, as weU as its Presidents, up to the present time with one exception, were SaUsbury men at the time of their election. WiUiam H. Walton, Esq., first President, was chosen in 1847 ; Lee Canfield succeeded Walton in 1854, A. H. HoUey succeeded Canfield in 1860, W. P. BurraU succeeded HoUey in July, 1862, Leionard Rich ardson succeeded BurraU in January, 1863, Augustus MUes succeeded Richardson in July, 1863, Geo. W. Peet succeeded Miles in July, 1864, and is stiU holding that office. Mr. RandaU, the present Cashier, has held that office about twenty-four of the twenty-nine years of the bank's existence. The first newspaper established in town, and which is stiU successfuUy conducted, was started by J. L. Pease, 28 who came into town from Lee, Mass. The first number of the paper. The Connecticut Western News, was issued July 14, 1871. The construction of the Connecticut Western Railroad, one of the most important contributions to the business in terests, as weU as to the facilities for communication ever established in this vicinity, not only for Salisbury but for all North Western Connecticut, is more indebted for its organization to Salisbury than to any other town on its line. We concede to other towns active and efficient aid in the procurement of its charter, and in liberal subscrip tions to its stock, but the efficient work of its organiza tion began here. The contract for its construction was made in 1869, and the-first train over the road, (except construction trains,) was an excursion to Poughkeepsie from Hartford, in December, 1871. Our educational interests have kept pace with those of surrounding communities, and are decidedly in advance of what they were five and thirty years ago ; more pains have been taken to secure educated and efficient teachers ; greater facilities have been furnished for the acquirement of an education, and our public schools are not only free but attendance is compulsory. We have no institutions for education higher than the common school, except two or three select schools of which favorable reports are given. Our school houses are a great improvement upon those of even a quarter of a century since, and are gener ally a credit to the town. On the whole, Mr. Moderator, 29 I think that our children are better taught in the district schools than .those adults are whom we endeavor annually to instruct in reading in our Town room. The Roman CathoUcs in this vicinity have erected a beautiful and convenient church edifice at Lakeville ¦within the past eighteen months, which does credit to their taste, and which we hope and trust will have a healthful influence upon all who worship there. The temperance reform which they have instituted has already been productive of good. The order of " Good Templars," established at Lake viUe, numbers about one hundred members and is in a flourishing condition; T. L. Norton, Esq., is the presid ing officer. The object is the promotion of temperance. The war of the rebellion was not an institution of Salisbury origin. As it occurred, however, within the Ufe time of the present generation, and as it was one of the most gigantic and causeless of modern times, and having been suppressed also, by as brave and patriotic a people as ever drew the sword in defence of liberty and law, of home and country, it is proper that it shoald be referred to even here in our Umited community. It de mands a record indeed if for no other reason than to tes tify to posterity the efforts and sacrifices which were made on our part fo transmit to them an unimpaired union. SaUsbury did its full share in the accomplishment of this work, having sent to the army three hundred and fifty-three men, of whom fifty-three laid down their Uves 30 either on the battle fields of Olustee, Petersburg, or Drury's Bluff, Port Hudson, Murfreesborough, Deep Bottom and Cold Harbor, or died of wounds or disease contracted in the service. As far as this feeble effort of mine wiU avail, the names of these patriotic men shaU be preserved in the archives of the town, and transmitted to coming generations, who will foUow our example, and forever hold in grateful remembrance, their deeds and their memories. Their names alone, however, do not constitute the entire roll of honor for our town, but they are the only persons whom we know that sacrificed their lives in the service ; other noble men, equally patriotic and devoted, who escaped with their lives, merit and will receive equal honor with those who fell on the bat tle fields. Their names already form a part of our re corded history. The following is a list of the dead referred to above : — Orin H. Knight, Charles Caul, P. Ostrander, James Ostrander, Adam Ostrander, Monroe Whiteman, Amos Woodin, Robert W. Bragg, Edmond Hickey, Ezra B. Morris, Walter C. Sparks, Ruben R. Speed, Henry Vol- ker, Jacob F. Rapp, Chester A. Johnson, John Lapham, G. W. Mansfield, Guerdon Davidson, Daniel Glaren, John W. Surner, Henry S. Wheeler, Joseph Hooper, Barnard Woodhead, Aaron E. Babcock, S. W. Wolcott, H. Pitt Bostworth, A. E. Barnes, Peter Finkle, OrviUe D. Owen, Elisha Cleveland, Owen McNeU, Alfred De Bois, Joseph B. Bond, Egbert F. Nott, Ovid P. Shaw, 31 OrviUe 0. Blake, Andrew BuU, Andrew W. Durrall, Renslaer McArthur, Egbert Rowe, J. W- Speed, d! ' Owen, Eben P. Wolcott, Henry S. Wright, J. Melton Bishop, J. Harper Smith, Cornelius Turner, John Brant, Peter Burns, John Donohue, Jourdan Brazee, Henry Surriner, John S. Addison, Charies Brown. The following persons were elected or promoted to the offices named below : — Rev. Samuel S. Jarvis, Chaplain, 1st regiment, heavy artiUery ; James Hubbard, Brigadier General by brevet, 2d heavy artillery ; Oren H. Knight, Captain, 2d heavy artiUery ; WUHam A. Bailey, Chaplain, 28th regiment, MUton Bradley, Quatermaster, Wilfred Matison, Quarter master, Charles B. Landon, Captain, Joseph Bostwick, 1st Lieutenant, Warren C. Daily, 2d Lieutenant; E. Lewis Moore, Adjutant, 7th regiment ; Edward S. Hub- • bard, 2d Lieutenant, 19th regiment ; Joseph Slater, 2d Lieutenant, llth regiment ; Admatha Bates, 2d Lieu tenant Co. L, 2d heavy artillery. This reference to our late war reminds me of some facts regarding the French war of 1756-7, that were not re ferred to particularly by Judge Church in his address. As Salisbury has the credit of furnishing its full share of aid in all the wars that have occurred in our country since its settlement, the fact should be stated that at the early period of 1756 — one hundred and twenty years ago — we had in this town two well organized military companies, - from which " enUstments and impressments" were made 32 from time to time, and requisitions were also made upon Captains to hold their men in readiness to go into service at a moment's notice, who were called " minute men." I have in my possession orders is.sued chiefly by Colonel Marsh of Litchfield, to Captains Moore and Landon, or dering them from time to time to send men to the north ern frontier. They did so not unfrequently, but I do not know in what numbers. The Captain Moore referred to was grandfather of Messrs. Albert and Silas Moore, and Captain Landon was the ancestor of Messrs. Horace and James Landon. There is abundant evidence, I believe, to establish the fact, that several of the regiments surrendered by General Burgoyne at Saratoga, in our war of the Revolution, were quartered for several days in this town, a part of them at Lakeville, and a part of them on the farm of the Messrs. Moore. One of those soldiers (John Lotz) de serted from one of those regiments, and was for many years an inhabitant of Salisbury, and served as a miller for my grandfather and my father. And now, my fellow- citizens, haAdng as briefly as seemed compatible with the facts of history, (perhaps too briefly) endeavored to supplement the centennial history of Salisbury as it was given to us by Judge Church, I have only to add in this place that the combined history, even though it raay be imperfect, presents us with an ar ray of names and characters of which we may well be proud. 33 Natives of our own soU, or gentlemen trained among us from eariy life, have occupied many prominent posi tions in our own and other States, who have done honor to themselves and to their country. Among the positions thus occupied I recaU those of one Secretary of War, three TJnited States Senators and seven Representatives in Congress, three eminent Chief Justices of three dif ferent States, four Governors of States at home and abroad, two Lieutenant Governors, many Senators in our own General Assembly, two Presidents and several Pro fessors in coUeges, one Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal church, MiUtary and Naval officers, and several lawyers and clergymen of high repute.* In contemplating this array of worthy names, a perti nent inquiry suggests itself to my mind in this connection, ShaU we continue to send forth men from our town who will dignify the positions they may occupy, and do equal honor to the town with those who have preceded them ? ShaU we prove to the world that in education and refine ment, in social culture, political integrity and sagacity, fer reaching and wise plans for the future of our country, we may be able to controvert the oft-repeated assertion, that we are degenerating ; that our ancestors were wiser and better than the late* generations of men. I. ^ ?Secretary of War, Peter B. Porter; United States Senators, Nathaniel Chipman, J. S. Johnston; Representatives in Congress, Peter B. porter, . M. Chittenden, G. H. Chapin, T. R. Strong, J. M. Holley, J. H. Hubbard, W. H. Barnum ; Governors, Chittenden, Galusha, Skinner, Holley ; Lieut. Governors, Holley and Averill; Presidents of Colleges, Holley and Bart lett; Bishop, Janes. 5 34 Have we no reason to apprehend that the corruption and extravagance of the age — the bitterness of party spirit — the want of charity towards each other — the malignity with which candidates for and incumbents of exalted po Utical and social positions are pursued and traduced, will compel the future historian to verify and emphasize the charge of degeneracy ? In connection with this subject, I cannot refrain from giving a short extract from Judge Church's centennial address. He says : " This is not the time nor the proper occasion to indulge in political reflections. But I cannot discharge a duty which I owe to the young men of my native place — the persons with whom, in part, the desti nies of the country are soon to be entrusted, without en treating them to divest themselves of party and political prejudices. What is prejudice but an opinion formed without impartial examination? This is a crime, and in excusable in this age and country. My young friends, never be afraid of bringing preconceived opinions to the test of a patient and disinterested inquiry." " He being dead, yet speaketh," and speaketh wisely. What he has said is so entirely in consonance with my own feelings, that I cannot refrain from repeating the ad vice to my young friends of the present day. Indeed I think if he were Uving now among the scenes that sur round us, he would, in view of the frauds and corruptions so prevalent in all ranks, make that advice far more em phatic. 35 WhUe I too deem it inappropriate to a certain extent to indulge in poUtical reflections on an occasion like this, still I feel in common with every patriotic heart an earnest desire that this glorious union and the best of all forms of government yet devised by human wisdom, should be perpetuated in it« purity. I cannot but express my apprehension that its value is not appreciated. The gov ernment was not established for a single decade or a sin gle generation, and it cannot long be perpetuated for the benefit of the people unless the people themselves dis charge their duties conscientiously; for the character of the government wUl be what it is made by the action of the people. Hence the propriety, not to say necessity, of attempting to elevate the standard of moral, political and cultured character in those we would select to discharge the responsible functions of official Ufe. As a nation we acknowledge no government in theory superior to our own in wisdom*, dignity or forecast. Does our practice cor respond with our theory^ and incline us to select the purest and ablest of our fellow citizens to discharge the most responsible poUtical duties ? As this may be the last opportunity I shall ever have of addressing you, my feUow men, I conjure you by every tie that binds you to your country, by every hope you entertain of its future exaltation and glory, by every desire you cherish of transmitting this noble inheritance of Uberty, unimpaired to your chUdren and your chUdren's chUdren, that you guard with jealous care and with an enlightened sense of 36 duty the purity of the baUot box, the palladium of our liberties. The preceding details may have wearied your patience, my friends, as they are doubtless familiar to many of you, but to record them is a duty we owe to posterity, whose interest in them wiU increase as the years roll on. Our mountains, lakes, rocks and brooks will remain without essential change. Our fertUe meadows and rugged hUl sides may receive higher culture that will change their aspect somewhat. Our villages may be enlarged and beautified, and perhaps multiplied, but the actors in these scenes will sink into their graves generation after genera tion. Hence the duty of each to record its own history, that their names and deeds may not pass from the memo ries of men. Our beautiful scenery, and healthful cli mate, may attract people of taste and culture to our pleas ant villages, but they will be retained amongst us only by good order, and social elevation in our own communities. The opening of the* Centennial year, and the formation of Improvement Societies, have given an impulse to the taste and enterprise of our citizens, that is highly commenda ble, and we may reasonably hope that many a heart will be warmed toward us in the coming years, for the grateful shade that our hundreds of newly planted elms will throw over happy homes, play grounds, and streets. You will pardon me now, I trust, if I devote a few moments to our national history, as the unusual occasion seems to demand a recognition of the nation's centennial 37 anniversary. In doing this, I may trespass upon the do main of the friend who is to speak after me, but I should do violence to my own love of country, and to my pride in our centennial, if I were to omit all reference to this notable day. One hundred years ago the few and feeble states then existing within our present national limits, declared their independence of one of the proudest and most powerful governments on earth. That declaration cost those states a seven years' war, in which they suffered and sacrificed much treasure, and some of the best blood of the land. It was a common sacrifice, however, which cemented dis severed colonies into one glorious union of states, around which a galaxy of other states has been gathered, still more glorious. Their numbers are thus augmented nearly three fold, all of which are united under that flag that now commands the respect of all the nations of the earth. To-day, at our national celebration, only one century re moved from that memorable 4th of July, 1776, we are entertaining guests whose many centuries of civilizatipn have not enabled them to surpass us in our contributions to the utilities of our race, or in promoting the interest and in advancing the happiness of mankind. Well may we repeat what was said a half century since, and with more emphasis : "Let the loud cannons peal to heaven; Their mingling thunders jar the earth. This the proud day to glory given. The day that hailed a Nation's birth." OS This is, indeed, the proudest day in our annals if not one of the most remarkable in human history. All the civilized nations of the whole earth, whose civilization is worthy of the name, are through their accredited repre sentatives gathered on the spot where our liberty was proclaimed, and are, with us, this day to witness our progress in all that pertains to the national prosperity and improvement of the condition of the race. They honor us with their presence, and they gratify us by the exhibition of the diversified products of their skill in ten thousand fabrics wrought out for use, ornament, instruc tion and amusement. But they honor us still more, in a cordial acknowledgment of our progress in civilization, in arts and arms, as well as in the production of works of the highest utility. Indeed, it should not be deemed an idle boast, nor an undue assumption, to claim that we stand, to-day, the peer of the proudest nations of the earth. This expression is only uttered as an encourage ment to ourselves, and to those who may come after us, to perpetuate a form of government, "that enables us to present to the world such evidences of prosperity, where freedom of action is guaranteed to every citizen, in any lawful calling of life. Our national history i% full of interest, not only for ourselves at the close of our first century, but it has also been among the most remarkable centuries of the world. Empires have risen and perished. Arms and arts have had their triumphs, civiUzation has reached a higher 39 plane, and individual men among the nations, occupy more exalted positions in the scale of being, than they ever have done, heretofore. They are not now the mere puppets of Kings and Princes as iu earlier days. Neither is it an unwarranted assumption, to say, that our example as a people has had a marked influence upon multitudes of other people, and also, upon many governments of the old world. Affecting England in its wider and more lib eral educational policy, France, in its gradual but certain progress towards a republican form of government, Italy in its re-union of its earlier component states under the liberal administration of a Victor Emanuel, Germany with the restoration of its ancient boundaries and higher educa tion, Russia in its abandonment of its serfdom, China and Japan in opening their respective countries to intercourse with the outer world, and the adoption of many of the arts of our advanced life. And last, but by no means least, our own emancipation from Slavery, the one blot on our escutcheon which retarded the progress of a por tion of our wide domain, and where brighter prospects are now opening up for that beautiful country, than have ever dawned upon it heretofore. A portion which is yet to become the emancipated Italy of America. In view of this progress is it undue exultation for us to rejoice that under the benign influence of a kind Provi dence and the teachings of a wise and noble ancestry, we have been enabled as in the examples referred to, to ex ert such a happy influence in elevating and improving the 40 condition of our race in other lands ? The Republic has encountered perils from without and treachery from with in. It has experienced the demoralization of war and .the machinations of wicked and ambitious men. It has endured the shock of contending parties in the field and in the forum. It has witnessed the highest excitement in political life, when formidable collisions seemed inevi-' table, but the good sense of intelligent men, and their confidence in the wise provisions of our noble constitu tion, have triumphed over aU those threatened dangers, and will continue to do so, we trust, to the end. Be lieving that the awakened attention of the people to a more faithful discharge of their own public as weU as private duties, will soon usher in the stiU better days in store for the nation, I cannot repress the earnest anticipa tion and belief (which I feel) that a more glorious future awaits us than has been the lot of any people. Thus be lieving, and casting my eye down through the vista of coming years, I behold in imagination a nation occupying a territory which belts a continent from ocean to ocean, with a broad expanse between widely separated paraUels of latitude, covered with an enlightened and cultivated population in possession of all the elements essential to true comfort and greatness. Rich also in agricultural re sources, abounding in mineral wealth unequalled in any country, in mind and matter enriched to an extent that has enabled our countrymen in the exercise of their in genuity and industry to bring the very elements into 41 subservience to their use in almost every department of human industry. With such a country, such a popula tion, such educational facilities, such resources in mineral, aigricultural and manufacturing wealth, what may we not hope for in the future material interests of our country ? With positions of honor lofty enough to gratify the highest ambition, and accessible to any one who has the character and influence to win them, may we not hope that these high places shall be attainable only through a moral and inteUectual standard, which shall be raised higher than any that has yet been set for our attainment ? With hearts fuU of gratitude that we are enabled to leave a record so honorable, both local and national, at the close of our first century, may we not hope that in the exercise of high and honorable motives in the dis charge df our duties, public and private, with the bles sing of the Almighty Ruler of the Nations, we may be enabled to present to the world at the close of our second century the fairest page in human history. E B B A T A. Page 4, 2d line, read " address" for " one" ; page 6th, 1st line, read "leav ing" for "having"; page 8, 9th line, omit 1st word, "and"; page 13, 7th Une fronf bottom, omit letter " a " before Congregational, and read " clergy. men" instead of "clergyman"; page 23, "N. E. Ward" instead of "K. E. Wood ; page 20th, Sth line, read " B. S." instead of " B. J. Thompson." 42 ADDENDA. Rev. Edmund S. Janes and his brother came from Shef field with their parents in 1812. They attended the district schools of this town for a few years, and subse quently advanced their education, each of them by teach ing some six years. Edmund S. entered the Christian Ministry ih 1830. In 1840, he was elected financial secretary of the American Bible Society, and in 1844 was elected Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In the course of his ministry he received the respective degrees of Doctor of Medicine, Law, and Divinity. David Lyman was born near the Center, was admitted to the Bar of this County in 1841, practiced law some five years, and then entered the ministry of the Metho dist Episcopal Church, in which he stiU remains. Jonathan T. Norton, son of Henry S. Norton, studied law with D. J. Warner, Esq., was admitted to the Bar in this County, practiced a short time in Cornwall, and then removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., where he now resides. William Norton, brother of the above, is now. practi cing law with Judge Treat of Bridgeport. J. Newton Dexter read law in Salisbury with D. J. Wamer, Esq., entered the army during the late rebeUion, 43 subsequently resumed the study of the law, was admitted to the Bar in this County, and is now practicing in Wa- verly, N. Y. MUton J. Warner, son of Noadiah Warner, graduated at WiUiams CoUege, read law with D. J. Wamer, and now practices in Waverly, N. Y. James L. Orr was bom in Hudson, N. Y., came into town quite young, and was educated by the late Albert BushneU. He read law with the late Hon. John H. Hubbard, was admitted to the Bar in this County, prac ticed a few years in Sharon, from whence he removed to Michigan City. After a few years practice there, re tumed to and died in Salisbury. John G. Reid, son of Rev. Adam Reidj read law with D. J. Wamer, admitted to the Bar in this County, prac ticed a short time in Kent, in this County. He entered the army during the rebellion, where he distinguished himself as a brave soldier. He is now in practice in Chicago. George L. HubbeU read law with D. J. Warner, Esq., practiced in New Haven, removed to Davenport, Iowa, where he is now in practice. Henry and Daniel Smith, sons of Samuel Smith, were both born in SaUsbury. Both were able preachers in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Henry the elder stUl Uves in Canaan, Columbia County, N. Y. Daniel fiUed sev eral important stations in some of our principal cities, •and was quite an author. He died some years since. 44 Alanson Reed, son of the late Merwin Reed, was also a preacher of considerable ability in the M. E. Church. Dr. Gordon 0. Spencer, born in town in 1789, prac ticed in Jefferson Co., N. Y., and died in Watertown, in that County, in 1859* 45 , At the close of the Governor's address, the following Centennial Hymn, composed and written by Mrs. A. H. Hollet, was sung : I. Father of nations, God on high. We raise to Thee our fervent cry. As we before Thee waiting stand, In temple fashioned by Thy hand. n. We come to bless Thee for the past. That o'er this land Thy shield hath cast Protection, guidance, strength and power. Through the long century's passing hour. m. With joyous hymn and cannon's voice, On this proud day do we rejoice. Beseeching, Lord, that we may be, StUl strong and powerftil, brave and free. IV. Strong in God's power and arm of might, Brave in the consciousness of right. Free from the chains of wrong and sin, God's warriors in the iight to win. V. When coining centuries shall lay down The burden of their years' renown. Lord, in the fiiture as in the past, Be with us, long as time shall last. After this hymn, and while the cannon was booming out its twelve o'clock guns, the audience was invited to the repast at the tables near by. Afl«r dinner, the afternoon exercises were opened by music by the band, when Dk. Knight read the following original poem : Thou grand old mount, Tocconuc ! Since when Almighty power First called thee forth from chaos, To stand, a guardian tower. Sentinel o'er all around, The silent ages, passing. Have wrought with Nature's skill The beauty of these valleys. 46 Fit place for man to dwell. Wild beasts have roamed upon thee ; The eagle built his nest ; The savage in his freedom Stood on thy highest crest, And, looking on the picture Spread out so clear below. Thought that the happy hunting grounds No brighter scene could show. Perchance his thoughts went upward. And dwelt on that High Power, Which covered o'er the world beneath With beauteous tree and flower. And thou, Wononscopomoc, With all thy sisters fair. For ages had reflected This beauty, rich and rare. Before our fathers saw thee. And thankfully adored The source of all thy loveliness. Which could such gi;ace alford. Though driven by oppression A vrilderness to find. It took away all sorrow At leaving home behind, (Like Jews in sight of Canaan) To see this goodly land. They came to found a colony With right to worship God ; In matters of conviction They bowed to no man's nod ; But in all matters civil Obeyed King George the Third, Until in scorn of common rights Their prayers were never heard. Then, when the boom of cannon Proclaimed from Bunker's hill The call to join and fight liim, They answered. Aye, we will t In the war of Eevolution This town took no mean part ; It furnished many "heai-ts of oak" When the future days looked dark. 47 Twenty-second day of August Seventeen huridred seventy-four. Was a proud day for Salisbury, And rich, ripe fruit it bore. Our fathers, in town meeting. Discussed the oppressive acts Of the sordid British Parliament In its tea and paper tax, And Resolved " its spirit dangerous," Both "partial and absurd," Approved " call for a Congress " And pledged to use the sword. They sent of men, one hundred, To help on the good cause. And establish " once forever" Their right to make the laws. The famous " Sheldon's Cavalry" Was mainly fi-om this town, The first which joined the army! It won a great renown. Our mines produced material, Our streams afforded power, Our citizens the labor. To smelt and mould our ore Into cannon for the Navy, With shot and shell a store. And when the war was over. The soldiers returned home, The people, in town meeting. Pronounced the work "well done." Through trying times of poverty • Which war on them imposed. They "Resolved "to " maintain harmony " And obey all righteous laws. With y^ars of peace, came plenty. True Virtue's sure reward ; For nearly one whole century, I've nothing to record Of special note. Time passed in hard employ In shop, or on the farm ; The boys were kept too busy To wander into harm. 48 In clothing made^of homespun The daughters learhed to spin. For, by home manufacture Their dresses they must vrin. The mothers did full duty In work of the household. Made healthy by hard labor, " Strong, self-reliant, bold." In form, like royal Juno, In mind, Minerva wise. The mothers of New England Had hearts of largest size. The slave power o'er our land Its darkening shadow threw, And loud was its demand. And fierce its threatening grew. When the Nation, with strong voice, Declared its love for freedom. Proclaimed the power of choice. Electing Abraham Lincoln, Tbe demagogues of slavery Announced themselves secesh. And boasted that our temple Of liberty, they would crush. When the nation's noble martyr. Who knew our nation's need, Asked for our men, and money. We gave, and bid " God speed." No politics or party Kept back our rich, or poor ; They went, in answer to the call, " Three hundred thousand more." And ever, through the conflict. We gave our best, our all ; One tenth of all our people Responded to the call. We have no massive shaft. In future days to tell The battles, where our sons And glorious brothers fell. Our children yet to come, Will say we are not vsdse ; 49 'Tis wokth the poor kewaed, To men who gave their lives To save our land for freedom. Come, fathers, brothers, all. On this'Centennial day, Let us recall their deeds And valor, as we may. What better work were wrought Out of our marble fine. Than to imprint their names A record for all time. O Thou great God of Nationa, We^worship Thee to day; We thank Thee that Thy goodness . Has led us all our way. Our fathers loved Thy Kingdom, And trusted in Thy word ; They asked that we, their children. Might live for truth, and God. So may our children love Thee In the ages yet to come, And they, and we, be gathered Into Thy Heavenly Home. The following letters were read by Lot Norton, Esq., Chairman of the Centennial Commission. West Point, N. Y., June 17, 1876. Lot Norton, Esq., Chairman, Dear Sns : — Accept many thanks for your kind invitation, in behalf of the Centennial Commission, to be present at the Centennial Celebration in my native town, on the fourth of July next. I could have no greater pleasure than to be with you on that interest ing occasion, but an imperative duty to be in Philadelphia, at that time, with my pupils, the corps of cadets of the U. S. military academy, will deprive me of it. Trusting that your celebration will be eminently successful, I am. Truly yours, A. E. CHURCH, (Professor of Mathematics.) 50 New York, June 12, 1876. ¦ Lot Norton, Esq., -Dear Sir :— Your invitation to be present at the Centennial Celebra tion in Salisbury, on the 4th proximo, is received. It would give me great pleasure to meet my old friends and fellow-citizens on that highly interesting occasion, could I consistently do so. Sickness in my family, and pressing official duties compel me to deny myself that pleasure. Desiring and praying that the Celebration may promote the social, patriotic and religious welfare of the town, I am, truly yours, E. S. JANES. , (Senior Bishop of the M. E. Church.) Danbury, Oonn., June 24, 1876. Lot Norton, Esq., Mt Dear Sir : — I received by due course of mail, your invitation to be present at the Centennial Celebration of the 4t'h of July, £tt Salisbury. * * * It would surely give me pleasure to unite with the people of my native town in celebrating this approaching anniversary. I recall with great pleasure the many occasions in which I have joined with them in former years in interesting celebrations. There is, how ever, mingled with these memories, the sad thought, that most and I may saly nearly all, of those with whom I enjoyed them, have passed away. The places they occupied are filled by others. * * * * While inclination would lead me to Salisbury, duty will detain me in Danbuty. I must therefore, though reluctantly, decline the invitation you extend to me. Very respectfully and truly yours, ROGER AVERILL. (Ex-Lieutenant Governor.) Boston, Mass., June 29, 1876. Lot Norton, Esq., and associate : — Many thanks for your kind invitation to participate in the Centennial Celebration in your town. Though I have been absent forty years, yet any thing which, like your invitation, reminds me of my native mountains and native air, the un rivaled scenery of my native town and its vicinity, awakens most refresh ing and delightful impressions. It would alford me very great pleasure to participate with you in the exercises of the approaching celebration ; but duties elsewhere put it out of my power. * * * * With a son's affectionate greeting, REV. JOSEPH PETTEE. 61 June 26, 1876. Mr. Norton, , Dear Sui :— Appreciating fully tlie kind remembrance that has ex tended to me an in^^tation to a Centennial Celebration, in the town of my nativity and long residence, I caimot forbear at least returning my heart felt thanks. The weight of nearly four-score years, while rendermg it . impossible for me to be present vritli you in person, will not prevent my spirit going out to meet on tliat occasion, the kind friends of former years, and the childi-en of those with whom I loved to associate. No lapse of time, no intervening distance can diminish the love I hold to tlie dear hills and vallies, lakes and streams, that make dear old Salis- bmy the brightest, dearest spot on earth. ¦ There I spent my early and matm-e years ; in her sacred soil rests dear kindred and friends, and there I expect my dust will soon mingle with theirs, and I enjoy the blessed hope that then my spirit will be among the blood-washed throng. Hoping that the future of Salisbmy may be as rich in men and women of true worth, as has been tlie past, I am yours most truly, MRS. ALMIRA S. LEE. Rochester, N. Y., June 27, 1876. Lot Norton, Esq., Dear Snt : — Please accept my thanks for the invitation to celebrate in Salisbury the one hundredth anniversary of our National Independence. I deeply regret that the state of my health will prevent my attendance ; but shall be with old friends in spirit on that day, fervently wishing it may be in all respects a grand impressive time, and a stand-point from which to draw fresh inspirations of patriotism for the future, fi"om the history of the past. With highest regards to yourself, and those you represent, I am respectfully yours, HENRY BENTON. Elwood, N. j., June 30, 1876. Dear Sir : — In reply to the invitation to be present at the Celebration of the fourth of July in Salisbury, I would not need to assure you of my thanks for the note. I can only express my regret that I am unable to be there and enjoy the festivities of the occasion. It would be a great pleasure to meet the many older persons whom I have known from my earliest years, to see those younger than myself, that I would recognize, as well as to spend even a few hours with the few of my own age, who might be present. ***** j hope her mountains and hills may ever inspire a noble love of independent free- 52 dom of opimon, her rocks fix a spuit of true and unwavering integrity, her lakes find their counterpart in souls reflecting the light ofthe Sun of Righteousness, and her streams of beneficence always flow onward for the relief of the needy and distressed wherever found. With kind regards, as ever. Yours, &c. (Rev.) E.WHITTLESEY. Bethany, June 24, 1876. Lot Norton, Esq., Chairman, Your highly esteemed favor of invitation came speedily to hand. I thank you for it. To unite with patriots of my native town in celebrating our hundredth anniversary would be to me the utmost hight of my am bition. But standing as I am on the ashes of human ambition, in great feebleness, I must decline the honor. * * * * Dear sir, I have the honor to be yours, with many thanks and kind regards for the Centennial Commission. P. BUSHNELL. Me. George W. Hollet, of Niagara, had been requested to respond for the returned emigraints, but owing to the lateness of the hour, omit ted in delivery a portion of the following response : Mr. Moderator, Ladies and Gentlemen: — I have had no opportimity to confer with my fellow emigrants with reference to the response to be made to the cordial welcome and saluta tion given to us in your name, by the orator of the day. But I am sure J cannot err in thanking you as cordially, in behalf of each one of them, for the kind invitation to join you in commemorating the centennial re turn of this auspicious day. No century since the first which heralded the advent of Christianity, has been so signally distinguished by illustri ous characters and grand events, as the one you now celebrate. Most, heartily we thank you, for recalling us to our native town on this most interesting occasion ; for bringing us back to these towering mountains, theSe wooded hills, these sweeping vales, these cool and sparkling streams, these emerald lakes, these verdant meads, these fi-uitful fields, which were so familiar and dear to us in life's morning time. They were familiar and dear to us then ; they are less familiar but more dear to us now. . As we travel dovni life's lengthening journey, through whatever chance or change of joy or sorrow, ease or toil, success or failure, tri umph or defeat; whate'er our lot, where'er we roam, om- first best country ever is at home. 53 "E'en though Ita withered hopes around it fall, Like faded wreathe in some foraoken hall Still o'er the waste of sorrow unforgot. Green and unfading blooms that hallowed spot." My friends, we have had the history, the poetry, the patriotism of the occasion, all admfrably presented to us. If time permitted, I would like to present to you somewhat of the humor of the fathers, who were not all of that strict, austere, unsmiling, unjokable nature and temperament, with which they aa-e traditionally credited by their successors. And even though the day is waning, I cannot resist the temptation to cite some examples of it. Your poet has referred to Capt. Sheldon, who held a commission in Col. Stoddard's troop of cavalry, the first raised for the Revolutionary war. On their way to Albany to join the northern army they bivouacked the first night at Claverack, near the Hudson river. The next morning, at parade, Col. Stoddard promulgated certain regulations for the govern ment of the troop, one of which prohibited the utterance of profane language. Part of the penalty for violating this order was, that a speci fied portion of the offender's pay should be forfeited for each offejice. Among the troopers were two brothers named Owen, energetic, >viry, resolute men — and both stuttered in their speech. As all the members ofthe troop had grown up, boys and men, together, there was but slight appreciation among them of the requirements of military discipline, and when the rule as to profane swearing was read, the elder brother called out from the ranks "I s-s-sa-say. Col. S-s-st-stoddard, s-s-su-suppose a man s-s-s-wears out more'n his p-p-pay, do you m-m-make him p-p-pay anything backV Later in the war, two younger brothers joined the army, and were stationed at West Point and opposite. The old father died and left the aged widow without "help" to take care of her small homestead. Leaving it in charge of a neighbor, she walked to Cold I Spring, to ask the release of one of her sons. The case was made known to Gen. Washington, who sent a messenger to bring her to his office. He gi-eeted her, kindly, stated that he was glad to be able to restore one of her sons to her, living, and that he would be discharged and sent home ; then giving her five dollars he withdrew. The good woman was so impressed with the dignity and goodness of the Commander-in-Chief, that the aid-de-camp coming in soon after with her son, found her in a famting condition. The elder brother died some years since in the in terior of the State of New York, at the age of 105 years. There were some weak men among the clergy in those days. Parson , who officiated at Barkhampstead, exchanged with Parson , of Salisbury, where a carding machine— one of the mechanical wonders ; of the time— had recently been put m operation. The good Barkhamp- 54 steader, after gettmg through, in his second morning prayer, with the old and new Testament, the Egyptian, Persian, Greek and Rpman em pires, and so down to modern times and recent improvements, referred to the new labor-saving machine as follows: "Oh! Lord, when Thou lookest around on the works of nature and art, how must thou be sur prised when Thou see'st a carding machine!'' Some ofthe good deacons of the time, more zealous than wise, were often puzzled by the appar ently strange dispensations of Providence. One of them who lived in the pleasant valley of the Salmon Kill, had a choice piece of interval land on which he had, one year, a tlirifty crop of young corn. An ex-i traordinary down-pour of rain one Saturday night covered it with gravel and pebbles. The next morning, as the "hired man" was going to an adjoining pasture to catch the horses to go to chm-ch, the deacon went along with him to look at the corn. His sorrow was great and, pointing to the horses quietly grazing near by, he said to the hired man, "I have driven those old grey horses to meetin' every Sunday regular for twenty years, and now, oh. Lord! look at that!'''' A Colebrook deacon fell in with two others from North and South Canaan, all on horse-back, going to attend consociation at Litchfield.' Naturally enough, their discourse was about their ministers. North Canaan said his was "famous for exhortin'';" South Canaan that his was "remarkable for consoUn'' in cases of affliction." Colebrook said he did not "know as his minister was anything particular at consolin' or ex- hortin', but that he was ' strornary'' on rain.''' Many of our younger people have probably noticed the marble tablet over the front door of the Episcopal church at the Centre, with a single letter, a capital S, cut on it, and have queried what it could mean. The following explanation has been given. It was intended to cut the name "St, John's Church" on the tablet; and old Billy K . who had had a little experience in lettering, undertook the task. After finishing the S, he descended the ladder to get a dram, having a 'weakness' for that in-' dulgence. ' This weakness was so overcoming that he was never able to finish the work. On being remonstrated with by Chief-Justice Church, senior warden, for being so disrespectful to St. John, old Billy, in his semi-inebriate tone replied, " N-n-never mind about that. Judge ; I-I-'ll make il right with him when I see him!'' ., But, my friends, the westering smi reminds us that the day as well as the century is drawing to a close. It has been pleasant for her emigrant childi-en to join you this day, and with filial pride, affection and respect, to offer new homage to our common mother, to weave new wreaths for her brow, to lay fresh garlands upon her altars, to sing new praises to hei- honored name, and to exchange heart-felt greetings with hor children gathered here. But while we exchange these cordial gi-eetings with the 55 living, we do not, we cannot, forget the dead. While our hearts ara cheered by the renewal of kindly intercourse with friends and neighbors from whom we have long been separated, tliey are filled with tender sad ness as we walk among tlie monuments and read the names of those who have gone before us over the great river. What an innumerable com pany they are. And before the close of the century upon which we shall enter with to-morrow's sun, all who are now gathered here will have joined those who are waiting there. And, kind friends, when the last messenger comes to us. When to each the eveniug gates unbar, Shall we not see them waiting stand, * And white against the evening star. The welcome of each, beckoning hand ? Even SO may it be. Farewell! Salisbury, August 1, 1876. We, the undersigned, appointed a committee to carry the foregoing resolution into effect, have complied vnth the same, so far as we were able. We regret to say that we have been unable to procure a copy of the oration of D. J. Warner, Esq., for publication. His reasons for not fur nishing it, are that it was not written out or memorized by him, and as he spoke from brief head notes, he was unwilling to attempt to write it out, not being able to do so with entire correctness. Respectfully, Milton H. Robbins, > ^ Donald T. Warner, C C""wwj«ee. 0"J T-'~ ¦mwymm