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 ;§!NE;SE0) f NHW-YOBK, 
 
 1848--18G8. 
 
 AN HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 
 
 V 
 
/^v 
 
 
 VILLAGE MEMORIES 
 
 OF 
 
 ffllff ¥ I Alii 
 
 OK. 
 
 GE^ESEO 
 BETWEEN 1848 AND 1868. 
 
 AN ADDRESS, 
 
 Delivered in the Central Presbyterian Church, G-eneseo, 
 November 8th, 1868, 
 
 BY F. DeW. WARD, D. D., 
 
 PASTOK. 
 
 GENESEO, X. V.: 
 
 J. W. CLEMEXT, BOOK & JOB PRINTER, HERALD OFFICE. 
 1869. 
 

 CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 Geneseo, Nov. 9th, 1868. 
 
 F. DeW. WARD. D. D., 
 
 Rev. and Dear Sir: 
 
 Having listened with great interest and 
 satisfaction to your excellent and comprehensive anniversary 
 discourse, on the 8th inst, and with a desire that it may be 
 preserved in enduring form, we most respectfully request 
 that you will furnish us a copy for publication. 
 
 The twenty years of your useful ministry in this village, 
 which your address embraces, constitute an important era of 
 our national and local history, and the task you have so 
 faithfully executed will be a most valuable contribution to 
 the historical records of our community. 
 
 Trusting that you may long be preserved among us in the 
 important held of usefulness you so ably represent, we re- 
 main, dear sir, 
 
 Your friends and neighbors, 
 
 BENJ. F. ANGEL, 
 JOHN RORBACli, 
 W. E. LAUDERDALE, 
 CHAS. K. DOTY, 
 W. II. OLMSTED, 
 1). II. BISSELL, 
 SCOTT LORD, 
 ED WD E. SILL, 
 S. HUBBARD, 
 
 And others. 
 
 In compliance with the above very polite request, the 
 
 Author semis to the press the following pages. 
 
 • 
 
 
GENESEO BETWEEN 1848 & 1808. 
 
 Late in the evening of Saturday, November 4, 1848, I 
 reached the hospitable door of the late Win. M. Bond, on 
 South street (now the residence of Hon. Solomon Hubbard), 
 after a coach ride of ten hours, from the city of Rochester. 
 The late Rev. Benj. B. Stockton having just resigned the 
 pastorate of the Presbyterian Church, I was invited to occu- 
 py the vacant pulpit. My own thought was a single Sab- 
 bath service, and then a return to my home, — a purpose em- 
 phatically expressed to those members of the Session who 
 called upon me the following Monday morning. Having 
 but recently returned from a ten years' mission in India, I 
 was consciously unprepared to assume a ministerial and pas- 
 toral charge in a community like this. It was not without 
 urgent solicitation that I remained during the week, calling 
 upon families and being introduced to persons who have 
 since become very dear to me. "Man proposes, but God 
 disposes." But for this truth, the one week would not have 
 extended to twenty years, and I should not stand in your 
 presence at this hour, to review with von the changes which 
 have occurred during this long and eventful period of time. 
 
 Twenty years! One-fifth of a century! Two-thirds of a 
 generation ! More than the life-time of far the largest pro- 
 portion of the human family! How many events have uni- 
 ted to make up the National history of these two hundred 
 and forty months. The Mexican war had but just ended, 
 and a gigantic civil rebellion has arisen and been suppressed. 
 
VILLAGE MEMORIES 
 
 Each has given to the executive cbair a President, while six 
 who have attained that supreme civic eminence have closed 
 their earthly career." The telegraph wire has conjoined the 
 new and old continents, and the railroad track stretches 
 well-nigh from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts. By the 
 purchase of the Russian possessions, on the north-west, the 
 national domain has been enlarged nearly one-third. 
 
 " Slavery, sad curse, has passed away. 
 And is a thing of yesterday." 
 
 These are among the public events that have illustrated 
 our country's career since 1848. None more important have 
 ever found record upon our public annals. 
 
 The hour belongs, however, to our own village and tow7i, 
 which will be considered with reference to the Physical, 
 Civil, Commercial, Literary, Religious and Domestic changes, 
 which unite in making up this twenty years of history. — 
 While some of these topics will be treated with more fulness 
 than others, each will receive enough attention to render 
 the narrative needfully complete. 
 
 We will begin with a general view of our village. To 
 Main, Center, Second, North and South streets have been 
 added Elm, Academy and Temple Hill, which are fast fill- 
 ing up with neat, commodious dwellings. As an added im- 
 provement, a continuous sidewalk of stone or brick or plank 
 is met with wherever one goes. And who could desire 
 pleasanter or more beautiful homes than those of Hon. B. 
 F. Angel and the Episcopal and 2d Presbyterian parson- 
 ages, on Main street: Messrs. II. L. Johnson, Jas. S. Orton, 
 John F. Bishop, and Hugh McBridc, on Center street; 
 Messrs. N. W. Rose, L. F. Olmsted, Win. II. Olmsted, Wm. 
 R. Walker, Central Presbyterian parsonage, W. B. West, 
 George Mercer, and S. T. Smith, on Second street; with a far 
 greater number of reconstructions, additions and improve- 
 
 * Taylor, Polk, Van Buren, Tyler. Lincoln and Buchanan. 
 
OF TWENTY YEARS. 
 
 merits, amounting almost to newness. 
 
 In the spring of 1850, an association was organized, with a 
 membership of thirty-eight leading citizens, each pledging 
 himself "to plant within the bounds of the village, and prop- 
 erly protect from harm, one forest shade tree in each and 
 every year for live years." This pledge, though not fully 
 redeemed, has contributed much toward lining our streets 
 with maple, etc., to the number of 700, exclusive of those 
 in the Park, Court House and Church yards, and private 
 lawns. 
 
 In the spring of 1850, a meeting of the village citizens 
 was held at the office of Hon. Scott Lord, to take into con- 
 sideration enlarging and improving the burying ground 
 on Temple Hill. The committee appointed to consider and 
 mature a plan were Messrs. Charles Colt, Allen Ay raid t, Jas. 
 S. Wadsworth, Calvin II. Bryan, Henry Chamberlain, Edw. 
 R, Hammatt, Isaac Newton, Win. Walker and W. J. Ham- 
 ilton. The result, after some delay, was the addition of the 
 eastern third. At a later period, another association was 
 formed to carry onward to still greater completeness what 
 was well begun. The executive committee were Messrs. Scott 
 Lord, James Cone, Nelson Janes, E. N. Bacon, John Ror- 
 bach and George Mercer, who secured the services of Mr. 
 Wm. McBride, a person of much skill and experience in the 
 department of planning public walks, and tastefully beau- 
 tifying the field. Lack of funds has required suspension of 
 these improvements, though, we trust, but for a brief time. 
 
 In many dwellings oil and kerosene lamps have yielded 
 tneir places to gas, the pipes through which it passes having 
 by their imbedded side those of larger size, conveying water 
 from the exhaustless springs on the hill to tanks, from which 
 it can be taken to extinguish the consuming flames, or to 
 residences for culinary and other domestic uses. 
 
 Passing from private residences to public structures, we 
 see greater improvements still. Our Court House is pro- 
 
6 
 
 VILLAGE MEMORIES 
 
 nounced by Judges from abroad as superior in all needful 
 respects to any on their circuit. With little of the preten- 
 tious in external appearance, it is quite complete within. 
 
 'The two fires with which we were visited, though a tern- 
 porary inconvenience to business and a considerable pecun- 
 iary loss to individuals, have proved a public gain ; for horn 
 the smouldering ashes have arisen, Phoenix-like, other struc- 
 tures, far superior in size, safety, eominodiousness and beau- 
 ty. We challenge comparison, for all needful purposes, be- 
 tween the stores in Commercial Block and any others of 
 equal business extent in city or town. 
 
 Our three Hotels, the American, Trernont and Globe, un- 
 der the enterprising management of Messrs. H. Howe, J. A. 
 Hamilton, and L. Taylor, meet the wants of citizen and 
 traveler in commendable degree. 
 
 The Methodist, Central Presbyterian, and Episcopal 
 Churches are late erections, characterized by the most mod- 
 ern style of architectural appearance and arrangement. The 
 eye sees little of the original building in the audience-room 
 of the Second Presbyterian Church, so improved in the fall 
 of 1854 Twenty years ago secular meetings were held in 
 the sanctuaries, especially the Methodist, where was convened 
 the earliest and largest public gathering to consider the 
 oroject of a railroad from Rochester southward. All such 
 necessity is now removed by the two Halls, Concert and 
 Rorbach, ample in size and convenient of location. The 
 brick structure on the corner of Second and Center streets, 
 containing the Wadsworth Library, meets a necessity long 
 felt, and is an admirable complement to the ecclesiastical ed- 
 ifice opposite, — a model each of modern accepted architect- 
 ure, as also the Genesee Valley National Bank, perfect for 
 the purposes designed by such a structure. The Poor House, 
 though a county building, ought not be passed by in our 
 notice of structural improvements, displaying, as it does, the 
 judgment and taste of the village committee, Messrs. Ayrault 
 
OF TWENTY YEARS. 
 
 and Hamilton. It is attractive to the drawing hither of 
 many, destitute and aged ones from miles distant. Another 
 building, for the insane and idiotic, is just completing. — 
 These institutions, having been in the care of Mr. A. How- 
 ard for twenty-three years, have passed to the superintend- 
 ency of Mr. Geo. W. Barney and sou, of Mt. Morris. 
 
 Statements respecting the civil history of the village will 
 be limited to the names of its most prominent officers. Since 
 its incorporation in 1832, the Presidents have been Messrs. 
 Allen Ayranlt, Philo C. Fuller, three years, 0. W. Olmsted, 
 Chas. Colt, four years, C. Metcalf, C. H. Bryan, B. F. Angel, 
 A. A. Ilendee, Dr. Bissell, four years, Scott Lord, H. P. North, 
 two years, L. Turner, Geo. J. Davis, John Rorbach, E. P. 
 Metcalf, two years, Geo. Mercer, W. Whiting, E. Cone, Dr. 
 Lauderdale, Sidney Ward, Isaac Newton, John F. Bishop, 
 C. F. Doty, and Nelson Janes, the present incumbent. 
 
 The military features of this community demand emphat- 
 ic notice. When the Southern Rebellion arose in its sad 
 might, political differences were, to a large extent, forgotten 
 in the presence of imperative patriotic demand. Assem- 
 blages were convoked, stirring appeals were uttered from 
 glowing hearts, contributions were abundantly made, taxes 
 cheerfully assumed, and the ood, and then the 104th, and 
 then the 136th, with regiments from other localities, found 
 their earnest and brave-hearted recruits here. The ques- 
 tion as to the need be of the war was superseded by the 
 fact that the life of the nation was at stake, and must be 
 preserved at wnatever cost of wealth or limb or life. Hus- 
 bands, sons, brothers went forth, some to find a grave known 
 only to the All-seeing Eye, some to suffer their months in 
 long and starving prisons, some to be brought home to find 
 an honored place in our village cemetery, some to go slowly 
 to the grave as the result of malady in camp or wounds on 
 the field, some with maimed limbs, leaning upon crutches, 
 to them a greater honor than a princely crown, and some to 
 
8 VILLAGE MEMORIES 
 
 resume the avocations of business and artisan life, with the 
 delighted consciousness of having done their duty to their 
 country, liberty, and God. 
 
 First to fall was Lieut. Moses Church, on the Peninsula; 
 and subsequently, Gen. James S. Wadsworth, his son-in-law, 
 Major Montgomery Ritchie, Lieuts. Myron H. Begole and 
 John Gummer, Privates Eli P. Smith, Seymour Smith, John 
 E. White, John Folmesbv. Lucien J. Smith, Myron A. Bow, 
 James Parmenter, James Luce, Augustus Dayton, Jeremiah 
 Hendershott, John Burns, Orrin C. Locke, C. J. Stout, Rich- 
 ard Youhls, Daniel B. Johnson, Henry W. Neff, John T. 
 Anderson, Henry 0. Jones, Wm. A. McCone and James 
 Dunn, were killed in engagements or died in rebel pris- 
 ons, in hospitals or at home from disease and wounds con- 
 tracted while in service. Capt. Augustus A. Ourtiss and 
 Henry W. Clark are crippled for life. 
 
 As officers in the Federal army, our village sent : from the 
 Wadsworth family, Gen. James S., his sons, Craig W. (now 
 Major-General of the N. Y. S. N. G.), Capts. Chas. F. and 
 James W., and Major M. Ritchie; Capt. W. B. Yvarford, 
 Lieuts. Moses Church, John Gummer and Walter H. Smith, 
 of the 33d ; Col. John Rorbach, Major H. Y. Colt, Col. John 
 R. Strang, Capt, B. F. Spencer, Lieuts. Fred T. Vance. Al- 
 bert T. Lamson, Nathaniel A. Gearhart, Surgeon E. G. 
 Chase, M. D., Chaplain F. DeW. Ward, I >. D., of the 104th; 
 Gen. James Wood, Col. Henry L. Arnold, Major Campbell 
 II. Young, Capts. A. A. Curtiss, Kidder M. Scott, Sidney 
 Ward, Lieuts. C. F. Metcalf, A. C. Bacon, Lucien A. Smith, 
 John Miller, Wells Eendershott, and Frank Collins, of the 
 13(3th ; William S. Ward, Master's Mate on tin" [ndianola 
 and Choctaw. To whom may be added the names of Major 
 E. E. Sill, Lieut. Geo. Sill, Capt, Dwight Hamilton, Major 
 George Hyland, dr., (new Sheriff of the County), Lieut. 
 Chas. Groheen, now residing among us. These and many in 
 tin' ranks on the fields of Manassas, Fredericksburgh, Antie- 
 
OF TWENTY YEARS. 
 
 tarn, Spottsylvania. Chancellorsville, Ger.tysburgh (where 
 Lieut Gearhart was severely wounded), Lookout Mountain, 
 Chattanooga, Resaea, Cassville, Peach Tree Creek (where 
 Capt. Curtiss met with his casualty), Atlanta, New Hope 
 Church (where Major Sill was wounded and captured, 
 and escaping from a rebel prison in Georgia, with Lieut. 
 Lamson of the 104th, reached the Northern lines after 
 a fatiguing and perilous walk of seventy days), Bcnton- 
 ville (where Col. Arnold was badly wounded), Grand 
 Gulf (where W. S. Ward was taken at the sinking of 
 the Indianola, and imprisoned for four months in Mis- 
 sissippi and "Libby"), the Wilderness (where the gallant 
 General Wadsworth received his death bullet), and the sur- 
 roundings of Richmond, did good service for their country's 
 honor, from the opening campaign to the surrender of Lee 
 at Appomattox Court House, Va. In all possible ways the 
 citizens manifested during the war a sympathy with their 
 absent friends and neighbors, rendering them whatever would 
 conduce to their comfort in distant and hostile regions. 
 
 If, for the War of 1812, this village and vicinity furnished 
 a Major-Gen. Wm. Wadsworth, who commanded the entire 
 army in this part of the State, and Major W. H. Spencer, than 
 whom Mars never knew a more fearless disciple, and D. H. 
 Bissell, M. P., serving the entire three years under the late 
 Major-Gen. Scott, and now a resident of our community, — 
 so, for the needed regiments in 1861—4, we gave our best of 
 heart and home, and are ready to repeat the gift should foes, 
 foreign or internal, again rise to dishonor our flag, dismem- 
 ber oui- Republic, or tarnish our glory in the eyes of theciv- 
 ilized or Christian world. May God in mercy prevent any 
 such exigency in our long future career as a model nation. 
 
 Referring to the files of our village paper in 18-18, we see 
 the. con/ n/> fie/ changes which have occurred during the 
 years since. We no more read the signs of E. P. & C. 
 Metcalf, L. Turner & Co., E. II. Perkins, Moses Hunt, 
 
10 VILLAGE MEMORIES 
 
 Samuel Gardner, C. R. Vance, J. B. Hall, C. Colt, II. P. 
 North, W. Bond, M. & F. Buell, Cone & Warner, II. F. 
 Hill, Z.'H. Mauley, Clement & Hud nut, J. D. Crank, Beach 
 & West, William Walker, I. Newton, Walker & Lauder- 
 dale, Young & Chamberlain, C. II. Bryan, O. Willey, Felix 
 Tracy, B. F. Angel, Wm. J. Hamilton, H. H. Guiteau, Jos. 
 Kershner, Jas. H. Vail, R. Austin, Jasper Johnson, Hiram 
 F. Birge, M. Reed, R. Noyes, W. Huggins and W. Smith. 
 Many are deceased and others removed to distant places 
 or retired from business to private life. But the numbers 
 have kept good, and attractiveness of stores greatly im- 
 proved. 
 
 In 1848 the financial facilities of the village and region 
 were limited to the "Livingston County Bank," with lion. 
 Allen Ayrault as President ; E. Cone, Cashier, and Charles 
 Colt, Jr., as Teller. In the year 1851, another institution 
 was incorporated under the name of the ''Genesee Valley 
 Bank," with Hon. Jas. S. Wadsworth as President, Wm. II. 
 Whiting as Cashier, and Daniel n. Fitzh ugh as Teller — 
 now the "Genesee Valley National Bank," with Messrs. I). 
 H. Fitzhugh as President, Jas. S. Orton, Cashier, and Thco. 
 F. Olmstead. Teller. Upon the death of Mr. Ayrault, in 
 1861, the former institution was discontinued, but its place 
 taken by the "Banking House of E. Cone," and upon his 
 ('oath was continued by his son, Jas. J. Cone, and son-in-law, 
 Wm. II. Olmstead. Added to these is the banking house 
 of William Walker. The one institution of 1848 has been 
 thus expanded to three, and is a marked illustration of com- 
 mercial prosperity. This phase is heightened by the fact that 
 within the same period., one hank has gone into operation at 
 Mt. Morris, two at Avon, two at Lima, and one at Dansville. 
 
 Our village has represented the nation in Hon. Benj. F. 
 Angel, Minister to the Sandwich Islands and Sweden ; the 
 Congressional district in Hon. Wm. H. Kclsey, now on his 
 fourth term <>(' service : the Senatorial district in the late 
 
OF TWENTY YEARS. 11 
 
 Hon. Allen Ayrault and Charles Colt; the County in Hon. 
 
 A. A. Hendee, Assemblyman ; the Judicial district in Hon. 
 Scott Lord and Hon. Solomon Hubbard, County Judges, 
 each two terms, with Hon. Hezekiah Allen, Session Justice ; 
 the County Clerkship in Messrs. Win. H. Whiting, Jas. S. 
 Orton and Aug. A. Curtis, and the Shrievalty in the late 
 William Scott. 
 
 In no place of its size has more attention been given to 
 intellectual improvement and gratification than in this. The 
 founder of the village, Hon. James Wadsworth, a graduate 
 of a distinguished college of New England, brought to this 
 then wilderness an impulse for popular education, one of the 
 first fruits of which was the founding, in connection with 
 gentlemen all deceased but Messrs. H. P. North and D. H. Fitz- 
 hugh, of the "Greneseo High School, - ' now styled "Geneseo 
 Academy." This institution, incorporated in the year 1826. 
 has a history of which our village and town may well be 
 proud. Its Principals, headed by the late deceased Presi- 
 dent Felton, of Harvard University, have been gentlemen 
 of fine scholastic attainments, and subsequently distinguished 
 in the University Hall like President Felton, the pulpit like 
 
 . Sweet3erand Rev. D. D. McColl, at the bar like Hon. S. 
 
 B. Treat, of St. Louis, and others, onward to the present ac- 
 complished incumbent, Rev. J. Jones, A. M. Its graduates 
 are numbered by thousands, and lose nothing by comparison 
 with those of any seminary of its rank in the land. These 
 are to be met in every State of the. Union and in countries 
 far beyond the sea; never forgetting their academic Alma 
 Mater, nor she them. 
 
 The catalogue of the Institution lor the present year will 
 contain, in both departments, 200 pupils, representing every 
 town in the county, and seven States of the Republic. 
 Here may be found educational advantages of the highest 
 ■ order and broadest extent, upon terms liberal as any of its 
 grade throughout the region. 
 
12 VILLAGE MEMORIES 
 
 The district school, now by popular vote an "Union Free 
 School," occupies a commanding position under the direc- 
 tion of Principal Gorham and his faithful associates. 
 
 A charter for the "Wadsworth Normal Training School" 
 has been secured, and measures are taking to erect the neces- 
 sary dwellings and commence a course of scholastic instruc- 
 tion. As means of educating persons of all ages, and for 
 business or professional life, what more can be needed than 
 three such institutions do or will furnish ? The Academy 
 enriches us pecuniarily by at least $8,000 a year, through 
 its students from abroad, and more may be expected from it 
 and from the Training School in time to come. 
 
 What a contrast between the few books in a small build- 
 ing constituting the Athenaeum in 1848, and the "Wads- 
 worth Library," in external appearance a central ornament, 
 and with internal arrangements of most perfect character and 
 convenience. Mrs. C. Olmstead, Librarian, estimates the ap- 
 plicants at an average of twenty a day. And then the 
 "Beading Room," for the munificent endowment and large 
 sustentation of which the community owe a debt of grati- 
 tude to a liberal-hearted lady, Mrs. Wm. Wadsworth, which 
 cannot be too highly appreciated. And where is the place 
 of its size which has been favored with lectures and ad- 
 dresses from gentlemen of more note and ability than ours 
 during the years under review? The Annual "Commence- 
 ments" of the Academy, the "Lyceum Association," and the 
 "Young Men's Association," have drawn to our midst such 
 distinguished clergy and laymen as Bishops Hopkins of Ver- 
 mont, and Lee of Iowa, Presidents Nott and Hickok, with 
 Prof. Foster of "Union College," Anderson of "Rochester 
 University," Reid of "Genesee," and McLean, of Lafayette, 
 and Horace Mann of Antioch Colleges, Prof. Torrey of 
 New York, with Doctors Lord and Chester of Buffalo, Mc- 
 Ilvaine, Pease, Cuit, Hickok, and Van Ingen, of Rochester, 
 Daggett of Canandaigua, Condit of Oswego, Van Renssalaer 
 
OF TWENTY YEARS. 
 
 13 
 
 of Philadelphia, McLaren of Caledonia, Senator Benton of 
 St. Louis, Hon. Horace Greeley of New York, Col. W. H. 
 C. Ilosmer of Avon, Hon. Geo. Summer of Mass., Hon. S. 
 S. Cox of Ohio, Elihu Burritt, the learned blacksmith, and 
 John B. Gougli, the eloquent advocate of Temperance, Gov- 
 ernor Pinney of Liberia, Rev. Messrs. Aitken of Sparta and 
 Nassaw of Warsaw, with many others of high repute for 
 learning, eloquence and position in public life. Almost all 
 these enter into our public history since 1848, placing us in 
 literary respects quite in the forerank of communities 
 throughout the region. 
 
 Nor can we forget that ours has been a musical centre. 
 Messrs. Root, Bradbury, Bassini, Peouski, Cook, North, 
 Zundel, Perkins, Whaples, Daniels and Tracy; what names 
 are higher than these in the culture of the human voice for 
 sanctuary service and social song? At one time 200 persons 
 were here from all parts of the county and country. It 
 were no exaggeration to aggregate the attendants upon the 
 Summer Normals from abroad during the last twenty 
 years at 1,000. The truth of a complete history and fidelity 
 to the welcome claims of duty, demand express mention of 
 our townsman, Mr. W. W. Killip, to whom this commu- 
 nity and region are largely indebted for the position secured 
 in the musical world. His crowded concerts are the expres- 
 sions of a public sentiment not more universal than just and 
 fitting. 
 
 In the year 1834, a weekly newspaper began to be pub- 
 lished under the title of the Livingston Register. Its first 
 editor was James Percival, succeeded in 1837 by Mr. S. P. 
 Allen, (now of Rochester), who changed the title to the 
 Livingston Republican. At the period to which our retro- 
 spect dates back, Mr. James T. Norton was its editor, and 
 continued so to his death in 1865, when his son, A. Tiffany 
 Norton, became its conductor and continues still. Another 
 sheet is published by Mr. Jas. W. Clement, under the title 
 
14 VILLAGE MEMORIES 
 
 of the Genesee Valley Herald. Both are in the hands of 
 gentlemen who will use all efforts to make them subserve 
 the interests of patriotism, learning and scriptural religion. 
 
 Immorality and irreligion, alas be it said, find victims in 
 every community of earth. However admirable in all that 
 meets the eye any spot may be, yet as a sinful disposition is 
 the inheritance of each human being, so the effects of inborn 
 depravity appear in habits that are at variance with man's 
 duty to himself, his neighbor and his God. If in surveying 
 the broad service of our world we are allowed to exclaim 
 with joyful gratitude, 
 
 "Some flowrets of Eden we still inherit," 
 
 We are compelled mournfully to add, 
 
 "But the trail of the serpent is over them all." 
 
 If there was ever a place, the inhabitants of which were 
 under special obligations to be perfect in all that is "of good 
 report," it is ours. Proverbial beauty of location and variet}^ 
 of mountain and vallev and meadow and woodland scenery 
 are as a voice sajdng, "be thankful, be true to your own 
 immortal natures, be regardful of your divinely implanted 
 image and heaven aspiring destiny, be moral in your rela- 
 tions one with another, and be pious toward God." Truth 
 compels us to admit that we are sadly deficient in all these 
 respects. Inebriacy, gaming, and grosser vices find their 
 tempters and their victims here. But are we sinners above 
 all in these features, and do these evils go on unrebukcd? 
 Not so! Take the vice of Intemperance. We cannot deny 
 its existence. We have seen it, alas, in our streets and at 
 our homes ; we know it to be in our neighbors' dwellings. 
 But efforts have been and are still making to suppress the 
 too general sale, and discountenance the habitual use of the 
 fatal glass. At the Spring meeting of the Board of Excise 
 in 1850, your speaker had the honor of presenting to that 
 body a petition signed by 450 ladies of the village and 
 
OF TWENTY YEARS. 
 
 15 
 
 town, the first names being those of Mrs. James and Miss 
 Elizabeth Waclsworthj and Mrs. Ayrault, entreating that all 
 licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors except for 
 medicinal purposes be withheld. The appeal came from 
 those, some of whom nad felt the iron enter their own soul 
 as they saw the dearest ones of their heart and home go 
 down to a drunkard's grave. But by a majority vote the 
 prayer of the petitioners was denied, for the reasons that 
 public opinion was not prepared for such a measure, and 
 legislation would not cure the evil. JSTot long after, an asso- 
 ciation was formed to consolidate public sentiment against 
 • the vice, but was destroyed by contact with politics. Time 
 passed on, and the young men formed a Temperance Asso- 
 ciation, at whose meetings were essays and addressess of high 
 merit. Your speaker well remembers those of Dr. E. Gr. 
 Chase, Jas. B. Adams, H. L. Johnson, Sidney Ward, Du- 
 mont Dake and others, prepared witli great care and effected 
 good results. We find still another organization, under the 
 Presidency of the late E. Cone, Esq.; and lately the "Good 
 Templars" have formed a lodge with a membership of 1-40 
 of both sexes. While these unions have not totally sup- 
 pressed the vice, (nor was such the expectation of those who 
 inaugurated or sustained them,) they have kept the subject 
 before the public mind, and have been a standing rebuke 
 and check, which have had a salutary effect. They who 
 have to do with this demoralizing and fatal article, (except 
 as a medicine,) do so with the public protest sounding in their 
 ears, and the beseeching cry of suffering humanity bidding 
 them to desist. 
 
 It is not denied that the gaming table has its devotees. 
 They are few in numbers. We would there were none, and 
 we would, also, that these were not sanctioned and en- 
 couraged by persons from abroad. With but few, very few 
 exceptions, our citizens are not chargeable with the crimes 
 of intoxication, gambling and grosser appetites and tastes. 
 
16 VILLAGE MEMORIES 
 
 There is, however, room for improvement, calling for 
 earnest and persistant attention. It is well for judicial and 
 police officers to see that the laws are faithfully executed, 
 the penalty of transgression fearlessly and relentlessly vis- 
 ited upon the offender. In this respect there is much to ap- 
 prove and commend in our legal officials, but it is still more 
 important that the temptation to crime should to the least 
 possible extent exist. An ill deed prevented is far better 
 than an ill deed punished. We have high authority for say- 
 ing that if offences must come, woe to them by whom the 
 offence cometh. 
 
 From morality we pass by a natural transition to religion. 
 If that subject is important which concerns human relations 
 and involves human happiness, how much more import- 
 ant is that which respects God and the soul and immortal 
 retribution. A locality without a church edifice, and with- 
 out the Gospel preacher, is one in which no right hearted 
 person would desire to make his permanent abode, and 
 especially would not be willing to rear a family. Can it be 
 doubted that the recognition of the Christian faith, the rev- 
 erence of the Most High God on His day and in His house, 
 the large, general and continued respect paid to His revealed 
 claims, have had much to do with our prosperity and favor- 
 able repute. "Him that honoreth me will I honor," saith 
 the Lord. 
 
 Waiving all detailed reference to the early history of our 
 churches, let us rapidly consider them as they were in 1848 
 in contrast with what they arc at the present hour. 
 
 Twenty years ago the Presbyterians were one parish, their 
 house of worship of limited dimensions, and New England 
 style of pulpit and pew, — interesting from its associations 
 with the successful labors of its pastors, Drs. Buell, Lord, 
 and others, whose names are held in grateful recollection. 
 In the year 185-1, the edifice was enlarged one-third, an or- 
 gan took the place of the bass viol, and a large Session house 
 
OF TWENTY YEARS. 17 
 
 on Second street supplanted the small structure on Center 
 street, [n the year 1857, the membership having doubled 
 in number, a colony left the parent hive and organized the 
 Central Presbyterian Church, erecting at once an edifice on 
 the comer of Center and Second streets, which is unequalled 
 for beauty and convenience in the region. After a ministry 
 of ten years, during which the membership was increased by 
 250 additions, 1 resigned, and my place was taken by Eev. 
 Geo. P. Folsom, who, after a pastorate of the same length of 
 time, has removed to Illinois, leaving one of the most im- 
 portant pulpits of the comity again vacant. The Central 
 Church has a membership upon its records of 200, which, 
 with the L60 in the Second Church, aggregate 360, against 
 less than half that number in 181s, and at least 200 de- 
 ceased or removed to other places. Of nine persons who 
 constituted the Session in 1818, five are deceased, viz: — 
 Messrs. (). Skinner, Felix Tracy, Charles Colt, Russell Aus- 
 tin and Ephraim Cone; one is removed, Mr. Chauncey Par- 
 sons; three are still in office, Messrs. J. B. Hall, Fred W. 
 Butler and Cornelius Shepard. Mr. Hall is the oldest Church 
 communicant in the village. The Session of the Second 
 Presbyterian Church at this time are Messrs. J. 15. Hall, Fred 
 W. Butler, Win. Walker, Jas. S. Orton, E. W. Hudnutt, E. 
 N. Bacon and \V. A. Brodie; Deacon, J. Davison; Trus- 
 tees, Messrs. Fred W. Butler, Jaa S. Orion, Win. Walker, 
 
 C. F. Doty, C; 0. Be;, eh and E. N. Bacon. The Session of 
 
 the Central Presbyterian Church are .Messrs. C. Shepard, 
 Geo. Fridd, Scott Lord, A. W. Butterway, W. E. Lauder- 
 dale and Samuel Finley; Deacons, Richard Cham}) and 
 Francis C. Sage ; Trustees, W. E. Lauderdale, M. D., Samuel 
 Finley, John Crossett, N. W. Rose, Luther Heath, Peter 
 Miller, Richard Champ and W. R. Walker. 
 
 instead of the $700 which was my first salary, the united 
 salaries are now $2,000, (with a parsonage for the Second 
 Church,) pastors' gifts not less than $400, and donations to 
 
18 VFLLAGE MEMORIES 
 
 various benevolent causes of $700, footing up at present 
 above $3,000. Add to these annual expenditures, sums 
 which have been appropriated to erecting or remodelling the 
 two buildings and Session room, with a parsonage, and sus- 
 tentation of Geneseo Academy, $75,000 would not be too 
 large an amount as that which the Presbyterians of this vil- 
 lage have donated in twenty years. 
 
 In 18-18, the Methodist Church was the brick building now 
 occupied by the Union School, — repulsive within even more 
 than it was unattractive without. The minister resided at 
 Groveland, and came here as to a secondary charge. But 
 what a change since! The pastors have been Rev. R. Hogo- 
 boom, during whose adminstration the present neat and com- 
 modious strcture was commenced, and completed under that 
 of his successor. Rev. J. Watts, during whose; residence 
 here the church enjoyed a special revival, which added 
 fifty to the membership. He was followed by Revs. 
 I. H. Kellogg, T. B. Hudson, W. C. Mattison, C. L. Brown, 
 K. P. Jervis ((bur years), and the present incumbent, Hew 
 W.Bradley. Instead of 60 communicants, there are now 
 1.60. The pastor receives a salary of $820, which, with rent 
 and donations, aggregate $1,165, besides $250 for benevolent 
 and like objects. The officers at this time are, as Class 
 Leaders, Messrs. Charles Ilawle\ and Thomas Hanby; as 
 Stewards, Messrs. E. F. Curtiss, S. Hubbard, J. C. Mather, 
 A. L. Marsh, (i. Morris, Thomas Hanby, B. L. White. A.W. 
 Bogmire and O. S. Howard. What with pastor's salary, an- 
 nual donations, centenial gilts, parsonage, church building, 
 and tin' like, the aggregate during twenty years, cannot be 
 less than $30,000. 
 
 St. MichaeVs (Episcopal) edifice was then like the other 
 ecclesiastical structures, antiquated in style, and the congre- 
 gation very limited in numbers and activity. Three years 
 ago that building gave way to an edifice in better keeping 
 with the wealth of the parish, more worthy of the service 
 
OF TWENTY YEARS. 19 
 
 there held, and more commodious to the enlarged attend- 
 ance. If the late Bishop Hobart could speak of the former, 
 as it was in 1829, in terms of high commendation, with 
 greater propriety could Bishop Coxe illustriously characterize 
 trie present edifice, which he consecrated in 1867. The Rec- 
 tor in 1848 was Rev. Win. Bakewell, whose sepulchre, and 
 that of his wife, is with us. He was succeeded by Rev. 
 Thomas Mallaby, Rev. John \V. Burchmore, Rev. R, 0. 
 Paige, and the present incumbent, Rev. Geo. S. Teller. The 
 communicants in 18-18 were 40; at this time, 130. The 
 Rector has a commodious parsonage, a beautiful glebe, and 
 a salary of $1,000. The present Wardens arc J. F. Bishop 
 and J. C. Prout; the Vestrymen are Messrs. G. Nowlen, Jas. 
 Wood, Geo. Mercer, Chas. Jones, J. II. Jones, II. V. Colt, 
 Craig W. Wadsworth and C. M. Vance. 
 
 St. Mary's (Roman Catholic) church edifice was erected in 
 1856, on North street: unassuming in external appearance, 
 but convenient for the devoted members of that religious 
 creed. Its present pastor is father McGowen, who resides in 
 Mt Morris. Our Catholic fellow-citizens have a cemetery, 
 neatly enclosed, and consecrated to the burial of those of 
 their own faith. 
 
 With but few exceptions, every family in village and town 
 is connected with one of these organizations, having a sitting 
 in the sanctuary, sending children to the Sabbath Schools, 
 countenancing by persona] attendance, contributing to the 
 support of the minister, and other needful expenses. The 
 opportunities forreligious instruction are ample to meet the 
 wants of each family and person. 
 
 The various and plausible forms of religious heresy and 
 ultraism have found no favor in our community. Our citi- 
 zens have been quite contented to accept the long tested 
 beliefs taught, in the Bible and embodied in ancient venera- 
 ble symbols, however antiquated and fossalized these may 
 seem to some, and however behind this original and fast age, 
 
20 VILLAGE MEMORIES 
 
 rather than part with them for what wears the aspect of new- 
 ness and originality", though not sure of being true and safe 
 guides of doctrine and duty. An intellect like that of Dr. 
 Bull acts for years after its possessor has passed away. Re- 
 peated revivals have brought their scores and hundreds 
 into the church within a few months and thus helped 
 much to enlarge the membership and more than till places 
 made vacant by death or removal. Ten, twenty, fifty and 
 on several occasions an hundred have received their first 
 communion on the same day. The result lias been as we 
 have seen, that growth has characterized, each organization 
 in a degree delightful to behold, and that, too, when the 
 population of the village and town has advanced but little 
 if at all. The intelligent public sentiment is on the side of 
 morality and religion to an extent far exceeding that of com- 
 munities equal in size and mixture of population. Any 
 measure obviously immoral and irreligious would be speedi- 
 ly and successfully rebuked among us. This is not to say 
 that we are morally and religiously perfect. Far from it! 
 There arc places and styles of amusement, there are articles 
 of traffic offered for sale and temptations to vice presented 
 to the youth and pliable of will, there are neglects of the 
 sanctuary and Sabbath, with the profaning of the Divine 
 name and despite of the Divine word, very painful to wit- 
 ness. But with all these abatements we have nu hesitation 
 in saving that a healthful, strung, and pervading religions 
 sentiment is now and.has long been in the ascendant, here, at- 
 tributable very largely to early instruction of great fidelity 
 and power, with prayers remembered in our behalf, though 
 the petitioners have long since departed above. 
 
 Domestic changes claim our next and last attention. 
 Whole families have disappeared, leaving no representa- 
 tive behind. Of these we recall the households of Messrs. 
 Willev. Hamilton, Tracy, Noyes, Chamberlin, Parsons, 
 Turner, Sr. and Jr., M. Buell, K. Buell, Newton, Gardiner, 
 
OF TWENTY YEARS. 21 
 
 Crank, Dake, M. D. Hill, Gushing, Scott, Tomlinson, Khn- 
 bark, Yoorhes, Huggins, Davis, Meacbam, Iinray, Whaples, 
 Havens, Wing, Root, Farnam, C. Church, Coverdale, God- 
 dard, J. Bacon, Simpson, J. Ward, McGranor, Rathbone, 
 
 Alexander, E. Boot, and Covert, with at least twelve min- 
 isterial families. Of many of these we can truly say — 
 
 "Though lost to sight, to memory dear." 
 
 The mortuary list is long, and contains the names of per- 
 sons, some of whom have been identified with the village 
 and town for a period almost corval with their commence- 
 ment The preparation of this catalogue has cost me much 
 time and labor — my fear being that in the record of so many 
 names there may be occasional omissions or inaccuracies. 
 In respect to this, as in regard to other parts of this address, 
 I throw myself on your clemency. I shall first name the 
 cast's in which death has removed both husband and wile, 
 passing then to individuals: 
 
 Charles and Mrs. Ann Colt, 1S66, 1853. 
 
 Charles, dr., Mrs. Emily and Julia Colt. 1860, 1857, 1862. 
 
 Russell and Mrs. Phebe Austin, 1866, 1865. 
 
 Samuel and Mrs. Jane Gardiner. 1858, 1861. 
 
 James T. and Mrs. Eveline Norton, 1865, 1852. 
 
 Oliver and Mrs. Mary Skinner, 1859, 1851. 
 
 Cornelius, Sr., and Mrs. Sarah S. Shepard, 1859, 1860. 
 
 Matthew, Sr., and Mrs. Nabby Turner, 1867, 1858. 
 
 Rev. William J. and Mrs. Bakewell, 1861. 
 
 Lyman, Jr., and Mrs. Martha Turner, 1861, 1858. 
 William and Mrs. MaryB. II. Doty, 1861, 1866. 
 
 Moses and Mrs. Hetty Hunt, 1858, 1859. 
 
 David and Mrs. Catherine McMurrav, 1857, 1855. 
 Alverius and Mrs. Lydia Willard, 1862, 1856. 
 
 Robertand Mrs. Catherine Iinray, 1856, 1861. 
 Isaac and Mrs. Mary P. Hall, 1850. 
 
 Albert and Mrs. Darling, 1853. 
 
 Stephen and Mrs. Sarah Heath, 1867, 1859. 
 
22 
 
 VILLAGE MEMORIES 
 
 James and Mrs. Margaret Wood, 1867, 1858. 
 John and Mrs. Sarah Van Grorder, 1851, 1851. 
 Rev. Frederick and Mrs. Abba M. Lewin, 1867, 1866. 
 William M. and Mrs. Mary Bond, 1861, 1850. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Sarah Hueston, 1864, 1867. 
 Samuel and Mrs. B. Nimms, 1866. 
 Silas and Mrs. Laura B. Smith, 1867, 1851. 
 Jasper and Mrs. Mary J. Johnson, 18 — , 1853. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Lambert, 1868. 
 Wm. H. and Mrs. Laura E. Spencer, 1851, 1864. 
 Anson and Mrs. Sarah Whaples, 1852, 1861. 
 Jabez and Mrs. Mary Ranney, 1857, 1858. 
 Rev. John B. and Mrs. Jemima Hudson, 1857, 1857. 
 Roger and Mrs. Sarah Metcalf, 1857, 1852. 
 Charles and Mrs. Sarah McGanor, 
 John and Mrs. Graham, 1867, 1853. 
 James and Mrs. Lydia McCone, 1865, 1850. 
 Silas and Mrs. Electa Whitney, 1853, 1857. 
 B. J. and Fanny Johnson, 1858, 1859. 
 We pass then to record the names of persons who were in 
 ad nit years : 
 
 John McBride 1 810 
 
 Ogden Willey 1849 
 
 Elias Clark . .' 1849 
 
 Robert Gill 1851 
 
 Levi Jordan 1849 
 
 Hurry Clement 1849 
 
 David Shepard 1850 
 
 Silas Whitney 1850 
 
 John Van Volkemberg 1850 
 
 Mr. Lamphier 1850 
 
 James Heed 1853 
 
 Mr. Gregg 1850 
 
 Christopher Dunn 1851 
 
 Park Allen 1850 
 
 Charles Could 1851 
 
 John Bennett 1850 
 
 Ex. -Gov. John Young 1852 
 
 William W. Wadsworth 1852 
 
 T. ,v M. Hacket 1850 
 
 AnIiIm-1 Atkins 1852 
 
 Silas M. Dowzer 1852 
 
 Geo. Mercer 1 852 
 
 Campbell Harris 1853 
 
 Chauncey Shepard 1854 
 
 Robert McBride 1 854 
 
 Hew Abraham Foreman 1854 
 
 Peter Weller 1854 
 
 Thomas Boyd 1854 
 
 Abiram Howe 1854 
 
 Amos Kellogg 1 854 
 
 Samuel Hambo 1 856 
 
 Rev. Leverett Richmond 1 8 ."» G 
 
 William Huggins 1856 
 
 Geo. Henry Xeir 1856 
 
 Alexander Robinson 1857 
 
 Eezekiah Baunev 1857 
 
 Edward R.JVun.' 1857 
 
 R. Tomlinson 1857 
 
 Chauncey R. Bond 1857 
 
 Davis Darling 1858 
 
 William Bridgeland 1858 
 
 David Griswold 1857 
 
 Joseph Alvord 1857 
 
 David Kimbark 1859 
 
 Edmund Bridges 1859 
 
 Thomas Coverdale 1859 
 

 OF 
 
 TWENTY YEARS. 
 
 23 
 
 
 ...1860 
 
 Mrs. Hannah Baker 
 
 ....1854 
 
 James T. Wild 
 
 ...1860 
 
 
 ...1854 
 
 
 ...1860 
 
 Mrs. Ann Griswold 
 
 .. .1851 
 
 A. Stillwell 
 
 ...18— 
 
 Mrs. Temperance Whiting. . 
 
 ...1855 
 
 
 ...1861 
 
 Mrs. Sally Haskell 
 
 ...1855 
 
 Samuel Begole 
 
 . .1861 
 
 Mrs. Lucy Finlev 
 
 Mrs. Margaret Patterson... 
 
 1856 
 
 Felix Tracy 
 
 ..1861 
 
 ...1857 
 
 Hon. C. H. Bryan 
 
 ...1863 
 
 Mrs. H. Ranney 
 
 Mrs. Eliza Jane Beckwith. . . 
 
 1851 
 
 E. H. Perkins 
 
 . ..1862 
 
 ...1857 
 
 
 ..1862 
 
 Mrs. Hannah C. Baker 
 
 ...1858 
 
 J. Oakley Doty 
 
 ..1862 
 
 
 
 Z. H. Manley 
 
 ..1862 
 
 Mrs. Cotterell 
 
 1858 
 
 
 ..1862 
 
 Mrs. Earriel Birge 
 
 ...1861 
 
 Simeon Sage 
 
 ...1862 
 
 Mrs. Sarah McBride 
 
 ...1862 
 
 
 . .1862 
 
 
 1862 
 
 William Scott 
 
 . ..1863 
 
 
 1862 
 
 
 ...1864 
 
 Mrs. Ann Eliza Sage 
 
 ...1862 
 
 
 ...1863 
 
 
 ...1864 
 
 
 ...1863 
 
 Mrs. Ellen Barregan 
 
 ....1864 
 
 Ephraim Willard 
 
 ...1864 
 
 .Mrs. Ruth Hubbard 
 
 Mrs. Rhoda Griswold 
 
 1864 
 
 ...1864 
 
 Brig-. G-en. Jas. S. Wadsworth 
 
 . .1864 
 
 
 . .1864 
 
 Mrs. Fanny Kelly 
 
 ....1864 
 
 
 ...1865 
 
 Mrs. Mary E. Carraghan. . . . 
 
 ...1864 
 
 
 ..1865 
 
 
 ....1865 
 
 
 ..1864 
 
 Mrs. Lucy B. Champ 
 
 ....1865 
 
 
 ...1862 
 
 Mrs. Mary G. Young 
 
 .. ..1865 
 
 
 
 Mrs. Charlotte Stafford 
 Mrs. Mary A. Meacham. . . . 
 
 , .1865 
 ...1859 
 
 
 . ..1866 
 
 
 ..1866 
 
 
 ...1866 
 
 
 . .1866 
 
 
 ...1866 
 
 
 
 Mrs. Sarah Wilson 
 
 1866 
 ...1866 
 
 
 ....1863 
 
 John Kelly 
 
 ...1866 
 
 Mrs. Desire Churchill 
 
 ...1868 
 
 Peter Weller 
 
 ....1866 
 
 
 ...1867 
 
 
 . . 1 866 
 
 
 ...1867 
 
 
 . .1867 
 
 
 ...1867 
 
 
 ..1867 
 
 
 ...186S 
 
 
 ..1868 
 
 Mrs. Eliza Cully 
 
 ...1868 
 
 
 ..1868 
 
 
 .. .1868 
 
 
 1868 
 
 
 . .1868 
 
 
 1868 
 
 
 ..1849 
 
 Rev. Chas. 0. Hill 
 
 ...1862 
 
 Mr-. Nancy Warford 
 
 .. L849 
 
 
 . .1850 
 
 
 ...1850 
 
 
 ...1850 
 
 Mrs. Charlotte Scliermerhorn. 
 
 ...1851 
 
 Peter Weller 
 
 ...1851 
 
 ! Mrs. Antoinette Hamilton. . . 
 
 ..1854 
 
 Alexander Robinson 
 
 .1854 
 
 
 
 
 ...1854 
 
 
 ..1852 
 
 Lucius P. McCone 
 
 ...1854 
 
 
 ...1852 
 
 
 ...1854 
 
 
 ..1853 
 
 
 ...1854 
 
 
 is;,:: 
 
 
 1854 
 ..1861 
 
 
 ..1853 
 
 Mrs. Amanda Chamber lin. . . . 
 
 ..1853 
 
 Thos. Boyd 
 
 
 
 1854 
 ...1858 
 
 
 ..1856 
 
 Mrs. Hulda A . Greene 
 
 ..1855 
 
 Henry D. Ward 
 
 ..1858 
 
 
 
 
 ...1866 
 
 
 1854 
 
 
 1862 
 
 i 
 
24- 
 
 VILLAGE MEMORIES 
 
 Jewett Calkins 1864 
 
 Win. A. McCone 1862 
 
 Horace F- Shepard 1864 
 
 Samuel II. Lauderdale 1864 
 
 Erastus Hubbard 1865 
 
 Robert F. Patterson I860 
 
 Solomon Park.-; 1859 
 
 Ogden Decker 1866 
 
 Frank A. North 1866 
 
 Charles A. French 1847 
 
 Mortimer Craig 1867 
 
 Lucien A. Berry 1861 
 
 Loring W. Olmstead 1867 
 
 George Burlev 1867 
 
 Malcolm McLeod 1868 
 
 James Calkins 1868 
 
 Joseph West 1868 
 
 Henrietta (i ill 1849 
 
 Helen Shepard 1849 
 
 Miss Smith 1851 
 
 Ann McCoy 1854 
 
 Mary McBrkle 1857 
 
 Mary Thompson 1856 
 
 Elizabeth Bridges 1858 
 
 Mary Bryan 1 860 
 
 Agnes Robinson 1861 
 
 Martha Beekwith 1861 
 
 Sarah Jane Parsons 1859 
 
 Virginia Chamberliu 1S53 
 
 Martha Voorhes 1853 
 
 Mary Walker 1 36 1 
 
 Anna White 1865 
 
 Lydia S. Griswold 1863 
 
 Emily Griswold 1863 
 
 Caroline Squire 1866 
 
 Sarah Smith 1866 
 
 Kitty Bosley 1861 
 
 Augusta Pierson 1867 
 
 Mary M. Sheldon 1867 
 
 This catalogue does not contain the names of the chil- 
 dren and infants who passed from the cradle and nursery to 
 the tomb. These are omitted, not because unworthy of 
 special mention. Ah, no! Myself a parent, and one who 
 has followed to the grave fond ones of the home groupe, I 
 have no sympathy with the remark, "It is only an infant." 
 In the case of some of your households, it was an only child 
 — a removal of the onl\ r flower in the garden — hushing the 
 voice of the only songbird. I am reluctantly compelled, 
 through lack of time, to do more than mention that in our 
 village many parents have heard the voice, "Suffer the little 
 children to come unto Me, and forbid them not, for of such 
 is the kingdom of Mod." 
 
 The average number of annual adult deaths has been 12 
 which with about 3 children, gives 15 in a population of 
 2,000. Those of the male sex arc about one-half more than 
 the female. While this difference, (not peculiar to our own 
 village,) is attributable in part to careless, and, in some cases, 
 vicious habits of life, the more general cause is long expo- 
 sures to vicissitudes of weather and the harrassing anxieties 
 of business complications. The years of what is termed 
 the weaker sex are as a general rule in this land, extended 
 
f 
 
 OF TWENTY YEARS. ZO 
 
 far beyond those of their masculine companions. Hence 
 the widows weeds are seen so abundantly in any large as- 
 seinblage of persons. 
 
 My task is done. An undertaking that has cost me many 
 laborious hours is accomplished with defects it is feared, but 
 with an honest desire and studied effort at accuracy of event 
 and name and date. It is complete so far as consistent with 
 the propriety of the occasion and the limit of your patience. 
 The effort will meet with your appreciation and the faults 
 with your forgiveness. 
 
 I will detain you no longer than to thank you for the 
 many kindnesses of which my family and I have been the 
 recipients during these twenty years. Looking through- 
 out this county, I find myself the oldest installed pastor in 
 active service but one— Rev. Thomas Aitken, of Sparta. 
 Through the partiality and forbearance of tried friends,! am 
 still among you, and am your "servant for Jesus sake." I 
 have stood at the dying bed, and followed to their final 
 home and performed the last religious duty to a large pro- 
 portion of those whose names have been given above. 
 There are few dwellings of any religious society where I 
 have not performed some official act. 
 
 This cannot long continue. Great changes will occur ere 
 another occasion like the present return. Many among us 
 will be in our graves. The adults will be aged and toil- 
 worn with life's cares. The now children will occupy the 
 stage of earnest action. As citizens of this first of nations 
 let us be loyal in feeling and deed ; as residents in this Eden 
 valley, let us be fraternal in the habit of our daily life, and 
 strive to make the place of our abode attractive by the re- 
 finements of a cultivated taste and high moral tone and in- 
 fluence; — and as the creatures of God, the ransomed by the 
 atonement of His Son, and the heirs of immortality let us 
 act worthy of our parentage, our duty, and our destiny. 
 
\ 
 
 26 VILLAGE MEMORIES 
 
 Such should be the aim of our life, as it is the purpose of 
 our creation and redemption. 
 
 ••Rejoice with trembling, mourn with hope. 
 Take life as life was given. 
 
 Its rough ascent, its flowery slope. 
 May lead alike to heaven " 
 
 „«2 ARY of ingress 
 
 ■IIIifWB