Bridgewater

TIn; farmers of Brfdgewatei than whom there are none more hospitabfe and iiulustrious any where believein setting apart one day in the year to gather together for friendly greeting, social converse, and bvicf rospito f'rotn the monotonous, uncea8ÍDg round of daily toil. It is an example that ouht to be followed by fartners of every township, and, we are glad to observe is growing popular. Throngh these gatherings citizens of a township becomeacquainted wlth those whose local interesta are in common, are Improved by contact, and return totheir homes betterpleased with theif occupation. By tlie generosity of Mr. Junius Short, one of the substahtial and honorable citizens of the townsbip, the grove In rear oí his residence la freely given to the people who ma altend. It is handsomely located, wel] shaded, supplied by tables upon whicb diimeris spread, and a Stand for the orators of the day. It is here Wïiere several hundred congregated on Saturday, although tho gathering w;is not so large as last season, owing to otherattractions in the vicinity, and the day set being two weeks earlier than usual, niany farmers being still busily eogaged in caring for crops. The day was all the most hopeful COUld wish, sky clear, weather baliny, and not too warm for comfort. After the dinner liour was comfortably concluded tlie brass band composed wholly of young men of the town opened the program for the day. Hev. Mr. Wastell of Clinton invoked Divine blessing, folIowed by msie trein a glee club. Dr. Rynd of Adrián failing to appear as expected several clergymen of ('linton and Manchester were drafted for the emergency. First to appear was KEV. SIB. WILSON OF CLIXTON, whose remarks, shorn of politica] allusion andanecdete was substantially as follows: We find two-thirds of our eitizens engaged in agricultura! pursuits and aniong thisproduciüg class some'wb.o find it pleasant to meet in groves and interchange friendly greetings. I find in revièwing the óccupations of life, that that of the farmer is one of the most honorable, and he one of nature'snoblemen. All departments of life are progressing, and 1 want to kiimv if that of agricultura is not keeping pace. If our forefathers could look upon the implemente of to-day tliey would alinost weep. I hold the f armer stands-as high as any class in the universe. ïliey are as pure as the Rverage of men; yon vill nol iind them engaged in stock-jobbing or auy other fraud. I iind tliey are the most useful class we have. 1 observe upon the lakea vessels laden with their producís; the cara freigïited with cereals created by their hands. And as a rule they are' the most Buccessful. Two-thirds of thelawyera startin!; out in the world are a failure. I sometimes think most of the physieians are useless. Much the larger numher of merchants fail. As to clergymen, I havn't much to say but their appetites never quail. I find therefore the farmer to he not only the most successful in the average, but the most independent, although iiis occupation ia attended with hard labor. He wlio reaches any eminen'e must labor diligently. üo to the towns and the men of leisure are thosewho havesecureda competency by severe labor, lint above all the farmer's wife beara the greatest buiden. In every home there should be brought things tö make home happy. Music and books will help to do it. Do not look so wistfuüy at the 80 acres that join yon. ïio wonder so niany boys want to leavc the farm. Why is it so "ifrWtryYd piacë'of ïlitit now consi tuted of fourteen patent office reporta and one-half dozen patent medicine almanacs. There should he something to nourish the boys niind. I would sav to every one ere to-ilay. stav on the farm and escape the temptations of city life. l)o not believe all tliis life consiste of flne clothes, display of jewelry, and Btyle. Xt-arly all fail to succeed. Music by the band. A paper entitled "Early Settlementof Bridgewater" was read by MR. E. KAXDALL OF CLINTOK. Col. Daniel Jlixson and family were the first settlers, arriving at Bridgewaterlnl829, Mr, George Lazellehas been a resident since 1829. Jas.Crampton came in Alav. 1830. Thomas Pikut and Holton carne at the same time Crampton and Bolton lived undera tent made of bed dollies until they could erect a log shantywhichwas Bituatedon fliat podat of land formed bv the Raisin and the small run between George Pouchereandthe Wier place. Daniel Porter carne in 1880; also Daniel Brooks, builder of the flrsi frame iwelling in towri; it was the old house of Mr. Vane's sacceeded by a new and better one. The next settler was Deacon Shove Mii:er.fatlier of David and Israel Miner: he took up land now owned by Norman Watson, who árrived in 1831. Jacob Grilbert carne in autumn of 1830 and built a log cabin iust south of Justus atson'a eorn cribwhere fruit trees are nowgrowing. Inl831 theGilbertfamily Ephrim,Platt,Harv'y,Mr3.Haight,Poll8 and Jenkins came. Ebin Lamb purehased the land where .Martin Dewey ives. Elias 1 )arly took up the Dickerson place west of Harvey Calhoun's. Nforoaan Conklin came in 1832 and purchased -he Horace Fisk place. The eider Powell place was thrat taken up by Jno Scott in 1830 and sold to Dernck Owen ind by him to eider P. George llowe came in Nov. '31 and settled on the farm occupied by-Henry Calhoun. Mr. Ilewitt came in '82 and located where G. D. Kies resides. John Veluntinê settled where Norman Conklin lives- lie is living in San Joro, ('al. and is 84. Amongearly setüers were J. T. Calhoun, Lyman Downs taking up the place where Dillhmbain resides 11 Jl JS'orton on the Horace Bartlett place, John Lynch whose domicil stoori just north of Lot Mills, by a spring in the bank, John Douglaswho sold to Deacon Hovey, now owned by Jenkins Bro. Geo. [ngersoll who settled where Hiram Millg present lyowns, Jacob Duboia who entered huid and built where tlie Everys reside. The first rond surveyed is that nowin use, trom Clinton to Sharon, The first masriage was Dennis Lancasterto flarnet Frederick, by Justice H.B. Norton. 1 ïrst white child born, Henriet Hixson,nowwifeofBev.MrJiedzieofSt.Jo- seph. First death was that of Mw. Bolton, buried on nortn side of the run. passing between George Pouchers and the Wier place on point near the river. As her last hou rsapproached she grieved sadly over the thought of burial in the wilderness. The iirst town meeting was held at Daniel Brook'á house, now ('raiie's. The firat supervisor was Geo. ïowe; iirst magistrate II. 1!. Norton; ürsttown clerk Robert II. Ileggie. What a change in half a century! Frora the primeva] forest, beautifu] bornes, fertile flelds and a high state of civilization have been developed. - These grand, old oaks surroundinff us are i portion of the eternal solitudes that extended from the lakes on the cast to the great lake on the west. Had they atongue what secreta of pain, eadurance and suffering they could reveall Give that meanaering brook to the west of us the glfi of speech, things 'inight be tokl that never willbe written in Uic anuals of liistory. Vonder rolls Hu1 silent river, it kceps its secrets, but could it reveal them, tales of cárnage trtight lm di8closed that happened In 1 1 1 ■ longago, of uiiich hiatory can never know. Wliatever has been, now, all is peace and prosperity. These pioneers ii il axiid prival ion and want thai we 'i i fruits ot' their labor. orta have eonverted the wilderness iuto a garden of Eden. Let us chtiish the nieinory of their There foUowed musicbythegleecluï?, and a poum prepared and read by 31 II. GEOBGE 11AWSON. N"ow, farmers and wivea, 'tfs well fnr a daf 'lo takc work by the hiadleand lay ii away, And join hfUida with your neighbor you scarcely have mei Slnce thesummer bcgan with its hurry nnd eweat. This farm in a large ono : thrre's room 'neath these trees, To viait and feaat as lone as you ploae; For ul(i men and young men, for matron und muid, Tü sueially meet 'neuih thia bcuutiful shade. In the oM-fashioned times, when the country wm 11 fff, Wlien nelghbon wi-re Rcnroe - and were worth ometbiDKtoo: Wben tt iHti:h had been cleared mid un acre been WhtT) the wheat hnd been erad led oud a li Ule grupa ■ rnuwn, Tt. e sturdy nrmetl spttler- ft.l! of v.por md life - Wou ld yoke ujj hisoxen, tnUe bablea and wil'e And go ojit to visit - lfWHanc terujed (heu t cali - !;ul it MiQjintsolid comlort to jiurtnis, tmbfei nnd Ui. Nor was it ihotiKht best to fix up nnd trim, Wuli bh'cbcd boots and starohed cuünr, md ruines ami prlm, 'Til lhij men melting down beneath bioadcloth and hem, Hardly knew whnt to do with their hitnda or tbeir i eet. Aüd tin; litbu s, poor creaturea, tucked up to the Chin, Must aroid the least dirt aa a most lieniou aln. And tht Indica, choice murtals, oould slt down with om teur üf a twö-atory extensión built out in the rpur To hamper theii' ireedom, hut vorkttd early and late In b ilding up homes that aliould build np the state. But the door of the cabin on ita hinges tlirown wiiie, And the moet cordial welc-ome to the ntighbors insi' Ie. Twii8 u visit, not measured by foim nor by show, Bat by fríoaÚahip- ucb only aa piouc-ei knuw. B'iund by tios thntwere common, homes rude yet most deal', Surronnded by nuture unbletnished to cheer; 'Twns a hfíirty good wffl at the table or hé- Ñol pretended, not selfish, nol Btinted, hut free - Xhooe wcie meetings, temembered by some on tbis irround, And seeia betterandnobleras the yeareroll around. But now 'tis all cbanged ; 'til rittle and smash, 'Tisscrub up, 'ti.i dresa up, 'tis appt-ftiauce, 'tis cash. Ambltlon holds sway: thero's the etniggle for WB&lth, By foul in.ii ns and fair, by honor and stealth. Thera's do time to visit aüd but little lo rest, liut stake duwn, &u8pend ptyment, and then start out west. Yea, stonm with her Bwiftness raust surronder the race, And the swift winge of lightning must quickcn their pace. Or ninn in his hurry and knowledge and niight, Will push ou in his haate and haroesa the light. For each creed and each iam there now is a school, Aud spurUing and prnyhig ure dono np hy rule, 'Til parties aud obufohes, us too o f ten sooti, May be grounded in faith but must be run by maehiue. And yet while Bome think thia is bad and romo . bnld, Thin rush to the new thls relapse from the old, Whocanstay the swift curroDt of unbeedifig fate, Ile's overwhthned if he hiudera, he's lost if he wait. Tlie grcat ocean cúrrente, the tide's ceaseless flow, Will move ö in their grandeur while plans come and po ; RevolutÏQDS of action or of thoupht ever tend, Though by diiferent routes to reach the sauie end. We're a strange, motley crowd in this land of the biest, From all liinds in the Eaat, 'cross Pacific's. broud brenst, Likc a torren t they come, of all language and creed, TUl the train shakea the nation, 'tls the huur of her need. Let New Knlan's grand precepis, those old laudmai ka of worto, Tbat bave given ua character revered 'round the carth ; That havo molded the farae of the Eat and the West ; That Suve righted the wrongs by the lawe we love best; By píoo een nurtured along down through the yuars, Sustainecï by their life-blood and watered by tbeir tea. Let thoBe preoepta still live though fashionschange wfth the day ; Lot them live though the aep shail p -risli away ; They are ours as our birthright plantud deep in our soü, We hav boujht thom withtreasure we have earned them by toil; Guard them constant and well through the ages to be, And no shame can live long in the land of the free. Music by the band. The principal address of the day was made by EEV. ME. GILMAN OF MANCHESTER. I am not a farmer but I have been a I 1_ V...v I.M-m ((lljtllll:; ,i, ,t science, and sliall make no attempt to speak of it in that light. . I have been just enough amontr farmers to notice some of the errors I tbink they have fallen into, and let me beg your pardon friends if I attempt to point out a few of thein. JSrot that I would think to enter upon a scrupulous nicety of criticism; such a step would requirea knowledge of the öner points of the art which l do not possess; niy experienee in farming has been only such asto furnish me withan observation of general errors, and their consfiquent failure; general correctness in the business and its attendant suceess; were I to go deeper than this, it were better that you were the speaker and I the listener. The first error of which I shall speak is of leaving farms. This is an error too much fallen into by :ill classes grades and ages of farmers Let me speak firstto the youth of our farming eommunltv. Theyarevery müch inclined to take m the idea tliat there is something higher and more lovely than the farm Tliey get disRusted with the spot wnerethey have learned to f olio w tb e team and the plow; to swing the axe and scytlie. One'hears of the man that (roes ont where the cannon shot, and the battle Wade ent their channels of death throuSft the ranks of life; makes a bullet poucli of his body, a sheath of his. heart; falla amid the war of carnags andtheclash of angry steel, and dies like a Spartan with his face to the foe Another reada of him whoae feet are over thecrests of a thousand billowa whoae bonny bark bas broken tlie alumbers of far ofl seas; who dresses Die tales of orean horrors withacharm that wins the yonthful fancy to th-e of home and makes the assooiátion cf the farm gro v tedious, and he foe's a longinjt tor the wild witchery of tlie changing deep. Around anotlier the recitals of the camp have cast a spel; he has fallen in love with the rifle ap-.j the huntera trai] md he dreams of turning his uDoñ me nresHie, tiiat Oeamed on his infant sports and waudering íree, unfettered and alone. These phar.toms, I confess. my yonnir rienda loe v(Ty woH at a distance imd they read very pretty in the N. Y. Ledger oreóme other moonshine publicalion i of Biokly romance, butwhencommitted to the balance of wisdom they prove to be notliiiig but the insipid comDination of haekneyed aonsense whose only office in tlie world is tolinè the pocketa of the vender and prison tlie Boulsand the consciences of the inoxperienced and the young. They are very pieusant to introduce in to farces and theatrical pastimes: l)iit thecold nor'wester vellinir anión" the tattered cordage of the hopeless wreek- the deatli ciad bullet scrèaming near the head, or stinging and burning tnrongh the very fotmtains of lite- the torn ana ghastíy body -writhing in the last agonies of starvation- these are a few, and but a few of tlio realities of that vague ideal for whichthousands of boys forsake the farm with all its true and substantia] enjoyments, to beeome miserable, degraded, dead, long before they have lived out half their days. Aaain, farmers sons are apt to get lilled willi the notion of becoming lawyers,doctors,merchants,dentists,clerks daguerreans, telegraph operators or somethingetoe that will keep the skin fairor,thehair slecker.ilie liuen smooilier, the hands softer and whiter, the whole apparel and appearance more fashionabie and distinguïshed. I wo'(l not speak diaparagingly of these professions; they arecommendable callInga, and it is manly to excel in them noble to engage in them for the benelit of our fellows. They are occupations that are needed and without which community would be worse; but let me say to you that before preferring these professions to farming themind sliould he thoroughly examined, the tastesand inelinationa carefully weighed and studied, and ani is the individual has decidedly greater talent for tl e o Hee, the counter the stndy or the desk, than he has for crops and cattle, the caauge would bs vastly more of. detriment and should by no means be m Am! afrain, tbough theee callings are manly ai 1 wxAi when properlv follow'd, and although Lhey are needed in the world, and must hecessarily be, yei I beo; k'iive to add a few more reasons wliv the faun should be preferred by farmers boys. Unless you are endowed with a constitutlonal or peoóliar taste and talent for these professions thej aic not requircd to inak." you happy, or to make you great. for ir you enage in them without this taste ani taipnt Hipy will come far shoit o, your expectatioris and ■dl'ilg you t,h'oi;L- the worlil a sort of half doctor, halflawf . half sometliing eisp, and lenve yon al your ïourney's end. a very yirornniRnt and Öistingwlshed nohody in particular. Cnleas your disp Bition and bont of g. iiins is actr.ally and uncontrolably estabiished in opposition to farming. then is ,nst much in that prófe to raake ym gi o!. and il leaves just as mach room tor emtnence in the worid au iuiy otlicr. [f the geraj of ti-iie Kreatness in any particular is in the man he can stand ou tho green soda of liis homestead acres and shake the world. II' he is greiit by nature and possesses that Bromeas of purpóse that should characterize the man of talent he need not l'o bcyond hia nefehbors line fenee to make liimself feil fhrough the fourquarlers of the gl be. li! can retaü) m;s tiold upofi Hionlow handles and speak words tfiat will burn away into tlie growing spirit of Üie gátheriiTg future and plant laurels of everlasi ing fame. Admiring niillu ns do not always bow the lowést to him who strides tlie eartli frons pole to pole and stsmps his patli wivli Btartljng tracks of thnlliirr deeds, and deafening clamora of triumphal display. It is' he wlio says that whieh maker lliis worTd a better world,and does that whieh makcs God's greal coiijpion family happier, more fraternal and more eontented. Aiul then tlie farm is so s;;fe. Wben the youth invests Ws intellect, his enerftjes, bis strength and liis castle in üie solid acres of a landed home he is on the best footinjj in the world. Monied aristocracies may grow np and tumble down- financia] combihations may elan tflgether to cheat tlie liiiman race - bank panies may riot thróugh all the golden temples óf the land, vet while seed time and liarvest is allowed, tlie farmer % ith honest conBdence can tnrn his hand I the soil his eyes to his (iod and bid the to rape. Henee yoüng man, my candid advice is don't forsake the i'arm. And this passion for leaving farms has also infused il sd f into men of riper years and longer experiem ê, not so mneh for other occirpations as for changing places, sellrng fui! at every chance of the moon. and doilging froni farm to farm.till Iliis rolling stone gets to be as aged worn-out man: broken down wi tb a bootless round of killing toüthathas broughthim nothing bw , : mrnful experience which it is all too late to profil bv. I acknowledge thatitoften reqnires the strongest judgment and sternest self-content to resist the temptations thnt crowd themselves arónnd the farmer, bewitchinghim constantly witb a desire to make money laster, live easier,see new tbings,orgo somewhere, at any rate whether there is any good in it or )t)t. He hearsof the sudden fortunes njade by the rise of property in Mo. or Kansas and of theuntoldmiltionsdugout of the mines of Leadvillé or some other Godforsaken place; theold farm is soldarid lic starts for the prairies or the mountains; establishes himselr dieresomebody told him milkandhoneyflowed and flnds dross and drought, cyclones and grasshoppers. The man who owns a farm in Michigan had botter stay where he is. If he cannot make a living here it is of no use for him to try it anvwlipie. - Wïth industry, economy and températe habits and a good wife'to assisi he can beeome jnst as rich as he onght to he. Bui if lifi ; ■■ '■'' : '■ aa !■::.■ .}n' J.v: .1 know of no place for him in the world and the sooner he, is out nf it tiio bet Ier. When a man complains of a want of BTicoessiD farming- thai his'cropsfail lethim pausea momentand askhimself if there has not buen a causefor tbat ven neai home. Has nol a lack of enerpy had something to do with it? If the mortgaee lias grown upon his farm bas it not been because the love of idleness or the love for hquor lias grown also If the harvesf faifs to yield Hs plenty is it nol because of some'failure in seed time on his part. If lie sees barrennöss pather like mildew upon the sods hha8 (lied so Ion? lethim recollect some sadly neglected round of agiicultiiral dnty for whieh tlie suffering p-ound cries year after year; and for lack of whieh it sinks and fainta and eeases its aceustomed yield: let hun remémber the tilling thatonce eplivened, the manuring tliat onoe enriched, and the judicious tnanatretnent oí erops tliat once made r'enty smilo upon bisefforta. Let liim wisely m'ark Bad cali to his aid tbe thousand improv ementa that science is constanüy neaving up from the leep mines of cnemistry ana phllosophy and casting within bis reacfi, and he wíl] but litüe need to dream of a-ilded opportunities that existonlyin fancy anionsí greedy Bpeculators, and the mverted brains of credulous dupes. ínstcad of sitting down with folded hands and complaming of his lnck or hanging around questionable places and spending the monev he nreds to pav his clebts :mi] support his fainily, let'him redoublhis knowledgeand hraenergies and he nood ïiot foar tliat bappinessand plenty wül bethe compamona of bis pilgnmagB and conten tment will sweetly bleps his journey's end. It mny 1b expected by some t!iat I ought to stop here and tóll wliat a brave man the farmer is; what anhoneat o how healthy. and liow happy, how noblè, and all lliat soit of thing; but I don't intend to do anytliina; of tlie kind. You bear enoughoï that sort of thing n agrtcnltural addressesand at farmer's institutes - enough to nauseate a whole nation. Farmers are very trmdi like other people- no botter and no worse. I will say thisinm-h for a farmers life. n is more'free trom care and fmm all enticements to dishonor; full of Kolden opportunitíes to be a perfect man. Othera depend upon tlie Öuctuations of rommercial macnineiy. the rise and fall of stocks, the uncertain turn of business chances, the flckle stands of social and linanrial position; but the farmer wlien mönied institidions fail fan Mee to the soil that never suspenda pa inent. Hiere may be times whpn the fields niixy not iild tu the golden store, raay not make thepurse swell and thecoflera grow heavy - thougli your occypation mav lie subject to tbe changos of circumstances and the common disasters of chance- the safest, noblefet and best yon can do is to cling with lionest and unswerving tenacity to the farm, avail youiself of every "improvement that genius places within your reach, study the nature of your soils as yon would the disposition ot' your child or your hovsc, and give thcm íood and teai'ning accordingly. 'J'ale (lie benefit freely of what is imparted to yon of the temper, principies and propertiea of all manares and fertílizers and their adaptation to each particular quality of ground; let slip no wllolesome susigestioii on the managements of aeeds and crops, and bend the energies and ingenuity steadily to the tilling of the snil and that whicfl rnnkes bings and princes tremble will "pass you by like the idle wind." Eevs. Mr. ,T. W. PajTie of Clinton and Mcllwaine of Manchester addressed the gathering briefly, after which those present dispersed to their homes.