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The Journal & Republican, Thursday, Aug 29, 1901
A REMARKABLE REUNION
Collinsville “Boys” Assemble
FORMER RESIDENTS OF A LITTLE HAMLET IN LEWIS COUNTY MEET AT THEIR OLD HOME, COMING TOGETHER FROM FAR AND NEAR – MANY OF THEM HAVE WON DISTINCTION – A MOST ENJOYABLE DAY.
The little hamlet of Collinsville, which lies midway between Turin and Lyons Falls, was the scenen on Thursday last of one of the most notable gatherings ever held in Lewis county. The occasion was the reunion of the Collinsville boys of forty or more years ago, who came from near and far to do honor to their birthplace, and to clasp the hand of those so dear and familiar in the days of “Auld Lang Syne.”
Some of those who were boys with them have vanished from earthly scenes, leaving the old circle much smaller than it was in those happy boyhood days, yet among the goodly number present were men of affairs and distinction, of local and national repute, who had come to their old home to be boys together once more for a day. The idea of the reunion originated with H. J. Cornish, of Rochester, and D. F. Tompkins, of Utica, who is the son of William L. Tompkins, upon whose premises the gathering was held and who, aside from Judge Scovil, of Lowville, is the oldest now living of the old settlers, and the only one now left of them in Collinsville, who lived there when the “boys” were boys. Mr. Tompkins and Mr. Cornish set the ball rolling by opening correspondence with some of the boys, endeavoring to locate them all together with the various brances of their families, with the result that one hundred formal printed inviations were issued by the executive committee, which was composed of D. C. Markham, of Port Leyden, and D. F. Tompkins and H. J. Cornish. A large number were subsequently informally invited to be present. The entertainment committee was composed of Mr. and Mrs. George Mealus, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Markham, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Turner and Mr. and Mrs. David Hughes. Mrs. H. J. Cornish, of Rochester, was the committee on music. The music was furnished by the Turin cornet band and a quartette of young gentlemen from Port Leyden. The music, by the way, proved a genuine surprise to the visitors from the cities and elsewhere, who expressed themselves in the heartiest terms as to is excellence, which they considered remarkable. That it was appreciated by the crowd was evidenced by the presentation to the band on their behalf of a purse of $30, contributed on the spot. The time designated for the reunion was 10 am. With the hour commenced the arrivals and the spacious, shady, old fashioned, grassy orchard dooryard, so seldom seen in these modern times of closely shaved lawns and shrubbery bedecked yards, was soon filled with a jolly, happy crowd of people. Some of the boys, lead by their old ring leader, Hon. Sam Jones, ex-mayor of Toledo, Ohio, created much merriment by attempting to execute some of their old time athletic feats and games. Specimens of old fashioned wrestling, which the boys called “wrastling,” and which was the chief athletic game practiced fifity years ago was given. Attempts to tie themselved in double bow knots ended in ignominious failure, and one of the young boys, C. S. Gsell, of Turin, stepped in the circle and showed them that it still could be done. There were loud appeals for some one to give them the old fashioned “money musk” and “Virginia reel,” but some way the boys and girls of fifty years ago had forgotten the step and the young folks could not do these steps in the good old fashioned way.
Just as everyone begame to suffer the pangs of hunger, same as they used to do way back in the fifties, dinner was announced. Long tables, daintily appointed and loaded with a feast fit for a king, were set beneath the widespreading branches of the old apple trees.
“The boys and honored guests” were of course served at the first table, the highest seat of honor being given to the most distinguished person present, the venerable Judge Scovil, of Lowville. Grace was pronounced by Rev. James H. Hoadley, and when the repast was concluded provisions were considerably lower than when the boys started in, but the Collinsville ladies were in no wise disturbed. They just continued setting tables and bringing out the good things until they had fed nearly three hundred people on the best the land affords, all baked and cooked in a toothsome style.
Dinner concluded the crowd, which was largely increased by the arrival of people generally, assembled in the front yard to listen to the programme proper, which was presided over by Chairman D. C. Markham, who opened with a few felicitous words of welcome.
The Turin band followed with a fine selection. The chairman then introduced Judge Scovil who was greeted with rounds of applause. Amid almost breathless silence the venerable man addressed the people who listened with the utmost reverence and closest attention to his charming recital of events connected with the history of Collinsville, covering the period between 1804 and 1901. The Judge, who was throughout the entire day the greatest of all the lions present, is still a man of noble and striking personality, tall and remarkably erect and, aside from slight deafness, in possession of all his faculties. He related how the Scovils, the Ives and the Collins family, after which the place was named, came to Collinsville in 1796 from the eastern states, traveling through the wilderness with horn and ox carts and on horseback, each family having all its provisions and household goods packed in one cart. He related many interesting reminiscences of early times and spoke particularly of religious matters, of the founding of various churches in Lewis county, among the earliest being the Stone church in Collinsville, which was built in 1831, and which is still in good repair and is used every Sabbath for services, Rev. E. C. Petrie being the pastor. Mr. Scovil said that although he had lived in several different places since he left Collinsville at the age of 21, his native place was the dearest spot on earth to him. It was indeed a rare privilege for the people present to hear one of his years make a public speech. Judge Scovil is now the oldest living ex-state assemblymand and ex-New York state senator.
“Home, Sweet Home” was sung in a manner that brought tears to the eyes of many. Rev. Mr. Hoadley was then introduced and was greeted with hearty applause. The subject of his remarkably interesting sketch was “Reminiscences of Collinsville.” He opened with a verse from a beautiful poem, entitled “Home” by Paul Kester. His paper was delightful in the way of reminiscences and from a historical view point could not have been surpassed.
At the request of the chairman Mr. Hoadley read several letters of regret from G. H. Pratt, of Hastings Neb; C. N. Owens, of Bradford PA; Mrs. Julia Claflin Upson, of St. Paul; James A. Pratt, of Minneapolis, Minn., and lastly one from Miss Elizabeth Scovil, of Newark, sister of Judge Scovil, who taught the school on their father’s farm in the first school house built in this vicinity. Mr. Hoadley called for all those who had been pupils of Miss Scovil to hold up their hand. Twenty hands were shown.
After another son by the Athenian quartette, Hon. Samuel Jones, of Toledo, gave an address which was in sentiment characteristic of the man who is known all over the United States as “Golden Rule Jones,” and in whose public career the people of Collinsville have taken just pride. He spoke mostley on the line of humanitarism, of independent individual thinking, of independence in politics, of the barbarity of war and on various other philanthropic topics, all of which have been emphasized in his public career and in his writings.
Editor H. A. Phillips and W. Hudson Stephens made some brief remarks, also Philemon Hoadley and Friend Hoyt. “Auld Lang Syne” was then sung by the audience, accompanied by the band. The Athenian quartette gave another son, which elicited hearty encores, to which they gracefully responded. After a hearty vote of thanks to the committees and to the ladies for their hospitable entertainment, the excercises concluded by all singing “America” accompanied by the band.
Three cheers were then given for “the boys” and thus ended the red letter day of the reunion of the “Old Boys of Collinsville.”
Among the large number present from out of town were: Hon. Samuel Jones, wife and son Paul, Daniel Jones and son Sprague and Miss Nell Jones of Toledo, O; Mr. and Mrs. Carl Root, of Bay City, Mich; Harley Hallock, Elmira; John H. Williams, Auburn; Judge Scovil, H. A. Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Williams, Mr. and Mrs. James VanNamee, W. Hudson Stephens, Frederick McCullock, Lowville; Everett Williams, wife and son, Mr. and Mrs. Friend Hoyt, David Roberts and Family, Mr. and Mrs. John Roberts, Miss Jane Owens, Robert Williams and family, Port Leyden; O. E. Davis, H. C. Markham, Mr. and Mrs. Jay Markham, Lyons Falls; Mrs. Frances Markham Timmerman, Great Bend; Rev. David L. Roberts. Martinsburge; Rev. E. C. Petrie, C. S. Gsell and family, Mrs. George F. Hart, Mr. and Mrs. George Mealus, Mr. and Mrs. Rae Cornish, Hon. And Mrs. Hugh Hughes, Robert Morris, Mrs. A. A. Lewis, Turin; Ferris Newman, Lowville; Mr. and Mrs. Home Aldrich, W. D. Lewis, West Turin; Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Cole, Mrs. Eugene Jackson, Leyden; Mrs. Albert Miller, Turin; Mr. and Mrs. Quigley, Utica; Rev. J. H. Hoadley, D. D., New York city; Philemon Hoadley and family, Newark, NO; Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Price, Port Leyden; Mrs. B. F. Patten, West Turin; Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Thomas and Miss Nellie Thomas, Utica; Mr. and Mrs. D. F. Tompkins, Utica; Mrs. E. R. Adams, Vernon; Carle Wideman, South Hammond; Marguerite Evans, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Bigelow, Port Leyden; David Edwards, Utica; Mrs. F. E. Wilson, Watertown; M. N. Potter and family, Lyons Falls; John H. Jones and family, Turin; Rev. F. A. Johnson, New Milford, CT; George O. Hoadley, Indianapolis; Miss Louise Williams, Brooklyn; H. Jardine, Rochester; J. D. Williams, New York; C. A. Hand, Clinton; Fred A. Allen, Deer River.
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Mr. Philemon L. Hoadley,vice president of the American Insurance Company, Newark, NO, a Collinsville boy, and who was present at the late reunion of “old settlers,” writes to the editor of this paper that there was one conspicuous feature in connection with the Collinsville reunion which should have been mentioned, viz: The unprecidented longevity of those old original boys. Thirty-two names appeared on the list, of which twenty-five are still living after a period of about fifty years, and seventeen were present at the reunion. It is doubtful whether any life insurance company can show such a record in it mortuary statistics of any selected group of insurers, and how to account for this exceptionally low death ratio is an interesting subject worthy of investigation.
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M. Elizabeth Scovil’s letter was as follows:
225 Mt. Pleasant Avenue,
Newark NJ
Aug 15, 1901
My Dear Boys: - Yes, in the pleasnat memory you are boys – were I privileged to look into your strong, manly faces still I think I should answer to the promptings of my heart and say “my boys.” It is lovely of you to invite me to be present at your reunion. The letter, the kind invitation – well, I had a good cry. I would emphasize that word good – you will understand. I shall be with you in spirit at that gatherine, but at four-score years it would hardly be wise to give myself that pleasure. You will of course visit that old stone school house, but its capacity (? ) – perhaps the ceremonies will take place in that old stone church. There will be speech-making, etc. My letter must not be long. This thought gives me much comfort, only good men, it seems to me, plan to meet as you do after so many years. My best, best wishes are for you, and my prayers, God bless my boys and make the life of every one to be a blessing.
“Those pleasant scenes on memories page,
They fondly linger yet.
Though time’s chill wave hath o’er them swept,
I cannot all forget.”
M. Elizabeth Scovil
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Owing to lack of space and time we are obliged to omit the names of all the persons present at the reunion, but all or nearly all of those from outside the town are named. Of the 17 persons present over 80 years old we have not received all the names, but among the number are ex-Judge Scovil, W. L. Tompkins, Russell Stricklin, Adam Schell, David Edwards, H. W. Wilcox, Mrs. B. F. Potter.
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Reminiscences of Collinsville
By Rev. James H. Hoadley, D. D.
In a recent number of McClure’s Magazine there appeared a little poem by Paul Kester, entitled “Home,” and this little poem voices the sentiment and espresses the deepest feeling of multitudes of hearts that often hunger for the scenens, and most of all, for the friends and companions of long ago. We are gathered here today in this quiet country village, because many of us were born here, and because we all spent here the happy days of childhood.
This was the first spot upon this earth that we learned to call “home;” and though we have wandered far and call other places “home,” still there are times when our hearts go back to this quiet village and to the friends and dear ones of the long ago, and we live over again those days of childhood and innocence and youth.
The little poem to which I have referred expresses perfectly what we have all felt many times, and of which we have today the realization:
“I want to go home
To the dull old town,
With the shaded streets
And the village green’
And the hill,
And the fields,
And the home I love,
And the paths I know –
I want to go home.
If I can’t go back,
To the happy day,
Yet I can live
Where the shadows lie
Under the trees,
And over the grass, -
I want to be there
Where the joy was once
Oh, I want to go home,
I want to go home.
This village is a dear spot, and the memories which cluster around it are indeed most precious. Before recalling the people and the homes of the past in the reminiscences which crowd upon me thick and fast, I have thought it would be interesting to review briefly the history of this village from the very beginning. I shall leave it to other to recall the incidents of a personal nature, as well as events concerning the community at large.
Next to the little French settlement on the other side of the river, just below Lyons Falls, Collinsville was among the first, if not the very first, village in this county. John Ives came to this locality with his family as the pioneer settler in April, 1796. Later on during the same or following summer came Jonathon Collins, Seth Miller, Reuben Scovil, Aaron Parsons, Willard Allen, James T. Ward, Philemon Hoadley, (with his father Jacob and son Lyman,) William and Abner Rice, Elder Stephen Parsons, Jesse Miller, William Daniels, Ebenzer and Elijah Wadsworth and others. These were the pioneers of Lewis county. A number of them settled in or near Collinsville. Jonathan Collins was the first judge of the county from 1809 to 1815. It was from the Collins family that the village derived its name.
My own ancestors came from Westfield, Mass., making the journey in an ox-cart all the long way up the valley of the Mohawk to Fort Stanwix, now Rome, and from there to the farm near this village. During the first few years the time was spent in felling the forest and clearing the land. Log houses afforded the only shelter from the storms in summer and the cold of winter. At that time the only place where grain could be ground was at Whitestown, near Utica, more than 40 miles distant. I heard my own father say that when he was a boy he once went to mill at Whitestown on horseback, with the grist swung across in bags. The first grist-mill erected in the county was on Sugar river. This was in 1798, more than two years after the arrival of the first settler.
At the first and for a number of years Collinsville was called High Falls village. Seventy years ago Collinsville was a thrifty place and an important business center. This seems hardly credible, but this is the fact.. It was at that time one of the most enterprising villages in central New York, with a most hopeful future. There was no other village to compare with it between Utica and Watertown or Sacketts Harbor. In those days Lowville, Boonville, Turin and Constableville were nothing more than hamlets. Collinsville took the lead in business and enterprise. There were two hotels, a number of general stores, in which a thriving trade was carried on with all the surrounding country. There were carriage and wagon shops, blacksmith shops, cooper shops, chair factory, potash manufactory, boot and shoe shops, tailor shops, etc. And in addition there was a good school and a church well attended and well sustained. My own memory goes back to the days when there were two hotels and two or three stores doing a good business. It is an interesting fact that the laying out of roads in the end diverted the travel and eventually the trade from this flourishing village. The East road, which passes through Collinsville, was originally the main thoroughfare through this part of the county. John Constable, in order to draw the travel and the trade to Constableville, had the West road laid out at considerable expense, and this diverted the travel both from Collinsville and Turin. Afterward Turin had the State road, as it was called, opened, and this again turned the tide, passing as it did from Boonville through Turin to Lowville and beyond. This was the main thoroughfare through the county fifty and more years ago. It was graded and planked the entire length, and was the stage route for many years. This road diverted the travel and trade from Collinsville, and it soon lost its prestige in the rapid advance of other villages. When the West road and State road were laid out by the commissioners, Collinsville protested most vigorously, but to no purpose.
In those early days the travel through this county was very large, especially in the winter. The tide to and from Rome went over the West road, and the tide to and from Boonville over the State road. One of the resolutions passed at town meeting with regard to the proposed opening of one of these roads was the following: “This meeting views with indignation and concern the shameful and improper conduct of the commissioners in laying and establishing the State road through Turin, in which they have neither consulted the interests of the inhabitants generally, nor the town of Turin in particular.”
And now for the reminiscences. Who lived here forty and fifty years ago and what buildings were there and where did they stand? Beginning at the old burying ground there was first of all the Newman place, with George J. Ferris and Maggie as the young people; then the red house on the other side of the street, now owned by Mr. Hughes; then crossing the brook, known as Root’s creek, or 39, came the Root house, with Seymour, Carl, Frank, James and a daughter Sarah, and on the same side of the street the Elder Way homestead, now owned by John Merrihew. Elder Way was an open communion Baptist. Across the street was the Walter Stocking place, afterward occupied by Titus Markham, with Wilbur F., Abner and Herbert, and two daughters, Eliza and Elizabeth. At one time Galen Richmond lived in this house, with his children Hamlet and Jane, (Mrs. Carter,) and Clemensa, (Mrs. Miller,) and Alice, (Mrs. Jones,) and Ralph and Nettie. At present George O. Newman lives in this house. Crossing the little valley comes the Ketcham house, with Daniel and George, afterward occupied by Mr. Mealus, with John, George and Anna, and next doore the Sloat house and family, Elias, John, Emmaline, Malinda, and Mary, with the cooper shop on the street and the pile of shavings at the door for bonfires. This house is now occupied by Frank Turner. Then the James Pratt house, with Charles, George, Eliza and James, Jr. and next to the Stone church the Rufus Lyon place, where Owen Williams and his family lived. On the other side of the church was the John Hughes house with John, William, Robert and the other children. This house is now occupied by Mrs. Wideman. The small stone house, once a tailor shop, comes next and then a double dwelling house standing close to the street. The large wagon shop, with a raised platform on the south side, came next, and across the yard stood the stone blacksmith shop, all they shops being owned and managed by John Hughes. Next to the blacksmith shop stood the Wm. Curtis house, in which Dr. Cornish lived for a time, and which the Carters, Robert and Silas Markham and Hughes’s have occupied. The house on the other side of the street, now occupied by David Hughes, was originally the Brinkerhoff place, occupied by Mr. Claflin and family, Clark, Harriet and Julia. The Hoyts once lived there for a time. Elias Wideman built the house now occupied by Adam Schell. Where Mr. Wetmore now lives stood a hotel built and owned by Samuel Ray. In this house both before and after it was remodeled Medad B. Hoyt lived for many years. Then came the small dwelling house in which Mrs. Williams lived. Next to that was the Martin Hart house, afterward lived in by Geo. Mealus and Hugh Jones. In this family were John H., Samuel M., Daniel, Nell, Alice, Mary and Moses. An old building formerly stood next door, afterward moved farther back, which was occupied as a law office, store, paint shop and saloon. Then came the James Barker house, after owned by Lyman Hoadley, where were two small boys, Philemon L. and James H. Next door was the Owen J. Owens place with Charles, Frank, Emma and Will, and around the corner next to the school house the old double dwelling known as the Perry house. This building once stood near the corner where the Price house now stands. Caleb Lyon, the father of Lyman R. and Caleb, lived in this house when he first came to this country. On the other corner stood the Dr. Dewey house, looking just as it does to-day. Mrs. Dewey, who lived there long after her husband’s death, was the sister of Homer Collins. Then came the hotel kept by Jonathan Hoyt and afterward by Willis Hoyt. Here were Friend, Milton and Grace (Mrs. Johnston).
At one time there was a store in the end of the hotel kept by Friend and Milton Hoyt. Just below was the house where the Hallocks lived, with Wallace, Fred, Annette, (Mrs. Peters,) Harland and Josie. This house was burned some years ago. Over the brook was the William L. Tompkins house, where Dora and Ella were born. This place was afterward occupied by Dr. Josiah Cornish, who came from Lee Center to this village. Here lived Harris, Gertrude and Floy. The Fitches lived here a short time. For years this house was occupied by John Owens and his daughter Jane. Then came the streeter house, where Lydia (now Mrs. Merryhew) lived so long.
The Welch church came next. This building was erected in 1855. Below was the Wilcox place, now D. C. Markham’s and the Hoadley place, now Jason Edwards, and on the cross road the Silas Markahm farm, with Homer C., Dewitt Clinton and Fanny (Mrs. Hughes). On the lower corner of the green, next to the stone store, Levi Hart once lived. This was for many years known as the Charles Collins place and is now oned by the Merriams. Many families have lived in this old house during the past fifty years. The house at the brow of the hill towards the Falls, owned by the markhams, was built by Galen Prouty. His chair factory once stood in the yard just below the house. Between this house and the little store stood the Northrup house, where the father and mother of Mrs. Lyman R. Lyon lived for some years. This house was afterward removed and now stands on the Oscar Davis farm below the village.
Just below that stands the Richmond house, where Mr. Fell now lives. The Homer Collins house stood on this corner where we are assembled, now owned and occupied by William L. Tompkins. Down the hill on the farm where Mr. Plumb now lives lived Ansel Stocking, who had one son, Leonard, afterward occupied by the Coltons, and below the James Rees farm, now Marshall Potter’s. Up above the village stood the Cox place, now the Horatio Wilcox farm, and on the other corner where Mr. Evans’ house now stands was the Hezekiah Scovil place. He was the father of the venerable Judge Carlos P. Scovil, and Elizabeth, of Newark NJ, who taught school so many years in the old stone school house, and Minerva, Jane, Ann, Theodore and Gustavus.
There is the Potter house over on the plank road, where Eugene, Marshall, Fanny, Flora, Samuel, Frank, Ida and Alice were born, and opposite is the old Rockwell house, where Edgbert farmed. On the road to Turin is the Edmond Baldwin place, where Ruel lived, and in the other direction towards Leyden Hill is the Owen Williams place, where Morris, Robert, Alice and the others lived.
I recall the school houses of the past. The first school house stood near the foot of the hill just below the lime kiln. This had entirely disappeared when I was a boy. The next building was the old two story stone school house on the present site, but near the street. That was the building in which most of us boys began our education. In the winter the school was taught by a gentleman and in the summer by a lady. The winter school was large, sometimes numbering as many as seventy or more scholars. Many large boys and girls came during the winter months. I can picture that old school room, with the desks around the wall, and the hard, stationary benches in fron occupied by the larger scholars, and the small, low benches in the center of the room occupied by the small children. The teacher’s platform and desk were near the door, with the blackboard behind, the large old fashioned wood stove, cracked and seamed, near the center of the room. In those days the teacher was permitted to use the rod and the ruler. The scholars often came in contact with that ruler, black and round, and as hard as a piece of steel. The collision was most painful, unless the culprit could slip a spelling book into his pocket unnoticed. There were occasional hand to hand encounters in those winter schools, between the teacher and some older boy or young man, but the teacher usually came out ahead and proper oder was maintained. I recall the names of some of the teachers of those early days, Elizabeth Scovil, Amelia Hendee, Rev. Mr. Ford, a young Baptist clergyman, and a good preacher as well as a good teacher; J. Ferris Newman, Julia Williams, afterward Mrs. Ager; Clemensa Richmond, afterward Mrs. Albert Miller.
Well do I remember when the old stone school house was torn down and a new one story stone building erected on the rear of the lot not far from the present building. During the interim while it was building, school was held in one of the rooms of the Perry house which stood near by. In those days spelling schools were popular. Often neighboring schools would join, and our school would “spell down” the others. The school occasionally gave “exhibitions,” as they were then called, in which the children took part. These were sometimes held in the Stone church, and “the boy stood on the burning deck, whence all but he had fled,” and “Marco Bozarus sat in his guarded tent.”
I recall the sliding down hill in the road and on the crust, the snow houses built by the larger boys, and the cracking of the whip at recess which, though fun for the larger boys, was not quite as enjoyable to the small boy at the end of the long line. In those days general training was just going out of fashion; but Gie Hallenbeck used to marshal the boys and put them through the manual of arms with broomsticks and clubs for guns.
Who can forget the fourth of July celebrations of those early days; the husking bees on the floor of the great barn, lasting sometimes well into the night, followed by a generous supper, in which pumpkin pie had a conspicuous place? Ini the spring there was the maple sugar making and the delights of jack wax in the maple woods or in the house. Some of the happiest of childhood memories are those associated with the village green. The games of “I spy” and “ball” and “tag” and “quoits” – who can forget? Do you remember the two bells, one of them cracked, that summoned the Owens and the Hoadley boys at 9 o’clock every night?
One of the old landmarks still standing is the Stone church. Mrs. E. H. Colton, of Yorkville, Ill., a daughter of Levi Hart, wrote a letter to her brother, S. C. Hart, on August 15, 1883, in which she gives an account of the way the old Stone church came to be built:
“In 1833-34 a temperance meeting had been appointed to be held in the stone house in Collinsville. The lecture was to be given by that then popular speaker from New England, Mr. Turner. The house was crowded with an expectant audience, and as Mr. Turner was about to commence his lecture, Homer Collins around and enquired by what authority such a crowd of people had gathered there to hear a temperance lecture without permission from the trustees, saying the house was built for educational purposes, and not for such gatherings. While he was proceeding with such talk as this, Levi Hart’s house was filled and the lecture was listened to with marked attention.
The very next morning Levi Hart stared a subscription with a generous sum for the purpose of building a church where the community could assemble for worship and other purposes without being turned out of doors. The building was to be erected as a union meeting house by Presbyterians, Baptists and Protestant Episcopals. Mr. Hart pushed the church building all through the season, superintending the burning of the lime and the laying up of the walls. He overtaxed himself, going beyond his strength. Before the church was quite completed, on June 30, 1834, he was called away by death. The church was enclosed, temporary seats were arranged, and the first service ever held in the church was the funeral of Mr. Hart. The text on this occasion was, “Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord.” He was buried in the old cemetery.”
I recall th eold original church as it was before any alterations was made. It was a two story building, the church audience room being in the upper story. It was entered by way of a raised platform in front. The lower part was fitted up for a select school. For one term only it was used for this purpose. This was in the winter of 1836-37. For many years regular services were held in this old church. Afterward the minister from the Turin church preached here occasionally. As long ago as 1855 or ’56 the old church was altered and thoroughly repaired. The second floor was taken out and the building made substantially as it is at the present time. Soon after these repairs the pulpit was often occupied by Rev. Charles B. Pond, the honored and well-beloved pastor of the Presbyterian church in Turin. I recall revival services which were held in the church in those early days, when Rev. Mr. Ford, Rev. Mr. Damon and others officiated. At some of these meetings the church was packed and much good resulted.
The first church edifice built in the town of West Turin, (then Turin,) as well as in the county, was St. Paul’s Episcopal church at Constableville. That church as an ecclisiastical society was organized April 7, 1817, in the house of Homer Collins, or Levi Collins, here in Collinsville.
Lewis county derived its name from Morgan Lewis. He was of Welch ancestry, was born in New York city in 1754, and ws the son of one of the signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was also a graduate of Princeton college. Morgan Lewis was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. At its close he was made a colonel, and he had the distinguished honor of escorting Washington at his first inauguration in the city of New York as President of the United States.
In closing this very fragmentary and imperfect account of the homes and the people of long ago, I desire very briefly to call attention to just one fact of paramount importance. The original settlers who came to this county were most of them God fearing men and women. More than fifty years afterward another company of men and women, speaking another language, came in considerable numbers to occupy the homes and farms of those sturdy pioneers. These first Welch settlers were also almost without exception God-fearing men and women, worthy successors of those who had gone before them. As we gather here today, the descendants of both these nationalities, recalling the pasts, the best thing bequeathed to us, the most endearing thing, the most satisfying, is the religious and moral stamina of those sturdy ancestors. The religious and moral element in any community is the enduring element. That never grows old. It never wears out. Let us be as true to God, as true to humanity, as true to ourselves as were our fathers and mothers who sleep in yonder cemetery, and we will not only fulfill our destiny and make the world a better and a happier place for our having lived in it, but we will at last meet again on the other side those “whom we have loved long since and lost awhile.”
“I want to go home
To the dull old town,
With the shaded streets
And the village green’
And the hill,
And the fields,
And the home I love,
And the paths I know –
I want to go home.
If I can’t go back,
To the happy day,
Yet I can live
Where the shadows lie
Under the trees,
And over the grass, -
I want to be there
Where the joy was once
Oh, I want to go home,
I want to go home.
Notes on the Reunion:
-It was an ideal day for an out door gathering
-Alfred Thomas, of Utica, acted as clerk of registry.
-It was a great day for old Collinsville and will long be remembered.
-“Oh, didn’t we have a good time, “ was the remarks heard on all sides.
-“This has been one of the most enjoyable days of my life,” was remarked by many.
-Judge Scovil said he would never forget this day. “If you have another, boys, I will come,” he said.
-The committee wishes to thank all who in any way assisted them in making the reunion the success it way.
-“I had rather come to the reunion than go the Pan-American. I didn think once that I would not go, but I would not have missed it for anything”
-The kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Price in providing a place to serve dinner in case of rain is appreciated by all.
FELIX
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