Perry County, Ohio - Chapter 17: Tile Centennial, 1883

The one hundredth Anniversary of the birth of the American Republic was everywhere celebrated with great eclat. and no where with more enthusiasm and parade than in Perry county, Ohio. Marly in the spring the subject began to be discussed and preliminary steps taken. The people of the old town of Somerset were the first to move in the matter, but New Lexington soon followed suit and other places took up the strain.

There was some talk of the entire county uniting in an observance of the great day at old Overmyertown, (New Reading.) as the first permanently settled village in the county ;but the idea was not very favorably received,, for the reason that there could be no adequate accommodations at that plate for the very large number of people whe were sure to be present. Finally, Somerset and New Lexington decided upon having separate celebrations, and then Shawnee and New Straitsville came to the same conclusion. The Odd Fellows of New Lexington had previously announced a celebration for July qth, 1876, and the veteran soldiers had likewise determined on that day to dedi- 'cate the soldiers' monument, and these facts were considerations that prevented the people of New Lexington from uniting with those of Somerset in a Centennial Celebration.

The following accounts which are from the New Lexington //erald of July 6th, 1876, give a fair and correct idea of the great Centennial in Perry County :

Tue CENTENNIAL AT Somerser - 1776-1876- - - The celebration of the Fourth, in Somerset, on last 'Tuesday, was the occasion of bringing together the largest crowd of people witnessed inthe county "since Work was hung."' vere township in the county was represented, besides a delegation from Rushville nearly a thousand strong, and partics (rom Licking and Muskingum counties, In numbers and in point of display the celebration was a grand success - "the biggest crowd and biggest day" ever known in our history.

The coming of the Fourth was indicated in the early evening by the Small Boy, with his band cannon, his torpedo and his universal lire cracker. Main strect from the school house to Pig Foot Square was occupied by the boys, pickets on the advance line, and a rattling fire was (rapt up along the entire street, checked occasionally only by the explosion of a whole pack by some more adventurous cuss, when cach little chap would pocket for the moment his own single cracker and rush to the spot where the fascinating explosion was taking place. This rattle and clatter and din kept up I about eleven o'clock, when the boys, tired and sleepy, went to bed.

At midnight the sleeping town and 'country were awakened to the Centennial by the booming of cannon, the firing of musketry, the ringing of bells and every instrument and device of noise that could be called into requisition. A steam whistle, the very incarnation of discordant voice, was turned loose from a planing mill, and this infernal thing got down on its hind legs,as though at the doors of Pandemonium, and howled and screamed and yelled until men swore, babies cried and women fainted. The Small Boy again came to the front with his fire cracker, adding to the sublimity of the noise. Occasionally the steam whistle, which without change of note, modulation or inflection, overpowered all other noises, would stop for a few moments to catch breath or gather steam, and in the lull could be heard the melody of the town bells, the music of organ, piano and bands, and occasionally the deep 'and mellow tones of St. Joseph's big bell borne on the waves of the midnight winds. The advent of the Centennial was aggravating at first, but inspiriting, and from midnight until day the town slept but little,and the commotion and busy preparation in house and on the street kept nearly every body awake and expectant.

With morning came on a heavy rain storm, which, however, cleared off about eight o'clock and the streets began to fill up with people from the country. Delegations began to arrive from the townships at about ten o'clock,and were formed into procession by Captain Greiner, Chief Marshal, and his assistants. ;

Mr. W. S. (Bee) Ream personated George Washington, and was dressed in a suit of the old Colonial time, his breeches being more than Centennial in age, coming into possession of his family from Mrs. Ream. Mrs. 'Tom Stillman represented Martha Washington, and did it finely. Accompanied by a military band, Mr. Ream called upon Mrs.Stillman at her residence, and escorted her to the place assigned them in the column.

The procession formed at the public square, passing up Main street and returning by North Columbus street, thence down Main street and along the pike to Dittoe's grove, about a mile distant from town.

Somerset Brass Band. Oflicers and orators of the day. Band of martial music. Cannon and gun squad in uniform. George and Martha Washington in costume. - __

Elderly ladies in costume representing the thirteen Colonies. Thirty-eight young ladies representing the thirty-eight States. Goddess of Liberty in costume.

The procession was the finest display ever made in the county. The wagons containing the ladies in costume were large and commodious, festooned with vine and foliage and flowers, patriotic emblems and de- 'vices. Flags and pennants nodded from horses heads and waved from the hands of the thousands,.as they sped to the grove amid the thunder of cannon, the thrilling music of the bands, and the cheers of the'densely peopled sidewalks.

A group of ladies represented the colonies and states. Each was a beautiful and fitting representative of the sovereignty - the highest, greatest, purest type of nationality, and in her virtues the absolute as well as ideal guardian and protector. :

Mrs. George Brown in tasteful costume and adorned with appropriate emblems, personated the Goddess of Liberty. As the cortege containing this group of magnificent beauty in the gayest trappings of modern taste and culture passed along the streets, cheered and applauded by the thousands of enthusiastic Perry countians, we thought no incident was more expressive, no feature more appropriate in contrasting to-day and its living scenes with the historic memory of the century that has passed, i

Nearly a hundred years ago Ebenezer Zane and Jonathan Zane passed almost identically over the line taken by the procession, in makng the ''Zane trail" from Wheeling to Maysville. Then there was not a house fn the county - not a white man - all a wilderness - all in savage nature, unbroken except by the discordant tones of wild animals, or the yells of Indians as wild. Neither refinement nor comfort, neither protection from the storms nor safety from the savage ; and a descendant of one of those pioneers represented the Goddess of Liberty, surrounded by all that refines and ennobles, and emblematic not only of a free and LS ase abn county and community, but of the change of a century made by the force of free opinion ina free government, and it was ouly the more strong in contrast by the circumstance that with magnificent beauty, al and crowned as a Goddess, surrounded by a bevy that might have awakened the jealousy of Juno and Jove.

_ The delegation from Jackson township, led by the Junction City band, was universally conceded to be the largest from any township and the flay was awarded them. The procession numbered five hundred and fifty-eight carriages passing the American Ifouse, and it is estimated that an equal number came in from north and south on Columbus street, which are not included in the count.

As the procession was leaving town. the delegation from Rushvile arrived. This delegation made a very fine appearance, and was welcomed by the Somerset people in the most hearty and enthusiastic style.

Immediately on arrival at the grove the exercises were opened by Rev. M. White by prayer. Next followed the reading of the Declaration. The stand was occupied by the oflicers, "George and Martha Washington," and a number of aged citizens. © 'The oration, by Ton. W. E. Finck, followed the reading of the Declaration, and was in this gentleman's best style.

Just as Mr. Finck was closing, the clouds which for an hour had been gathering burst upon the crowd, and every thing inamoment was complete demoralization, and the occasional showers following at hall hour intervals culminated in a terrific storm at about four o'clock in the afternoon, disarranged the programme agreed upon, and all the exercises following were conducted under the most dispiriting circumstances. A. bountifal free dinner. was) spread, and although the dry bread gota little too wet, the wants of all who were hungry were amply supplied, and every one seemed satisfied.

Mr. W. E. Finck, Jr., responded in very happy style to torre ton," combining historic facts and pathetic sentiments in a masterly manner, showing a thorough knowledge of the history of our country and a true conception of the lessons to be learned from it.

The ''Soldiers of the War of the Kebellion,'' was the subject of the next toast. Colonel L. J. Jackson being called upon made the following response :

_ "It would require more time and, in view of the coming storm, a more auspicious occasion to do justice to the toast given. No man can imagine, without actual participation, the dread and gloom that overhung this country at the inception of the late war. It was like the storm that we hear now in the distance. We hear the distant thunder, we know it is freighted with wondrous force and livid lightning ; we know it has the elements of danger and destruction, and we wonder in fearful suspense where its lightnings may strike and where its waters may fall.

«'So was the dread and danger then - we knew the storm was in the air and that if it came upon us there would be mourning and desolation in the land; that some, at least, of us and ours would be called to die in the shock of battle, and be laid in the last sleep under a strange sky by stranger hands, without woman's gentle hands to soothe the parting struggle or lead to the life eternal.

'¢ Well I recollect standing by the telegraph operator at New Lexington, on April 14, 1861, waiting in fearful suspense, as the whole world was waiting, to hear the news from Carleston, And while so waiting there came that historic and portentous dispatch: '* Fort Sumter is on fire and enveloped in smoke, but the Federal flag is still waving over it."" As if the emergency and sublimity of the moment had evoked the spirit of prophecy, it announced to the world that.with lurid flames below it, and war's terrors surrounding it, and death's most potent instruments assailing it, the God given emblem of Freedom still floated and was safe in the hands of Flim who made our country free. And that sublime incident, under God - the soldiers and sailors of the late war, His instruments - foretold the vicissitudes and results of the war. The terrible defeat at Mariassas came, but the Federal flag did not go down. The blood-stained fields of Shiloh, and Donelson, and Chickamauga, and Stone River, and Atlanta, and Gettysburg, and Antietam, and BSE Sey and a hundred others came, and the Federal flag still waved ; three hundred thousand true and gallant soldiers died around it, but its stars still shone and its stripes still gleamed in the sky. It was still between us and Heaven in the battles of the Wilderness, on the ocean and our rivers, in the swamps of Louisiana and Mississippi and Carolina - the mountains of Virginia and Tennessee. No matter how lurid the flame nor how deadly the moment, the boys in blue still carried it until it waved in triumph over the capital of every State, the grave of every dead hero, and threw its cheering gleam through the bars of every prison, until Libby and Andersonville threw off their gloom and ended their horrors.

"And to-day beyond danger, triumphant over all enemies, it waves above us in peace, and those that fought for it as well as those who fought against it, together celebrate the Centennial year of the existence of the Nation it represents. And that commemoration isnot as of enemies having opposing interests and hostile purposes, but as friends in a common country, under a common lag, having a common interest and common purpose for all coming time. Yes, all are brethren now 3 those that fought for it and those that fought against it. No ill-starred traitor can ever divide us again; and for the future we share together the fortunes of a common country. Not admiring their cause, but.conscious of the fact that braver men never lived - not remembering in vengeance the errors of the past, but looking only to the future ; we the vietors take the hand of the vanquished and from our hearts say, we are rivals now only as one people looking to the good of one country."

Altogether, it was a '* big day," and many a man tottering: in' his old age, as well as the youthful and vigorous in his prime, will treasure its recollections as one of the eventful incidents of our local history ; the little boy, big-eved in wonder, and perfectly overcome with what he saw and felt, will make this day and this celebration the starting point in the misty memories of future life, and measure his recollections from this milestone.

Jackson township claims a delegation of sixteen hundred. Other townships had large delegations ; none however equal to Jackson. The crowd was estimated at from eight to ten thousand.

The day closed in Somerset bya brilliant display of fire works, and the ascension of thirty-eight balloons, representing the several States - with the firing of cannon, the explosion of rockets, the bursting of fire crackers, with din and clang, and clatter and confusion. And so it should. The pageant to-day was no idle show ; the explosion 'of cannon and crackers not an empty noise; the flaming rockets spangling the heavens with stars and streams of light, not an empty, transient glory. It is the voice, the spirit, the inspiration of 76, running down through the ages. And when the Fourth of July again comes, let recurring celebrations be made with the same spirit as has crowded the demonstration of to-day with such sacred recollections, and crowned it with such magnificent success.

Crpesration ar New Lexincron. - On the evening of the 3d of July, the " universal small boy," whose normal and original home appears to be New Lexington, with several townships to hear from, seemed determined to begin the celebration early, and with whoops and yells, and something less than a million fire crackers, it was plain that the coming events of the morrow were casting their shadows before. At midnight pandemonium, duly modified for the occasion, of course, broke forth in uncontrollable fury. All the bells in the city were rung, the cannon blazed and pealed away, jarring the houses, windows and nerves of people, nobody could sleep, and the pavements and streets were alive with people. The universal small boy aforesaid, unsuppressed and irrepressible, was in all his glory, and gravely impressed with the idea that the future destiny of this country was resting, or soon would rest,

When the noise of the shrieks, and shouts, and vells would subside, as they occasionally did, the concert of the city bells was very fine, ininspiring, and quite endurable, not to say musical and harmonious.

The morning of the Fourth came bright, clear and joyous. The city was gaily decorated, and banners and flags waved and flapped in every breeze. "arly in the morning, people began to flow into the city from all directions, on foot, on horseback, in wagons, in carriages, buggies, and, a little later; in the day, by the railpoaile: By ten o'clock the town was overflowing with people.

A little before ten the procession was organized at the public square, under the direction of General J. H. Kelly, Chief Marshal of the day.

'The procession was formed in the following order: First, Ewing Guards; second, soldiers of the war with Mexico, and of the war of 1861; third, the 'New Lexington Lodge of the I. O. O. F; fourth, citizens on foot, on horseback, and in carriages and other vehicles. The procession, preceded by the Roseville Cornet Bund and the New Lexeon Military Band, moved southward as far as the intersection of Main by Mill street. Tere it countermarched and proceeded northwardly on Main street. The pavements on either side, and the court house yard, were lined with people, and from windows, balconies, and the front yards on the line of march, women and children looked and gazed upon the i IS PH scene. The Catholic Church was very handsomely and appropriately decorated, and the morning services of High Mass had just concluded ; and, as the head of the procession passed the church building, the choir appeared in the front yard, singing in a highly creditable manner, the song of 'The Star Spangled Banner," and continuing to sing as the procession moved by. It moved on nor thward, crossed the iron bridge, and halted at Monument Space, near Broadway, where the inaugurating ceremonies took place.

The battle-scarred and riddled flags, which had been borne in the procession by veterans, were deposited on the terrace of the monument, and saluted by the military. A brief and appropriate address was then made by Wm. A. Hale of Lancaster, after which the following letter was read by General J. Il. Kelly, from General Hugh Ewing, the first commander of the Thirtieth Ohio:

'LANCASTER, O., July 2, "1876. **CoLoneL JAMES 'TAYLOR. - I sincerely regret to say that an at. tack of inflammatory rheumatism, under which I am suffering, will render it impossible for me to accept the invitation of your committee. '* I beg you to present them my acknowledgments for the honor of the invitation, and through them to present to our old comrades, who assemble to do honor to our immortal dead, my profound and Reart(elt

'Soldiers and Fellow Citizens - I have a duty to perform in presenting to you these tatterted flags, with a short history of each, which J almost feel incompetent to do, for the past is so full of recollections that it crowds my memory, and almost chokes my utterance. 'This is an occasion of the inauguration of this Monument to the memory of the dead of the Thirtieth Ohio. We have thought it appropriate to bring together the flags of the different Regiments that have at one time or another, done duty in the same Division, Corps, or Department of the army, during the war for the Union. General Hugh Ewing, who wrote the letter just read in your hearing, was the first Colonel of the Thirtieth'to -which this tattered flag belonged. For want of time I shall not attempt to name the battles through which this flag has gone, for it 1s history well known to you all. Several color-bearers fell dead carrying it to victory. At Antietam these colors were badly torn with bullets. Two color-bearers fell here - Sergeant White fell never to rise again, and immediately Sergeant Carter grasped the flag staff so firmly in his death agony that it could with difficulty be taken from his hands. To men as equally as brave as these this monument is erected to their memory. This regiment did duty in the army of the Potomac and in the Western army ; joined in the march to the sea, came through Richmond, was at the grand review at Washington, and what was left of these brave men returned to their homes. Some maimed, some diseased, and others robust and ready to do or die for the old flag.

''Next in order is the flag of the Thirty-First. Under this old flag I had the honor to serve. Eleven bullets struck this staff, many through its folds. Five color-bearers were killed and several severely wounded. This regiment did service in the Western army, joined in the march to the sea, was at the grand review at Washington, and soon thereafter discharged.

'Next is the Sixty-First. This regiment, like the Thirtieth Ohio, did duty in both the fintars and Western armies ; joined in the march to the sea, and soon thereafter was discharged. "The brave Colonel of this regiment, Stephen J. McGroarty, had twenty-seven wounds upon his body received in battle, and died some two years ago on account of thesame. This flag has been in some twenty battles; the regiment fought three days at Gettysburg and five days in the' Wilderness, and it is a befitting emblem to be present at the inauguration of this beautiful monument.

'Next is the Sixty-Second. The gallant Colonel of this regiment, F. B. Pond, who came home like many of his men, all covered with wounds, was the right man to lead the brave boys who carried this flag to victory. This regiment, unlike the others spoken of, did duty in the Eastern army only. Its tattered flag and spliced staff speaks louder than words of the awful carnage it has passed through. Several colorbearers fell carrying it on to victory. This old flag was in the assault on Fort Wagner, July 18th, 1863, and many gallant boys went down and now sleep in unknown graves.

enough when J tell you that during the term of service of the Hundred and Twenty-Sixth it lost nineteen officers and 490 men killed and wounded. The flags of the Ninetieth and Hundred and Fourteenth Ohio were expected here to-day, but had been engaged for other places which we all regretted.

In sending our invitations to the soldiers of the different wars for our union, no invitation was given to the soldiers of the Revolution, for we knew they had all passed away ; but we invited the soldiers of the war of 1812 and of the Mexican war; and I know of but two soldiers of the war of 1812 yet living in our county - Henry Hazleton, sen., of Saltlick, and John J. Jackson, of Reading, father of Lyman J. Jackson, of New Lexington - and they are too aged and feeble to leave their homes.

'And I see here to-day but three soldiers of the Mexican war, Captain Ralph Spencer, Hugh McGonagle and Frederick Hoffman, and they also are fast passing from among us."'

After the history of the flags, Colonel Wm. H. Free, of New Lexington, came forward and made an appropriate and eloquent little speech, as follows:

'"¢Comrades and Fellow Citizens - When I first looked on these tattered, torn and riddled banners, this morning, I could not refrain from tears ; for many who followed them from the Ohio and the Potomac to the Gulf and the Atlantic, through smoke and fire and blood, now sleep in honored, but unmarked graves, on the fields where they fell, and in the fence corners, on the hills, and in the Valleys of Virginia, Kentucky Tennessee, Mississippi and the Corolinas, as well as on the shores of the Gulf and the ocean ; but still, thank God, under the old flag, and within the sacred domain of our free and united Republic. And here, to-day, I thank God that this nation, aye, and this county, had so many brave and true men who were willing to die; so many, whose deaths were not merely the spilling of so much blood ; but whose memories are esteemed worthy of this memorial shaft ; (combining the holy emblems of Religion and Liberty,) whose names will be remembered everywhere, in hamlet, village and city, so long as memory shall' perform her office - so long as this polished marble shall last, or time endure."'

Upon the conclusion of the ceremonies at the Monument, the procession re-formed and moved up Broadway, to near Arnold's Mill; then crossed the bridge over Rushcreek, and marched into the beautiful grove belonging to Robert E. Huston.

Arriving at the stand in the grove, the first thing was the reading of the Declaration of Independence, which was admirably done, by Prof. H.F. Acker, of New Lexington.

After the reading of the Declaration, came the regular Oration of the day, by Wm. A. Hale, of Lancaster. This was a masterly effort, of over an hourin length. Mr. H. is only twenty-nine years of age, but is one of the finest and most accomplished orators in the State. He traced the history of the country throughout, and commented forcibly, eloquently and grandly, upon the most important events of our national - history. Mr. Hale was also a soldier, amember of the Eightith O. V. I.

After recess and dinner, the first thing in order was the [Historical Address, by James Taylor, of New Lexington. Mr. 'Taylor had not proceeded far until the rain began to fall, and he asked to be excused from the further reading of his speech, as it was quite lenPthy. and would appear in full in the newspapers. ,

The assemblage was widely scattered by the heavy shower of rain, but when it was over, undaunted, the hundreds and thousands reassembled in the neighborhood of the stand, and again were called to order, and the reading of the responses to toasts was the order of the day. Of all this order of business, by some mishap or other, we are furnished only the following :

Other toasts were read and responses given, but they were prboably lost or demoralized in the heavy shower of rain that followed. At any rate, they have not been furnished us, and we of course can not frive them. While the toast and response business was in full progress, there came up the heaviest shower of the day; the assemblage reluctantly broke tp, the vehicles began to move hurriedly and in long lines out of the woods, and the vast assembly poured over and in upon the city, filling private houses, stores, shops, oflices and public buildings. But all were jolly, and kept in the best humor and plight possible, and gradually, quietly and orderly, after the rain was over, the people from the country set out for their respective homes. The night of the Fourth was beautiful and serene, but warm and sultry. Soon after dark, there was a fine exhibition of fire works at the public square, and rockets and balloons were sent up. The streets and pavements were alive with people; and there was great danger of accident, but happily none occurred.

One great attraction of the Centennial Fourth at New Lexington, was the aie aed staffs, and the tattered flags of the goth, 31st, 61st, 62d and 126th O. V. I. The veterans and men and women did not design to weep, but as they gazed upon the emblems of country and death, the tears came unbidden, and the emotion, with many, was uncontrollable. 'These mute messengers awakened or revived many a sad thought, and retouched the wounded and stricken hearts of hundreds upon hundreds of people. Orphans, little children when made so, now young men and women; and fathers and mothers who had laid their darling sons upon the altar of their country, crowded around, and with tear dimmed eyes, intently gazed upon the historical hanners, which the loved and lost had bravely followed to victory or death. ; the number of people present. Twas a rand and memorable time, and'so let it be recorded, and so let it pass down, to be read and: pow dered by the generations which are to come atter ts.

CELEBRATION AE Suawnir. Che Odd Fellows of Shawnee ind citizens of the place celebrated their Mourth by a pic nic thea prove one. half mile north west of that vilkyse. Prayer was offered by Robert Weedy, the Declaration of Independence was read by William Davy, Mayor of Shawnee, and an address was delivered by Dr. RL BL Wood:

National airs were sung by the Welsh choir; and also music bv an excellent string band. T he occasion passed off very pleasantly, aycreeably and orderly, till about 2 o'clock, when a very violent rain and storm drove the crowd from the prove.

CELEBRATION AT Nw STRAtESVILLE, bration at Straitsville on the Fourth was a grand success. The Hibernians and Odd Fellows, in uniform, with full regalia, formed in procession, and made a splendid display. The day passed off pleasantly, and everybody had a good time.