The Portland daily press., 1863-02-20
Interesting Centennial Celebration,

10 Hc 1udoFo W Gtc Afeoos
Mr.. Amaziah Goodwin, now living at Alfred
in this State, was one hundred years old on the
10th inst. At eleven o'clock A. NJ, about for
ty of his descendants and large company of
the citizens of all ages, assembled at the town
hall in A., to celebrate the day. The follow
ing were the exercises of the occasion, over
which B. j. Herrick, Esq, presided with his
accustomed urbanity:
Invocation by Rev. Mr.. Lewis of Lyman;
reading the Scriptures by Rev. Mr.. Thomp-
son, Of Alfred; Rev. Mr.. CARROT Alfred read
a hymn which was sung; prayer was offered
by Rev. Mr.. Moore of Alfred.
The following hymn composed for the occa-
sion, was sung:
My journey now so very long,
The Lord with good hath crowned;
To him be paid my thankful song,
For many mercies found.
Tis said the term of mortal life
Is threescore years and ten;
But I've passed through longer strife
Than millions do of men.
One hundred years ago to-day
first beheld the light;
The stars did shed friendly ray,
With promise fair and bright.
But few, as /, have fully shared
The joys of health and strength;
With sense and reason kindly spared,
hundred years at length.
The many friends whom have known
In "days of auld lang syne,''
Like sweet vision all have flown,
And left me to repine.
My aged wife, with whom in love
So long had one home,
She too, at last, has gone above,
And soon my change will come!
I'm left alone like some old tree, .es
The woods around all gone;
An oak that stands century,
Now, failing and alone.
Yet not alone; for children dear
Are spared with me to stay,
And come to bid my heart good cheer,
This wonderful birthday.
Alone I'm not; for thou, my God,
Art ever with me still;
Thy mercy crowned the path I've trod,
And waits me at thy hill!
A hundred years not many see!
And yet how short and few,
Compared with long eternity,
. Which may be kept in view.
and Judge Goodenow. The friends present
made generous donation to Mr.. Goodwin,
after which the company, numbering about
200, were invited to partake of refreshments
provided for the occasion. Two youthful
grandsons, Messrs. Shackford, merchants of
Boston, whose heads were silvered over with
gray hairs, waited upon their venerable grand
sire to the table. The members of the Alfred
Band offered their services, which were CRATE
fully accepted, and they enlivened the scene
with excellent music.
Mr.. Goodwin was born In Somersworth, n.
H. Feb is, 1853. His wife was born in Do
yer, n. H., about 1867, and died in Lyman, Me-,
Sept. IL. 1850. They were married in Water
boro, Me-, in 1855, and lived together seventy
five years. Seventy-three of these years they
lived in one house in Lyman.
Mr.. G. was in the Revolutionary War three
months, and was sentinel over the boat that
conveyed Major Andre TO West Poin, AFTER he
was taken. He enlisted on the Sabbath, be-
tween the morning and afternoon services,
and received $40 bounty, out of which he paid
IS for gun. This gun is now owned in
Kennebunk, at what place am not advised.
All the vegetables which he ate during the
three months was one potato, living principally
on broth. At the end of his three months
service he received for his pay one pair OF
leather breeches.
He voted for George Washington when first
elected President of the United States. and has
voted at every Presidential election since.