Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-09-27
ADDRESS,


BY 4. c. DIXON, ESQ.
At the celebration of the One Hundredtn
Birthday of Robert Hansford, held at
the Union Church at Underhlli Centre'
Vt, September l0,h 1867.
Ma. ROBERT HASAFoKD-We are always
happy to DO honor TO the aged, to give 10
venerable years reverence, to the bowed ioim
support and good cheer. But 1t is our Pc
cuiiar delight to-day to look with feelings OF
tenderness AKIN to love upon this Patriarch.
whose crown is of silyery whItenes-, ana
whose years number a century OF time.
To one Just assuming the duties OF man
hood, IL seems impossible to realize what
wouli be most appropriate to say on an DC,
casiOn like the present. The sunshine ana
the shadow Of our lives have followed eaeh
OTHER in such rapid Succession, that our jour
new seems but dream--but the voyage o.
q nights Inconsistencies in sleep, and yet
the years with this assemblage are numbered
from units TO fourscOre.
To all of US save one, an hundred years
Of life il incopprehensIble, is thought that
b wIlders the mind, and It's realization no
imagination can picture. Our paIiaIehai
friend OF to-day would tell us, how Driei
seems TO him the past Of life, and vet, LOT d
moment consider that eighteen men oil tne
age uf Mr.. HanaioTd, each leaving this world
as his successor was usheTed in, by the clasp
ing OF their hands would nearly link us IN
the chain OF time with the dawn Of Bethle-
hen star.
What a history is contained in even one
of these links in the chain Of being; yet how
! little SPACE does it occupy. The life OF our
/ -. md in hIa ralQEl exc
| perience has been an eveniful one. lie mas
| nved during the most stirring age IN the
worlds history The brightest lumlnaries
in the world of morals end letters, IN tht
contest OF arms, and in the halls OF leglsA'
ton, have in his day arisen IN their spienOoi
and glory, and after shining their briei time
have sunk beneath his gaze. Inc grea'
Questions of Government have been solved
la his time. .
Memory has faithfully preserved Tor hiu
the remembrance Of our Revolution ou'
trials, and our victory-of Napoleon as
cendant and banIshed, OF changes IN th'
mapping of the world Of Power; oi our sec
oud struggle with England; OF the brilllan
minds who have established and ezpounde'
the great principles of our Free Government
Of the inventions and novelties OF the age
OF steam power and electricity Gagged an
at the will Of man Of our later struggl
with Rebellion. What comfort must Their
be to him, in the thought that he has seei
both the establishment and the salvation q
o common country; that he has been Il
active lite in the times OF Washington, IN
Father Of our Country, and Its Saviour
Abraham Lincoln. lie can say 10 Us tO-da
rruly all these have | witnessed /; change
have passed before me like panorama ,riya
ling the utmost conception OF the skilled an
imaginative painter and were his streDgt
If voice sufficient he would tell US that hl
experience should teach Us 10 look iorWar
10 greater changes IN our future, 10 reallz.
tions more grand than our lmaglnings ca
Conceive. Even at his advanced age. his II
tercst in the events Of the war Just clUset
was constantly manifested BY his eagerne
, TO hear the reading OF the news MY al
as il endowed win the enthusiasm OF pa
riot Of the Revolution, be gave ,xpresslu
3, TO bis feelings Of satisfaction at our success
p and OF disappointment az our reyerses.
This an occasion which few shall eve
witness Who OF our acquaintance has eve
. re .ched this great age? Who that have
rived at four score years possess that strengi
OF BODY, elasticity OF step, and yigor Of min
youcl s4ied TO Mr. HanalOrd, uuaided waikiki
o irvm the home OF his grand children and b
! great grand children u shake hands with
a and receive our congratulations and Tlbut
of RESPECT THIS truly Is time when ieastn
d when anksgiying and praise should be 4
n rule, Tor We have with u centenaTlan, o
n of A thousand, and teheye with the Angl
Saxon blood the PERCENTAGE Is much L.
especially IN this age OF la-t ideas and Ia
:, living. Not one % us can reasonably expe
If TO reach the age Of our friend, whom We c.
graduate that bis allotment Of life has be
- great. Ii seems more flung that othC
y Older than myself should be heard upon Il
e occasion. MIR Hanaiord, | therefore lea
:. xon with these heartfelt wishes, that Il
NAV not be to you burden, but that y
Il may continue to enjoy your present eompa
y alive health yet many years. and that =
NAV have the same interest Ia life - please
Tor Us all 10 witness.
: The friends ana relatives Of the family La
e kindly given me brief rcminiscences Of t
o one IA whose honor We are assembled.
Born in the town Of Cant, rbury, NJ
HAMPSHIRE, September lOth. \. D., II
ii his early years were passed surrounded
Is those dangers and yIcIssItut,s, the inhe
. lance OF the pioneers OF New England.
French and Indian wars then menuced 1
neaAe and security OF border life. The fl
s auent Incursions and raids OF the Buti
q ttoops rendered his early hie one OF Eardsh
and often OF priyation and sickness. ",
e does be remember. when scarcely at the a
c Of nine years, the call MADE upon the hea
Q Of neIghborlng families 10 rally 10 the re
devious, and placing the women and childr
IN one OF the log cabins OF the early settler
y the husbands anO iSthers repairing 10 th'
= designated rendezvous awaiting the call
minute men Tor the defence OF their Eom
. and loved ones.
Thus we have the man who can link
b with the deeds Of daring, with the sacrhe
of comforts-cven OF life, IN those da
DAYS in our couniry's history. At the o.
of Fix Years, and at the time OF his iaiheT
K death, be cOmmeuced to reside with his u
I Gle Jacob SIbley, IN the town OF hopkinto
New HsmphIre. He remained with hIs unc
y, IN HopkInton until be was twenty ole yea
j of age. lie in the twenty second year
e his age married, and removed 70 Euheld,
H.. where be resided about iorty years, II
ing in the discharge OF all his duties, Dol
in society and domestic lie, with honor, vii
ingly accorded by all those with whom
2 was associated From. Enfield be remove
to Canada, remaining there tor the space
about three years. From Canada he r
D moved to Undcrhill, Vermont, where he hi
e since renamed.
For the frst President. under the const
tuition of the United States, George Wasl
ington, our friend voted, he being then oy'
twenty two years OF age, and he has cast
ballot for every President, We think, wit
the exception Of the election OF 1852.
Personal.
, ConOreeemau Finnev oT PENNSYLVANIA