Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1870-08-06
From the Cleveland Herald.
JEFFERSON. July Is.

JEFFERSON, July 10.
The family of the late Joshua r.
Giddings having completed the erection
of Monument to his memory, invited
his old friends and neighbors to join
them to-day in the dedication ceremonies.
The place where Mr.. Giddngs and wife
are buried is in beautiful little nook of
this pretty village cemetery, and located
but quarter of a mile or SO from his
former residence. Thither, at one o'clock
today, the procession Of citizens of this
village on foot, and many who had come
IN carriages from the surrounding coun-
try, repaired.
The monument is of granite, tastefully
chiseled by the sculptor, and adorned on
one side by bronze medallion profile OF
Mr.. Giddings, the work of Mr.. Carew,
the Boston sculptor, lately deceased.
On the opposite side are only the names
of Joshua r. and Laura NJ. Giddings,
with dates OF birth and death of each.
From the cemetery the procession moved
to the court house square. Hon. James
A. Garfield, who now represents the old
district of Mr.. Giddings in Congress,
was introduced and delivered the follow.
ing
ADDRESS.
FELLOW CITIZENS We have met to
dedicate monument to the memory OF
Joshua r. Giddings. The task you
have assigned to me might be more
httlngly performed by some one who
was more fully his cotemporary and i'm
mediate sharer of his labors. But you
have asked me to address you, ard I
thank yon for being permitted to join in
The ceremonies and to call to your affec-
tlonate remembrance the man who was
so long your leader, neighbor, friend
Beautiful and appropriate as the monu-
ment you dedicate, its chief Importance
is in what it signifies rather than what
it is.
The vast pyramids of Egypt remain
as material wonders, but their significance
Is lost. They teach no such impressive
lesson as the simple gray slab which
travellers look at through the chinks of
the brick wall that surrounds grave
yard in Philadelphia. That slab signifies
all that we love and reverence in Benia-
min franklin. Monuments may be built
to express the affection or pride of
friends, or to display their wealth, but
they are only valuable for the characters,
which they prepetuate.
This monument is beautiful tribute
OF filial affection. Its plain and massive
granite fifty represents simplicity,
strength and rcpose. The perfect
medallion profile of bronze exhibits not
only the consummate skill of the artist,
but the affectionate reverence which in
splred his work. But beyond this the
more important question is : What does
1t all signify -? What qualities of mind
and heart does it aid in perpetuating 1?
what will be its meaning to those who
live outside the immediate circle of his
family and friends ? To some of these
questions / shall try to find an answer.
lhere are three elements that should be
considered in the life of man, viz ::
FIRST, what was he What were the
elements and forces within him B.? Sec
ond, what were the elements and forces
OF life and society around him Third,
what career resulted from the mutual
play OF these two forces ? How did he
handle the world and how did the world
handle him Did he drift, unresisting,
on the currents of life, or did he lead the
thoughts of men to higher and nobler
purposes ?
The origin and early life of Joshua
Reed Giddings may be briefly told. He
was born in Athens, Bradford county,
Pennsylvania, October 9th, 1895. His
ancestors emigrated to this country in
1860. His grandfather left Connecticut
for the State of Pennsylvania in 1925,
and in 1906, when Joshua was ten years
old, his father emigrated to the wider
ness of Ashtabula county, Ohio, taking
his son with him, who continued to re-
side there during the whole of his event.
full life
Mr.. Giddings never had the advantage
of a collegiate nor even an academical
education, and never attended any other
school than that kept in the log school
house of his district, and only for por-
tion of the winter months.
His father had fought in the battles
of the revolution, and young Giddings
heard of the stirring times of '76 at his
fathers fireside
In 1912 young Giddings took part in
the war with Great Britain. He enlisted
for active service when less than seven.
teen years OF age, and was engaged in
one or more battles with the enemy.
He was in the expedition to Sandusky
Bay, where, in two battles in one day,
the force lost one.fifth it's number in
killed and wounded.
On his return from the war be accepted
an invitation to teach district school
in the neigbborhood, and succeeded be-
yond his expectations. Hungering for
more knowledge, he placed himself for a
time under the tuition of a neighboring
clergyman.
In 1917 he commenced the study of
the law with Hon. Elisha Whittlesey,
and was admitted to the bar in 1920.
In 1926 he was chosen a representative
to the State Legislature, declined a re-
election, and devoted himself to his pro-
fession until 1888, when he was elected
to Congress as the successor to Mr..
Whittlsey, where he was continued to
the end of the Thirty-ffth Congress in
1858.
The Importance of Mr.. Gidding's
public career rests almost exclusively on
its relations to the institution of slavery,
as it is important when and how his at
tention was first directed to that subject.
t. Il. . IL