The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-04-28

Henry Dittoe. George Z-igier and Isaac
Davis were appointed vice-presidents-
Edmund c. Cusack was appointed ora
tor of the day, but afterwards declined
to fill the appointment, and John B. Or
ton was chosen in his place; John Lidey
and John Law were selected as Mar-hals,
and Samuel Mains and Mvron ii. Orton,
assistant Marshal=; c. C. Hood ana Geo.
Morris were appointed Toast Mnsters;
William Mains (zon OF John Mains
was appointed reader of the Declaration
of Independence, snd George Morris
reader Of Washingion's Farewell Ad-
dreSs. The reading of these documents
and the oration was delivered in the
Lutheran church, standing on the lot of
the Lutheran burial ground on west
North street. The dinner was prepared
by John Orwig, on the Court House
Square-the table reaching from near
the conrt house door to the end of the
pevemept next TO Main street. 1t was
shaded over with brush. and looked ro-
mantically inviting to "us boys" but
nary bite did we get The dinner was
reserved only for those who could raise
Quarter" and the number was gen.
orally small compared with the bulk of
the population.
General Lafayette died on the 20th of
May of this year, and hi. death was
greatly lamented as the news was carried
over the country. He was ~ years old
when he died. He endeared himself to
this country by the aid he rendered dur
ing our revolutionary struggles.
] will recall a few of the marriages
that took place between the 1st of Janu-
arv and the first of July of this year:
William D. Harper and Margaret
Humberger; Valentine Wirick and
Elizabeth Bowman, Jacob W. Spencer
and Elenor Moeller, daughter of r ".
John F. Moeller; David W. Pugh and
Jane Higgins; David T. Musselman and
Hannah Gonglof.
During the same interval the follow
ing persons died: SIubbs Mccormick;
John Finck, sr.,-father of Jacob,
George, Adam, John, jr., Anthony, Jo-
seph and David,-and the grandfather
of many of the Fincks still residing in
the country. He was highly respected
citizen of the place, and kept hotel in
an early day in the present school build
ing in the east end of the village; Mary
Finck, Adam Finck and John FInck .ir.,
were his executors. Mrs. Susan Comfy,
wife Of John Comfy of Pike township;
John Melick OF Madison township, a
Revolutionary soldier, aged 81 years;
John Arndt, ST., aged 93 years; Paul
Bean, aged 80 years; Mrs. Wood, wife of
Emelius Wood; Michael Webb, Matilda
Caywood, daughter of Thomas Cay
wood.
SIDE NoTEs.-A correspondent of
neigh boring paper asks the question
"where New Labanon was situated"
This name was first given to Thornville.
The country around it was settled about
the year 1910. The land, as in all new
countries, was cheap in those days, and
a man by the name of Beersaker made
purchase of 20 acres, for which he gave
in exchange an old black mare. Two
important roads afterwards intersected
his land, and he had it surveyed and
laid ont into town lots-naminR the
place "New Lebanon" which was sub
sequently changed to Thornville. after
the township in which it is located.
The village Of Somerset was originally
called MiddletOWn-from its location
midway between GAINESVILLE and Lam
caster. Tie name was subsequently
changed TO Somerset, for the reason that
many of the pioneer inhabitants came
from Somerset. Pa , and desired to cling
TO an old familiar name that wonld make
them feel more at home in their new To-
cation. ] may at some future time have
accession to go back a little further in
the history of Somerset, and bring up
some "reminiscences that have entirely
faded from the memory of your oldest
| inhabitants. SENEX.