The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-07-12
ST. PAUL, June 26th, 1883.

ST. PAUL, June Goth, 1883.
To II. c. Frazer, A. j. Jennings and others,
Committee, RdueRHa, Ohio:
Gentlemen courteous invita-
ton to be present at the Semi Centen
nial basket picnic meeting on the Old
Fair Grounds, on the Fourth of July
next, of 'such persons as were resi-
dents of Ravenna fifty or more years
ago." came to hand yesterday. The
and the occasion of itawak-
ems mingled feelings of sadness aud
tification-sadness at the many and
irreversible changes that have taken
place in the social and business life of
Ravenna during the past fifty years;
and qualification that / am yet so kind
ly remembered in my old home, as to
have extended to me an invitation to
be present on the contemplated reunion
of those who have survived the ravages
the tumults and the vicissitudes of half
a century.
AS cannot be present to renew ac-
quaintance with the we'll known and
well remembered of other days, cam
not withhold, at least, the courtesy of
an acknowledgement of the invitation.
Personal remembrances and remin-
iscences I suppose will be in order on
the occasion, and / cannot forbear to
add my mite to the thronging memo
ries that will crown upon all in the re-
view of the past.
On the 18th day of September, 1880,
young and inexperienced, l reached
Ravenna from my myMassachusettsh home,
alone and stranger to every person in
the town. The intervening years have
been to me filled with the inevitable
changes attendant upon human exist
ence. l have had successes, enjoy
ments and satisfaction, mingled with
disappointments, disasters, sorrows and
bereavements. In my Ravenna home
spent all the years of my active bus.
mess life, and have deeply to regret,
that with all my efforts and aspirations
/ was able to accomplish SO little for
the good of my fellow kind.
ASH look over the checkered past
can hardly realize my own identity.
The active generation of 1880 has pass
ed away, and new generation, to
which 1 am largely a stranger, has
succeeded it.
May / enumerate some of the active
citizens and men of business who gave
shape and tone to social and business
and political life in Ravenna when ]
became a resident there? l have nc
written or printed memoranda to guide
me, and must rely upon my memory
alone to record the names of those
whose acquaintance L made upon my
first advent there. My memory may
fail to grasp them all, but such as
remember are the following: Darius
Lyman, Jonathan Sloan. Zenas Kent
Cyrus Prentiss, William Frazer, l.. v
Bierce, John Gillis, Ira Selby, Samue
T. McNair, Rev. A. Nash, Jabez Bris
tol, U. s. Bristol, Alonzo Bristol, Sal
mon Carter, Robert Ely Campbell
Lyman HOtchkiss, Julius Hotchkiss
Samuel ID. Harris, Joseph Lyman
Samuel Pease. DIR. Isaac Swift, DIR. 10
seph DeWolf, DIR. Lyman Collins, Eras
tus Carter, Dennis Sutliff, Gustavu
Lane, VIM. King, Robert King, JOhl
B. King, Eli Porter King, Frederick
King, Timothy Carnahan, Edmund
Babcock, AlmOn BabcOck, Ethan A
Babcock, Seth Day, Isaac Thompson
William Goldman, William Turner
Harry g. Thompson, Daniel Dawley
Joseph Carroll, James Perry. John F
Wells, Lyman Stevenson.
| Doubtless thece are others who d.
not readily occur to me, whose name
ought TO be hero recorded. Most O
those named were residents of the vii
iage, some lived on farms in the town
ship. But all are gone. L have sOugh
to name only those who have passe
away. They were all then in the fuI
vigor of active life some in their youn
manhood some in middle age fev
in more advanced life, How many @
these are we'll remembered by the res
idents of today? Some were distin
guished in professional life some th
very leaders in successful business, an
all actively engaged in life's concern
and responsibilities. Each has q his
tory, and / should be glad to note Tia
peculiarities and characteristics of mos
Of them, but time and space forbid.
/ could give the names of many VIII
remain in Ravenna, but their presenc
with you renders it unnecessary.
could give the names of some whom
met in Ravenna in 1880, who are We
alive, but have long since ceased to b
citizens of Ravenna, and are mostl,
unknown to its present population.
The passing years bear us all enwart
and when another half century i
ended, we all shall have long mingled
with the kindred dust, and how man,
will then remain in our olden hom
who will retain even a shadowy re
membrance of our names? Such il
human life, its fame and history
Those who are active and well knowl
| today, will be cut down tomorrow, ,aDt
pass on into oblivion as the new, tn,
| thronging crowds of earth come surg
ing after them. may never again
greet you in my Olden home of hal
century's duration. / have borne a.
best could my share of the burdens
and responsibilities Of citizenship witt
you. 1 have deposited in your beauti
full Maple Grove Cemetery the precious
dust of many of the beloved mem ber
of my household. and had thought a
last to lie down with them associated
in my last sleep but relentless destiny
or perhaps rather / ought to say, al
ordered, and withdrawn me from tn
home once so dear to me, and from tn
burial ground cherished as a shrine
| which holds my hearts treasures. A
last i shall 60 to my final rest in a dis
tant land, to meet, as hope, the love
and lost of earth in a sphere of pereu
nial brightness, happiness and Joy.
To my friends and acquaintance
mere or less intimately associated in
pilgrimage of half century or more
/ I fervently send my benediction an
my blessing. May your last days b
filled with peace and comfort; ma
you be enabled to look back upon a
the advantages of the past with graf
tude, aud in the soiace and serenity I
an abiding trust, look forward to tt
brightning realms of the future wit
hope.
mo more sighs there-no more weakness,
In the parting from old home;
Here is bondage. there is freedom.
There the soul may widely roam
Dash the tear from off the eyelid,
Twas the sharpness of the gale
Cut off mOorings they are fetters-
, Let our hearts swell with the SAIL
. In kindly remembrance of the pas
whether in shadow or sunshine, ser
, you my cordial salutation and M
: heartfelt adieu.
} LYMAN w. HALL.
ST. JOSEPH, BERRIEN Co. MICH,
June 18th, 1888,
Aessrs. Frazer, Jennings, Clements, BabeOe
B0stWiek ct al:
| Vour pvitation f0 q RostYMt Diop;