Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-07-15
The Turner Centennial.
SENATOR HALE's LETTER OF REGRET.
NOTED MEN OF THE OLD TOWN.

SENAIOR HALE OF REGRET.
NOTED MEN OF THE OLD TOWN.
Following is the chief portion Of letter
from Senator Hale read at the Turner centen-
NAL:
have earnestly hoped that might give my
self the great pleasure Of being present when
the people of Turner, where was born and
where passed my happy boyhood, celebrate
the one hundredth anniversary OF the towns
incorporation; but find, TO my deep regret,
that in these last days OF the session of Con-
gress my labors here are so closely connected
with every days business Of the Senate that
should fail in my duty II We're voluntarily
absent.
should have been glad to explore into and
recite the history OF the little band Of settlers
who, in order to take advantage Of the grant OF
the township OF Sylvester Canada, which was
made in 1855, set foot in the township two
years before the Declaration Of Independence,
and then, fell the first trees and in the next
year built the first mill, called "Blake's MIL
at what Is now and has ever since been known
rs Turner Village.
My lncal maternal ancestor. Daniel Staples.
was one of this little band. and the natnes of
his associates. Thomas Record, Elisha Record.
Joseph Leavitt and Abner Phillips, are all
represented To-day in the persons Of their de-
-cendant- still living in the town.
Twenty-thrce years later my paternsl grand
father, David Hale. who, IN 1924 had married
Sale kng>bury of Ellington. Conn, came 10
the town with his wife aud two oldest children
and settled upon the farm where my father,
James sullivan Hale, was born in 1906, and
where was born thirty wears aiterward, in
1885. so that | am, in every sense, a Turner
boy to the manor born.
should have been glad 10 Investigate the
history ami to tell the story 81 thc gradual. but
prosperous growth Of the town. and to try my
hand ut sketches OF some OF the marked and
leading characters OF whose ,loings and savings
| heard so much when was = boy. from my
parents and grandparents.
II would have been = pleasure TO look up
the early life Of that great lawyer aud most
distinguished magistrate. Ezekiel Whitman
who, in April, t.9a, mounted hi- horse IN East
BrId1ewai,r, Mass, and rode all the way
along to Turner where hi arrived in carly
NAV and y he states, FOUND The ground Gov
erred with snow and good slciEhing." lie
established an Office think 81 what i.
known y. Upper street; but lid not remain
there long hcf0rc removing u New Glouc"4-
ter. But he fr,t tried hi prentice hand" At
law in Turner. and from the accounts which
| have beard 81 him from the Old people who
remembered him. hr must have exhibited
some % the qualities which aftrrw wards ma,ie
him one II Maiuc's great lawyers and states
men, and At last. chief justice 81 tho supreme
court.
Turner Wa Away. fun " strongly marked
charartcr-. There was General John Turner.
who represented ~ w,ll III, family who gave
the name 10 the town. y no liyrd generously r.
-f-rrtod by all and whose handsome mansion
rownsl tn rmiucuce 81 Turner. Hi: the
Reverend Allen Greeley. always spoken of o.
-'far-nu Greel,y."a graduate ~ Dartmouth
college. c'a-,mate aud friend u Dante Web
,ter, ril, .hnlar. Skilled thealo-iau. whose
juu-. --.ui PASTORAL service, over the CON
cr,-Af5"ual church {, rIunAr,. IN th, AL ~ pa
81 hi last wears Of iifr. nr. Timothy Howe.
IS n irniisrj fsr morc than FORTY ltar, tn the
North Parish" AMI wrpt. y many ,o.-i
>k,t,hs- about Turner propa. and who Ua-
the father pf IIou. Timothy y. HOVE whu
went 10 Wisconsin ana thcrc became Judsc
ani uifri >iate- senator anI Wan VA. ono
Of the foremost men ~ hi- time; pr. Phillip
Bradford, ~ BrtHfarF- Village, who prac-
decd medicine an oygr fbc town and whose
Vii, To- my fathers hou~e cuul comm, on nure