The Portland daily press., 1888-03-17

Among the guests Of the occasion were
noticed the following:
Mrs. Z. L. o. Adams, Miss Adams,
3. G. StOne Mrs. and Miss Stone,
/, s. Webb 1. +. and Mrs. Chute,
Mrs. and Miss Webb, III. b. Cleaves,
Miss Mary Cleaves, Nathan Cleayes,
Josiah Burleigh, Mrs. Burlelegh,
s. g. Chadbourne, Mrs. & Miss Chadbourne,
Ashbel & Mrs. Chaplin, Miss Cynthia Chaplin.
w. Il. and Mrs Dresser, q. ID. and Mrs. Dresser
]. and Mrs. Eastman, Enrique and Mrs. Fox,
III. w. and Mrs. Gage, III. r. 5. Gould,
A. Il. and Mrs. Hill, j. A, and Mrs Hayden,
Miss G. A. Hazen, w. n. and Mrs, Jewett.
ID. II. and Mrs. johnson, j. Il. johnson,
W. 7. Kllborn, 9; A. and MIS-. Kennard.
Mrs. >. and Miss Martin. IL II and Mrs Libby,
f. @. and Mrs. Milliken II. G.. Milliken,
G.. W. and Mrs. Merrill, L. G. and Mrs Nelson,
W. III. and Mrs. Stone, G. and Mrs. Perkins,
A. and Mrs. Walker, Mrs. H. n. Walker.
Miss Walker James and Mrs. Webb,
Dr. and Mrs. Wesley, Edgar and Mrs. Small,
f. A. aud Mrs. Sawyer, John Sawyer
John n Kennard, Z mar; ,"' Rev { Mrs. T. P.wilsOn,
Mr. s MS. Gil. wIllard,G w McGee.
Mrs Sarah r. Webb, Mr.. & Mrs. L. q. Webb
Mr. & Mrs L. Dyer, Mr., & Mrs L. 2. carman
Mr. & Mrs +. A. Usher, Mrs Augustus Perley,
Miss Matte Cleaves, Geo. II. Davis,
stephen johnson, Mrs q Mrs. j. Il. Ken
Mr. & Mrs. o. Fernald, nard;
George farnswortn, Jas. w. Dresser
Hon. A. A. Strout, Geo. ". Norton,
Miss Allen, Mrs. T. f. Edes,
Mrs. Suims, Miss Ruth Eastman,
Mrs. w. H. Burnham, Miss Burnham,
MIR. ana Mrs. w. z. Nel- Miss Ida Berry,
Mrs. sS" 5. E. webb, Mrs rl'si J. Il. Il. Alien Alien
Mr.. and Mrs. J. X. Mar Mr.. and Mrs. Nathan II.
tin, sawyer,
Geo. III. NOyes, Mrs. L. N. Small,
Mr.. and Mrs q. Morrill,, Miss Myra nj. Eastman,
Mr.. and Mrs j. III. Fen Mr.. and Mrs. Frye,
dersOn, l.. NJ. Bullock
Hon. A. III. Walker, Mr.. & Mrs. A. II. Burn
ham.
Soon after o'clock the dining room doors
were thrown open and the large company
filed in and took places at the well spread
tables. There was no special table for dis
tinguished guests; all were distinguished be-
cause all had the honor Of having been born
in Bridgton. The gray locks Of Mr.. Dresser,
and his commanding figure, attracted great
attention. Few could realize that that tall.
well built upright man. was eighty-six years
Of age. lie was a worthy patriarch of
worthy race. After all were seated at table,
Rev. Mr.. e. p Wilson said grace. after which
the following menu received excellent a:ten-
ton:
Celery Lettuce. Olives.
AuiAsS' Beef. LAM" Tongue.
Saratoga Potatoes
,,... Chicken ss, Salad. A..0r,sa c.ks
Philadelphia Ice Cream.
Coffee.
After proper time had Deen spent IN ENJOY
ing the pleasures Of the table. Mr.. Chute
called the company to order and the records
of the preliminary organization we've read
and ordered on file. 1t was then moved that
permanent organization be effected Mr..
+. A. Sawyer, chairman of that committee,
stated what it should be and Mr.. Lot c. Mel
son reported the following list of officers,
who we're unanimously elected:
Presidents. c. Strout.
Vice Presidents-Hon. Nathan Cleaves, Isaiah
5. Webb, Chas, A. kennard.
Secretary-Beniemtn q. Stone.
Treasurer-J. +. Chute.
Almon f. Hil Edwin @. Miiliken, William O. Mil
lken, William +. Dresser, Herbert +. Libby, Mrs.
VIM. II. Jewett, Mrs. Enoeh Martin.
Sewall c. Strout, Esq, being absent on ac-
count Of the recent death Of his son, the
first vice president, Hon. Nathan Cleayes,
took the chair and said;
Ladies' and Gentlemen:
think that perhaps regret more than
anyone else the absence Of the president to-
night. When l was notified few minutes
ago that / was to preside, the first thought
that struck me was that | was too young,
that there ought TO be some older man act
as president Of this association, but as soon
as looked about me and renewed friendly re-
latiOns with my old friends and aSl have been
introduced to about fifty daughters OF my
old scholars in BridgtOn, have come 70 the
conclusion that / am too old TO preside.
Laughter.
a remarkable town. The early settlers Of
the town were remarkable men. Among
them stand out prominently the Perleys and
the Peabodys and the Ingallses and the
Farnsworths, who were men OF note IN their
day, and who filed large page in the hlsto-
ry Of the town. Many Of them were soldiers
in the Revolution, and they were not only
brave and patriotic men but they were inge-
nious and enterprlsing. tits singular TACT
and perhaps one that accounts In some de-
gree for the large number present tonight,
that the most important enterprise OF those
early settlers was to connect BridgtOn
with Portland. The Cumberland and Ok
ford Canal was the first great undertaking.
and 1t was in those days a great enter
prise, much greateter than connect
with the city Of Portland Among the de-
seendants Of these early settlers many OF us
remember at South BTldgton tne ferleys
and the Hales, and at North Bridgton the
Farnsworths and the Goulds. Az hlo the
| Jacobs, the Burnhams and the Lewlses,
| and at Middle Bridgton there were the
| Gibbes, the Walkers, the Merills and the
| Billingses, and many others whose names do
not occur to me at present IheN were
men of character and enterprise. Iney es-
tablished schOOlhOuseS ana cnufcneS
throughout the tOwn and in later years they
the town has prOspered so that we may well
say Of them that their works do praise them.
Brldgton mas aiway5 ~ Ie9n snr Az aiars,,s
In olden times we heard Of the Rev. Nathan
Church. And now as representing the
clergy of BridgtOn have the honor OF intro
ducing neighbor, the Rev. MIR. Wilson Of
WoOdfords.
Mr.. Wilson said: ''lt affords me great
pleasure to be here this evening and look in
your faces, and yet / can say with great
proudness that l am surprised In being
called upon. As | look round in your faces
| recognize that most of you are sons or
daughters of Bridgton, and join In such re-
latlonship, though in a far away sense
Bridgton was what may ca my mother
ln-law, for 1t was one Of her daughters that
l married, and man wbo can praise his
mother-in-law certainlydeserves eommenda-
tiOu.
Bridgton has FURNISHED vast number Of
ministers wiy5S and the Revs Mr.. Ray ana
lcoNTsNUED ON FOURTH PAoEl