The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-07-20
and their niece, Miss varnum, ~ the

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Barker. Both of them have joined the
great majority.
| have enumerated six Judges OF the
supreme court of Maine who once hon.
ored nv house with their society, and
of all that bright galaxy, Judge Sy.
monds Is the only one living upon the
face of the earth. "What shadows we
are. and what shadows we pursue"
or the lawyers there was Hon. S. D..
! Lindsay. who took Mr.. Blaines place as
Representative at Washington. He
once invited as his guest at my house,
then Ex-Governor Dingley, so recently
deceased, our honored Congressman.
There was Eoen F. Pillsbury, the haod-
soonest man in the State, and most
agreeable gentleman. Albert ware and
Z. W. McFadden, all now gone to the
great beyond. There were others more
transient. Judge w. 2. Whitehouse,
then lawyer, Z. W. Whitehouse, and
Benz. Adams. o. r. Bachelor, then OF
Scion, now one OF our respected citizens,
ls the only one living who made my
house their regular home during period
of years. With them often came their
wives and daughters. 1t is Liberal
education 10 itself to be In the society OF
learned and cultured people, and am
grateful to that kind Providence which
has favored me with so much OF 1t. L
have not had to go TO the world, the
world has come to me.
must not omit to speak OF the emil
nent women who have favored me with
their visits. Mrs. Livermore has been
twice my guest, once while Judge Vir-
gins court was In session and the judge
seemed TO enjoy the occasion. Later we
were delighted with long afternoon
call from that remarkable woman, Miss
Susan B. Anthony, the pride and honor
of her sex In whose cause she has spent
her life. Isabella Beecher Hooker WIS.,
tied me at one time and preached and
lectured here. She was the image, per-
sonally, of her eloquent half-brother,
Henry Ward Beecher, one OF our ma
tion's greatest men, worthy OF all
posthumous fame.
The two last Methodist conferences
held in Skowhegan entertained some Of
the distinguished preachers. Camp
meeting John Allen" that quaint char
acter, who died at last on the camp
meeting ground he loved so well,
fervent and representative Methodist.
| His nephew, Rev. Stephen Allen, with
his precise, scholarly ways and clear cut
intellect, whose sermons could be taken
down from his lips as he uttered them,
for publication, without flaw. Mr..
MCGEE. of the Boston book concern, and
Mr.. Weed of the lions Herald. Bishop
! Haven called Oh US and we took MN 10
see the celebrities of Norridgew
Miss Rebecca Clark, sophia May" the
child writer, whose books he had met
with translated, in Germany, and he pro-
nounced her at that time the most cele-
brated child writer In the world. Inc
other call was upon the venerable Will
liam Allen, father of stephen aud
Charles. All have passed away but Mr..
Weed.
NV sister-in law, Mrs. Pauline Ray
mond Neil Haskell, assisted me in en-
PERTAINING at that time. She was the
widow of my only brother, John l.. Nell,
! who lied sixty years ago, in 1888, and
she outlived him fifty-five years. She
was also the widow Of her second hus-
band, Nahum Haskell of Woodstock,
Vermont. Their daughters, Eta and
Mary Haskell, were we'll known mere
formerly.
AT the last conference they sent me
Mr.. Gallagher of Kent's Hill, now OF
Auburndale, Laselle Seminary, most
genial gentleman. Also Rev. Hosea
Hewitt, man whose scholarship came
from the old country universities, VINO
keeps up with the times in culture and
carries it into the pulpit expressed IN
choice language and the loyliest Metho'
dist spirit. His services in town on the
| 18th of June were most acceptable ana
memorable to those who heard him.
"What Is so rare as day in June"'
/ H. thn n Il
was very near the middle of the month,
1t did not occur to me that 1t might sug-
gest a gift, as it was my birthday, but
the gift came much to my establishment,
and 1t is most gratefully appreciated
and accepted with thanks, from the
husbands of the Woman's Club" the
men with whom have transacted bust
ness on these streets like one of them
| for these forty years.
I NV venerable father, John G. Neil,
died just forty years ago, in '59, aged
eighty-four, and it Tell to my lot TO
represent him, more or less, In matters
of finance, though my brother 'in'law,
A. II. Gilman, had the care OF his estate
for MANY years until my husband,
James Howard, came here 10 '6l and
took charge of home affairs and the
! inlDlsITy W my dkou mot'Oi, VIZ NS
In II, in her S7th year. Mr.. Gilman
died in '93, aged IS; Mr.. Howard in 80,
aged II.
The only surviving member of my
fathers family besides myself, is Mrs.
Caroline l.. Weston, widow of Moses
Jewett, widow of Increase Sumner Wes-
ton, now living in Bunker Hill, Illinois,
In her Goth year. AS tor myself, | am
fatherless, motherless, brotherless, SIS
terless practically. | have neither
husband or child, the nearest connection
in this town Is that Of cousins.
But to revert to the birthday gift.
"A valour covered adjustable couch
was fittingly chosen token OF respect
1t was the one article of furniture the
house did not afford and it was the one
thing wanted. My thanks are due f.
n. Merrill for its graceful presentation.
| | hope the old house and place, ninety
three years in my family, gave pleasure
to all the kind friends present, and |
regret all those who could not come.
The heat and the rain kept many away
and Others were absent from town, and
missed the faces not there. May many
reunions OF the clubs yet be ours.
The following is the lovely poem
written for and read on the occasion by
one of our gifted members, Mrs. Eliza
beth Merrill:
Seventy And Two Years.
Seventy and two years, my friend
Yet heart of youth still throbs in you