Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-06-19
wApsWoRrn CENTENNIAL.

nv lIN80 W. w 0<4M08Q0yt UNIV AOs&sg
1900, the centennial OF the Wadsworth
mansion was observed with appropriate
exercises. Mrs. Lusanna Wadworth
Hubbard, widow Of Hon. John p. Hub
bard, who owns the homestead, has long
such an event. She Il Z
daughter Of the late Gen. Peleg wads-
worth, Of Hiram, and = granddaughter
OF Gen. Peleg Wadsworth Of Revolution
AIRY fame, who erected this nno resi-
dence In 1900, on grant Of 1900 acres
OF land between Saco and Ossipee Rivers,
which was surveyed In 1870, and for
which be paid the state Of MAssachu-
sets II Ia cents per acre..
Gen. PeleG Wadsworth, by the way OF
his father, Dea. Peleg, John, Jr., John,
ST., was descended from Christopher
Wadsworth, who, with his wife, Grace,
and his brother, william, came from
England to Duxbury, Mass, 10 Septem
Der, 1882. 10 the ship Red Lion. This
event was concentrated Ia September,
1882, at Duxbury. on the 250th anniver-
sary, by about 300 Wsdsworths and their
from nineteen states, the Dis.
trict OF Columbia and the Dominion Of
Canada.
Gen. Peleg wadsworth was born In
Duxbury, Mass, May Q, 174s. He grad
uated ct Harvard College 10 1869. He
entered the Revolutionary war 40 cap
tain, WAS promoted to the several grades
~ major, colonel and brigadier- general.
He married Miss Elizabeth Bartlett Of
Plymouth, Mass. Passing by his mill
tsry career, which Il historical, may
add that he removed to Portland 10
lisa, and In 1855 erected the flrst brick
house built 10 Portland, which subse-
quently became the home OF his daugh-
ter, Zilpah, who was the wife Of Hon.
Stephen Longfellow, aud mother OF
Henry Wsdsworth Longfellow, the poet.
Gen. Wadsworth was q member OF the
Massachusetts, senate, and later president
OF the convention called TO consider the
question OF the separation Of Maine from
Massachusetts. He served as . member
NJ congress from Maine from 1898 till
1907, and declined . reelection. In 1795.
he settled his eldest son, Capt. Charles
Lee Wadsworth, on . farm upon his
grant, and erected his own house, "a
stated, In 1900, removing his family to II
Jan. !, 1907.
Mrs. Wadsworth died Ia 1925, and
Gen. wsdsworth died Nov. IL, 1929, aged
81 years. He WAS one Of the founder.
OF the Congregational church 10 Hiram,
10 1896, and WAS . patron OF education,
and all progressive and patriotic enter
prises.
The morning OF the centennial, June
18th. dswned bright and beautiful, not ~
10 1900, upon n scattered neighborhooi
OF 226 souls. but q thrifty, prosperous
town with four churches, three villages.
and the noise of the waterfall blending
With the hum Of busy industry. Mrs.
Hubbard had invited the descendants of
Gen. wadsworth with their kindred to
be present, and the Daughters and Sons
Of the Revolution, and Maine Historical
Society, OF Portland, kindly consented
to attend and participate In the exer-
cises. About one hundred came on the
morning train from Portland and MAssa.
chusetts, and = large number from
Hiram, South Hiram and adjacent towns.
The family groups gathered In TIM
hall for preliminary meeting before the
general exercises. Hon. Samuel ID.
Wadsworth was called TO the chair. Mrs.
Louisa ID. Rounds, Of Minneapolis, q
sister Of Mrs. Hubbard. read Q letter
written In Duxbury In 1895, from Des.
Peleg Wadsworth To his son, Gen. Peleg
wadsworth. Mrs. Hubbard read an In
teresting letter from Hon. Geo. Ferdi-
usud Wsdsworth Of Esstport (sged 9l
years., also = letter from Mrs. Mary
Greenlexf of Cambridge, Mass, and one
from Gen. Wadsworth TO bis son John,
student 10 Harvard College, In l7ss
Hon. Llewellyu A. Wxdsworth was cali
ed, and addressed the assembly on his
toric and family matters.
After refreshments were served, In
which 81 members OF wadsworth
clan j,ined, the friends repaired TO the
lawn on the east side Of the house, where
an able and interesting address was de-
livered By Rev. Henry 8. Burrage Of
Portland, representing the Maine His
torical Society and the Sons OF the Rev
olution. Nathan Goold, Esq., Of Port
land, then delivered an eloquent address
upon the public and domestic life Of
General Wadsworth. Mrs. Martha A.
stevens Robinson, mother Of Mayor
Robinson OF Portland, then read an ad-
mirable paper from the Daughters OF
the Revolution, twenty-eight Of whom
were present, their society having been
named for Gen. Wadsworth's wife, Mrs.
Elizabeth Wadsworth. Mr.. A. w. Cur
rier Of Portland took several photo
graphs OF the assembly.
Hon. Geo. B Barrows and wife OF Frye
burg contributed interesting remarks at
the family meeting, also three franz
ed autograph letters OF Gen. Peleg Wads-
worth, Hon. Stephen LongfelIow and
Henry wadsworth Longfellow.
Some time was then spent In passing
through the grand old mansion from GEL
lar to attic, each room containing vari-
Gus articles, quaint and olden, unique
and curious. Fine pictures OF the gen.
erals son, Commodore Alexander 8.
Wsdsworth, U. 8. NJ, also his wife, at
tracted much attention.
Among those from abroad were A. r.
Lewis, ESQ.,, Of Fryeburg. Mr.. Geo. Z.
Shead and wife OF Elstport, Hon. War
rem II. yinton of Gray, Miss Alice N.
Longfellow Of Cambridge, q daughter Of
the poet Longfellow, Mrs. Ellen w.
Moore of Cambridge, Misses Mary X.
and Lucia wadsworth Longfellow Of
Portland, Mr.. Alden B. Wsdsworth and
wife Of Maplewood, Mass, and Mr..
Cephas Wadsworth and wife Of Masss-
chusetts, brothers OF Mrs. Hubbard.
Mrs. Minnie Fl. Maclsren Of Alhsmbra,
CAL, who Is on visit to this, her native
town, and her mother, Mrs. Hubbard,
presided at the piano, and Mrs. Rounds
sang several solos, also America, In
which ell Joined. Mrs. Hubbsrd's SON.
in-law, John b. Pike, Esq 4, q member Of
the Oxford Bar, and his wife, who reside
here, added much to the courteous and
jadicious arrangements that rendered
the centennial very pleasant success.
1t may be OF interest to know that the
doctrine OF expansion prevailed In this
family. Gen. Wadsw0rth had eleven
children. his eldest son, Charles l., had
eleven, and his youngest son, Gen.
Peleg, had eleven. There are seventeen
Wadsworth voters In Hiram. The Gen.
Wadsworth farm contains now about .
square mile Of land.
THE WORST MURDER YET.