The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-08-28
THE WARD REUNION AT MORE
TOWN.

during Old Home Week OF relatives OF Dea.
Earl Wand and his wife, Elizabeth Munson,
at the residence OF Ii. o. Ward at More
town. The elegant new house was OF itself
a token Of the lsrge-hesrted hospitality
shown by host and hostess. In few homes
could sixty-hve guests have been 80 royalty
welcomed.
Early in the week the guests began to
gather and only those behind the scenes
could appreciate the executive ability nee.
essary to furnish such weeks entertain
ment and cheer. The reunion proper was
held August 10. The feeling OF patriotism |
was appealed to by the national colors as |
one approached the house, while the loving |
wishes OF kind friends and neighbors were |
evident within by the beautiful floral deco
rations.
AT noon sixty-fve relatives and friends
were shown to places in the spacious din
ing room and library and old acquaintances
were soon refreshed around the generous
table. Directly after dinner the company
gathered outside for picture and then re-
paired to the Darlor1 where the most inter-
esting exercises OF the day took place.
Mr.. Ward assured the guests OF the
pleasure Mrs. Ward and he felt in this first
Ward reunion. He believed 1t would pro-
mote brotherly feeling and be source OF
permanent good TO all who could particl-
pate, He then turned over the charge OF
the exercises to o. III. Gates. son Of the late
Mr.. Gates bumorously suggested how
various events in Mr.. Wards life had been
shaping for this event, from his choice OF
business years ago up TO his building OF his
NV house. He said the hostess had a.
ready given her welcome in as pronounced
way as had the host, both having made
the occasion doubly enjoyable by the spirit
they had manifested throughout. Rev. e.
j. Ward was called on who gave little in
cidents in the lives OF his father and moth
| or, the Deacon Earl Ward and wife and
| paid warm tributes to their memory. He
| said when he saw in himself or his child
rem this or that desirable trait he was glad
| to trace it back TO his parents. We should
esteem and rever' those worthy ones who
went before US who endured what we neith-
| or have TO nor know how to endure. When
| Deacon Ward was twelve years old he was
| very i'll and during that Illness his mother
| died. His father married again and his
childhood life was very hard he having few
| privileg and scarcely any education.
When twenty-seven he married Elizabeth
Muhson eleven years his junior. He bought
farm which he agreed to pay for in stock
and thus he set up housekeeping much in
debt, with the home sCantily furnished
the bride bringing hon e-made furniture AZ
her outf. Although they endured much
hardship rearing six childr N, caring for an
| invalid sister for many years and In other
ways taxed their strength and income, yet
Earl was a very jovial and cheerful man
who always made people happy.
When at work with his men he ives the
life of the company. Mrs. Ward, on the
other hand, was sedate,-it seemed to her
children sometimes almost severe, in part
because she was very conscientious. Rev
Mr.. Ward told how his mother made him
beg pardon for calling mean fellow fool
and said How / would like to take my
parents hands and thank them" AL
though very poor the deacon paid largely
(much in farm produce, as was the custom
in those days. to the support OF the minie
ter at the South Duxbury church, and ht
and his wife with watchful care remem
bered the poor and needy about them
They were most constant attendants a
worship and would 90 down the big hill
tired with the hard days work to thu
evening meeting, where the Deacon would
lead the singing with his rich voice.
Rosemary" by Bartlett was so beauti
fully rendered by Miss Stella Crandall tina
an encore was demanded when she sans
Smiths "Creole Love Song" George II
Gilbert was then asked to say few wOrd
! preferably in rhyme" The muse gave NJ
special inspiration for the occasion but twt
poems, "rhe Days" and where Path
, ways Meet" were repeated Rev. Z. j
Ward then sang with rich, sympathetic
voice, 1.-THE Old Cottage II me-"
Rev. Frank Ward was introduced to req
, resent the next generation. Coming iron
the West he told what Kansas stands for
and spoke Of the reverence we should fee
for our ancestors, keeping up the old spiTi
even when separated Mr.. Gates then SAT-
: that not all express their feelings in words
some are best able to voice their thought
: in music. Mrs. Gates responded in Schu
bert's Impromptu and Memberships Ron
do Capriccioso. The circle icing represent
ed as incomplete without the Crandslls
Turner's and Munsons, George Crandal
! was called upon. MI. Crandall ives thank
ful for the good old stock on his wite's side
was glad OF Old Home Week. with Its ESQ
ciations bringing people back t. the oil,
family homes. A vocal duet %, that
Had Wings" ives then rendered most en-
joyably by Rev. Il. j. Ward aud wife
+. Harlan Munson responded for tho Munsol
part of the circle. He was glad not onl.
: for the enjoyment Of the day, but for wha
could be carried away that would bring al
nearer together and make all better. Mis-
Crandsll sang to the enjoyment OF all 9Th,
Holy City" Charles Crandall next spOk
OF the impression made on him rs u boy By
: Deacon Ward when seventy years old n
he used to take him on his knee and SIM
the old songs. He was thankful also fo
the help given him and others by the hos
and hostess years ago In South Duxbury
church. Fred Ward represented another
words expressed his plee sure at being pres
emit, The host then brought ID mind thu
days when the minister used to remark IL
mid-week prsyer-meeting there is liberty
and when the silence became painful "e
there be freedom" He would say now
there is liberty" and he hoped there would
be freedom.
John Griggs spoke of the day on Dux
bury hill az among the plessantest OF his
boyhood recollections. Word was received
from Carl M. Gates, studying and travelling
abroad; Chss. II. Ward and wife Of Winter
Park, Fla; Dr. Roy Ward and wife Of East
Darlington, N. H.; Walter Parker OF Que
chez, and Mrs. Mary Parker Callahan oil
Rutland, expressing appreciation Of the
gathering. The exercises closed with sing
ing the Doxology.
Those present included Mrs. e. q. Par
ker, William e. Ward and wife, Rev. r. j
Ward and wife, Mrs. A. A. Ward, II. o.
Ward and wife, Mrs. Parker and the three
brothers being the four children OF Deacon
and Mrs. Ward. There are now living nine.
teen grandchildren, thirteen great grand
children, twenty-five more distant relatives
besides several friends, A large number re-
NAMED to tea and part OF the company
fingered till Saturday. Friday afternoon
all who could do 80 drove to Duxbury, Wis
iting the church, cemetery and the Deacon
Ward farms on the hill. The brothers and
sister renewed their youth on the big rock