Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-09-11

When the one hundredth birthday o
John Marshall Shaw was celebrated las
December, the friends OF Mrs. Chapman
assured fitting remembrance wheI
she reached one hundred years, which
event occurred Sept. g, 1902 It was deter
mined to give her public reception in tn,
town hail. Or. n. NJ. Chase By consent
OF all, was chosen to have charge OF tn,
arrangements, and be appointed Mrs. r
A. Chadwick. Mrs. {. &. stearns. Mrs. L
F. Waldo, Mrs, D. NJ. Strong, Miss Stelll
Adams and Mrs. George Clark 10 assist
him. The perfect success Of the event
shows that it was placed in the right
hands.
II is estimated that about three hundred
persons from Bethel and surrounding
towns gathered in the town hall Saturday
afternoon 10 meet this wonderful old
lady and shake her hand. The following
1 program was carried OUT
Mrs. Chapman came into the hail. es-
corted by two little girls, Marion Upper
and Gladys upper; prayer BY Rev. L. A..
| Read; remarks BY Rev. q. h. Wells; solo,
/ Miss Alabelle Greene; remarks BY Hon.
A. p. Hunton; poem by q. /. Abbott.
which Is given below; reading Of letters
and kilograms from abroad by Mrs. T.. A.
/ Read, among which was a fine poem by
Mrs. Harriet Durkee OF Washington. ID.
G., formerly Of stoekbridge; singing Of
"Auld Lang syne' BY Mrs. r. n. Chase.
the audience Joining in the chorus.
At this point. occurred something that
was not on the program. Mrs. Chapman
arose and asked II the exercises were over
and on being told they were she stated
that she wanted TO say a few words OF
thanks for the many kind remem brances.
She said that one hundred years ago
that day she was in different company.
Mrs. Chapman spoke for several minutes
in manner that was an entire surprise to
even her most intimate acquaintance.
Her address was good and her words were
heard all over the hall.
Then followed the refreshments and a
social time. Tasty leaflets were distrib-
uted containing the program and a fine
picture of Mrs. Chapman. the same as APP
pears in this article. Mrs. Chapman is
shown seated on the vine-elad yeranda,
reading her Bible, which is almost her
constant companion. These leaflets were
gotten out through the liberality OF VIM.
r. Adams & son ana showed good press
work.
Mrs. Chapman was born in Plainfield,
n. H., Sept. 8, 1902, and was the daughter
of Simon and Jemima Chapman Blan-
chard. Simon Blanchard was private in
the company OF Capt. John Bradford in
the regiment OF Col. Mason Nichols He
enlisted July 10, 1777, and was discharged
Jan. 10, 1850. He moved with his family
to Bethel in 1915 and here his daughter,
Sarah, was married Dec. 8, 1915, to Cyrus
Chapman. The father and mother lived
in Bethel until their death, the mother
reaching the age Of so years. Two sons
and two daughters were born to Mr.. and |
Mrs. Chapman, but they all died in early |
ana middle life. Cyrus Chapman died 4
Sept. 2, 1874, after more than 55 years OF 4
welded life.
Mrs. Chapman has always been an ex- /
ceedingly busy woman. Her life has been |
fun of work and even in her later years /
her hands have seldom been idle. She is a |
line knitter and many pairs of mittens
have been made by her. She is also very
fond of reading and the Bible is her
fayorite book. She Is often seen by
passers by, sitting at the window with
the Bible in her lap and the well-thumbed
leaves of the book attest her constant
perusal of it. Certain portions of the
book appeal more to her, but she reads the
entire book. Educational advantages in
Bethel. in her early life were not extensive,
but Mrs. Chapman made the most of her
advantages and is a well-posted woman.
In matters Of town history and family
lives of the early residents, she is quite an
authority. She has always had a philo-
sophical view of life, and her CHEEKY
nature cannot help to impart itself to
hose who converse with her. she is ex-
thoughtful of others, and has
little knicknacks and gifts for the chill
iren who like to call on her.