New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-30

Arthur was President Robert T. lincoln, who
was Secretary of War at the time; ex-Con-
gresham H. Henry Powers, Senator Redfeld Proc
tor and Congressman D. ]. Foster and KittTidge
Haskins
The country all about Fairfield has the
rugged untamed look that 1t had In the boyhood
days of the twenty-rst President. and the visitors
to his birthplace who had gathered to consecrate
his monument could not help but contrast the
scenes OF his early life with those Of his later
career at New-York and Washington. They found
that they needed only speak to the natives Of this
region hear story after story about the Arthurs.
who, one farmer expressed 1t, were right pert
of folk
The Rev. William Arthur, the father OF the
future President, was minister OF the Gospel and
because he thus led public life among the resi-
dents OF Franklin County his family is remem-
bered so we'll He had there from ireland in
1890 and his first work to teach the young
idea how shoot. AS a school teacher he in
structed the youth of Burlington, Bennington,
Jericho, Waterville and Fairfield for several years.
The elder Arthur was a of quick temper
and prompt emotions He attended a Baptist re-
vival Bennington one evening, and when the
preacher asked all those TO stand up who would
consecrate their lives to God the country school
master only leaped to his feet, but astonshed
Of the congregation by shouting:
II Will go forth and preach the Gospel. I feel
that the Lord has called Henceforth, 1 will
try to do the works Of God. and not of Mammon."
After preaching here and there in a sort of
OF church at North Fairfield. There was no
church building in the place. and so the Baptist
clergyman for a time gathered his congregation
together IN barn. One of the visitors to Fairfield
10 attend the recent dedication of the monument
ran across the following letter, which written
by one of the Rev. Mr.. Arthur's parishioners:
i well remember the letter ran the advent
In this neighborhood OF a Baptist preacher of Irish
plrth but OF remarkable ability and eloquence. He
drew audiences unheard of before in this rustic
house which soon failed to hold half his audience
Finally. spacious neighboring barn pressed
into service. | well remember the appearance of
the audience. The women mostly seated on
improyised seats on the barn floor. The deacons
and older men occupied the stable. The young folk
climbed into the hay now while certain adventur-
Gus boys perched aioft among the beams To this
minister preached with great effect and many con-
versions were the result OF his labors.'
Finally. the good people of Fairfield Uere so
moved by the words OF the Irish clergyman that
they built him a church hill 1t was made
OF brick, 80 by 80 feet, much after the stvIa of a
soap box. half mile distant they built him log
cabin for parsonage. and each of the Rev MR.
Arthur's congregation took hand in its constr1r
ton It was in this log house, one story in height
and 20 by "a feet in size that the future Presidsnt
was bor, on October 5. 1880 It is said that Uhen
the minister heard that his child was bow he vas
so delighted that he climbed the ga hie or his
house and shouted till he too hoarse to sneaE
At the time that Chester A Arthur was hefora
the voters of the United States as a candidate for
the Nice-Presidency certain Democrats ran sCrnSs
the story that he a native of this coIntr1-
the public the eve Of the election the felt So