The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1904-02-11

The Old Plymouth Sax.fiorn Band.
(BY HON, DANIEL McDoNALD.)
MEMBERS OF THE BAND, LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN:
When asked'if 1 would say some
thing on this occasion in regard to the
old time Plymouth Band, the first i'm
pulse that came over me was to say
No. However, on more mature re-
Election, / concluded to give briefly
such re~collections on the subject as
come to me after a lapse of half a Gen.
tury and the intervening period.
What / may say must necessarily be
more or less personal, but / hope the
references to myself, and my connec-
ton with that organization will not
be considered la the way of egotism,
for / assure you. the musical part
played in those early days was and is
not sufficiently brilliant to inspire me
with anything but the most delight
ful memories of bygone days.
Among the first lessons 1 learned in
my musical studies, and one that has
been a guide to me in all the various
phases Of my life, is the old Mormon
proverb:
He that bloweth not his own horn,
The same shall not be bowed"
The first musical organization in
this place was called 1.-THE Plymouth
Sax Horn Band, which came into ex-
istence in the winter and spring Of
1853. The members at the time of
organization a rear as car be remem.
bered, were William H. Salisbury,
leader, Mark Pomerov, Platt McDon-
aid, David Vinnedge. Rufus Brown, A.
o. Capten, Thomas X. Houghton, Eu-
gene b. Hutchinson, R. NJ. Brown
and myself. There might have been
two " three Others in the original Or
g~anization, but il there we're their
names are not now recalled. Later on
from time. to time, new members were
admitted, until the band consisted of
about sixteen pieces, among whom
were A. c. Thompson. John McDon-
aid G. H. Reeve. Mr.. Reeve was not
a permanent member, but met with
the boys frequently and was useful in
writing music and helping them in
learning to play. There were possibly
others but l do not call them to mind
now.
"Old Joe Person" as he was famil-
iarly called, who resided some place
in LapOrte county, was employed as
teacher and band master. He bad
but one eye, the other having in some
way. been put cut. He came at stated
intervals by stage from Laporte to
Plymouth, and generally remained
two or three days. He was not a very
brilliant or accomplished musician,
but as a teacher, as the boys used to
put it, she was onto bis job" In
those days there was no printed band
music as now. and the music for the
different instruments was all writteo
with a quill pen on blank music paper
by "Old Joe." He first selected the
melody, and then composed the ac-
compartments and various parts to fit
the several instruments. Among the
pieces / remember we're Wood up
quIckstep," "Old Dog Tray "Lilly
Dale, "''Old Kentucky Home, ben
Bolt. "Old Uncle Ned, ''OId Folks
at Home, Number a." and many
more that were popular in those days.
There was nc f~oolishness about "Old
Joe." When the time came for prac-
tice every member was supposed to be
ON hand ready to do his part. If he
found a member particularly weak he
would give him especial attention un-
til he was able to master the difficult
ties. Then all the instruments would
be started. and such music as was
made in the beginning was not such
as is said to have ''charms to soothe
the savage beast; to rend the rock, or
split the knotted oak" But it was
not long before the members became
quite proficient and we're able to fol-
low the score farely well. The leader
of the band was William H. Salisbury,
who was an accomplished cornetist,
who had learned the mysteries of that
instrument at Laporte before coming
here. He was employed as book-keeper
for the firm Of Pomeroy, .Houghton
and Barber, the principal business firm
In Plymouth at that time. He was a
most pleasant, copgenial gentleman,
and had many delightful memories
clustering around his life while a res
ident here.
In the original organization i was
assigned to play the Trombone. 1t
-rxS--