The Press., 1909-08-25
WILMINGTON.

wife.
 MT and Mrs. N o. Ward were at church Sunday with four young lady boarders from Holyoke. They are having a succession of guests at their pleasant farmstead.
 "REMINISCENCES OF WELLINGTON HILL.
 The writer, whose privilege it was sixty years ago, when a boy of six teen, to attend church on the hilltop of beautiful old Willington, would like to decribe it and the people he met as it appeared to him, as it may be of interest to the present generation who do not remember those good old times. Rev. David Bracroft was pastor of the Congregational church, most lovable man, who always preached interesting and instructive sermons. We were always glad to see him in the pulpit at Union when he exchanged with our pastor, Rev. Samuel I. Ourtiss. Rev. Sylvester Barrows was pastor of the Baptist church. It was in the good old times when ministers preached two sermons each Sabbath, and people stayed will lingly and listened to both. One Sun- day in December, 184S, the writer attended the Congregational church in the forenoon and the Baptist church in the afternoon. and listened to very able sermon by Elder Bar rows from the words of our Savior, It is finished" Your correspond ent, Mrs. Preston, often mentions the texts preached from in the present. Gould she remember 8 text as long ago as that? There were two large congregations there then. The writer was impressed with the number of fine looking, intelligent young people in both churches. The singing was excellent in both churches. FUncle'' Hosea Vinton, father of Rev. Justus H. Vinton, the missionary, sat in side slip in the Baptist church, a very odd looking but interesting old man. The boy could hardly take his eyes off of him. The story is told that after Uncle Hosea and his wife be- came eDfeebled by age it was thought best for them to dispose of their place and go to live with a daughter in an. other town. Among other things they were obliged to dispose of was the old family horse, which had faithfully jogged up and down the Hill from the Hollow every Sabbath to the Bap- tist church. He was finally disposed of to neighbor who did not always attend church. The new owner, on going to the barn the first Sunday of his ownership, was surprised to find himself and disappeared. While looking for him he met some people coming from church. In answer to his inquiries. they told him he would find the horse in Uncle Hosea's shed at the church, and there he was, patiently waiting for his owners ap- pearance. Did the horse know it was Sunday, or did he hear the church bells ringing and think it was his duty to go? Rev. Justus H. Vinton was keen, bright-looking man, who much resembled the late President Mckinley, so much so that had they lived at the same time they might have been taken for twin brothers. Mrs. Vinton, who was Calista Hol- man of Union, was a woman of noble form. and character. The writer. who was present that day, remem bers how people clustered around her as she entered her carriage, and it seemed almost as if they would least their garments in the way for her. ' such was the respect for her. Surely President Taft need not be ashamed of such a relative. Perhaps the Hol- man blood in his veins has helped make him what he is. Those faithful went to Burma in 1884 and returned for visit in 1848, &C., complaining a great work among the Karens. There were then extant many of the old families, such as the Eldredges, Merricks, Westons, Vim tons, Prestons. Riders, Holts, etc. It would seem that young people did not leave the old homestead so early in their teens as at the present time. There was doubtless much more busi ness in which they could engage. The tan works were running and other in- dustries. When Capt. Thomas Law son led company of sixty men to the capture of Burgoyne they were picked up from Union, Holland, Stafford and Wilmington. more men being taken from the latter town than from any other. The question might be asked why they were picked up from so many towns. The anwser is, there were not enough left to fill the order from any one town. as most of the men had previously been sent to other places. Capt Lawson speaks in his diary of procuring "a pot for the Wilmington men to do their cooking in on the long, weary march. He also speaks of arriving at Saratoga in the evening, when sharpshooters were busy and bullets flying in every di- rection, and he feared he could not draw his company into the American lines without someone being hit, but he at length succeeded without injury to any one. They soon had a severe battle, in which he tells of seeing Benedict Arnold, hatless and riding recklessly. heading charge after charge. doing much by his bravery to gain the day. Burgoyne soon sur- rendered, and those Holland county men must have returned much elated.
 E. N. Lawson.
 Union, Aug. Is, 1909.
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