Third Souvenir Main Page

Excerpts from Francis 

C. Waid's Third Souvenir

Submitted by David M. Waid 

From Percy J. Clark, secretary of Wayland (Penn.) Sabbath-school: "I am authorized by the Wayland Baptist S. S. to offer you their hearty thanks for the very kind gift of your Souvenir. It is a valuable and exceedingly interesting work, and an ornament to any library. It will be perused with interest and admiration by all."

Principal Frank A. Collins, of Jamestown, (N.Y.) Seminary, writes as follows: "Please accept my sincere thanks for the beautiful volume (Second Souvenir) of which you are the author. It has the honor of being among the first of our books. I was especially impressed with the spirit you manifested as a teacher in your manhood, and rejoice that some men retain that love for fellow beings which is such a source of pleasure and blessing to all. What a blessing it would be if more men could know the good they might do with their money!"

S. A. Comstock, of Essex, Conn., writes: "It gives me much pleasure to acknowledge your kind gift of a copy of your Second Souvenir, and to think that among your many friends and acquaintances we hold a place and are not forgotten. Accept my hearty thanks for the same."

Cousin Charles E. Corby writes from Elmira, N. Y.: "I received the book you sent me, and wish to express the thanks of myself and wife for the gift. We both prize it very highly, and shall always think of the giver with feelings of kindness and gratitude."

From a lengthy and interesting letter from Mr. and Mrs. O. B. Cravens, of Randolph, N. Y., I cull the following: "Many thanks for the gift of your good book. Your advice to young men could not be better; it is right to the point, and is superior to many long orations delivered from the pulpit--they contain plain every-day facts, which we must all heed if we would prosper in this world. If people would only live up to these teachings there would be no need of lawyers, no need of court-houses and jails; and what a blessing it would be if the youth would profit by the advice given! You talk about 'Thrift and Economy,' the lasting foundation of all fortunes. Without economy all will end in poverty and disgrace, as you say. I think many will be helped by your advice, coming as it does from years of experience of a man who has been successful and has done much good. I shall always remember you as the unassuming model man of your county, and I think your book will do much good, and your teaching will be remembered long after we are gone."

From J. H. Culbertson, of Meadville, Penn.: "Your Second Souvenir was duly received. I have had but little opportunity to examine it except in a casual way, but it furnishes a synopsis of the history of many of my old Blooming Valley friends that will be very interesting to me. That you should have so kindly remembered me as one of your friends, in the distribution of your book, is especially gratifying to me, and I shall keep it and read it in kindly remembrance of the dnor."

William Cunningham of Boston, Ohio, writes: "We desire to thank you for your very interesting book. Your sketches of our old friends and neighbors have afforded tls many pleasant evenings in the reading of them."

J. Cutshall writes most feelingly and kindly from Hayfield, Penn.: "I received a very nice book from you some time ago, and I do not know what I have done to deserve such a valuable present. Please accept many thanks for same. Now, Francis, if I never get an opportunity to do as much for you, perhaps I can for someone else. I will keep this book in memory of you so long as I live, and then hand it to my children in memory of you."

From W. W. Cutshall, Pine Island, Minn.: "It was with great pleasure I received your Souvenir, it brings back so vividly a great many incidents of the past, and reminds one of friends and acquaintances."

Rev. Ira D. Darling writes from Randolph, N.Y.: "Your Souvenir was received two or three days ago. I was much pleased to get it, and have given it a pretty thorough perusal. It must have been quite an undertaking, for one so busy in other affairs, to dip so deeply into literature. You have brought out a very nice appearing book, of which you may well feel just a little bit proud. Your treatise on money deserves to be widely read; your advice to the young is excellent.''

Wesley Davison writes from Union City, Penn.: "I have the pleasure of possessing a copy of your Souvenir, and as I peruse its pages it brings back days and years of happy retrospect, with the memory of loved friends gone over the river, who are waiting to greet us on the other shore. As we have known each other from boyhood, I shall hold the Souvenir in high esteem for its good sayings; and the more so because you and your dear wife met with us so many times in church, where, together, we heard the word of God, and felt its saving influence upon us to our own good and to the good of others."

My cousin, Mrs. Clara M. Devenpeck, writes as follows from Columbus, Ohio: "Your interesting letter and valuable book, which we prize highly and have read with great pleasure, were received in due time, and my husband unites with me in sending many thanks."

From G. Dewey, of Blooming Valley, I heard as follows: "I am in receipt of your recent publication entitled Second Souvenir, for which please accept the thanks of my family and myself. I have not yet had time to give it the careful reading that, judging from the flattering reports that have already come in, it deserves; but at such time as I shall have occasion to refer to the history of the early settlers of this part of Crawford County, I have no doubt but that I will be able to obtain valuable and authentic information therefrom."

My old friend, Mr. S. B. Dickson, of St. Charles, Minn., writes a long, interesting letter, from which I give a brief extract: "I received your Second Souvenir, for which I am very thankful--words fail me to express my appreciation. Your twin brother, Franklin, was my particular friend, and I think I never had a better schoolmate."

The following comes from Joshua Douglass, Meadville, Penn.: "I gratefully acknowledge receipt of the beautiful volume, your Second Souvenir, and I shall peruse the same with the deepest interest. Your widely extended reputation as a wealthy and generous citizen, and exemplary Christian gentleman, will lend great interest to this beautiful book, and enlighten, strengthen and encourage many in the pathways of a true life."

Mrs. J. D. Dunn, of Meadville, writes: "I am very glad to have been favored with a copy of your Souvenir, for which please accept my thanks. I have enjoyed reading it very much, doubly so on account of the sketches it contains of so many of my acquaintances. It is very interesting to me indeed."

From my cousins, Robert A. and Mary Fergerson, Vernon Township, Crawford County, Penn.: "We have thought in this letter to acknowledge receipt of both of your Souvernir's, which we have delayed doing until the present time. These books are very much appreciated, and are of value to us. We know you have spent time and money to accomplish the work and place the Souvenirs in the hands of your kindred and friends. Not only as a token of remembrance or as a keepsake do we appreciate them, but we realize that all who read and study them will profit by so doing. The contents are the results of practical experience, the pen who wrote them being in the hand of a man who commenced life at the lowest rung of the ladder, and who by perseverance and strictly honest business dealings with his fellow-men, is so situated in life as to enjoy some of the fruits of his labor, and share a portion of them with his fellow-men, by remembering the Golden Rule to set good examples, which both old and young would do well to follow. These books are ever interesting and useful to us, and we never tire of reading them. The several dates therein given are so accurate and useful to all friends and relatives, we would not part with our Souvenirs at any price, indeed, no money could buy them."

James G. Fleming writes from Cochranton, Penn.: "The book sent by you to our little boy, Floyd, came to hand yesterday. He has been looking for it by every train since Monday morning, and I have never seen him so much pleased with anything as with this book. We let him open it himself, and when he turned the leaves to your picture, he said: 'That is Mr. Waid.' We are thankful to you, Brother Waid, for this beautiful and useful book, and for the good advice contained in it. My boys are interested in reading it, and I know it will be profitable to them. This book will ever be kept in our home in memory of you, and of the day we dedicated our church to God, and my prayer is that you may live long and be prospered in your way of living a devoted Christian life."

From Elijah Flint, of New Richmond, Crawford Co., Penn., comes the following: "When my wife and I returned from a visit, we found a copy of your Second Souvenir lying on our table, and were very happy to receive it. It is a splendid work, and I have read it with pleasure and profit. It should benefit all who read it, so full is it of valuable suggestions, etc. May you live long to bless humanity."

George E. Foster writes from Ithaca, N.Y.: "Some days ago I was in receipt of your unique volume--Second Souvenir. It was with pleasure that I at once mailed to you my work 'Se-qua-yah, the American Cadmus and Modern Moses,' which I trust you have received. It is needless to say that I have read your book with the greatest pleasure, and I have been greatly entertained, and I hope benefited. I commend you for your public spirit in printing and circulating the book, and I trust that you will be rewarded for this way of doing good. The book contains many experiences of every-day life, such as one likes to read of. While some may be at first thought trivial, I am not unmindful that the great whole is made up of small things--and so your book is of interest. I was pleased to read quite a portion of it aloud to my family, have shown it to a number of my friends, and have given it a place of honor in my large library."

From William Franklin, Winona, Minn.: "I write you to acknowledge receipt of your two gifts--Second Souvenir and Pennsylvania Farmer. Many thanks. Words fail to express all my gratitude for being so kindly remembered by an old schoolmate and friend. I am not only pleased, but delighted, as I am reminded of scenes I had forgotten, and your book puts me in mind of the days I spent in Crawford County."

Milton George, editor and proprietor of the Western Rural and American Stockman, Chicago, Ill., writes me, enclosing a copy of view of the School of Agriculture and Manual Training for Boys, on "Rural Glen Farm" of 300 acres, worth $100,000, donated by himself. It is about twenty-five miles distant from Chicago, and when visited by Prof. David Swing, in May, 1891, 160 boys were out on this farm. Mr. George says, in his letter: "Your kind favor was duly received, and I write to thank you for the same. I remember the visit of Mr. Tyler and his family last fall. Shall be pleased to have you call at any time. Will see that your name gets on our list for the ensuing year. When one does what he can in this world for humanity, whether much or little, he is entitled to as much credit as those who do more."

Cousin Temperance Gibbs writes the following from Tremont, Ill.: "I want to inform you that I am so well pleased with your book that I shall always treasure it next to my Bible, and as a present from my noble kind cousin who is laying up treasures in Heaven by doing so much good to friends and humanity. I hope every one who receives a copy of your Souvenir will read it with as much interest as I do, and may it be a benefit to all, as I believe it is intended. Francis, I can not express my gratitude to you for your worthy Souvenir. I shall endeavor to profit by it.

Mrs. Ella Gibson, of Evanston, Ill., writes the following: "Please accept the sincere thanks of myself and husband for copy of the Second Souvenir you sent us. We take great pleasure in reading it, and consider it a book of rare value. We also enjoy reading it to our little boy, Harry, who never tires of hearing us read; at his young age he is greatly interested in your advice to young men, and says he wants to do just as you advise young men to do. We hope you will pay us a visit when you make your next trip West, also that you will bring cousin Anna back with you. Love to Anna and kind regards to yourself."

S. P. Gilmore writes as follows from Taylorstown, Penn.: "Friends at home write me that they had received your Second Souvenir, which, like your First Souvenir arrived during my absence from home, this being the reason why I did not acknowledge receipt sooner. It is with pleasure I now make amends for my seeming indifference. The Souvenirs are treasures I prize highly, especially coming as they do from a former schoolmate and teacher, and you have my sincere thanks."

From my cousin, C. L. Goodwill, Franklin: "It was a pleasure to receive your welcome letter and the three Souvenirs after your visit here, which we will not forget. I presented one copy of the books to James Foster, and I wish you could have seen how glad he was when I handed it to him, and told him it was from you, who had attended the Foster re-union held at the church on Bull's Hill. He said to me, 'Thank Mr. Waid heartily for me when you write him.' Another copy of the Souvenir I gave to William Richer, a worthy neighbor of mine, who appreciated it very much. I call not tell you how much we prize your gift; the Souvenir is indeed a keepsake."

From Mrs. P. A. Gray, of Pittsburgh, Penn., I received the following: "I take this opportunity to let you know I received the book you sent me, for which I feel very thankful, and for your thinking of me in my far distant home. My mind often goes back to the old home, and dear friends and neighbors, and good meetings that we have enjoyed together. I am still striving to so live that I may meet the dear ones who have passed on before, and all Christian friends. I shall read and re-read the Souvenir with pleasure, for it will bring to my mind many things that I may have forgotten."

From Ira R. Hall, of Randolph, Penn., I received a very cheering and welcome letter of acknowledgment. My friendship and acquaintance with him began in my boyhood, when he taught writing school and I was one of his scholars. I have some of his copies yet, and have ever since been learning something from him. Mr. Hall in part and in substance says in his letter: "Please accept my thanks in behalf of Advent Sunday-school for your kind and benevolent gifts you have made us at different times, and for this your last gift, your Second Souvenir, in remembrance of one so generous and kind to us. Also please accept my thanks for thc copy you sent me individually, and may your life be spared to a good old age, doing good to your fellow-man. I must say that you are one in ten thousand--a wonderful man, and have produced a wonderful book, full of light and knowledge for the present and rising generations. It is a history, also, of Blooming Valley and vicinity for forty years and more, on which account I prize it very highly as a book of reference."

My cousin, Anna M. Harmon, writes from Lake Ridge, Mich., a long letter, of which a portion relates to my Second Souvenir: "I received the book you sent me, and I thank you for your kindness in remembering me. I assure you I shall prize the Souvenir and appreciate the kindness yet more when I read it through. Then, it gives a sketch of many of my relatives on my father's side that I would never know anything about were it not for you and your generous heart."

E. P. Harroun, of Blooming Valley, Penn., writes: "I received the beautiful Second Souvenir, a token of true friendship, for which please accept my thanks."

Ebenezer W. Harroun writes from Guy's Mills, Penn.: "I hereby acknowledge receipt of your Second Souvenir per hand of A. J. Owen. I have not had time to examine it thoroughly yet, but I am sure that if it prove as interesting as your First Souvenir I shall do it ample justice. It not only requires talent to write such a book, but also means, for I know the expense of publication must be no small affair. I appreciate such a gift, and am not only glad, but thankful--very thankful--that I was a schoolmate and pupil of F. C. Waid."

From F. S. Hasky, of Albany, N. Y., I received the following: "Your Souvenir to hand, for which I kindly thank you, and shall take pleasure in perusing it. The Y. M. C. A. of this city would, I think, be pleased to add it to their library."

I received a grand letter from my old friend, C. C. Hatch, of Mound City, Dak., but space here will not permit of more than the following extract: "I received your Second Souvenir, for which please accept many thanks from myself and family, for all are highly pleased with it. I prize it for the portraits it contains of yourself and family, and also for the many pleasant recollections it brings to my mind. When I read the history of your friends and kindred, it seems as though I were reading the history of my own, you and I having been born and raised within two miles of each other, associating also with the same people."

From Harvey A. Hatch, of Hatch Hill, Penn., comes the following: "I received your highly esteemed gift, Second Souvenir, at the hands of Mrs. F. K. Clark. It is a well-written book, with a good moral tone prevading it throughout. The historical data are valuable for reference, and your advice to young men is good. The points are well taken and very instructive, and will do any young man good that will read and remember. It was very thoughtful of you to add a blank for Family Register, and have recorded my own family data in it."

From H. H. Hatch, of Nashville, Tenn., I received a souvenir album containing fifty-one views of Nashville. The following letter accompanying it: "Allow me to express my sincere thanks for your handsome book. It is certainly the record of a life well spent, and but fulfills the poet's prophecy:

'Lives of great men all remind us

We can make our lives sublime,

And, departing, leave behind us

Footprints on the sands of time.'

"By the same mail I send you a souvenir of Nashville, Tenn., and the homes of 'Old Hickory' and ex-President Polk."

Mrs. Addie A. Henry writes from Galva, Ill., that the copy of Second Souvenir addressed to J. N. Henry, in that town, and delivered to her, would be forwarded to his present address, Millerton, Kas., where he has resided, she says, for the past five years. Mrs. Miller adds: "After carefully looking through the book, I can say I consider it a very interesting work. In it I find the names of many I used to know, some of whom are dead."

From Adam Holsburg, Norwood, Kas.: "I return you my sincere thanks for your valued gift, Second Souvenir. I am highly pleased with the style; it shows that your endeavors have not been in vain, that you have prospered and never lacked in giving your part to build up a good cause. The advice to the young as well as to the old is grand, and it certainly must be like seed sown on good ground; may it bring a hundred fold. On every page we find words of encouragement for the weary traveler that is working his way onward and upward. May it be the means of adding many stars to your crown in yonder haven of rest."

From Maggie Hope I received these few brief but sterling words: "Please accept my sincere thanks for your book. I assure you I shall prize and always appreciate your kindness more than I can tell."

From Mrs. W. M. Hubbell, of Union City, Penn.: "I now take pleasure in writing you a few lines acknowledging receipt of the beautiful book you sent my father (Mr. Charles Breed), which he was so thankful to receive, and enjoys reading so much, as it bring's fresh to his memory old friends and associates of his younger days."

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