Third Souvenir Main Page

Excerpts from Francis 

C. Waid's Third Souvenir

Submitted by David M. Waid 

March 22.--I set out for Girard, Crawford County, Kas., where I wished to see an old Meadville friend, by name John Ramsey. On changing cars at Chanute I asked the brakeman if he was acquainted with one John C. Ramsey, "Yes," said he, "he is conductor on this train." So we soon met and had a pleasant chat about old times, and when we arrived at Girard I went direct to his home. Girard is a pretty town pleasantly situated on a rise of ground, having in its center a new brick courthouse [It was in course of construction, while I was there] surrounding which is a fresh-looking park.

On Sunday, March 23, Mrs. Ramsey and I attended the Presbyterian Church and heard an excellent sermon from the lips of Rev. John Currer, his text for the occasion being Psalm xxiii: 3: He restoreth my soul. The discourse was very comforting, and came home to me with much force; the words, He restoreth my soul, are so full of truth, and I felt just as David did. I thought of how the Lord had helped me over hewn places, and when sorely tried how graciously He had delivered me in the hour of affliction and deepest sorrow. His grace has been sufficient for me; I want to dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. This Sabbath in Girard is another day's journey Heavenward, and I love to sit in the sanctuary where I can hear the Gospel. My desire is to praise the name of the Lord, for it is good and excellent in all the earth. In the afternoon I went to the Y. M. C. A. meeting, where I was invited to speak, which I did, and in the evening again heard Rev. Currer at the Presbyterian Church. His text was the third commandment, and the sermon was truly a remarkable one.

March 26.--Left Girard for Fort Scott, Bourbon County, Kas., and about the first person I saw at the station on arriving there was "Andy" Pitcher, who drives a transfer wagon, and whose nephew George, Samuel Pitcher's son, was killed on the railroad near Springfield, Kas., January 3, 1890. I knew George when in life, and in deference to his memory as well as to show my respect for the living, I visited Evergreen Cemetery, some two and a half miles from Fort Scott. This is one of the most beautiful, largest and best located cemeteries in the West; it was laid out in 1869 on the gentle slope of an eminence, and covers eighty acres of ground; the interments up to date number 2,163. To the superintendent, Mr. R. Garber, and his wife I am indebted for their kindness in pointing out to me the last resting place of poor George Pitcher. On my way back to Fort Scott I saw the National Cemetery, which also rests on a sloping piece of ground. It is ten acres in extent, and is enclosed within a stone fence, the grounds being kept in the neatest of order by Frank Barrow, a good, practical man, whom I knew when he lived in Meadville, Penn., and with whom I had a good visit while in the cemetery.

Among other points of interest visited by me at Fort Scott were the water-works, and from the top of the standpipe belonging to it (about 100 feet high) I had a fine view of the town and surrounding country. The old fort also attracted my attention. There are four Government buildings, one of which is used as a hotel; and as I write these lines in my diary the landlady is preparing for me a lunch or supper, to be eaten where many a hungry soldier had eaten his meal.

PAOLA, KANSAS.

March 26.--Returning to-day to Ottawa, I spend a few hours at Paola, Miami County, and visit the high school, which is built on a hill, from the roof of which I could see the Insane Asylum at Osawatomie, seven miles distant, and the hills and bluffs in Missouri; I am told that on a clear day, one might see twenty-five miles off. On descending from the summit of the school building, I was invited to look through the school, and was introduced to the superintendent, a very genial gentleman. In one department I found a class of five ladies reciting astronomy, and here I soon discovered what I much admired--the plain, practical method of teaching carried out in this institution. I much wished to remain longer and see and learn more, but my time was limited, so I had to hastily thank and bid adieu to the Professor, and take my train to Ottawa, whence I soon found my way home.

Sunday, March 30.--Attended the M. E. Church at Ottawa, and heard Rev. E. C. Boaz preach a kindly sermon from John xv: 14,15: Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth; but I have called you friends. This discourse greatly helped me in my Christian life, and I would that space permitted me to say something about its teachings of command and obedience, and the wonderful blessings they bring, when complied with, in things either temporal or spiritual. In the evening I heard Rev. Myers preach at the Christian Church from James i: 27: Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspoiled from the world.

March 31.--To-day I start on my return trip to Meadville, via Kansas City, Chicago, etc., having wished all my friends and relatives "good-bye," including Anna, who has decided to remain on account of the delicate condition of her health. At Kansas City I stop over for a short time, and again meet my old friend John Cavinee, and also A. A. Whipple, with whom I drove about the city. At Armington, Tazewell County, In., I expected to see my cousin Steven M. Morehead, but found he had moved to Minier, same county, which place I reached April 2, and there found him. With him I went to Tremont (also in Tazewell County), where we met Temperance Gibbs, who told me of Augustus Waid's three children--two boys and one girl. Horace Waid is now thirty years old, is married and living on a farm; Aunt Roxey is married to John Tolle, and lives in Rushville, Schuyler County, Ill. Steven also accompanied me to Mackinaw and Hopedale (both in Tazewell County) [Minier is eight miles from Armington, Tremont sixteen miles from Minier, Mackinaw being about half way between them, where they change cars; Hopedale is five miles west of Minier on the Chicago & Alton Railroad], at which latter place we took supper at the home of his son-in-law, Peter Eichelberger. It is eighteen years since I last met Steven Morehead and his family, and I think nearly as long since I last saw Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs and his family. To all of us this visit was most interesting and I might say remarkable; to me it was one of the most sociable and delightful I had yet made, and it proved to be my last one with Mr. George Gibbs, as he passed from earth May 13, 1891.

Mr. Morehead and I having parted company, I proceed on my way to Chicago, where I arrive April 6, and find myself the guest of a brother-in-law of Steven Morehead, Charles H. Gibbs, a resident of Chicago, who kindly showed me about the city. I first became acquainted with him several years ago in Meadville and Blooming Valley.

After a short business call at my publishers, J. H. Beers & Co., I again take train eastward, and on the 6th arrive at Marion, whence I proceed to Springfield to visit my cousin, R. B. Devenpeck, who had recently moved thither from Brocton, N.Y. On the evening of April 8 I arrive at my good old home, my fourth trip to Kansas and the West having come to a close. Physically, I am much improved in health; intellectually greatly refreshed; and why should it be otherwise? "To have seen much, and to have nothing, is to have rich eyes and poor hands."

TRIP TO JAMESTOWN, N. Y., LAKE CHAUTAUQUA AND OTHER PLACES.

JUNE 27 TO JULY 4, 1890.

"True friendship's laws are by this rule exprest:

Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest." POPE.

At the hour of 4 o'clock P. M. on Friday, June 27, 1890, I took train for Union City, Erie Co., Penn., where, after arrival, I called on Mr. and Mrs. Anderholt and Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Housnick and their respective families, all of whom I found in good health. From there I walked into the country some two or three miles, in order to pay a visit to my much-loved old Sunday-school teacher, Charles Breed [The names of the members of the Sunday-school class taught by Mr. Breed at the time I speak of are George A. Goodwill, A. S. Goodrich, C. R. Slocum, Franklin P. Waid, Francis C. Waid, and two others, one of whom was named, I think, Andrew Moore, all yet living, except my twin brother, Franklin P., and Andrew Moore. I believe my brother, G. N., was in our class part of the time], whom I had not seen for forty-five years; but learning from his wife that he had gone to Union City, I returned thither, where I found him at the home of his son-in-law, William Hubble, and the reader may well imagine the delight, to me especially, of this our first meeting in nearly half a century of time.

I arrived in Jamestown, N. Y., on Saturday night, and was there well entertained by my cousins, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Colt. On the following forenoon, in company with my cousin, Angeline Colt, I attended the M. E. Church, where we heard Rev. A. C. Ellis preach an eloquent sermon from the text Deuteronomy xxxii: 11: As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings. Comment is unnecessary; but how wonderfully I was helped and blessed in my Christian life, by hearing this sermon! We may dine at home and forget it, but when abroad, how we cherish the friend who has given us good counsel! What a lesson I learned that day from his description of that noble bird and its care for the young eaglets, then God's care for us! In the afternoon Mr. Frank Simmons and I visited Lakeview Cemetery, where many of our relatives rest. Here also repose the remains of ex-Governor Fenton, the inscription on whose vault reads as follows:

IN MEMORIUM

REUBEN E. FENTON,

BORN JULY 4, 1819, DIED AUGUST 25, 1885.

REST IN PEACE.

From the first day I met Mr. Fenton, when introduced to him by Mr. Simmons years ago, I have loved him; and to-day when I looked into the vault I thought of a good man and a true friend gone to his reward. In the evening Mr. Simmons and I went to one of the Baptist Society meetings, which are being held in the Opera House till their new church building is completed. We heard an excellent discourse by Rev. Waffle, the words of his text being: The path of the just shineth more and more unto the perfect day. On the following day I visited William and Martha Cobb, the latter of whom is my cousin; also called on Harvey Simmons, another cousin, who was out hoeing his potato patch. Harvey, who is somewhat older than myself, reminds me not a little of my father, both in looks and in his habits of industry. When I found him in the field I got me a hoe and helped him finish his job, which brought pleasure and satisfaction in full to me, for I wanted to help hoe those potatoes and have a chat about other days. Just as we got through, his brother, Adelbert, and his son, Frank, came in. Here I would say that on Henry Simmons' land I saw the largest field of corn that has come under my notice this season. From there I continued my journey, and on Tuesday morning, July 1, I was traveling by stage, first to Busti (where during the few minutes' wait to change mail, I had time to bid "good-day" to my cousin who keeps the store and post-office there) and then to Jamestown (where in the afternoon I take boat for a trip to Mayville and return). Just as I was going to the boat landing at that point I fell in with an old friend, King D. Fleek, who was raised in our neighborhood, and whom I have known from childhood. His father, David G. Fleek, who still lives near us, has a family of eleven children--five sons and six daughters. King D. Fleek is now owner and proprietor of the "Erwin Hotel," at Lakewood, whither he invited me to come and see him and his youngest brother, Frank, who keeps store there, which I promised to do on my return from Chautauqua [I have often thought of Mr. Fleek, our neighbor. He is such an industrious man, I do not wonder at the enterprise of his children. Mr. Fleek, whose health has not been very good for several years, holds out remarkably well, though this spring and summer he has not enjoyed very good health]. When I reached the latter place I put up as usual at "Matthews' Cottage," and here I learned, for the first time, of the death of my old friend William H. Matthews, who passed from earth September 30, 1889, after an illness of but one day. Such is life!

"Friend after friend departs!

Who hath not lost a friend?

There is no union here of hearts

That hath not here an end."

The Chautauqua Assembly, of New York, is now in session, and I avail myself of the occasion to attend some of the lectures and exercises. Prof. Eccleston's lectures on some of the writings of Dante, one of the greatest poets the world has ever produced, and who lived 600 years ago, were good. The lecturer had selected Dante's "La Divina Commedia," the subject of the first lecture being "Inferno," the subject of the second "Purgatorio" and "Paradiso" [Dante was born at Florence Italy, in May, 1265, and passed a peculiarly checkered life; he was a student of theology, a soldier, a politician; a chief magistrate, an exile, and the foremost among Italian poets. Dante's greatest work among his poetical writings is his "La Divina Commedia," a poem of world-wide fame, written while he was a poor wandering exile. It consists of three poems, or acts: Inferno (Hell), Purgatorio (Purgatory) and Paradiso (Heaven). He died in Ravenna, Italy, September 14, 1321.--EDITOR]. These two lectures were exceedingly interesting, the more so as they were illustrated with stereopticon views explanatory of the several subjects. I believe in the doctrine of future punishment, and of eternal bliss, as taught in the Bible, and if these two conditions can be made more impressive on the minds of people by illustrations in any intelligible form, I say all the better for mankind. I also went to see a sort of dioramic view of the Holy Land, well worthy of a visit and careful attention and study, and attended Mrs. Emily Wakefield's lecture on "The Literature of the East," the subject matter of which was good, but the delivery I thought not good.

In my more leisure moments I walked about the beautiful grove city of Chautauqua, which afforded me considerable diversion and not a little food for study. The streets presented a gay scene of activity, the pedestrians jostling one another as they hastened hither and thither--the studious man, the busy merchant, the industrious mechanic and the merry pleasure-seeker--each on his own special mission bent. On the 2nd I had the pleasure of meeting and having a long chat with William Glenn, who has lived here nine years, and who was formerly a resident of Meadville, Penn.

On the morning of the 3d I set out for Lakewood, arriving there before noon, and here I remained about seven hours, the guest of Mr. King D. Fleek, whose hotel, the "Erwin House," compares favorably with other inns at Lakewood. He showed his hospitality and kindness toward me by taking me to many points of interest in and about the town--such as the park, the cottages (including the double cottage known as "Gray Stone,") the "Sterlingworth Inn," the "Kent House," etc., from the cupola of which last named hotel we had a grand view of the lake and its beautiful surroundings:

Ever charming, ever new,

Ne'er will the landscape tire the view.

After dinner Mr. Fleek and I called on his brother Frank, already mentioned, but who, unfortunately, was absent in Jamestown, whither business had called him [Since then I visited him at Lakewood, and enjoyed a visit, at our home, from Mr. Frank Fleek]; but I had the pleasure of a visit and chat with his wife and father-in-law. Thence Mr. Fleek drove me to Ashville, some two and one-half miles distant, where I expected to see not only my cousin, Mrs. Leander Simmons, but also Mr. and Mrs. Fayette Fleek; on learning, however, that the latter had gone to Jamestown, I called on Mrs. Jane Simmons, but had to make my visit very short as time was limited. On our return to Lakewood we saw Frank Fleek at the dock, just as I was about to say "good bye" to my kind friends and set off by boat for Jamestown, where I again remained over night at the home of Mr. Colt. Next morning I proceeded by rail from Jamestown to Meadville, where I safely arrived after an absence from home of a little over a week.

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