Name/Title
Campbell Hall news August 31, 1888Entry/Object ID
001378Tags
George GougeScope and Content
ORANGE COUNTY NEWS.
As Gathered by the Ind. Republican's
Ubiquitous Correspondents.
Campbell Hall - The nineteenth annual picnic of the
descendants of William Bull and Sarah Wells was held in the beautiful grove belonging to Mrs. George Gouge at this place, Wednesday,
Aug. 31. The day was perfect, the grove in fine condition and every circumstance favorable to the enjoying of the meeting. At 12
o'clock m. President Ebenezer Bull called on the Sarah Wells Glee Club, led by Mr. Hannah Crosby, who opened the exercises by singing America. This was followed by prayer by Peter E. Miller. Dinner was then called. Of course, dinner on that day means abundant, nay, superfluity of every edible
thing known to the Bull family. After dinner the secretary, Albert Bull, read the minutes of the meeting of 1886. Then followed the speech of the orator of the day Mr. E. W. Miller. Mr. Miller is the son of Peter E. Miller, of Montgomery. He is a graduate of the Class of '87 of Union College, Schenectady, N. Y. In scholarship he stood third in a class numerically large, taking also the Allan prize for the best written essay. His speech was read. The points were not far from the following: 1st, that it is not necessary to make apologies for holding this picnic: 2d, that Sarah Wells, although not a
goddess, was the type of the model wife, loyal to her husband, and willing and ready to assist him in all his undertakings; 3rd, preserve our traditions and our history, mayhap some unscrupulous philosopher will ere long
try to prove that there was no such person as Sarah Wells; 4th, love right, live right and think right, so that by the laws of heredity future generations of this family may inherit good qualities and not be cursed with evil. The illustration of these points was done in a masterly style, and the delivery was listened
to with marked attention and followed by a vote of thanks and request for publication. Theodore L. Jackson then read a piece of
poetry entitled, "The Pioneers of the Old Stone Mansion," which was published in the INDEPENDENT REPUBLICAN of Aug. 31st, and
here occurred the most touching episode of the day. Mr. Jackson had barely ceased reading the lines beginning, "Oh grant, dear Christ, that we may meet
In that blessed world above," when Mrs. Crosby's sweet voice welled up
with "The Sweet Bye and Bye," one and another of the club joining in until the soft notes of that well known song floated through the grove as if from celestial voices. The effect was indescribable. There was scarcely
a dry eye among the listeners. Secretary Bull then read a communication from Lewis Jordan, giving a history of some of the members of the Pennsylvania branch of the family. James O. Miller was then called upon.
His speech was short, but his whole manner was inexpressibly comic. He closed his funny remarks by a happy hit at our bachelor brother, Mr. Theodore L. Jackson. There were probably 500 people on the ground during the day. This being a sort of catechetical day, everybody asks all the questions they
can think of about everybody else. The babies of the first picnics have become the mothers and fathers of this day, and over some the relentless grave has closed. There were present from other localities: Henry K. Bull, father of the eminent oculist, Charles Stedman Bull, of New York city; Thos. Bull, M. D., of Woodbridge, Conn.; W. H. D. Blake, of New Paltz; Emma L. and Ida L. Meyer, of Cleveland, O.; Mrs. Bertha and Edith Wheeler, of Carbondale, Pa. The Mrs. Wheeler belong to that branch of the family who
came of the Faulkners. Rev. Mr. Clearwater and his wife, who was Miss Ida Mould, the sweet singer of Kaisertown. Victor M. Drake was present with his flowing white beard and venerable, respected head, but made no speech, although I think he must have told many a one something they did not
know before of the great family. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Pres. John E. Duryea, Bullville; Vice-President, George H. Mills, Goshen; Secretary, Albert Bull, Chester; Treasurer, Theodore
L. Jackson, Montgomery. A vote of thanks was given to Mrs. Gouge for the use of her grove, and the picnic adjourned to meet at this place the last Wednesday in August, 1888, at 12 m. The party at the old stone
house in the evening was not less entertaining than usual. The footrace did not come off, but the show of young girls, who in a year or so will cause the young mens' hearts to flutter, was something phenomenal. If Sarah
Wells, from starry heights, saw them flitting in the shadows of her old mansion, I think her accompanying angels must have heard a
joyous song of rapturous satisfaction. For another year we put away the traditions of this noted family.
