Information from Second Souvenirs, by Francis C. Waid, 1890, pp. 188-230 Extracts from his diary 1888 April 13, 1888--To-day my wife completes her fifty-sixth year. Crowded on the pages of memory are a thousand pleasant reminiscences of the past--of the time of our courtship and of our happy married life. But we are nearing the end of our journey; each day brings us nearer to the time of God's calling. We may not know it, it is not our heavenly Father's wish, but "Somewhere on this earthly planet, In the dust of flowers to be, In the dew-drop, in the sunshine, Sleeps a solemn day for me." Bad news as well as good news sometimes comes on a day when we would wish all to be bright, and it was bad on this anniversary of Eliza's birth, for we heard of the burning this morning of G. N. Waid's saw-mill. My wife and I called to see him, and on our return took supper with our eldest son. I wrote to-day, also to Rev. W. F. Oldham who, with his wife, is a missionary at Singapore, on the Malay Peninsula. In 1879 Mr. Oldham was our pastor at the State Road Methodist Episcopal Church, being at the same time a student at Allegheny College. Brother Oldham once, when trying to raise some money for repairing the church, came to me with the subscription paper; I put my name down for $30, and as I handed the paper back I said: "I reserve the right to pay more if it be needed." He smiled and replied: "Brother Waid, I am glad we have a few such men in our church, who after paying their subscriptions, pledge themselves to make up any arrears." Well, as it happened the cost of the repairs exceeded the amount subscribed, and although Mr. Oldham had gone I remembered our conversation and assumed with pleasure the balance of the indebtedness which amounted to $58. This is but one instance in which I have endeavored not only to bear my part, or rather what I thought my duty, financially, but have rather perhaps gone beyond it. Let me quote other instances: I was once handed a subscription paper in a church, and was asked if possible to raise $45, that sum being the one-fourth part of the amount necessary to be raised. Three others were trying to raise a like amount, and soon succeeded. I was the last of the four to be sent out to canvass one-fourth of the house. I was younger then by many years than I am now, and could do more labor, but I had not the means that I at present possess. When the other three had counted their contributions, it was announced that if Brother Waid had been equally successful the entire amount of $180 would have been raised. When I counted the subscription I had obtained, I found the sum fell far short of the amount needed, and as I told the congregation some one asked why it was that it fell short when the others had been so successful. I replied that the reason was because I had not yet put down my name, and that I would now ask the privilege of subscribing the amount necessary. In that way it was arranged and the debt was paid. At the time of writing this incident, April 23, 1888, I am just fifty-five years old, and I do not regret a dollar that I have ever spent to promote good by advancing the Master's kingdom. I like to close each year of my life better than I began it, and last night, as my fifty-fifth year drew to a close, I trust that I performed a deed that will aid in making me better in reality, as it certainly has aided in making me feel better. The Free Methodists of this vicinity are holding meetings in the Methodist Episcopal Church, Blooming Valley (as they have no church of their own), on alternate Sabbaths. We attended church there on Sunday morning, and in the evening also. We heard two good sermons from the pastor, who is supported from the proceeds of the collections. One was taken at the morning service, and another at the close of the evening service. When both offerings were counted, the total amount was but $7.00. I thought that ere the close of my fifty-five years of life I still had another opportunity of doing good, and so, at the end of the sermon, when Elder McGeary gave all an opportunity to testify for Christ, and when all was finished, I arose, and addressing the elder, said: "Is it still in order to speak?" "That depends upon what you have to say," he replied. I quoted this passage from the Scripture: Who can harm you if you be followers of that which is good? I then told them that Christ had been very kind to me in my Christian life, and that I had derived great comfort from His Gospel. With a few other words, I said that I desired to make their collection double what it was, and thus I made the amount $14.00. So I ended my year pleasantly by doing a kind act, and I hope to do it each succeeding year while my life shall last. No one can be so interested in the return of my birthday as I am. To me it is a day of joy and thanksgiving for having life, health, peace and happiness, and for being surrounded with friends and kindred; first, therefore, let me thank the Parent of all good for the blessings that He has showered upon me. I believe that if with age there comes infirmity, there also comes more grace to endure. During the past year, taking into account the failing health of my dear wife, and other trials which I have passed through, I feel that I have been upheld, and that indeed His grace is sufficient for me. How I ought to honor the Lord when I remember His goodness to me. April 23, 1888. MY BIRTHDAY. I'm fifty-four years old to-day; Father Time would not delay, But added daily to the store Until my years reached fifty-four, All these natal days I've seen While watching close life's changing scene; Each day and year brought pictures new And mem'ry calls them into view. If thinking deeply o'er the past Will save, 0 Lord, my soul at last, Then let me yet the wiser grow As I with faith shall onward go. The fifty-four years I have lived Have taught me lessons to forgive; Its nothing else but truth from Heaven-- Forgive and you shall be forgiven. It was not said by Him in vain, The merciful shall peace obtain, But every one who will endure Shall find His promise very sure. In eighteen hundred fifty-one My Christian course was then begun; The Bible truth which makes all free Has been a blessing unto me. My years full pleasantly have flown, When deep in search of Truth alone, While working daily in the field His word sweet comfort oft did yield. I am content, by day or night, When Heav'nly landmarks are in sight, Reminders of His favors given, Landmarks leading on to Heaven. Francis C. Waid. May 11 and 12, 1888--I think a few lines concerning the "CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION of the Settlement of Crawford County and Founding of the City of Meadville" will not be out of place here, for it was a most important event in the history of this locality; and as I have just returned from the two-days' celebration I will write concerning it while it is fresh in my memory. In the early afternoon of the 11th occurred the industrial parade, representing the various trades, industries and professions of the city and county. After the parade, which was a success, a shower of rain fell that interfered sadly with the band concert in Diamond Park. The literary exercises in the evening at the Academy of Music were marked by good taste and force in the rendering of the addresses, and showed high attainments on the part of the participants. The historical address was full of interest to all who heard it, and a finely rendered ballad, "George Washington," by the College Glee Club, was provocative of much applause. The rooms of the Historical Society in the library building were open during the progress of the Centennial, a courtesy much appreciated. At 7 A. M., May 12, a salute of one hundred guns was fired, and there was a loud ringing of bells, calling forth the people to the planting Of the centennial oak on Diamond Park. The tree was placed on the southern half of the park near the dividing walk. May it stand for many years as a memorial of this day and as a reminder to future generations to guard well their liberties, that they, too, may celebrate successive Centennials with their country's heritage of freedom still secure. The Pioneer monument standing at the north end of the park was unveiled in the presence of a throng of many thousand people, among whom were the children of the public schools who sang "America." I had witnessed many notable scenes on Diamond Park, or the "Old Diamond" as we called it, but none of my boyhood's sights impressed me as did this scene on the morning of which I write. The Crawford County Centennial was a most interesting affair to the inhabitants of this section of Pennsylvania. The county's population is now estimated at 85,000, while that of the city is put at 10,000. I have to record a sad accident that occurred on the first evening of the celebration, when George Williams, a special policeman, was accidentally shot dead. He was in his thirty-eighth year, and I knew him as a boy when he attended our Sabbath-school at State Road. His father, Ethan Williams, was an active member of the church during many years of his lifetime. Returning to the subject of the monument I would say that it bears an inscription to the purport that it was erected May 12, 1888, to mark the history of Crawford County and the founding of Meadville. It is an ornament to the city and an object of great interest to visiting strangers. It was a great pleasure to me to contribute $100 toward the Centennial fund, as it was no less a gratification to aid in such a way as I could the publication and distribution of our Centennial pamphlet which contains much of interest concerning our county, and is a strong promoter of its welfare. The following letter I received from my respected friend, Mr. S. B. Dick, one of the vice-presidents of the Centennial Celebration. MEADVILLE, Penn., May 5, 1888. F. C. Waid, Esq. My Dear Sir: I am requested by the Centennial Executive Committee to express to you their hearty appreciation of your generous gift to the Centennial Memorial. The following resolution expressive of our appreciation of your subscription, and the feelings which prompted it, was passed unanimously at the last meeting of the Committee: Resolved, That the generous contribution of Mr. F. C. Waid to the Centennial fund Calls for special recognition on the part of the Centennial Executive Committee, and that our thanks be extended to Mr. Waid. Yours very truly, S. B. DICK, Vice-President. I love a book and my friends, and in subscribing to one I help the other. The wide distribution of this work has brought much love and friendship to my door; the good work began before Christmas, and still goes on. The good spirit that is within a man who contemplates doing anything, says: "Ought I to do this?" while another spirit queries: "Can I do this?" Reasoning upon this line of thought, I decided a question for myself not long ago. A few days before my birthday, Col. S. B. Dick, whom I met in Meadville, said: "Frank, now is a good time to subscribe for the monument fund." "Yes," I replied, "but I will take a little time to consider about it.." "All right, that is precisely what I want you to do," said the Colonel, in answer, and then we parted. I think the right man had spoken to me on the subject, and I did not have to think over it long before I was decided. I knew that when the spirit asked: "Ought you to do this?" the answer came readily and promptly: "Yes." And in a day or two I experienced a double pleasure, that of celebrating my birthday and giving the money toward the monument. On that day I addressed a letter to Col. Dick and the Centennial committee, and enclosed my check for $100. I gave this money, my reader, because I love the ,county which gave me birth. When traveling at a distance through strange and beautiful places, my heart has always turned yearningly toward my home. There are many associations connected with home life that have endeared me to it. The feeling of love for home is one common to all mankind, and he who does not have it must in some way be morally estray. As I have written above, I subscribed cheerfully to this fund, for I wish always to promote Crawford County's welfare. Here rests the dust of my dead kindred; here my parents and grandparents lived and died. It is a locality teeming with memories of pioneer life, of hardships and early struggles. I, as a descendant, feel that I have a share in those early times, and I trust that posterity will be imbued with the same spirit to the extent that will make them guard ever the interests of Crawford County. Before closing this subject I may say that I was appointed by the Centennial Executive Committee a vice-president of the committee, of which I was advised by a letter from the chairman of Committee of Arrangements, of which the following is a copy: MEADVILLE, PA., May 7, 1888. F. C. Waid, Esq. Dear Sir: You are appointed by the Centennial Executive Committee, a vice-president of the Committee. It is hoped that you will be able to attend the exercises to be held in the Academy of Music, May 11 and 12. Executive Committee badges will be supplied by Major D. V. Derickson. Yours very truly, A. M. FULLER, Chairman, Committee of Arrangements. More to follow, David