1909 Centennial Memorial Service

Posted on July 10, 1855

Rev. Steve Farrar Memorial Service

BANK VILLAGE. 1909 Centennial Memorial Service. The one hundredth anniversary of the death of Rev. Stephen Farrar, the first minister in New Ipswich, will oсcur on June 23, 1909.  On that day, at 4 p. m., an interesting religious service will be held at his grave in the old cemetery on. the hill, to which every one is earnestly invited to be present. 

   Those who have camp stools are advised to take them to the cemetery. Rev. Mr. Farrar was born Sept, 8, 1738, and graduated at Harvard college in 1755. He commenced preaching in New Ipswich in the winter of 1758-9, was called to settle in November, 1759, collected and organized a church and was ordained its first pastor, Oct. 22, 1760. He continued its pastor and the only minister in town until June 23, 1809, when his life and ministerial work were suddenly terminated by apoplexy. 

   History records his ministry extending through half a century, as useful, peaceful and happy, and says the extent of his influence in promoting the settlement of New Ipswich may be inferred not only from its rapid progress after he came, but from the number of his personal connections and former townsmen who followed him here. 

   Rev. Dr. Payson of Rindge preached his funeral sermon from the text, "Devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him." The town took charge of his funeral and placed over his grave a marble stone bearing besides the usual memorials, this inscription: "The people of his charge leave this stone to mark the place where they have laid him." 

   Dr. John Preston, the first physician in town, married a sister of Rev. Mr. Farrar and settled in New Ipswich in 1760, and each succeeding generation of their descendants have been among the leading citizens of the town,

Photo Archives

Dedication of Monument for the First Meeting House, circa 1920. (L-R) Reverend John E, Bowman, Mrs. Anna (Nalch) McLaughlin, Mrs. John Barnett, Mrs. Mary (Adams) Thayer, Mrs. Abbie (Balch) Phelps, Sylvia Taylor, Doctor Frederic W. Jones, Deacon Henry W. Wilson, Reverend George J. Prescott, Mrs. Lena (Brooks) Preston, Mr. Charles S. Brown, Miss Kartarine Preston, Mrs. Mabel M. Jones, Mrs. Frances (Jones) Burton.

NOTE: This photo was captioned as taken in 1920, not 1909 so is probably not the Memorial service referenced in the news clipping.

Thayer’s One Hundred Formulas

A reader sent some photos of medicine produced using the formulas published by S.A. Thayer in 1883. Photos of the handbook were also included but the text is challenging to transcribe. An ointment for what ails you.

French Liquid Polish for Boots and Shoes

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Brown Shellac, 14 lbs.; ivory black, 6 ozs; tar, 1 gal.; Venice turpentine, 1 qt. 

Mix thoroughly with 95 per cent. alcohol, 6 gals.; Put up in wide-mouth 3 oz. bottles. Apply to the leather with a sponge attached to stopper by wire and kept in bottle when not in use. Oil the leather before applying. 
Retails at 25 cents.

James Roger diary entry

September 24^th 1908 (Thursday)

Warm smoky and dusty, David and Whittemore on Cemetery road.  I raked up around brooder house doors. And pulled up some pea brush then walked to Greenville got hair cut and went per train to Ayer.  Found all well.