ADELINE ROBERT WORCESTER SMITH
Book 1 Introduction 1.2
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1.1 . . The Hustons 1.2 . . In Memory of Samuel Worcester 1.3 . . Annual of Marquis 1.4 . . Life of Samuel Worcester 1.5 . . Boyhood of Samuel H Worcester 1.6 . .Ottumwa 1.7 . . Mothers Passing |
1.9 . . Samuel Frank Worcester 1.10 . .Lucy Ida Worcester 1.11 . .The WCTU about 1874 1.12 . .Spring History 1.13 . .William Huston 1.14 . .Huston in Tempore 1.15 . .Indian Love Part I 1.16 . .Final Book 1 |
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A SELF WRITTEN MEMOIR
In loving memory of Rev Samuel H Worcester of England, Compiled by his daughter, Addy Robert Worcester Smith -1919
After much reflection, I decided to undertake in a small way the task of reviving the memories of those who had passed behind the veil. In the first stages of my work, a slumbering affection for the memory of those whom in childhood, I had been taught to revere was quickened, and incidents of early and later life almost forgotten, or thought of occasionally as of no great significance, began to be recalled. I could see in them a moral conveying thoughts noble inspiring and perhaps instructive to my children, hence this effort.
To bring the memories into form and weave these incidents into a web of interest to them. Genealogies don't merely gratify curiosity, they tend to elevate, because they keep in our minds the character of the best of their race; and these, become the standards of morals and positions, which men aim to equal. The commandment that we should honor our fathers and our mothers has a perpouse more wide and far reaching than is usually supposed.
I don't see how a human being should not be glad to know who was his "Kin and Kin" when some one is able to tell him. I would say there is a pleasure in erecting monuments of marble to the memory of our relatives. Why not our pleasure or gratification be greatly increased by a small book containing a brief mention of a few of our name, and try to excel in all the virtues that pertain to any individual of our name.
Our tastes and judgments are formed from different surroundings and differ somewhat in their character. What to one is pleasure to another may be an object of aversion or indifference. So with this little effort to me it is a great pleasure, and I heartly trust a pleasure to those of my family coming after me. The spirit of enterprise is a fortune of the family. Sober, industrious, frugal and with a good degree of intelligence appliances of life wisely and effectively to construct comfortable homes and rear intelligent and virtuous families.
As manly independence has ever been more to the race than fame, wealth or position, while none of these would be rejected, if they were the legitimate rewards of industry and virtue. Another prominent feature of the Worcester family is its patriotism. They have often risked and sacrificed their all to save their country; both in England and these United States, country of their adoption. It is a family of decided religious tendencies. Their deep religious convictions observance of the institutions of our Christian religion. In the American branch-
A spirit of toleration has marked it history. Independent thought has had full scope; and different religious creeds have come to exist, yet they all have built their opinions upon the Bible, substantially as interpreted by the Reformers of the 16th and 17th centuries. The eventual truth as taught in the Bible is warmly cherished and insisted on as constituting only true bases of sound morally and a rational theory of accountability to the Divine Lawgiver. You will finish among them Baptist, Methodist and Episcopalians.
So far as I know the the Worcester family, love liberty and have a seated hatred of oppression of every form; a people of quick sympathy and impaling nature, capable of enjoying much and suffering much. They are most benevolent and intelligent, who love to read and study, love their friends, love to have friends and serve them. In pursuits, they are manufacturers and shrewd and prosperous tradesman. Men of inventive genius in mechanics, arts and artistic tastes and a few clergymen among them. My recources have been some what limited so that I have not been able to go into detail farther back than about 1728, but I have given you a little history of an old and honorable family. Sept 25, 1915
I feel these pages may be misconstructed and a word of explanation would not be amiss. It is of "no vain boasting" I have compiled these pages first in 1914 my dear daughter suggested and pleaded much of what she said, "we children would enjoy having after you go hence, mother". "Give us all the history you can of the Worcesters and Hustons, for Dada told us such interesting tales of his boyhood home. So I began in the fall of 1915 gathering together the records, clippings and letters my father and mother left, much of interest. I am sorry and destroyed during moves. I have at this time rewritten some, as others, resources have come to me. I sincerely hope my children will fully understand these pages are not of boasting, but on the other hand, it is a joy to ones ancestors and their achievements. Remember always my dear children, "It is not Birth or Rank that makes men great, but get up and git".
It is what we achieve ourselves, but if good ancestors have done noble deeds it may inspire us to do our best. I feel these pages have been a saving grace to me, as they have been written in, "my winter of discontent." and to overcome my lonesomeness of the past year, I prayed my Heavenly Father to show me a plan, whereby I could overcome this condition. I surely feel he answered me, for almost at once without my solicitation I received a history of my father's family at Christmas tide, kept intact by four of his sisters from their early days, until after their father and mothers passing on. One sister, Leotitia Murphy is still living in Cincinnati. As I have always been very fond of history of families, I fact one of my hobbies, I said, why not now finish my little history for the children; and as I progress and pick up the one letter or clipping after another, such as the letter from the sweet woman, for whom I was named, Mrs Adeline Robert. Here is what she wrote- "This is what I felt, after a visit to the Worcester home, an atmosphere of comfort and hospitality, a delicate vibration of domesticity. They come from the rich intimacy of this home with courtesy, cheer and sunshine, and gives one a placid tranquillity."
As I read these letters and think of our home life, I have again felt the atmosphere and companionship of these cultured friends of days gone by. I feel sure if my children read rhe eulogy of my father by the Rev McElroy, who knew father for fifty-five years, you will then know he was a cultured gentleman. Also the rich tribute given my mother when she passed on, you will better understand why I am proud to call them father and mother.
Please note a coat of arms was given to a man for some deed of valor, as a medal is given in war today; a mark of heroism in battle and sometimes bestowed on him, in the field of battle, as the one given John Huston in Scotland. -Adaline Robert Worcester Smith, Saint Martins Villa, Minnesota. February 6, 1919.
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