History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, including Lynnfield ...

184 Biographical Sketches. Newhall.
however, which it will be observed was written but a few years
before his death, contains such points of interest as will fully
justify its insertion :
Galena, July 8th, 1863.
Col. James W. Seaver, Boston:
Dear Sir : Your note inviting me to meet the surviving members of the
Class of 1817, at the Revere House, on the 14th inst. is received. Absence from
home must be my excuse for not answering it at an earlier day. I could not realize
that a half century had elapsed since we entered college, until I reflected upon the
vast stride our country has made in its wealth and population during that period.
Since I l^ecame a resident of Illinois the population of the State has increased from
fifty thousand to two millions and a half. Then, I was on the frontier of civilization ;
now, my oldest son is a citizen of a State, two thousand miles farther West. It is
only twenty-five years since I hired a Sioux guide to condu6l me to Carver's cave in
a wilderness where now is the beautiful city of St. Paul, the capital of Minnesota.
Thirty-three years ago, when I was stationed as surgeon at Fort Winnebago, I
passed through an Indian encampment of twenty-five hundred Winnebagoes on the
Four Lakes, where now is Madison, the seat of government of Wisconsin ; and I
have just returned from commencement at Beloit college, of which institution I am a
trustee. Thirty years since it was the hunting ground of the Winnebagoes. Less
than forty years have passed since this city (Galena) was the favorite dwelling place
of the Sacks and Foxes, and to-day we are celebrating the brilliant victories of our
townsman. General Grant, the great Captain of the age.
If I have been the means of aiding in moulding public opinion in this part of our
beloved country, I owe it, in a great degree, to the education I received at old Harvard.
I should rejoice to meet my old class-mates on the 14th inst., but cannot leave
home at that time on account of the situation of my family. Give my fraternal regards
to those who may be present and believe me to be
Truly and Sincerely Yours,
H. Newhall.
Dr. Newhall died on Monday, September 19, 1870. "Three
days after," says the record of an affe6lionate friend, " we were
present at the funeral which took place from the family residence.
There were many, very many stricken hearts on that solemn
occasion overshadowed with the gloom of the death presence.
A large concourse of relatives, friends, neighbors and acquaintances
assembled to express their sympathy with the living and
their reverence for the dead. The room and coffin were profusely
decorated with choicest flowers tastefully arranged. It was
fitting ; he loved them in life ;
and in the fulness of life above,
he no doubt was enjoying the sweetness and beauty of those
that bloom fadelessly in paradise — the garden of blessedness.
" When at four o'clock on the 22d of September we affeflionately
and sorrowfully committed his remains to the earth — dust
to its kindred dust — we could not but feel, that, for his body,
worn out in the service of duty, there was to be a glorious awak-