The Pulford’s
To my daughter, Sarah Roberts Pulford, wife of Dr. H. I. D.
Robinson,
After meeting and expressed desire upon your part for the genealogy of the Pulford People in this part of the country I have felt the desire one has at my age to write something about which he has known has taken place of concern in his life.
It has seemed to me you might be pleased to have a sort of story: or history of their movements from the day of entry into this country to the passing of my father.
You will I believe take the more interest in it because it will give you a picture you may look at, in fancy and see the part your own father took in the business activities of your grandfather Pulford.
My grand-parents were the first Pulfords coming to this
country that I know of; they were born in
I have good reason to believe it was about the year 1834 the
family, consisting of a daughter and four sons left the homeland for this country
and settled in the
Nothing more eventful happened on the passage out except a fall the youngest member had; it might have been serious but it did not turn out so.
This one was a toddling babe at the time; he could use his legs though, and did; yes, he went walking all by himself. As he trampled about here and there on the smooth deck of the ship he fell pell-mell down the open hatch-way of the ship’s hold the cover some careless sailor had left off.
Perhaps though, he was more seriously injured than was
thought at the time, but did live long enough to become one of the leading
manufacturers in
Now the earliest settlement in the county was along the
Then, at that early there was a place of note which did considerable manufacturing: it was called the furnace for many years.
To reach this place let us suppose we are on the highway
from
For proof of this I am depending upon conversation I enjoyed with Reuben Bruner who died about 65 years ago; he was your grandfather Boyle’s uncle, a man much esteemed and believed.
It was at the age of 18 I became aquainted with your mother, she was visiting her brother Charles, Annie Scratch being with her for company.
There was an expressed desire to visit Uncle Reuben but seven miles was too far to walk. Of course we had vehicles and driving horses and it was not hart job for Charley and I to get a couple of outfit’s ready and we went driving.
In about an hour we were being welcomed by Uncle Reuben who seemed pleased to show us around his excellent home; he took us all through his vineyard with the lovely fruit hanging thereon. Oh, but didn’t we enjoy grapes that day!
Well Uncle Reuben was a man of experience, interesting and well worth listening to; he told us some things which had happened around there which was a surprise to us.
Well, said he, as he picked up a lump of something from the ground, this is high land, in fact the highest in the county yet, not far distant, it is extremely low, at a much less distance than the road to the south, then pointing to the north he said there is a bog along the rear of these farms extending far to the east and it had much iron-ore in it at one time.
This rise of ground where we stand was without a doubt, the hottest place in Essex when the big furnace was melting the ore which came in from the bog so near at hand, this bit of slug is proof of what went on here before we came on the scene of action; the product of the factory was stoves.
But what connection has this with out story? We know that pioneer Pulford was not a molder, but being a tailor he could make suits for men and well equipped to do so he was.
It could not be denied that he showed wisdom in the land of his activities when he laid in a supply of good broadcloth.
Now it so happened that before the arrival of our people the from the bog played out; the molders then having no raw material, left and the tailor with his broad-cloth was left too. Having no one now to make clothes for, his predicament was serious to say the least.
So it is not hard to see that no matter how well equipped an enterprising young tailor might be without patrons he would be in a bad way to provide the necessities of life for his already fair sized family which was on the increase.
What did he do then? He was “in the woods”, so to speak, and that is no joke; certainly not at that time; the woods was a hard place to be but that is exactly where the family was living.
The resident settlers were, for the most part, grubbing out and existence by tilling the soil in clearings they made here and there in the forests.
He had some money but how much we cannot say not having been told.
There seemed to be no other way for the Pulfords but to follow in line; do the same thing though it might wound up the pride more or less. Any way a start in that direction was begun by hiring some bushmen to cut down the trees; we can well imagine what things began to look like; the boys having their time of life but not the mother: she was looking ahead when nobody else did, expression to her feelings.
Perhaps she thought, I wouldn’t wonder if she did, think she had the best man in the world, her husband, and the father of the children she had borne.
I have reason to believe the mother of my father was a kind thoughtful person, a good woman. I wish I had seen her but it was not in the providence of God I should have such a pleasure.
Why should I for an opinion of the one I have heard so little about when I am depending upon two incidents only and the expressions she used at the time? Well perhaps an answer will be seen in the picture we will try to draw for our imagination.
The day is over the money to pay the men who have been busy chopping has been brought out from its hiding place in the little cupboard on the wall: I have seen them, have you? The wages handed over to the men who have left for their several places of abode. All is quiet: that is as much as it could well be with about half a dozen boys around teasing their sister, the only one they had you know.
Then the stillness prevailed for a moment except perhaps for the moaning of the wind as it passed through the crevices between the logs which a house in the woods generally have; then hush mother speaks: and this is what she says; “What are we going to do when the money is all gone?”
Judging by the way we heard it from father we imagine the effect produced upon his shoulders, it struck and went deep, he had not thought of it before.
It was something like the great shock one has when an unexpected flash of lightning occurs quickly followed by a clap of thunder.
The other incident was an occasion which caused her to make
reference to what happened to one of the boys on the way out from
We know one, at least, who would come in for a good share of the time honored rod of correction. This chap was not only full of mischief but was dull of understanding, that is, he did not seem to care for, or mind his parents; so we cannot wonder at a father getting out of patience with his thoughtless boy when he did not pay attention to what he was told.
We presume this incident we have spoken of happened on a day when his father was about to thrash out some of his son’s dullness, that something unusual happened.
No a good mother is never opposed to discipline and at the use of the rod on occasions when needed. There is, however, one thing parents ought always to bear in mind how children come to be in the world. Is it not sad how some carry on in such a manner that leads one to conclude they never do care to think of it, but one whose acts we are considering was different? Then another thing equally important, she could always remember how they could not be much different than the parents “whose blood ran in their veins”.
On this occasion she appeared to have the feeling the boy needed a protector this time any-way. We believe she always fancied her boy injured more than they thought at the time. Anyway she felt uneasy; perhaps it was not best to use the gad on him so much so she spoke up and said how that awful fall on the ship had affected the child she thought. Such a reminder must have brought back the memory the frightful terror when death to that precious little one seemed so near. It had the designed effect, the boy was saved from the gad that time; and shall we not believe it was for the best? Perhaps the mention of the mishap brought grandfather to see he should be careful in using the rod of correction.
Yes, Father was a young boy then, perhaps not more than seven, and, in all probability his protecting mother passed away not long after I cannot recollect of any other mention being made of her.
The next thing coming to mind was relating an incident which happened to one member of the family at the age of 13.
Though the money we had been speaking about was going with good intent that searching question of mother’s had a beneficial effect: the trees did not all fall under the woodsman’s axe. Had the destruction gone on real good fun with plenty of exercise for rollicking boys as these were, then it would have been too bad altogether; just think of it if you can, what would they have done without any trees to climb, bend over, and swing upon; and others to form into booths to play in; then trees of the larger sort to gather nuts from. Now we know that squirrels do drop nuts when they ripen and are ready, but who ever saw boys waiting for nuts to ripen? You can’t stop them from clubbing the trees and climbing them before any frost ever strikes to change their color.
Sure, it’s great fun when every thing goes well, but when not it’s different.
It was I believe the most venturesome youngster, the youngest, who climbed the highest and took the greatest risks among the trees, Hickory is the most difficult to climb. It was in one of these this unwary lad was climbing, in the late afternoon we imagine. The sun was casting its shadows beneath this young lad, and noticing his great length gave more attention to it than where he was stepping. The limb upon which he had just placed his foot gave way and down he came to the ground “like a thousand of brick”, an expression my mother used some-times in describing a fall one took that was somewhat amusing.
His elder brother who happened to be near made the remark, as he made an effort to pick him up, “you might have broken your leg Bob.” Finding it impossible to walk the boys carried him to the house and since he could not make use of one leg it would not be hard to fancy he was ill at ease, to say the least.
As soon as they found the leg was broken they obtained aid, set the bones together, as they thought; nevertheless all was not well.
After a spell they discovered the bones had not been set together properly and, though the strength of several men pulled together in effort to part the bones to reset them it proved fruitless. Now if you want to know why your grandfather Pulford had such a peculiar motion of body when walking you are to know he could do no better with one leg about two inches shorter than the other. You will, now know, without more being said that he was the venturesome boy who suffered a lot of pain after he fell from the Hickory nut tree.
But here now we have something of real importance concerning those four English born boys. They grew to manhood, they seemed to be cut out for something different than that of chopping down of trees and land clearing.
In those days already spoken of stoves were not the only
thing manufactures in
Long before anything was doing in this line in the northern
part of the county the Pulford’s started carriage making in
It is about a century age that the four boys, Edwin, Henry, Frank and Walter began making wagons, etc. in the little town already mentioned.
There was one member of the company, however that was not content to make heavy vehicles only; I t was the youngest who said ‘good-bye’ to the others and made his way to the states.
Now at the time
Settlement of the country seemed to be east rather than west
at
Before proceeding further in what might be a more or less fanciful attempt to give account of an adventure I should say that though he was out to learn carriage making, and did so at this place, as he told us, yet he had already considerable practical knowledge in the wood-working part of the business.
Now while we are trying to picture things as they were, be it true or not, we shall have to use our imagination as to how he did get started.
It might have been that as he passed along the street where the works were situated a workman stood near an open door of the woodshop. Moved by the sudden impulse to speak, he stopped, and, giving him thought a stranger, the usual salutation used when meeting anyone, received a courteous answer.
The man seemed to appreciate the greeting and upon learning the one giving it was himself a wood-worker looking for a job, became interested and invited him in.
Well as the workman continued on at work they conversed upon the things people of the world are interested in, such as the weather, political affairs, signs of the times, etc.
Each, no doubt would express his thought upon the slavery question so much in agitation at the time.
Then they would talk about carriage construction; the different kinds of timer used, the difficulties encountered in doing a satisfactory job with inferior timber; some would be nice straight grain, easy to work while others would be knotty and hard to work; a good workman would not always be to blame if the finished article did not turn out just right.
Then there were some faults that the best mechanics could not overcome. Now to illustrate, said the workman who was driving in a heavy wheel, “you notice how some of the spokes do not stay down on the hub”, this may be found in nay mans work.
At the conclusion of this remark all was quiet for a few moments, then Pulford broke the silence by saying he had seen it done, in fact, said he, in modest tones, I have done it myself.
Again there was silence it would not be hard to imagine the scene; here was a seasoned workman busy in the woodworking department of a going concern with a young stranger facing him making a statement opposed to what he had already testified to.
Was he thunderstruck, he must have been? He would not want to be uncivil but he had to say something and he did, it was this, “I’d like to see it done”.
Well, said Pulford, acting as though he would remove his doubt, I am ready to go at it, and, since the way cleared, he took advantage of the opportunity to prove himself capable.
After removing his coat as he rolled up his shirt sleeves, said: have you a heavy mallat? None being available a piece of timber was found and he was soon at work shaping it out as desired. Then he went to work driving the spokes down firmly on the hub. Though young in experience he had learned that spokes could not be made to stay when a blacksmith’s sledgehammer was used to drive them.
Now concerning what follows, is, in reality, a fact not a supposition; he kept his coat off “so-to-speak”; the boss hired him; he remained until he learned the trade. He had a genial disposition and we may be sure he would get on well with all the workman in the different branches of the carriage business there and would not be long in gaining the knowledge sought for.
So in due time he returned to his own country. He had an inventive mind, perhaps more so than nay of the others in the company and the boys would be glad to have him back with them.
They began making spring wagons and light vehicles as well as farm wagons of the heavier sort. To accommodate this greater work a two story building of considerable size was erected where, not only woodwork, but painting and trimming could be done.
I do not know how long they continued together but I do know
that Uncle Frank had a store in Amherstburg.
I was in it when at the age of four years, father took me with him when
paying grandfather a visit and Uncle Henry carried on a sash and door factory
here in
In the year 1858, Walter, my father, leaving the
At the close of the sixties, about the time the first photograph of the works was taken, he had, as the picture reveals, he had seven or eight men employed.
For some years before this he put in steam power as saw-mills were too far away to have timber cut as required. However after a few years trial, in which one man lost a finger, the risk of accidents to the men seemed to great, and, as a sawmill had just located in town, he sold the outfit.
As the country continued settling up business kept increasing and a finer class of vehicles were called for as a consequence larger and better buildings were erected and better work done.
It was about three or four years after the photo was taken that a Mr. Levi Truax came to town, a merchant, a man of enterprise. After looking the town over searching for a suitable place to begin, and finding no opening, decided to build. Having his eye on the corner where wagons were being constructed, he got in touch with the builder. He struck the right man for my father had a vision too, and when you get two enterprising men together something happens.
I fancy Mr. Truax saying to father how the corner where his shop stood would make an ideal place for a store. If he would sell the lot they could put up a building together which would suit requirements of each.
Father saw that his works had no need of being on the corner, if the store were there his show-room next to it would be just as good, better than being on the corner without a store.
Father had the land in plenty, he owned the whole frontage of the block he occupied; he could sell and suffer no loss to his business at all.
Well, they soon agreed on the price and erected a fine brick
block, the first three story building in
When the building was completed he had the best carriage show-room in the county. On the first floor he had his office and exhibited his vehicles. On the second floor he had his paint shop, and rented the third story. Adjoining the building he put up a brick black-smith shop reaching the full length of the show-room. In it he placed seven forges, almost double the number used in the old one.
Now when about ten men were at work here it was a busy place and somewhat noisy too, hammering on anvils does just that. Then, to get the picture well in mind, we must know the old fashioned bellows were not like the kind in use these latter days. Have you ever heard them? If so you’d know the difference.
Do you wonder at it when I say I can, in fancy, hear the clanking sound of these little doors which regulated the air through the forge fires?
Nor is that all; no I can see the young apprentices to the left of the men raising and lowering the operating bars of the same.
Then, hear me, the view of the whole situation was hardly less attractive; though there was two huge ventilators in the ceiling they were not enough, at times, to draw out the smoke which filled the big shop.
Now, though well into my 89th year, I am trying to give you a mental picture of the scene before me: it is as vivid as I saw it 80 years ago. I can see that cloud of blue smoke in the ceiling of the entire shop, I can see the glow of the fires in the forges and the men standing before them, faces red and sweating as they draw the white heated irons from the fires.
Yes, I can hear the anvils ring as the irons are hammered into the desired shape.
The business up to the time of the great fire gave steady employment to about fifteen men, though in rush times it reached as many as twenty.
Now having described its gradual climb to success we shall have to turn our attention back to beginnings. If father were here at my back looking over my shoulder at what I have written, he would undoubtedly say you are forgetting some very important things.
First, then let us say that he had help at the time it was greatly needed. A good start means much sometimes, and, never, perhaps, was it more true than in this case.
That building shown in the photo, in front of which father stands holding the little boy by the hand was erected before father came to town. I understand the intention of the builder was to start, or had already begun, wagon making.
At about the time the photo was taken it served as woodshop and harness making on the ground-floor, and paint shop above.
When father came to town he made a start in a little blacksmith shop about where Bennett’s house stands.
The building, or carriage works spoken of was purchased through the help given by the Bunn family. Thus it was that a good beginning made a satisfactory ending possible. Then also I am quite sure I should say the progress toward success was because of the constant help given in the home by the little woman I am glad to say was my precious mother, who you would now be calling grandmother, were she not deceased.
Many years have passed since then: I was almost too young to know anything about my age. I can see that old dining room table, at that time a big one to me; it was around that table where about half a dozen men sat three times a day eating the meals prepared by the one who took care of me and all the rest of us all the while.
In the upper story of the house, the one shown amongst the trees in the picture, there was one double and two single bedrooms. It was reached by a narrow steep stairway with a winding at the beginning; moreover it landed facing against the chimney.
It was in those rooms where, after the days work in the shops was ever, the rested. And, if they could speak now I believe they would say: we rested well.
But what about the care? To keep sleeping places in order those days was very different than with the conveniences we have now.
Is it any wonder I am using my handkerchief while I
undertake to describe what precious mother did those days to make things
go! If the Pulford carriage works in
But there is yet something without which this record would be incomplete, so you will have to bear with me while I make an effort to do justice to all concerned.
We have been viewing the gradual climb to success of the
carriage business in
Sadness, yes, it is, so, for, just at the time when he should have been resting the outlook before him was gloomy and foreboding. It would not have been anything else as will be seen in the record that follows.
Now, after a thing is over one can easily see what might, or should have been done. It is true that some money was being saved by not insuring the property. Great watchfulness and care throughout tall the works had good results for there had been no less through fire originating on the premises. But it was a great mistake in placing too much trust in the town’s fire equipment, for fire came from without and wiped out most of the business part of the town.
In it father’s loss was heavy: the three story in which was his showroom, etc. was reduced to ashes, not only that, but his fine blacksmith shop with all equipment. To continue the business he had to rebuild and added to this he found it necessary to buy out his partner’s interest in the hardware store.
Thus leaded he was in a more critical condition financially than he had any idea of. He needed a good collector and to fill that need made a change in the office management.
The time of this change was about 1880 and in Jan. 1883 I
went to
In May the great fire came, and as I was not needed at home,
continued my course as though nothing had happened. My term ended when the college closed for the
season and it was about the first week in July when I reached home; for, those days, a place on the river was
about as attractive, if not more, than
It was not more than a week after that the collector in charge gave up the office to me and my work began. Wanting to know how things stood I advised taking stock. It was a big job that took much time and when I had my statement ready made it known to father; thoughts as we stand there together in the office alone. Perhaps I am the only one who could at all understand and sympathize with him. Undoubtedly his thought would be the efforts he had made to provide the things which go to make a home a pleasant place for his family and when parting time came something might be left for their comfort.
There, in his mind deeply we believe, were his creditors, local residents, country people who had worked hard and saved, as they farmed, just as he himself had done in his business. He saw how they had entrusted their savings to his keeping. Now, what chances lay ahead? Must they lose?
What a picture of gloom! It overwhelmed him as he stood there and said “Scott, we never can come out of it”. Well, it certainly did look that way, however something seemed to inspire me with hope and I tried to comfort him with these words, “yes father we can”.
Then he broke down and wept: I had seen him in tears before but never like this. Of course I could not see it then, but as I look back now I can: he saw me in my well meaning, a young man just out of college with now business experience and how could I know.
He was heart-broken; he could not refrain himself he must give vent to his feelings.
My rule from this on was managing affairs in the office in
such a way as to give him the least trouble as possible. Besides the carriage business and hardware
store in
The keeping of three sets of books and collections there with was a full sized job. To have money in the treasury, with which to pay depts., was, sometimes a greater difficulty than all else for it meant much correspondence in connection and was hard on our mental capacity.
As I record the experience I then had in writing letters to those who held notes against us for goods bought it gives me the horrors, it is a wonder how I ever got through it.
I can see those calendars on the office walls before me as I sit at my desk. Some of the dates are marked; it is to show that notes are coming due for goods we have bought. Now these notes will be protected if not paid and these markings are a warning to prepare to meet them. I must know before hand if I will have funds to meet them: if not there must be no delay in writing a letter asking for an extension of time.
It may be these notes are renewals and in this case I will have to do my very best at pleading. Her me! It makes my head ache now as I write this report of something which happened sixty-five to seventy years ago.
But, don’t worry, it is only momentary, except for dreams which give me trouble in the night sometimes. Nevertheless as you may well know from what I have already expressed it was real and trying at the time.
Of course I was young then and could stand it better than now with more than three quarters of my eighty-ninth year gone.
Well, for a year or two we managed to keep going but the time finally came when one wholesale firm, to whom we were heavily in debt, would not wait any longer, my pleading for further extension of time were ineffective.
The climax came, now what was to be done to meet the situation? Father had not seen anything that could change the feeling? He had expressed in the beginning of our difficulties.
My plan of action was that we should sell as much of our holdings as possible and make payment. Father did not see as I did but was willing to let me go ahead.
I began my plan by putting up the hardware stock for sale
and was successful in selling and renting the building to the purchaser. I advertised the stock at
With the funds thus secured I paid off the debts which threatened disaster.
But this procedure put me in trouble with local creditors, which, no doubt, father expected would happen. These men became alarmed and came upon us one after another demanding their money. This forced us to call them together and explain that we were not in a position to pay but if time were given we would do so. But, if not, we would make an assignment for the benefit of all alike, and this would, probably end our carriage business. We explained how, that, if time were not given, and everything disposed of under an auctioneer’s hammer there would not be enough to pay our debts.
They had seen, recently, how creditors of a prominent business man in town had received thirty cents on the dollar for claims they held against him. Now the thought of a possible like occurrence happening to them did not have a favorable appeal to their sense of justice; moreover they were, the most of them at least, well satisfied with the service the Pulford carriage works had given, and they wanted it continued.
We assured them that if they would hold back and allow us to keep going we would dispose of our property, having their full payment in mind. We made it plain also that no one would be favored with payment but all would have equal attention.
In the meantime if anyone entered court action, assignment would follow, immediately, so that no one might have advantage over others.
This understanding was agreed to by all, and, when the year was up having made no sales of the real estate, yet, as promised, we called them together and gave them our report.
They gave us another year but before it expired father passed away and I was left alone. It may be you can imagine the dilemma I was in, would I continue and complete what I had begun or give up.
Now as far, as the laws of our country are concerned they did not bind me to go any further. Was there any law that did? Yes, I reasoned that the law required full payment of a debt. One could only be justified in paying less if agreeable to the creditor.
Some may feel conscientiously clear in making on offer of less but I cannot. I cannot do to another, what I would not want him to do to me. Father and I talked this over together when it was seen we would have to face our creditors, and I urged full payment.
No I have tried to explain why I felt a strong desire, as well as duty to continue in an effort to be just toward father’s creditors.
Someone must administer the estate, who would it be that understood how to do justice to all concerned.
Now, without giving reasons why I think I should say that it was not your mothers will that I should act, so you can see I was in a hard place. My deceased father’s will had to be considered: did I know what it was? Did he agree to let me work on my plan of action? Surely he did; well then I could not mistake what his will could be.
My sense of justice to all concerned led me to take the place of administrator.
Bondsman had to be obtained, but wherein the town the size
of
The next problem was that of administering without closing the business. To do this it was proposed to turn the whole assets of the estate over to the widow of the deceased and would assume the liabilities of the same.
But there were the interests of the infants that must be dealt with, and court action was taken to secure the official guardian’s consent. Then I had to obtain consent of the creditors also which took some work.
Now for another picture, and, in it, I wish you to see something of what tool place in that trimming shop back of the show-room where my office desk stood in the corner.
Mr. George Morse, uncle of the one you know, and Thomas
Fuller, banker, two of the most competent valuator’s of property in
We are alone, Mr. Fuller having left, when he speaks and this is what he says “The estate is insolvent, the sale of the assets will not bring enough to pay the liabilities”.
Now do I hear you asking what my thoughts were? Well, I cannot say now but I do know what I had been making an effort to do, and now, in the face of men who had seen many estates closed, I still believed it could be done; so I actually ventured to say: “I believe I can do it.” The what? Well, if I were telling any one acquainted with Geo. Morse any length of time, he would be able to see him as he stood there; not a word did he utter but what he did proved exactly what he thought. He just puffed out his cheeks, blew out of this mouth the sound which follows such action.
I know Mr. Morse had no thought of discouraging me, but, could anything have been said, or done, that would make another’s opinion of anything seem so small, so insignificant, so unworthy of considerations.
To him it seemed ridiculous and it was his way of expressing it. But it was good for me to know it for if anything will may me put forth a determined effort to do a thing it will be to intimate it cannot be done.
Now Mr. Morse had known me from infancy; as far as honesty was concerned he had every confidence in me; but he knew the strong opposition I faced. Mr. McKenzie and his two excellent sons were well established in town, and, besides this, the factories were everywhere represented. He knew one of the most necessary qualities under such conditions was salesmanship.
He knew I did not possess this quality and it is no wonder he thought he saw failure before me.
Now, after some sixty or more years have passed, and I view that scene, I really do wonder how I ever had courage enough to proceed, I did though, because I felt sure I was RIGHT. He who rules above can move mountains for one who will act in faith.
Now we must go back to where I was left alone. Everything being turned over to the widow and having been appointed manager I stood in about the same position as ever except that having more responsibility. Father had always attended to the selling end of the business, but now I had it to do.
For a while I took the monthly trips he had been taking to Amherstburg and other points as also customers near at hand.
Calling our creditors together I obtained permission to let me go on as had been agreed upon with father.
All went fairly well for a year or more; then trouble came when two creditors sold their notes and I was forced to pay them out of my meager carriage business funds. Your uncle Judson gave assistance by loaning us money on collateral security.
I managed to get along for about two years when I disposed of some real estate, called creditors together and paid them half of our indebtedness.
The period between father’s passing and the final winding up of administration was about nine years. It took about half that time before the remainder of the real estate property was disposed of.
Then the good news went forth that I was ready to pay up in full; and, I would like to give you a picture of what took place in that old trimming shop.
Say, I can see pleasant faces there, men who have in their pockets notes they have held many years; some as far back as 1883, perhaps longer, endorsements showing payments of interest; they have waited long indeed and not altogether without fear. Now, all doubt’s past, they are to go on their way with money in their pocket instead of promises to pay. Is it any wonder they show pleasure in their faces as I sit there writing out cheques?
There is one man in particular I could never forget, though I should live to be as old as the assessor recently told me I would. I imagine he knew father could make use of a thousand dollars he might loan at the time when rebuilding of shops were required. I can see him now as he lingered behind the others. Yes, I can see that beaming face as he walked peaceably away through the showroom, looking back, and expressing his good will for my future.
Now, if there was nothing else to be glad about, that scene, when I would not meet them again, as creditors, would, in itself, be sufficient.
But there was more that that to make one feel good over; there was still money left in bank. Yes, and it was almost the same amount as the surplus shown in the statement Mr. Morse was looking at when he said “The estate is insolvent?”
Yes, and, may I not be excused somewhat for a little rejoicing for having accomplished what I had the audacity to say to him nine years before “I believe I can do it”.
Of course I could not have done it alone, I did not try to; I had a helper, one of power; disciples, because of a certain statement he had made, expressed fear that no one then could be saved, answered thus: “With men it is impossible but not with God, for with God all things are possible”.
Now in the last paragraphs I have gone into details to show the confidence men have had in your grandfather Pulford.
Surely such an experience as I have endeavored to describe might be linked to Solomon of old, as far as beginning at least, was concerned.
Somewhat suddenly he found himself alone with a great kingdom left by his father. He was young and inexperienced and it is no wonder he felt the heavy responsibility thrust upon him. He took the way he had been taught, he prayed and the burden of his heart was that wisdom might be given him.
God was pleased, and, as the wealth of the kingdom had not been asked for, God gave him great riches as well as answering his prayer.
Such wisdom was given, the like of which was never known before, nor since.
Now I close with one work: man’s work is perfect in God’s sight when he does what he believes is R-I-G-H-T.
Matt. 25:14-23
The following bible
transcription was also included with the above story.
Copied from the
Pulford Family Bible – printed in
(in 1968 this bible
was in the possession of Bodicia Duggan of
(John’s notes are in
parenthesis)
SARAH AVIS – born
February 19, 1798
(born
died August 1854
Came to Canady 1833
Married 1820 Died 1854
EDWARD – died 1870
Came to Canady 1833
Frances Pulford –
born on the
-
Wm. Edw. Pulford –
born on
Morning
-
Died December
14 23
Sarah Sophia Pulford
– born on Saturday
Morning
-
died
Hy. Thos. Lloyd Pulford – born on
-
In May not Mch X his mark
Edwin Avis Pulford –
born
-
-
Vestmiths (?)
(Note from the web
mistress: Thank you John for sharing
this story and the transcription from the Pulford Bible. I enjoyed this story very much and I am sure
others will as well.)