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History of Orange County
Town of Montgomery
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ARTHUR PARKS died 11th of August, 1806 in the 70th year of his age. He was a member of the Provincial Congress, a member of the Convention that formed the State Constitution, and during eleven years he represented the middle district in the Senate. He lived and died a sincere patriot, Christian and friend of man.
JAMES WARD.—How revolting to the feelings and unexpected oftentimes are the mutations of human affairs! You may own lands and houses—be a benefactor of your race— may be called blessed in your day and generation—direct your children, dear as the tenderest feelings of the heart can make them, to deposit your remains in a sepulchre hewn in the solid rock—still, your dust may not be safe from violation.
As before remarked, Mr. Ward built the first flour mill in the town of Montgomery, and, as if by magic, threw abridge three hundred feet long across the rapid current of the Walkill; neither of which was a common work at that early day, when means were small, the population sparse, workmen few and difficult to be had. Less benefits than these have decreed a man a public benefactor, crowned him with bays or erected a monument to his memory. Upon a high and gravelly bank overlooking the scene of his early labors, and verdant as grass could make it, a spot sequestered from public view, on the premises attached to the mill in question, were deposited the earthly remains of Mr. and Mrs. Ward.— Side by side they laid, as they fondly hoped to appear, when called from dust to judgment. While their ashes were gently pressed by the green sward of the hill top, and the raven wing of the tempest beat over them, the loud howl of the storm as it boomed through the heavens, broke not the deep long sleep of their graves. But, by the silent and stealthy steps of human agency, the encroachments of half a century, the green bank which covered them was clean removed, and the graves yielded up their aged and venerable tenants.— Though shut up in darkness the worms of the earth had visited them and done their duty. This was some twelve years since in the early spring, and for days the popular gaze rested upon these mortal remains. No eye took pity, no heart had compassion; and this day, as then, they are denied the rights of sepulchre.
Gathered up and thrown into a rude box for present safety they lie, rocked by the eternal vibration of the mill upon the same site where Ward erected his. Too soon, indeed, are private and public benefactions forgotten, and with them the benefactors themselves. Though both ought to be held in grateful remembrance long as memory holds her throne, yet facts of every day occurrence admonish, that we are wonderfully forgetful, wrapt in self and selfish considerations; and like creatures of a day, supremely ruled and directed by the fleeting moments as they pass. That we may be torn from our graves—exposed to public gaze—the unsightly objects of rude and thoughtless remark—and our bones so wisely made, desecrated in the very presence of kindred and friends, in a virtuous and sensitive mind are calculated to add double horrors to the pangs of anticipated death, in its mildest and gentlest form, not to be contemplated without a dread anxiety for its future realities.
We crave pardon for this and other digressions from the straight line of remark; for we look on them as favorite and choice spots for reflection along the dull and heavy pathway of our paper, and we could not resist the temptation to linger for a moment around this one.
Since writing this paper, we have been informed that the bones referred to have been respectfully and decently interred in the grave yard of the Reformed Dutch Church at Montgomery by the Messrs. Luquer, the present owners of the mill. Nothing gives us greater satisfaction than this intelligence; for these gentlemen are notoriously of kind and humane disposition, and naturally inclined to perform such a feeling and sacred office. In what is said upon the subject we disclaim any reflection upon any one, for we were equally in fault with others.