The lineal descent oft puzzled us sore.
Goodly the race is that answers the call
Davis and Moses and Winslow, we know.
George A. -- from the Heights all ready for fun.
And DeWitt is here, and Caleb near by;
Simeon the aged, and Franklin his son.
One word for the girls, the good Packard girls;
Adaline is here, well known to the fold
Our history fails to mention the name
Their old-fashioned names not all of us know,
Our fathers are gone, their places we fill.
We bless our dear fathers, yes, every one;
This poem was from a past Packard Celebration.
Poem by Mrs. Nethiah Hayward Thayer
Father and mother and dear grandmama.
From Samuel we came, his name honored be.
A more goodly race not often you'll see.
For Packards and Howards were mixed o'er and o'er.
Now 'tis not Howard, Packard, and Jones.
But Packards with Porter, Glover, and Holmes
To the name of Packard. B.W. and all.
We honor the fathers who fought, bled, and died.
No less, we honor these here by our side.
Direct are from Samuel, who faced the foe;
Liberty, Wallace, Fred, and Josiah.
Martin and Robert. Ben and Uriah.
Andrew and Elmer, we know every one;
They are here from the East, here from the West:
They are known unto us as good, better, and best.
They are Brockton's jewels, we all testify;
Horace the doctor, and Ransom the strong.
Henry B. and Fred come marching along.
Willard and Edmund -- but we are done.
Name after name comes to mind.
To speak of them all no space we could find.
We seem them to-day with crimps and with curls.
The name they have lost, but loyal are still,
And never were known to do what was ill.
As our sweetest singer in times now old:
Josiah's daughter we see here to-day.
Her pills and her pellets all cast away.
Of Samuel's wife, who has little fame;
We honor her too. She clothed and she fed.
Twelve children to her their daily prayers said.
But they were trained the right way to go.
Years passed away, the race multipled,
From coast to coast the Packards abide.
The acres they left we have them to till.
They left us the school, gave us Church and State;
These we will cherish, whatever our fate.
Filial the heart of each daughter and son.
We meet here to-day glad praises to sing--
Praises to God, our Maker and King!
