Celebrating Chester Hutchinson’s 85th Birthday – A Poem by Franc Fassett Pugsley

The second poem dedicated to the life of Chester Hutchinson is by Franc Fassett Pugsley. Franc was the daughter of John J. Fassett, a comrade of Chester’s from his days in the 108th New York Infantry. It is worth noting that Franc Fassett Pugsley knew Chester personally. It is incredible how much detailed information about his life is included in this tribute.

On Your Birthday

To Comrade Chester Hutchinson

July 12, 1841-July 12, 1926

Congratulations today, dear friend of old times,

Sincere are our wishes, indeed;

We hope for your joy and your happiness, too,

In each added year as it comes unto you,

Choice blessings may God shed on your way.

For God has ever directed your course

To Him you have always gone

When troubles assailed, and you knew not which turn

To take in the path just before you.

Through all the joys and sorrows

Of eight-five years, God has guided,

And wrought His will as He walked with you,

Adown the Path, to Life’s perfect day

Which awaits at the end of the journey.

And now, please take a glimpse with me,

While Memory turns the wheel,

At the Past as it flashes before us,

Vivid pictures from Life’s short reel.

First we see a tiny baby

In the Town of Penfield born,

Toothless, hairless, generally helpless,

July twelfth, in forty-one.

Later Perinton became the home

Of parents and young son,

A little time after, the mother died,

Leaving father and child alone.

A move was made later to Pittsford,

Where the lad to young manhood grew,

A fun-loving youth who stopped short of nothing,

Which his fertile brain told him to do.

And now a picture flashes upon the canvas white

Of two youths fast escaping

From a younger lad, left in a plight,

And a sorry one, too, it would seem,

For like Joseph, he had been cast in a dry well

By his brother and young “Chet”

Who did not care to be bothered

On their walk through meadow and wood,

And left him there all safe and sound

To get out as best he could.

The older companion passed on years ago,

Rosseau Crump of Bay City,

A man loved and honored through many a year.

The young boy now is a gray-haired man

Of eighty years just past,

Mr. Shelly Crump of Pittsford,

Who will be Chester’s friend to the last,

In spite of this little episode,

Which ended alright you perceive,

For he soon climbed out, none the worse,

From the well,

Taking a sort of French leave.

Then serious days, how fast they followed,

Soon the boy became a man,

And the man became a soldier

In a uniform of blue.

For the storm clouds now had gathered

O’er our land so fair and bright,

And Lincoln called for her young men

To aid in their Country’s fight.

Ah, then sad good-byes were spoken,

And the sound of marching feet

Was heard through the length and breadth of the land,

And our hero went out with the rest,

Leaving all that his heart held dear

To follow the Red, White and Blue.

Then into the turmoil of battle

Right soon they were called to go,

A severe wound in the breast here he suffered,

At Antietam, as all of you know.

Many painful days followed, on hospital cot,

In old barn, or hovel so crude,

With wounded comrades for nurses,

Doing for him as best they could.

Who could do justice to those cruel days

In telling their history o’er,

But out of their shadow he finally came,

Taking up in peaceful pursuits

The burdens of life once more.

Then came his marriage, and family life

Brought joy to his heart once again,

Four children were born, and the mother then died,

Leaving the babes in his charge.

To this trust also he proved true,

Striving to be to them both father and mother,

No better test of fine manhood

Surely, could ever be given.

Later, a dear companion he chose to walk with him,

And she blesses his life with her loving care,

Through peaceful days in a cozy home

Which they have made together.

We wish for you, friend, “Many Happy Returns”

Of this, your Natal day,

May the sun turn the evening skies to gold

And love brighten all the way.

Illuminated History