Allegheny-Beaver-Washington County PA Archives History .....Pittsburgh "TOWN MEETING" July 24, 1826
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  TOWN MEETING
  IN pursuance to/ public notice, the citizens of Pittsburgh, convened in town 
  meeting, at the court house, on Saturday evening, the 22nd inst. John M. 
  Snowden, Esq. Mayor of the City, was called to the chair, and William 
  Eichbaum, jr. and Robert Burke, were chosen secretaries.
  The object of the meeting having been stated by the chairman, Judge Wilkins 
  rose, and after some appropriate and eloquent remarks, submitted the following 
  preamble and resolutions, which were adopted:
  When men, beloved and honored for their virtues, talents and services are 
  removed from the scene of life, full of years, and bearing with them the 
  benedictions of millions whom they have blessed- when he who brought to light 
  the principles of our revolutionary struggle, and he who stood foremost as 
  their advocate, have sunk to rest, it becomes us as men, it is duty as 
  Americans, to join in an expression of regret for their loss- of profound 
  respect for their memory. The citizens of Pittsburgh, feeling the deepest 
  emotions of gratitude for the services and veneration for the memories of the 
  late THOMAS JEFFERSON & JOHN ADAMS, do therefore Resolve, That the Mayor of 
  the City be required to address letters of condolence, on behalf of the 
  citizens of Pittsburgh, to the families of the illustrious deceased, 
  expressive of the deep sympathy they feel in the loss of their venerated 
  patriarchs, and of the high sense entertained by them of the unremitted and 
  successful labors of these fathers of American Independence.
  Resolved, That the commandant of the Pittsburgh Volunteer Legion, be requested 
  by the Mayor, to order out the company Artillery, and such other portion of 
  the Legion as may be deemed necessary, upon Tuesday next, the 25th inst. For 
  the purpose of paying the same military honors to the memory of the deceased, 
  as are ordered and intended to be observed at the U. S. military post near 
  this city.
  Resolved, That on Tuesday next, from dawn to sun-set, the National Flag shall 
  wave, at half mast, on Grantís Hill, under the conduct of a corps of citizen 
  volunteers, and guarded by surviving revolutionary soldiers, wearing the usual 
  badge of mourning on the left arm.
  Resolved, That a committee of thirteen be appointed to aid in carrying into 
  effect these resolutions, and to make such other arrangements as in their 
  judgment, the occasion may render fit and proper.
  The following are the committee selected by the chairman, at the request of 
  the meeting:
  James Ross, William Wilkins, John S. Riddle, Ross Wilkins, Alexr. Johnston, 
  jr. M. B. Lowrie, Richard Biddle, Wm. Hays, A Brackenridge, Wm. Lecky, Col. 
  Wm. Anderson, Wm. Eichbaum, jr. T. B. Dallas.
  On motion Resolved, That the Hon. Wm Wilkins, has been requested to deliver an 
  Eulogium on the characters of the deceased, at such time and place as the 
  committee may appoint.
  On motion Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the 
  chairman and secretaries and published.
  JOHN M. SNOWDEN, Chmín
  W. Eichbaum, jr.
  Robert Burke Secíys.
  Pittsburgh, July 24, 1826
  -----
  At a meeting of the Committee of Arrangement, appointed at a town meeting, on 
  Saturday evening last, it was
  Resolved, that it be recommended to the citizens of Pittsburgh, to wear CRAPE 
  on the left arm for thirty days from Tuesday, the 25th inst. as a token of 
  regret for the late national loss in the death of Thomas Jefferson and John 
  Adams.
  WM WILKINS, Chairman.
  John S. Riddle, Secretary.
  
  Additional Comments:
  July 4th 1826 John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died. It was the 50th 
  anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. That same day Steven Foster 
  was born in Pittsburgh. 
  
  Title: My brother Stephen by Morrison Foster.
  Author: Morrison Foster.
  Publication Info: Indianapolis : Priv. print., 1932.: page 22
  
  III
  
  It was in such a home and amid such surroundings that Stephen C. Foster was 
  born at the white cottage, Lawrenceville, on the 4th of July, 1826. he was the 
  youngest of the family except one (James who died in infancy.) The day was a 
  memorable one for several reasons. Independence had reached its half-century. 
  A grand celebration was held in my father's woods back of the house, on 
  General Forbes' old road. The volunteer soldiers from Pittsburgh and the 
  Regulars from the US Arsenal were there. It was a "Bowery dinner," as they 
  called it in those days. At one end of the table sat my father, [William B. 
  Foster] and at the other, the stanch old editor of The Pittsburgh Mercury, 
  Hon. John M. Snowden.
  At noon a national salute pealed from the cannon at the Arsenal, and the bands 
  played the national hymn. At that hour Stephen was born. The same day Thomas 
  Jefferson and John Adams died. When Stephen was quite young my father, having 
  served several terms in the Legislature for the purpose of procuring the 
  passage of the bills for the construction of the great Pennsylvania Canal, was 
  appointed the first collector of tolls at Pittsburgh.
  
  Mayor John M. Snowden's letter to President John Q. Adams after the death of 
  his father, John Adams.
  (The letter to John Quincy Adams is from the Adams Family Papers at the 
  Massachusetts Historical Society.)
  
  LXXVI 3
  Pittsburgh August 2, 1826
  
  Hon. John Q. Adams
  Sir, I beg leave most respectfully to transmit to you the annexed proceedings 
  of the citizens of Pittsburgh, expressive of the deep sympathy they feel for 
  the loss sustained by your family and by this nation in the recent death of 
  one of the founders of the republic, the Hon. John Adams. The removal of one 
  who was endeared to his family by the exhibition of a brilliant train of 
  private and public virtues, through a long and honorable life, must be 
  peculiarly affecting to them. The citizens of Pittsburgh feel it as such; and 
  whilst they mourn over the loss of one of their countryís benefactors, and 
  earliest friends, sincerely sympathetic with the private grief of his 
  immediate relatives. There is, however, great consolation under this affecting 
  dispensation of providence. The venerated deceased lived to see the labours 
  (sic) of his patriotic life crowned with a degree of success, which his most 
  sanguine expectations could hardly have anticipated, and commensurate only 
  with the ardour (sic) and purity of his patriotism. His name is now identified 
  with that of his country and future ages will rank him among the benefactors 
  of mankind.
  
  Be pleased, Sir, to communicate these sentiments and feelings of the Citizens 
  of Pittsburgh to your bereaved family, and believe me
  Most Respectfully
  Your ot. servt,
  John M. Snowden
  Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh
  
  
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