Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-06-14
Old Settlers Meeting

The Journal of Yesterday contains an in
tereSting and elaborate account Of the Old
Settlers Meeting, at the house of Mr.. CAL
VIZ FLETCHER. One object, not the only
one, of the Association, as stated by Mr.
FLETCHER, was to Secnre dagnereotvpes Of
the members, TO be handed down 10 their
children. Mr.. FLETcHEE hrought out some
antiquities. We present a few interestine
extracts:
"As remnant Of the old times" said the
speaker, 81 have bronght ont the old spinning
wheel and reel Of my wife, 10 show the
young folks how people had to gel along in
those days. There are not few young peo-
pie, who never saw the old fashioned wheel
and distaff, and in large class Of young
ladies at the High School, to whom the mat
ter was named the other day, hardly one
knew what wheel was, or had any idea Of
the mode Of working it,
The way Mr.. McF FARLAsD got his uniform
is thus described by that gentleman
"My next appearance in public life was
when tha. militia was organized xa< re-.
quested to run for Captain, hut refused. There
was no election in consequence. The Colonel
threatened, If officers were not elected, to
transfer lis to the organization at Indian
Creek. which would take us long distance
from homo to mnster, and rather than submit
to that, | agreed TO take the Office. was
elected, but ieo'tllnf treat. But having the
Office, had to get a uniform, and that both
cred me. But at last | went to work and
killed eighteen deer, divided the meat with
my neighbors, dressed the skins for some
settler hail told me how TO do il. and | had
saved the deers brains, and had some tools
OF my fathers, and when dress, took them
to Connersvillc, and sold them for an od epap-
tette and a s,cord. (Great laughter) MANY
of You have seen me fiourishing with these
military accoutremcnts, and | need not de-
scribe them"
The way law-bnsiness was conducted in
those days and who was the lawyer:
81 have got here, said Mr. BLAKE, the first
docket of the first Justice in this county, Mr..
maxwell. In those DAYS Court was held
ont of doors, the S'mire sitting in the door Of
his house as the place Of honor. There was
but one lawyer, and he had TO be always
present, to enlighten the Court on matters Of
law. When the evidence was in, the Squire
to get to counsel with the LAWYER, wouid
light his pipe and say he would walk about
and think Of the matter. As he went out of
the door he would give the lawyer wink
and walk round the house to the right hand,
while the lawyer would saunter off to the
left hand and thus the tNo would meet and
hold consultation behind the chimney
The Squire would then return and render
judgment. The jury would go into the
woods and sit round upon the logs, about
where DR.. Cooks house now is, TO make up
their verdict. There was no Jail nearer than
Connersyille, and the constable nsed TO sum-
mon the posse oomitatus'' TO help him take
the culprit TO Jail. Then there would be
great fines. One man would have no saddle,
another no bridle, another no horse, another
neither horse, saddle nor bridle, and each
would have 10 borrow the missing article Of
somebody else to make mp the necessary ac-
coutrements for travelling. Then the Guard
wonld meet on the appointed day, with their
guns and horses, and make all ready for a
start. Once, said Mr. BLAKE, when thus sit
mated, just ready 10 start, We heard q crack
ling among The bushes and looking about
found that the prisoner, finding the guard
thinking more of themselves than him, had
broke for the timber. They shouted and
fired at him but he got away That was the
way the legal business of the country was
managed then. Mr. FLETCHER was the indis-
pensible lawyer, (laughter and his hand
writing could he seen on nearly every page
Of the docket"