The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-07-16
FVn ne UhIsAgo Tribune. A. 3
speech OF a Veteran orOne Han
dred mud Seventeen Years.

1ASN H-N 1NN-HASCn IcAhSe
We print below the remarks made BY i
veteran one HUNDRED and seventeen Years of
ace, at the Pioneer Festival IN Madison, Wis.
on Thursday last. What events have been
crowded into this mans life! When he was
born, Frederick the Great, now a historical
character, was on the throne; Austria was
engaged in a furious war, and Anson was
making his remarkable voyage around the
world. lie was "chunk OF a boy" when
franklin made his great discoveries In elec-
tricity, Of which the electric telegraph Is the
result. At the time Of Braddoek's defeat, he
was as old as many a lad who carried mus
ket under the lead Of Washington twenty
years later. He was twenty Eve wears Of
age when resistance to the Stamp Act in
Massachusetts began, and was Qualified by
his years to occupy a seat In the frst Colon.
ial Congress, in 1876. He might have &C!
companisd Boone in his exploration of Ken
tucky-a State that now contains more than
million Of people. Had he gone to Europe
when he was over thirty years Of age he
might have seen and heard Hume, Burke,
Johnson, Pitt, Goldsmith, Voltaire, Klep.
stock and LessiBg-all since dead, and his.
torically valaed by their successors. He was
middle aged man, in the full vigor of life,
when the war of Independence closed, and
WASH ngton was President of the United
States. He saw the rise and opening Of the
French Revolution; he was a witness of the
whole career Of Napoleon. He was old
more than three score and ten-when Hull
surrendered at Detroit; yet, how few who was
there then now TO tell the story now! He
has seen this country grow from collection
OF English, French, and Spanish colonies
containing population of less than two mil
Hons, to therank Of first class power
But, in one hundred and seventeen years
what has he not seen?
| Joseph Crelie, whose remarks we copy
from the Madison Journal, is probably the
oldest man in the United States. He said
| FELLOW PioNEERs:--f have looked for
ward with deep interest to this meeting.-
Permit me, an old man, with the frosts o
one hundred and seventeen winters now
whitening my brow, to greet you to-day anC
to express the hope that ybu may livt
these many years to meet together on simi
lar occasions. Ny own poineer life ha
been peaceful, rather than eventful. A ma
tive of Detroit, was partially raised at Kas
kaskid and Prarie da Roche, in'I illinois, an
subsequently became an ihhabitaRt of 81
Louis, under Spanish rule, and for man
years of the last century was, engaged as
6oya9sar between st. Louis and Prairie d
Chen. via Wisconsin and Fox Rivers an
the Americans in the conflict at Prairie
Chen, and served as an express carrier il
the Black Hawk war, when companion
was shot dead by my side by the stealth
indians in atnbuscade; being MYSELF
Frenchnan, and my wife related to the In
dians, have every reason to believe I wa
purposely spared. Forty 4one years ago
located at the Wisconsin Portage, and neal
} ly third of century since was mail ca,
rier between Miern Point and Green Bay
, It has fallen to my lot to live successively
; in the same country, under French, British
Spanish and American Governments --and
have defended the latter at the hazard of N
life. Though have thus spent my life Il
on the frontiers, my memory is too, frail I
: permit me to 60 into dates, and could re
call them fear they would only serve to f
: up the picture, already too vel known, {
border dangers, difficulties and privatiors.-
1 have been three times married, and Of min
} children but single one suryives-tli
} seventh by my first marriage, and she ha
! rearly reached the age of three score an
: tens allotted to our race. But have gran
, children, almost without number; and for th
} benefit Of some of the latter, hope vet t
, obtain some bounty land from the Govefr
ment for my, early services. | come dow
: to you fellow pioneers from a former Ger
; tEry-.an old man with the habits, custom
and feelings of the simple hearted, con,ente
race ofa century ago, with few wants, an
no ambitious aspirations. can in trdi
say, that love my native land; l ha'
} cheerfrily risked my life in its Defence.
r repel!ing tie. British and Indian foe; and
, trust there are none here to-day who wi
fail to stand by our country, in every no,
Of trial ,snd danger--none who wi l'eve
Under any plea, lend themselves to, the .di
reputable work of weakening the ties tn
bind together our glorious Union ha,
lived here in the West, under despotic swa
+, and know full well how to appreciate Il
T blessings of free government, which / heart
Q ly commend 10 your final love and prote
q ton. =
Tn conclusion, fellow pioneers, I can .
: ly give you--it is'ailI + have to ofer-an o
a mans prayer and blessing. ...