The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1866-03-02
"REMINISCENCES OF THE PAST
Banquet at Norton's Exchange.

Thursday, OF last week, the 22d ut The attend
ance was large and the occasion proved one OF no
ordinary interest. A large number Of the early
settlers Of this place and county in attendance,
and TIE morning train from Toledo brought a large
delegation hom that city.
Shortly after eleven o'clock, the Court room was
filled with pioneer mon and women, and the As
sociation was called to order by the Secretary, II.
BENNETT, Esq. who stated thatOs the President,
PErKR NAvAREE, was absent, the duty of presiding
devolved, by the constitution, upon the Oldest po'
neer present. General JonN E. ltuST, of Toledo,
was then called to the Chair.
The Secretary then explained the character of
the Association, which, he stated, was organized
on the 7th of May, 1864, and now numbers about
one hundred members, Since that time the fol-
lowing members, ten in all have died
PLArr CARD, Il. A. FoRsYTH RoBr. GARDNER,
ISAAC HULL, GEo. w. KSAGes, JAMES MYERS, Jo-
sGAH MILLER, HENRY REED, A. V. STEBDISs, Nj.
l.. COLLINS.
At the request Of several members of the Asso-
ciation the Constitution then read, after which
motion was read by Judge POTTER to change the
time for holding the annual meeting from the 4th
Of July to the first Tuesday after the 4th in each
year. An amendment was suggested by Judge
Cook, fixing the time the 9th of June, il being
the anniversary of The raising of the siege Of Fort
Meigs. The amendment accepted but after
considerable discussion, the motion was withdrawn
and no change was made.
Professor BEAuMoNT PARKS, of Illinois, an old
gentleman of about so years of age, was then in-
troduced. He came to the Maumee Valley in
1908, made brief stay, and afterwards proceeded
further west, where he has since resided occupied
in educational and religious pursuits. He stated
that for some time past he had been almost blind,
and much afflicted, SO that he could neither read
nor write, but that he could not forego the pleas
ure of being present in compliance with the kind
invitation extended him.
He loved to trace events from small beginnings
The traveller loves to talk the past, to recount
the difficulties he has experienced, the obstacles he
has overcome, and the dangers he has escaped.
The soldi,r delights to look back and indulge in
revere the toll he has undergone, the battles
he has fought and the victories he has won.
We love to trace the mighty river, as in small
rivulet it leaps from its source, widens into the
vale, and finally sweeps in its majestic grandeur
toward the ocean.
l came here few months ago to see ifthere was
anything could recognize. once knew every
brook that emptied into the Maumee, aud every
thing which would naturally attract the eye but |
recognized nothing except Swan Creek and the
River. AS entered Toledo inquired for a hotel
and was referred to the Island House; found it a
fine structure, Il good house, and standing where
a few years before, the Indian padded his canoe.
In 1903 the Connecticut Missionary Society de-
termined to send missionary to the Indians at the
west, and l concluded to accompany him. We
went to Detroit, aud came from that place in a
boat called a "dug-out." We were three days in
making the passage to the mouth of the Maumee
Bay. Arriving at the latter place, we landed and
discovered thar we were at place where the In
didns met for council and rejoicing.
We spent some days on the river, when we met
" l. tile Turtle" the chief, with large number of
his people, in council. The missionary delivered
address, which was listened to very attentivey,
after which he was informed that he had better
return TO his own people aud teach them-the In
dian religion good enough. They then went
to Mackinac, and failing to establish mission,
the missionary returned to Connecticut, and from
that time have thought all efforts in behalf Of the
Indians were iruiess, and have long believed the
savages were to be annihiated, like the children
of Amelek. | stood near this spot, on the bank of
the Maumee River, and saw the Indian, poor naked,
drunken rotous; heard the howl of savage beasts,
and the war-song of still moro savage men-what
do we see nowH pleasant sight grcets the eye
Improvements of every description docks, rail
roads, institutions of learning, population Of 90
O0O or $4,000, perhaps, civilized, christianzed.
see churches, where piOus and devoted men meet
to hear the message Of life, "That God 50 loved
the world that He gave His only begotten Son"
etc. Here, where heard nothing but thu cries of
God. Look back, fellow citizens, and how
much you have aided in developing this state of
things, and do you not feel glad at what you have
accomplished? There is not a man here who is
worth anything beyond tue good he has done or
can do.
The address throughout was interspersed with
many religious truths of an impressive character.
At the close of the address, by request of the
Presi lent, the Professor related the following an
ccdote:
When General Wilkinson was appointed com
mander-in-chief of the American army, in 1896,
he issued order requiring the officers and soldiers
to cut the hair on their head very short-prObaby
because Of the scarcity of "fne combs" In the
army was Col. Butler, genuine specimen of the
old d-aShiOned gentleman, who was blessed with a
heavy head Of hair which he tied up in queue of
immense proportions, and it was to him II source
Of much pride The Colonel was very indignant
at the publication of an order depriving him of his
ornament, and refused to yield obedience to it.
For this he was cashiered and his disgrace is said
to have been the cause Of his death, which took
place soon after. Before he died he requested
that his queue should be planted in his grave the
small end sticking out OF the ground, as rebuke
to the author of the order.
JouN ]. MANOR, Esq, was then called upon,
and delivered the following address, full ofintercs
ing "reminiscences of the early history of the
country, and the habits and hardshps of the first
pioneers
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen
Little more than half century has elapsed since
the first permanent settlement was made within the
territory now known as the State of Ohio. This
settlement was commenced at Marietta, the Ohio,
the 9TH day of April 1888, by few adventures,
who were forwarded for that purpose, under the
superintendent of General Rufus Putnam by the
Directors of the "0hiO Company" organized the
previous year, in New England. These few men,
AZ in NUMBER bred TO free thoughts and brave ac-
tions in the great and memorable schools of the
American Revolution. came to dare and to do all
that men of resolute wills, stalwart arms and in
domitablc zeal and energy could do to establish a
colony in the unbroken wilderness Of the then far
west, over which the wild beasts aud savage Ind-
ans had held undisputed sway through the long
vista of years enveloped by the mist of time These
yenturous pioneers and those who followed them
20 the initial colony, came to a country magnificent
IN extent and opulent in all the wealth of nature.
But 1t was nature in her ruggedness all was wild
and savage. The wilderness before them present
ed only field Of battle or labor. The Indian
must be subdued, the soil in its wide extent up
turned, and fiom every quarter of the globe must
be trausplanted the seeds, the plants aud all the
contrivances Of life, which, in other lands, had
required ages to obtain. In the midst OF these
physical necessities, and Of that progress which
consists in conquest and culture, there were other
and higher works to be performed. Laws must
be adaptedt to the new society social institutions
must be founded schools established; churches
built up science cultivated and Il State organ
lied. The largest part Of this mighty fabric was
the work of these noble men-a work aecomplis shed
within the period Of time allotted by providence to
the life OF man, and that too, under trials and diff
cuties which might well have appalled, and ntim-
idated even men Of larger experience and surrond-
a1 KFtfh a.slf IT.