The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-08-24
old SETTLERS ANNUAL RE.uNI0N

old SETTLERS ANNUAL REUNION
Thursday lastthe day appointed for the ANNA,
reunion and picnic Of the La Sale ca TIA ST..
tiers Association, was anxiously looked forward
to BY expectant hundreds throughout the length
and breadth of this broad shire. F.m;,;.s J,
every nook and corner of the county had made
more or less ample prep arations for tho AVIAN,
some intending to migrate bodily to the sce,s of
the festivities, while others proposed sending m.
ly more modest delegations of one or two. The
day opened most unexpectedly, the sky being
overcast with lowering thunder clouds, and
neavy showers emptied themselves upon the
already saturated earth. Every thing that hu-
man foresight could devise for periecting an en-
!oyaois occasion seemed doomed to be frustrated
at the last moment by the tickle clerk of the
weather. But now the heavens, At last, seemed
to be injected with the general falling the skies
cleared, old Sol sent forth his clearest and most
cheerful rays. and the previously execrated rain
served now only to temper the heat. Poutinr
lips Of disappointed bellies changed their unfit.
ting Fuckers and were wreathed in their sun.
niest smiles. Work-a-day dresses was quickly
exchanged for holiday attire. and ancient spd
juvenile Darbies and Joans wendell their WAYS
from every section to the rendezvous at Hon. J.
D. Cations deer park on the north bluff.
The attendance was, as usual, very LARGE.
There could not have been less than two thou.
saud present, while the teams numbered some
four hundred. Many families were represented
by more than one generation. The Ebersols
had four generations, from the ancient patri.
arch, aged So, to the prattling youngster of
three or four, and the mem ers OF some ten or
twelve families all sprung from this fruitful
stock, assembled around their basket dinner.
The formal proceedings commenced about
11:3O A. NJ by the president of the association,
Rev. Mr.. Baeheller, calling to order, when the
Greeting Glee" was sung by quiutetts under
the direction Of Pro. Z. Frank Ford And right
here We may remark tina. the singing, which
interspersed the speeches throughout, was all
excellently rendered by the choir under Mr..
Ford's charge.
Prayer was then offered by the President.
we'd upon him of bidding the Old Settlers Asso-
citation welcome upon this suspicious occasion.
Man WAS essentially q social being. Meeting
together in social intercourse as friends ne Oh.
bors and christians, smiling upon each other,
and the friendly g-asping Of sach others hands
were among she highest earthly enjoymeuts
which men possessed. This was called an old
settlers reunion, yet it was equally joyous to
meet the descendan.s of these in their children
aud grand children. The former had seen this
country. which now 5lossomed as the rose, az a
wilderness with scarce landmark to guide the
hard pioneers. But they had much cause for
thsnls,ulne-- TO an Almighty Providence that
their lives lad been cast in -uoh pleasant, places
The learned speaker had travelled much in many
distant luud., OF which h. had b,e close OBJ.
server, bat bad never srcu on. one Illinois
Other ooantrl-- were rich. fir and blessed with
mineral tYetsure- but in richnes. of soil -alu.
brity Of climate. IN moral Influences, and in all
that made life happy here and tended to lead to
a still happier existence hereafter. none were
better or highly gif'e! than Illinois. He
trusted thar all would appreciate the kind Provi.
dence which had permitted many to again
assemble. and LEI US hope that We shall again
meet mex. yea under like happy circumstances.
Judge Cation ,h,n babe all a most cordial vel.
come in the name of the association.
America was then given by the choir
Rev. Mr.. Bascheller, the president, said as the
dinner hour was near, he would curtai his re.
marks. This far country, which many present
could remember AS a waste wilderness, and when
there were not more than ten schools in the
whole county was now changed. Now there
we're churches and schools IN every township.
The aspect of the coultry had been changed int
that OF the garden of Eden, the land teeming
with the wealth of growing crops, and the school
house and church adding their moral weight to
society, until it was one of the brightest lands
upon which the sun shone. What the country
was aud would be was maialy, il not altogether,
the result OF the work and minds of the old set.
tiers. Since we had last met death had claimed
two of the old settlers for its own. but he trusted
that all present would long continue to meet
here annually under the shadows ct these trees,
and upon those magnificent grounds 30 kindly
loaned by Judge Cation.
The following beautiful original poem, sett.o
the tune of my Mothers Bible was thesA
sung: -
The Old settlers.
Ely SARAH EDWARDS HRSsHAw. vel