The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-09-11

ter OF the gospel Tor over SiNty-three
years, having been ordained in 1910. 1t
was fitting tribute TO the age and ser
vices Of father Van Em;n. that lie was
invited TO participate in the exercises Of
the first reunion Of the pioneers. The
following is
THE INVOCATION:
Unto Thee. o Lord. the God of all
flesh, and the God of all nations, from
whom cometh every good and perfect
gift, we come to Thee a. the proper OBJ
iect OF our worship; we adore Thee a.
the ruler of earth and heaven. knowing
also that Thou will bpStOw upon us
every needed good. We offer unto Tiirc
all the desires of our hearts. We are
sinners by nature and sinners by prac-
tice, but Thou hast given Us a way Of
salvation through the mediation al Thy
dear son. Jesus Christ. Bless us. . Lord.
with wisdom and understanding. and
with Uprighe motives. We thank Thee
for the government which our fathers
have handed down to us, and Lumbly
pray that Thou will preserve it unto Us.
Bless this assembly with Thy salvation.
Bless this society, as q means of bring
ing us nearer together, in doing good, in
right living, in making our last days our
best DAYS. Bless us a. a people. and aS
families; forgive our sins, ana in Thy
kingdom save us for Chrisr'S sake. Amen.
At the conclusion Of the prayer, Nelson
Poe, Esq, of Liberty township, the ora
tor of the day, was introduced. Mr.
Poe spoke without notes or manuscript,
and in the ready olr-hand style of a true
pioneer.
GRAFTON OF NELSON POE, ESQ.
We have assembled to-day for the first
time in the capacity Of an ASSOCIATION.
To-day the pioneers Of Hancock county
meet together for the first time 20 renew
the acquaintances of by-gone yearS-to
freshen our memories by the recol!ec-
tions of those early days-to recall 10y
our speeches and our conversations
memories as sweet as the dreams OF
childhood. 1t is with some hesitation
that | arise to address you. Ii was hut
three days ago that | knew that | was
to be called upon to perform this duty.
and with other and important matters
crowding upon me, | have had but a
single day in which to give thr subject
any thought 1t was my anticipation
and desire that some other person should
speak for you today Tliis i lay only
disappointment. Ny speech will be
short. however, and if you will give Tie
your attention l will try and review, in
IA measure. the history of the early set
tIement of this county.
After a long and tempetuOus voyage,
on a cold. bleek day in December, tine
Pilgrim fathers landed Oh Plymouth
Rock. Everything was new TO them: all
was strange; only when they looked
above TO the blue canopy Of heaven did
they see an object that was larniiiar to
their eyes. Thus it WAS when the pio-
neers settled in Hancock county. They
pushed their way into the midst nf a
deep. dark forest, abounding with iierca
wild animals. There was no friend!!
voice TO welcome them. or hand stretched |
out to supply their wants. The country |
was wilderness, inhabited only by Sav
ages. was brought into this count: |
on the 12th day of December, 1872, and |
! have lived to see the forests fri,ei. |
swamps drained, farms opened up, !
towns and villages beautiful IN arcIIi- |
lecture. and bright with happy houirs. |
spring up. magic-Iike, all around uS. I
lave lived to see the beautiful and pop |
ular little ciTy. that is in sight grow |
from a small cluster OF cabins 10 Il place /
OF i've thousand inhabitants.
The pioneers of this county were men |
of strong wills and stern resolution
There were no roads except the ''blazr'
through the forest; there We're none 81 /
the modern appliances of travel; tiierr
were lao first class hotels. at which tu /
rest their weary limbs at night. Til. |
travelled with the slow-foOted oxen and /
the covered wagon, which held their
families and all their earthly gooCs.
Their resting-place was at the foot 81 1
some tall tree. They slept with the
uneTring rifle at their sides. ready, at t''.'
first approach Of danger. toprotcct th"ir
wives and children. There were narE
hardShips and Suifering~ endured 10y t.
pioneers of this county. They had 1ar
few Of the comforts of life. There y e.
not even mills in the country at which
they could have their corn ground. !
can well remember when We used I"
make graterS out OF pieces Of tin. We
would punch holes IN them with ;liI
eight penny" nail. and in that way
we would grind our meal The first
school | attended was IL my fathers
cabin. The cabin was a double one, ana
in the hall between the rooms the SciIoo!
was held. | was ten years old before
knew the alphabet, and ! was a. far ad-
vanced as other boys in the settlement.
The first school house that WAS bni!t III
Liberty township stood where tie barn
OF John Reed, Esq, now stands. Ia
the early history of the county we had
no pic-nics like this.
When our fathers wanted meat fo-
their families, they went out into the
woods with their guns and shot the wild
deer that rOamed about in great herds.
When the ladies wanted a new calico
dress they would go out and dig ginseng,
and. after drying, they would trade it
Tor store dress"
1t was good many years after the
settlement of the county before We had
religious services. Rev. Peter Monfort
was the first minister | ever heard
preach He delivered a sermon at the
house of Judge Wilson, in Liberty town
ship. Father Monfort was a brave. ear
nest Christian missionary who praved
and labOred among the pioneer settlers
for their salvation. He has long since
been gathered to his fathers house. bur
his works live after him as a monument
TO his goodness and purity
There was a difference between the
STYLE of the pioneer days and now. When
the women went TO church fo-ty-five
wears ago, they carried their shoes in
their hands. and their ribbons in their
pockets, until within short distance OF
the place where the service was to be |