The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-08-18
YE OLD SETTLERS"
THE REUNION AT MOORESVILLE
RETROSPECT AND "REMINISCENCES.

The pioneer meeting at Mooresviile, yes
terday, was the most successful of any that
has yet been held since the organization of
the association. The hardy veterans of
Morgan, Hendricks, Johnson, Marion and
counties assembled on the
fair grounds, the assemblage be-
ginning to arrive early in the day. and con-
tinuing until at least 10000 people were
gathered together. The meeting and the re-
ofthe olden time from the over
flowing repertoires OF the participants, are
not without great interest to every inhabi-
tant of Central Indiana and the historical
facts contributed by the old settlers at their
annual meetings will not be
without value to the historian,
write a faithful record of the settlement
first wrested from the Wilderness by sturdy
industry and indomitable pluck. The gray
haired sires and venerable matrons of the
generation that is now passed away. as they
meet on such occasions as that of yesterday
and revive the memories of other days, are
themselves surprised by the changes that
have taken place among them since they
first ventured into the unbrOken forest, now
the seat of large cities, thriving villages and
the substantial homesteads of their descend
ants. When the early settlers, who met to-
gether yesterday, first began to seek homes
along the banks of White river, the popala-
equal one-half of those then assem-
bled upon the fair grounds for
a general holiday. The substantial wealth
and prosperIty-the means OF eDioyments
and aid to culture and civilization-had no
existence and were scarcely dreamed of by
the most sanguine of the pioneers, even if
they ever took time 10 think of the distant
,f,t
istence. The reader can easily picture to
himself
THE CHANGES
which have taken place in the lives of the
members of the old settlers association by
com pairing the counties represented yester-
day, with all their improvements and wealth.
with the unbroken forests, tangled thckets
and unabridged streams of half a century
ago. The country was without means of
with theoutsids world, eX-
cept by rude corduroy roads, or more gem
orally the bride trace cut through the
woods, by which the wants of the pioneers
were supplied from the outside world.
The commerce of thousands of square miles
is now transported through this same coun-
try reached by such great Inconvenience by
primitive settles still living, and the COM
mercial and political metropolis of the then
the most thriving and prosperous States in
the Union. The majority of the early set
ties in the region represented come from
south of the Ohio river; many also emigat9d
from Pennsvl vania and other Eastern States,
but the strong infusion of the Southern Gle
ment is still noticeable in many OF the GUS
toms and usages of the people. The great
staples of the region have always
been, and are still, brght-eyed,
handsome girls and Indian corn. The
former could have been seen in whole
battaliOns on the Mooresville fair grounds,
and the latter stretching away in waving
fields to the extent of thousands of acres all
around Mooresville; itself, the substantial
little village where the meetings are held,
CLAIMS over a thousand inhabitants, and
east of it, in the shady fair grounds, the
meeting of the pioneers was held. The
people come in from every direction, on
trains from Indianapolis, Spencer and inter
mediate points. Large numbers also came
ia, in every description OF vehicles, from all
points of the compass. The delegation from
indianapolis consisted, in all, OF over three
hundred people, among whom were MeSSrs.
John B. Dillon, j. II. B.NOwland, G.. III.
Frank Landers, Mrs. Martin,
and many others who have long been identi
led with this portion of the State.
THE EXERCISES.
The formal exercises were opened at 10
o'clock at the stand erected for that pur-
pose. The best of order prevailed through
)ut both here and elsewhere, and no fights
,r brawls. which are so often seen at large
gatherings, disgraced the reunion. The
speeches and proceedings were enlivened
With music by the Martinsville brass band,
which formed pleasant interlude to the
of bygone days as related by
he speakers. The meeting was called to
.rflo NV Go nf
Vile, chief martial of the day, who con-
graduated the old settlars upon the large
number present and the interest
manifested by all in their meetings.
Hiram L. Craig, of Martinsville, president
If the association. then made few remarks.
after which there was music by the band
md singing of "Auld Lang Syne," in which
/ large aumber of those present joined.
Prayer was then offered up by the Rev. w. +.
Ferguson, of Martinsville, himself an old
pioneer of Morgan county. The annual adj
lress came next. Judge Frank Hardin,
Of johnson county, had been selected for
his honor, but was unable to respond, owing
% feeble health. In his absence John b. Dill
on of this CITY. took his place, for which he
was admirably fitted, both by his historical
studies and his acquaintance with the early
history of Indiana. The speaker drew con-
-rast between the present state of the coun-
try and that of 100 years ago. He SAID he was
the more impressed with the vastness Of our
growth and prosperity when he looked over
the crowd of many thousand people present.
The present occasion, he said, was a remark
able proof of the progress of the country.
One hundred years ago there was no settle
ment west of the Ohio river. All this great
with its lines of railways and tele-
graphs, its farms and manufactures, its
villages, has sprung up in the inter
val. In less than fifty years from
now the log cabins and other reminders of
early pioneer life will have passed away.
The descendants of those present will then
compare our country of to-day witha as much
surprise as we do now in looking back into
the past. The newspaper of 1874 will be
read with as much interest and will be as
highly valued as relic half century hence
as is the paper of 1924 now. The defendants
Of those gathered together at this reunion
will treasure facts and "reminiscences of the
people of 1874 with just as much interest as
we now show in similar facts about those
L. t~oe-.