The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1874-08-20
THE OLD PIONEERS.
Grand Reunion at Leesburg F!
SPEECHES. MUSIC, DINNER
&c. &c.
"Reminiscences of Early Days
in Ohio.
Names of the Old Pioneers in
Attendance.

where we arrived about 8 o'clock,
and found the village alr1sly astir,
with the notes of active preparation
for the great event of the day-the
second gathering ofthe old Pioneers of
Ohio ever held in our county. Soon
after our arrival, the Leesburg Cor
net Band paraded the streets, and
the people began to make their way
to the beautiful grove about half
q mile west of town, in the rear of
! the handsome residence of Dudley
K. Johnson, Esq, one of the Commit
tee of Arrangements for the Reunion.
Here, on gentle slope under the
shade of the trees, and on the soft
grassy carpet, spacious stage had
been erected for the speakers and
the more aged and i1frm of the
honored guests Of the occasion. The
stage was tastefully canopied with
leaves and festoons of evergreen, and
over all foated the old ''banner of
beauty and glory" to uphold which
so many of the brave pioneers
marched to the battlefield in the
early days of the West, and endured
fatigue and privations which enti-
tie them to the grateful remem-
brance of the present and future
generations. In front of the stand,
and extending up the slope above it,
were seasts for about q thousand
people. In the rear of the speakers
stand, were ranged long tables, for
the banquet, which the hospitable
ladies of Leesburg and the surround
ing country had prepared Tor their
venerable guests.
A more beautiful place could not
have been selected, nor more COM
plete arrangements made for the oc-
casion, and as if nothing should be
wanting to make it a success, the
weather was all that could be desired
inst warm enough to be pleasant,
With clear sky overhead, and gen
tie breeze stirring. Nature had evi-
IDENTIFY put on one of her most de-
lightful moods in honor of the ven
erable men and women who were to
be the guests of the day.
By IL o'clock, most OF the old pi
oneers had arrived, and the people
had assembled to the number of at
least from two to three thousand.
After some good music by the Band,
the large assemblage was called to
order by Capt. L. G. Guthrie, who
acted as marshal of the day. The
honor of presiding over the exercises
of the day was conferred upon the vete-
ran editor, Col. Samuel Pike, who
commenced his editorial career in
the village of Leesburg, where he
was reared to manhood, and started
the first of the two OF three score of
newspapers with which he has been
connected, under the name of "The
Leesburg Independent and Railroad
Advocate" Mr.. Atwill Chance, of
Leesburg, was chosen Secretary.
The exercises were opened with
fervent and appropriate prayer by the
Rev. Mr.. Bacon. after which DR.. Ruel
Beeson, of Leesburg, was introduced
as the first speaker. He cordially
welcomed the old pioneers present,
in the name of the people of the Fair
field township, and feelingly referred
to the tolls and sacrifices endured by
the first settlers of the West, in Or
der that their defendants, of the pres
ent generation, might enjoy the peac-
full homes that now dot the smiling
landscape, where then was a vast
wilderness, through which roamed
the savage Indian and the scarcely
more savage beasts of the forest.
He closed by expressing the hope
that the honored survivors of those
''hmes that tried mems souls, might
be spared many more years, to enjoy
the fruits of their labors, and that
those who were now present might
meet again in many other social re-
unions, before they we're called home
to their final rest and reward.
After more music from a very good
string band, Gen. Rufus Putnam, of
Chillicothe, President of the North
western Pioneer Association, was in
troduced, and after few introduc-
tory remarks, expressing his pleasure
in meeting so many of the old pion-
eers and their friends on this occa-
sion, proceeded to sing the following
PIONEER SONG.
BY REV. D. C. EASTMAN, A NOTED SCHOOL. TEACHER
AIR-"CARRY Me BACK"
Prom far off land to this we come,
Our goods on horses packed;
Our way was through the wilderness,
The Indian trail our track.
Unseen then was the railroad train,
Unheard tbs steam-cars' roar;
o, carry us back to the woods again.,
To the pack-horse days once more.
Arrived at the fair and fertile plains,
We let our horses go
Around to range the country wide,
The pioneers all did so.
! No stake and ridered-fences then,
| Bristled the country DER.
0, carry me back to the range again,
To the priarie range once more.
From logs of hickory, elm and oak,