The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-11-05
With me a few curiosities of the early

with me few curiosities of the early
day.
This hand bell, old, battered, crack
ed, the handle broken, and fixed
with this rusty iron ferule, is histor-
ical relic, and il takes us back to the
primitive days, when the Territorial
Legislature of Ohio met in the village
of ChiIlicothe for its first session. for
this little dingdOng called the mem
bers together, its intinnabulations
calling the attention of such noble
men as Arthur st. Clair, Gov. Hunt
ington, Thomas Gibson, and Gen.
Ducan McAuther. After the legisia-
ture was moved elsewhere, the bell
and the other fixtures were sold at
auction, and the old bell after various
wanderings, settled down to hotel
life in Chillicothe until it fell in my
possession.
This old skull l found in a gravel
bed in Allen county, and it was once
the directing power attached to a
large Indians body. Oh, YOU old
scamp, your days are happily over,
and YOU will lift no more scalps, or
kill any more babies! This old book
printed, in 1887 in the curious type of
that day, contains the record of the
remarkable exploits of Col. Gardner !;
and this old leather apron was my
fathers and used by him in the early
DAYS. when he blacksmithed."
This little toy Ga dress swordl tells
! of nv military record. and how l hap
pened to be called colonel. l came of
a military family, for my grandfather
was a bold buccaneer in the Bay of
4 Biscay, where he sailed and made his
money, and when it got too warm for
( him there he came 10 America, the
land of the brave" OF course he
| had his longings' and became mixed
up III the Shay REBELLION, but was par
! doned. | inherited the same spirit,
and the Mexican war found me Occu-
pying the position of Adjutant of an
/ Ohio regiment, and this is how L
! came by this sword. l was a tine
/ horseman, and was often mistaken y
! for Gen. Taylor. One day while rid
| ing my mustang" i'll front of the
regiment. he suddenly took a notion
to ''buck," his rigid limbs rounding
back and short jumps was the final
cause of our separation, both finally
rolling on the ground, and from this
incident grew the story of my having
| had a horse shot from under me i'll
battle, any way l obtained the sou
| briquet OF Colonel, and this is all OF
this story" daughter
Here were representatives of nearly
every eastern and Middle St.te, but
Massachusetts. Vermont and Connec-
ticut were the most largely represent
ed. John Boosinger moved TO Ohio
in 1900. Mary Wilcox in 1901. Betsy
Lappin in 1902. Christian and Peter
Cackler in 1904, and others soon after
that. Several over three score years
were native born. Here were repre-
scntatives of nearly every shade OF
political opinion and religious belief; /;
and yet they all forgot their diferen-
Ces and had feast OF hearty good
feeling. All seemed to live over the
best of their lives, and renew their
age by sweet memories OF the past.
The occasion was type of that home
which we all expect to find, where all
will live together in unity, love and
peace.
Since the meeting at Mr.. Olin's, four
of the pioneers. John Reed 70. David
Fenton II, Arcilla jenkins IS and
susanna Rotherick 81, have been ''gath-
cred to their Father" 1t is reasona-
BILE to expect that others will soon
! ioin their loved ones gone before.
But their descendants will best honor
themselves by truly honoring these
venerable pioneers while they remain
on earth, and by sacredly cherishing
their memories when they have been
call to their lighter home.
ANDREW WILSON.
Secretary.
p. S.-Any important facts in the
history of deceased members of the
Association sent to the Secretary will
be duly presented to the next annual
meeting.