Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1874-09-17
From the DAILY OF the 10th inst

20O0 to $500 people ON the ground, and
better looking, better dressed, or
more orderly crowd of people never
met together anywhere in Iowa. The
day was most favorable one, the sun
being partially obscurred by clouds, a
good breeze stirring, the grecnsward
inviting and everybody was in the
best of humor. The crowd began to
gather on the ground at nine o'clock
and from that time until half past IL |
o'clock was spent in conversation and
general congratulation among the Old
Settlers from all parts of the county,
and in calling to mind many OF tho in.
cidents Of the early settlement of Wa
polio county, and Iowa.
At half past eleven o'clock, the meet
ing was called to order by e. Wash
burn, President of the Society, when
on motion, the following Vice-Presi-
dents were selected for the occasion !: |
Thomas Foster, (thc first County Treas
urer of Wapello county,, Hon. j. w. |
Hedrick. Hon. S. T. Caldwell, Daniel
collars, and VIM. Brim.
After the organization Prof. Rheem's
Juvenile Choir sang "Auld Lang
Syne," in an admirable manner. This
was followed by an eloquent prayer
from Rev. Edward Dudley, of Agency.
This was followed bya very entertain
ing address of an hour and q quarter,
by Judge Hendershott, which was lis
tened to throughout with the closest
attention. This address we shall lay
before our readers at an early day.
The Choir then sang an appropriate
song, and an adjournment was had of
an hour for the Picnic Dinner. This
was one Of the most interesting features
of this happy occasion. Table cloths
were spread on the grass under the
shade of the beautiful oaks, and groups
were formed of Old Settlers who now
had gathered around them their fami-
lies of interesting sons and daughters
who were born and raised since the
settlement of Wapello county, and
many of them were also accompanied
with grand and great-grand children.
A more bounteous rcpast was never
spread in festive hall or under leafy
bower, nor one that was moro highly
enjoyed by the partakers. Well told
anecdotes, "reminiscences of the old
times when hog and hominy furnish
| ed the staff of life, as we'll as the we'd
ding feast, and general hilarity ruled
the hour.
After all had supplied the inner man
the long roll was beaten on the snare
drum by the veteran, David Whit.
! | comb, now 80 years old, and one of the
pioneers of Wapello county ;wben the
people again assembled at the speak
Q ers stand. The Choir sang "America, y
aud Hon. II. Clay Caldwell, one of the
!, first men that ever titled the soil in
= Wapello county, was called out, and
4 made ringing impromptu speech o.
n half an hour which kept the audience
ia in a continued roar of laughter. Tit
speech OF Judge Caldwell was follow
cd by the singing of "Hail, Columbia,
+ by the Choir, and "Yankee Doodle,
01 Oy ocnWaDn'J Bend. After this DR.
90 Olney, of Cbillicothe w. called an
ut and spoke for q few minutes. M.
sc Doctor came to Iowa when it was q
'ct unbroken prairie, and the now magni
tty icent city of Chicago was q swamp
village of 500 inhabitants. and his illus
trations of pioneer life were given i
OF his happiest strain. After the speakin,
0 the "Young Settlers" repaired witt
ia, Schwabkey's Band to the dancing hall
to where they tipped the light fantastic
lie toe until about six o'clock, when al
-, returned to their hemes we'll pleased
to and all agreeing that it was the hap.
III piest, and best conducted gathering
:. ever held in Wapello county. With
=. this splendid beginning we may ex
~ pect next years reunion to eclipse
~ anything of the kind ever held in the
Il. State; and we hope every Old Settler
n will not delay becoming q member OF
= the Society, but at once hand their
: names to the Secretary and thus put
: the permanecy of the institution upon
sure footing. AS we stated last
~ evening, the following officers were
elected for the ensuing year: Presi-
y dent, DIR. z. G. Warden; Vice Presi-
j. dent, D. II. Michael Secretary, w. H.
Is Caldwell: Treasurer, Jos. Hayne.
Il DIR. Warden was the first physician
e that settled in Wapello county, or what
], was then called the "New Purchase"
e and Mr.. Hayne, was the first Sheriff
Q elect of the county. Mr.. Michael is All
: old and well-known citizen, some years
Sheriff and now County Supervisor,
and w. II. Caldwell has resided in the
y county Is years, and is at present our
: deservedly popular County Auditor.
'e Henry P. Ninde, formerly of Oska-
n loosa. but now of Rico county, Kan
n sas, called on us to-day. lie says that
70 region of Kansas has been Utterly de-
n vastatcd by the grasshoppers, so that
'. there will not be perhaps 200 bushels
,r of corn in the county. Rice county
le has $500 inhabitants, and last year
% they shipped away 1900 bushels Of
70 corn. This season, if they had had q
9. good crop,tley would have trebled that
rs amount, but the grasshoppers have cu
them of so that they havn't even corr