Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-02-25


from Toledo. representative mon Of that thrifty
city. The Centennial Hall wm conveniently
nlled by deeply interested audience.
Tho Association waS called to order by the
venerable President. elen. John r. Hunt, and
en motioa Judge Dunlap, was appointed Sec
rotary.
The minutes Of the preceding meeting (Fob.
m ry I'D, ls75l. were read and approved.
Some twenty old residents Of the Valley cane
forward. aud SIGNED the constitution, paid thcir
fees, md became members.
Mr.. Thomas n. Leaming came to Maumee In
1910. Gen. Hunt remarked that tho first bush
ci Of corn he bought was from him in lslG, for
which he paid 81 IS per bushtl.
TN motion the initiat'oi fec Of MIR. Learning
was refund
The following person. 10 ncd the Association,
with tho date Of their arrival in the Mnumee
Valley: J. G. Cara, ls3o r. H. Bell. ls47 +;
John Webb. 1882 Francis Hollcnbcck, 1872 (;
Mrs. @. Porigo, 1913; Mrs. Mary Ann Gilbert.
l62T: Mrs. r. A. ketcham. 1885, p. G. Holt,
1878; W. o. kecler, 1888 William Russell. 1883 !
Mrs. II. D, Andrews. 1891; Roxannah Crane.
ISIS WIN. L. Cook. lS35; Mrs. Elvira Newton,
lSJ0 Edward II. Hunter. 1876; Mrs. K. D..
Psck, 1874; Mrs. n. NJ. Howard. 1875 Thos.
H. Leaning. lsl5; Perry Thomas. 1885.
The remarks of Judge Cook on the life record
of the late Hon. W, V. Way, was an eloquent
aud touching tribute to the memory Of the de-
ceased. In September last, we published the
eulogistic remarks delivered by Judge Cook be-
fore tho Bar Of Wood county, and therefore now
publish simply such new facts as have been ad-
dcd to that statement as follows:
EIdicA and Gentlemen:
Tho pnrtiality of your President has assigned
mo the sad, but not disagreeable task OF laying
Ell S friend Willard Y. Way. ''' y ~
Character 10 often the outgrowth Of the eoun-
tcy and times In which the individual lived
for, to judge correctly of the greatness OF Iall-
On empires, it ir necessary to study their laws.
literature, and time battered monuments; 80,
TO form just estimate of one who has tail-
connection with and as Il part of his life, the
history of the time in which he lived. -
So intimately is the life Of Willard V. Way
connected with the pinnoer history OF the Maui
NEE Valley, that; by change OF names. the
one might almost be substituted for the other.
The pioneer il an original character ana one
formed more closely to nature than that dGyel-
eped under any other circumstances In lfo !;
and those of the Maumee Valley, are no exeep
ton to this rule. They were bold, Ehrewd, hon
est and inseparRbly connected their interests
with the locality in which they settled. The
prosperity of their country or village they con,
tidered theirs and they as zea!ousiy defended e
korhood as their own. The dangers Of frontier
life kept them ever on the alert, and the prox-
unity Of savage neishbboT ,bny shTowa
allowed 10 generate into the cunning now prac-
ticed by too many To put money in their pock-
eontriying snare, ;" but if. from their peculiar
mode of living. they sometimes INDUCED prae'
tioCs not strictly justifablc. they have made
ample amends for this in tho manly vigor
which their life has impaired to the unTrittcn
philosophy of the country, for II cannot be dis
guised, there lie an underlying Vigor in our com
T.. tha naf f1snl an
mon sense of the pinneer.. This. anry.. " aJllY
On this the pioneer relied, and when book phi
losophy seemed to contradict II, he gave the
preference TO reason, guided BY experience.
hut this did not lead him TO discard the scien-
ees taught in the schools, for the pioneer had 7
Just appreciation Of learning.
II only satisfied him that all the wisdom of
the world was not written in books. In all
things material reason was the Pioneer s guide !;
nnd in matters Of eternal import he took the
book of Revelation. which he read as u system
without descending to the absurd critical re-
hnelnents, which divide the different schools of
theology.
Tho world around him and above him con-
yinced him that while with his gnaded reason
civilization awaited the ufter-tcnants of his
possessions. And for this tho pioneers Of the
aiding, in building up our common school sys;
tom, then in its infancy, now, the pride and
glory of the State. The FIRST public care was to
ments of this valley. those institutions of
learning have DECORATED the land and by the
true light which shines from them, with undi-
brightest jewels. Here the tcnAer mind is
taught with footsteps secure and proud to
ascend the ladder leaning on, the cloud"
In these the youth of America drink the hrst
deep draugLt Of liberty ana independence,
u uhich teach self reliance--tbe bulwnrk of Yir-
the, the base of every noble character. The
dangers. difficulties and priyRtions Of pioneer
life, many Of you have experienced. you have
also enjoyed the humble hosptelity OF true
men and women. who brought v ith them to the
rugged edge Of civilization noble minds and
tympathetic henrts, which. like diamonds in
the rough. shine the clearer the harder they are
Ii The pioneer suffered priyations he found
compensation in the open woods and in the
newly. .laid-out villages with broad streets.
swept by the um9pent mp oreeLes. whero hs was free
here. uutrhmnelod By the prcjudicies of pre-
conceived opinions, he laid the foundation of a
ste weakness Of that Of many older countries
where vice leads fashion under the borrowed
mantle of virtue. These men with their open
ty to the cireuinStances by which they were sur
Roundet have been considered rude and want
ing in culture by those disqualified TO judge Of
character outside of the draMing-roO and de-
yoloped under broad skies and fertile fields.
but it must be remembered that many of the
hrst settlers o. the Maumee Valley we're gradu-
ates OF some OF the foremost literary institutions
Of the country, and brought with the them to
their sylvan homes, manners, not less refined
than those who remained behind to enjoy ease
surrounded by wealth. where the Eilded hand
Of corruption too easily puts by Justice, aud
whore crime EkulkE under protection of the con
ventionalities OF an efete civilization. These
we're mon of stern and rugged natures and what
they lacked in culture, they made up In noble
ness Of character.
The face either ciphered either's heart.
Their face their manners most expressly told. +"
They dispissd the friyolities of fashionable life
but were ever ready 70 bow to merit.
They worshipped at no shrine but truth their
bones we're models Of eandor and simplicity
rrncpie ss from nseOsstS. FROM den SeT lmti lTGH
81 store they gave freely To- the necessitouq. but
they had no sympathy with the charity which
were not Of those who "pity the pinIaaee' but
forget the dying bird" They were ReIserous
tiodhoarted and benevolent, Dot 100 Ehrcwd to
merit, and too noble not 10 Aekno Wled ne IL her
ever they found IL, To them
''Lifo was real, life was earnest.
And the grave was not it's goal"
The pioasers Of all countries have been sub
ysctsd 70 hardships and priyations. but those of
the Manmee Valley we're peculiarly So The
fwampy nature OF the country which rendered
tamnnisation .ith the exterior dithcult,
made tEeir sitnstion critical indeed In The
eammeT they aad communication with the resi-
% mankind BY water. but in the winter, the
. BLACK Sgapp " eut them Oh from tho outer
world and shut them up IKE soldiers ia garri-
ian, In addition to this the malarious diseases
incident 10 all new countries were no strangers
q the hrst settlers Of the Maumee Valley. But
nnotHithstanding Al this fewer persons returned
from this valley discouraged than FROM any
Pew country. Ali adhered 10 the fortune which
iroaght them hither with an Unyiolding tenae.
A. class, they were patient, laborious and
enduring. and the iabors. and difficultics 10
which they were subjected, seem to have
hardened them 10 an endurance which, viewed
from lr present standpoint appears almost in
credible, By their unyielding labor the BLACK
hsamp.' the most densely timbered forest In
Ohio. has been cleared and the water r.r.o,ai
from the surface by artificial drninage 81 an
enormous expense Of money and labor, where
ny country. the name Of which a few years
ago MADE strong minds quail. has been brought
20 hiEh state OF cultivation, and nov stands
'e2nd 70 pone on the continent.
Many 81 the men who aided 10 bring this val
sy 10 this high state Of euitiTation. taiiad and
uhsLed IN AL the grandeur with which piety
n.etts poY rty,. 80