The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-08-18
OLD SETTLERS.
ne Roman atneTS Re.UnIo1.
A BIG TURN OUT--A JOLLY rIME-AND
EVERY ONE HAPPY
The Speeches. Relics, Etc.

The Speeches, Relics, Etc.
Such II thing as II failure of La Sale Co. Old
Settlers Re-Union seems not to hav0 been set
down in the books. They have always been
largely attended, have always been enjoyable.
and have always been interesting. The reunion
on Thursday last was no exception to the rule
established in the history of the society during
the last or years, for the attendance was as
large as usual and the exercises as interesting.
The weather being delightful, the roads leading
into Ottawa from all directions from as early as
eight or nine in the morning till noon, were
crowded with conveyanccs loaded with "Roman
Fathers or their de scendants, coming to pay
their annual tribute to the hcroism of the past rem
cratons of the white man in La Sale county:
and by noon the city and the grounds beyond the
river were crowded with heads gray with honora-
bic and venerable age, and bowed down with the
toll of earlier manhood, and crowded with the
smiling faces Of younger generations of settlers,
only too happy to call themselves "old'' for one
day. Fully 5000 people, including those of the
city, must have been in attendance on Thursday.
We noticed, hover, that many of the familiar
faces of the Jond tidc Old Settlers were conspicu-
Gus by their absence, such men as b. c. Cook, j.
o. Glover, K. f. Goodell, Vim. Hickling, and
many Others, who were sadly missed and enquir-
ed after by not few. But the day was happy
one for all that, and many battle with savage
foes was fought anew, and many Il hardship
laughed over by the sufferers, as on this day
those old scenes came back to the memory rosy
hucd and mellow with age.
At about II O'Clock the assembly about the
stand was called to order by DAVID GREEN, Esq,
of Dayton, ILL.,, who in Il few words thanked the
audience for their attendance ut this the Old
Settlers Ninth Annual Re Union, and announced
"Auld Lang Sync" by Prof Fords quartctte.
Then followed n feeling prayer by Elder Bachel-
dcr-none of your modern diamond editions" of
metaphysical text books, but prayer overflow
ing with gratitude to God for his mercies and
deep supplcation for their continuance
The president then announced Hon. L. A. ARM
ST. Y, Of Morris, who delivered the annual ad-
dress rs follows
MR. PRESIDENT anil OIL Settlers Of In Sallc
County-Through the kind partially OF the ofi.
GERS of your society to is assigned the duty OF
bidding you welcome to this your ninth annual
reunion and pic mic. This is pleasant duty,
yet ii is not free from embarrassment. Having
lived in good old La Sale and the adjoining cOun
ty for period Of nearly half Il century, and be
ing familiar with the great changes and current
events that have TRANSFERRED during that time, |
find so many subjects trooping forward for utter
ancc that | am at loss to select those incidents
which shall best meet your approval Like man
to double business bound stand in pause where
shall first begin or when to close. How TO
awake rcmcmbranceS of early days and with fee
bic tongue portray them, shall be my aim during
the few minutes that shall cndeayor 10 engage
your attention,
Silent to-day are your mowers and thrcshlnS
machines, idle are your rakes and hay forks.
Your meadows and barns are deserted, while you
with your families have come up to this beautiful
grove to rest from your labors, ana commune TO-
@ether and talk over the tolls and trials you were
compelled to pass through in the early settle
lment Of this noble county, then II barren waste,
now the second in population and wealth IN tue
| great state Of Illinois.
Before me behold the countenances Of many
whom have known for nearly half II century.
! Their heads are blossoming for the grave, and
soon they will pass to the other side. Their mis-
sion is nearly fulfilled, but they will leave behind
them children and grandchildren and in many
instances great grandchildren, who will cherish
their memories and emulate their virtues.
! The state of Ohio, though comparatively speak
| ing one of the younger states, contributed large.
! ly towards furnishing the first settlers of this
county, among whom will mention the Greens,
Shayers, Groves, Debolts, Dunayans, Hupps,
Brumbacks, Pitzers, Richeys, Strawns, Milligans,
1 Trumbos, Armstrong;, PARIS, Hits, Reynolds,
many descendants New York also contributed
handsomely to the first inhabitants, while Penn
Isylvana, Virginia, Kentucky Tennessee and
many of the eastern states had their representa-
tvcs here at an early day As II general rule we
! could distinguish whether the incoming emf
/ grant were Yankee or from the Middle States.
i The Yankee drove but one span of horses to
1 his wagon and rode on the wagon to driye-the
other drove from four to six horses to his wagon,
riding the left hand whee-horse to drive. The
I,t,,f ,f fhn nj nn rnnnlnU lpnIpr
the other, had flexible tongue held up by
ncck.yoke, and was Of several inches narrower
gauge and far lighter draft. The box WAS much
lower and longer than the others and of simpler
Iconstruction and more easily taken apart to put
! The Buckeye or the Middle State wagon was
Schooncr-shGped and closely coupled together.
4 The rear wheels were some II inches greater in
I diameter than the front ones. 1t had still
tongue, which was ever busy pounding the legs
of the wheel horses. The team was driven by L
single line. Three sharp jerks to turn to the
Iright-a steady pull to turn TO the left, guided
\ them
The harness was both Il curiosity and a mon.
strosity--a curiosity, how il ever came into use;
Il monstrOSity by way of punishment to the poor
horses who wore them Great heavy blind bri-
dies huge collars, massive names, broad back
band and heavy tracc-chans for the leaders, i'm
mcnse brecching that literally covered the hind.
quarters of the whcc-horscs sidc-straps full five
inches wide for tugs, and large bcar-skn hous-
Iin.s upon the wethcrs of each horse, were suif-
Icicnt Ia melt anything in the shape of flesh
/ The box was much higher at the ends than in
the middle aud was made of panel work, and so
mortiscd together that the entire weight had To
he lifted up in taking il OIL or putting il on the
wagon Hence il required the united effort of
whole family To handle it, These schooner wag-
ons being about inches wider than the Eastern
wagon they Of course never tracked with them,
and hence they made Il new track, at least ON
one side. Being very heavy they sank to hard
pan in every slough, and when planted they are
! "solid muldoOns.'
These wagons, so dissimilar, each had their ad-
yocatcs for while, but the superior advantages
possessed 10y the Eastern wagon were So patent
that the prlir, ,choOncrs were abandoned and