The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-10-09
Eloquent Historical Addresses by Judge
Charles b. Test and Hon.
John B. Dillon.
Names of Old Settlers, With Their Ages,
Places Of Residence, and Numbsr
of Years in the State.
A Permanent Organization Formed, consti-
tuition Adopted and Officers Elected.
From Thursdays Daily SENTINEL

MUSIC nail, ADJOINING the eXpO5lIlOn, was
packed to suffocatIon by III o'clock a. m
yesterday, the time announced for the open
ing of the pioneers convention. Looking
out from the stage could be seen a sea of
grey heads, consisting Of both men and
women of rye ancient time" and repr snt-
ing all ages from co to 100 years.
The Oldest settler, Mr.. Dewitt, of ST uber
county, aged 102 years, although not present,
sent his regrets, with the hope that he would
be able to attend the next reunion q year
hence.
The meeting was called to order by Judge
G. H. Test, of this city, who delivered the
following
OPENING ADDRESS:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN have been ap-
pointed TO preside temporarily over this meet
ing of the Old settlers OF the state of Indiana
until permanent organization is made. Why
should have been selected to this position is,
to me, somewhat of a mystery. i am only "a
years old, and yet belong 10 "young America"
proud and amDltlous. Young America,
to whom must be confided the task of carry
ing out the great principles and measures so
nobly begun and partly developed in your
men who see everything wrong because it is
not done as Ii was done when they were
young; we should not distrust young Ameri-
who were in active life when you and l were
younger.
Under the providence of God many within
the sound of my voice will live to find the
population of Indiana double what il is now.
Ali they have to do is 10 see t1at the religious,
moral and educational institutions OF the
state keep pace with its material de- elopments
and all will be safe. Indiana has an unwrit-
ten history, and you will agree with me, 1
think, that something should be done to place
that history upon record, so far as possible.
that those who come after us may read of
the har ships and adventures OF the early
settler. his priyations and dangers in peace
and war, his mighty struggles in laying the
foundations of an empire which will endure
for ages TO come. We have state historical
society; IL has had feeble existence for near
a half a century. II was founded. think, IN
1881, ana wniie 1t mas dragged It's slow length
and pam phlets. We hope TO see IL gain greater
vitality.
It has been thought, however, that state
organizat on of old settlers would do much to
perpetuate the history OF Indiana, where we
might hear something from each county Of
fathers Of the O state. IL Is not desirable to
know merely of The political events of the
early days, but we wish TO learn, as much as
possible, of the lives of those who set the
wheels of government in motion and con-
trolled its action, SO much TO the glory and
honor of the state. Their names and private
virtues should be handed down for the admir-
alton and imitation of their successors.
The call for this meeting has been addressed
to the motuers as well as the fathers of the
state. This was proper. There was no reason
why the organization should be confined alone
to the male portion of the community. IL Is
true the duties of the wives were mostly con-
fined 10 the log cabins in which they we'd.
but their influences for good was as controlling
then th 70 of their daugh ers OF the present
day. They endured the same hardships, dan
gers and sufferiags as their husbands, and in
ignore the one-haIf of the sources of our in
formation2 Bring on, mothers, the memen-
toes aud pamphlets OF your early days, and let
Us hear from your own lips something OF the
struggles and Tolls OF your cary life. You nave
assembled from different portions of the state.
Let all join In making this occasion interest
ing and prohtab e. Even the newer counties
have their old settlers. Men there in middle
life are the noble heroes, esteemed and hon
ored because Of their efforts In rescuing their
country from q dreary wilderness and devel-
oping It, resources. great Work has been
DONE sad we are neTe 10 recount n at the me- scenes
The men of to day can scarcely realize the
suite rings. the tolls and dangers OF the first
settlers OF Indiana. May L recur without the
charge OF egotisn from my own obser-
walton 70 some Of the incidents attend
ing pioneer life and the circumstances
Many OF our young men are well acquainted
with the history of the old word-eYen that OF
Greece and komexwhile they have bus
state. l fear, indeed, that thsy have failed TO
read the well written and authentic history OF
Indiana by John B. Dillon. That history comes
down q 1916, the time when we became state
in the U"iOn. This leaves space OF more
than years In which we have no reliable
b supplied, and the men who can furnish the
facts are fast sinking into the grave. Like the
gigantic forests which then covered our lands,
the actors and leaders Of that day are fast van
ishing from our sight; their triumphs are rap
idly fading from our memory. Shall the mob e
men who then battled for the right and sue
cessfulIy fought the spirit of evil go down TO
the night OF .Orgetfulness? You are here to
rescue their names and memories from so dire
a calamity.
MY father, with his family, settled In the
territory of Indiana 68 years ago. len yeacs
before that time the territory OF the north
west, oeded by Virginia TO the Uni
ted States, was divided, and a terri
torial government I'm Indiana was organized.
William Henry Harrison was appointed gov
ernor Of the new territory, and a distinguish
ed pioneer, John Gibson, was selected as sec.
rotary. 1t IS said that the latter Is the person
TO whom that plaintfve and eloquent speech of
Logan, the Mingo chief was addressed.
About the time of the organization of the
territory Isaac Dunn, Jesse l.. Holman, the
Guards and Hays families settled In Dearborn
county. They were all enterprising and sub
stantial citizens. few settlers were strung
along the valley of the White Water. Mr..
- Majors and Solomon Manwariog settled
just above where the town OF Harrison was
after yards located. In 1907 and 1875, near the
wese, Mr.. - Wiley (the father of the late Dr.
Allen Wiley. the celebrated Methodist minis
teri and tins Tyner family formed n settle
ment. About the same time, further up the
east branch OF the White Water, near Hanna's
creek, might be found the progenitors of our
present member OF congress from this d district
and the Tenn oletOn family-all from South
Carolina; and still higher mp, near where
Richmond now stands. were 70 Ds seen JeTe-
,.,lah No~ Tohn Gnafffa the HOovera