The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-08-17

county for the historian, and of the great won
ders of nature. He also spoke Of the many trials
and struggles of the old settler. He said to the
Young folks that the old settlers had built up the
world of matter and it remained for them to build
up the world Of intellect. He is Il very pleasant
speaker and made good impression.
After the singing Of temperance anthem by
the choir he was followed by Mr.. Cyrus Shaver,
| in al address on the subject Of early farming,
He said he came to th, county in the fall of 1880
and at one time knew every man in the county,
Thought the old settlers ought to be divided ut
the picnic according to the date of their settle
mcnt. He described the primitive pillow OF early
days, and also all other farming implements.
His address was very interesting and greatly APP
prcciatcd. Hon. Elmer Baldwin, the historian
of the association then read lengthy original
poem, ON the early settlement of the county
which, owing to lack Of space and time we are
Obliged to defer until future issue
AUD Lang Sync" was then sung by all, after
which Mrs r. f. Taylor of Streator read an cX-
Icccnt and entertaining essay ON early house
keeping, which we may print in full hereafter,
The President read the following historical
sketch Of the venerable jeremiah Strawn, the old
gentleman at the time being upon the stand:
will read Il short history Of the life Of Jcrc.
miah Strawn He is in his eighty fourth year.
He was born in Somerset county, Pa, August
I1th, 1875. Married in lSlj moved to ohio III
lSll came to Illinois i'll ISIS when all the state
north Of Peoria was in one county. In 1881 Put
nam county was located. In the fall Of 1881 our
first county court was held, in the woods near
where the town Of llcnncpin now stands Strawn
was on the grand jury on one log and the petit
lnr Wn n of
against 4 man that had two wives, when there
were nice Young men who bad to do without Il
wife, as women were scarce The court got all the
business done III two hours. We had the POtta-
watamic and kckapoo Indians campcd near
They came to Strawn's house often to trade deer
hams for potatoes turnips and pumpkins. We
fed them often. They would bring nice honey
combs to swop. They would show how ourpop-
pooses must eat it. In 1892 the Black Hawk war
Icame StraWn was Quartcr-mastcr of the 4ith
,Iregment. In 1s33 and 1884 was county commits
1 siOner. Was for many years school director,
road commissioner, commissioner for sale OF
school lands, commissioner to divide real estate,
guardian for orphan children, for6l years mem
Der of the NJ. f Church, as steward - years IN
the NJ. +. Church. jeremiah Strawn built Il
! church in 1854 in Putnam county. Cost over 81,
{ 900 on his land ut his expense and gave trust
d deed for acre Of land with the church to the
i, NJ f. Church. Moved to Ottawa in 1888. Strawn
I in 1859 found the NJ. f.. Church in Ottawa in debt
n >,
,'ror diJ n".i.,n S5Vo f. start on did toka the
\ paper round: IT, Hamilton, $500 5. w. Cheever,
5000; H.. {. Strawn, 500; e.; L. Thompson,
nrr for snr,,r months and rot the amount and
1 paid the debt. Strawn was delegate to nomi-
nate state officers IN iNoo; ne uu hcIp loouIlu
| In,,lIt ~ ,ri, oC o,,,, i,ind If drink lie did for
many wear, ret up ut I O'Clock in the morning
and work TIL O'Clock ut night. lie mas bcGn
III SGlVntI.,. S;"''i "1u @ .',,, l
ever saw lie wouid now advise the Young folks
mot to use whisky or tobacco, it Is not healthy
Tor inc podS OF money il,'''tis' nc noi'cS "o
NV
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! A''cr singing song "i 'Hc VIA ro'hs> d. l.
"rISEs was c"'Ieu upon '"e S'"nu anu "'S"e
, snort oul s''rrlnE address, lie was 'ol.o"t" ny
4 Hon. u, W. Armstrong anu OlncTS, WHO Nlauc
I appropriate slct'Hcs' hIo' HtciH'csc'' vi 'io