The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-10-09
Eloquent Historical Addresses by Judge
Charles 81. Test and Hon.
John B. Dillon.
Names of Old Settlers, With Their Ages,
Places Of Residence, and Number
of Years in the State.
A Permanent Organization Formed, consti-
tuition Adopted and officers Elected.
From Thursdays Daily SENTINEL

yesterday, the time announced for the open
ing of the pioneers convention. Looking
out from the stage could be seen sea of
grey heads, consisting Of both men and
women of rye ancient time" and repr snt-
ing all ages from GO to 100 years.
The oldest settler, Mr. Dewitt, of Stsuber
county, aged 1O2 years, although not present,
sent his regrets, with the hope that he would
be able to attend the next reunion 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 APP
pointed TO preside temporarily over this meet
ing of the Old settlers OF the state OF Indiana
until permanent organization is made. Why
L should have been selected to this position is,
to me, somewhat of a mystery. / am only "a
years old, and yet belong 10 "young America"
proud and ambitious. 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
day. do not sympath1se with that class of
men who see everything wrong because it is
young; we should not distrust "young Ameri-
ca" The men OF to-day are much like those
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 developments
and all will be safe. Indiana has en- 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
SO that those who come after us may read OF
the har ships and adv entures of the early
settler. his priystions 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 a state historical
society; it has had a feeble existence for near
1881, ana wnile IL has dragged its slow length
along, IL has accumulated only few books
and pam phlets. We hope TO see IL gain greater
1t has been thought, however, that state
organizat OH of old settlers would do much to
perpetuate the history OF Indiana, where we
might hear something from each county of
the doings aud sayings OF the venerable
fathers OF the state. IL is not desirable TO
know merely of the political events of the
early days, but we wish to learn, as much
possible, of the lives Of those who set the
wheels of government in motion and con-
trolled it's action, SO much 10 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 mothers as well as the fathers of the
state: This was proper There was no reason
to the male portion of the community. 1t Is
true the duties of the wives were mostly con-
fined 10 the log cabins in which they we'd,
but their influence for good was as controlling
then as th % of their daugh ers OF the present
day. They endured the same hardships, dan
some instances even to a greater degree. Why
ignore the one-half Of the sources Of our In
formation2 Bring on, mothers, the memen.
toes and pamphlets of your early days, and let
Us hear from your own lips something OF the
struggles and tolls of your early life. You have
assembled from different portions OF the state.
Lat n inin m making this occasion interest,"
ing and profitab g. 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 a dreary wilderness and devel-
oping 1t! resources. great work has been
done, Add We are here to recount the scenes
and live over some of the hours OF the p st.
The men of to day can scarcely realize the
suffsrings, the tolls and dangers OF the first
settlers of Indiana. MsyI recur without the
walton 70 some OF the Incidents attend
which surrounded the early settler?
Many OF our young men are well acquainted
with the history of the old world-even that OF
Greece and bonneville they have buS
scanty knowledge Of the history OF their own
state. 1 fear, indeed, that they 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 a state
in the UuiOn. This leaves space OF more
than . years In which we have no reliable
history. That interim of passing events should
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 noble
men who then battled for the right and sue
cessfully 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
before that time the territory OF the north
west, oeded by Virginia TO the Uni
ted States, was divided, and a terri
William Henry Harrison appointed gov
ernor of the new territory, and q distinguish
ed pioneer, John Gibson. was selected as sec
TO whom that plaintive and eloquent speech Of
Logan. the Mlngo chief, was addressed.
About the time OF the organization OF the
Guards and Hays families settled In Dearborn
county. They were all enterprising and sub.
along the valley Of the White Waser' Mr'
- Majors and Solomon Manwari0g settled
just above where the town OF Harrison was
after yards located. In 1907 and lSUS, near the
mouth OF Cedar creek, John Quick, Lewis De-
wese, Mr.. - Wiley (the father OF the late Dr.
Allen Wiley. the celebrated Methodist minis
teri and th,. Tyner family formed settle
ment. About the same time, further up the
east branch OF the White Water, near Hannas
present member OF congress from this district
and the Tenn oleton family-all from South
Ric2mond aow stands were 70 bs seen JeTe.
mIah Cox. John Smith, the Hoovers,
the Ballss, and q few North Caro-
lima Qual1-rs. These were indeed
the trus pioneers OF Eastern Indiana,
aud their settlements formed a nucleus for a
rapid increase In our population, attracting
other cmig ants from other states
When we arrived IN the territory there were
no rOlds or bridges; the people were without
schools aud school houses: without churches,
except a. occasionally the neixhbOrs met in
some private house for the purpose Of worshi o.
In fact the country was vast wilderness. IL
Is tros, after n ride of many miles, you might
light upon a log cabin, surrounded by a few
acres OF imperfectly cleared ground, where a
little corn and few pumpkins were raised.
Immigration had, however, fairly set In, anu
the neIghborboods already described were re-
ceiviDg soce ssioDs, mostly from the Carollnas
They were fleeing from states wherel al tnat
time, the poor white man was regarded HUE
superior to the slave or the cattle with which
they cultivat their fields. II was amusing
to - G them vending their way 70 their future
homes. have seen n family OF eight or Ten