Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-07-11
THE FOURTH.
How Plymouth Celebrat-
ed the Day.
Organization Of the Old
Settlers Society.
Their Constitution and Members

Their Constitution and Members.
1t is not necessary to tell how the
4th dawned on Plymouth, how it
rained Monday and Wednesday, turn
ing the dust into mud, cooling the at
mosphere that had been the week
previous to fever heat, but stopping
men from cutting the harvest, which
was ready for the reapers and binders,
and ushering in the nations birthday
cloudy and sultry in the morning,
clear and hot at noon-day and eve-
ming, causing the farmers to think
that the wheat must come down, and
the glorious fourth be celebrated by
them, not marching under waving
banners, keeping time to the music OF
of the bands, while cannons roar and
and fire-crackers fizz and pop, but
bending over the yellow grain, keep
ing time to the music OF the reaper,
varied by the crack Of the drivers
whip, and made joyous by the fact
that in each head of wheat three
grains, and some times more, were
found in every mesh. But notwith-
standing all this, Plymouth had a
grand, glorious celebration, thanks to
the firemen, the Marshall County
Guards, the bands, and all who con-
tributed to make it a success.
At 10 o'clock in the morning the
procession was formed, and, with the
Bremen and Plymouth bands, the
Marshall County Guards, Bourbon,
Bremen and Plymouth fire compa-
MES, st. Boniface and st. Patrick's
Benevolent societies in front, fol-
lowed by the long procession OF citi-
zens in carriages and wagons, on
horseback and on foot, filed away to
the Fair Grounds. Mayor Johnson
was President OF The day, and the ex-
ercises were opened with prayer by
Rev. Geo. A. Little. There was sing
ing by the Glee Club, composed al
most entirely of "old settlers" and
which, according to our judgment
discoursed music unexcelled by any
that we ever heard on independence
day. The Declaration Of Indepen-
dence was read by Hon. II. G.. Thay-
er, and the Bremen band discoursed
music that seemed to say we will not
be beaten by "old settlers" or any
body else, after which recess wa;
taken and ample justice done to the
picnic dinner spread in the beautiful
grove.
After dinner the meeting was called
to order, and the Grafton was deliv.
cred by Hon. G. FL. Reeve. We hav,
not the space even to give synopsis
OF the speech, and will only say II
those of our readers who did not hea
it, that 1t was just such speech a
only Charley Reeve could make, ant
was intended to show that there coulC
be no conflict between capital and Ia
Dor, that every citizen, being hero
free man, was in measure response
BILE for the kind OF government W
have, and was almost criminally neg
ligent IL he failed to inform himsel
and cast his vote for what he believe,
was his country's good. After tn
grafton, came the organization Of tn
"Old Settlers of Marshall County.
Notwithstanding the harvest and tn
heat, there were many present O
those who came here when this wa
the Pottawattomies' hunting grount
When, instead OF waving fields OF vel
low grain, beautiful villages and com
Portable farm houses, and lakes Gov
cred with beautiful boats, the fash
ionable resorts for the chivalry an
beauty of distant cities and State.
dense forests, impenetrable marshes
the rude log cabin, the Indians wig
wan, and lakes beautiful, over whic
: glided the red mans canoe, their wa
tiers affording the finest fish, sufficier
> with the game that was found in tn
forests to give meat in abundance t
all the dusky inhabitants Of the cour
ty. The pioneers were invited {
take their places on the stand, bu
many of them seemed 10th to do 81
but their kindling eyes and faces rad
ant with smiles told as they gathere
! about the stand that they were gla
!. that an organization was to be effect
ed. Robert Shredder, of North towr
ship, who has been In the count
4 longer than any other man now Ii,
l. ing, having resided here since 1873
was made Chairman of the meeting
and John w. Houghton was appointe
Secretary. A committee, consistin
! of G. II. Reeve, w. ]. Hand, JOSEF
E Evans, Stephen White and DR.. w.
i Bailey, reported C constitution whic
G was adopted as follows:
o OLD SETTLERS SOCIETY OF MARSHAL
COUNTY, INDIANA.
SECTION I. This society, organized {
this, the 4th day of July, 1878, shall
known as the "Old Settlers Society
Marshall County, Indiana"
Sec. q The officers of this society shs
consist of a President, First and Secol
Vice Presidents, Chaplain, Treasurer al
Secretary, who, when elected, shall co
t. stitute an Executive Committee, for Z
management of the affairs of the society.
70 SEC. 3. The officers of this socie