The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-08-13
Meeting Of the Old Settlers Of Marion,
Hancock, Madison and Hamilton
Counties.
An Immense Ooncourse Of People on the
Grounds,at Oakland Yesterday.
Addresses by DR.. Hervsy, Judge Test and
Judge Gooding-A Poem by Mrs.
Sarah (. Bolton.


oils had arrived, the Oakland Silver band
played an inspiring air, after which the
meeting was called to order by the president
of the association, DR.. J. W. Hervey. of this
city, who introduced Rev. David Caudle. who
has tor the past "A years been resident of
Hancock county. He delivered somewhat
lengthy exhortation, after which he prayed,
and asked that blessings might be showered
down upon the heads of the old settlers and
the young settlers.
DR.. J. w. Hervey then read the following
address:
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
Old settlers, in compliance with the de-
Oi Is Wa 10 ne
friendship, renew the greeting. and cherish
the memories Of the first settling of the coun-
Old settlers meetings are becoming the
most popular holidays among ea,g our people.
Holidays are appreciated by the estimates
put upon the events they recall, and the bless
ings they commemorate. The feast of the
passover summoned the Jews TO Jerusalem;
festival. The old, the young, the halt, the
blind, were quIckened by its Inspiration.
bondage ana the commencement of their
journey toward the land of promise, both of
which kindled the hearts Of the pious to de-
their deliverer, and took their thoughts back
to their fathers and their long journey in the
The meetings of the pioneers of the West
are fraught with eventful recollections and
wonderful realizations. The departure of
those who came to this country first from the
homes of their childhood, many OF them from
homes Of plenty was daring enterprise and nd
prospective good. Instead of turning toward
land flowing with milk, and wine, and
honey, all fitted up for them they journeyed
to q wild, new country wnere there was no
friend to welcome them, no nome to shelter
voluntarily accepted a life hardship, self
denial. They raised their strong arms and
among o the brush and fallen trees were tae
homes OF their wives and children: 1t was in
the log cabin homes that the first settler
gress, that quickened the march of events
and made the last half century one of the
1t is not strange that the memories that
cluster around the homes in the woods, are SO
fathers and - mothers. s Could some 'i sweet e
dreamland messenger come and turn
to their first little wild home beside the spring
they would shout for joy around the spacious
hearth side where their babes were born,
Father who art in Heaven" l want a photo
graph of some wildwood home, with autumn
to sanctify my reverence for the pioneer faith
ers and mothers of the West.
the next is
some of us will be looking down from mans
sions In the ssy soon you Will all be where the
and your children's children viii meet here to
recall your early struggles and sacrifices.
many joyous greetings ere you go hence to re-
unite in Heaven earth's broken ties forever.
The presidents address was followed by
music from the band, which was well rem
dered.
An address from General Conner was next
on the programme, but the general was
unable to come on account Of q press of bus
iness:
JUDGE TESTS ADDRESS.
Judge Test was then introduced, and
stated that he was not feeling well, but
would endeavor to speak few
moments. He went on to say that
Vile, Franklin county, where there was
then only one house, but they thought it
would in. time rival Cincinnati. He remem-
bered just before the war with Great Britain
they had not only extensive forests to con-
tend with, but Indians. One year before
been number Of treaties made with the
Indians, but Chief Tecumseh declared the
Government had no right to treat with them
for any of the lands except as q confederate
body. Tecumseh had contriyed to combine
several tribes and there was war in the
camp. Occasionally a white man and then
an Indian was killed. The chief issued Q
proclamation to the governor, in which be
said: THE men at Washington smoke anC
drink their wine. You and / will haye tt
fight it out" The old men of the Indiar
tribes opposed the war, but the young mer
entered into 1t with thirst for glory anC
white mems scalps. Judge Test SAID that a
that time they had no railroads, no steam
power, no schools and no churches, excepting
when they met at a neighbours house. Tn
contrast between that time and the presen
is incredible. Now we have public high
ways, steamboats,, railroads, and telegraph
The whistle of q locomotive at that tim
would have caused terror among the people
Judge Test said he loved the young people
He believed IN them, for it is they that will
are at now was at that tim
an unexplored wilderness peopled with Ir
dams. In the year 1920 he visited thi
country as q deputy surveyor. The Gov
eminent had in 1919 appointed a commi
sion to locate the seat of government of tn
of land was surveyed by Judge Test,
Fall creek. By the judges testimony
was not surveyed very well, as the
were hurried very much by tt
commission and the obstacles they hs
to overcome in the way OF insurmountab
logs, which caused numerous clogs, whic
in after years caused considerable troubl
as people could never find the corners
their lots He remembered meeting tv
Indian squaws about where the Cou
die in her hand, and the other had 6 pspoo
on her back, which was q half bree
After some conversation with them, regar,
ing some strayed horses, they were huntin
the judge asked the mother If the papoo
was not white. She answered yes, Bill
Corners boy" Corners was q man wi
had disappeared from the settlement
couple of years before. and was thought
have been killed. While in camp one da
during the surveying, the judge caught sig
of q white fawn, which he chased al
ut last caught, but not knowing what to
with it, he put it on the ground and tri
to drive it away. but 1t was no 60. Fro
that time 1t followed me like dog durl
the rest of my stay in that section of {
country Few of the people that came
pioneers are living. fThey car
and by tremendous labor clear
small patches of ground
which crops were raised, til
laying the foundation of the present DR.
manly and ciYiliznfion of fhis -counfxx I