The Ottawa free trader., 1881-08-13
Afternoon,

| Afternoon.
| All morning the crowd increased by accessions
from the country, and after dinner the city peo-
pie put in an appearance, so that the grounds
were full Eatables were abundant and good.
Many brought their own, and Walther fed more
riding swing amused the young; a dancing
floor with music by Walz's orchestra satisfied the
youth OF the gathering, while the old folks talked
''old times" and renewed old acquantances.
About O'Clock the short speeches began.
First there was a song by the choir, "God save
the New Republic"
There seemed to he no assignments for these
speeches; but any one was called from the party
who could talk 'old times" First was ISAAC
ABRAMS of Peru. lie said he was not used 10
this sort Of thing--having been trained in an
early day to selling goods and afterwards lands.
have been here about 43 ycars, and seen many
changes, Some little incidents will enable you
to make comparison OF the country then and
now. first went through this country in 1888
the year after the Blackhawk war l was hero
in Ottawa for three days In June, As years ago.
The hotel was a log cabin, standing about 100
yards from the mineral spring. The town was
then on the south side, there being only three
buildings on the north side OF the river, This
hotel was lG or is #. square. and served for
Kitchen, dining room and family residence.
Strangers were lodged in story and half cabin
100 yards to the west. We didn't ask for single
room ip those days. The room was about 20 It.
square and had six or seven beds. But we had
none of those other liyely guests now so frequent
none but "genteel travellers" lodged there.
On the day after my arrival / enquired for the
posto1ice. found it in a log cabin east Of the
spriug, Jos. Cloud, / think being postmaster.
Asking for letters, the p. m. went to large
chest, such as our fathers brought from the old
country. But don't think the whole chest was
used for the postofiice! Only one corner was 50
used the rest being filled with the family cloth
ingi There may perhaps have been two dozen
letter there, and l got one Of them. l came on
this trip via the lakes, and on horseback ria Ma
pervlle, with L. Dclano. Deano liked the place
so well he stayed here. then went on to Hen
nepin, then u village twice as large as Ottawa
having about so cabins. There stayed one
night, with mosquitoes so bad eat up after fight
ing them IN BED for two hours then went to
Bloomington, quite town, and then east MA
Indianapolis.
1t strong enough about the mosquitoes
JOEL BUCKLEY, of Streator, was then called
on. He said it took him, In 1871, % days to 60
from New York to Missouri, where he went to
school. His teacher there told the boys II they
wanted to distinguish themselves to study cleo.
tricty, ard thereupon predicted the telegraph
In 1910 or lS4l. SO one like Morse Ia not always
the only one to imagine great things. Great as
have been the improvements in the past 40 years,
those Of the next 40 will be as great. My father
saw the first steamboat All thought 1t would
aoat down stream, but 1t fioated up at the mar.
velous rate of four miles an hour. I came through
here In 1871 and stopped at Father Holderman's.
all, men and women, sleeping In one large room,
with sheets and quilts for PARTITION walls!
There being no regular orator for the day,
Hon. PERRY ARMSTRONG, OF Morris, who is COL
ecting materials for Life of Shabbona gave .
few facts touching the Last Of the Pottowato-
mics" Some 50 years ago, in the Language Of
Mr. James, mot q solitary horseman could be
seen" coming down the bluff south Of us-ouly
q boy on the way to the postofiice, with a shiney
''auarter" to pay postage on a letter from Ohio
| have given, he said, some facts con-
cernng ShabbOna, the friend OF the white maa
in the Sac war in 1912, and to study his tribe
have paid several visits to their reservation In
K lnsas, and will talk Of this. BY the treaty OF
Prairie du Chen, made by Gen. John O'Neil,
Gen. Menard, &c, with SIS Chippewa, OTTAWA
and Pottowatome chiefs, the Indians ceded their
auds to the U. s. In consideration Of $4,000 per
annum In specie forever from 1929, so bbls. Of
salt per annum, and a perpetual blacksmith shop
'or their use ut Chicago. When the 6rst $4,000
we're dae, $ll,80t we're deducted. For whats
For damages to John Kinzie in the Sac war Of
1919, So 500 though the bill was II years old!
The Indians had to pay 1t, though not Chppe-
va or Ottawa Tndisn was in the war. Then
s., 900 went to the American Fur Co. to pay debts
Of individual Indians! To another person went
3, Ol6 for other individual Indian debts; and 20
On. The lands then given to the S5 chiefs
we're described. Shabbons's were two sections
near Paw Paw Grove, to wit, Sec. %, the west
half of 25 and the east half OF %, TOWNS, Range
ps. ;ps, mil directlv nnrth of this proye-