The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-02-23
OLD SETTLERS.
Seventeenth Annual Festival
Last Night.
Detailed Account of the
Meeting.
Those in Attendance and Gen.
eraI Mention.

The seventeenth annual festival of the
Old Settlers Association, OF Rock Island
county was held last evening at the Armory
of the Rodman Rifles. and was D success
ful gathering in point Of numbers, inter
esting exercises and all the other details OF
such annual meetings.
The members of the association testify
by their presence at these festivals that
they still feel keen interest In the good
old days now past, and never neglect an
opportunity to enjoy the "reminiscences in
cident TO such meetings or to mingle with
each other as was the case in the early
days of the settlement of this portion of
Illinois.
There is a growing conviction constantly
forcing itself to the front in the minds Of
the pioneers that these Old Settlers meet
ings are numbered and few in which the
active participants of the early settlement
viii be enabled to attend. They feel that
death will soon claim all the old timers,
and on this account renewed interest is
felt by them for these gatherings Of those
who came to this county and city num-
Der of years ago
THE CONTRAST
between the old and the more youthful
members of the socity is manifested in the
demeanor of these respective classes at
these annual meetings. The old people
ri TO f4 md Ara 4 l%1s11
satiens with each other about the old
times. Their enjoyment appears to be
living over again the life that is past
The younger members monopolize the
dancing hall; they know very little about
the hardships- endured by the early pioneer
of this locality, and care still less Their
lives lie in the future, and as such, when
the few remaining old settlers, who still
honor the meetings with their presence,
pass away, the association viii cease to be,
as such an organization can not be main
tanned on the traditions of the past
There was one marked feature of the
meeting last night, and that was the alb
sence of anecdotes and early experience Of
the individual speakers. As one person
called to address the meeting expressed it,
1.-The yarns have all been told, the expe-
riences have all been related" Notwith-
standing the absence of such usual char
acteristics, the meeting, the supper, and
the informal that following were fully APP
preciated and duly enjoyed by the large
number in attendance
GATHERING OF CLANS
At z O'Clock the members of the associa-
ton began to arrive at the armory building
where they were properly received and es-
corted to the waiting rooms which had
been provided.
At 8 o'clock the members and invited
guests to the number of $50 were congre-
gated in the drill hall where the line of
march was formed for the supper that fol-
lowed in short time after this hour. The
procession was formed as near as possible
in the order of the members arrival in the
county during the early days It was
headed by the President of the association |
who carried the cane containing the names
of the various persons who had held that |
position. He was followed by theSecre-
tary, chaplain and other officials. Next
came the members arranged In chronology
cal order
The procession was under the supervis-
ion of j. T. Kenworthy, J. j. Parks, J. e.
Gray, Spencer Gregg, +. A. Philleo and |
G. w. Halves, members of the executive |
committee
SUPPER
The procession having been formed, the
march was then made to Turner Hall adj
joining, where a most inviting supper had /
been prepared by August Herkert, the
of that establishment The
guests to the number of 200 were seated at
various tables arranged in Turner Hall,
the officers occupying table to the ex-
treme south of the apartment. The sup
per included the substantials as well as a
great many delicacies, .ana-was served in
manner that reflected credit on all parties
AT the conclusion of the repast the for
NAL exercises were commenced and contin- |
1ed until the temperature of the hall ne
cessitated an adjournment to the council
rooms, where social meeting was enjoyed.
ROSTER.
The list of old settlers in attendance, was ]
Is follows:
Mrs. Ellen s. Andrews, Nathaniel
8elcher and wife, William E. Brooks and
wife and daughter, William Bell, John A. 1
Boyer and wife, William H Bean, Peter I
Bellows and daughter, John W. Boyles and {
vifs, Mrs. Ed. BurriH and daughter s
Arthur Burrill, Charles Burrill, Elton G. /,
Jropper, Henry S. Case and wife and t
hrs. Joseph Comet, Mrs. E. B. Chopper, 4
drs. Mary A. Colburn, Bailey Davenport, c
drs. Margaret Edwards, G. H. Edwards {
nd wife, DIR. P. Gregg and daughter, t
spencer Gregg, J. A. Gray and wife, E. 8
/. Guyer, Mrs g. W. Henry and daugh- {
OF, D. A. Holt and wife, L. e.
Iemenway and wife, W. III. Gest 8
nd wife, VIM. A. Heck, L. r. Harson wife .
nd daughter, Miss Mary L. Kelley. John t
). Kenworthy and wife, Charles LOTUS and v
wife, M. nj. LOTUS, Isaac Negus and O
laughter, G. w. Negus and wife. 8. A. lb
McMaster and wife, Daniel Moshin and /
wife, Gilpin Moore and wife Mrs. Alonzo n
dcLain, j. III. Montgomery and wife,
ames Mills and wife, "A. K. Philleo and
rife, John FL. Parks and wife, James j. .
arks and wife, John 6tanback, Mrs. Har-
EFT Sage, Mrs. Job, John Serghist and :,
lother, Mrs. Milton Jones, Amoziah :,
itterington and wife, III. O. Wilkinson, :,
|. L. Whitehead and wife, Mrs. Hannah >
Wells and two daughters Ado1ph Dunlap =
nd wife, C. w. Halves and wife, Miss =
,tta Wells. Mrs. Joseph Conway and :
aughter, e. G. Spencer, Philip Simmons
nd wife, William Shuck and wife, Mrs. !,
laria Sutton, w. 81. Scott, John Tindall, :,
frs. F. n Warren and daughter. =