The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-09-05
OLD SETTLERS.
Third Annual se-ting ef the Ola SET
tiers of Joh.sDa COuaty At
N hii.land.
Some Account OF n Organic alton and
the Meeting 2 g. roay-Pereonal
ana Minor NJ ntion.


tiuel reporter. with a -harpened Faber and
extra n textbook, b ard. j., M. and l.
train for the scsue II the third annual meet
ing of the old settlers of johnson County at
WhitelanG, fifteen miles s5u'h of this city. |
Upon reaching the village everything was in |
q state of c1mmotibn, indicating that real |
gala day was a. hand. After p-omis-
cuous hand shaking and the renewal OF
the fric ndships # b, gone years, the reporter
went to the woods of Amazon Bone, quar-
ter of a mile distant. where the crowd had
already begun 10 assemble. By 10 O'Clock
1900 persons were present and the crowd
was increased to 2 800 by the noon hour. The
stand was cOmmDdious and handsomely
decorated with eDgrsvings, notices and hoT-
ers, the display Of the latter being unusually
large and attractive. The Clarksburg Band
discoursed some excellent music during the
assembling of the crowd, and when the hour
for the exercises proper arrived the choir
sang an appropriate song The meeting WAS
called 10 order at IL O'Clock by Captain Fish
er, President of the Organization, AID Rev.
Wydmsn, OF Greenwood, led in prayer.
Judge ID. ID Bants of franklin, was ex-
pected to be present and deliver an Grafton
On the history of the County, but for some IN
explained reason be failed to appear. This
was q matter of sincere regret to goodly
number present, as the Judge is the author
of history of the County, and could add
materially to the interest of the occasion.
The opening prayer was followed by short
speech by Judge Finch, of Indianapolis, and
" n he nj
Wishald and John Brewer, both old settlers
and conversant with the history OK rye early
days" in the County. The meeting was ad-
iouTL ed few minutes before u, and the
baskets were brought out and the contents
spread for the benefit OF all present
| The ample preparation in this regard
evinced the well known hospitality of the
people OF the community. and there were
| some evidences of C intention among the cih-
| zens rs to who should have the pleasure of
entertaining the numerous guests present
1t is safe to say that ali had the opportunity
| of satisfying the demands Of the appetite.
! and the delicacies ext ed in such variety and
| profusion that even the m st fastidiOui cpl
cure conld find no cause for adverse critI-
| cism. Here and there over the eroQnn were
seated groups of young and Old, all ap-
! psTently enjoying the occasion that had
! called them together. The repsst being over,
! the crowd ives called sgain TO the speakers
| stand By music from the band and this was
follow ed by e choice selection by the choir
The first address in the afternoon was de-
| livered by Senator Harrison, who began .bg
| explaiDiT z that he had no idea that be would
be called upon for speech and had not
| come prepared for such an event. The Sen
| aior cor grstulat.d bis auditors upon the
cIediisble attendance, and especially the la
| dies who had e. ped the duties of home for
the pleasures of friendly communion. While
be bad no "reminiscences of early days him.
self 10 relate he expressed the opinion that
| meetiT %, such the one in prog
ress, were better of without speeches from
lawyers and politicians, and thought
so far as speechmaking is concerned, to the
older residents of the County and State.
He remarked that the only difference be-
| tween this and past times which struck
him with peculiar force, was the absence OF
snnboDnents from such large assemblage
of ladies. The Senator was followed by
Joseph McXingo, John Stiltz. Oliver Harbert,
Isaac Duckworth and Captain Fisher, all of
whom gave some "reminiscences of early life
in johnson County. They had borne the
heat and burden of the day, so TO speak, in
clesring ont the timber and preparing the
| now productive land for the plouehsh are.
seven trees in the effort to clear place for
his cabin, and that all of them, after being
chopped Of" bad remained upon the
siumps, the surrounding growth was so thick
that they could not fall TO the ground. They
were glad to see the prosperity, improvement
ana progress Of to-day and were sadly afraid
that their children would sink under the
load If called upon to pass through the half
that they had successfully combatted. In
those times men were harder, better deyel-
oped and could endure more than at present.
Fashion and frivoiity were unknown and
everybody was intent upon making living
and leaving 10 their posterity an honorable
name as we'll as competency.
The speakers excited good deal of merri-
ment by some of their descriptions and anec-
dotes, and were frequently spplauded by
their auditors. Rev. MIR. Wydman was the
last speaker, and be succeeded in entertain
ing The crowd in a very high degree. His
reference to the difference in sentiment con-
ceInipg the much-mooted organ in Church"
created no little amusement, especially
amoTg the 'Old settlers" many of whom
hsd no doubt opposed it's hrst introduction.
After the speaking was concluded the
President called upon all who had lived in
the County sixty years to hold uD their
heLds. Two responded. To the call
for those who had lived in tue
County fifty years nineteen re-
sponded, and twenty to the call for those who
had been residents over forty-five years.
There were no doubt many in the crowd who
would come under the latter, bat who, at the
time. were not within sound OF the Presi-
deri's voice.
and the people of Whiteland and vicinity
were warmly commended for the hospitality
so literally extended. /, was day that gave
the opportunity OF renewing many friend ships
and acquaintance and will long be held in
remembrance by those who participated in
its pleasures. The third reunion of the old
settlers of Johnson County is a thing of the
past but the emotions it awakened will live
in the minds of many, despite the vIcissi-
tudes OF coming years, and il it inspires the
young 10 emulate the energy. the determina-
lion, The self-sscrice and noble endeayor5 of
the pioneers. in whose honor il was called,
the Old Settlers meeting on yesterday was
! lot in vain.
NOTES.
An extra edition OF the Edinburg Courier
was printed for the occasion and distributed
gratuitously.
There were forty-one establishments on
the ground, all of which paid licenses to the
| Associatian.
p. o. Duncan, Superintendent of the
! WhitelaRd Public Schools. was prospecting
among his future patrons.
E. C. Wood has returned from Northern
! Michigan much improved in health and was
on the grounds yesterday.