The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-05
PICNIC OF THE PIONEERS.
The Annual Meeting Of the Old Settlers Held
at Broad Ripple Yesterday.

Over four thousand persons attended the old
settlers meeting held yesterday at Kerr's Grove,
near Broad Ripple. the young settlers outnum-
bering the old settlers-a rapidly disappearing
band by at least $780, The gathering was a
dressed. intelligent. and their appearance in
every way betokened easy thrift and happi-
ness. The attendance was chiefly drawn
from the country round about and
shows that Marion and Hamilton coun-
ties have agricultural communities that
do honor to them and to Indiana. The ground
was as thickly dotted with tents as a county
fair. There was no dearth Of temperance re-
freshments,. no end to peanut. popcorn and
candy stands, and all sorts Of games from
knife-ringing to the flying Dutchman. Owing
to misunderstanding, there were only about
twenty members of the Tippecanoe Club from
least fifty of those stanch old
Wings would have been present The
meeting was presided over by Squire Emsley
Wright, the first orator being ex-Coroner DR..
Wishard. The Doctor spoke briefly, telling q
number of anecdotes of Aud Lang Syne and
making humorous illusions to coon hunts log
raisings, fever and ague, "milksick" and other
pastimes of the pioneer. He showed time
stained paper, dated June 4, 1882, written by
Governor Noah Noble to Col John Wishard of
Johnson county. father of the orator, autnoriz-
ing him TO raise a company of mounted rifemen,
fifty in number, for service in the Blackhawk
war. The document wan passed around from
one pioneer to another and gazed upon with
much veneration.
Capt. Eli Ritter was the next speaker He
made an excellent address, describing the arrival
| Of the first wagon upon Indiana soil, and the
sturdy pioneers who came, bringing civilization
with them-Inen with axes, and guns and farm
| ing implements. They dragged the surveyors
chain over the soil, planted the eternal rocks at
| the section corners, and opened out the patches
where the sun shone in. There came upon the
soil of Indiana, the speaker said, as sturdy a
race of men the world ever knew. No State
| in the Union has done better in the progress of
civilization.
The oldest man upon the ground was Judge
Jonathan Colburn, of Noblesville, who is eighty
seven years and six months old Brief speeches
were made by Silas White, aged eighty one
years. aid number Of other old settlers. The
visitors were handsomely entertained by the
resident farmers, Jacob Whitesell acting as mas
ter Of ceremonies The Carmel band enlivsned
the occasion by musical selections, aud a number
of young ladies sung
While the meeting going on at Kerr's
woods the ruder element found entertainment
at Broad Ripple, where dozen land pirates from
anuiahapoHs openeu up SKIN games Oh various
kinds, including chuck and thmble rig,
the little joker, game of which certainly ev-
| erybody has heard, actually having as victims
more than ascore Of bearded men. The local con-
| stable came down upon the sharpers and told
| them they would have to quit. whereupon, like
| the Arab, they smilngy folded up their sweat
| cloths, and when the unsophstcated officer of
the law departed, opened up again. Broad Rip
pie has had many tough crowds recently. but GER
| tanly nothing to excel in rascaity the harpies
who hung upon the outer edge of the Old Set
tiers picnic yesterday.