The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-20
CLAY COUNTYS OLD SETTLERS.
Eighth Annual Reunion at Bowling Green
Synopsis of Mr.. E. L. Keith's Address.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

| Special to the indianapolis Journal
BRAZIL, Ind. Sept The old settlers of
Clay county held their eighth annual reunion at
Bowling Green to-day The attendance was
large and the "reminiscences interesting and
numerous. Bowling Green was the original
county-seat and most of the early history of the
county centers there. This was among the most
interesting of all the reunions The principal
address at the meeting was delivered by Mr.. r.
L. Keith. a synopsis of which is as follows:
at has only been few years since Clay
county was the by word Of all Indiana 1t was
| called the 'Ague District the 'Hog-stealing
| County the 'Swamps of Eel River South, and
the Cold, Wet. Poor Land Of the North All
this comprised our reputation as a county few
years ago. Such the reputation of our
county q long time ago. that people who went to
other places were ashamed to register their
| names at a hotel as from Clay county. but would
write after their names. Indiana. Not so now.
Things have changed What has done it, What
has brought about all this developments We
are we'll and favorably known all over the United
States, as the great coal field of Indiana.
IA new era has dawned upon US. We find
! the government model of beauty, strength and
glory. Broad acres bare their fertile bosoms to
the generous sunshine, where once the red men
and wild boasts were won't to roam. Bounteous
harvests now repay the sons of toll And what
is the history of the development of this won
derful country is the history of the grand old
county of Clay. 1t, too, has rapidly developed
from primitive state of barrenness to the proud
fields of blooming prosperity. Not only upon it's
surface yielding bounteous supplies for its peo-
pie of the very best that grows out of the EARTH
but also it is undertake with richer store than all
else we possess. Our coal, which has become
the great product of the country, the quality
and quantity of, no county in Indiana can equal
| or surpass Our coal is sought and preferred in
bat 80 CHI al nth
| our double resources, should we not be proud of
old Clay county,
''With our great agricultural resources boun-
teously supporting the great army of men en-
ployed in mining our coal Wonderful country!
is the remark heard everywhere. And permit
me to say to you that this is strange and pc
culiar coincidence. All through the coal fields
of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia crops
no great fields of corn, wheat and grass can
grow. as they do with US at home, here in this
grand old banner county of ours.
"Why all this? First we are blest with great
oped our county. Truly. we live in a grand age
of development and progress. And we are
proud to say that we are not following, but in
all our movements we are leading.
Compare, if you please, our present facilities
| OF travel and marketing our products to those or
a few years ago: also, the old and time honored
| fat-boat route down Eel river under Captains
Ecret and Melton (which no small thing in
its day), to the present system of railroads COW
| ering nearly all of Clay county making access to
any market of the county easy to US, afford
| ing us a good market for everything above
| and beneath the ground at cash value. 1t is
not the bartering class of trade that fathers
| had TO content themselves with when they sold
their products low and took in return salt. leath-
| or and iron and other necessities which they
were compelled to have. even at high price.
No, in this grand age Of rapid progress and de
velopment we can fnd man at our side who is
AND h,1vy
thing that we have at its cash value.
NOW, people of Clay county, have we not
much to be proud off The development OF our
county began away back in its early history.
Slowly but surely, swung the maui and of
the pioneers in this county, and day after day
they toiled with patience and perseverance
known only to men of that age. And they never
tired Many of them did not live to see the day
of harvest and rest, yet they had great faith in
the future of this county.
Louis Rowe Frank Yocum, John B. Neese
and others, proclaimed in the legislative halls of
Indiana that Clay county the richest
county in the State, and would in time perhaps
| long after their day, be the greatest county in
| this great and good State of Indiana. They, in
| their very limited Visions saw the rich develop
ment of Clay county, which we see and enjoy
| to-day. And as they predicted we, the next
generation, reaping the fruits Of their abors.
and we are living in the full realization of the
high ambitions of this once vast wilderness, now
| a blooming field of development We owe to
| God and the first brave settlers of Clay county
| all that we have, and all that are today.
| II call to mind only few of the names of the
men who marched in the ranks of the early set
| tiers of this county: Col John B. Neese, Uriah
| Wilkinson, Henry Tapy. Darlington Boyce, Jas.
| P. Thomas, Thompson Booth, Daniel Fender,
James Kendle. George Rhodes Nelson Markle,
Harrison Gordon Franklin Tenney Israel Buel,
| r. NJ. Wingate, James Black. Lloyd B. Harris.
| Elisha Adamson, Samuel Miles George Pinkey
and, with the assistance of those whose memory
| could add score or more to this already long
| list of the men who have borne the burden and
| heat of the day when the reward of their labors
looked to be very far in the future, yet, with the
| iron will which such men seemed to be endowed
| with, they steadily maintained their onward
march through the wilderness almost into the
| Promised Land
| "Many of the old landmarks of this county are
| growing dim-the old Thomas ferry, the canal,
| fiat boat feeder dam. horse mills and cardiug
| machines that were, in their day. the life and
day-spring of the industries of this county. But
| they have all ceased and grown still, like many
! of those who operated them and gave them life
| and existence in the long ago."