The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1889-10-17
THE OLD SETTLERS REUNION AND
BANQUET.

II was 9 lovely autumn day on,
week ago when the old settlers asso.
citation OF Saline county met In the
beautiful Oak Dale park TO held
their first reunion and banquet
Nearly one thousand persons were
on the grounds, showing the general
lshterest manifested.
The loayes and fishes seemed
abundant enough at the banquet TO
feed twice the number who partOok
Of them In the happy way peculiar
TO people who had struggled long
years ago with hardships and were
now 30 situated ~ TO enjoy the
present and its advantages-advan-
Iages which they had 80 much 10 do
to bring about. IL was grand feast
that will be long and piessureably
remembered by the participants.
When the repast was finished the
crowds assembled under the trees
where n platform had been erected.
From this stage Col. Phillips, presi-
dent Of the association since Its
organization last month, stated the
purpose OF the assemblage, after
which he related some OF the trials
and Incidents In the early settlement
81 Saline county. His address was
to the point and well received.
Then the election Of offers for the
ensuing year was held resulting rs
follows:
President-O. p. Hamilton.
Secretary-John ID. Hamilton.
Nice-presidents-M. 8. Price,
Salina; J. 3. Bean, Elm Creek; John
Alley, Cambria; Robt. Muir, Smoky
Hill; A. 5. Hall, Washington; Thos.
Readen, Dayton; Maxwell Phillips,
Walnut; John D. Bean, Ohio; Geo.
Snyder, Greeley; OIoT Forsse,
Falun; John Umbarger, Pleasant
Valley; Rich. Spencer. Gypsum;
Sam. ParsOn, Spring Greek; Alex.
MePhail, Liberty; ID. MarkIu,
Eureka, David Reese, Solomon; A.
X. Pierce, SmOlan; f. A. Sawyer,
summit.
US Senator p. b. Plumb, the
orator Of the occasion, was then in
trodueed by his friend, Col. WIN. A.
Phillips, and held his audience for
fully on hour In wrapt attention. He
spoke without notes or apparent
preparation, but Il was q model talk,
suited to the occasion and his audi
ence. He disclaimed the imputation
Of Oratory but his diction, bis style
could scarcely have been improved.
IL was just about now within five
days, he said, when in 1855 he with
Q number OF companions, all young
men, himself 10 years OF age, settled
on the west side Of the Saline river,
three miles east Of SullnA, were they
proceeded to build the town Of
The first building con-
atrueted was q hewn log house, IS by
"a, and preparations were begun for
others. They kept themselves busy
scouting aud doing other needed
work from that middle October till
about the frat Of the following jan
uary, when he with one or two Of bis
men struck out for the base ofsupplies
at Lawrence, and worked that win
ter In the Herald Of Freedom, and
In the spring Joined . new company
and they went down and organized
the town Of Emporla In the Neosho
valley.
Senator Plumb was followed In
five minutes addresses by Hon. A.
p. Collins and Judge q. p. Hsmil-
ton.
The meeting closed with music by
the band, aud the feeling with one
and all that 10 had been q most inter-
esting occasion.
The JOURNAL closes with the
fervent hope that the speakers. the
officers Of the association, the men,
beers and all the other old settlers
may live to see many another day Of
reunion and banquetiug, that the
memory Of the past may be kept
green and fresh.
An Interesting fact in conuecti, n
with the reunion we find sucelnctly
related In the Herald Of last week:
In 1880 the citizens Of the then vii
lage OF Sallna erected Q flag pole In
the center Of the square formed By
the crossing Of Santa Fe and Iron
avenues. In 1883 the first u. 8. Gag
was flung to the breeze that was
ever raised In Sslina. Time PASSED
on and the old flag pole was cut
down, and finally, when the water
pipes were laid for the water works.
the old stump Of the flag pole ives
taken up and removed 10 the yard Of
X. II. Bishop. II was in . perfect
state OF preservation, and when the
old settlers association organised
few weeks ago, Mr.. John Daum took
q piece Of the old stump and turned
out Of IL q very nice gavel. Mr.. G.
Y. Fleck has put In silver letters and
figures the years ls83-lSs9, and the
letters o. 3. A. on the front of the
gnvel. IL was presented to the
presiding officer Of the association
: yesterday, which event formed
part Of the proceedings Of the reun-
lon. The gAvel IL q very pretty
piece Of workmanship, and reflects
credit upon the sklIl Of Messrs.
Flick and Daum.