The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-08-16
OLD SETTLERS REUNION.


The old settlers annual picnic, held near
Clermont yesterday, was attended by be-
tween 5000 and 4.C00 people. Whole fami-
lies, some including four generations. were
present, and the day passed off in a most
pleasant and profitable way. The grove is
situated in Wayne township. near the
Hendricks county line, and is ,abundantly
watered by the Big and Little Eagle creeks.
The programme was not q very extensive
one, a large portion of the time being spent
in a general good time. Music was fur
nished by the Boys Band. of louisville,
which met with unlimited favor. In the
morning Capt. Eli L. Ritter and
County Clerk John X. Wilson delivered
brief addresses appropriate to the occasion,
MIR. Wilson, IN his remarks, contrasted the
condition of Indiana in 1920 with its pres
emit advanced position in the Union, re-
ferring especially to that portion from
which his audience had gathered. To-day.
of schooi-houses, churches, railroads aud
faetorl fs a Mhlsh then t Mere a not tS 6e d9nn TO
the pioneers he paid a high compliment to
their courage and perseverance:
said, these noble men and women, self
reliant and trustful. who commenced the
fight which ended in victory, and the fruits
of which we now enjoy. All honor to them,
for they acted well their part. We should
entertain heartfelt gratitude to the old
settlers, for we are today enjoying in its
plenitude the full benefit of their hard
labOrs. We do honor them. And let me
say to the younger men and m who
have their faces set toward the future, with
hearts beating high with the exuberance of
hOpe-let me say to such hat no man will
act wisely in the future who is unwilling
TO look back to the past II take counsel
of his elders: no man will honor his de-
%scendants who is deficient in honor for his
ancestors. The annals of the earliest set
tiers have never been written, nor can they
ever be. We have n leaf or two torn from
the book of their fate, and we decipher it
as best we can. We have the traditions and
the memories of these men, but how little
of the true picture of the real life, as they
lived and acted 1T, can ever be knOwn!
There were many embarrassments and
hardships," continued the speaker, "beset-
ting our forefathers which we Will never
learn fully to appreciate, and one | will
mention as it occurs to me. There was then
no one authorized to issue marriage licenses
to young lovers. They had to go to Con-
nersville to procure such authority. How
depressing it must have been. Think of
travelling sixty miles for a marriage license!
l am afraid that the roll of bachelOrhoOd in
Marion and Hendricks counties would be
swelled to a degree that would be appalling
if such were the case now. L may also be
permitted, up0n this occasion. to remember
the great historic fact that just 100 years
ago the government of the United States
was organized under the present COnstitu-
ton, and that this is the centennial year of
the inauguration of Washington as our first
President. What were the feelings of those
pioneers in constitutional governments A
century ago the devOtees of freedom
launched upOn the river of destiny the
lighted lamp of constitutional government,
and they lived TO see it burn brightly as it
drifted down the current of the years.
And those fathers felt as they wrapped the
drapeTy of their couch about them and laid
themselves down to sleep the sleep that
knows no waking that their work had the
blessing of the great Father of all bless
lngs..
"When / speak of the pioneers of this
community" said Mr.. Wilson,. in clos
ing, Il mean of course. to include
the brave women, for their part
was harder to bear. possibly, than
that of the men. The men had
sources of amusement which they had
not. They could fish, and hunt. and trap,
but the women had naught but household
fathers, husbands, lovers. brothers. Let
us hope hat in the work which is in the
future we MAJ acquit ourselves with the
distinguished credit that marked the In.
bors Of our forefathers, for these times and
those ahead of us are full of perils."
After dinner speeches were made by Rev.
Nathaniel Gosset, of Hendricks county;
Daniels aud others. Ii was decided tC
change the place Of meeting for next year
but the exact locality was not decided
upon. 1t will not, however, be removed
any great distance from the site of yester,
day.