Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-06-24


Dumpiuns big feliers head.
Honey n old salt risin bread"
the society numbers 900, nominally
200, for the WIVES are counted honor.
ary members and they always attend
every reunion and picnic. Tables were
set under the cover OF the pavilion and
tue noon hour was particularly happy,
for il was the time when many old
friends met fo- tho first time within
the year. II almost seemed - though
they would
Shake my hand on there and then.
Blame sight hardern shnckun corn.
Biggest time sence be "A born.
How the Old Timers Came.
The early part of the day was marked
by the presence Of the genuine old
settler many old timers from the coun-
try being on hand with wife and grown
up children. The younger element of
the city residents appeared in the after
noon.
When the dinner had been des-
patched and the cups ana plates care
fully slowed away IN the capacious
lunch baskets everybody went IN for
| good time.
-wusht ye could q seen them folks
Hoppun roun' an cracker jokes"
l
the occasion. An old settlers picnic
without Aunt Jane would be ''stale.
| fiat aud unprofitabIe." She has always
led IN the dance, for Aunt Jane 10 full
of pranks; but yesterday there was no
| dance, 90 she graced the 0ccaaion by
executing . pigeons wing on the
veranda floor, while coyly turning her
attention from one admirer to another.
Venerable Albert Baxter came down
from N uskegon to enjoy the festivities
and 3. ID. Gilbert appeared with snow
White rose in his button hole. Mr.. and
| MRS. Henry Irish of the New Livingston
were greeting old time friends, for
they are among the Oldest
residents of Iona county. Mr..
Irish having moved into the
county with mis- father IN '36. g. q.
Stone and wife of Lowell; Mr.. Willard
of Walker township; w. n. Cook, wife
and daughter, Miss Lille; Chauncey
Reiton, an old resident from Big Rap
ids, were there to enjoy themselves as
were also many Others. John Porter,
one of the oldest residents, John 5.
Davis, who represents one of the oldest
families, DIR. and Mrs. ]. c. Buchanan,
Allan Durfee, s. S. Buck. f. q. Hill,
Orson Kellogg. L. D. Putnam, w. r.
Cady, John G. Scott, f. &. Phillips,
James Fisher, s. 8. Bailey. +. N. Knapp,
N. T. Avery, w. d. Toiford. +. O..
Stevens, Geo. II. Baker and Judge Nor
rlson were all there, most Of them with
their wives.
Aunt Hattie Burton Was There,
Aunt Hattie Burton was the center
of an sdmiriug throng as usual. She
was 81 years old yesterday. The day
vas also the anniversary of her arrival
in this city, which occurred fifty-nine
years ago. Another Old settler present
was Robert Barre. who married Aunt
Hattie's sister years ago. He is 7e
years old, ''go,ng on So" After gen.
eral handwriting and the exchange oil
friendly remarks the assemblage gath
cred about the north side Of the pavil
ion, where the speaking took place.
In the absence Of the president. DR.
Charles Shepard, Col. p. v. Fox, the
first vice president, acted as chairman.
Other officers of the association present
were Second Vice President James A
Rumsey, Secretary Reuben IL. Smith
and w. n. Cook, marshal OF the day
Exercises were held On the piazza oil
the pavilion at 2 o'clock and Colonel
Fox opened the program with congfat
ulatory words for the success Of the
picnic.
A quartet composed of Mesdames D.
B. Shedd and T. r. Patten and Messre
George ID. Hcrrick and L. Z. Eddy led
in singing america" the grand sone
being echoed with spirit By hundred,
of voices. Prayer followed by the Rev
WV. johnson. who invoked the divine
blessing with eloquent aud appropriate
words.
At the conclusion Of the prayer the
Rev. X. G. Crawford read an origna
poem which he announced rs hayinS
been ground out with the aid of q
gr.ndstone. The poem was of a higi
order If merit and was loudly applaud
ed. 1.-The River of Time was besui
fully sung by the quartet. The cons
is dedicated 70 DR.. u. ". Bliss of Wash
Ington, brother of Mrs. j. c. Wenhsm
of this city. and attending physician II
President Garfield during bis last III
ness. Twenty-seven years ago Mrs
shedd learned the song and Gang it a.
an entertainment here.
Then the orator of the day, the Hon
T.. d. q. Holden, addressed the peopl<
and after few introd uctory remark
he said:
Mr.. Belaees Address
| Several years ago | had the oppor
tunity to visit the old town IN Iliinon
where / attended the academy IN M
boyhood. | met an old friend and
she invited me 10 attend q Sanda,
school festivals Christmas tree. II
the old days had sst in an oid pev
which was yet occupied by the lad.
S,th whom | wss visiting. AZ we ss
there wondered who there was In Cd,
Old church that | used 20 know. To
: lady who had en&rge Of the tree ssa
ore essxef OF popcorn. saa was al
right. The NEXT Day ! VISITED TIE OF
graveyard. and then | could see VIA
Dad become Of the people | had knewl
tauty three years t<foSe. Where sr
: Ne pioneers tfat came ~ THIS stat
; when u wss sasd that Nothing could h
! RACED in NseaRaa esceps fever an
asa~ IN sstsa eAanks7 Many Of then
are lying N the graveyard. Bat no,
. ~e have sovtety N thls valley. Ard !