The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-10
NO GOVERNOR CANE
OLD SETTLERS AT BROAD RIPPLE
SURPRISED AT MIR. MATTHEW'S.
He Didn't Even Send Regrets
Speeches by Mayor Denny and
Others-The Prizes.

The ears Of Claude Matthews, farmer
Governor of Indiana, must have tingled
yesterday afternoon, for the old settlers
of Marion and adjacent counties were talk
ing about his failure to appear and talk
to them upon the second day of their re-
union. The committee said Mr.. Matthews
was given a cordial invitation to be pres
ent, and it was understood that he was to
come yesterday. The committee received
no word indicating why he did not come.
Many of the old settlers have listened to
nearly all of the Governors OF the State.
and there was a desire to hear Mr.. Mat
thews. Those who were disappointed ex-
pressed a hope that Mr.. Matthews would
appear to-day. and should he fail to he
need expect nothing from the old settlers
but cold thoughts.
IF Mr.. Matthews don't come to our
meeting" said one OF the oldest of the
settlers last evening, 'he need not ex-
pect a single old settler TO vote for him,
and he might as we'll knock of that word
farmer from his title. Seems to me that
a man in his position might have done as
much as send some word when he was in
vited to be present.
There was some little talk about Mr..
Matthews's failure to appear or TO send
regrets. Yesterday he was at Dana, and it
was said that he will endeavor to be pres
ent to-day. .
There were more people at yesterdays
reunion and a better time was had than
on Thursday. A brass band from Fishers
furnished the music Of the day, and nc
criticism was offered because some OF the
players beat the others out at the end
of the selections. The exercises at the
stand began promptly at 10 o'clock, some
of those present having been in their
places two or three hours. Rev. L. G.
Butterfeld asked divine blessing upon the
aged people and their children gathered
there, and he followed it with a short talk.
Father Dayton, OF Fishers, then gave a
short talk upon the past and present.
Mr.. Dayton is yet a comparatively young
man, and after telling Of some of the hard
ships of the pioneer days he dweit upon
Mr. Dayton was somewhat optimistic, but
the old settlers listened, much interested,
to what he said. only they nodded their
could not be beat:
Mrs. Elizabeth Swain. being eighty-three
years OF age. was given the prize for the
Oldest lady on the grounds. Mrs. Nancy
Reynolds. ffty-eight years of age, was
granted the prize for the woman over
nifty with the fewest gray hairs. The
occasional gray hair on Mrs. Reynolds's
head. Ex-County Commissioner John Smith
was decided to be the best-looking man on
captured the $40 offered for the quickest
clinabing or the creased pole.
The water drinking contest was one OF in
Morrison and Worth Conklin. Mr.. Morrison
won at three quarts and there was some
speculation how he could possibly hold SO
much. Conklin choked when he tackled the
third quart. Miss Annie l.. Dynes COM
peted with several others in the drinking
contest for women. She won at a pint and
a half. Misses Milfred Lucas and Flossie
Smith won prizes for the best Rotations.
Thee was a $40 prize offered for the woman
with the largest family. who earns a living
seven children. won the prize.
The hitching contest for young women
was one Of the hardest fought contests of
Seibert .hitched'' their horses in a minute
nearly a tie. Miss seibert finished first,
twisted, while the rules for all fast hitch
ing contests say the harness shall be on
properly. There was another race and Miss
Styer finished first, a second ahead OF Miss
Seibert. Such an exhibition delighted the
old settlers and the young women were
Mayor Denny and Mrs. Josephine r.
Nichols gave short speeches, speaking kind
ly of the work of the pioneers. When Mr..
Denny began to speak, a man in the audi.
of the woods. While the Mayor was talk
ing this man sat on a stump and whistled
a tune OF long ago and as the last sound
of applause died out, he returned to the
crowd. This same man was a passenger on
a trailer an hour or so later. Mr.. Denny
was on the motor car. The man with a
CLEAN in his eye sat and looked at the
corn along the way, occasionally casting a
glance toward the motor car. 1T was Cal
Darnell, and he said it was the saddest
day ne has ever spent at an old settlers
reunion. He said he attended upon invita-
ton and did not suppose he and Mr.. Denny
would be asked to attend upon the same
day.
To-day closes the reunion, a number OF
events being down on the programme. The
old settlers say they never had such e
pleasant reunion.