Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1895-08-16
OLD SETTLERS PICNIC.

1
A Large Crowd in Attendance-Capt.
Vim. Heryford the Oldest Native
and Thos. Abrams the Oldest
Man on the Grounds
To Meetat KeytesVile
Next Year.
We very much regret we have not
got the space to devote to a detailed
account OF the old settlers picnic,
held at Brunswick, last Saturday,
August 10th, for it was q day long
to be remembered for it's old-time So
cial pleasures and unrestrained en-
ioyment.
The picnic was held at the old
camp-ground on the hill-a place so
well suited to such an occasion.
The members of the Old Settlers
association, who were present, were
called to order by President j. A.
Merchant, of Brunswick, about IL
o'clock.
First on the program was the sing
ing of the doxology. with Mrs. Pit
man Price at the organ, followed by
a most appropriate and earnest in
vocation by Rev. P. N. Sears, of
Prairie Hill.
Next came the singing of "The
Star Spangled Banner" followed by
the report OF Secretary Hammond in
which, among other things, the sad
intelligence was conveyed that five
members of the association had
crossed over the dark river in the
past year, viz: DR.. John F. Cunning
ham, of Brunswick, Mr.. E. Corby, OF
Brunswick. Henry III. Davis, of near
Brunswick, Mrs. Milton 7. Jackson,
of near Brunswick, and l.. W. Shan
non, of near Triplett. A commit
tee was appointed, composed of C..
Hammond, Rev. p. NJ. Sears andrCapt.
VIM. Heryford to prepare suitable
resolutions on the death of these
beloved members of the association.
! President Merchant next an
nounced the presence OF Sterling
Price Ashby, familiarly known as
"Stump" Ashby, and who was in
vited to come forward and make a
speech.
On stepping to the front of the ros-
trum the speaker was greeted with a
hearty round of applause. Mr.. Ash
by is a grandson of Major Dan'l
Ashby, one OF Charlton county's
most widely known pioneer settlers,
and a son of Ben Ashby, who once
lived on the "Bluffs," some four
miles west of Keytesville, and also
in the Forks OF Charlton. The
speaker, however, has lived in Texas
for the past 81 years, and the worst
thing We have heard about him is
that he is now chairman of the
Populist State central committee in
the Lone Star state. But his speech
last Friday was on other topics than
that OF Populism, and proved him to
be an orator of high order. The
glowing tribute he paid to the
pioneer settlers, of Charlton county
made us all feel proud of our noble
ancestors, who carved out of the for
est the beautiful homes and pleasant
surroundings We now enjoy. Th'
vensration Mr.. Ashby expressed fol-
our forefathers made US feel NOR,
patriotic than ever before.
At the close of Mr.. Ashby's speech
, with which everybody was delighted
. President Merchant announced al
adjournment of one hour for dinner
of which there was q bountiful sup
ply on the ground-in fact. enough
> to have fed twice the number of tn,
: /, 500 peopls who were there.
On reassembling alter dinner som
two hours aud a half were spent, il
speech-making and music, both vo
cal and instrumental.
Speeches were made by Messrs
: Capt. VIM. Heryford, James L. Ap
D plegate, J. C. Crswley, j. Weller lon,
and DIR. X. Ill. Cabbell, all of whicl
were well received except that of Nj
Long, OF Kirksville, who evince'
bad taste in delivering a speecl