The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-06-10

The 18th annual meeting OF the Van
Buren, County Pioneer Association was
held at Hartford, on Wednesday last
A slight rain made it necessary To &C.
cupy the Academy of Music for the
morning session.
Promptly mt 1890, President j j.
WOodman called the meeting To order
and requested the Lawrence band,
which, by its open air playing. had al
ready gathered "A large crowd OF peo-
Pile, To open the session with a piece OF
instrumental music. Prayer was offer
ell 10y Rev. G.. b. Kendall of Hartford,
after which the minutes of the last an.
nual meeting were read and approved
After another piece OF music by the
band, came the reports from fifteen OF
the townships of the county, showing the
death of about 100 of the old pioneers
during the Year and thirty additions To
the membership OF the society. Quite
number of new names were handed
in during the day, but just how many
was not reported. The report of the
treasurer showed Sl7 43 on hand, gain
of 81 so during the year.
The election resulted in the choosing
of all the old officers of the society, eX-
cept that p. p Skies of Keller was
elected as the successor OF bis brother
O. Nj. Skies, deceased. This concluded
the business of the morning and after
another piece of instrumental music an
adjournment was taken until after din
ner Many from abroad brought their
baskets with them, but ample dining
facilities were provided for all who de-
sired to avail themselves of them.
The afternoon session was opened in
Dir. Palmer's orchard, a very pleasant
place, with music 10y the band, followed
with prayer by Rev j ii Reese of Bangor
and music by the Hartford glee club.
Next came the address of welcome By
the president of the village, Edward
Finley, Esq, who called special atten.
tion to the changes wrought during
his forty-two years of pioneer expert
ence. This was responded To by Presi-
dent Woodman, and as the association
had been disappointed in procuring the
attendance OF a speaker from abroad,
Mr.. Woodman extended his remarks
into an interesting and appropriate al.
dress.
The "History of Hartford" was then
given 10y G. ii. Engle, Esq, in very
interesting paper which closed with
reference To the advanced position
this county has always occupied on all
great moral questions, and especially
on the temperance ques ton.
After recitation by Miss Mabel Bar
ringtOn, five minute speeches were in
order. Freeman Ruggles sang James
Bird" IA song of the war of 1912. .. w.
Rowland criticized the way the meet
ing was advertised, saying that it was
the annual meeting OF the Van buren,
County Pioneer Association" and not
an "Old Peoples Picnic. Uncle Sam
my Reynolds told of his fight with IA
wild hog in the early days. Luther
Sutton spoke of pioneer days and pre-
sented the society with the initial mum
Der of "The Hope of Israel" the first
paper published in Hartford. Miss
Eva Sherburne sang "A solo.
Hon. S. IL. Blackman spoke of
some of his early experiences in
surveying for railroads, etc. The
band gave another piece of music, the
rain began to fall and an adjournment
was taken to- the Academy of Music.
The glee club sang another selection
and Miss Marie Spaulding gave rec.
itation. Secretary Bates told story
of wild cat times aud stealing Indiana
money AT discount Jonathan How.
ard read "A poem entitled My Eighty
Years" Rev. Bruce, who came here in
1926, gave a brief address. Leroy
Vorce sang solo entitled "Revolu.
ton. Harrison Branch of Coloma re.
lated some of his experiences, going
back to 1885 Miles Haynes and Mrs
Lottie Warner both came here in 1886
Mrs. Brodhead, IA teacher in an eastern
city, came here in 1866 and engaged in
the same occupation, but found re.
markable contrast in methods. Jennie
Ray gave recitation, after which Hons
A. b. Copley and g. ID. Lawton each
spoke of the good old times and what
we have lost, especially the grand old
forests which are now practically gone
On the request of the citizens OF
Gobleville, presented by j. &. McFel
! lin, the next meeting of the association
will be held in that place. After some
remarks by j. Elliott Sweet and the
expression of thanks To the citizens OF
Hartford for their thorough prepare
tons for the meeting, the association
adjourned with another piece of music
by the band. thus closing one of tn,
most interesting and successful meet
ings in the history of the organization