The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1899-06-21
THE PIONEERS.
INTERESTING MEETING OF THE COUNTY
ASSOCIATION LAST WEDNESDAY.

Wednesday, June IA, opened with rain,
but soon after eight o'clock it began to
clear and the pioneers of the county be-
gan to gather for their Doth annual meet
ing.
At ten a. M, the Paw Paw Cornet band
OF seventeen pieces rendered few selec-
tions in the court house yard and then
marched to the rink, where President j.
j. Woodman called the meeting to order.
After another selection by the band, the
president called on Rev. VIM. Rice of
Kalamazoo to invoke the divine blessing
After another selection by the band, the
secretary read the minutes of the last
meeting. Nine of the eighteen vice.
presidents reported 78 deaths and 26
new members.
At this time the president called Vice
President II. III. Howard to the chair and
with the band and others went to the
depot to meet the orator of the day.
While waiting for the friends from the
trains, A. III. Drake sang pioneer song
composed by the first white girl born in
the state outside of Detroit
The speaker, band and friends from
the west part of the county having ar
rived, the treasurer read the following
report: Cash on hand one year ago,
S23.2S; received during year, 800; ex-
penses S10.82; balance on hand, Sl9.46.
All of the old officers were reelected ex-
cept that Arba n. Moulton of Decatur
was elected as vice president instead of
VIM. K. Van Hise, and Arthur Hayden
of Hamilton in place of Erastus Osborn.
After another selection by the band, ad-
iournment was had for dinner
At 1:2O p. No., the band played "We
Shall Meet but We Shall Miss Thee"
and Rev. E. III. Harvey offered prayer.
The president of the village, L. j. Cav
anaugh extended most hearty welcome,
paying glowing tribute to the original
pioneers. In the absence of Hon. G.. j.
Monroe, Hon. Milan Virgins responded.
A male quartette composed of DR.. w. F.
Hoyt, Bruce and Clyde Cummings and
Ralph Jennings sang "The Old Folks at
Home"
The president had called to the plat
form all persons over eighty years of age,
and now called on all over ninety years
to arise, and the following responded:
Gen. L. A. Granger, Mr.. Reuben Harvey,
Mr.. Geo. Carr and Mrs. Smith.
Rev. Anna Barton showed that she
had not lost all her poetic genius by
reading fine original poem. The his
tory of Paw Paw was read by David
Woodman, and will be printed and kept
on file.
The president then introduced ExGov.
Cyrus G. Luce, who spoke for an hour.
The governor looked feeble, but spoke
with much of his old time vigor confin-
ing himself strictly to pioneer life
After a stirring piece of music by the
band, Mrs J. j. Woodman gave Cheer
ing words to those who wear the silver
crown of years" This paper was full of
fun and pathos and good, sound sense.
Then followed a song by the quartette.
Hon. G. ID. Lawton then read a paper,
From the log school house of the pion-
eers to the high school and university of
their descendants"
Then followed a song by the quartette
and a fine recitation by Miss Viola Mon
roe.
Five minute speeches were made by
w. II. Hulburt, who spoke of the navi
cation of the Paw Paw river; G.. G. Lud-
wig, who told how he got his diploma,
and John Cook who told little of his
early experience.
A. Lynn Free made few brief patriot
ic remarks and then recited 1.-The Ameri-
can Flag
An invitation from Lawrence to hold
the next meeting at that place having
been unanimously accepted, the meeting
adjourned.