The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-02-23
THE PIONEERS MEET.
Papers Read and "reminiscences Told at
Corunna Yesterday.

The annual February meeting of the
Shiawassee Pioneers was called to order
by president j. M. Fitch at the First M
Z. church, Corunna, Yesterday morning
at 1890 o'clock with about one hundres
twenty members and visitors present
After the election of officers for the
coming year the meeting was adjourned
for dinner which had been prepared il
the church parlors by the ladies of the
church.
The afternoon session was opened
with solo by j. M. Fitch. A full re-
port of the August meeting was then
read by the secretary, Mrs. A. H. Par
kill, who also read a we'll prepared trib
ute to the memory of Mrs. j. w.
Dewey, of Bennington, who died Feb.
90, 1899 and of Mr.. and Mrs. E. Sails.
bury, of >Owosso, all of whom were
among the earliest settlers of Shiawassee
county. These papers were unusually
interesting to all present because nearly
every one had been personally acquaint-
ed with the deceased members of the
association. Mrs Parkill then in very
pleasing way reprimanded the pioneers
present for neglecting to prepare me-
MORALS on members who have been
called beyond. President Fitch gave
his opinion on this subject saying that
in days gone by there had been a COM
mittee appointed each year to see that
deceased members receive proper obit-
uary to be read at the first meeting
following the death of such members
and that in his opinion such CON-
mitee should be appointed. This
brought out a warm discussion and as
the result Mr.. Owen was appointed
historian. The members of the society
were then urged to send obituaries to
Mr.. Owen and he in turn would make a
record of them. Then Mr.. Fitch ex-
tended an invitation to all present who
were not members to come up and join
the society. He impressed upon the
minds of the members the necessity of
united effort to gain new members
during the coming year and in this way
perpetuate the society
Turning now to the more strictly liter
cry program, well prepared paper on
"Reminiscences of the girls and boys
Of Shiawassee" was read by Mrs. Albert
Fodd. 1t was unique in many respects,
the writer receiving many deserved com.
pliments for her novel way OF treating
the subject. She said she was one of
the oldest pioneers tho she had not
killed Indians nor bears. She had how
ever often seen them from her window.
She then told of the fancies of her youth,
not much different from those of the
youth of today, yet told in such pleas
ing manner that the closest attention of
ali present was held. 1t was truly iv-
ing she thought, when she knew
every one residing near her, when in
the place of the paved streets of Owosso
nothing but natures growth could be
seen, when trade could be carried on
with Indians, and when about the only
occupation for men was hunting. Mrs.
Todd then mentioned incidents promi-
nent in the memory of every pioneer
present, of the Williams, Chipmans,
Goulds, Stewards and others who came
early into the history of Shiawassee
county, and incidentally looked into the
future of the county and wondered what
would become of the rapidly diminish
ing Shiawassee river which was once
such an important factor in the develop
ment of the surrounding country.
Mrs. Shouts, of Corunna, also one of
the pioneers of the county then read a
tribute to her pioneer mother who has
been dead some time. The paper was
very good and contained many remi'
niscences of pioneer life when Michigan
was still territory. The speaker had
been resident of Shiawassee county
sixty-four years. At the close of the
paper Mrs Shouts gave very timely
JTlUuto w plOuoolo Ill Souoidi duu uiScu
the younger members present to ever
respect the wishes and whims of the
old pioneer.
At this point the order of the
meeting was changed and few i'm.
promptu speeches were called for. Mr..
Owen said he had not intended to speak
but he was so full of stories that he
could not decline. Mr.. Owen is very
witty and pleasing speaker. He spoke OF
honesty and of the laws of the present
and past.
Judge Turner was next called upon
but as he said he had not prepared a
speech he responded by giving five
minute talk on early pioneer life as a
lawyer" Rev. G. II. Hanks, of Owosso,
when called upon said that when he
thot of the pioneer he thot of him as
having three characteristics; intense
desire to do the will of God; belief that
- iii a. lad In, tho HoIv g p;r;t.