The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-20
WAYNE COUNTY PEOPLE
A HAPPY REUNION AT SYLVESTER
JoHNsoN's HOME.
AbOut One Hundred Former Residents
of 'OId Wayne" Presented.
e. Harris's Talk.

About one hundred former residents OF
Wayne county. Indiana. met yesterday at
the home OF Sylvester Johnson on Central
avenue in Irvington. The days meeting
began about 1920 o'clock. with about nifty
OF the Wayne county people present.
Among them were many gray-haired men
and women. Hearty han6shakes were in
dulged in and little groups gathered under
the trees and became reminiscent OF the
days when Indians were plentiful around
Richmond, Dublin and Centerville. These
little groups continued their conversations
until dinner time. and all filed over TO the
front lawn, where large tables were ar
ranged and eatables In a goodly quantity
piled high the boards Pretty
young women were near at hand 10 help
the old people and make their presence
enjoyable. The feast continued until nearly
clock, when the tables were cleared for
the afternoon meeting. Addison G. Harris,
former minister 10 Austria was the prin-
cipal speaker of the day. MIR. Harris was
a former resident Of Wayne county. as
We're his parents. He spoke in the course
Of his remarks of the fine qualities OF
Wayne county people, Of their Industrial
traits and of the men who have become
famous in the countrys cause ana VINO
were reared in "Old Wayne.
WHAT MIR. HARRIS SAID.
Mr.. Harris said in part: IAN occasion
OF this kind makes everybody love the
old home 1t recalls TO each one pres
ent the names of his playmates, and OF
the many good times and petty quarrels
we might have had The friends of youth
are the friends OF life. AS the milestones
increase we are wont 10 look back TO the
place of our birth and 10 meet and greet
the oldtime friends. II is this sweet in
stinct of ourselves that brings us together
to-day. We were born in place that
everybody called old Wayne And we
hold the country, its people and its his
tory In tender remembrance. Some or our
parents live there yet The graves OF our
ancestors in the quiet churchyard side
by side with the generations OF the last
century. This community OF birth and
life and interest raises in our hearts
feeling Of knship. 1t is the same posses
sion which in a larger way becomes pa
! triotism. 1t is this feeling which brings
us together to-day under the hospitality
OF an old Wayne county man. Each OF
us is running over the memories OF
Green's fork. on the bank Of which /
spent many happy days Ii was pros
porous happy. community. The farm
houses We're bright and homelike, built
on the hillsides l knew every one from
familiar acquaintance. | remember we'll
the Quaker meeting house which stood. in
by great apple trees; the schoolhouse. over
in a clump of sugar trees just across the
road. No place to me was more quiet
and happy than that country in Wayne
county.
"Centerville was the literary and politi-
cal center. Here were grouped the law
yers and teachers Of the State One OF
the most profound and greatest lawyers
of Indiana reared within the domain
G town w c saSuf that oser in p the dt te
first saw the light of day. Little else need
be said of this great man, for his repu-
tation is known to all.
Not only was Wayne county known for
its lawyers and statesmen. but We find its
industrial products reaching out as far as
plements made in Richmond are sent from
here to the Pacific coast, into South Amer
lea and to Russia. You can see by these
that the handiwork of the Wayne county
man is recognized far and wide"
Mr.. Harris interspersed his remarks with
humorous anecdotes relating TO old char
acters familiar TO the residents OF Wayne
MR. JOHNSON HEARD.
Following Mr.. Harris Sylvester Johnson
| also gave a short account of his career as
examiner of teachers while he lived in
Wayne county. A number of short talks
were made by Joseph Morgan Mr.. Boyd,
Mrs. Clark Mr.. Seaton, Mr.. Powell, Mrs.
Dr. Reed and Mr.. Macy. of Economy.
A musical programme was given by a
quartet composed of Mrs. Alice GLADDEN.
Mrs Nellie Zimm, Mr.. Ben Richardson and
! Mr.. 3. f. Watts. AT the close OF the speech
making Mr.. Joseph Morgan moved That a
! committee be appointed TO formulate plans
| for permanent organization, which was
| adopted and Chairman Johnson appointed
| the following: Mrs. John Coburn Mrs.
John X. Jones' Mr.. Joseph Morgan Mr.
Addison c. Harris and Mr.. Sylvester John
| son. The committee will endeavor to find
| the names and addresses of all former resi-
IA rt.fth H.
| larger attendance at next years meeting
At the close of the meeting Mrs. Lemon,
| Of 800 BellefOntaine street, this city ex-
| hibted copy of the Cambridge City Jour
nal of the date of Sept. 80. 1864, showing the
names of all the men drafted by the gov
eminent from that locality for service in