The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-11
RAIN COULD NOT MAR IT
REUNION OF OLD SETTLERS AND
GRADUATES OF BLOOMrNGDALE.
Congressman j. G. Cannon, of Illinois,
the Principal Speaker-Other Re-
unions at Various Points.
to the indianapolis journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
BLOOMINGDALE, Ind, Sept. 10.-Owing
to the heavy rain early to-day there was no
morning programme in connection with the
old settlers reunion, though elaborate
preparations had been made for the morn
ings exercises. The company met at 1
o'clock at the Friends Church. Professor
Mitchell made the address of welcome. The
prayer was by. the Rev. ]. H. Newlin.
George Hobsorfs address was on the
Heroes of the Northwest" Joseph G.
Cannon spoke for one hour. The congress
man compared the past with the present.
He declared the outlook to be bright for a
great future and closed with an appeal to
young men to be worthy their heritage
Judge Whites address on pioneer times was
very interesting 1t is estimated that $500
persons were present, in spite of the rain.
Two persons were present who are over
ninety years old, ten over eighty and thir-
ty-five over seventy.
The Friends meeting house. where the
reunion was held, stands in the midst of a
fine old grove and for forty years has been
the center of Quakerdom in this part of
the State. Bordering this grove is the cam
pus of Bloomingdale Academy. This pio-
neer school was founded in 1S45, Harvey
Thomas, of Pennsylvania, being the first
principal Only two or Srs three ts OF the pupils
Under the efficient management of Barna-
bas c. Hobbs who, during the fifties, the
x h.d ana t part OF taor b $1,000 at
lin the educational world and had no supe-
rior in the whole middle West.
Many pupils from this academy have won
both fame and honor. 1t was here Joseph
G. Cannon received his early schooling. DIR.
Cannon, father of the congressman and his
family, came from Carolina to Indiana, 10
eating first near the present town of Mon
rovia, but at the end of two years DR..
Cannon moved to Annapolis, a mile north
of this place. DIR. Cannon had wide prac-
tice for a physician of those days. 1t was
while on his way to see patient who lived
on the opposite side of Sugar creek that
DR.. Cannon drowned. Mrs. Cannon and
her sons moved from Annapolis to Bloom
ingdale to be nearer school. but soon after
his fathers death. Joseph G. Cannon left
school and became a clerk in a country
store. where he worked for five years,
or until he accumulated enough means to
enable him to enter the law Office of Usher
g. Patterson in Terre Haute. A year later
he moved to Illinois.
To-day scores of old students revisited
the scene Of their school days, where thirty
or forty years ago they struggled to OBJ
tain education. Now a modern brick
structure stands where the former plain
frame building was located, but the same
old bell rings in the tower, and the same
old trees whisper welcome to the visitors.
Congressman Cannon reached Blooming
dale this morning on the $50 train from the
West, having left his home in Danville, Ill.
at an early hour that he might arrive here
before noon. He was met by Mr.. Thomas
Nelson and other members of the reception
committee, and escorted by the band to his
lodgings. An informal reception filled up
the time till the dinner hour.
Relic Hall, in the school building, is filled
with old spinning wheels ancient plows
and scythes and other farm implements,
swords. pewter dishes and Dutch ovens.
One Bible on exhibition is 215 years old. AS
the visitors arrived this morning additional
relics were constantly added to the collec-
ton.