Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-08-13
Old Settlers N
|B|RI|[|H REUNION
Marshall County Pioneers En-
Joy Their Annual Picnic at
Cottage Grove Park
THE ciTYs sEMl.cENTENNIAL
MarshaIltown Was Surveyed Fifty
Years Ago, and Many Live to See the
Progress of Half Century--Dr. Par
sons Fine Address-The Death Roll
Historical Notes of Interest.


The pioneers of Marshall county
members of the Marshall County OF,
), Settlers Association, enjoyed today, a
) Cottage Grove park, Soldiers Hom
their thirtieth annual reunion and pic
mic. While the weather was threaten
ing from the start 1t was lot allowed
10 interfere in any way with the ar
engagements, and the crowds from al
parts of the county, knowing that som,
began to arrive early. BY 1880 largs
number had assembled at the park t.
be present at the morning exercises
The thirtieth annual reunion Of the
association is of more than usual in
] terest for the year 1903 marks the semi
/ centennial of MarshalltowIi. There were
F! many at the reunion today who remem-
| bered distinctly the great event of a
| half century ago this summer when, I'M
! der the direction of Hon. Henry Anson
| City. began the work of making the
surveys that laid out what is now the
! thrifty and prosperous city OF Mar
/ shalltown.
/ 1t was with great satisfaction and
| pleasure that these old people, who to-
| day realize that their lives are being,
and must from now on be, lived largely
| in the past, recalled the scenes of the
pioneer days Of Marshall county and
Marshalltown. They talked of events
that are inscribed In the early history
of one of the garden spots in the great
Hawkeye state, events that, thru their
occurrence, have brought ID the genera
tons of today, prosperity and happi-
ness. The hardships thru which they
have passed are not regretted; the suf-
fcrings that they endured are looked
back upon with pleasure, for they know
that by those sufferings and hardships
of primitive days their children, and
their children's children, are blessed
with abundance.
Fifty years ago this year the con-
troversy that decided the fate of Mar
shalltown began---the controversy that
finally ended in Marshailtown being
SO decided the fate of the county seat
of the early days, Marietta. The Mari
eta war was talked over today as IL
it had occurred but yes tcrday. The
newspaper articles OF the two papers in
the county, one, the Marietta Express,
championing the cause of the first
county seat. and the Iowa Central
Journal, which was working hard to
place the advantages OF Marshalltown
before the people, were discussed with
interest. People from Albion called to-
mind how their little town. then known
as Lafayette might possibly have had
the county seat had they worked lit
tie harder. for Lafayette was an as
pirant Judge W. C. Smith still living
at Albion, at a good OLD age, probably
recalled the events Leading up to the
Marietta war with as much interest as
any one as he was one of the import
ant figures. AS county judge he was
accused of being partial to his home
town, Marietta. He was accused of
using influence to keer the county seat
al Marietta when Marshaltown consid-
cred she had Won in the spring election
of '5S. Marion, LeGrtnd and Green
castle townships votes had not been
properly certified to or dated, and by
throwing them out, because of the tech
nicality, the canvassers could turn the
election to Marietta. Judge Smith de-
cided in favor of the action Of the cam
vassers. Judge Thorn oson. the district
judge, commanded Judge Smith to re-,
canvass. and he refused. taking an ap-
peal to the supreme court. The stirring
- f~1I
up to the battle of NJ arrietta on Janu-
airy II, 1859, the disgraceful retreat OF
the Bowen guards, under command of
the late Colonel Shurtz; how William
Bremner led the party OF cavalry
skirmishers; how pete" Hepburn, now
Congressman Hepburn, of the Eighth
district, became frightened because he
thought the derenaers OF the records at
the Marietta court house We're actually
going to fire-all Wee recalled as tho
they were events tha'. had transp ired a
year ago rather than fifty.
The pioneers of Marshall county
brought to mind also that in the fall
of 1854 deer We're hunted where Main
street is now located. Two animals had |
been started from their hiding places |
on the banks of Linn creek, and We're
run north to Main street, and then |
west where they Ware soon captured. |
e. Willigrod recalled how fifty years |
ago next year his little cabin that he
had just completed was unroofed by a |
terrific storm, which swept over the |
Iowa river valley. The house in which |
the father of Hon. Byron Webster lived |
was blown down in the same storm.
Such We're the "reminiscences Of
many of the pioneers who met today
to participate in their annual reunion.
The state of the weather made no diff
ference TO them. for they had gathered |
to visit and talk over old times and,
rain or shine, their object was delight
fully accomplished.
The Morning Program.
President w. II. Calhoun called the
association TO order at 1890. The Sol
iiers' Home band, which furnished the
music for the day played a number.
after which Rev. @. Long read the In
location. Another selection by the
,and was followed by President Cal
loun, who delivered the opening adj
lress after which 'Quartermaster III. j.
Bennett, of the Soldiers Home, ex-
ended the welcolle to the Home
on behalf of the institution. A t
,lee club, composed of Messrs. G. T..
Patterson, Perry f. and Wallace Fl. {
lrney and +. Aubrey Smith, sang, and )
he annual address 10 the association $
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