Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-08-23
PIONEER REUNION.
Old People Gather at Philomath
"A Good Time.

people at Philomath. There
were probably IS in all ranging
in age from 10 to 86 years. many
of whom were early settlers and
had crossed the plains in the
early SOS. Many also of great
age were there, although no.
numbered among the pioneers
yet have been many years a resi-
dent of Benton county. The en-
tire audience composed largely of
younger people numbered about
$50.
Promptly at 10 o'clock the
day opened with Sunday school
by the young, followed by an
able sermon from Bishop N.
Castle, who is 6o years of age
and who read the goth Psalm
from the time-colored bible 81
years old used by his mother,
and containing on the fly leaf a
record of his own birth. The
text for the sermon was the ques-
ton asked by one of the Pharaohs
OF Egypt of Hebrew patriarch,
"How old art thou?" The SER
mon was masterly, philosoph-
ical and well-delivered discourse,
particularly adapted to and es-
pecially enjoyed by the old peo-
pie present.
A bounteous dinner was served
at noon, little groups forming
here and there upon the benches
or on the grass, as convenience
directed. For an hour and a
half the gay crowd of old and
young regaled themselves on
choice things to eat. Jacob Hen
kle was chairman Of the meeting
in the afternoon. He is 7o years
of age, has been over so years a
resident of Benton county and
has been identified with the early
history of, this part of the valley,
being one of the founders al
IPhilomath and voted in those
days in the old log school house,
the first in the then very small
village of Marysville. now the
city of Corvallis. There were
only a few houses here then ano
Indians were the practical owners
Old-time hymns were sung ane
the strange sweet tunes carried
all hearts backward through
flood of memory and many broke
down and wept.
VIM. Porter, IS years OF age
who came in AZ and fought th'
wilderness for a home and for
tune, was so feeble he could no
, remain for the afternoon meeting
R. Cant, about the same age a
Mr.. Porter, and man of prov
! ess IN his early days, was de
tanned at home as was also MI
Lewis, and Mrs. Buckingham
over SO years of age was calle
to Portland last week. The in
frmities of age kept several away
A letter was read from Mrs
Elizabeth Henkle, wife of Jaco
Henkle, who has dropsy and
in a very critical condition
She is 7o years old and has bee
81 years a resident of Oregon
The letter was farewell to he
old comrades and rang clear wit
Christian triumph. Others VIII
spoke were Samuel McLain It
F. Mulkey, Boyd Kennedy, job
Kennedy &c, j. L. Hummer ct
w. A. Jolly, John link oo, MI
Hayhurst II, Jesse Henkle Z
Mrs. Hayhurst 60, Mrs. Eliza
beth Henkle 76, (mother of ]. F
Henkle), Judge E. Woodward ot
and others. Judge Woodwa1
was the first school teacher
teach in Philomath, the distri'
school and college at that tin
being united. DR.. Logan, f'
IS years practicing physicia
in Philomath, sang as a sol'
"Children of the Heaven
King" to the old tune.
A note of sadness prevailed
each old pioneer recounted b
experience marking out the diff
culties besetting the pathway
the early settlers and the ia
also that now the foundation
laid they must soon go: The
coming antedates all improv
ments and we owe great de
to these men and women w