The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-09-13
THE DAYS OF old
ARE LIVED AGAIN
PIONEERS OF MAHAsKA COUNTY
ENJOY MEETING.
AN ADDRESS BY PRES. VANCE.
Opens the Annual Occasion With
Words of Good cheer-Weather
Unfavorable, But Attend
ance is Good.

The threatening skies and falling
rain made an unpropitious opening
for Old Settlers day. In spite OF
that, however, quite a number reacn-
ed the grounds, and were in the tab
ernacle when the early rain began to
fall
The Old Settlers Association is, 1t
VIII be remembered, regularly or
ganized body, whose present form
crystalized at meeting held here in
June. At that time a constitution
and bylaws were adopted and the
following officers were chosen: Prest-
dent, Oliver A. Vance; vice president,
A. J. Jewell; treasurer, A. L. Shangle;
secretary, G. W. Shockey; the ex-
ecutive committee-O. H. Vance, G..
W. Shockey, A. J. Jewell, r. w.
Moore, G. w. France and w. s. Ken
worthy. There is also vice presi-
dent from each township.
The executive committee having
been regularly at work, the date of
Sept. IL was fixed for the first an
nual meeting. 1t is an event which
has been anticipated with expecta-
tions of great enjoyment. The exec
utive committee has obtained neat
badge for the occasion. A large re
dallion having on it the picture Of the
prairie schooner drawn by an OK
team with a driver on the off side.
The medallion is surrounded by
United States flag. These are sold
for % cents and the proceeds go to-
wards defraying the expenses of the
| secession. Up 10 noon today $50 had
taken out membership, and "a were
registered as having been AS years or
more in the county.
President Vance's Talk.
At 1O:30 a. M, the meeting was
called to order by President Vance,
who gave his annual address. He
stated that the object Of the Old Set
tiers Association was 10 keep green
the memory of pioneer days. All res
idents of Mahaska county may be-
come members, but only those are
eligible for registration who have
been in the county at least 45 years.
The original settlers date back to
1S43, but only a few remain. Mrs.
Martin, VIM. Delashmutt, Mother Bo-
yer, and few others. All but Moth
er Boyer were present. Mr.. Vance
gave his own personal history. He
was born in this county in 1S45, and
his earliest memory is his third birth
day, which anniversary he began by
falling out of bed, and signalized by
learning the alphabet.
He sketched his life in an inter-
esting way and showed some vener-
able relics. OF these, a COW bell was
the exchange commodity for the first
load of coal ever dug in this county,
in May, 1S43, near the old Monkey
Nest" mine. 1t was hauled to Bur-
lington by Mr.. Vance's father and his
uncle, and traded for the DELL. He
| likewise showed Bible he had car
ried during the war, and Bible OF
1886.
Other Addresses.
At the close of Mr.. Vance's address
Rev. Somerville offered a touching
invocation. A song, ''The Old Home
stead" by little Miss Cecil Stout,the
S-year-old daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
George Stout, followed. The little
girl sang without accompaniment.
She has a remarkably sweet voice.
which she manages nicely. She re-
ceived much applause.
Miss Nina Colville declaimed "Old
Time Folks" in clear, penetrating
voice. She greatly pleased the audi
ence.
A. l.. Shangle was called upon for
an address on The Early Days AS
| Saw Them" Mr.. Shangle came to
Iowa in 1854, landing at Davenport
and going by stage to Muscatine, Iowa
| City, Fairfield, Ottumwa and Eddy
Vile, en- route to Oskaloosa. 1t looks
like long way around, but it was
the only way then. Mr.Shangle look
ed upon the broad Iowa prairies with
the eye of a philosopher, poet and
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