Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-08-17
OLD SETTLERS
PLAN TWO DAYS
HOME COMING
Motion is adopted at Yesterdays An
nual Picnic Of Wapello County Pioneers
for Next Years Celebration-Picn is
VI a Success Regardless of the Inclement
Weather

Oldest Settler.
Mrs. Emaline McMinn, the oldest
settler of Wapello county, though
seyentv-three years Of age was one VI
the youngest people on the grounds
according to her own statement and
the active part she took in the celebra-
ton. Mrs. McMinn who was born Sep
TENDER II, 1885 In Scott county, ILL.,,
came to Wapello county sixty-six
years ago and has lived within few
miles of Agency ever since. She was
married to ]. T. MoMinn thirty three
years ago. In telling of the earlier
days Mrs. McMinn whose memory is
unusually bright for one Of her years
said:
Il was six years Of age when came
to this county in the spring Of '43. This
country was not settled then. The In
dams had only made their first pay
ment. My father, Daniel Dennison set
tied on the claim that lay Just next
to Agency there on the left. He help
ed to erect the first house that marked
the beginning of the city. Our neigh
bors then We're seven and eight miles
apart.
We were not one of the old pioneer
large families. There were only six Of
US children. We lived In a log cabin
Of our own made much like the one
they have on exhibition here today
only much rousher. When we hat.
company over night some Of us chill
rear. There are only three Of us left
now. Those were happy days Tho
Oldest settler Of Wapello county added
far away look in her eyes.
| "Old Chief Wapello was a frequent
visitor at our home,'' she went on. "He
and father were very good friends.
remember one day when he came to
tSNn r{So1s 81 ~
with g. papoose strapped over her
| back was always afraid of the In
dians and often hid when they came
within sight Of the house, but this time
fingered beside father to hear the
strange grunts and signs by which
they conversed. The conversation had
been goinp on for some time before
realized they were talking OF me.
The Indians were trying to trade their
papoose to father in exchange for me.
The memory stirs me with horror even
now. / never went near an Indian
after that. Tho next year after we
came, they went on farther west to
oescape the civilization that was fast
Fcreeping upon them"
| Work Principal Speaker.
The principal address of the day was
| given by w. A. Work Interesting five
minute talks were given by Judge M
A. Roberts, Major s. H. Hamilton, J,
w. Millisack, Milo Reno and T. R.
county contributed by James A. La
Force of California, one Of the Oldest
settlers OF Wapello county, were read
to the assembly by Major Hamilton.
The "reminiscences follow:
My father, D. G. LaForce came to
Iowa in 1910, originally from, Kentucky
settled near Ashland in Wapello coun-
1 ty on May I. 184S.
| Looking back across the sixty four
years intervening the following names
recur to me as among the first settlers.
Priest, Wright. Ping Garrison, Acton
Foster, Newell, Weir, Myers. Moore
Mael, Caldwell Coleman, Fisher, Cum
Minis, Flint, Betterton, Jordan. Avery
Nelson, Smith, Chapman. Baker, Rey-
nolds. King, Packwood, Dudley
Humphrey, Cain, Brinm, Giltner. John
field, Warren, Israel, Nimocks. Hay
dock, Michael, Stewart Cooper, Mich
Lesson, Hodson, Craener, Reeves, Har-
| row and Dennison.
Many others there were whose Lives
are not forgotten, but whose names ar,
bevond recall.
These people were largely from vir.
They brought with them the tradition.
Of their states. Hospitality to FRIEND
and stranger alike. Generosity, kind.
ness to the needy or distressed. II
old time parlanco The latch string
was always out" Many of them were
people Of great strength of cbaracte,
ant many interesting stories could b.
told Of them.
Isaac Nelson, with his young bird,
made the long journey from Virginis
on horseback He established his homt
east of Fldon. where he lived and died
One spring. when seed corn, seet
potatoes and corn for bread were ex
ceedinRly high and hard to get, Nelso,
was dividing little corn with his poo
lance followed him to the field, wher,
he was working and wanted to bu.
IN. asking the price. Nelson answere.
Fifty cents per bushel How mncl
did you want?"
II want wagon load" said tn
stranger. Il can't let you have tina
much" said Nelson. Why" said tn
Indeed said Nelson then go else
where and buy. am selling to M.
. poor neighbors who have no money.
James Jordan. a Kentuckiap, mai
of strong character and ample means
operated a water min on Soap creek
This mill had been built by the govern
ment to supply the Indians with mea
JoI0Si was q liHdA VI generosity
His heart was ever open, and hi
means at the command of the poo
; and needy in times Of restitution an
. distress.
L. A. Myers of Ashland, man ION
, to be remembered. charged only fit
cents bushel for seed corn and see
potatoes when they sold elsewhere 70
one dollar or more. Green In GU
: memories ARE acts Of kindness an
good deeds of those faraway days
causing US to exclaim in the languag
Of these great law givers Biesse
) are the dead who die in the Lord the
rest from their labors and their work
: do follow them.
The first school in the Ashland vain
ity was taught by Drug Davis and at
3 tended by Judge Clay Caldwell Of Ar
, kansas
, The boys and girls of the Prizes
Garrison. McL.ain. LaForce and man
! other families attended this school.
!, the summer of lS43, Silas Garrison an
my father. D. g. LaForce, held divin
services in my fathers shack. whic
services, 80 far as know, were tn
9 fret public services held in Wapell
i N-