Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-01
45TH REUNION OF
/ COUNTY PIONEERS
Five Hundred Attend Annual
Gathering Today at the
Watch Tower.
TWO ADDRESSES HEARD
William Payne and b. d. Connolly
the Speakers-J. w. Scarf, Yuma,
Is Elected President.

The 45th annual reunion of the Old
Settlers Association of Rock Island
Watch Tower today. The attendance
was 500, the best in years. One hum
dred ten members of the association
registered with the secretary. The
weather today was more favorable
than at any reunion for many years
back, and therefore the attendance
was much better.
The members OF the association
and families began to arrive at the
Watch Tower this morning at $3.50.
Rev. W. B. Slater of Moline gave the
opening prayer, and this was fol-
lowed by the reading of minutes Of
the last meeting by the secretary. B.
d. Connolly, a member of the asso-
citation, delivered the address of well
come. The retiring president, Will
liam Coyne. of Bowling, responded
with a few brief remarks. The ses-
sion was then adjourned and those
in attendance enjoyed basket lunch
con with their families and friends.
The session this afternoon was
opened at o'clock, at which time
the report of the nominating commit
tee was made.
j. w. Scarf President.
The report was adopted, and the
following officers were elected:
President. w. Scarf, Yuma.
First vice Observation-Disclosures
Robinson, Andalusia.
Second vice president-Dr. Will
liam Lyford, Port Byron.
Third vice president--William
Payne, Rock Island.
Fourth vice president-George Nc
Murphy, Hillsdale.
Secretary-treasurer- H. Cleland.
Rock Island.
J. H. Cleland has served the as
ISOLATION for the past IS years in
the capacity of secretary and treasur-
er. The constitution Of the associa-
ton calls for the election of five vice
presidents, but the fifth was not
elected at the time of the others. An
effort is being made by the commit
tee to find some one from the lower
end of the county to serve as fifth
vice president. The executive COM
mittee was elected as follows: Phil
Mitchell and Thomas Campbell, Rock
Island, NJ. ]. McEniry and j. G. Heck,
Moline, Charles Dibbern, Milan.
Chair TO George Griffin.
George Griffin of South Moline,
who was born at Rock Island arsenal
in 1884, was awarded the prize of a
chair, given to the pioneer attending
the meeting whose settlement in the
county is of the earliest date and
who is still a resident of the county
and a member of the association.
The program for this afternoon in
cluded the valedictory of the retiring
president, William Coyne. the inaug-
ural of the new president, ]. w.
Scarf, and the principal address of
the day by William Payne.
Those Dying During Year.
Secretary ]. H. Cleland read the
names of the pioneers of the county
and old settlers who passed away since
the last annual reunion of the associa-
ton There are 40 in the list &c of
whom are pioneers who settled here
previous to 1916, and IA of whom were
old settlers. The list Of pioneers in
cluded pioneers who settled in the
county previous to 1916, whether mem
bers of the association or not, while
the old settlers named were members
of the association at the time Of their
death. Following is the list:
Pioneers of Rock Island County.
Abraham Frick, Rock Island
Mrs. Jeremiah Chamberlain (charter
member), Rock Island.
Mrs. Nancy Hartzell Gage 93), 1885,
Moline
Henry Mardock Gage 92), Drury.
Joshua Griffin, 1910, Andalusia.
Captain ]. c. Cameron, 1874, Rock
Island.
Mrs Mary Tuttle, 1887, Rock Is
land
Albert Benedict, Rock island.
DR. Andrew Harris, Rock Island.
James Hill, Andalusia.
William Brashar, 1880, South Rock
Island first white male child born in
county,.
Mrs. T. ]. Buford, Rock Island.
George Edwards, 1885, Moline.